Yuan Daifu glanced at everyone and said, "This time its still a painting of beautiful women, lets start drawing."

  Having said that, he took out a jug of wine and tasted it with relish.

  The crowd of girls started whispering again.

  Zhang Qi stood in the corner, unfolding the rice paper while thinking about how to start writing.

  In painting, she is excellent, but what really makes her shine is embroidery. Combining needlework and painting, she must have practiced for a long time in her past life. In this life, as soon as she started, she felt an outpouring of inspiration.

  And so, her embroidered paintings were able to shock even Emperor Xiao Mo and Zhang Xuan.

  Looking at the blank rice paper, Zhang Qi was thinking about how to attract the attention of Teacher Yuan.

  He is one of the few celebrities in todays world, with a free and easy personality, having his own style. If he could value himself like Zhang Xuan did, willing to lend a hand, then he would dare to ignore anyone, openly and justly protect her, and help her find a place she wanted to settle down, regardless of the Zhang family.

  Its just that this kind of eldest son has long been accustomed to worldly affairs and has seen many tricks up a womans sleeve, so its not easy to move him or gain his respect.

  In Zhang Qis contemplation, time passed bit by bit. Until the end of a class, Zhang Qis rice paper was still blank, naturally, and didnt even get a glance from Teacher Yuan.

  The blank rice paper was not just hers, Teacher Yuan glanced at everyone and casually said a sentence, "Take it back and paint well." After that, he walked out of the school with a relaxed expression.

  Before I knew it, both classes were over.

  Zhang Qi returned to her room, still turning it over in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that becoming a disciple of Yuan was worth doing. But how to do it, she had no idea at all.

  In her memory, she had never interacted with those true celebrities. Women like her in the past who took "concubinage" as their goal could not possibly understand the inner world of true celebrities. They lived in a world of luxury, learning to dress up and make up, practicing charm and seduction, thinking about how to keep men and find opportunities to leave descendants. As for those spiritual and noble people among the celebrities, how could they be known by them?

  As for what happened after leaving the Zhang Mansion, Zhang Qis memories were almost gone. It seemed that she had subconsciously sealed away those memories, leaving only the purest things from her girlhood.

  Biting her lip and thinking hard, Zhang Qi still had no solution.

  It was unknown how long had passed when a maids voice came from outside, "Is Mistress Gui in? Young Master Xuan is calling for you."

  What? Is it Zhang Xuan calling her again?

  Zhang Qi stood there dazedly for a moment, then walked out amidst Ah Lus crisp responses.

  Standing outside, she was indeed Zhang Xuans personal maid.

  Zhang Qi responded with a "yes" and said, "Wait a moment." She returned to her room to tidy up her hair and clothes, then followed the maid out.

  The maid, however, led her directly into Zhang Xiaos courtyard.

  The closer she got to the courtyard, the more tense Zhang Qi became. She lowered her head and walked stiffly.

  At this time, the maidervant stepped into the courtyard.

  After walking for a while, she turned her head and said: "The young master is waiting inside, go in."

  "Yes."

  Zhang Qi lowered her head and stepped into the main hall.

  In the main room, Zhang Xuan was holding a book and sitting at the lower end of the table with Zhang Xiao talking to her. Looking at her son, Zhang Xiaos eyebrows and eyes were all kind, while Zhang Xuan also had a smiling face. In the right corner, Zhang Jin lowered his head, playing with his handkerchief in a depressed manner, and occasionally Zhang Xiao would call out a few words, but she seemed not to have heard them.

  Seeing Zhang Qi enter, Zhang Xuan stood up and gently called out: "A Qi, come quickly to pay respects to Mother."

  His tone was affectionate, which made Zhang Qi feel close to his mother.

  Zhang Qi hastily stepped forward two steps, made a slight curtsy and called out in a crisp voice: "Qi has seen Mother."

  As soon as the two words "mother" came out, Zhang Jin, who was sitting in the corner, raised his head and glared at her with a cold hum.

  After Zhang Qi called out, she looked at Zhang Xiao with a mixture of fawning and caution, her eyes filled with a longing to get close yet shrinking back in fear.

  Her eyes met hers, and Zhang Xiaos face darkened. She didnt respond to Zhang Qis calls, but instead turned to Zhang Xuan with a smile: "My son, youre also tired today, go back to your room and rest."

  This is going to be a grand opening.

  Zhang Xuan shook his head and smiled: "Mother, Im not tired."

  He looked at Zhang Xiao and said sincerely: "Mother, Ah Gui is a really clever one. I have talked to her several times and have some feelings about it. When the time comes, mother will help her find a good husband. With Ah Guis cleverness, she might be able to help him."

  As soon as his voice fell, Zhang Jin called out from the side: "Ninth brother, what nonsense are you talking about? What status does my mother have, how would she need the help of a private-born daughter?" She thought it was more and more absurd, and couldnt help but laugh.

  Zhang Xiaos face also didnt look good. She glared at Zhang Xuan and said angrily, "Ajin is right, Xuan, as her husband, there are some things you dont think through as clearly as your sister."

  As soon as these words came out, Zhang Xuans face fell. He looked at Zhang Qi with shame.

  Zhang Qi stored his expression in his eyes and secretly thought it was bad: Zhang Xiao would likely think that todays matter was her own persuasion if she saw this expression!

  As expected, Zhang Xiaos eyes became even more gloomy.

  Zhang Qi sighed softly, Zhang Xuans move was indeed a clever trick. She lowered her head and bowed to Zhang Shuo, then turned to Zhang Jin with a hint of resentment in her voice: "Sister, your words are wrong. Ive heard that even in the household of a third-rank official, there are concubines who hold power. Although Im from a humble background, I can still put my heart into it and may not necessarily be without a chance to rise up."

  This is the first time she has said something with confidence and conviction.

  Zhang Xiao was taken aback, and Zhang Jin did not expect her to dare to retort, also being taken aback.

  In the silence, Zhang Qi bit her lip and said seriously: "Moreover, I also have some talent. If I can marry a poor official as his wife, maybe I can be of some help to him." Of course, the most crucial thing is that the Xiao family must be willing to support her and push her forward, only then can she have such good fortune.

  Zhang Xiao stared at her. When Zhang Jin let out a snort of laughter, she said disdainfully: "Ah Kuis ambitions are not small, after all."

  Zhang Qi knelt down, bowed her head respectfully and said seriously: "A Qi knows some things, the most important thing for a girl is to marry a husband with a similar background, then get his respect, and only then can we talk about other things."

  She was saying this to herself on the surface, but in fact she was also talking about Zhang Jin. She wanted to tell Zhang Xiao that she knew the rules and had never been willing to persuade Zhang Jin to do something private with others.

  Zhang Qi thought that it was rare to have the opportunity to speak in front of Zhang Xiao, and this time, even if she couldnt get Zhang Xiaos liking, at least she could clear up some misunderstandings with Zhang Jin and Xiao Mo.

  She feared that Zhang Shuo would dislike her for taking the lead, and even thought of things that Zhang Jin hadnt considered. She took out the handkerchief embroidery from her pocket again and said respectfully: "This was embroidered by Ah Kui and servant girl Ah Lu together, Id like to present it to Mother."

  Her embroidery is identical to the most popular ones in Jiankang today, and even more exquisite. If Zhang Xiao saw it, she would definitely be shocked, and some of her hidden cards would be completely exposed, which is not what Zhang Xi wants right now.

  But she knew that Zhang Xiao would certainly not come to pick her up, this handkerchief.