Chapter 3: The Mysterious A Jiu, Offering a Heavy Sum for a Masterpiece

Being born into an imperial family isn’t always a blessing. The sorrow behind the phrase “May I never be born into an imperial family again” is beyond what ordinary people can understand (Gu Long, On This).
……
“Shh… be careful. Don’t let Father find out, or it’ll be bad for us,” Liu Yi warned Shi Jieyi while carefully paving the way ahead. But Liu Fu was simply too vast—to return to his small garden, they had to pass by two side rooms and a rockery first.
As Liu Yi carefully led the way, a calm voice came from behind: “Yi, have you sneaked out of Liu Fu again?”
That voice struck Liu Yi like a bolt from the blue, leaving him frozen in place. It took him a long time before he turned around and mumbled, “Father…” He didn’t know what else to say.
Standing across from him was an old man with a dark face and black hair, streaked with white at the temples. His expression was kind, and he wore a wide green robe. Clearly over forty, this man was Liu Fu’s father—Liu Muxi.
Liu Muxi looked at Liu Yi, shook his head, and said in a reprimanding tone, “You… why are you so useless? Do you really want to drive your father crazy?”
Liu Yi replied, “Father, staying at home for so long is so boring. I just went out to clear my mind. Ask Shi Yi—I just sat by West Lake for a while.”
Liu Muxi glanced at Liu Yi and sneered, “Is that so? Really just sitting for a while? Then why did people see you competing in couplets with Li Fu’s son?”
Liu Yi was speechless at his father’s words.
Liu Muxi turned to Shi Jieyi and asked, “Jieyi, what do you think? Is it true?”
Hearing this, Liu Yi thought, “Oh no.” He kept signaling to Shi Jieyi, praying that the fool wouldn’t say something “too extreme.”
But Shi Jieyi wasn’t smart at all. When the eldest’s father asked him, he quickly replied, “Eldest’s father, you didn’t see it? The eldest was amazing back then—he left Li Yin speechless. I even enjoyed watching it.”
“Damn it!” Liu Yi really wanted to strangle Shi Jieyi now.
Liu Muxi sighed and shook his head. “If you keep this up, you’ll cause trouble sooner or later. Look at your eldest brother—he’s now one of the richest men outside the empire. Look at your second sister—she’s already entered the Sword Gate. Only you… until when will I have to worry about you?”
Liu Yi hurriedly said, “Father, don’t worry. I won’t sneak out anymore.” He showed a sincere expression.
Liu Muxi looked at Liu Yi, suddenly raised his right hand, and tapped his sternum and two major acupoints on his chest with his middle finger. Then he shook his head and said, “You’ve said this a thousand times—no one will believe you. Now, stand here. You don’t need lunch or dinner either.” With that, he turned and strode toward the hall. Liu Yi’s pitiful cries followed, but Liu Muxi pretended not to hear them.
With his meridians blocked, Liu Yi could only stand still, his eyes fixed on Shi Jieyi, who grew uncomfortable and said, “Eldest, why are you staring at me like that? I can’t relieve your blocked meridians—otherwise, your father will kill me.”

Liu Yi said, “I’m hungry now. Go and get me something to eat quickly.”
Shi Jie nodded, seemingly realizing he had said the wrong thing, and hurriedly replied, “Okay.” Then he turned and ran outside.
This wasn’t the first time either. Liu Yi had gotten used to being made to stand as punishment. At least Shi Jie would steal food for him, so he wouldn’t go hungry even if he had to stand all day.
Under the scorching sun and with the sound of birds, although it was March, the scene reminded Liu Yi of a line from The Book of Songs·Bin Feng, “In July, the stars decline; in September, clothes are given. In spring, the sun is warm, and orioles sing. The girl carries a fine basket, following a narrow path, seeking tender mulberry trees. Spring lingers, and she gathers herbs in abundance. Her heart is filled with sorrow, fearing she won’t return home with her lover!”
A series of crisp claps sounded, followed by a delicate voice saying, “Young Master Liu is so talented and refined!”
Liu Yi glanced over. Oh no, Shi Jie Yi was back, accompanied by his father, a woman, and a maid.
It was a woman in yellow, holding a three-foot-long green sword. With willow-like eyebrows, apricot-colored eyes, and thin lips, her features were exquisitely matched, not to mention her figure… It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was the most beautiful woman Liu Yi had ever seen.
After all, he was a scholar. Seeing a beautiful woman, he couldn’t help but describe her, unconsciously reciting, “Her hands are like tender shoots, her skin like congealed fat, her neck like a silkworm’s cocoon, her teeth like gourd seeds. With a butterfly-like head and moth-like eyebrows, her smile is charming, and her eyes are captivating…”
Shi Jie Yi was of course the first to rush to Liu Yi, saying anxiously, “Boss, I was just about to steal a chicken for you when your father stopped me, saying you had guests. I had no choice but to bring them here.”
Liu Muxi stepped up to Liu Yi and said, “Enough. What are you still chanting about? This young lady says she’s your good friend and wants to see you.” He pointed at the woman in yellow, then looked at the two of them scrutinizingly, clearly asking, “Tell me, what’s your relationship?”
Seeing the woman before him, Liu Yi thought to himself, “Strange. I’ve never met her before. Normally, I wouldn’t forget such a beautiful woman after just one encounter. Whatever, I need to solve my own problems first.”
So, Liu Yi’s expression became complicated. He said, “Father, it’s not good for me to keep standing here. How about… you unlock my acupoints first? I promise I won’t run away again.”
Only then did everyone notice a problem. Although Liu Yi was talking and moving his eyes, his posture hadn’t changed since the beginning. Liu Muxi had forgotten that his acupoints were still blocked. With a gesture, he created a virtual image to unlock Liu Yi’s acupoints.
Shi Jie Yi admired Liu Muxi’s skill in unlocking acupoints and said, “Your father is really skilled.”
Liu Yi paid no attention to that. He moved his body slightly and said to the girl in yellow, “Are you looking for me, young lady?” Since Liu Yi could see that the girl in yellow was still developing, at most sixteen years old, he called her “young lady.”
The girl in yellow nodded and said, “Yes.”
Liu Yi then turned to look at his shrewd-looking father and asked, “So, father, is there anything else?”
Hearing this, Liu Muxi thought, “This brat is even daring to target his father.” But he had nothing to say, so he replied, “There’s nothing else.”

Liu Yi continued, “Very well. Since nothing’s wrong, then please ask Father to return to his room to rest.” A sly smile appeared on his face as he spoke.
Liu Muxi knew she couldn’t argue with her younger brother. She flicked her sleeve at him, glanced at the woman, then turned to head toward the hall.
“Sigh…” Finally able to breathe freely, this father was truly terrifying. Liu Yi turned around and said, “Come on, Shi Yi. I’m starving. Go with me to eat.” Then he headed toward his private garden.
At that moment, the girl in yellow behind him said, “Stop.”
It seemed Liu Yi had just remembered her then. He turned around and asked, “Excuse me, are you calling me?”
The girl in yellow wasn’t angry. She nodded and said in a condescending tone, “Yes.”
Liu Yi took out his folding fan and gently tapped his head. “Miss, if I’m not mistaken, I don’t recall having a friend as beautiful as you.”
The girl in yellow smiled faintly—very beautiful—and replied, “A scholar, just a scholar. There was none before, but now there is, right?”
Liu Yi asked puzzledly, “Miss, could you please explain your purpose?”
The girl slowly walked toward Liu Yi and said, “Young Master Liu is quite sensible. Then I’ll be direct—I want you to paint a picture for me.”
Liu Yi gently waved his folding fan and said, “I’m sorry, miss. You’ve come to the wrong person. I haven’t painted in a long time.”
The girl in yellow wasn’t surprised, seemingly prepared for rejection already. She said calmly, “Young Master Liu, I only need one of your paintings, and I’ll offer you a generous reward.” Then she lightly clapped her hands.
With that clap, eight stunningly beautiful women came from the direction of the hall. All dressed in white, each holding a golden box about two feet long, looking exquisitely crafted.
The eight women quickly approached Liu Yi and gently opened their golden boxes. Starting with the first, Liu Yi was first surprised, then puzzled, and finally could only marvel.
Inside each box, in sequence—from the first to the eighth—were gold bars, gems, agate, jade, and precious stones. The last three boxes contained three kinds of aged fine wine, each seemingly a century-old treasure.
Liu Yi shook his head in amazement…
The girl in yellow thought Liu Yi thought these weren’t enough and added, “If Young Master Liu likes them, these eight beautiful servants are also his.”
Liu Yi looked at the eight beautiful women and thought to himself, “What’s this woman’s background? Not to mention the contents of the boxes, just these eight boxes alone would be enough for a lifetime of comfort.”
Out of curiosity, Liu Yi asked, “May I know your name, miss?”
The girl in yellow replied, “Just call me Ajiu.”
Liu Yi repeated, “Ajiu? Ajiu?” What kind of name was that?
Seeing Liu Yi’s confusion, Ajiu asked, “Young Master Liu…?”
Liu Yi quickly regained his composure and said, “Oh, Miss Ajiu. I’m wondering what kind of painting you want, that you’d use gold, silver, jewels, fine wine, and beautiful women—things of immense value—to exchange for it?”

Ajiu smiled slightly, revealing two beautiful dimples, and said, “The Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness Painting.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yi immediately felt things were becoming complicated. The “Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness Painting” was a painting personally chosen by the emperor and was now kept in the palace. Could this woman who called herself Ajiu not know that it was in the emperor’s hands?
Liu Yi quickly pretended to smile and said, “Hehe, Miss Ajiu, you’re joking. The ‘Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness Painting’ is currently in the palace. You must have the wrong person.”
Ajiu replied, “Of course I know that. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to you. I want you to paint another ‘Dragon and Phoenix Auspiciousness Painting’ that’s exactly the same as the one in the palace.”
Liu Yi shook his head and said, “I’m afraid I can’t do that. I no longer paint, and even if I did, it would be impossible to create an identical painting.”
Ajiu continued, “Are you not interested in these things, Young Master Liu?” She then pointed to the eight beautiful women and the countless treasures in front of her.
Liu Yi nodded and said, “I’m very interested. But if I were to paint such a painting, it would be considered treason against the emperor. No matter how great my interest, I still know what’s right and wrong.”
He added, “Oh, by the way, I’ve been talking to Miss Ajiu without stopping. I’m very hungry. All these jewels and beauties won’t fill my stomach. So, I’ll take my leave first.” With that, he turned and led the Ten Heroes back to his own garden.
Watching Liu Yi walk away, Ajiu stamped her foot and said, “Hmph, you stubborn guy! I just don’t believe it’s that hard to ask you to paint a painting…”