Hu Xiaotian had never intended to antagonize Wen Ya, but her words had left him no shred of dignity. So what if I'm a eunuch? I didn't want to say anything, but you insisted. You think I'm afraid of you? I'm an unwelcome little eunuch in the palace, but don't think being appointed a Talented Lady makes you any better off. Who knows how many people want you dead? Ji Feihua sees you as a thorn in his eye, a spike in his flesh. Your days ahead will be even harder than mine, yet you dare talk to me like that? If you didn't look exactly like that little widow Le Yao, I wouldn't even bother with you. Hu Xiaotian said, "You're quite right, Lady Wen. I may not know much about painting or calligraphy, but at least I can tell what's in a picture. This is a bee, and this is a peony."
Wen Ya rolled her eyes at him. What utter nonsense. Anyone with eyes could see that.
Long Xiyue could not help smiling. She had thought Hu Xiaotian would offer some dazzling appraisal, only for him to say this instead. Still, she found it amusing. The way he spoke was simply delightful.
Wen Ya thought nothing of the sort. In her eyes, Hu Xiaotian had nothing to say and was merely pretending to understand. "You should leave," she said coldly. "Don't interrupt my conversation with the princess." At last, she could no longer resist throwing him out.
"I haven't finished yet," Hu Xiaotian said. "This bee is a worker bee, which means it's male. It's perched on the center of the peony. Look carefully-that's the pistil! There's nothing wrong with keeping this painting for your own enjoyment, but giving it to someone would be highly inappropriate. It