Cora Ruan and the Painter's Secret Chapter 5

Cora Ruan frowned upon hearing this, and his eyes were stern. Sutton Shi glanced at him, but his attitude was still indifferent.

Now that she thinks about what happened that night, she gets angry. Cora Ruan has disturbed the matter that she has been secretly planning for a long time. If she takes the opportunity to take away the third prince, she can return to Jing Kingdom early.

But it doesn't work now. Whether Golden Ray Guard will reveal the third prince is completely a gamble.

After receiving a slap from General Alder for nothing, Sutton Shi suppressed his anger and calmed down and said, "If Miss Ruan Er wants me to paint, then I'll sit there."

Cora Ruan couldn't see the look on her face. When he spoke, this man looked so majestic that he didn't look like he was a descendant of the high priest.

Jing State has a high priest who is responsible for the astrology of the capital. Although there are also people in Yichuan land in the past, the ethnic groups are different and the gods they believe in are also different.

I heard that many years ago, when Queen Isla came to the throne, her biological mother died due to the evil words of the high priest, so she killed the high priest. This descendant lived among the people. The high priest was not allowed to show his face to others for the rest of his life and always wore a mask.

The female descendants of the high priest also follow the ancestral teachings and cannot be touched by others. It is unknown whether these rumors are true or false. Only those with faith will not live a boring life.

Cora Ruan's eyes moved to the stool next to her. The pictures and texts carved on the round mahogany stool were very similar to the clothes Sutton Shi was wearing. She touched the cloak belt with her hand and wanted to take it off.

But Sutton Shi said, "Second Miss, this cloak looks good on you, and the painting looks good. Sending the painting to Xunzhou will also make the family owner feel more at ease." She seemed to be a reminder, but it also meant something else.

Cora Ruan put down his hand, walked to the side and sat down. Since they were here today, they painted a portrait together. Sydney Sang passed the message to the Queen Mother so that she would not feel that she was having an affair.

When Sutton Shi saw her sitting down, he took his pen and ink and stood in front of the case, "Miss Ruan, please don't move. Painting is a delicate job. If you move it, you will have to repaint." Sutton Shi reminded softly while grinding the grinding block.

The landscape paintings hanging in the house are masterpieces. Cora Ruan had seen the portrait of Sutton Shi in Xunzhou. The brushwork and ink were just right, and his technique could not be copied by others.

Sutton Shi looked as gentle as the daughter of the courtyard wall, but in fact she was more calm and leisurely than the girl in the boudoir.

Cora Ruan didn't move. When she met Sutton Shi's eyes, she moved away unconsciously. Sutton Shi dipped in ink and looked at her. Cora Ruan looked exactly like Yao Chi Xian.

This is the only weird thing in the world. Zhong Lingyu's graceful elegance, and the integrity in her bones when she raised her head seemed to be like the winter bamboo in front of the Hanlin Academy that was not melted by the snow. Sutton Shi looked at it for a while, and then he had the idea to write.

The tip of the pen passed the paper, and her jade finger moved slightly. She raised her eyes and looked at Cora Ruan, and had another idea, "Second Miss Ruan is sitting too upright, please move further out."

Cora Ruan paused. At home, she only sat on half of the stool and relied on her legs to support it. She swallowed her saliva and moved slightly.

Sutton Shi raised the corners of her lips slightly, put aside the rice paper and took out a new one to continue. She drew slowly and slowly, and the black ink that fell on the paper dried quickly.

The bamboo charcoal was burning loudly, and the brazier was not far from Cora Ruan. When sparks flew towards her feet, she shrank back.

In less than half a quarter of an hour, sweat was already forming on his forehead. With this useless posture and the untied cloak, the heat in the room penetrated directly into his clothes.

"I told you not to move." Sutton Shi said the most distressing words in the gentlest tone. The woman in the painting had a graceful and charming face.

Cora Ruan looked at her, eyebrows furrowed, Sutton Shi tore up the painting, and walked forward with crooked eyebrows: "This room is too dark, the snowy scenery in the courtyard looks good, and it contrasts with Miss Ruan's Yaochi fairy" "Honorable title, if I enjoy painting, I may be able to remember where Miss Ruan Er's silver lock was lost."

Cora Ruan looked out the window. The falling snow was blurring in the distance, and the brazier heated her calves. She understood the meaning of wine.

As soon as she stood up, Sutton Shi raised her voice and ordered, "Nolan Nan, prepare pen and ink." The person who spoke had already stepped out of the door.

Cora Ruan was easy to be bullied because she couldn't speak. She could not go to this courtyard. If she wanted to punish the female painter, she would have to write as many words as she wanted and submit it to the Queen Mother for her decision.

Where did she start talking about the silver lock? Thinking of this, she felt powerless. It was obvious that the wine was playing tricks on her, and she couldn't tell it.

The goose catkins that fell to the ground melted away, and the cold air almost captivated the sky. When the blue bricks and stone slabs came, there were still some shadows, but now only a piece of white remains.

Cora Ruan had pieces of snow hanging on her head, and her long eyelashes were fluttering with her cheeks turning red from the cold. There were not many beggars in Chilin who froze to death every year. Before and after New Year's Eve, she had heard from Sydney Sang that there were young eunuchs who had been punished by Concub!nes and froze to death. .

She looked under the eaves. Sutton Shi was holding the pen without any discomfort. The screen standing covered with snow blocked the cold wind from the north.

Cora Ruan couldn't help but squeeze her sleeves. Her legs seemed numb, and her lips turned white unconsciously. She lowered her head slightly to block the cold snow.

When Sutton Shi looked at her, he happened to see her petite body shivering in the cold wind. Nolan Nan glanced at her, walked closer and asked softly: "Do we have to let her go? If she freezes to death here, she will cause trouble." trouble."

"It's trouble." Sutton Shi's expression did not change and he continued to do what he was doing. The belt on Cora Ruan's waist was unique. This was the first time he had seen such embroidery.

Nolan Nan looked at Cora Ruan's frail appearance and felt pity. It may not be a blessing for the girl to be born like this. "That day, she was thinking of His Highness's life-saving grace. See, this body that has just recovered from a serious injury may not be able to survive." "Hold on."

When Sutton Shi heard the words, he suddenly turned his head, his eyes were like ice and snow, "Is she saving me? She is protecting herself." Sutton Shi put down the pen, picked up the drawing paper on the table and looked at it, "Look, she is alive The girl from a noble family is like a cup of turbid wine. "The corners of Sutton Shi's lips are slightly raised."

After saying that, Sutton Shi placed the portrait on the table. Cora Ruan saw Nolan Nan put away her pen. She breathed a sigh of relief and moved her legs, her whole body shaking violently.

Sutton Shi walked towards the attic. Cora Ruan followed with her arms folded. Her legs were so numb that she almost fell down due to the heavy snow. Cora Ruan did not want to lose the silver lock. That object was the only thing that accompanied her. thing.

She did not step into the house, but stood at the door. Her hair was wet with melted snowflakes, and her cloak was wet and messy. Even so, Cora Ruan still looked up at Sutton Shi, waiting for her to take out the silver lock.

Sutton Shi washed his hands, and when his ink-stained fingertips dipped into the ice water, a little black smoke spread out in the cold water.

"Yinsuo, I didn't think of it." Sutton Shi didn't turn around to look at her.

As soon as the last note fell, the footsteps were getting closer and closer. She stopped her hand and looked sideways at Cora Ruan. There was a trace of wolfishness in the eyes of the delicate girl in the heavy snow, but she didn't look cruel.

Cora Ruan just looked at her like this and paused for a moment. The temperature in the room made her feel relieved for a while. She looked at the wooden bucket next to her. Half of the water in the bucket was still black. It looked like it was used to wash paint brushes. .

Cora Ruan squatted down and lifted the bucket. Fortunately, the half bucket of water was half effortless. Sutton Shi's eyes sank but he didn't speak.

The black water was poured directly on her body. Just as the brazier behind Sutton Shi was hit by the ice water, the grass and trees turned to ashes and smoke went up, and the air was filled with a slightly pungent smell.

The white clothes Sutton Shi wore were stained and turned black, like a painting soaked by heavy rain. The wooden barrel made a sound against the partition, and the raised plant ash also floated towards her.

She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She underestimated this delicate flower. She thought Cora Ruan would swallow her anger, but she didn't expect it to happen like this.

Nolan Nan heard the movement and hurried upstairs to see this scene, "Painter."

"You're so angry, aren't you afraid of hurting your old illness?" Sutton Shi looked at Cora Ruan and asked, keeping himself calm and natural.

Cora Ruan glared at her, saying that it was not appropriate for a quarrel. He threw up his sleeves and walked away. She was still coughing muffledly when she arrived at the door. There happened to be a window facing Sutton Shi at the entrance of the stairs.

Sutton Shi watched the red shadow floating downwards, shook off the water stains on her hands, turned away and ordered, "Clean up the floor." She bypassed the brazier and went behind the screen.

Nolan Nan said: "Yes, His Highness is right. Girls raised by aristocratic families are indeed not good people." Nolan Nan looked at the door, thoughtfully.

"How's the investigation going with the Jinlui Guard?" Sutton Shi asked while untying his clothes.

Nolan Nan closed the window sensibly and replied: "The commander is ill, and the matter has been left to the people below to investigate."

Sutton Shi sneered, "It's a quick move. The Golden Thread Guard couldn't confess the third prince. If the Ruan family wanted to pursue the matter, there was nothing they could do if they were forced to do so." Sutton Shi took off his mask, and the tear marks fell on his hair across the corners of his eyes. side.

"But Ruan didn't seem to think about pursuing it." Nolan Nan cleaned up the dirt on the ground.

Sutton Shi took off his coat and put it on the screen, "That's because they want to protect Miss Ruan. If they don't pursue it, they will have one less enemy. The third prince Camden Chen's princess is the maid of Xingbu. If Camden Chen goes away, Didn't the princess become an official prostitute?" Sutton Shi took the new robe without haste.

When she saw that the inner lining was soaked and stuck to her skin, her whole face darkened.

Nolan Nan said: "Your Highness is right. The Queen Mother wants to use this to bring down Camden Chen. Will there be any rift with Teacher Ruan because of this?"

"No, the Meng family is fighting in the desert. If there is a rift at this moment and it is not good for her, what she wants is a puppet emperor with humerus at her side. The Yingnan family is her only handle. Otherwise, how could she be in a hurry? He hurriedly brought Miss Ruan into the palace. "Sutton Shi straightened his sleeves.

Nowadays, the desert barbarians are coming fiercely, and they have lost several cities one after another, and Chilin's cavalry cannot be mobilized. It would be good if they win this battle, but if they lose, the Meng family will have to be demoted one level in the court.

Nolan Nan had almost finished cleaning up, and when she saw Sutton Shi put on a mask and came out from behind the screen, she said: "The Queen Mother has been in power for decades, so I'm afraid she can't be easily shaken. Since the Ruan family doesn't want to investigate, then Camden Chen can't die. Today's He is the biggest threat among the princes. Should Your Highness wait for the Queen Mother to take action, or will you eradicate the scourge yourself? "

"One of the banquets at the Third Prince's Mansion is for Miss Ruan Er. Let's wait for now." Sutton Shi said firmly, but he looked so unhappy.

The Queen Mother will follow the wishes of Grand Master Ruan, and the Jinlui Guards can only delay it if they can't give any results. This will help Camden Chen get rid of the charges. There is no complete evidence, but everyone knows it.

Although Sutton Shi felt something was wrong, Camden Chen was the one who took the blame, and the emperor did not dare to deal with the matter openly.

That day she was transferred to the mountains to collect scenery, and it was Camden Chen who mentioned it to the emperor first, and then the emperor issued this edict, with the purpose of killing Cora Ruan and making her take the blame.

The third princess did not participate in the affairs, but she married a virtuous wife, and the Ruan family did not pursue it. He would definitely hold a banquet to make friends, and show off his face to others, completely clearing the suspicion of the Three Princes' Mansion. After all, there is no complete evidence about the assassin.