Chapter 104.1: The Elder Brother Sends the Betrothal Gifts, The Next Day the Younger Sister Withdraws From An Engagement

The Ding Duchess who was now fully confident, her entire demeanor completely changed. She straightened her back, with a face full of glory, trembling in excitement. And when receiving the people from the Luo family, she naturally became increasingly attentive, even specially instructing her son, not to slight her son-in-law.

Towards the Ding Duchess’s change, although it appeared snobbish, but out of ten people, at least nine would all be like this, so you naturally couldn’t comment anything. Moreover, today was a happy occasion, even Sun Yi Lin only just smiled.

The ‘Hundred Birds Facing the Phoenix’ painting was eagerly admired by the people on the male guest side. Moreover, ordinary people simply couldn’t even get close to it. To say the Ding Duchess was happy, how was the Ding Duke not happy as well. With this son-in-law giving him this much face, he smilingly responded to the others’ possibly genuine, or possibly fake praises. At this time, he naturally was too lazy to bother with what exactly they were thinking.

When Sun Yi Lin brought Luo Jing Bo over, the crowd of people immediately surrounded them, saying things like youth with outstanding talent, or something something the younger generation will surpass the current one in time. Those praises were all freely thrown at Luo Jing Bo.

The Ding Duke watched with a cold eye. It’s not that he couldn’t tell that some people purposefully wanted to have this son-in-law of his held up to a high place, having the intention of ‘praising him to death’[1]. Although at present, he wasn’t prominent, but youngsters, hearing too many pleasant to hear praises, inevitably will become conceited, and gradually, this tail might overturn into the skies, turning haughty. Then, however high his famous reputation was in the beginning, at that time, will probably be however high his bad reputation may be. This intention was truly malicious.

Never mind that majority of these people only carried a bit of relation as in-laws, even someone of the same family, still can’t ask of them to single-mindedly support the clan either. Moreover, right now, there was still a bastard son who wholeheartedly wanted to seize power from his hands.

Naturally there was also quite a few of those that faithfully stood in the Empress’s faction. They also were like Li Hong Yi, having the Luo family integrated into their faction. Luo Jing Bo’s situation right now was exceptionally advantageous for them. Seeing these people with treacherous intentions, they all couldn’t help furrowing their brows. As a result, while those people praised with all their might, they would timely pour cold water and beat him down, letting Luo Jing Bo to not become too conceited and lose himself, still needing to continue persisting.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Towards the praises, Luo Jing Bo just smilingly responded a few words in courtesy, very much unconcerned. And towards those that point out his shortcomings, he instead humbly accepted respectfully. This attitude of his made the Ding Duke and the others that were worried all feel that they worried for nothing. And in their hearts, their evaluation towards Luo Jing Bo also rose even more. Not bad, not bad, neither arrogant, nor hot-tempered. Just this steady personality was more than enough to carry great responsibility.

Have to say, if Luo Jing Bo was someone with thick skin, this while, he probably would’ve really turned cocky. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Moreover, if he really was someone like that, this glory wouldn’t have landed on his head from the start.

While clearly knowing that all of this in reality belonged to his younger sister, he was all unable to become proud no matter what. The more people praised, the more guilty he felt, and the higher others had him lifted, the more humble he became. And when someone really poured cold water, he was even eager for them to splash more. For others, this was a pleasant task, but for him, it was hardship. But his younger sister wholeheartedly considered for him, and for his future wife, that’s why, even if he felt unpleasant inside, he still needed to endure. Thus, he was happy on one side, and vexed on the other, really can be said to be a combination of fire and ice.

Sun Yi Lin, who was outshined by his younger sister’s future husband, watched from the side with smile. In his eyes, as expected of Miss Luo’s elder brother. Although he wasn’t as steady as Miss Luo, that temperament was still unusually hard to come by. He had this gaze casted towards the painting, finding it increasingly exquisite the more he looked, especially the blending of the colors. He believed, even the current great master wouldn’t necessarily be able to reach this level either. This didn’t just require patiences, but also required an extraordinary amount of attentiveness. Thinking to here, Sun Yi Lin’s expression suddenly had a subtle change. To say this brother-in-law of his was carefree and didn’t brother with trifling matters, or even ‘having thick stems and broad leaves’[2], were all very fitting. Patience, he perhaps still had, just this attentiveness, how come one was unable to see? He shook his head. The saying goes, ‘one can’t judge a person by appearance’, perhaps he was the kind that was particularly attentive in certain aspects.

“Yi Lin, looking at this hundred birds facing the phoenix painting, with a strange expression on your face, and shaking your head, what, you have some thoughts?” Sun Yi Bin suddenly opened his mouth.

Because these words were too abrupt, and his voice not lowered either, he naturally had everyone in the surrounding all drawn over. Eh, could it be that this Gentleman Lin was uneasy inside? One has to know, this hundred birds facing the phoenix painting was the first ever gongbi painting to come out. Even great painters could at most only comment a few words on some of the fundamental techniques in painting. They indeed couldn’t say more. Things that you don’t know about, or have never interacted with before, what right do you have to evaluate it?

Sun Yi Lin faintly glanced at Sun Yi Bin. He really was constantly thinking about tarnishing him, “Eldest brother is thinking too much, I was just thinking, this is a betrothal gift for younger sister, but younger sister still has yet to see it.”

Speaking of betrothal gifts, to say it was for the bride’s family wasn’t a problem, and saying it was for the bride herself was also doable. It’s not that there weren’t people who would have the groom side’s betrothal gift entirely swallowed, misappropriating for other uses, but those were all cases where the bride’s family was truly poor, or was just a no face no skin bunch. Any family that wanted face, no matter what, all wouldn’t confiscate the groom side’s betrothal gift. Ordinary common items, naturally didn’t matter, but the valuable and precious ones, for the most part, all needed to be returned. Moreover, for a household like the Ding Duke Manor, if they were to confiscate this painting, then even the Empress’s backbone might get jabbed in half.

Speaking of which, when Sun Yi Bin saw this painting, it’s not that he didn’t think of confiscating it, but he only just thought about it. He really didn’t dare to actually do it. But even if he clearly knew this, having this pointed out by Sun Yi Lin in front of everyone, really was very annoying.

“Father, seeing that there are a lot of people today, it truly isn’t a good time for admiring a painting. How about having the painting sent over to younger sister first? Afterwards, use this opportunity to consult with brother-in-law. And if able to let him demonstrate the painting method right now, wouldn’t it be even more interesting?” Sun Yi Lin suggested with a light smile.

Towards Sun Yi Lin’s suggestion, many people immediately agreed. This one was the soon-to-be groom. In the time afterwards, he’ll be extremely busy. If they don’t use this opportunity right now to expand their knowledge, then they would at least need to wait until after he was through with this busy period. For those who loved painting, this period of time would definitely be tormenting.

Thus, the painting was rolled up and sent over to Sun Yi Jia’s side. At the same time, Sun Yi Lin had someone quickly prepare for Luo Jing Bo brush, ink, and paper, as well as paint. With this many people watching, it naturally wasn’t good for Luo Jing Bo to refuse. Luo Jing Bo recalled how his younger sister had taught him, and demonstrated using the same method, while also explaining to them.

Afterwards, Luo Jing Bo who was accustomed to his own younger sister’s over a hundred different kinds of semi-finished raw material paint, towards these ready-made yet far inferior paint, he somewhat looked down on. Moreover, even if he blended them himself, never mind that they won’t be that rich in color, it won’t even reach his own standards. As expected, it was still his own younger sister that was impressive.

“What’s wrong, is something not right?” Sun Yi Lin saw Luo Jing Bo’s slightly obvious hesitation.

“Nothing, just the colors are too little.” In this moment, Luo Jing Bo’s careless nature undoubtedly revealed itself again.

Sun Yi Lin was also someone who loved painting. He himself believed that the Ding Duke Manor’s paint colors should be the most complete in the entire world, but hearing this brother-in-law’s tone, they seemingly weren’t taken seriously at all. However, recalling that painting, the things here perhaps really were lacking, “Brother-in-law has a lot of paint colors?”

“It’s my younger sister that has a lot. She never uses these ready-made ones, and makes everything herself. Moreover, many were all semi-finished, made on the spot whenever she needed them. By mixing them in various ways, the color was very rich. Truthfully speaking, this hundred birds facing the phoenix painting has quite a bit of younger sister’s contributions. Just using those paint colors of mine from the past alone, this painting definitely wouldn’t have reached this kind of result.”

Among them, there were also those that had attended the Grand Elder Princess’s birthday banquet. Towards that startlingly talented and absolutely brilliant young miss, they had a very deep impression, and all couldn’t help but nod. This pair of siblings must not be underestimated.

Sun Yi Lin keenly noticed Luo Jing Bo faintly relaxing, and slightly narrowed his eyes. However, he didn’t say anything.

Luo Jing Bo quickly used several colors to blend out a new color, letting those, who normally knew to mix at most two three colors, expand their knowledge, and not to mention those who only knew how to use a single color to paint. As expected of someone who was able to invent a new painting style.

[1] Basically praising someone purposefully to inflate their ego and make them become arrogant, thus leading to their downfall.

[2] Idiom meaning sloppy