TPGA - 71

Chapter 71: Snow Lotus

When Yunyi looked up after finishing the final stroke, she realized someone had joined them. Upon recognizing the newcomer, she hastily dropped the twig and knelt down. “Greetings, Second Master!”

It was none other than Li Shimin, who had returned from Qingchun Garden and happened to pass by the back garden. Seeing someone dancing, he decided to investigate, only to discover it was Yunyi and Jiang Caiping.

“Rise,” Li Shimin said, his gaze fixed intently on the drawing on the ground. Though the strokes were few, the figure was lifelike and captured Jiang Caiping’s essence perfectly. Even he couldn’t help but feel inferior to such skill.

Seeing him scrutinize the drawing, Yunyi inwardly cursed. Why did he have to see it? Quickly, she erased the sketch with her foot and chuckled lightly. “Just something I doodled randomly. Please forgive me for embarrassing myself in front of you, Second Master.”

Li Shimin studied her deeply. “If this is what you call random, then when you’re serious, even the masters wouldn’t match your skill.”

“Second Master, please don’t tease me. I’ve simply… enjoyed drawing since I was young and once eavesdropped on a few painting lessons at the village school. That’s why I can manage something barely presentable—but nothing refined enough for high society.”

“You’re being modest,” he replied. Meanwhile, Jiang Caiping noticed Li Shimin’s presence, stopped dancing, and came over to bow respectfully. Li Shimin only glanced at her briefly before refocusing his attention on Yunyi.

No matter how talented someone was, without proper guidance from a master, they couldn’t produce such lifelike drawings. Meixue… was most likely lying!

Though previous attempts to uncover flaws had yielded nothing, he still harbored suspicions about this woman. Now, seeing her remarkable artistic skill only deepened his doubts. Was Meixue truly part of the assassin’s scheme, or… was her disguise so flawless that no one could discern the truth?

Fearing further scrutiny might reveal more inconsistencies, Yunyi lowered her gaze and said, “If Second Master has no further instructions, we’ll take our leave.” As she spoke, tiny flakes of icy snow began to fall on their faces.

Just as she prepared to leave with Jiang Caiping, Li Shimin suddenly grabbed her hand. “Come with me—I’ll show you somewhere!”

Startled by his sudden action, Yunyi quickly asked, “Second Master, where are you taking me?”

“You’ll know when we get there.” Turning to Jiang Caiping, he said, “You go back first. I’ll personally escort Meixue back later.”

Jiang Caiping had long suspected that Li Shimin harbored feelings for Yunyi, so she didn’t object. Bowing quickly, she even gave Yunyi an encouraging gesture behind Li Shimin’s back, urging her to seize the opportunity. This left Yunyi feeling utterly exasperated.

Yunyi, fearing she might reveal too much, didn’t dare struggle excessively and allowed Li Shimin to pull her all the way to the mansion gates. When she heard him instruct the servants to fetch horses, she couldn’t help but ask again, “Second Master, where exactly are we going? It’s already snowing.”

“Precisely because it’s snowing that we must go.”

“Why?” Facing Yunyi’s puzzled gaze, Li Shimin didn’t explain but instead turned to Duan Zhihong, who was following nearby. “I almost forgot—fetch me some writing tools, ink, paper, as well as provisions and water.”

After Duan Zhihong brought the requested items and the servants led over Li Shimin’s steed—a magnificent horse with a sleek, green mane—Duan Zhihong began packing the ink and paper into a leather pouch on the horse’s side. He then instructed the servants, “Bring my horse as well.”

Before the servant could respond, Li Shimin interjected, “You don’t need to come. Go handle the task I assigned you earlier.”

“But, Second Master, you shouldn’t be unaccompanied,” Duan Zhihong said, glancing at Yunyi. Understanding his concern, Li Shimin reassured him, “It’s fine. I’m just heading to West Mountain—it won’t take long. By the way, the people from Ji Garden reported last time that their grain supply was running low, and they won’t have enough to distribute rice porridge on the first day of next month. Have Chief Lin prepare three hundred catties of top-grade white rice and personally deliver it there immediately. Be cautious along the way, and avoid disturbing the common folk.”

A flicker of confusion crossed Duan Zhihong’s face. The people from Ji Garden had indeed sent word before, but just yesterday, the Second Master had already arranged for Chief Lin to send over three hundred catties of premium white rice. Why was he giving the same order again now—and insisting that Duan Zhihong deliver it personally? This was strange. Could… the Second Master be hinting at something? “Immediately set out… avoid disturbing the common folk… disturbing…”

Duan Zhihong had been by Li Shimin’s side for several years and had a general understanding of his thoughts. After pondering for a moment, a faint realization dawned on him.

Li Shimin continued westward with Yunyi, riding out of the city gates and galloping for nearly an hour before finally reining in his horse at the foot of a towering mountain.

Yunyi brushed off the unmelted snowflakes clinging to her clothes and exhaled warm breath into her hands, gazing at the desolate surroundings. “Second Master, why have you brought me here?” Just as they were leaving the mansion, snow began to fall softly, just as Yunyi had anticipated.

Li Shimin helped her dismount and spoke kindly, “Have you ever heard of the snow lotus?”

“I haven’t,” Yunyi replied. Of course, she not only knew about the snow lotus but had even seen one in person. However, this was something she absolutely couldn’t reveal to Li Shimin.

“This flower grows on the Tian Mountains in the Western Regions, so it’s also called the Tian Mountain Snow Lotus. It blooms every three to five years, and its flowers wither within a single day. It has miraculous healing properties, and many travel thousands of miles just to pluck it. However, the people of the Western Regions regard it as a sacred flower and forbid anyone from picking it. If caught, the offender will face the wrath of everyone in the region!”

“I never imagined such a wondrous flower existed. But…” Yunyi hesitated, “why are you telling me all this, Second Master? Surely, we’re not expecting to find a snow lotus here?”

Her words were meant in jest, but to her surprise, Li Shimin nodded seriously and pointed toward the mountain. “Several months ago, while inspecting the terrain here on behalf of my father, I happened to spot a budding snow lotus halfway up the mountain.”

“Here?” Yunyi exclaimed in astonishment. “Didn’t you say this flower grows on the Tian Mountains in the Western Regions? How could it appear here?”

“I’m not sure either, but it is undoubtedly a snow lotus.” He glanced at the increasingly darkening sky. “I’ve been checking on it every few days, but it hasn’t bloomed yet. I asked some people familiar with the legends of the snow lotus, and they said it only blooms during snowfall. Today should be the day. I want you to capture its blooming posture in a painting so that Wugou can see it.”

“Wugou?” Yunyi furrowed her brows as she looked at Li Shimin. In her two months at the governor’s mansion, she had never heard this name mentioned.

Li Shimin smiled warmly. “Wugou is my betrothed. Two years ago, when I visited my uncle’s home with my father, she mentioned how much she wanted to see the snow lotus of the Tian Mountains and whether it truly lived up to its reputation of being pure and flawless. Unfortunately, she cannot travel far, and once picked, the snow lotus withers immediately, so she has never had the chance to see one.”

Li Shimin often wore a gentle smile, but this time, Yunyi felt an unusual warmth radiating from him, as if the falling snow wasn’t as cold anymore. “I see. So, Second Master wishes for me to paint the snow lotus to fulfill Miss Wugou’s wish.”