Wisteria hangs on cloud trees, and the flower vines are suitable for spring.
The dense leaves hide the singing birds, and the fragrant and romantic beauties.
——"Wisteria Tree" Li Bai
…
After Princess Qingluan returned to the palace, she stayed behind closed doors and copied the "Eighty-Seven Immortals Scroll" all day long to experience the sharp strokes described by Bai Fu.
Whenever she felt inspired to splash ink, Princess Qingluan picked up the green bamboo stick and practiced in the courtyard. The stick technique spread out and flowed like clouds and flowing water, like the green sea, white clouds opening and closing, and the setting sun setting on the peaks.
After a few days, Princess Qingluan became more restrained and her martial arts improved.
On this day, she realized another exquisite stick technique, which combines hardness and softness, and turned into softness around the fingers.
Princess Qingluan was so proud that she couldn't help but want to show off to someone. Thinking that she had patronized the martial arts practice and not paid greetings to her father for several days, Princess Qingluan felt deeply ashamed and left immediately, heading straight to the Zichen Hall of the Daming Palace.
Princess Qingluan passed through the right Yintai Gate and came to the front of the palace. The eunuch on duty knew that Princess Qingluan was His Majesty's favorite princess, so he hurriedly invited Princess Qingluan to the side hall and said: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty is receiving the eunuch.
Yu Chao En, Mr. Yu, please rest here first. I will report to Your Majesty later."
After waiting for less than half an hour, before the eunuch reported anything, Princess Qingluan got up from the couch and thought to herself: "This Yu Chaoen is very verbose. What a big deal, he hasn't finished reporting yet."
Princess Qingluan looked from the window of the side hall and saw a eunuch in his thirties who was reporting to his father. This man looked like a fat-headed fish, with a big face and bags under his eyes. He nodded and bowed, with a flattering look on his face.
Princess Qingluan had always disliked this person and did not want to look at him anymore, so she returned to the couch. Princess Qingluan picked up the tea cup and thought to herself: "I have never seriously looked at this person before, but today I take a closer look. Why does he look so familiar?"
…
After greeting her father, Princess Qingluan returned to her bedroom, feeling very proud. Her bamboo stick skills were highly praised by her father, and she was also rewarded with many items.
Princess Qingluan couldn't help but take out the "Eighty-seven Immortals Scroll" and play with it again. The moment she spread out the long scroll, Princess Qingluan was stunned.
Princess Qingluan finally understood how she felt when she saw Yu Chaoen today. One of the gods in the volume was actually somewhat similar in appearance and behavior to this person.
Princess Qingluan suddenly thought of what Bai Fu said to her: "If you see someone in the palace who looks similar to the character in the painting, don't make it public and remember to inform me in time."
"The behavior is somewhat similar, but the appearance is very different. Do you want to tell Mr. Fu?" Princess Qingluan looked at the scroll and said to herself.
After a second thought, Princess Qingluan's eyes flashed, and she secretly said: "Stupid girl, isn't this a good excuse?"
Princess Qingluan hurriedly dressed up and went straight to the Bashu Guild Hall with the scroll.
…
When they arrived at the Bashu Guild Hall, Princess Qingluan told Bai Fu what she saw and felt. Bai Fu attached great importance to the information provided by Princess Qingluan, which made Princess Qingluan feel warm and warm.
Based on Princess Qingluan's description, Bai Fu sketched out Yu Chaoen's appearance and asked, "How much does it differ from me?"
Princess Qingluan was greatly surprised and said: "Ninety percent of it is close. Mr. Fu, you have never seen him. Just listening to my description, you can draw such a likeness. It's amazing! No, you have to draw a portrait for me!"
Bai Fu put down his pen and said with a smile: "Okay, but let's get down to business first."
Bai Fu compared the "Eighty-Seven Immortals Scroll" with the portrait of Yu Chaoen he painted. Indeed, as Princess Qingluan said, they behaved similarly but looked very different.
A mist arose in Bai Fu's heart, and the truth was hidden behind the mist, but it was vague but not true.
Bai Fu paced back and forth in the room, puzzled.
"Since you can't think of anything, why don't you just put it aside and draw a portrait for me?" Princess Qingluan stuck out her tongue with a playful look on her face.
"That's fine." Bai Fu was free and easy, no longer entangled.
Bai Fu moved the bench and asked Princess Qingluan to sit under the wisteria flowers. He spread out the rice paper, smoothed the sleeves of his robe, and splashed ink with a brush.
Bai Fu's movements are graceful and unrestrained, and he moves the pen without any hesitation, and his movements are as smooth as a sword.
Bai Fu's eyes were focused, as clear and clean as a baby's, which made Princess Qingluan's heart flutter. She stared at the young man with colored lenses, unwilling to leave for a long time.
…
Bai Fu concentrated his energy and flew ink, and achieved it in one go.
Princess Qingluan took a closer look and saw that the entire painting was painted with light colors such as purple, blue, and green. It was elegant, rich, bright, and light, creating a feeling of spring.
The figures in the painting are arranged sparsely in front and densely in back, and are well-proportioned. The light ink in the depth of the scene is randomly smeared, allowing the dust particles in the sun to float, blending with the light and dust.
The blooming wisteria flowers are depicted with soft lines, round and flowing, the heavy ink areas are tough and strong, and the light ink areas are as thin as hairs. They are looming when viewed from a distance, and lifelike when viewed up close. The leaves and petals of the vine are outlined to the smallest detail, making it seem like you can feel the breeze blowing the branches and leaves.
When depicting his own portrait, his lines are soft and stretched, flexible and long, and his colors are bright and gorgeous. His body appearance, gorgeous clothes, exquisite and elegant makeup, graceful and luxurious jewelry, and elegant and leisurely mood are all vividly expressed.
He holds a round fan in his hand, rests his elbow on the carved chair frame, and supports his chin with one hand. The details are so meticulous, the fluttering of clothes and accessories, the weight of clothes, the strength of the wind, and the direction are as if he has walked into the painting.
.
Especially the hint of loneliness inadvertently revealed in her lazy demeanor made Princess Qingluan even more amazed.
Princess Qingluan was amazed and praised: "The blooming of the wisteria reminds me of a relative. I didn't expect that your mood at this moment was also captured by you."
Bai Fu nodded and said: "The moment you frowned, your eyes were very moving. The sun shone on the black hair, making every hair strand shine."
Princess Qingluan was so embarrassed that she used her sleeves to cover her slightly hot cheeks while drinking tea.
After drinking the tea, Princess Qingluan took a long breath, and then she dared to look up at Bai Fu.
Bai Fu was seen holding the scroll in his hand, deep in thought.
Princess Qingluan was secretly angry in her heart: "Idiot, if you don't watch the real person, you are more timid than me."
After a while, Bai Fu still had no response. Princess Qingluan got angry and said: "Master Fu, wake up! You are neglecting me!"
Bai Fu came back to his senses and said ecstatically: "I found the key!" After that, he ran into the house and left Princess Qingluan alone.
Princess Qingluan stamped her feet, furious, and was about to go find Bai Fu to settle accounts.
I saw Bai Fu running out of the house, holding the "Eighty-seven Immortals Scroll" in his hand. Bai Fu slowly unfolded the long scroll, faced the sun, and then took a closer look at the characters in the scroll from the back of the scroll.
Bai Fu laughed and said: "Mr. Daozi, you are worthy of being a sage of painting. He has such a skill of 'transferring flowers and grafting trees'."
Princess Qingluan was so surprised that she didn't care about competing with Bai Fu. She stepped forward to take a look and screamed in surprise.
It turns out that when we look at the characters on the back of the scroll, these eighty-seven gods have been replaced by eighty-seven other characters.
Previously, the deity who behaved similarly to Yu Chaoen but had a very different appearance looked exactly like Yu Chaoen, looking from the back of the painting, he was dressed as a eunuch.
Princess Qingluan also recognized another eunuch beside "Yu Chaoen". He was the eunuch Bian Lingcheng who killed Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing.
Bai Fu asked: "Where is this Yu Chao'en from? How can he become His Majesty's favorite at such a young age?"
Princess Qingluan said: "This Yu Chaoen was originally a young eunuch under Gao Lishi. After Maweipo divided his troops, after weighing the pros and cons, Yu Chaoen decisively chose to follow the prince to Lingwu.
Most of the eunuchs who fled with the emperor followed Gao Lishi to Shu County, and only a few eunuchs came to Lingwu.
Yu Chao'en has a quick mind, is good at observing people's emotions, and can act according to the circumstances. He is also literate. He quickly stood out from the other eunuchs and became his father's confidant eunuch."
Bai Fu nodded and said: "This explains why he did not follow Gao Lishi to Shu, because he has a mission. He is An Lushan's secret agent lurking in Chang'an."