Song Residence.
Song Jiaren placed several branches of plum blossoms into a vase and suddenly asked Li Nuo, "How’s the matter with the Phoenix Lady?"
Li Nuo closed the book he was reading and looked up, "It’s been resolved."
Because of the Jade Sound Pavilion, the commotion this time was not small.
The street bullies of Chang’an were specially rectified, and the main culprit, the shopkeeper of the Happy Building, paid with his life. The Jade Sound Pavilion not only resolved the immediate crisis but also didn’t have to worry about similar incidents happening in the future.
It’s just that the rumor he had so painstakingly quashed ended up being in vain.
After this incident, people were dead set on not believing that he and Phoenix were innocent.
Li Nuo, for his part, didn’t mind. These rumors wouldn’t affect his relationship with his wife anymore.
But for the Phoenix, it was hard to say whether it was a good or bad thing.
In the future, definitely, no one would dare to trouble the Jade Sound Pavilion again, but she had been labeled as "the son of the Minister of Justice’s woman," and it was doubtful any man would dare to approach her.
If she couldn’t get married in the future, it was not his fault. Your journey continues at Freewebnovel
Speaking of the Phoenix, the Phoenix arrived.
Carrying a vase with flowers, she entered the room and said to Song Jiaren, "Miss Song, I apologize for not being able to visit earlier due to the Jade Sound Pavilion being so busy. I only managed to find the time today…"
The Phoenix came over this time to teach his wife painting.
Painting and floristry seemed unrelated, but were actually closely linked.
The former was used to lay the foundation for cultivating aesthetics. Anyone can put flowers in a vase, but selecting materials, arranging compositions, and coordinating colors are the key points and challenges. A deficiency in any aspect would diminish the grace of the arrangement.
Although Li Nuo never had such expectations of his wife in this regard,
it would certainly be better if she could be slightly touched by the essence of art.
The courtyard was brighter, and the two women sat in the pavilion, with the Phoenix explaining the mixing of colors in painting to Song Jiaren. Li Nuo stood at a distance, quietly watching them.
Two beauties together were truly a delightful sight.
The poem "Jiaren" had made the Song Residence a hot spot in Chang’an, with people lingering outside the residence every day, hoping to see what the Jiaren described in the poem looked like.
A song "Phoenix Seeking His Mate" had made the Phoenix’s name known throughout Chang’an and the business of the Jade Sound Pavilion flourished more than before.
Both were known as the foremost beauties of Chang’an, a testament to the power of poetry and literature.
Their appearances indeed stood out among women, but just as there is no first in literature, there is no second in martial arts, and appearances are much the same.
To say his wife is the foremost beauty of Chang’an, Phoenix would definitely disagree; if Phoenix claimed to be the foremost beauty of Chang’an, Princess Li Anning would have something to say, and the other women would not concede either.
But both being beauties, one with the addition of literary works and the other’s beauty unknown to others, the difference immediately became apparent.
Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun, Diao Chan, and Yang Yuhuan are recognized as the four great beauties of history, and there must have been countless women more beautiful than them throughout the ages who have not left their names behind.
Given similar physical attributes, works of art became the deciding factor.
The same principle applied to the previous selection of the Oiran.
It was just a pity that Princess Li Anning was not there.
The painting that Li Nuo gave her was hung prominently in the most conspicuous spot in the government office, catching the eye of every Ministry of Justice official who came for business.
The lives of officials were actually quite monotonous, and they enjoyed gathering for idle chat when unoccupied.
And so, word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and Princess Anning, "whose smile sparked unparalleled beauty, making all other ladies in the palace lose their luster," finally became known for her beauty rather than her capability.
As he thought of Princess Li Anning, footsteps approached from the doorway.
Li Nuo turned his head and thought to himself that today was indeed a day where wishes were fulfilled.
Princess Li Anning originally had matters to discuss with Li Nuo, but her gaze swept over the pavilion in the courtyard, and she paused slightly.
What is she doing here?
And laughing and talking with Song Jiaren, looking quite familiar...
In her efforts to ensure harmony between her husband and herself, she tried every means to prevent her husband from contacting the Phoenix, yet here she was, bringing her right into their home!
Li Nuo looked toward Princess Li Anning and asked, "Is there another case?"
Princess Li Anning was already feeling gloomy, and seeing the Phoenix only made her mood worse, she replied grumpily, "Can’t I come here if there’s no case? I’m looking for Ning’er and Mumu, not you…"
Ning’er and Mumu did indeed like Princess Li Anning very much.
Because she was willing to play those childish games with them.
Princess Li Anning glanced at the Phoenix and Song Jiaren in the pavilion and asked, "What are they doing?"
Li Nuo said, "You’ll know if you go over and take a look."
Princess Li Anning gave him a glance and walked slowly over, standing behind and watching.
Li Nuo grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds; Princess Li Anning was watching the two of them, while he was watching the three of them.
The three most famous beauties of Chang’an standing together was probably a sight only he had the chance to appreciate.
Beautiful things can always bring a pleasant enjoyment.
For example, arranging flowers, or like a beauty.
Three beauties, each beautiful in their own right, truly a harmonious and delightful sight for the eyes.
Unfortunately, such beautiful scenes are not common.
Li Nuo thought for a moment, then walked back to his room and quickly sketched the outlines on rice paper.
Just yesterday, he had painted for Li Anning, and holding to the principle of not wasting, while his ability was still intact, why not immortalize the beauty he had just witnessed?
Before long, Li Anning came in and saw the unfinished painting on the table. She rolled her eyes at him and asked, "Why are you painting us?"
Li Nuo replied, "Just bored, painting for the sake of it."
In the pavilion in the courtyard, Song Jiaren was earnestly learning color mixing with Phoenix.
In the room, Li Anning sat beside the table, propping her chin with one hand, her pretty face occasionally showing a look of worry.
Li Nuo glanced at her and asked, "What’s wrong? You seem unhappy."
Li Anning glared at him and said, "It’s all your fault!"
Li Nuo was slightly taken aback, "What did I do?"
He had been nothing but good to her recently.
Both with painting and writing poetry, how could it be his fault?
Li Anning looked at him, her eyes filled with deep reproach.
A moment later, Li Nuo put down his brush, a look of speechlessness on his face.
It really was a problem with the paintings and the poetry.
As a princess of the Imperial Family, Li Anning previously did not have much presence in Chang’an.
For the past few years, she had been cultivating at the Ministry of Justice, involved at the frontline, reviewing and investigating cases daily, shuttling between the Ministry of Justice and the Princess Mansion.
Apart from the officials of the Ministry of Justice and a few courtiers, very few people even knew about this, and if it weren’t for the recent romantic rumors with him, the common people wouldn’t know that such a princess existed.
Her low-profile and unadorned life came to an end during these few days.
A poem with high recitation frequency was enough to spread her fame all across Chang’an in a very short time.
Whether Song Jiaren or Jiang Dai’er was the number one beauty of Chang’an was still debatable.
But the number one beauty of the court, undeniably, was Princess Anning.
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Her appearance and figure were unquestionably top-notch.
This could easily be confirmed by the officials from the Ministry of Justice.
Gradually, people began to mention her alongside the other two beauties, collectively calling them the "Chang’an Three Beauties."
Graceful and refined ladies are to gentlemen’s liking; among the Chang’an Three Beauties, Song Jiaren was already spoken for, and Phoenix, as the rumored lover of a certain villainous character’s son, was also off-limits for anyone harboring ulterior motives.
Only Princess Anning was still genuinely single.
The excessive discussion had fully brought her into the public’s eye.
Some courtiers finally remembered, oh, the Imperial Family had such a princess.
The eighteen-year-old princess, by all accounts, should have been married by now.
Li Nuo himself was married at eighteen.
Many others even had several children by the age of eighteen.
It was said that the Ministry of Rites was already selecting a suitable Prince Consort for her, apart from the prominent families of Daxia, some princes from other nations also expressed their desire to form a marriage alliance with Daxia...
Looking at Li Anning’s resentful gaze, Li Nuo found himself at a loss for words.
Although the poem was her request, if there was someone to blame, it could also be him.
Li Anning glanced at him and said, "I don’t care, you fix the trouble you’ve caused!"
Having been through past experiences, Li Nuo was actually quite accustomed to Li Anning’s unreasonable fits, feeling a sense of normalcy.
But as much as he could manage heaven and earth, could he really manage a princess’s marriage?
However, marrying at eighteen was indeed early.
Wasn’t Phoenix, at twenty-one, still an unmarried young woman?
Everyone had different thoughts, but it was important to hear her opinion.
Li Nuo looked at Li Anning and asked, "What do you think?"
Li Anning replied, "Think about what?"
Li Nuo asked, "No matter what, you’re already eighteen. Even if this issue is resolved smoothly this time, you’ll have to face it again. Have you thought about when you want to get married?"
Li Anning turned to look outside and said, "I’ll wait a bit longer."
Li Nuo asked, puzzled, "Wait for what?"
Li Anning glared at him and said irritably, "It’s none of your business what I’m waiting for!"