After I got into the drama, I led the plot astray

The next day, Fuyao, at Yang's instruction, really found a painter for me.

The painter's name was Shen Yihe, and he was about twenty years old. He was the imperial painter of the Hanlin Academy and the runner-up in the imperial examination that year. He was equally talented in writing and painting.

Shen Yihe knew my identity, but he had never seen me before, and he never expected that I was so young and beautiful. The first time he saw me, he blushed at first sight and never dared to look me in the eye again.

I looked at his bewildered look and couldn't help but jokingly asked him, "How can you paint my portrait if you don't dare to look at me?"

Shen Yihe still lowered his head and said softly: "Your Majesty's face is like a fairy from heaven. I remembered it after only seeing her once."

Seeing him so flustered and shy, I was even more eager to tease him. I smiled and said, "I heard that Mr. Shen is still unmarried. How about I arrange a marriage for you?"

Shen Yihe's face was so red that it was about to bleed. He quickly bowed and stammered, "Thank you, thank you, Madam Concubine Shu. I, I have no plans to get married yet. No, it is not necessary."

When I heard that, I deliberately put on a stern face and said, "How dare you disobey me?"

Shen Yihe was so scared that he knelt on the ground, almost burying his head in the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Madam Shu Taifei, please forgive me?"

I snorted and asked, "What crime have you committed?"

Shen Yihe was stumped by the question. He really didn't know what crime he had committed, so he could only say, "I shouldn't have disobeyed the queen."

I tried hard to hold back my laughter and said, "Does that mean you agree that I will arrange a marriage for you?"

"Ah?" Shen Yihe was frightened by this life-threatening question and began to stutter again, "Mother, mother, I am not..."

Even Yang couldn't stand it anymore and said quickly, "Okay, Madam, stop teasing Master Shen. It's getting late now. If you don't start painting now, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to start again."

It would take at least a month to send a letter from Dayu to Xihe. It would be a waste of time to delay it for another day. I had no choice but to say, "Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. Master Shen, get up quickly. Although I am teasing you about the marriage, there are many beautiful girls in my courtyard. If you like any of them, you can tell me and I will help you find one."

Shen Yihe stood up tremblingly. He wanted to refuse, but I kept pressing him. After thinking for a long time, he finally said with a red face, "Madam Xie Shu."

Shen Yihe and Gongsun Wen look like two completely different types. Shen Yihe is gentle and elegant, always with a smile on his face, and one can tell at first glance that he is a very warm person; Gongsun Wen is cold and heartless, with cold thorns all over his body. No one dares to approach him, and he never shows kindness to others, wrapping himself tightly with cold thorns.

I asked Yingchun to prepare some snacks and bring them to the garden. It is early autumn now, but the roses in the garden are still in full bloom. It is a pleasure to sit in the garden, enjoy the flowers, drink tea and eat snacks.

Shen Yihe followed us to the garden. This garden was renovated later and built in the same way as the garden of Shengping Palace. It was planted with my favorite roses. Red, yellow, pink, roses of various colors were blooming in full bloom, which was beautiful beyond words.

Shen Yihe was stunned when he saw the roses all over the garden. He said slowly, "It's so beautiful."

The tea table and chairs were already set up in the garden. I sat on the chair, poured a cup of tea for Shen Yihe, and asked, "Master Shen, how about painting in this place?"

Shen Yihe glanced at me, then looked at the roses all over the yard, and his face turned red again for no apparent reason. He lowered his head and said, "They look beautiful."

Seeing Shen Yihe like this, I couldn't help but want to tease him again, but Yang glared at me. I had no choice but to sit on the chair obediently, picked up a book, and said, "Then please trouble Master Shen to start."

Shen Yihe brought his own paints, drawing paper and easel. When he heard me say to start, he quickly set up the easel, put up the drawing paper, took out the paints and started painting.

I wasn't in a good mood. I only read for a while before I felt my eyelids drooping and fell asleep.

When Yang saw that I fell asleep, she quickly asked someone to bring a small quilt to cover me.

I don’t know how long I slept. When I woke up, Shen Yihe was gone, leaving behind a painting of "Ladies Among Flowers".

This painting depicts a graceful young girl walking among roses, with butterflies dancing around her. The warmly blooming roses make the girl look more lively and beautiful.

I admire this painting very much. He is truly worthy of being the royal painter.

I went out of my way to find someone to paint for me, and the news spread quickly.

The next day, Shen Yihe was still drawing for me when Zheng Yan unexpectedly came, followed by Gongsun Wen.

I haven't seen him since I returned the things to Gongsun Wen last time. I didn't expect that when I saw him this time, he looked even thinner, as if he could be blown away by the wind. His face was frighteningly pale, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.

When Shen Yihe saw the emperor coming, he was so frightened that he immediately knelt down to pay his respects. I also wanted to stand up and salute, but Zheng Yan pushed me down on the chair and said, "You are not feeling well, so you don't have to salute."

Zheng Yan looked at Shen Yihe's painting for a while, and then said, "You can get up. It's a good painting."

Shen Yihe quickly expressed his gratitude.

At this time, Yang asked the servants to bring a few chairs. Zheng Yan sat down next to me, Gongsun Wen sat below Zheng Yan, and Shen Yihe stood with his head down, not daring to sit down.

Zheng Yan said to me: "Since Ah Man returned to the Duke's Mansion, her complexion has improved a lot, but I am not used to not having Ah Man around."

I smiled and said, "Your Majesty is so busy with official business that you still remember me. I am very grateful. I heard that Concubine Li is pregnant. I happen to have some top-quality tonic herbs here. I will send someone to deliver them to Concubine Li in the palace tomorrow."

It took only about two months from the time a concubine entered the palace to the time she became pregnant and was promoted to Concubine Li, which was faster than a rocket.

Zheng Yan looked a little uncomfortable, and said perfunctorily: "There are many tonics in the palace, you should keep them for yourself. You are not in good health, and you need more nourishment."

I took the tea handed to me by Yingchun, drank a sip, and said, "I am the only concubine in the palace, and it is only right for me to show some appreciation."

Zheng Yan did not respond, but changed the subject and asked: "Why did you suddenly want to paint a portrait?"

I put the teacup back on the tea table and said with a smile: "A person's beauty only lasts for a few years. I want to paint more while I'm still young, so that I can have something to look back on when I'm old."

Zheng Yan knew that I was not telling the truth, but he did not want to expose my lie, so he said, "Nan Qin paid tribute to us with a lot of fruits yesterday. I sent some to you. Do you like them? Also, the weather is getting colder, so I sent some high-quality silver charcoal to you. Don't save it. This little bit of charcoal is not worth much money. Your health is more important."

I smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zheng Yan drank a few cups of tea here and then left. Gongsun Wen followed him without saying a word.