Li Xiuyun exclaimed, "Is it that serious? Have you all spoiled her too much?"
Zhuo Xiong shook his head and sighed, "I don't know. My grandfather only said this matter is not to be spoken of! Where is she now? My grandfather is probably on his way too. At his age, he still has to travel everywhere, suffering needlessly!"
Li Xiuyun said helplessly, "She's at my aunt's place. My aunt originally wanted me to keep it a secret, but you've come and done this. I can only tell you the truth, but I doubt she'll want to see you."
Zhuo Xiong immediately requested to see Zhuo Xun.
"My cousin is here?"
Upon receiving the news, Zhuo Xun became restless and quickly said, "Master, please ask the female soldiers to tell my cousin to go back. I don't want to see him, or I'll really hang myself at the gates of Luzhou City..."
Liang Xiao pouted, "A child being this willful is not good."
"My cousin is the worst. Back then, when I didn't want to marry Liang Xiao, he pestered me every day, terrified I'd run away from the wedding..." Zhuo Xun lowered her head.
Li Jinyu had no choice but to comply.
"Alas!" Receiving the reply, Zhuo Xiong was on the verge of tears and returned to the Prefect's manor to see Li Xiuyun.
Li Xiuyun comforted him, "At least she's safe for now. That impostor Lu Changhe doesn't seem to have any ill intentions towards her. When the art exhibition begins, I'll see who this person really is, daring to offend your family!"
Before Zhuo Xiong could respond, another guard reported.
"Young Master! Zhuo Lingjun is here to visit..."
The two were startled and hurried out to meet Zhuo Zifang.
At this moment, Zhuo Zifang was dressed in a cyan robe, his face full of exhaustion.
"Zhuo Lingjun, why must you travel such a long distance..." Li Xiuyun felt deeply ashamed and quickly invited Zhuo Zifang to sit and have tea.
Zhuo Zifang gave a desolate smile and sighed, "Little Xun must not have any mishaps! Hurry and take me to find her!"
Zhuo Xiong, standing nearby, hesitated to speak.
Even for his second daughter who fled her wedding, his grandfather wasn't this concerned.
Li Xiuyun told Zhuo Zifang the situation truthfully.
Zhuo Zifang frowned, "Impersonating Lu Changhe? This matter is even more complicated!"
Li Xiuyun sighed, "Xiao Xun refuses to see anyone from the Zhuo family. If you go, she'll probably run away again. Why don't we go to the art exhibition together to catch her?"
Zhuo Zifang pondered for a moment and nodded, "That makes sense!"
Li Xiuyun then asked, "I have a question, young one. Zhuo Lingjun has always been reasonable. Why must you force Xiao Xun to marry Liang Xiao?"
Zhuo Zifang was taken aback and said with a wry smile, "Jiangnan is becoming more chaotic! Old man and the Zhuo family might be unable to protect Xiao Xun. She must be sent to the capital! The only person in this world who can truly be tolerant, understanding, and protective of Xiao Xun is Liang Xiao!"
"Besides!" Zhuo Zifang pouted again, a blush creeping onto his old face, "What's wrong with marrying Liang Xiao? So many beauties across the country are vying to become the wife of Marquis An Guo... I am confident that once she meets Liang Xiao, she will be willing!"
Li Xiuyun and Zhuo Xiong were speechless.
It seemed to be true. The Princess of Great Gan, the Princess of Kuchiharu, the Qin Immortal of Tianshan...
It was said that the top courtesan and the former madam of Bai Chun Tower willingly became Liang Xiao's concubines, yet they couldn't achieve their wish!
The Luzhou Art Exhibition opened at the Luzhou Art Gallery!
Hundreds of artists and thousands of people gathered in the central square of the gallery for this rare grand event, appreciating the works of the artists.
Eight hundred paintings of various types dazzled the eyes, and cheers erupted one after another.
Liang Xiao and the other three, along with Li Jinyu, sat in the backstage area, admiring the framed "poem and painting" in Zhuo Xun's hand, praising it repeatedly.
"This painting must be the grand finale, stunning the entire Great Gan and letting everyone know that Xiao Xun has surpassed her master!" Li Jinyu's face was full of pride.
"With Brother Gu's poem, it's simply a perfect match!" Zhuo Xun's eyes sparkled, becoming more and more fond of her work.
In a large carriage at the back of the crowd, Zhuo Zifang, Li Xiuyun, and Zhuo Xiong all had dark expressions, remaining silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
They couldn't come out before Li Jinyu and Zhuo Xun appeared, otherwise Zhuo Xun would definitely not come out.
After a long while, Zhuo Zifang asked, "How is the backstage prepared?"
Li Xiuyun replied, "Rest assured, Zhuo Lingjun. Xiao Xun and the others are surrounded. If they try to escape, their paths will be blocked!"
While the crowd was marveling at the paintings, the elder on the high platform announced loudly, "We invite the pride of our Luzhou people—the Female Painting Immortal to appear!"
Zhuo Zifang, thinking that Li Jinyu was also present, was suddenly filled with shame and sighed, "Let's go, let's go see them..."
The three immediately got out of the carriage and quietly moved to the west side of the crowd, closest to the high platform. They saw Li Jinyu walk out of the backstage rest room, holding a painting, and proudly walk to the front.
Reunion with an old acquaintance in their seventies, Zhuo Zifang broke out in a cold sweat and quietly hid behind Zhuo Xiong, fearing being seen by Li Jinyu.
Li Jinyu, of course, had not yet spotted Zhuo Zifang. She simply displayed the painting.
"This painting is simply a masterpiece..."
The artists marveled, crowding to watch from below. Several renowned old artists were so excited that their white beards trembled.
"I have been painting for many years, and apart from ancient paintings by my predecessors, I have never seen such an exquisite new work! Truly worthy of being our Luzhou's Female Painting Immortal!"
"The artistic conception is lifelike, and the calligraphy is as fluid as running water. The poem is also a timeless masterpiece! Forgive my bluntness, but this work has already surpassed the masterpiece of the founding prime minister, Zhuo Mingfeng..."
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
At the same time, a group of disguised commoners stared coldly at Li Jinyu, their eyes filled with ferocity!
Li Jinyu then smiled and said, "This painting was not created by this old woman, but by my disciple, the Golden陵 Painting Immortal, Miss Zhuo Xun, the third daughter of the Zhuo family!"
"Golden陵 Painting Immortal! I know, I know!" Several dozen artists shouted in response.
This was followed by exclamations of "surpassing her master," "a great master producing a talented disciple," and so on...
After much anticipation, Zhuo Xun, with the other three behind her, walked to the stage, looking nervous.
Zhuo Zifang and Li Xiuyun, who had been filled with worry, suddenly had their eyes light up when they saw the disheveled Liang Xiao behind Zhuo Xun.
Zhuo Zifang's heart bloomed with joy, and his shame at seeing an old acquaintance vanished!
"This humble girl, Zhuo Xun, was born into the Zhuo family of Jinling. My father is Zhuo Wulie, and my grandfather is Zhuo Lingjun... This painting was jointly completed by myself and the confidant behind me, Mr. Lü Changhe. He is the poet who inscribed this work!"
"Lü Changhe?"
Zhuo Zifang and Li Xiuyun were both stunned. They saw Yue Lian, disguised as a man, behind Liang Xiao and narrowed their eyes simultaneously.
What was going on?
The crowd once again burst into praise.
"Young Master Lü is truly a prodigy. To possess such calligraphy and talent, he can be compared to our Prefect of Luzhou!"
Liang Xiao remained silent.
Zhuo Xun then gathered her courage and said, "The reason I am showing my face here is out of personal desire, but not for that insignificant fame..."
The crowd was puzzled.
Zhuo Xun wiped away tears from the corner of her eyes and declared loudly, "I want the world to know: the Golden陵 Painting Immortal wants to pursue her own happiness and will absolutely not marry the 'Ghost King Liang Xiao'! He, he truly eats young girls, and he eats children~"
As soon as her voice fell, the entire audience began to whisper.
Zhuo Zifang and Li Xiuyun stared at Liang Xiao, who stood calmly behind Zhuo Xun, their eyes nearly bulging out!
What on earth was happening!!