Niu Youdao bowed politely. "Yes, I am."
Sha Huanli was curious. "I know a thing or two about painting. What kind of painting technique is this? Is there any explanation? "
Black Peony's eyes were filled with anticipation. He was asking for advice and hoped that Niu Youdao would seize the opportunity to communicate with him. She really hoped that Niu Youdao would do well and improve.
Outside the pavilion, Chief Steward Xiang Ming also walked in slowly. He stood at the side of the entrance and observed silently.
Niu Youdao did not want to explain to her a bunch of ambiguous terms. For people who did not understand, the more he explained, the more questions they would have. He said calmly, "I am just painting for fun. I have never thought of any explanation."
Black Peony was really speechless. He did not know how to cherish such a good opportunity.
Sha Huanli stared at him. She did not know whether he was trying to hide his skills or something else, but he did not seem to be willing to say more. He did not look nervous or afraid either. She then said in a low voice, "Those who have seen the ocean cannot see the water. Those who have seen Mount Wu cannot see the clouds. I am lazy to look back among the flowers. Half fate is to cultivate and half fate is to be a gentleman … Did you write this poem? Is there any meaning behind it? "
Niu Youdao did leave it intentionally. He did not know what Sha Huanli liked. Poems or paintings. So, he left both. However, he replied calmly, "I heard someone mention the poem by chance. When I was painting, I felt something and filled it in. There is no meaning behind it."
"Oh!" Sha Huanli pondered. She could tell that he was being perfunctory. He did not want to explain more to her. She tilted her head and looked around. "You did not neglect Mister, did you?"
"No!"
"City Lord, Mister has just arrived. We have not spoken yet."
The people around her quickly tried to explain.
However, Niu Youdao helped to solve the problem. "City Lord, I wonder if you are the one who asked me to paint? If you are, can we start now? "
Sha Huanli also wanted to see her work as soon as possible. She smiled and said, "Alright! I will do as Mister says. "
Niu Youdao said, "I came in a hurry. I still need to prepare something for the painting."
Sha Huan Li nodded. "What do you need, sir? Just tell me."
"Paper, easel, charcoal …" Niu Youdao described the items he wanted in detail.
Immediately, two people hurried over to prepare.
Soon, the hastily assembled easel, pen and paper arrived. The charcoal pen was not suitable, so Niu Youdao asked for a knife to trim it.
Seeing this, Sha Huan Li walked over to the side and observed carefully. It was obvious that she was trying to learn from him.
When everything was ready, Niu Youdao asked, "Chancellor, shall we draw it here?"
Sha Huan Li had seen the previous paintings and knew that there was a background. She was also a person who knew how to paint, so she knew that there was a need for a background to serve as a foil. She asked, "I think it's better to listen to you. You can paint wherever you think is suitable."
Niu Youdao: "Of course I can't be perfunctory when painting for the Mayor. This is my first time here and I don't know which place is more suitable."
Sha Huan Li smiled and said, "I understand. Mister can walk around and choose a place that you think is suitable."
"Alright!" Niu Youdao cupped his hands and accepted the order. He looked around and strolled out of the pavilion. He began to slowly size up the place. It could be said that he would size up wherever he went. He took this opportunity to take a good look at the City Lord's Manor.
Sha Huan Li followed him from a distance while the attendants behind her carried the items that Niu Youdao needed.
Chief Steward Xiang Ming was still observing Niu Youdao without batting an eyelid.
The Chancellor's Residence was built according to the topography of the mountain and went up layer by layer. As they went up, it seemed like Niu Youdao couldn't find a place that was satisfactory. He kept shaking his head wherever he went. When they reached the highest pavilion in the Chancellor's Residence, Niu Youdao walked to the balcony and leaned against the railing to look at the entire ancient city. He nodded and turned around. "How about here?"
Sha Huan Li: "Alright, I'll listen to you."
The attendants carrying the items asked where they should be placed. Unexpectedly, Niu Youdao turned around to look at the scenery and said, "Change to a large drawing board and paper …" He spread his arms and roughly measured the size.
After carrying the items for so long, you actually don't need it anymore? The attendants carrying the items were speechless.
However, Sha Huan Li was excited to hear this. This was a big project for her. She was looking forward to it and immediately urged, "Go, do as Mister said."
"Yes!" A few attendants responded and quickly carried the items away to start the new project.
Fortunately, with the manpower and material resources here, it wasn't too troublesome. It didn't take long for the items to be prepared and placed in the pavilion according to Niu Youdao's request.
As for Sha Huan Li, she was ordered by Niu Youdao to go to the balcony a few steps away from the pavilion to bask in the sun.
"Back to this place and lean against the railing. Block a few important views in the city. Walk a little to the left. Don't face here directly. Turn right slightly and stand sideways. Don't face here directly. Tilt your head to the right and don't look down. Look forward. Yes, yes, yes. That's it …"
Under Niu Youdao's series of orders, Sha Huan Li was manipulated here and there without any complaints.
This scene made Black Peony break out in a cold sweat. She was worried that Niu Youdao would accidentally anger her.
Little did she know that Niu Youdao wasn't worried about this at all. Based on his experience from his previous life, when it came to photography and painting, a woman's IQ would immediately drop to zero. These two professions were also the easiest to coax women. It wouldn't be a problem for a woman to strip naked. How could she have any complaints?
After manipulating Sha Huan Li, Niu Youdao raised his brush and made a proportional distribution on the paper. Then, he started to draw on the objects in a neat and efficient manner.
At this moment, Black Peony, who was helping him, could finally see the painting process.
The attendants didn't dare to go near and disturb them. They all raised their heads to watch.
Xiang Ming was also curious about the painting method. Naturally, he could go closer to take a closer look. He was surprised to see the changes in the contours of the objects. He had never seen or heard of such a painting method before. From time to time, he would look at Niu Youdao, who was concentrating on the painting.
Sha Huan Li moved slightly and looked over. Niu Youdao immediately said, "Don't move!"
Sha Huan Li immediately became obedient and didn't dare to move recklessly.
The painting was rather large. This painting took almost two hours. Sha Huan Li stayed under the sun for almost two hours and stood there motionlessly. Many of the attendants secretly broke out in cold sweat. They were worried that Sha Huan Li wouldn't be able to handle it. Many people in the outside world didn't know, but they knew very well that Sha Huan Li wasn't suited for cultivation. She wasn't a cultivator!
When Niu Youdao put down his brush and said that it was done, Sha Huan Li, who had been leaning on the railing in the same position, finally stopped standing. However, when she moved slightly, she revealed a painful expression. She realized that her body had stiffened. Immediately, someone rushed over and helped her up.
Once they entered the attic, someone quickly performed a spell to help her circulate her blood and meridians. Soon, she recovered.
Witnessing this scene, Niu Youdao was stunned. He exchanged glances with Black Peony. Black Peony, too, realized that Sha Huan Li wasn't a cultivator.
Xiang Ming asked Sha Huan Li a few questions. Sha Huan Li shook her head and walked over with a flushed face. She couldn't wait to see the painting.
Niu Youdao quickly cupped his fists and apologized. "I didn't know that the City Lord wasn't a cultivator. If I had known earlier, I would have brought a chair for the City Lord to sit on."
"It's alright!" Sha Huan Li was very generous. She had already suffered, so why would she care about this? What she cared about now was whether the painting of her looked good. Her gaze was already on the drawing board. She walked around Niu Youdao, who was in her way, and walked to the front of the drawing board. Her gaze instantly fixed on the painting, and her eyes instantly bloomed with surprise.
The woman in the painting was wearing a soft long dress. She had a youthful and dignified appearance. Her side was facing a direction, and her gaze was looking into the distance. She seemed to be thinking about something. In the background, the sky was vast, and the woman was leaning against the railing alone. Behind her, the vicissitudes of the ancient city, and the rise and fall of the buildings in the city were all behind her feet.
With one look at this painting, one could tell that it was her city. However, this wasn't important to her. What was important was the realistic artistic conception in the painting. It was as if she was really looking at the true portrayal of herself.
The background gave her a unique charm. Sha Huan Li didn't expect herself to be so beautiful in the painting.
Not to mention her, even the people around her felt that the city lord seemed to be more beautiful in the painting. However, they didn't know that Niu Youdao had done something that didn't seem obvious.
Looking at the scene in the painting, and then looking at the real thing outside the drawing board, Sha Huan Li was very happy. She shook her head and exclaimed, "Mister Xuanyuan is indeed a genius!"
Niu Youdao smiled, "As long as the city lord likes it."
Sha Huan Li didn't say anything. She stood in front of the painting and looked at it carefully for a while. Suddenly, she turned around and looked at the group of maids. She pointed at the most beautiful one and asked Niu Youdao, "Mister, can you draw another one for her?"
The maid was pleasantly surprised and looked forward to it. However, she said politely, "I don't dare."
She was thinking too much. Sha Huan Li wanted to see how Niu Youdao painted. She wanted to learn and see how Niu Youdao painted.
Niu Youdao frowned, "We agreed that you would only paint one."
Sha Huan Li smiled, "I feel tired after standing for a while. Mister, you must have spent a lot of effort. If you are tired, you can paint another day."
Unexpectedly, Niu Youdao tilted his head and looked at the innkeeper who was standing at the side. He asked, "Innkeeper, you have seen the painting I painted for the black peony. This painting is worth several paintings of the same size as that one. Originally, we agreed to pay 100,000 gold coins for a painting of the size of the black peony. I saw that you are painting for the city lord, so I increased the size of the painting for free. The city lord wants to paint another one … Since the city lord has asked, I won't say anything. However, what about the price? "
After confirming that he was painting for Sha Huan Li and knowing that she was a rich person, he didn't mind making more money from her.
Hearing this, Xiang Ming's eyelids drooped slightly.
The innkeeper was sweating profusely. He couldn't wait to block Niu Youdao's mouth. Previously, he had told the chief steward not to let the city lord know that a painting cost 100,000 gold coins. Why did this guy reveal this matter? For a moment, he didn't know how to answer.
"This painting costs 100,000 gold coins?" Sha Huan Li was shocked as well. As far as she knew, even if it was a painting by a top-notch expert, it would cost at least a thousand gold coins.
The maid, who was filled with anticipation, was also shocked. Spending 100,000 gold coins to draw a painting for her was not something she could bear.
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