CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 320: THE PORTRAIT HAS ARRIVED

Leaving the Lin Mansion, Xiao Chong and Dugu Di rode back to the county government, each with their personal guards.

Based on the recipe handwritten by Lin Wanwan and a few small firecrackers they brought home, the two began to study in the main hall.

After a long time, Dugu Di put down what he was holding and said blandly, "Zifang, that Village Lady of Le’an has many secrets. Does she have hidden forces behind her? Which side do they belong to?"

Xiao Chong replied casually, "Forget about the irrational things, don’t overthink it. There aren’t that many hidden forces, she’s just some cousin."

Dugu Di faced Xiao Chong, was silent for a moment, then said quietly, "Okay, I understand."

"These firecrackers aren’t very lethal, it’s a pity. But selling them could be a lucrative business." Xiao Chong pushed away the fragments of two firecrackers he had dismantled, then lit another one and threw it out the window toward the osmanthus tree.

"Bang!"

With a blast, a few clods of dirt flew up, causing almost no damage to the tree roots.

Outside, the commotion startled Shuqin and Dugu Di’s guard, Yan Mu, causing them both to draw their Tang blades with a "clang."

"My lord, are you okay?"

Dugu Di’s voice replied, "No problem."

Xiao Chong watched the firecracker remnants on the table for a while and suddenly said, "Gunpowder must have more interesting uses, far beyond just this effect."

Dugu Di responded calmly, "Naturally, those alchemy Taoists blown up by explosions are the best evidence."

"If we could replicate the explosive power of an alchemical furnace, places like Turkic and Korea could be swept away."

Dugu Di said, "No rush, try a few more times."

Xiao Chong let out a long sigh, then casually said, "It’s getting late, Xiwen, you’re tired from the journey; get some rest today, there’s always tomorrow."

"Alright."

Dugu Di stood up, bid farewell with a salute, and left.

He grew weary of the intrigues in Chang’an and, after graduating from the Imperial College, traveled through the Great Tang with just a guard and a horse, having not returned to Chang’an for several years. A few days ago, he arrived in Mao County to find Xiao Chong.

The two grew up together in Chang’an, studying under the same teacher. Because their views were similar, their bond was closer than with others—not related by blood, yet as close as brothers.

Initially, with Xiao Chong’s status, he didn’t have to be posted so far away; it would have been easy to remain in Chang’an as an official. However, Xiao Chong’s family situation was even more complicated than his own, so not wanting to stay in Chang’an longer, he used his connections to come to Mao County.

Fortunately, Mao County is an upper county and not a remote backwater. Except for being a bit far from the emperor, the rest was satisfactory.

As for Dugu Di himself, the possibility of becoming an official ceased when his eyes lost their vision. Of course, the person responsible for this met their end long ago.

Exchanging his eyes for the other person’s life, he still felt it was a loss. After all, killing them didn’t change anything! Instead, it only made the few family members left apprehensive of him, leaving him isolated.

Luckily, though he could no longer see clearly, he was not particularly saddened. Compared to seeing those detestable faces daily, he preferred closing his eyes, seeing nothing.

Since his eyes became half-blind, whenever he didn’t want to hear anything, he could block it out, and no one dared to say anything to him.

After sending off Xiao Chong and Dugu Di, Lin Wanwan stretched lazily, feeling exhausted. It was already tough dealing with Xiao Chong alone, and now another clever person like him had come; truly difficult!

Thankfully, what she was doing in the shop now involved women’s products, so she didn’t have to face those two, otherwise, she’d be exposed in no time.

She had no intention of returning to the modern era today, anyway. Due to the time difference, not going back made the modern time flow slower for her. She only wanted to hold little Qingyu and have a good sleep to relax.

The milky scent on Qingyu was her refuge for the soul.

Lin Wanwan still fed Qingyu formula twice a day, both to supplement her nutrition and because she herself liked the faint milky scent on Qingyu after having formula.

The next morning, as Lin Wanwan was having Hong Yan do her hair at the dressing table, a gatekeeper reported that Xiao Chong had sent over two items.

One was a rectangular wooden box, and the other was a phoenix head vertical zither.

Lin Wanwan casually plucked the zither strings a couple of times and immediately recognized its value. It was even better than the one Heng Wu had acquired from her old master—likely crafted by a famous artisan, requiring careful study.

Receiving gifts so early brightened Lin Wanwan’s mood significantly.

Xiao Chong is quite thoughtful, isn’t he? Could it be considered payment for the firecracker recipe she gave him?

Then again, a zither of such quality couldn’t have been found overnight; he must have spent considerable time acquiring it.

The decorations in Xiao Chong’s county government office are very simple, so if he had it before, he surely would have brought it out for her to play by now.

Though he is rather sly, it seems that’s only in dealing with things; he’s generous with people.

Excitedly inspecting the zither, she instructed Hua Nong to carefully store it away.

Lin Wanwan then opened the wooden box, finding a scroll inside.

"Oh, is this the portrait I asked him to paint before? Is it mounted now?" Lin Wanwan took out the portrait and slowly unfolded it.

In the painting, a sleeping beauty reclined on an Imperial Concubine Couch, her form like undulating mountains, fully embodying feminine grace.

As Lin Wanwan gazed at the voluptuous figure in the painting, she felt as though she were rediscovering herself.

She never knew she could look this way in sleep, her figure so... indescribable, with an expression that’s oddly charming, as if silently alluring someone.

Seeing herself like this, Lin Wanwan felt more embarrassed than when posing before a mirror!

Watching, Lin Wanwan suddenly stood, not wanting to let Hong Yan view it over her shoulder any longer, feeling an inexplicable sense of shame.

Xiao Chong’s brushstrokes are truly vivid; this intricate painting captures life not in the naturalistic realism of Western oil paintings, but an idealized vision.

And from it, she faintly sensed the gentle gaze Xiao Chong must have had when creating it.

It’s a difficult emotion to describe, yet it was vividly conveyed to her through the painting, proving art is the embodiment of the artist’s soul.

The person in the painting was soundly asleep, yet exuded inexplicable trust toward the person outside the painting.

Was it possible she truly trusted Xiao Chong deep down?

Lin Wanwan asked herself, thinking back on her interactions with Xiao Chong, it seemed she never considered the possibility he might harm her.

Even though he’s obviously skilled and adept at many tactics, she truly didn’t fear him at all. Was it merely because she saved him, changing his fate?

With this thought, Lin Wanwan’s heartbeat suddenly quickened immensely.