Chapter 17: Great to the Touch

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Great to the Touch

"Miss, go sleep in your bed. You’ll catch a cold out here."

Suddenly, Shuang’er’s voice rang in her ear.

Zhi Wan was startled awake, only then realizing she had fallen asleep slumped over the table. What just happened was merely an erotic dream; the painting she’d been working on was still laid out perfectly where she’d left it.

Seeing her mistress’s glistening eyes, flushed cheeks, and delicate panting, Shuang’er assumed she’d had a nightmare. "It’s alright, Miss. It was only a dream."

Feeling a pang of guilt, Zhi Wan nonchalantly rolled up the painting and echoed, "Yes, only a dream."

"There’s still a while before dawn. Quick, Miss, go lie down in bed," Shuang’er urged.

"Alright." Zhi Wan got up, only to find her legs felt incredibly weak.

Shuang’er helped her to the bed, tucked her in, and then retreated to the outer room.

Zhi Wan’s face burned with shame as she recalled what had happened in her dream.

’Shuang’er is sleeping right in the outer room, yet I had a dream like *that*...’

A thought struck her. She propped herself up slightly and lifted her pillow, seeing her novels and picture albums still safely tucked away.

’But that dream... it felt so real...’

She murmured to herself.

「Qingyun Residence.」

Seeing that it was about time, Chen Jiu went to wait outside Lu Zhan’s room. He was to accompany the Princely Heir to the morning court session shortly.

But to his surprise, the ever-disciplined Princely Heir had not yet emerged, and no sound came from within the room.

As it was getting late, and any further delay might cause him to miss the morning court session, he had no choice but to knock on the door. "Princely Heir, it is time to rise," he called out.

The room was silent. After a long moment, Lu Zhan’s slightly hoarse voice came from within. "I am already up."

Chen Jiu’s heart was put at ease.

A short while later, Lu Zhan emerged, already dressed in his official robes. He was as inscrutable and stern as ever.

Zhi Wan slept soundly until dawn.

The first thing she did upon waking, however, was to scrub her undergarments.

She had gone from feeling deep shame at first to being able to handle it with composure.

’It was only an erotic dream, after all.’

After breakfast, Ouyang Zhenzhu arrived.

She was beaming and radiant. The moment she saw Zhi Wan, she grabbed her hand and asked with a wide grin, "So? Have you finished the novels and picture albums we bought last time? Were they any good?"

Although Zhi Wan had devoured them in private, she was still a little embarrassed to be asked about it. "I just flipped through them a bit," she said shyly.

Seeing her reaction, Ouyang Zhenzhu figured she was just being modest and easily embarrassed. "There’s no need to feel shy," she encouraged. "Let me tell you, several of my good friends are secretly reading them too. Once you’ve read a few more, you’ll see it’s perfectly normal. Oh, right! I’ve finished the ones I bought, so I came over today to trade with you."

Hearing this, Zhi Wan went into her inner chamber and brought out the novels and picture albums for her.

Ouyang Zhenzhu flipped through them like she had just discovered a priceless treasure. A giddy smile spread across her face as she, in turn, handed Zhi Wan the books she had brought.

Looking at the new picture albums and novels on the table, Zhi Wan’s fingers, resting on her lap, twitched. She wanted to start reading immediately but managed to restrain herself.

Hugging the books, Ouyang Zhenzhu said, "I’m going to head back now. I’ll come visit you again soon."

Her mind already preoccupied with the novels and picture albums, Zhi Wan didn’t press her to stay. "Alright, I’ll see you out."

"No, no, I can see myself out." Ouyang Zhenzhu picked up the books to leave, but Zhi Wan stopped her.

She fetched a cloth wrapper and helped her place the books inside.

"Carrying them in your arms is too conspicuous. It’s better to carry them in this."

"You’re always so thoughtful, Wanwan." Ouyang Zhenzhu beamed.

After Ouyang Zhenzhu left, Zhi Wan hugged the books she’d been given, retreated to her inner chamber, and reclined on her bed to flip through one of the picture albums.

Before long, her face was flushed beet-red.

These albums that Ouyang Zhenzhu had bought for herself were even more explicit than the ones she had picked out for Zhi Wan last time.

The albums didn’t just feature men; they included women as well.

Looking at the women in various states of undress, she felt a deep sense of shame, but she couldn’t overcome her own curiosity.

After finishing one album, she remembered the painting she had made last night and couldn’t resist taking it out to look at it.

She realized her own painting skills weren’t half bad; they were on par with the illustrations in the albums. Recalling what Ouyang Zhenzhu had said, an idea began to form in her mind.

’Although no one looks at these kinds of books and albums openly, many people must be reading them in secret. That means there’s a market for them.’

’If I painted some pictures like this and sold them to the bookshops, I could probably earn some Silver, couldn’t I?’

’Even though Aunt is very good to me and I don’t lack for money to spend, I’ll have to leave the Duke Dingguo Mansion one day. When I marry into my husband’s family, I’ll have to rely on myself. Having more of my own Silver Coin will give me more security and standing in my new home.’

At this thought, her spirits lifted. She took out her own painting and began to study it carefully, comparing it to the albums sold in the bookshops.

As she studied them, she suddenly recalled the firm chest of the man from her dream.

Although she never got a clear look at it, she remembered how incredible it felt to the touch.

’If only I could draw that...’

A wave of shame washed over Zhi Wan.

’If my parents knew from beyond the grave that I was using the painting skills they taught me for something like this, would they climb out of their coffins to scold me?’

’But then again,’ she thought, ’my parents doted on me more than anything. If they knew I was doing this to earn Silver and make a living for myself, they probably wouldn’t blame me.’

Comforting herself with this thought, and with a new idea taking root in her mind, Zhi Wan immediately sat down at her desk and began to paint.

「...」

Over the next few days, Zhi Wan shut herself in her room and produced a great number of paintings.

One day, she finished organizing her paintings, planning to go out later to ask the bookshops if they would purchase them.

Just then, however, Nanny Fang arrived at Yaoguang Pavilion.

"Miss, the Madam requests your presence."

Upon hearing this, Zhi Wan had no choice but to put aside her plans to sell the paintings and follow Nanny Fang to Lan Courtyard.

When she arrived at Lan Courtyard, she saw that Second Madam Lou was there, as were the sisters Lu Xin and Lu Lan.

Zhi Wan’s steps faltered for a moment when she saw Lu Xin.

’I didn’t expect Lu Xin to be out so soon.’

’It hasn’t even been a full month yet.’

She pretended not to notice Lu Xin’s triumphant expression as she walked forward and paid her respects to Lady Wei and Lady Lou in turn.

"Wan’er, come sit," Lady Wei said with a smile, taking her hand and having her sit beside her.

Seeing this, a flicker passed through Lady Lou’s eyes before she praised, "It’s only been a few days, and Wan’er has grown even more beautiful. You’re just so endearing."

"Our Wan’er has been a natural beauty since she was a child," Lady Wei said, lovingly stroking Zhi Wan’s hair, her expression full of pride.

Lady Lou scoffed internally.

’First Sister is truly ridiculous,’ she thought. ’She isn’t even her own daughter, so what is there to be so proud of? What does it matter how much she dotes on her? In the end, she’s just raising a bride for another family.’

Lu Xin’s heart filled with jealousy, and she shot a secret glare at Zhi Wan.

Lu Lan sat quietly, a flicker of envy in the depths of her eyes.

’Even though Zhi Wan is an orphan,’ Lu Lan thought, ’both Aunt and Uncle dote on her. Her situation is so much better than mine, the daughter of a concubine.’

"What have you been busy with these past few days? I haven’t seen you out and about," Lady Wei asked with concern.

"It was nothing important. I just stayed in my room to read," Zhi Wan replied.

"Such a good child. But reading strains the eyes; you should still get out and walk around more," Lady Wei advised.

"I understand, Aunt," Zhi Wan replied obediently.

"I called you here today because the Xuanping Marquis Mansion has sent an invitation," Lady Wei began in a gentle voice. "They are hosting a flower-viewing banquet at their villa tomorrow, and they have specifically invited you, Xin’er, and Lan’er to attend."

Zhi Wan paused at her words. ’The Xuanping Marquis Mansion? A flower-viewing banquet? And they specifically invited the three of us?’

’No wonder Lu Xin was released from her confinement.’

Lady Lou’s face lit up with joy. "First Sister, I heard that the Heir of Xuanping Marquis is already eighteen but has yet to take a wife. For them to suddenly host a flower-viewing banquet... surely they must be looking to choose a bride?"

Lady Wei was displeased that she would say such a thing so bluntly in front of the young women. "How would I know?" she said coolly. "Besides, even if the Xuanping Marquis Mansion does have such intentions, don’t forget that they have also invited other unmarried ladies from the Capital."