The cannon fodder stepmother dressed as the villain Zai Zai

What Xiao Lanhua said just now went in one ear and out the other, Shengze didn't hear a word at all.

When Xiao Lanhua finished ordering the kitchen and brought a lot of delicious food, she stepped into the door and took a look. Her expression suddenly changed and she was so frightened that she dropped the food plate in her hand.

Because the room was empty, not even a human figure. Where could the young master be?

"It's broken. The young master must have sneaked out by himself."

Little Orchid then patted her forehead belatedly.

"Oh, what kind of brain do I have? How did I fall into this little guy's trick to lure the tiger away from the mountain?"

Little Lanhua didn't need to think too much. She knew immediately that the young master must have gone to Cuilan Pavilion alone.

The fact was exactly as she expected.

Ever since I learned from Sheng Yue that Xu Yaqin had a serious infectious disease, it meant that she was seriously ill anyway.

What the young master was thinking about most was Xu Yaqin's body.

I was afraid something would happen to her.

He knew all the roads in the Marquis Mansion, big and small, and was very familiar with them.

The young master carefully avoided the sight of everyone in the Hou Mansion and sneaked outside Cuilanxuan alone.

This little guy has a very smart mind. Based on what he learned last time, he knows that if he enters through the front door, those tall guards will definitely send him back to the room.

So the young master did not take the usual route this time. He came to a remote corner with no one around.

There, there is a small dog hole.

It is just enough to accommodate the young master's figure, and he can go in and out of it, and get in and out.

This little guy has been jumping around in the Hou Mansion since he was a child. He knows the terrain inside very well. He often crawls into dog holes and plays hide and seek with everyone.

Only he knew about this secret passage. The guards naturally didn't know the terrain around Cuilanxuan, so they didn't take this into consideration.

Without saying much, the young master immediately slithered through the dog hole into Cuilan Pavilion like a loach.

He was very careful and did not run out immediately. Instead, he quietly walked to the door of the room and listened for what was going on inside.

He was afraid that if he rushed out so rashly and sounded too loud, it would be bad if Xu Yaqin was frightened.

At this time, Sheng Lixuan was having a conversation with Wu Daoren in the room.

Sheng Lixuan looked at the lifelike portrait of his late wife in his hand, and his eyes were filled with gratitude to Daoren Wu.

He saluted respectfully and said to this famous painter who was famous throughout Yandu City:

"Mr. Wu, thank you so much this time. I really don't know what to say. I remember that you were the one who was willing to take action many years ago and personally painted a portrait for Qingqiu... her."

"But it's a pity that the portrait has been severely damaged by traitors in recent days. I am feeling depressed."

Having said this, Sheng Lixuan's mouth paused and he said sincerely:

"But I really didn't expect that Wu Daoren's painting skills are really amazing. It has been so long, but I can still remember Qingqiu's face clearly."

"Although this portrait has a different artistic conception than that one, I can tell at a glance that this painting is of Qingqiu."

Wu Daoren saw that the powerful Qingdu Marquis was so humble and courteous in front of him, and his attitude was respectful. He couldn't help but stand up and quickly supported Sheng Lixuan's arm. "The Marquis has given me the award. The old Taoist is just a layman, and he only has some skills in painting. He just met the Marquis's wife many years ago..."

"How can I remember it so clearly and create such a lifelike portrait? I would say, Lord Marquis, the person you should be most grateful to is Mrs. Xu."

"Mrs. Xu?"

Hearing Wu Daoren's unfounded statement, Sheng Lizuan frowned and wondered what this matter had to do with Xu Yaqin.

Taoist Wu helped him clear up his doubts, laughed, and said:

"Mr. Marquis, do you still know something? Originally, this painting was indeed a embarrassment for the veteran. The veteran really didn't know where to start at the beginning, but thanks to Mrs. Xu's reminder, he said that painting should focus on the statue of the god and not the image."

"The old Taoist can only use Mrs. Xu as a reference, and boldly paint Mrs. Xu according to her appearance."

"Anything else?"

If these words had not come from Wu Daoren, Sheng Lixuan would never have believed that this lifelike portrait of a woman was actually painted after Xu Yaqin!
Although when he first saw Xu Yaqin, he felt that this person was somewhat similar to Qingqiu.

But it's just temperament and conversation. When it comes to specific appearance, it's simply a far cry from each other.

But even so, the portrait painted by Wu Daoren was lifelike... Sheng Lizuan could see the shadow of Leng Qingqiu at a glance.

"Painting is about divine icons, not images..."

Sheng Lixuan looked at Xu Yaqin with downcast eyes, muttering this sentence to himself, not knowing what he was thinking.

Not only Sheng Lixuan and Sheng Yue listened to Wu Daoren's explanation, but even the two clan elders who had always criticized Xu Yaqin changed their faces slightly.

They never imagined that Xu Yaqin would go to such great lengths to invite Wu Daoren to paint just to repaint the portrait of the late Madam?

The two elders were stunned for a moment, at a loss.

They really couldn't find any reason to continue to criticize Xu Yaqin. Even they were slightly moved and looked at this selfless Mrs. Xu with admiration.

Only now did Sheng Lixuan realize how wrong he was. It turned out that Xu Yaqin was only thinking about the Hou Mansion and herself.

Sheng Lixuan looked at Xu Yaqin again, his eyes as gentle as water.

"Mrs. Xu. I have wrongly accused you. It's my fault... If you have any complaints against me and have something unhappy about me, just say it."

Xu Yaqin smiled with relief:
"Master Hou, I have no complaints. I am doing all this just to see you getting thinner and thinner, and not thinking about food or tea. You have just recovered from a serious illness, and now is the time to recuperate your body. How can you keep doing this?"

"That's why I boldly came up with such a method. But in the final analysis, Mr. Wu's painting skills are superb. Otherwise, how could he have painted the late Madam so vividly?"

"After all, Mr. Hou, you should still thank Mr. Wu."

"Yes, yes, that's right."

Sheng Lixuan quickly asked Wu Daoren:
"Mr. Wu, why don't you know how to repay your kindness?"

"Mr. Wu, if there is anything you want or want to accomplish, as long as it is something that I, the Marquis of Qingdu, can do, just ask, and I will do my best to facilitate it."

Seeing Sheng Lixuan's enthusiasm, Wu Daoren shook his head, with a relaxed and comfortable look on his face, and said in a deep voice:
"Oh, Lord Marquis. I am a Taoist who devotes myself to practicing Taoism. I am carefree and relaxed. I have three or five pieces of clothing to cover my body all year round. It is enough to have three meals and three grains to eat. Where can I have any other extravagant wishes?"

(End of this chapter)