Prologue

The artist listened to their banter and laughed

"How is it? Do I look like that?" Gongsun asked, her bright eyes sparkling.

The artist smiled and nodded. "As Miss Gongsun wishes." The tone was warm and very polite

"May I take a look first, oh no..." A cry of despair. My legs have gone numb, my legs have gone numb

"What beauty register are you talking about? Most beauties in the martial world are half-witted. If you truly enter the beauty register, I will not acknowledge you as a member of the Gongsun family, it would be a disgrace."

The boy squinted his eyes and said in a stern voice

What are you doing? You are only twelve years old, why are you looking for an artist to depict you as twenty? he scolded, his dark eyes holding back anger

He had seen this outfit before, just a couple of days ago when she wore it for him. He thought that the girl was vain, and frequently changing clothes was not a big deal...

Her face fell slightly, yet she forced a smile, her dark, glistening eyes glaring at him from the corners.

He looked up at the white cloud in the sky that resembled nothing but a cloud, decided to disregard her excessive imagination, and asked again

How did you choose to paint here? Was it your choice, or was it his?

Miss Gongsun was born in Yun Family Village, inseparably linked to the martial world. When she grows up, she will undoubtedly be the first person in the beauty register of the martial world

Then... then...

She was delighted and impulsively stood up, saying

I know you are unconvinced. Clearly, we are only two fingers apart in age, yet in terms of seniority, there is such a significant gap between us... Ahem, artist, please do not include the expression I just had in the painting.

Did you just see that painting? Is it beautiful? Is it beautiful?

After a while, she indeed could not bear the loneliness any longer and asked him:

The boy scanned the surroundings quietly, secretly assessing the seemingly refined painter. He whispered to his aunt beside him:

She is dressed in a purple silk short jacket and a light yellow Xiang skirt, with her glossy black hair tied up with a satin ribbon of the same color, sitting properly on the chair

She couldn't hold back her little face and let out a chuckle.

"I want Bai! Gongsun wants Bai!" The ten-year-old boy searched throughout the entire manor, his veins beginning to bulge, causing his naturally cold face to take on a slightly ferocious expression

ugly

"Which is ugly? Which is ugly? Do you understand the importance of respecting the elderly and valuing the virtuous? Even if it is ugly... I mean, if it really is ugly, how would you comfort me?"

She is very safe and has no discomfort, which reassured him

The boy patiently supported her small waist. He did not dare to exert too much force, as this little aunt was older than him, yet her body was truly... sometimes when he touched her, he genuinely wondered if she had any bones at all

He murmured, "Nonsense." Then he fell silent, no longer engaging in banter with her

She did not even dare to move, maintaining the most graceful and elegant posture

"I chose it myself." Gongsun Yaobai had long felt that this nephew was always on guard, lacking any softness in his demeanor. She pouted her light-colored lips at the ever-changing clouds in the sky. "I think, painting a portrait takes several hours, sitting still is quite boring, so I might as well come out and bask in the sun. Look, doesn't that cloud look like a fish flying in the sky?"

The boy's dark eyes narrowed slightly as he walked behind the painter, staring at the young beauty vividly brought to life on the paper

Mingming is two years older than him, yet she is even more childish than he is, and her frail body is frighteningly weak, causing him to often think that this little girl is not his aunt, but rather a niece he must constantly look after

Her voice is delicate and sweet, resembling that of a pampered young girl, and when she gets excited, she can even act mischievously with her juniors

"Miss, there is no need to rush; this painting must be perfect before I can present it to you." The artist rolled up the painting and stepped forward to hand it to the boy. "It is safer to keep the painting with the young master, as it is unlikely that the miss would sneak a look at it here."

"In another month, I will be thirteen, not a child anymore." She protested, pouting her small lips, but quickly returned to a smiling demeanor. She said softly, "Also, be a bit more polite to me; although we are not related by blood, I am your aunt in name."

"Miss Gongsun, I have been painting portraits for several years now. Although you have not yet reached the age of maturity, your moon-like complexion and starry eyes are exceptionally beautiful and refined, resembling a rare sight akin to the white snow plum blossom that one might only encounter once in a lifetime," he paused almost imperceptibly, then continued with a smile, "Such unparalleled beauty and grace, within five years, I fear that all the men in the world will be lining up at the doorstep of 'Yun Family Manor'"

Why is there no one in the courtyard

The boy was taken aback, instinctively taking the scroll with both hands. The artist spoke with a smile, and his words were quite reasonable, yet inexplicably, a chill ran down the boy's spine. He glanced sideways at the grinning Yao Bai beside him.

He turns a deaf ear.

Everything is as usual

Upon hearing this, her charming face flushed lightly, and she lowered her gaze, lost in thought. After a while, she noticed her nephew staring at her, and she made a funny face, playfully winking at him

The painter, with a smile in his eyes, listened to the idle chatter of the two children. He continuously sketched her youthful beauty, and as the sun set, his strokes became even swifter. When the first shadow of dusk fell upon the ground, he said with a smile

Almost done. I will make a few more adjustments tomorrow

The boy's expression was calm, and he gazed at the artist with interest, as if he had naturally come to her side

"No matter who comes to propose, I will not marry. Xian'er, when the time comes, you can help me speak well, and I will stay in the Gongsun family, living as a mere figurehead, waiting for you to marry and have children in the future, so that a child can take care of me."

She really wants to grit her teeth, but she must maintain a beautiful facade, so she can only endure in silence, wishing to send her fist to him, yet she endures and endures.

Upon hearing this, the boy ceased to speak further. After all, he had nothing to do, so it was also good to keep her company to pass the time

Finally, he found her in the secluded side yard

"In two days, it will be Brother Fu's birthday. Many people are coming and going in the village, including opera troupes, cooks, and acrobatic groups. Everyone is busy inside and outside, so I chose this quiet place." She understood his implication and whispered again, "The painter was also invited by the village; originally, he was meant to paint a portrait of Brother Fu, but I took him first. You can rest assured that everyone invited by the village has undergone a background check, and the painter's reputation has been built over many years, so it is definitely not false."

He did not even glance, staring straight ahead. "I coax children, not elders"

Upon hearing this, her originally radiant smile instantly froze