She kneel in front of the buddha and close her eyes with her hands together. She hear people talking thus it's difficult to concentrate. After she is done she stands up and bow. Walking out she see Nan Feng walking up the stairs with his Lady Wen. At that moment, she wonder if she should go hide some corner. She look around but too late. Nan Feng stop at the stairs and look at her. She smile awkwardly and his Lady Wen notice that he have stop moving. She look to see a pretty lady in front of them. She is looking like she wants to hide yet too late. Judging how Zhang Nan Feng acts, she knows that this is the girl he is betrothed. She feels upset but she is not going to make a fuss in public. She pretend she did not know anything and continue to walk. While Nan Feng did not know what he should do. He stand at where he is and watch Song Ning walk pass him. His heartache but his mind control his body from moving. After awhile he turn around to see the back of Song Ning running away after she reach the ground floor.
Son the day of the painting in the Prince mansion is here. A carriage arrives in front of the school to pick up Song Ning. She stare at the carriage and feels that it is a cage that have come to pick her up. She sigh loudly and hold the strap of her toolbox tightly. The curtain in the carriage is pull aside.
"Come on teacher Song. I am waiting for you. '
She look up and see the third prince looking at her through the window curtains. She slowly walk up the stool into the carriage. She sit further away from him and look at the entrance of the carriage. Suddenly she feel that he have move and sit beside her. She look and feel surprise. Hurry to sit on the opposite side and stare at him.
"Why? Why are you so afraid of me? I won't eat you… i just will lick…"
"Please … I … whoever or whatever you are thinking. I am not!"
He sit back and cross his legs and place his robs neatly on his lap. He continue to look at her with interest.
"i just want you to paint for my beauties. Nothing more."
Somehow Song Ning don't true his words at all. Words in words are what he is saying. No matter how, she have to say vigilant. She cannot allow anything to go wrong.
They arrive at his Prince Mansion after a long silence ride. She gets off and walk along with the butler who comes to welcome the Prince back home. He is later instructed to bring Song Ning to where the garden is. She walks along the long path way with the butler. He did not talk much but he keep stealing glances at the pretty lady. He noted that she is not the usual type of girl that he see the Prince is interested in. This time, she is younger and seems like she did not like the third prince that much. Usually woman will come to him like bees to flower. This time, he is like an eagle hunting because he is hungry and angry.
The garden is really beautiful and big. Song Ning choose her spot to paint and wait for the Princes wives to appear. After awhile, three ladies walk towards the garden. Song Ning see three older looking ladies. She bow politely to each of them. They all smile and seems to be nicer than the Prince, himself. Three chairs are arrange in the garden with a set up of a tea setting.
"What is your name, little Lady."
"My name is Song Ning."
"Let me introduce myself and my sisters to you. I am Consort Ling, the primary wife of the Third Prince. This is concubine Chen and that is concubine Peng."
"Greetings to all great Ladies."
They smile and look at each other.
"You are indeed as beautiful as he said."
"I don't know what His royal Highness have said but …"
"He might come up as a rude man most of the time but he have a kind heart. "
"He just rumbles off whatever his mouth wants to say. He doesn't mean it."
"Lady Song, our Prince is really nice man. Unless you met the man behind the close door… then you will see the … bad side of him."
Concubine Peng gives her a smile that have a clear meaning. Song Ning only can complain in her heart and say nothing. The wives of the Prince sits down on the setting. Song Ning with her paint and brush starts to draw. Under the soft sunlight, the four ladies endure the heat and the bees that are flying around. While the Third Prince watch them in a room with a wide window that is facing the garden. He watch them while laying on his couch and a cup of tea in his hands. His butler stand beside him and another young looking guard with his swords strap on his back. All three men have this serious gloomy look on their face.
"Bing Ming, have you find out anything about Song Ning?"
"Yes, your highness. According to the reports i have gather. She is the second child of a merchant family. They used to be well off. Her parents passed away in an accident. Her family now is split up. Her eldest sister is still in JiangNan. Living with her fiancé family. While her little brother have follow her to live here in the capital. He is studying and living in the Imperial House of Studies. All the school fees and other matters are paid fully by Song Ning. They receive no financial help from their eldest sister… Besides that… Lady Song Ning is engaged since young to the second master of the Zhang family."
While the butler hears that Song Ning is paying off the fees on her own. He marvel at that but The Third Prince tighten his grip on the tea cup.
"AND"
"it seems like this second master Zhang works for the Yamen and he is seen outside with Lady Wen the daughter of Marquis Wen Jiang Bing. There are talks about getting married however i think Song Ning is in the way thus the matter have a delay."
He suddenly smile as he watch his wives laughing in the garden and Song Ning busy drawing the outline.
"Let's give all the helping hands to this second master Zhang."
"Your highness, what kind help are you planning…"
"Hmm the type that my father commands and no one can reject. Having a father like him is the only good thing in my life."
"But your highness, what reason…"
"Butler Kong, there are plenty of useless reasons to give. More importantly my father will give me it to me to leave the palace. He doesn't like me staying in the palace for long. Having two sons who fight whole day long is enough for him. Another son to join in the fight, is asking for his life."
"Your highness, will second master Zhang accept our help…"
"He won't accept but Lady Wen will accept. Isn't she the one who is desperate to marry that man?"
"Yes it seems like it."
"Then, that is settle. Once they make a clean break off. I can do more … work. Butler Kong, ask eunuch Ding to come fetch me, tomorrow."
The old butler bow and walk out of the room. While the Third Prince look at the sky. He smile
"I wonder if tonight, the sky will pity me or not…"
That late afternoon the sun is setting and Song Ning promise that she will return to complete the painting. She put everything aside in a room. The three ladies walk into the room to look at the outline of the painting
"Why Lady Song, your style of painting is rather unusual."
"Yes, it is not the way how those painters does it."
"No wonder the Third Prince insist to have you paint for us."
"My style is different because i learn it from a foreigner who was in my hometown when i was young. He taught me how they paint."
"Now that is interesting…"
The ladies bow to the Third Prince as he walks into the room with his fan in his hands.
"So that is how and why you draw differently. With so much details."
She keep quiet and lower her head.
"Your highness, my painting is yet to complete. I will come here another day."
He nod his head and ask the butler to arrange a carriage for her. She bow again and leave the room. All three ladies look at the young girl as she leaves. Their eyes look at the third prince who is admiring the outline of the painting. Each of them smile and leave the room quietly.
Song Ning gets busy with her work in school. After the painting of flowers are over, she ask them what else they would like to paint. The subjects they choose are butterflies, birds, crane, horses and men.
"Class, thank you for your suggestions. I will talk to the principle and ask which will be the next to paint."
"Teacher Song, why can't we paint something else in this school?"
"The subjects are control by the principal. He have the final saying. What we do here, we have to report to the imperial office. Thus everything have to be recorded and be proper according to our social standards."
"But this is so boring that we painted almost every plant we have."
"I want to learn more!"
The female students chime together and Song Ning have to ensure them that she will ask the principal for advise.
Three days later, Song Ning walk into the classroom with a vase and some chrysanthemum in various colors. The students looks disappointed.
"Today, i got permission to teach you all something that most Chinese painter don't paint… Usually we paint everything in one color but do you all notice that the object we are looking at, comes with different shade."
The female students open their eyes and ears to listen. They watch Song Ning pointing out the different color on the white flower vase. How the object under light and without light change. Song Ning later ask the class to do a week's project of painting the white vase with the different chrysanthemum in it. The students starts to stare at the vase and flower. They cannot understand how the shadow and lights play about. However a few starts to draw the outline. Some of them boldly ask Song Ning about the reflections they see. After class dismiss, she tidy up her dress and look up to see the Third Prince walking up. She frown in her heart but she smile and bow to greet him. As usual, he is fanning himself and looking at her. His piercing deep set eyes look at her with interest as usual. His smile usually will charm ladies of all ages but somehow Song Ning seems not effected by him. Rather, she hidden her thoughts about him and treat him as a common person on the street.
"Lady Song."
" Greetings Third Prince."
"Hmm today is a rather nice weather. Let's go watch an opera."
"I am …"
"Don't say you are busy. I have already ask the principal. Even the director agree to let you off for today."
"… i … don't like …"
"Don't like? Then how about go boating with me."
"I don't like boating."
"Flying kite?"
"No. I don't like."
"What about …"
"Your highness, i don't have the leisure to … do anything."
"So what do you do in your spare time?"
"I … paint…"
He look around and fan himself.
"So how about you paint me."
She curse him in her heart but she still smile. He lower himself to face to face with her.
"I don't just paint anyone or anything…"
"Then … how about i pay you."
She stop smiling and her face ashen. At that moment a light breeze blows into the classroom. The sound of paper flittering in the air The smell of flowers in the garden drift into their noses. She stare right into his eyes. They are dancing in delight. She thought that she see butterflies flying around his eyes. She close her eyes and calm herself down. She open her eyes and he is still there.
"If not i can draw you…"
"No… my little brother is coming home to stay for a few days so…"
"I can help you."
"What can you help? There is nothing. Wait … you can. You can help by staying away. As far as possible"
She stress the word 'far' and she smile with sincerity even her dimples appear. He raise his hand and pinch her cheek. In shock she move back and he laugh.
"So interesting so interesting! Fine i will help you. Only for a few days. Anyway i got somethings to do. When i am back, you probably happy to see me."
She is rubbing her cheek and look annoyed for the first time. Her cheeks have never been pinched. She pick up her tool box and bow. She quickly leave to hear him yelling at her back.
"I will ask something in return the next time we meet!"