After the death of the host: the tyrant cried red eyes

Lu Zhong looked innocent and responded in a low voice: "Your Majesty, I wanted to remind you, but the emperor winked at me as soon as he arrived, so I dared not say anything."

Shen Bingning was annoyed: "At least give me a hint!"

Lu Zhong looked even more aggrieved: "I coughed several times, but you were so focused on painting that you didn't hear it at all."

Shen Bingning was about to retort, but was interrupted by Xiao Yi's cold words: "Have you talked enough? Do you want me to step aside and let you guys talk to your heart's content?"

This untimely question silenced Shen Bingning and Lu Zhong. They exchanged glances and tacitly chose to remain silent.

Xiao Yi held the portrait in front of Shen Bingning, and the corners of his mouth curled up in a smile: "It seems that the Queen is dissatisfied with me and is using the painting to express her emotions?"

"How can it be!"

Shen Bingning widened her eyes, trying her best to look sincere, and defended herself confidently: "It was because I missed the emperor too much that I painted this portrait."

"Cough cough!"

Lu Zhong who was standing by was shocked by Shen Bingning's ability to lie with her eyes open. Such an ugly portrait could actually be interpreted as being expressed out of longing. Her calmness without changing her expression was truly admirable.

"Miss me?"

Xiao Yi was obviously surprised by this reason. He gently tapped the extremely ugly face in the painting with his finger, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "You painted me so ugly, and you still have the nerve to say it's because you miss me?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Bingning did not flinch at all, but instead became more confident: "I am not good at painting. I only painted this picture because I missed the emperor so much. If the emperor wants to blame me, just blame me for my poor skills!"

"Ouch!"

Lu Zhong took a deep breath and felt worried for Shen Bingning.

Looking at the Empress' self-righteous and neither humble nor arrogant look, if others had not seen with their own eyes the scene of her laughing while painting, they would have mistakenly thought that the Emperor was too harsh and misunderstood this woman who was the mother of the country.

She was almost deceived by the queen's innocent expression and almost believed that this was all a baseless misunderstanding.

However, when she involuntarily raised her eyelids, trying to find a hint of recognition from Xiao Yi, she was met with his cold eyes like ice. There was an unquestionable majesty in his eyes, which made her timid in an instant. She lowered her eyelids in a hurry, not daring to act rashly again.

Xiao Yi withdrew his sharp gaze, and complex emotions surged in his deep eyes.

He stared at Shen Bingning's proudly raised chin and the calm confidence on her face. He knew clearly in his heart that she was taking the opportunity to retaliate and deliberately find fault.

However, she did everything perfectly, and he couldn't find any evidence to blame her. This frustration made him feel depressed.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Yi angrily threw the painting back on the table, making a dissatisfied sound, snorted coldly, and said: "What is this painting of? It doesn't look like a person, nor an object. It's out of place!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Bingning immediately responded with a hint of joking in her voice: "Your Majesty's criticism is very correct. I have learned my lesson."

Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows, obviously not intending to let her go, his eyes flashing with amusement and challenge: "Since the Queen misses me so much, but cannot capture even a fraction of my charm on the canvas, then from now on, you will continue to paint until you can accurately depict my true appearance."

"Your Majesty ordered it—eh?"

Shen Bingning nodded perfunctorily, and suddenly felt that there seemed to be something fishy in his words. Recalling his words, she suddenly came to her senses and looked at Xiao Yi in surprise. She saw a playful light flashing in his eyes. She hurriedly explained: "I am not very talented and well-educated. I am afraid that even if I paint all night, it will be difficult to ..."

"Then paint all night long."

Xiao Yi interrupted her without allowing her to argue, turned around and sat on the small couch where she loved to lean on when she was lazy, and said with a tone of determination that could not be refused: "I will supervise it personally."

Shen Bingning forced a smile, but the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth revealed her inner helplessness and dissatisfaction.

A little impatience will ruin a great plan. She didn't believe that Xiao Yi, as the king of a country, really had so much free time to watch her paint.

Time passed quietly, and in the blink of an eye, two hours had passed.

"Snapped!"

The brush slipped from Shen Bingning's trembling fingertips. She bent down to pick it up. Her arms were sore from the long hours of work, as if they no longer belonged to her.

Taking a deep breath, she secretly looked to the side, only to see Xiao Yi leaning leisurely on the small couch, sipping tea slowly, looking relaxed and contented.

How is this possible! How could the emperor of today have such leisure time to really sit here and watch her paint?

As if feeling her gaze, Xiao Yi looked up and his eyes met hers.

Although Shen Bingning was complaining in her heart, she still forced a flattering smile on her face, lowered her head, and continued to bury herself in the drawing paper.

I don’t know how many times I have picked up the brush, but compared to my previous failed works, this painting finally has a bit of resilience.

Shen Bingning raised her paintbrush, holding onto a glimmer of hope, and whispered, "Your Majesty, I've finished the painting."

"Ah."

Xiao Yi then slowly stood up and walked to the table. After examining it for a moment, he gently shook his head and said, "Redraw it."

To Shen Bingning, these two words were like a devilish sound in her ears.

"I am a stupid person, please teach me something personally, Your Majesty."

She muttered quietly, thinking to herself, since she couldn't have peace, Xiao Yi couldn't expect to have a leisurely life either!

"Oh?"

Xiao Yi didn't care. He reached out and held her hand holding the pen. He leaned forward slightly and got closer to her: "Are you satisfied with this teaching?"

Sensing his approaching breath, Shen Bingning's breathing stagnated and she nodded: "Your Majesty, please teach me how to paint the king's majesty and grace."

Seeing that she was absent-minded, Xiao Yi was in a good mood and did not expose her. He raised a barely perceptible smile and whispered, "Watch carefully, this is the only time."

"Uh-huh!"

Shen Bingning nodded repeatedly, staring intently at Xiao Yi moving her hands freely on the white paper.

At first, her attention was completely attracted by Xiao Yi, but as the pen tip jumped on the paper, a portrait gradually took shape, and her whole attention was attracted by this magical process.

It is incredible that the pen that was so clumsy in her hand became so agile in Xiao Yi's hand. With just a few strokes, he outlined the charm of the character, which is breathtaking!

Shen Bingning looked at Xiao Yi suspiciously, her heart full of confusion.

Did he really use himself as a model in private, practicing day after day just to be able to portray himself vividly?

Imagining the scene of Xiao Yi sitting quietly in his study, sketching his own appearance stroke by stroke, she couldn't help but chuckle, with a smile quietly blooming in the corners of her eyes.