You rascal, stop right there!

Jingshan Thatched Cottage.

The secluded place of Ling Shumo and Bai Wan.

It is quiet and elegant, nestled between the mountains and the water. Compared to its somewhat simple appearance four years ago, it is now paved with bluestone bricks, and even the wood carvings at the door are lifelike.

The original bamboo fence is still there, and even the plum tree in the middle has grown up, blooming and emitting fragrance under the snow and frost.

There is even an acre of land, a well, a chicken coop, a duck pen, etc. next to the yard.

It's like a pastoral life, with peaceful years.

Chai Jin had changed his clothes and was standing in front of the fence in an ordinary gray gown. He looked at everything in front of him with a lot of emotion.

Even after many years, Han Miaoran and Ling Shumo's life is still so simple and ordinary, without any trace of luxury.

"Han Huasheng, Academician Ling, and I, the junior Chai Jin, request an audience."

Chai Jin was carrying several carefully selected boxes of rare mineral pigments, a toad inkstone, and a visiting card written in cinnabar.

Han Miaoran rejected ostentation, was simple and honest, and hated pretense. These etiquettes were the only ones he could think of.

After waiting in front of the fence gate for an hour, the sunset glow filled the distant mountain clouds.

He leaned sideways over the fence and saw Bai Wan and Ling Shumo coming towards him.

Many years have passed, but the painter still has a noble temperament and is bold and unrestrained. He is wearing a white fur coat and a green gauze hat, making it difficult for people to look directly at him.

"You?! Brother Chai?"

When Bai Wan approached, he recognized the other person's identity at a glance.

Chai Jin bowed and saluted: "Greetings to the Master of Painting, Han. It has been many years since we last met. I am sorry for the intrusion!"

Four years have passed, and he has grown a lot taller. He no longer looks as thin as before when he stands in front of me.

"Are you here to visit in advance for the New Year, or are you here to become my disciple?"

Bai Wan pretended to be relaxed as he opened the fence and asked angrily.

"Abai, this painter Chai is probably here to look for you in the capital."

Ling Shumo straightforwardly exposed the other party's identity.

"Ah?" Bai Wan was stunned for a moment, then he turned sideways to take a closer look at the other person.

He followed Ling Shumo's gaze and looked down, only to find that this man had changed all his clothes but had forgotten his official boots.

The other person's eyes when looking at him were no longer as naive as they were in the past, but were filled with respect and maturity.

"Master Han, I am grateful for your life-saving teachings. I have now been admitted to the Academy of Painting."

Chai Jin bowed respectfully.

"That... is good... you should just be a good painter." Bai Wan smiled and didn't care about it.

The person opposite walked into the house through the wooden fence between the two of them and carefully placed the gift box on the stone table next to them.

"Han Painting Saint! Your painting skills are beyond compare, unmatched in the world. I cannot bear to see you buried in this countryside."

"Now that Emperor Qing has unified the Three Kingdoms, he is about to create the greatest map of the world. This map will surely go down in history. I cannot bear to see your precious talent lie in obscurity, so I wish to bring you to the capital to serve His Majesty together."

Chai Jin immediately knelt on the ground, saluted with both hands and raised his head.

He spoke sincerely and his eyes sparkled.

Hey--

Bai Wan looked at the man and took a deep breath.

"How come after four years, your character is still undecided?"

"There's no painting saint here, just an ordinary citizen who knows a little bit about writing."

Chai Jin was a little anxious. He knelt down and moved his knees, which were in pain.

"But you are the Saint of Painting! Why don't you paint the best picture in the world?"

Bai Wan was unmoved and said amusedly: "I'm not!"

He denied it flatly without any hesitation.

The empty title of the painting saint is meaningless. It is better to seek the state of selflessness through painting.

Ling Shumo pushed him aside and said lightly, "Listen carefully, it's not."

Bai Wan directly held hands with the person next to him, turned his back to that person, and handed the gift box back to the other person.

He coughed a few times and shook his head.

"There has never been a best map in this world."

The tone is like sighing and mourning...

After a moment, the two of them turned around and walked into the house.

Chai Jin looked at their backs and watched them leave, so determined, upright and unmoved.

He shouted proudly and eagerly:

"Han Huasheng!"

"How could there not be a best map in the world?"

The breath in his chest roared into his mouth.

"Han Huasheng!"

Bai Wan returned to the room and looked out the window at the man who was still kneeling in the middle of the yard. He said to Ling Shumo:

"So-called painting saints, so-called names that go down in history, are just empty titles. I just want to paint whatever I want."

"Only young people who are full of vigor would seek fame like this. What a fool. Zichen, am I right?"

Ling Shumo looked at him quietly, his eyes shining with elegance and as calm as Yue Hun.

He hugged her and smiled leisurely.

"When you took the exam to become a court painter, it seemed like you were trying to make a name for yourself, and you always felt the salary was too low."

"Zi Chen, how could you sabotage us like this!"

Bai Wan choked and glared at the man evilly.

It’s better not to bring up such old things.

The longer they were married, the more he realized that Zi Chen remembered everything clearly in his little notebook, which was quite scary.

Ling Shumo's smile was so bright that she held his hand and tilted his neck: "Hmm?"

Bai Wan understood what he meant.

He was determined to have a fight with this person, so he bit the other person's neck as usual.

Ling Shumo was not surprised at all, and looked at the person in his arms tenderly.

"Done biting?"

"It's even. He's worthy of being my husband Ling. He's easier to chew than a sweet potato."

Bai Wan rubbed the other person's arm complacently and smiled evilly.

All I can say is that he took advantage of everyone.

Afterwards, the two of them looked out the window with worry in their eyes.

in fact--

They were even more worried that Chai Jin would know that they were living in seclusion here and would refuse to repent.

After all, people are different.

……

Thunder and lightning.

The weather was not good and it started to rain heavily.

Chai Jin knelt for less than half a cup of tea before finally standing up and leaving the cottage.

He sat in the post station, looking at the dim candlelight in the room, the imperial edict in his hand felt heavy.

"Lord Chai Shizhao, we haven't found any news about Han Huasheng in the surrounding towns and villages today. Should we move to another town?"

The officers and soldiers next to him bowed to him.

Seeing this, Chai Jin laughed bitterly and said, "Wait two more days."