Remarrying Chun Yuan

Chapter 405 Love Rival

Liu Yuechu was stunned, not expecting her father to ask such a question.

"If I owed you a debt that you had to spend your whole life painting to pay off, would you paint it?" She didn't know why, but suddenly she wanted to ask this question.

Liu Zhong's face instantly turned ugly. "You're not Liu Musheng, and you don't have the ability to owe so much money."

"..." Liu Yuechu was stunned. "Aren't you overestimating him? I'm not capable, but he is?"

"Let me be frank with you, I owe His Majesty two hundred thousand taels of silver. If you don't make some paintings for me in exchange, your accumulated wealth will not be enough to repay His Majesty."

Liu Zhong turned pale with fright, and his Taoist robe seemed to show even more wrinkles.

"You...how did you..."

"So that's why His Majesty kept you in the palace as a hostage, using you as leverage? Did you really think His Majesty liked your paintings and wanted to drink and chat with you, or play chess with you when there was nothing to do?"

"..."

"Think about it, how many times has His Majesty seen you since you arrived at the palace?"

"..."

"You don't know what to say, do you? So, you'd better adjust your mindset and not be arrogant because of his favor. His Majesty has never been at ease with the Liu family's current foundation and status."

Liu Zhong was at a loss for words.

He really wanted to ask if Yuan Cuo wasn't His Majesty and the Chu Emperor's biological son, but he hesitated several times before turning back to retrieve the painting.

Liu Yuechu noticed that his back seemed to have become even more unsteady and hunched, and his steps were somewhat unsteady. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle.

A stubborn, out-of-touch father like my father needs to be thoroughly exposed and brought to his senses.

Otherwise, they would really think they are geniuses who are admired by thousands.

It's just a painting.

What can compare to fame and fortune?

At least in Emperor Qi Xiao's eyes, everyone was nothing more than a plaything.

Liu Zhong acted quickly, immediately carrying out a box of scrolls.

"I don't know if this is enough, you can see for yourself."

Liu Yuechu opened each painting and examined them carefully. She also casually asked him which sculpting masters he was on good terms with.

Liu Zhong didn't have many close friends in the court, but he did have a few close acquaintances among the great scholars of poetry, literature, and wine.

“Wei Junlang and Xu Shan are both highly skilled and have superb craftsmanship, but they are no match for Song Ziwen. However, I have doubts about that person’s character and do not want to associate with him.”

Liu Zhong named these names, and Liu Yuechu carefully wrote them down.

"Why do you doubt Master Song's character? What evil deeds has he done that even you can't tolerate?"

Before hiring people, Liu Yuechu still needs to know their character and conduct.

Dishonest people are not invited, and licentious people are even less likely to be mentioned.

"Why are you asking so many questions? Anyway, his character is terrible, but his skills are superb and his works are priceless." Liu Zhong seemed very reluctant to mention this person, and there was something strange about it, along with a hint of jealousy.

Liu Yuechu wanted to continue asking questions, but Liu Zhong started to urge her to leave.

"The painting has been given to you. You should leave quickly and not linger here." Liu Zhong looked at the young Taoist priest who was still waiting to listen to the sermon. "I will keep the subsequent paintings. You can use them if you want, and throw them away if you don't."

“Besides painting, I have accomplished nothing. I originally intended to leave some paintings for you and your brother to make a living, but I never expected you to take things so far and become a burden.”

"When a single thought arises, everything is fire; when all sources are still, truth arises!"

After his reflection, he went straight back to the place where he had been giving his sermons.

Liu Yuechu's lips twitched when she saw the basket of scrolls. What a father! Didn't he consider whether it was appropriate for a frail woman like her to carry such heavy things back?

Fortunately, Liu Yuechu had His Majesty's jade pendant, which allowed her to summon two idle Taoist priests to help her.

She returned to the Liu family and asked Liu Muchi to inquire about Wei Junlang and Xu Shan's residence and preferences, so that they could visit them after everything was prepared.

And Wang Ziwen, clearly, has a very interesting background.

After thinking for a moment, she sought out Wang Fu.

He had always followed his father, and Wang Fu knew the most about the old stories from the past.

Wang Fu's face twisted in disgust when he heard Liu Yuechu mention Wang Ziwen.

"You'd better not ask about this person, and it's not appropriate for us to invite him to our home for cooperation."

"Why? You have to give me a reason!" Liu Yuechu suddenly had a bright idea. "Could it be that he once pursued my mother? Was he my father's rival? How could he be so petty? My mother still married him in the end!"

Wang Fuxi moved his lips a couple of times; actually, it wasn't hard to guess what was going on.

"But he was not only the master's rival in love, nor did he only pursue the madam..."

Liu Yuechu: "???" That's not all? Is there something even more amazing?

“He is Song Liu’er’s biological father. When Song Liu’er was lost, she was found by Madam and taken home. When Song Dajia was looking for her son, she came here and that’s how she met Madam.”

"His wife died early, and he lived alone with Song Liu'er. He made several zithers for his wife, which she loved very much."

"But I dare to swear to heaven that Madam truly only loves Qin and has no ulterior motives towards him."

"But this man pursued her relentlessly, hoping that the lady would divorce the master and travel with him. He didn't even mind bringing the eldest son along. At that time, the lady was not yet pregnant with you."

"The lady was frightened and thought he was crazy. He was beaten severely by the master and driven away along with Song Liu'er."

“But he’s a madman. He keeps dumping Song Liu’er at our doorstep. If Madam doesn’t take her in, he’ll keep dumping her.”

"Finally, the lady compromised and took Song Liu'er in. He then went far away and disappeared without a trace. It was only many years later that we learned he was in the capital."

……

Wang Fu dared not hide it any longer and told him everything that had happened in the past.

“When our lady was seriously ill, he personally carved a coffin and sent it over, which almost made the master so angry that he vomited blood. But the lady liked his coffin very much, so she nodded and agreed to use it.”

Liu Yuechu was dumbfounded, never expecting that Song Liu'er had such a biological father.

"Does Song Liu'er know about this?"

“I know, Song Liu’er refuses to acknowledge him. She would rather be a shop assistant in the Liu family than return to her biological father’s side.”

After Wang Fu finished telling the story, Liu Yuechu sighed deeply.

From this perspective, Soong Tse-ven really is a madman!

“It’s not easy to work with someone like that, whether it’s for my mother and father or for Song Liu’er.”

"But his carving skills are indeed renowned, far surpassing those of Wei Junlang and Xu Shan." Wang Fu, having been a shopkeeper before, preferred to measure value in terms of silver. "For example, a screen frame by Wei Junlang might sell for one hundred taels, while his could sell for three thousand taels."

Liu Yuechu was startled!

"Or, why don't you bring Song Liu'er over, and I'd like to have a talk with him?"