Chapter 810: Chapter 340: Sleepless and Forgetting to Eat (Part 2)
Yueyao smiled and said, “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I can hardly bear to use it.” There was something Yueyao found peculiar—she was already sixteen, yet she was still growing. Although not as noticeably as before, she was indeed still growing. Therefore, Yueyao was reluctant to use this fine material to make clothes for herself.
Yueyao had dinner at the Main Courtyard. She found it strange that today was the day the Old Marquis accepted her as a foster daughter, and logically, the whole family should be dining together. Yet, she was left to dine alone in the courtyard, which she found very odd.
After dinner, Yueyao took Xiang Wei back to the Mingzhu Courtyard. On the way, Yueyao asked, “Why wasn’t the Old Marquis there?” It wouldn’t make sense to say the Old Marquis didn’t like her, as he had been very kind when she paid her respects earlier. But his absence that evening was indeed peculiar.
Xiang Wei smiled with her lips pursed and said, “The Old Marquis went to visit a friend, the Marquis had something urgent to attend to, and Madam was a bit tired, so they didn’t dine together with us.” Xiang Wei refrained from telling Yueyao that the Old Marquis had gone to seek Mr. Yu Shan.
Yueyao found it increasingly bizarre—why choose today of all days to visit friends? But she didn’t think too much of it, as it was, after all, the Old Marquis’s personal business.
After digesting her meal, Yueyao went to the study to start painting. She had an urge to capture today’s events in a painting. As far as she could recall, she had never depicted a ladies’ banquet before.
Yueyao painted with no regard for time, continuing until the early hours without finishing. Xiang Wei entered to interrupt Yueyao, saying, “Miss, it’s already midnight. You should sleep now. There’s no rush to finish it tomorrow.”
Yueyao shook her head and said, “I’m almost done; don’t disturb me.” This interruption broke her train of thought, and if it hadn’t been Xiang Wei, she might have faced reprimand.
Xiang Wei reluctantly left, then returned with red candles to replace the almost-burnt ones.
Yueyao worked until the end of the Yin Hour to complete her painting. By the time she was done, daylight was already breaking.
Xiang Wei shook her head and said, “Miss, take a nap! Revitalize yourself before going to pay respects to Madam.” Previously, as a guest, she needn’t visit the Main Courtyard daily to greet Madam Ping, but now, as a sister, it was necessary to visit her sister-in-law for a morning greeting.
Yueyao, having stayed up all night, was indeed exhausted. Yet, she still had a bowl of Bird’s Nest Porridge before rinsing her mouth and going to bed. As soon as Yueyao lay down, she fell asleep.
Seeing how soundly Yueyao slept, Xiang Wei couldn’t bear to wake her, so she went herself to apologize to Madam Ping. Unfortunately, Luo Shao was also there.
Bracing herself, Xiang Wei said, “Marquis, Madam, the young lady painted throughout the night and only went to sleep at dawn. Seeing how sweetly she slept, I couldn’t bring myself to wake her.”
Luo Shao showed interest: “Drawing all night? What kind of painting did she create?” It was often only the arrival of inspiration that would drive someone to forgo eating and sleeping like this.
Xiang Wei knew what Yueyao had painted, but having not received Yueyao’s permission to disclose it, she said, “Marquis, Madam, I will inform the young lady once she wakes.”
Luo Shao nodded. Madam Ping promptly arranged breakfast, and after Luo Shao finished his meal, he chatted briefly with Madam Ping before heading to court.
When Yueyao finally awoke, it was already noon, and she was truly upset: “Didn’t I ask to be woken after just an hour? It’s midday now, and on the first day, such a thing happens—people might think I’m exceedingly lazy for waking at midday!” How embarrassing it was to have the lady rise only at midday.
Xiang Wei chuckled and said, “Miss, I’ve explained to the Marquis and Madam, they won’t blame you. However, if you gift yesterday’s painting to them, I’m sure they’d be very pleased.” Xiang Wei believed Yueyao’s painting from the previous day was beautifully done.
Yueyao hesitated a bit.
Xiang Wei teased, “Miss, you’re so stingy.” Xiang Wei’s words didn’t entirely wrong Yueyao. Although she had given away many paintings, those were mostly of Buddha images; for works she truly cherished, aside from having left two with Mr. Yu Shan, she never proactively gifted them to others.
Yueyao snapped, “Such a painting isn’t fit to be given away.” Though she had refined the painting, many people within it hadn’t had their appearances significantly altered. Such matters couldn’t be widely shared, or it would cause great trouble.
After lunch, seeing how intense the sun was, Yueyao decided not to visit the Main Courtyard, assuming Madam Ping would be resting then, and her visit might disturb that rest.
It wasn’t until evening that Yueyao headed to the Main Courtyard. When Yueyao saw Madam Ping, her face was flushed scarlet as if ready to drip with embarrassment: “Sister-in-law, I should’ve come to pay respects this morning, but who knew…”
Today, Yueyao had changed into a light blue gauze dress, paired with a Pearl White Lake Wrinkled Skirt, simple yet elegant, with her hair styled into a Crescent Moon Hairbun adorned with a jade Phoenix-tail orchid hairpin. Despite the simplicity of her attire, it was exceedingly tasteful, perfectly matching Yueyao’s demeanor.
Madam Ping observed the crimson flush on Yueyao’s porcelain-like face, resembling a rain-drenched begonia painted with rouge—truly beautiful.
Madam Ping secretly marveled; she hadn’t noticed before, but Yueyao had grown so extraordinary. It’s fortunate that the Marquis had a firm resolve; otherwise, she would’ve truly been worried.
In fact, it wasn’t that Madam Ping hadn’t noticed; it was just that Yueyao often accompanied Mingzhu, both having their own charms, so Yueyao hadn’t seemed as standout before.
Madam Ping smiled and said, “It’s alright; what’s important is the matter at hand. Once you’ve finished your painting, let me see it.” Truly, Madam Ping didn’t mind. She had long known that nothing was more important to Yueyao than painting.
Hearing this, Yueyao felt even more bashful.