Lin Zhuifeng had always been a carefree person, and everyone in the Lin Mansion was used to it.
However, when she shouted this time, in an instant, all the painters in the entire Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion raised their heads in shock with strange expressions.
Such a direct evaluation?!
It was a little humiliating.
Master Liu Qingyan's face was flushed red. His hand that was holding the pen was trembling non-stop.
Lin Qingyin recovered from the shock of An Le's painting and hurriedly glared at Lin Zhuifeng.
"Master Liu, don't be angry. This girl is spouting nonsense."
Lin Qingyin gently apologized.
Only then did Liu Qingyan's expression ease up a lot, but his lips were still trembling. His paintings had been admired by countless courtesans in the industry, but this was the first time he had been evaluated like this.
Tasteless?!
What did this woman know about paintings?!
An Le also came back to his senses at this moment. He looked at Lin Qingyin and Lin Zhuifeng beside him and cupped his fists.
"Continue drawing. Your drawing is too good!"
Lin Zhuifeng became excited and urged An Le to continue drawing.
Of course, she knew that she had said something wrong, but… did it matter?
If Liu Qingyan was angry, so be it. What was wrong with her saying the truth?
Lin Zhuifeng's status in the Lin Residence was different. Although she was a maid and had no parents since she was young, she was accepted into the Lin Residence because of her cultivation talent. She grew up with a few young masters and her ninth sister. She was treated as their own and cultivated with them. Her status was very high and no one treated her as a maid.
This made Lin Zhuifeng feel more confident. Of course, she was more confident because of her cultivation level and the fire stick in her hand.
Lin Qingyin no longer paid attention to Liu Qingyan because she also felt that An Le was better at painting.
She looked at An Le with surprise in her eyes.
An Le's painting was too real.
If not for the black and white color, Lin Zhuifeng would have thought that Madam Hua had been pressed into the painting.
Especially that gaze, that gaze that Lin Qingyin had memorized deeply!
During the days when First Master went to war, First Madam's eyes were like this. They were filled with sadness and sorrow. Her eyes expressed her worry and sorrow about sending her husband to war.
At this moment, this gaze was like a piece of paper that had evoked Lin Qingyin's memories.
"It's really good."
Lin Qingyin softly murmured.
In the distance, Liu Qingyan felt that these words were repeatedly humiliating him, and his expression became even uglier.
However, he really did not believe that An Le, a young artist, could surpass his decades of workmanship by painting with charcoal blocks.
"This artist was invited by Miss Lin, so Miss Lin naturally spoke up for him."
Liu Qingyan snorted coldly and began to draw even more seriously.
An Le immersed himself in painting again. The most important thing in realistic sketches was the realism, which was the resemblance. The form had to be similar, and the intent had to be similar.
The eyes were the window to the soul. Once the outline was in place, the highlights, lines, and so on would be grasped well. The charm would be there. It could basically be said that it was not an exaggeration to say that it was a black-and-white photo.
He picked up the steamed bun and used it as an eraser. He wiped away the excess lines and gently rubbed the pads of his fingers. The lines were rubbed open, forming a gradually changing color.
An Le took a step back and pulled his mind away from the scene of observing the Age Qi. He was actually a little tired, but there was excitement in his eyes.
In both his past and present lives, this was the work he was most proud of.
On the paper, Madam Hua was sitting in an armchair. She was dressed in luxurious clothes and holding a cup of tea in her hand. Her brows were filled with worry. Her eyes seemed to have a story. When looking at her, one could vaguely see the back of a man riding his horse and playing the flute on the ancient road under the quiet rain.
The painting was outlined with lines and was not messy. It was so clear that one could even catch a teardrop hanging on her eyelashes.
Madam Hua had unknowingly appeared behind An Le.
The noblewoman stared blankly at the painting.
The self in this painting reminded her of her melancholy self when she was bidding farewell to her husband.
"This is me—"
Madam Hua murmured.
After a long time, Madam Hua retracted her gaze and took a deep look at An Le. Why did this young artist seem to have seen her extremely sad self when she bid farewell to her husband?
That was obviously impossible.
Judging from this young man's age, at that time… he had not been born yet.
In other words, the young man found this emotion in her eyes and drew it out.
"This kind of painting looks very real. I'm impressed, not bad at all."
Madam Hua was not stingy with her praise.
The Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion was in an uproar. Many painters had looks of disbelief on their faces. To be praised by Madam Hua, this painting must be extraordinary.
Many painters walked out from behind the table and moved behind An Le. Their gazes landed on the painting.
At this glance, the painters were all silent.
Because… this painting was too realistic!
It was almost as if he was painting a real person on paper. This style was unprecedented.
Many painters shook their heads and sighed, ashamed of their inferiority.
The Lin Residence had invited an artist this time to paint for the young masters who were about to go to war. They wanted to leave behind a painting so that they could take it out to look at the painting in the future. What they wanted was a realistic portrait.
An Le's painting did this perfectly. In comparison, many artists felt that their paintings were incomparable.
Master Liu Qingyan had finally finished drawing.
He walked over in disbelief and his gaze landed on An Le's painting.
His pupils constricted.
Like the other painters, after a long silence, Master Liu silently rolled up his proud work.
"Painting with a brush is the traditional painting method of Great Zhao," said Master Liu stubbornly.
"Old man, are you as talented as you are stubborn? Isn't painting just drawing on paper? Who said that you have to draw with a brush?" Lin Zhuifeng didn't like his bad habit and retorted directly.
Master Liu was stunned. When he saw Lin Zhuifeng, he recalled how this girl had said that he drew like sh*t.
"It's just a dirty trick. It's not elegant."
Master Liu was filled with dissatisfaction. He flicked his sleeves and snorted.
Then, he bade farewell to Madam Hua. She glanced at Master Liu indifferently. When the other painters saw that Master Liu was about to leave, they followed him. Madam Hua did not ask them to stay. She asked the servants to send the painters off after paying the fare.
In a short while, all the painters had left the Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion. Everyone knew who the final candidate was.
An Le's lifelike painting made them self-aware.
Of course, many self-important artists did not admit that An Le's painting was good. It was just that An Le had used an unorthodox method and met the Lin Residence's requirements.
Just as Master Liu had said, painting with a brush was the orthodox way to convince the masses.
"How should I address you, young master?" Madam Hua looked at An Le and asked gently.
"I'm An Le, from Chongzhou. I'm here to participate in the Spring Quarter Examination." An Le cupped his hands and introduced himself.
When Madam Hua heard this, her eyes were filled with surprise. "So you're a young Provincial Scholar. No wonder your painting skills are so brilliant. The person in the painting seems to have come alive."
"Young Master An, in that case, I might have to trouble you to paint for the young masters of the Lin Residence."
An Le cupped his fists. "I will do my best."
Madam Hua continued to admire the painting and said softly, "This painting is very good. I like it very much. Give it to me. I can give you a gift in return."
"This is not a labor fee for the young masters' paintings. Consider it an exchange between me and Young Master An."
An Le was stunned. "Madam Hua, you don't have to do this. This painting was originally drawn for you. If you like it, you can have it."
Madam Hua waved her hand. "Young Master An, no need to reject. I don't benefit from others for no reason. This is the rule of the Lin Residence."
"Silver, gold, anything you want. I think this painting is worth it."
When An Le heard this, his eyes lit up and he stopped being pretentious.
He thought for a moment, cupped his fists again, and said seriously, "Madam Hua, I was lucky enough to step foot into cultivation yesterday. However, because I missed out on cultivation, I couldn't obtain any profound books. It's difficult for me to continue on the path of cultivation in the future. Today, I'd like to use this painting to exchange for a decent cultivation book. If the painting isn't worth this price, the labor fee for painting for the young masters in the future can be included."
Everyone in the Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion was surprised by An Le's words.
Lin Zhuifeng and Lin Qingyin couldn't help but glance at An Le. They didn't expect this young man to want to continue on the path of cultivation.
It was indeed too late for An Le to complete the enlightenment of cultivation at his age. In the future, cultivation would definitely be difficult and there was not much hope.
It was better to focus on learning and strive to try to enter List B of the Imperial Examination.
Madam Hua's gaze landed on An Le. Naturally, she could capture An Le's pitifully weak spiritual energy.
It was indeed the initial step of cultivation enlightenment.
However, Madam Hua suddenly recalled the moment when she looked into An Le's eyes and her calm Primordial Spirit jumped.
This young man…
Madam Hua smiled gently, waved at An Le, and walked towards the main hall of the Water Pavilion.
After sitting elegantly on the chair, Madam Hua asked An Le to sit down and ordered someone to pour tea for him.
"How old is Young Master An now?"
"Do you know the cultivation realms?"
Madam Hua took a sip of tea and asked softly.
An Le stroked his celadon teacup and said slowly, "I'm already 18 years old. Because I buried my head in studying for the Imperial Examination, I missed out on cultivation. I don't know the cultivation realms of the world."
In the quiet Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion, the young man's Dao heart was like weeds on flat ground, growing again when the spring wind blew.
Madam Hua smiled gently.
"In that case, I'll light a green lamp for Young Master An's cultivation path."