Dressed as a concubine instead of a concubine

Without time to calm down, Meng Xiyue hurriedly hid the painting she had made.

Xie Junyi, who came in, happened to see her hiding something in a panic, and thought of Qianxiang's strange behavior just now.

He frowned slightly, "What are you hiding? Is there something about you that I cannot know?"

"It's my practiced handwriting. It's so ugly, I don't want you to see it."

Meng Xiyue lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes hiding the guilt in her eyes. Her heart was beating violently, fearing that her lie would be exposed.

Xie Junyi was silent for a moment, not sure whether he believed her words or was unwilling to expose her.

"Well, I haven't practiced calligraphy for a long time. I'm free today, so I'll teach you."

Meng Xiyue breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Okay."

Xie Junyi walked up to her, held her hand from behind, and while teaching her how to write, his eyes drifted towards the place where she had just hidden something.

A corner of the scroll that was covered by other papers was revealed, and on that corner was clearly written the word "Ran".

His pupils shrank and he looked at the woman in his arms with some disbelief, who couldn't even write well.

"You are a good painter. Would you please paint a picture for me someday?"

"I can only draw physical objects like jewelry, but I'm not very good at drawing real paintings."

Meng Xiyue declined, saying that she couldn't draw, otherwise Xie Junyi would be able to tell her identity at a glance.

"is it?"

Xie Junyi asked in a low voice so that she couldn't hear his emotions.

"Yes, I will practice in private and then draw for the prince after I am done."

"Okay, then you must give me one in the future."

Meng Xiyue, feeling uneasy, nodded randomly in response.

Completely unaware, Xie Junyi's expression darkened.

The next day, knowing that Xie Junyi had not returned from court, Meng Xiyue hurried out with her calligraphy and paintings.

Zhiyue wanted to follow her, but she refused with reasons.

When I arrived at the academy, Mei Ran was still alone, sitting in the classroom reading a book.

"Sister Mei, look what good things I brought you."

"The moon is here."

Mei Ran put down the book in her hand and went to meet him. Seeing the calligraphy and painting handed over by Meng Xiyue, she asked curiously.

"Whose calligraphy and painting is this?"

"Open it and take a look first."

Meng Xiyue kept it a secret, Mei Ran lowered her head and smiled slightly, then took the calligraphy and painting while speaking.

"Even if you don't tell me, I know who this belongs to. Is it Prince Qi's?"

Xie Junyi's calligraphy and paintings are also well-known for their quality, especially his portraits, which are lifelike and are priceless in the eyes of many people.

"But I can't accept the prince's painting..."

Before she finished her words, she froze in place, staring at the calligraphy and painting in her hands in disbelief, examining them over and over again.

It was not until she saw the private seal belonging to Master Mo Ran below that she asked uncertainly.

"Is this painted by Master Mo Ran?"

"Yes, there is an inscription here."

"Mei Ran Academy?"

Mei Ran, who was always calm, screamed. She thought that this calligraphy and painting might be collected by Prince Qi and that Meng Xiyue had borrowed it for her to appreciate.

But when she saw the four words "Meiran Academy", she was no longer calm. It was obvious that this was specially painted for her.

Who is Master Mo Ran? How could he write an inscription specifically for his own academy?

"This can't be fake, right?"

"How could it be fake? Is it possible that someone could imitate these words and paintings?"

Meng Xiyue said this unhappily because she had never mentioned words when painting before.

She was afraid that people would say the calligraphy was fake, so she specially made a picture to prove it.

"Sister Mei, let me tell you, this is absolutely true. With Master Mo Ran's inscription, your academy will definitely be able to attract students."

She also didn't expect that a few paintings she drew casually would be so popular among scholars.

Since we have the resources, why not make good use of them.

"Do you know Master Mo Ran? He just painted this?" Mei Ran's voice couldn't stop trembling.

Master Mo Ran is also someone she admires.

"Yes, Master Mo Ran is also from our Qingyun City. I met him once before. He happened to come to the capital, so I asked him to write a calligraphy for my sister's academy."

"Where is the master? Can I go and meet him?"

Mei Ran was very excited. Recruiting students now was not as important to her as meeting her idol.

"Uh..." Meng Xiyue suddenly had an idea, "He left the capital after he finished the painting. Master Mo Ran traveled all over the world and would not stay in one place."

"Really? That's a pity."

Mei Ran was a little disappointed, but when he saw the calligraphy and painting in his hand, he could not suppress his joy. "I never thought that I would be able to see Master Mo Ran's paintings and get his inscriptions in this life."

"Master Mo Ran knew that you, a woman, wanted to open a school, and he admired you very much, so he specially wrote an inscription to support you."

"Really?"

Mei Ran widened her eyes. She was originally still hesitating whether to continue running the school, but after hearing this, she was determined to do it no matter what.

"Is Master Mo Ran a man or a woman, and how old is he?"

There are many rumors about Master Mo Ran, but very few people have actually seen him. Not even many people know whether he is a man or a woman.

Although everyone thought he should be an old man with white beard, Mei Ran thought not.

"She is a woman in her forties."

Although Meng Xiyue wanted to say something more outrageous, she still didn't want to give this title to a man.

"I knew it."

Mei Ran was even more excited because the idol she admired was a woman like her and had the same name.

"Sister Mei, the master doesn't want anyone to disturb his peaceful life. You must not say that he appeared in the capital."

"Then what should I say?" This inscription is here, and when someone asks, I always have to give an explanation.

"Just say that you and the master met in Qingyun City and have been exchanging letters. He knew you were going to open an academy, so he specially wrote a calligraphy and sent it to you. As for where he is now, you don't know either."

Hearing this, Mei Ran also understood what she meant, and she nodded in agreement.

"Okay, I know what to say. I won't mention you."

"Sister Mei is so nice."

"I should be the one thanking you." Mei Ran looked at the calligraphy and painting in her hand and couldn't let it go. "This thing is really too precious. I want to keep it as a treasure and don't want to show it to others."

"Sister likes it. If I meet a master again in the future, I will ask for it for you. This calligraphy and painting is for sister to recruit students, so it can't be hidden."

Hearing her speak so casually, as if Master Mo Ran would paint if she asked him, Mei Ran became a little suspicious.

But she heard that Master Mo Ran might not paint even one painting in a whole year.

There seem to be only three pieces of calligraphy and paintings by Master Mo Ran that have been circulated so far.

How come painting seems so easy in Meng Xiyue's mouth?

Faced with her doubts, Meng Xiyue quickly changed the subject.

"Sister Mei, let's frame the calligraphy and paintings and hang them up."