After giving birth to twins, the princess became pregnant again, and the royal uncle took care of he

In the imperial court, the eyes of all the civil and military officials were drawn to the painting as if by a magnet, fixated on every detail, as if trying to imprint it deeply into their souls.

They stared intently, not missing a single change in lines, colors, and light.

They were trying their best to find the secret behind this masterpiece from these clues—how exactly was it born into the world?

Time ticked by, and the court remained shrouded in a suffocating silence. Finally, an official couldn't bear it any longer and broke the silence.

His lips trembled slightly, and although his voice was not loud, it contained an undisguised tremor:

"What... what kind of amazing magic is this?!"

His eyes, which were already wide open in astonishment, were now filled with even greater awe, as if he had witnessed a miracle from heaven.

At the same time, an irrepressible curiosity burned brightly in his eyes.

Another official gently stroked his beard, his expression grave, and slowly spoke:

"In my humble opinion, such a masterpiece is probably beyond the reach of humankind,"

"Perhaps only a divine gift, or some unknown and wondrous magic, could have created such a masterpiece."

His tone revealed a deep respect for the unknown world and a strong belief in supernatural forces.

Just then, Mu Qinyu, who had been sitting quietly to the side, suddenly stood up. She first nodded slightly to Chu Xingyao, and then said loudly:

"Miss Chu's paintings are indeed far superior to mine, and Yu'er is completely convinced of that."

These words caused an uproar in the court. No one expected that this talented woman, who always held herself in high esteem, would so frankly admit that she was inferior to others in skill.

At the same time, Surja echoed:

"Indeed, this painting truly deserves first place! I just wonder what unique painting technique Miss Chu used?"

Facing the eager gazes of the crowd, Chu Xingyao smiled slightly and began to patiently explain to everyone:

"My lords, please do not misunderstand. This is not magic, but a completely new art style."

I call it 'realistic painting style'.

"Its core purpose is to strive to accurately reproduce the scenes of the real world on the canvas."

"Through meticulous depiction of light, shadow, color, and object form, a lifelike and immersive experience is created."

Jun Jiuxiao slightly raised his eyes, his gaze falling on the woman in front of him, dressed in a bright red dress, who was speaking eloquently and fluently.

She was graceful and beautiful, with a face like a peach blossom. Her lips parted slightly as she spoke eloquently, and her confident and composed demeanor was captivating.

His lips unconsciously curled up, forming a faint smile.

However, deep down, he couldn't help but think to himself:

"Yao'er, oh Yao'er, in this life and the last, I was so ignorant that I never realized you had such outstanding talent and charm."

Just then, the emperor, seated on his high throne, slowly spoke:

"Since Princess Dingyuan has won first place in this competition, this incomparably precious phoenix tail feather brush naturally belongs to Princess Dingyuan."

As soon as she finished speaking, the eunuch beside her hurriedly and respectfully held the phoenix-tail feather brush and carefully walked up to Chu Xingyao.

Seeing this, Chu Xingyao gracefully extended her jade-like hand and gently took the calligraphy brush.

A radiant smile, as beautiful as spring blossoms, bloomed on her lips. She then gracefully curtsied to the Emperor and softly said:

"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty." She then turned around and handed the pen to Chu Xingyi beside her.

With a smile in his eyes, he said:

"Second brother, your calligraphy is the best in our family. I'm giving you this brush as a birthday gift."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xingyi was slightly taken aback, and then his eyes gradually reddened.

He gazed at his younger sister, his voice slightly choked as he said, "Yao'er, you..." Before he could finish speaking, he was already too excited to express himself.

Seeing this, Chu Xingyao winked mischievously and asked coquettishly, "Second Brother, do you not like this gift?"

Chu Xingyi quickly shook his head vigorously, took a deep breath to calm his surging emotions, and then replied with considerable pride:

"Second brother is very happy! Thank you for your kind words, little sister."

After saying that, he carefully took the box containing the phoenix-tail feather brush and hugged it tightly to his chest, as if afraid that it would suddenly disappear.

And so, until everyone left, he never let go of his hands, as if the box contained the most precious treasure in the world.

Just then, a clear and magnetic voice suddenly broke the silence:

"Sister Yao'er, your painting 'New Year's Eve Banquet' is truly exquisite! I wonder if you could gift it to me?"

The speaker was Jun Xuanche, who was smiling and looking intently at the scroll in Chu Xingyao's hand.

Seeing this, Surja quickly spoke up as well:

The painting by the Princess of Dingyuan is truly priceless! I am willing to offer ten thousand taels of gold for it; I wonder if the Princess would be willing to part with it, even with such a precious gift?

As he spoke, he cast an expectant glance at Chu Xingyao.

However, just when everyone thought Chu Xingyao would make a choice between the two, Jun Jiuxiao, who had been silent all along, suddenly raised his head.

His deep, pool-like eyes were fixed on Chu Xingyao, his voice cold, deep, and magnetic.

Piercing through the noise of the banquet, each word seemed to weigh a ton:

"Miss Chu, 'Ruifuzhai' is yours, and this painting belongs to me."

His tone was firm and unquestionable, every word revealing his domineering and resolute nature.

He thought to himself:

"The paintings drawn by my Yao'er can only belong to me alone."

This possessiveness is not just a desire for the painting.

Upon hearing this, Chu Xingyao couldn't help but turn to look at Jun Jiuxiao.

On her round and lovely face, her big eyes instantly curved into two crescent moons.

Two deep dimples were faintly visible, making her look as beautiful and charming as a peach blossom in spring.

A slight upturn of her lips revealed a sweet and gentle smile, and she responded softly:

"Very well, in that case, this painting naturally belongs to Your Highness, the War King!"

Her voice carried a hint of playfulness, yet was filled with deep respect and affection.

Her response was not only a concession to the painting, but also a response to Jun Jiuxiao's deep affection.

Speaking of "Ruifukuzai", everyone in bustling Kyoto knows that there is a confectionery shop called "Ruifukuzai" whose name is renowned and is hailed as the best in Kyoto.

The pastries there are not only delicious, but also renowned for their exquisite designs. Each piece is like a meticulously crafted work of art, leaving visitors in awe.

However, such delicacies are naturally expensive, making them inaccessible to ordinary people.

However, when Jun Jiuxiao casually offered "Ruifuzhai" as an exchange.

Everyone at the banquet was astonished when they learned that Chu Xingyao had personally painted the artwork.

They whispered amongst themselves, astonished by the prince's extravagant spending.

"Isn't this prince a bit too generous?" A soft sigh escaped her lips, filled with envy and doubt.

Another person chimed in, "But the prince himself admitted a few days ago that he had a woman he admired, and that woman even made him a sachet by hand!"

"I guess His Highness the War King and General Chu Huaizhong, the General Who Guards the South, have some connection."

Some have tried to explain all of this by attributing Jun Jiuxiao's actions to his deep friendship with the Chu family.

Jun Jiuxiao had no intention of explaining or clarifying. His eyes were deep and firm, and an invisible aura of authority quietly spread, causing those around him to fall silent in unison.

Jun Xuanche and Su Erjia exchanged a glance upon witnessing this scene, and a helpless expression appeared on their faces simultaneously.

However, faced with Jun Jiuxiao's forceful request, coupled with Chu Xingyao's unwavering agreement, the situation remained unchanged.

Even though they were unwilling, they could only silently give up their claim to the painting.

Just then, the eunuch's sharp and high-pitched voice rang out again:

"Now we begin the second round, the music competition officially starts. There are no restrictions on the instruments used, so please show your skills, everyone!"

As he finished speaking, the slightly somber atmosphere in the room was instantly broken.

All eyes in the room turned to Xie Wanning.