Martial Saint through Reading

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: It’s Not Makeup, It’s Disguise!

Housekeeper Wu bowed, his expression icy cold.

He knew exactly what the Lady was referring to.

”Madam, although the Chu Family is the wealthiest merchant in Baiyuan County, Baiyuan Academy isn’t like the Criminal Defense Bureau; it’s not so easy for us to intervene. If we want to deal with Third Young Master, I’m afraid only Guardian Zheng can act.”

”Zheng Xiguan has already sent Vice Guardian Hong, but it seems...he failed.”

”Moreover, Zheng Xiguan wouldn’t expose himself over an illegitimate son.” The Lady’s voice behind the curtain remained calm.

”Then...” Housekeeper Wu looked troubled. ”If Third Young Master keeps hiding in the Academy, and Guardian Zheng can’t intervene, won’t we just let him grow unchecked?”

”Grow?” The woman behind the curtain, supported by her maid, sat up, a trace of disdain in her tone. ”How much could a mere illegitimate son possibly grow?”

”He plays with brush and ink; he could become an official, but his body is only mortal, just like his mother. A little medicine would do.”

The Lady picked up candied fruit handed by the maid, placed it in her mouth, and savored it slowly. ”His mother drank it for a year before passing away. That illegitimate son has been drinking it for more than half a year. I wonder what trick Housekeeper Fang used to let him live until now.”

Housekeeper Fang!

Housekeeper Wu’s face changed slightly, showing both fear and hatred.

”Speaking of which, Housekeeper Fang’s skills are indeed impressive. Not only did he prolong the illegitimate son’s life, he even sent him to Baiyuan Academy.”

”Madam, should I...” Housekeeper Wu said sharply.

”Hehe, at such a critical time, don’t alert the snake in the grass.” The Lady looked beyond the curtain. ”I know you have a grudge with Fang Xiao, but if you ruin our plans because of it, I’ll drain the life from you.”

Her voice was gentle, but in Housekeeper Wu’s ears, it was as terrifying as icy blades.

He hurriedly pressed his hands together and bowed deeply. ”Wu Tian wouldn’t dare.”

”Enough.” The Lady behind the curtain sounded a little impatient. ”That illegitimate son’s matter is easy to solve. Our Chu Family does business with Baiyuan Academy’s kitchens, right?”

Upon hearing this, Wu Tian’s eyes flashed instantly. ”Madam, all of Baiyuan Academy’s kitchen supplies are provided by our Chu Family’s shops.”

”You know what to do then.”

”Yes.”

”Mm, don’t let the Master know about this. Neither the eldest nor the second young master should find out.” The Lady instructed.

”What shouldn’t I know?”

Just then, a young man wearing embroidered robes and a jade crown walked in from outside, bowing towards the curtain. ”Mother.”

Silence fell behind the curtain. Wu Tian lowered his head, not daring to speak.

”Mother, what are you and Housekeeper Wu discussing so mysteriously that even I, the second young master of Chu Mansion, your son, can’t be told?”

The youth was holding a scroll-shaped object in each hand, his gaze unfriendly toward Wu Tian.

Wu Tian immediately bent even lower at the waist.

After a brief silence, a voice sounded behind the curtain.

Two young maids lifted the beaded curtain first, and an elegant, noble woman stepped out slowly from within.

She wore a long garment woven with golden threads, its hem swaying gently with her steps.

Her slender white hand reached out, grasped the scroll from the youth, and she laughed softly. ”Yuu’er, what are you carrying? Let Mother take a look.”

”Mother.” The youth’s cheeks reddened slightly, wanting to dodge, but it was too late.

The Lady unrolled the scroll. On it were crooked, jumbled drawings—childlike scribbles, messy and wild.

”A painting?” The Lady asked.

”Mm.” The youth lowered his head.

”This dog is truly well-drawn.” The Lady smiled gently, her grace even more apparent.

She turned toward Wu Tian. ”Housekeeper Wu, what do you think?”

Only now did Wu Tian dare lift his head, his gaze falling on the painting—and suddenly he froze.

This counts as well-drawn?

Glancing again at the second young master, he understood.

”It’s quite lifelike, especially the eyes—animated, the finishing touch. Which master’s work could this be?”

Housekeeper Wu lavished praise, then pretended ignorance.

Yet, the more the Lady and Housekeeper Wu praised, the redder the youth’s face became.

”Mother...you’re holding it upside down.” The youth’s face was taut as he flipped the scroll around.

Housekeeper Wu was stunned; even the Lady paused for a moment.

But as the hostess of Chu Mansion, she recovered swiftly, and patted the youth’s head. ”Even upside down, Mother thinks this dog is nearly alive. Doesn’t that speak to the artist’s skill?”

”Right, right—upside down, the dog in the painting looks alive!” Housekeeper Wu hurried to add.

But the youth’s face flushed even deeper. ”Mother, this isn’t a dog—it’s a horse...”

A horse?

Even the elegant Lady’s lips twitched slightly at these words.

The youth pointed to where the ”dog’s eyes” were on the scroll, speaking to Wu Tian. ”Housekeeper Wu, that isn’t an eye—it’s the horse’s nostril.”

This is a horse’s nostril?

Housekeeper Wu glanced away, thinking it was hard enough to praise it as a dog, and now it was meant to be a horse...

Next, the youth pointed to a spot resembling an ear, turning to his mother. ”That’s the horse’s leg.”

”...” The Lady was momentarily at a loss for words, her gaze sweeping over the scroll and settling on what seemed a tail. ”Then that must be the horse’s tail.”

”Mother!” The youth’s voice was loud, seemingly angry, as he quickly unfurled another scroll, pointing to a similar spot. ”Here, Mother, what is this?”

”It’s...” The Lady looked at the lifelike scroll, then at the painfully amateurish one. ”It’s a horse you added?”

The spot the youth pointed at was blank—nothing at all.

”I accidentally dripped ink there with the brush. It’s nothing!” The youth turned his head away, apparently genuinely angry.

”...The Lady froze again.

Housekeeper Wu averted his gaze, not daring to look at either painting, for fear of embarrassment.

”Yuu’er, Mother was wrong.” The Lady gently turned the youth’s face toward her. ”Whatever Yuu’er wants, Mother will grant.”

”Really?” On hearing this, a mischievous glint flashed in the youth’s eyes.

”Really.” The Lady gazed at the youth, her face full of doting affection. ”You pulled this stunt with Mother just because you want something, didn’t you?”

”Mother figured it out?” The youth was surprised.

”Mother raised you single-handedly—how could you fool me? Tell me, what is it?”

”Mother, I want to learn calligraphy and painting.”

”Why?”

”Because calligraphy and painting can be sold for money.”

”Good, that’s my son.” The Lady’s eyes turned to Wu Tian. ”Housekeeper Wu, hire a painter for the young master.”

”No, I want to go to the Calligraphy and Painting Workshop myself!” The youth rolled up his paintings. ”Mother doesn’t understand calligraphy and painting.”

”Hehe, alright. Housekeeper Wu, take Second Young Master to the painting workshop tomorrow.”

”Yes.”

...

The next day.

Baiyuan Academy, Yunqi Courtyard.

On the stone table in the small courtyard, lay rouges and powders for women, as well as something that looked like a leather membrane. Ning Hao and Liang Yuan were fiddling with them.

”Senior brothers...” Chu Ming had just stepped out from the house and saw this scene. ”Interested in makeup painting?”

”Makeup painting?” Liang Yuan looked up, his face blotchy red and white—not so much makeup as a stage performer’s mask. ”We’re doing disguise!”

”Do you know disguise?”

”Disguise?” Chu Ming paused, moved closer to check. On the stone table, besides rouge powder and leather membrane, there was also a book with text and illustrations.

A glance suggested it taught makeup, but on closer inspection...just crude drawings for makeup.

”Brother Chu, don’t doubt us. Give us half a quarter hour and you’ll see for yourself.”