“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.
