11 Chapter 11: Sorrows of the past

Lu Jiayi was still shrunken away, as if she was scarred by something from the past. Yingyue easily understood this just from her body language, and reached out to hold her hands reassuringly.

That small amount of warmth from her hands had slowly warmed her heart too. Lu Jiayi gazed into her daughter's soft eyes lovingly and revealed a slight smile. For some reason, this greatly comforted Yingyue...

After Su Rushi left, Jiang Zhenfeng just dismissed everyone else as well. He could only stare after Yingyue's retreating figure in great confusion...

Why was she so different today...? He had just beaten her nearly half to death yesterday to appease his wife, yet she turned up today without a trace of pain, and talents that could shock the capital!

In suspicion, he approached the side of the hall, where the painting had been stored. Maybe what Yingyi said was reasonable...? After all, that daughter of his had gone from a useless waste to a 'talent' just overnight... so, perhaps she did cheat! This thought made him feel a tinge of guilt towards his precious eldest daughter.

His footsteps sped up as the painting came within his sight. Indeed, looking at it again, it was amazing! The black ink did not take away any of the depth in the painting... and particularly, the calligraphy was something to marvel at... Of course, it couldn't be compared to the elegance of his own calligraphy...

Naturally, this was a feat that was not possible for a useless 10 year old. How could he have believed that that incompetent daughter of his was suddenly talented...? But she didn't have to be this obvious about cheating! Aiya. Truly useless...

As the cheating was quite obvious in his mind, he felt like he had just won a victory over Madam Cha. That woman had dared to humiliate him, but her eyes had failed to see such an obvious act of cheating that had even clearly been pointed out to her!

As those thoughts came to mind, he carefully examined the painting in the light... For some reason, he could see the paint was slightly... glistening?? Surely not! But then...!

He quickly reached his finger towards it and touched the paper gently before immediately withdrawing his hand in utter disbelief...

...Wet! The paint was still slightly wet! But then, the only possibility was if... if she had just painted it! His eyes widened in bewilderment. He had been so sure just now, that the truth came as a slap to his face. He simply could not make sense of it!

Jiang Zhenfeng stood there for a long time, staring at the painting, completely at a loss...

--- OUTSIDE THE LEFT PRIME MINISTER'S MANOR ---

Although there was a carriage waiting for Madam Cha to board it, she was in no rush to leave...

She stood at the top of the steps, gazing mournfully at the large panel that read 'LEFT PRIME MINISTER'S MANOR'.

Lu Guozhi, Yao Ying, my dear friends, I have failed you. I couldn't protect her... I have finally seen the family that Lu Jiayi has been living in... She must have been suffering for so many years already. After seeing this event, I promise you that from hereon, I will protect your daughter and granddaughter with all my power... After all, it is power that I was only able to achieve by virtue of your generosity back then. I am willing to repay it for the rest of my life!

She teared up slightly at the thought of her late friend and the late Left Minister... She would not let the tragic events of that year happen in vain...

"Court Madam Cha, will we be returning to the palace now...?" The dark clouds shrouded the sky in masses, blocking away the light... Seeing the drooping silhouette of the usually graceful woman, Court Lady Yi gently reminded her.

"Coming here has brought many memories back... that's all..." Madam Cha was usually serious and composed, but the sorrows of the past had brought pain to her heart again...

"The Left Prime Minister is not a good person... but even if you refused the invitation, there is nothing he could have done. Perhaps that would have been better..." Court Lady Yi had been close to Madam Cha for over a decade now so she understood her sentiments.

"No... I had to see for myself how their daughter was living... If I hadn't come, how would I know that the name of the Left Prime Minister has fallen to that kind of selfish person who calls himself a man!" Madam Cha could not longer hold her calm facade... she was resentful of the past and could not understand why they would put their own daughter in their enemies' household.

"Jiang Zhenfeng... Su Rushi... Su Family! One day they will all pay for their crimes." With a flick of her sleeve, she turned her back to the house and strode to the carriage.

Court Lady Yi could not say anything, and could only help her to board the carriage. "Back to the palace."

Although Madam Cha had indeed come here in favour of Lu Jiayi and her daughter, she was genuinely surprised by the talent that the 10 year old girl had shown.

She was just like her mother... Back then, Madam Cha was the one who had taught Lu Jiayi everything she knew. Now, with the recommendation, she could only hope that Yingyue would be able to get the training she needed and perhaps achieve everything that her mother had once achieved...

That child, Lu Jiayi, was the most talented beauty in the capital... She could have married any man, but when her father was falsely accused of treason, she ended up having to marry Jiang Zhenfeng, that lewd betrayer.

Madam Cha could remember the day that they married. There were no festivities nor a proper ceremony... Madam Cha had shed tears as she watched the young girl step through the doors of the house - not even through the main doors, but the servant's door...

She had been humiliated to no end! But even then, the girl, whose expression never once changed, simply bowed her head sorrowfully and hid the droplets that fell from her eyes.

She would make sure that no such thing could happen to Lu Jiayi's daughter!

"Court Lady Yi. Request an audience with His Majesty as soon as he returns from Shenzhen Temple. I need to arrange an engagement..." Although distant water would not be able to put out a nearby fire [1], this was all that she could do with her power to protect the young child. She could only hope that Yingyue would be able to hold on until then...