Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 665 - 501 Similar Eyebrows and Eyes

Gu Chengyu knew that Zhu Pang and the others had doubts, but he did not explain.

The Jade Flowers were in large clusters, and they grew especially luxuriantly in the Princess’s Mansion. One flower connected to another, layer upon layer, making it very challenging to paint.

If not painted well, it would look like a clump, all squeezed together, unable to depict the form of each flower.

If observed up close, Gu Chengyu’s painting would be easier. Unfortunately, he could only view from afar and not closely, so he had to rely on his imagination, which was not an easy task.

Yao Mengxian glanced at the figure painting hard, feeling worried for him. She wondered if the painting would satisfy the Eldest Princess and the Commandery Princess.

The Green Waist Dance was nearing its end, yet Gu Chengyu was still painting the Jade Flowers.

Zhu Pang was somewhat worried, as Gu Chengyu continued to paint while Princess Rong Jia’s dance was about to finish. How could Gu Chengyu complete the painting then? Surely, they couldn’t ask her to dance again?

"Your Highness! The Commandery Princess truly possesses unparalleled talents; her dance is extraordinary. I had not expected the Commandery Princess to excel at everything, including dancing. I heard her skills in needlework are also exceptional, Your Highness, how fortunate you are!"

Mrs. Zhao approached the Eldest Princess, showering her with praise.

Beside them, Mrs. Ke couldn’t stand Mrs. Zhao’s fawning behavior. After all, she was a lady of an official family, yet stooping to such levels was an eye-opener for her.

Yao Menglian gazed at the graceful figure of the Commandery Princess, unconsciously tightening her grip on the handkerchief.

In truth, she knew herself well. She often claimed to get along well with the Commandery Princess, but it was just wishful thinking on her part.

Her aloof personality, indifferent to worldly affairs, was only a facade; deep down, she was more anxious than anyone.

At fourteen this year, she would come of age next year, yet her mother hadn’t arranged a marriage for her. It’s not that her mother didn’t want to, but she herself disagreed.

Because she didn’t want to marry the legitimate son of the fourth or fifth-rank official family. Having lived a life of luxury since childhood, how could she reconcile being a daughter-in-law in a lesser official’s family?

Her friendship with the Commandery Princess was because she knew the second son of the Princess’s Mansion was unmarried. Otherwise, who could endure the Commandery Princess’s haughty nature?

Yao Menglian glanced at Yao Mengxian, who was watching the dance, and couldn’t help but envy her good fortune. Being the legitimate daughter of the head family of the Duke Mansion, her status was significantly higher than that of her peers in the household.

However, no one is perfect, and with her mother having passed away early, the current stepmother was a schemer with sweet words and malicious intentions. Yao Mengxian’s temperament was soft, and even though she had changed somewhat recently, how could she outwit her aunt?

Thinking about this, her initial envy was immediately balanced.

Yao Menglian mentally reviewed the noble young gentlemen present today. She couldn’t leave it to fate since her father’s prospects for promotion had diminished in recent years.

Her grandfather was also old and might not last long, which would lead to the family dividing the assets. Once divided, her status would decline.

Although the second son of the Princess Mansion wasn’t present today, there were still many noble young men, and she couldn’t afford to miss this opportunity.

Yao Mengxian noticed her second sister staring blankly at her, finding it somewhat odd. Today, it seemed her second sister was also distracted, perhaps troubled by something.

In fact, she could understand. Yao Menglian was reaching marriageable age next year, and for young ladies, it was only natural to be worried about their marriages!

The dance was over! Princess Rong Jia took a gentle breath and bowed to everyone, eliciting a chorus of praises.

Gu Chengyu’s Jade Flowers were only just completed, leaving the area under the Jade Flower Tree blank.

Min Feng sat diagonally opposite Gu Chengyu, observing him sketching petals, feeling a disdain he couldn’t suppress.

He couldn’t deny Gu Chengyu’s adeptness at poetry. His self-invented calligraphy style also commanded admiration. But saying he was skilled at painting too was something Min Feng didn’t believe.

Not to mention poetry, even calligraphy isn’t something that can be mastered overnight. How old is Gu Chengyu? Previously, he spent every day reading Holy Books and preparing for the imperial examinations, reportedly dabbling in other books too.

Calligraphy, practiced daily without a single day’s slack, seemed impossible for Gu Chengyu to manage alongside everything else.

Zhu Pang was a bit anxious since the painting’s composition was good, but Gu Chengyu had spent considerable effort on the flower petals. In his view, leaving the center of the flower blank was wise, yet Gu Chengyu invested time there, making the flowers appear overly meticulous.

"Jinyu! The Commandery Princess has finished dancing." He couldn’t hold back any longer, fearing Gu Chengyu would embarrass himself in public.

"Mm!" Gu Chengyu completed the last stroke of the Jade Flowers and responded to Zhu Pang.

He understood Zhu Pang’s concern but had his own rationale for painting this way.

Gu Chengyu closed his eyes, recalling the Commandery Princess’s dance movements in his mind, then began sketching meticulously on the Xuan paper.

Zhu Pang saw that Gu Chengyu seemed confident, so he kept quiet.

He couldn’t help but admire Gu Chengyu when he saw that with just a few strokes, a woman’s figure had been sketched. If Gu Chengyu put his heart into it, this artwork would surely satisfy the Eldest Princess and the others.

Gu Chengyu was somewhat skilled at portrait painting. He found the ethereal dancer’s pose, like an immortal, not difficult to capture, but the challenge lay in depicting the woman’s eyebrows and eyes.

He had never seen the Commandery Princess’s appearance and didn’t know where to start.

This time, Gu Chengyu painted quickly, slightly embellishing the woman’s attire to make her appear more otherworldly.

After all, ancient portraits tended to be abstract, often beautifying women with imaginative elements. Painting this way didn’t seem out of line.

Suddenly, a thought came to him, "Have you seen Princess Rong Jia?" Gu Chengyu asked quietly.

Zhu Pang was momentarily stunned by the question, then quickly responded, "I did see her once."

Zhu Pang thought Gu Chengyu wanted him to describe the Commandery Princess’s looks, which would indeed be better than relying on imagination.

"Does she resemble Heir Qin?" Gu Chengyu thought, considering they were siblings, there might be some similarities. Having a reference would be better than random guessing, right?

Zhu Pang finally grasped Gu Chengyu’s reasoning and admired him for planning to model the painting after Heir Qin.

Just as he was about to reply, a voice interjected, "Princess Rong Jia’s eyebrows and eyes are very much like Heir Qin’s."

Gu Chengyu didn’t need to look back to know it was Lu Chen.

Without turning, he remained focused on the painting. Since the two looked similar, it made matters easier; a woman’s eyebrows and eyes were simply softer than a man’s.

Gu Chengyu glanced at Qin Min nearby, closely observing his eyebrows and eyes, causing Qin Min to be dumbfounded.

Before long, Gu Chengyu finished the character.

Lu Chen viewed the painting from Gu Chengyu’s side, finding it exceptionally well done. Although Gu Chengyu hadn’t seen Rong Jia’s features clearly, the eyebrows and eyes were remarkably accurate, even capturing her aloof temperament.

The woman in the painting danced gracefully beneath the Jade Flower Tree, with a body so light it seemed as if she might ride the wind away. It was lifelike.

The veil obscured the woman’s face, yet through the expressive and elegant eyebrows and eyes, it sparked curiosity about her appearance, leaving much to the imagination.