Chapter 413 - 414 A New Perspective
Shen Ruozhuo didn’t expect Lou Xi to accept her provocation so easily.
Should she laugh at Lou Xi for being brave as a young calf unafraid of tigers?
Qin Mobai, who was beside Lou Xi, furrowed his brow slightly and whispered in Lou Xi’s ear, "Lou Xi, don’t be rash. Shen Ruozhuo is setting you up!"
Lou Xi turned to look at Qin Mobai, her expression calm, "It’s alright, I studied calligraphy for a few years when I was in school."
Qin Mobai was still worried. How could what Lou Xi learned in school possibly rival someone like Shen Ruozhuo, who had been studying painting and calligraphy since childhood? Moreover, she was recognized as a representative of the younger generation of national painters, a student of Wu Guanzhong’s student, Wang Changkai, and was rated as the most resembling new-generation painter and calligrapher to Wu Guanzhong.
Writing next to Shen Ruozhuo’s painting — wasn’t that just putting yourself in a difficult position?
But Lou Xi had already sent someone to fetch the Four Treasures of the Study.
"It’s alright, Young Master Qin. A painting without words is incomplete." Lou Xi held onto Qin Mobai, then turned to Shen Ruozhuo, "Miss Shen, if my writing is too ugly and ruins your painting, I apologize in advance."
"It’s fine." Shen Ruozhuo was waiting for Lou Xi to embarrass herself, to let everyone know what kind of useless person Qin Mobai had married.
Just as she became Mrs. Qin, she’d be ridiculed by the entire aristocratic circle.
At that moment, the look Qin Mobai gave Shen Ruozhuo was filled with chilling intensity. Previously, Shen Ruozhuo at least pretended to be a lady of a prestigious family, but now, was she ready to let loose?
Did she not know that opposing Qin Mobai could incur a price she might not be able to bear?
However, when Shen Ruozhuo looked at Qin Mobai, her eyes were filled with calm fearlessness.
Not long after, a waiter brought the Four Treasures of the Study and also set up a table.
The guests, who initially prepared to start the banquet, were no longer interested in the exquisite dishes on the table and were all focused on the happenings at the main table.
This was an unavoidable battle between women, with the arrow on the string ready to be released.
Lou Xi unrolled Shen Ruozhuo’s painting, laying it on the table.
Shen Ruozhuo’s painting depicted two mandarin ducks frolicking by the riverside, ideally suitable as a gift.
However, beside the two mandarin ducks, there was an ugly duckling.
Shen Ruozhuo’s insinuation wasn’t obvious enough, implying that Lou Xi was an ugly duckling trying to turn into a swan, while she and Qin Mobai were the loving pair of mandarin ducks.
Qin Mobai knew he couldn’t stop Lou Xi, so he let her proceed, pondering alternate strategies, like waiting until Lou Xi was mid-writing to tip over the ink, ruining Shen Ruozhuo’s painting.
Yet, as Qin Mobai watched Lou Xi begin to write, his furrowed brow suddenly relaxed.
The strokes were strong and flowing elegantly.
Lou Xi wasn’t just writing a few strokes as she had mentioned casually.
Shen Ruozhuo’s expression also changed; as Lou Xi finished the first character, she felt like she had shot herself in the foot.
Those close enough could see the calligraphy Lou Xi was writing.
Graceful and free, naturally formed.
"With red rugs warmly rolling out confidence, jewel pairs in union seen—side by side, with worldly blessings yours to take, mandarin ducks born immortal with pride." Lou Xi finished writing, placed the brush down, and recited the poem she had just inscribed.
Shen Ruozhuo’s face had turned white.
At that moment, Qin Sheng stood up from his chair, walked over to the table, looked at Lou Xi’s calligraphy, and couldn’t help but nod.
"Steady and grand, quite in the style of Master Huaiji." Qin Sheng viewed Lou Xi in a new light.
He picked up the painting scroll and displayed the calligraphy to the crowd.