Resources Bear Presents —- Millions of Packaged Resource Provider zybear.taobao.com
Husband’s Scheme Author: Listening to Wind Tell Qing
Chapter One: The Best Lover
Qi Emperor loved willow trees. In Yan Feng, the capital of Qi Kingdom, every spring brought a sky full of poplar flowers, resembling a late snowfall. Literary scholars and talented artists, having hibernated all winter, enjoyed composing poetry, playing instruments, and painting amid these white flutters, awakening together with the beasts and creating a spring symphony.
I looked up at the white fluffy clusters overhead, feeling worried. I had only half-sketched the white portrait on fine silk and was losing patience.
“My lady,” Que’er anxiously fanned me, causing the flutters to dance wildly. “Are you alright?”
I waved my hand, and an unstoppable itch burst from my nasal cavity, leading to three sneezes. Que’er offered a handkerchief, which I used to cover my nose, sneezing three more times.
“How unbearable,” I nodded at her with teary eyes. “Damn these white hairs.”
Que’er seemed nervous, wanting to clamp her hand over my mouth. “My lady, you mustn’t say such things. Everyone knows how much the person above loves these. If such words reach those with ill intentions, our master will surely face reprimand.”
I had been married to An Jin for just over a year. He had been reprimanded three times, each incident somehow related to me.
This time, An Jin was not punished with a month’s salary, but I was still confined and forbidden from eating meat for two months, feeling extremely aggrieved. I believed that most of the responsibility lay not with me, but with his poor interpersonal relationships.
Now, thinking back, much of our married life was spent in confinement and fasting. He married me and has been in constant distress; I married him and lost my freedom and meat. What kind of marriage is this?
In frustration, I sneezed several times, causing my wolf-hair brush to sweep across the canvas, leaving a drop of ink on the figure’s forehead.
“Damn,” I exclaimed, quickly lifting the drawing board to examine it.
“Madam, if you don’t paint soon, they might leave,” Que’er remarked, glancing toward the two figures on the willow bank. “The master seems a bit impatient.”
“Don’t worry,” I reassured her. “My husband has always been patient with beautiful women, let alone Su Hui, such an extraordinary beauty.”
The man and woman under the willow tree were close yet distant. The man lowered his eyes, gazing intently, his profile like a painting; the woman shyly held her sleeve, hesitating to speak. This scene struck my heart in an instant. The remaining part was quickly completed as if divinely inspired.
I raised the drawing board and compared it with the actual scene, feeling satisfied.
“Que’er, should we call this ‘Appointment by the Willow’ or ‘Passion Uncontrollable’?” I sought her opinion.
Que’er pondered. “How about ‘Twilight of Two Beauties’?”
I found it brilliant, as it highlighted the artistic conception and invited imagination.
“If the master knew that you, madam, are the one secretly painting his rendezvous with that Yuanxiao Thirteen gentleman…” Que’er shook her head. “I can’t imagine how angry he’d be.”
“Yuanxiao Thirteenth Gentleman,” I completed her thought. “If I hadn’t painted so wonderfully, how could he have become the most charming man in Yanfeng City?”
Que’er looked skeptical, leaning over to the portrait. “Madam, I remember the master didn’t have a mole on his forehead…” She pointed at a small black dot on the man’s forehead.
“This is called creative imagination within reasonable limits,” I said, packing up the drawing board. I sneezed again. “Let’s go home.”
Que’er glanced at the willow tree and then hesitated. I knew what she wanted to say and rubbed my itchy nose, handing her the drawing tools. “Same as always, seven parts for me, three for you.”
Que’er became happy, her doubts forgotten.
I chuckled, covered my nose with a handkerchief, and walked towards the An residence along the street where willow flowers drifted.
The man on the willow bank was my husband, An Jin, a promising official in the Ministry of Personnel. Rumors described him as handsome, gentle, and romantic – the most watched young gentleman in Yanfeng and the ideal lover in the eyes of Qi Kingdom women.
My childhood sweetheart.
As for those glowing descriptors, I only found “handsome” accurate, deeply doubting the rest. He often never displayed such qualities in front of me.
Ah Yao, you know very well that Jin’er is often not straightforward. He appears aloof while being happy inside. You should be more tolerant,” he advised earnestly. “What big obstacle can’t a young couple overcome? Your mother-in-law and I eagerly await holding our grandchild!” He stroked his beard, looking jubilant as if already seeing a house full of grandchildren.
I felt conflicted and reluctantly said, “Wife understands.”
My father-in-law didn’t understand. Between An Jin and me was an insurmountable chasm. No matter how many bridges I built, they would only lead to a deep ravine, never reaching his side.
Chapter Two: His Resentment
An Jin, as usual, did not return home for dinner.
After the meal, I chatted with my in-laws, then went to my study with Que’er.
One thing I’m most satisfied with since marrying An Jin is having a study entirely my own. An Jin has never stepped inside, and my in-laws rarely inquire about it. I turned it into a dedicated painting room for mounting silk and later coloring. I claimed to love painting, so I painted orthodox landscapes, flowers, birds, and lady portraits for appearances, but privately, I was known as the Thirteenth Young Master of Yanfeng City, famous for my beauty portraits.
Painting beauty portraits became my way of making a living. My teacher once said to leverage one’s strengths. Among the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, painting was the only skill I could showcase. Flowers, birds, insects, and fish were too common and wouldn’t fetch much money, so I focused on portraits of beautiful women with some reputation in Yanfeng City.
The first subject of my paintings was Qin Yu, the top beauty from the Chu Women’s Hall in Yanfeng City at the time. I secretly sketched her during her outing to White Crane Plain, creating my first beauty portrait, “Jade Crane Dance”. This painting, displayed at the Moonlight Pavilion, was bought for thirty taels of silver by Qin Yu’s admirer to win her favor.
It was the first money I ever earned. After parting with the Moonlight Pavilion, I received fifteen taels. The pavilion’s owner signed a long-term cooperation agreement, willingly giving up a share of the profit and promising never to reveal my identity.
The people of Qi appreciated beauty, gravitating toward beautiful individuals. In this environment of beauty worship, the Thirteenth Young Master of the Lantern Festival became famous for his lifelike beauty portraits.
It’s understandable that there are doubts about my relationship with An Jin. We have been married for over a year, yet he sleeps in the study and often leaves early, returning late. When we do meet, we barely exchange a few words, and our conversations often end in arguments. My parents-in-law likely know about this but pretend otherwise. Que’er, my personal maid, sees everything clearly.
I looked at the slender figure in the painting and whispered, “He resents me.”
Que’er was surprised, as this was the first time I had mentioned my relationship with An Jin to her. Bottling up my feelings has been uncomfortable, but the cause and effect of this matter would take time to explain.
I am used to being lazy and not wanting to talk much, so saying this spontaneously is rare. Que’er stretched her neck, waiting for more, but when she realized I wouldn’t elaborate, she sighed in disappointment.
