Later, Shen Jing arrived at the palace.
As soon as Shen Jing arrived, he found that Xiao Ba Po, Ye Li, was standing at the entrance.
Yes, his address for Ye Li had already changed.
From a little girl to Xiao Ba Po!
Who told Xiao Ba Po to ruin his good deed?
"Greetings, Princess."
Shen Jing saluted somewhat reluctantly.
Ye Li nodded lightly, then elegantly instructed the eunuch leading the way: "You may withdraw!"
"Yes!"
The eunuch bowed and retreated.
As soon as the eunuch left, Ye Li circled Shen Jing, scrutinizing him up and down, teasing with a mischievous look: "Marquis Shen, wearing this official robe, actually looks the part!"
Shen Jing shook his head with a bitter smile, "To be honest, I really don't want to wear this official robe."
"You're getting a bargain and still acting coy!"
Ye Li glared at him, then widened her eyes and said, "I warn you, if you dare to get Imperial Father drunk again, I will personally castrate you!"
"Princess, you can't blame me for that!"
Shen Jing was very innocent, "I never dreamed that the Emperor would specifically hide his identity to see me! If you had told me earlier that it was the Emperor, I definitely would have…"
"Less chatter, just remember my warning!"
Ye Li glared at him in dissatisfaction.
"Mhm, mhm."
Shen Jing nodded perfunctorily.
This Xiao Ba Po!
The father and daughter conspired to set him up, and he hadn't even blamed her yet, but she was blaming him?
It's a good thing she's a Princess; otherwise, with her attitude, she'd be beaten to tears wherever she went.
"Alright, come with me!"
Ye Li said, then twisted her slender waist and walked out.
Shen Jing looked at her warily, "Princess, where are you taking me?"
"Look at you, do you think I'd sell you off?"
Ye Li looked at Shen Jing with amusement, walking and saying, "Imperial Father and Mother Consort unexpectedly found several sweet osmanthus trees in full bloom while strolling in the Imperial Garden, so they decided to have dinner in the Imperial Garden."
"Oh, oh."
Shen Jing smiled, suddenly enlightened.
He wasn't worried about Xiao Ba Po selling him off; he was just wary of her digging a pit for him.
Led by Ye Li, Shen Jing arrived at the Imperial Garden.
From afar, he saw Emperor Zhou and Pei Ji sitting in a pavilion in the Imperial Garden, chatting.
Shen Jing secretly guessed that Emperor Zhou was probably discussing the specific details of how he breached the city wall of Yuping Pass with Pei Ji.
Although Pei Ji had sent a battle report to Emperor Zhou, it certainly wouldn't have explained this matter clearly.
Heh heh, good thing he was prepared!
He was about to walk over there but was pulled back by Ye Li.
"This way!"
Ye Li pointed to the front right, "Imperial Father is discussing matters with Duke Qi; you go help Mother Consort paint a portrait first."
"Paint a portrait?"
Shen Jing's face was full of black lines.
First, he was asked to receive the Yong Country Delegation, then to paint a portrait for Consort Xian.
Am I a brick, to be moved wherever needed?
"That's right!"
Ye Li's lips curved, "You must paint it well. If you dare to be perfunctory, I…"
"The Princess will castrate me, right?"
Shen Jing cut her off, looking displeased.
This Xiao Ba Po, she only knows how to threaten people with that!
I'm an imperial official now, for heaven's sake; you can't just castrate me, can you?
"Good that you know!"
Ye Li proudly raised her head, then chuckled, "If you paint it to Mother Consort's satisfaction, I'll ask Imperial Father for a reward for you!"
"Then I'd rather not paint it well."
Shen Jing looked sideways at Ye Li, "Princess, it's best if you ask the Emperor to punish me severely, directly dismiss me from office, and just leave me with a noble title."
"If you ask me, you're just ungrateful!"
Ye Li glanced at him, then said, "I've already ordered people to prepare the paints. Can you color it after you've drawn it?"
"That depends on the situation!"
Shen Jing didn't agree directly, "My painting style is a bit different; sometimes, coloring might not look very good."
The two walked and talked, finally arriving at a corner of the Imperial Garden.
There, several orange-red osmanthus trees were in full bloom.
A beautifully dressed woman sat there admiring the flowers.
"This is my Mother Consort."
Ye Li led Shen Jing forward and introduced Consort Xian to him.
"Ah?"
Shen Jing feigned surprise, "This is Consort Xian?"
"What, do I not look like it?"
Consort Xian smiled, scrutinizing Shen Jing up and down.
He's quite a handsome man!
"Greetings, Consort Xian!"
Shen Jing saluted Consort Xian, then explained, "Your Ladyship is too young; this humble one almost thought Your Ladyship was the Princess's elder sister!"
Ye Li's face twitched violently, and she looked at Shen Jing speechlessly.
Could his flattery be any more fake?
Although her Mother Consort indeed didn't look old, she was definitely not as young as Shen Jing made her out to be.
Shen Jing automatically ignored Ye Li's gaze.
He had heard from Su Yourong that Emperor Zhou and the Empress were deeply devoted to each other.
Since the Empress passed away from illness three years ago, Emperor Zhou had not re-established an Empress and had warned his ministers that no one was to discuss the matter of establishing an Empress.
Now, the inner palace was essentially managed by Consort Xian and Consort Liang.
Shouldn't he flatter her profusely?
After all, which woman doesn't like to hear others say she's young?
"Lord Shen certainly knows how to speak."
Consort Xian was amused by Shen Jing, smiling and saying, "I've also seen the portrait you painted for Qinghe; you painted it very well, and I like it very much. Please trouble you to paint one for me as well!"
"Your Ladyship, you flatter this humble one."
Shen Jing smiled, "It is this humble one's honor to be able to paint a portrait for Your Ladyship."
Consort Xian smiled sweetly, then turned to look at Ye Li: "Marquis Shen is graceful and treats people with courtesy and propriety. How is he as frivolous as you say? In the future, don't just speak ill of him to everyone you meet."
"He's faking it!"
Ye Li ruthlessly exposed Shen Jing, "If he didn't know Mother Consort's identity, he could make you cry in three sentences!"
"I think you're the one who'll make me cry in three sentences."
Consort Xian glared at Ye Li, "A Princess should act like a Princess. In this regard, learn more from The Eldest Princess."
Mhm, mhm!
Shen Jing expressed extreme agreement with Consort Xian's words.
Ye Li seemed to have guessed what Shen Jing was thinking and glared at him fiercely.
Hmph!
She was treating Consort Xian's words as idle chatter.
"You forgot what I just told you, didn't you?"
Consort Xian lightly patted Ye Li, then smiled at Shen Jing: "Then I'll trouble Marquis Shen."
"Your Ladyship, you're too kind."
Shen Jing smiled, stepped back a few paces, found a suitable position, observed left and right, helped Consort Xian adjust her sitting posture, and then had people bring over the easel and other supplies.
Ye Li also had someone bring her a stool and sat beside Shen Jing, watching him paint.
Under Shen Jing's brushstrokes, Consort Xian's portrait gradually became lifelike.
Ye Li tilted her head slightly, looking sideways at Shen Jing, who was concentrating on painting.
This unintentional glance, however, made Ye Li pause.
Previously, in Luochuan Prefecture, when Shen Jing was painting her portrait, she had maintained one pose the whole time, only focusing on her discomfort, completely oblivious to anything else.
But now, she suddenly realized that when this scoundrel was serious, he actually did seem a bit graceful.
Especially when viewed from the side…
As she thought about it, Ye Li suddenly shivered.
Damn it!
He was Su Yourong's husband!
What was she thinking!
Ye Li snapped out of it and quickly averted her eyes.
However, the corner of her eye still inadvertently glanced at Shen Jing…