991 Perplexed and Smitten 51 (2/2)
They stared at each other and kept quiet, all the way until they reached the residence. She then said, ”After you're done sketching the portrait, I'll tell you some things that you don't already know.”
He nodded.
They headed to his study and closed the door.
There were two windows behind the desk, which allowed the sunlight to enter and light up the entire room.
He took out some paper, ink, and a brush.
She watched as he swiftly painted the features of a man. It was rather clear, though not as precise as a photo would be. She could tell that he had a flair for drawing, and the portrait of the Emperor was more or less distinct and accurate to his true appearance.
The Emperor looked nothing like Jin Qingyan at all.
Instead, he looked rather aloof and had a pair of icy, cold eyes that seemed like it would be able to bore a hole through someone. An Xiaoning immediately memorized his features.
An Xiaoning scrutinized the drawing carefully. Thinking that she was stunned, Jin Qingyan remarked, ”You used to say that he was really handsome. Are you mesmerized by his portrait?”
She chuckled. What a jealous lover, she thought to herself.
”In my opinion, he can't be compared to you in terms of appearance, regardless of how handsome he may be. However, since you two are brothers, why don't you look alike at all?”
”He looks like my father while I resemble my mother. Besides, we don't share the same mother anyway. It's only normal that we don't look alike. Tell me, what do you need this portrait for?”
”Can you also draw me the portraits of the Yin family members?”
Puzzled, he asked, ”The Yin family? Just what do you need the portraits for?”
”Just draw them first, I'll tell you once you're done.”
”You said you would tell me after I sketch the portrait of the Emperor when we were in the carriage just now. You're going back on your word again. Which member of the Yin family are you interested in?” he asked, picking up his brush.
”The one whom His Majesty trusts the most.”
He immediately proceeded to draw another man.
”Is he a formidable person?” An Xiaoning asked.
”All he does is practice witchcraft and other superstitions. Well, he's considered to be the Emperor's most trusted confidante. Can you tell me the reason now?” he answered, putting down the brush.
An Xiaoning took a look at the two portraits, after which she tore them into shreds and dumped them into the dustbin. She leaned against the table and said, ”I just wanted to memorize their features.”
”Why? It's not like you haven't met them before.”
An Xiaoning turned to face him and asked, ”Do you believe in past and present lifetimes?”
”A little, but not quite either. Just because I don't know about something, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. However, it's difficult to answer you since I've never experienced it myself.”
”What an honest answer. I believe in the existence of past and present lifetimes — because I come from the future. The soul in this body right now belongs to my reincarnation in the lifetime after this one. We're now talking and meeting each other in my dream. The longest dream I've had was when I was bedridden for days after receiving a beating. I stayed in this realm for several days. The previous dream I had was when I arrived at your residence in a sedan. I know you might not believe me, but this is the reason why I wanted you to draw me those portraits. In our next lifetime, we visited the location where your residence used to be. Centuries had passed from now after the residence had been destroyed beyond ruin and the 900 servants in your residence had all been killed by the Emperor. The spirits of the servants were then trapped inside the residence for centuries because of a ritual performed by the Yins. I'm guessing this is the reason why I'm getting recollections of this lifetime in my dreams. Heaven wants me to find out about things that I don't already know, as well as the reason why we didn't end up together.”
After hearing her words, he said, ”You mean, we're now in your dream?”
”Yes, this is my dream, and perhaps this is my soul's way of letting me find out the things I subconsciously want to know. Tell me, what are the names of the men in the portraits I told you to draw?”
”Xihou Jiaping and Yin Cun. Was what you said about your dream true?” he asked in utter shock and bewilderment.