The scholar looked at the silver on the table, a glint of greed in his eyes. Seeing that Zhao Yeqing held the painting without response, he gently nudged him. “Sir, he’s asking if you’ll sell the painting. He’s offering fifty taels.”
Zhao Yeqing suddenly awakened, looking at the painting in his hand. The deep affection in his eyes turned to disgust, his face turning an alarming shade of blue.
His heart was like a stampede of horses, surging and tumultuous… How could this be? How could a man become a woman??? Unexpectedly, he used both hands with force, tearing the painting of the stunning beauty into two, then four, then eight… instantly turning it into paper scraps flying into the sky… drawing sighs of regret and confusion from others…
Zhao Yeqing, with furrowed brows and feeling dejected, picked up his brush and began drawing again. This time, he only sketched an outline before stopping, because he no longer knew what to draw, having forgotten her appearance, only knowing she was a woman who had stolen his bracelet. She had a pair of lively, familiar-looking eyes…
The people standing nearby were reluctant to leave and wanted to feast their eyes. They stood quietly watching… The person who wanted to buy the painting felt heartache and regret but, seeing his unapproachable demeanor, didn’t dare say more. He put away the silver and continued watching…
As Zhao Yeqing was lost in thought, a man pushed his way in. Approaching Zhao Yeqing, he said, “Young master, may we speak privately.”
Zhao Yeqing, with a cold face, glanced at the crowd that had gathered unknowingly, and followed the man out of the circle…
The man leaned close to Zhao Yeqing’s ear and whispered, “Young master, the person General Hulanyou is looking for seems to be the same person you’re seeking. Look at this.” He opened a painting – it was Hu Lanan’s poster of Shan Xiaoya in men’s clothing. The man then opened another painting, clearly the portrait of the bracelet thief that Zhao Yeqing had previously asked his servants to find. Placing the two paintings side by side, Zhao Yeqing’s heart suddenly constricted… Eye to eye, brow to brow, these two paintings depicted the same person, with the only difference being one in men’s clothing, the other in women’s…
