The woman merely stood beside the Silver-Faced Marquis, a faint sneer on her face, and watched in silence.
After quite a while, the Silver-Faced Marquis straightened up, his face covered in embarrassment. He rubbed his hands together and said sheepishly, "Ah, my dear, this... this seems..."
"Did I paint it wrong?" the woman asked coldly.
"How could you possibly paint it wrong?" The Silver-Faced Marquis's expression changed, and he hastily flattered her. "This painting is flawless, absolutely the work of a master."
"Hmph!" The woman snorted coldly, turned toward a nearby chair, and sat down.
The Silver-Faced Marquis hurriedly picked up the teacup from the tea table and respectfully offered it with both hands.
But the woman seemed not to see it. Instead, she murmured, "How strange. How did this teacup grow wings and fly away?"
"Someone, brew me a fresh pot of tea," she called outside.
A palace maid outside hurriedly answered.
Holding the teacup in both hands, the Silver-Faced Marquis felt his face twitch involuntarily. He knew he had really landed himself in trouble this time.
"My dear, Princess, Your Highness, please be magnanimous!" the Silver-Faced Marquis begged. "Your husband knows he was wrong. I'll never dare criticize your paintings again."
Seeing that the Princess's expression had not changed in the slightest, the Silver-Faced Marquis thought for a moment, then finally gritted his teeth and knelt. "I've even knelt before you. Isn't that enough?"
"Princess, your tea-ah!" A palace maid entered with a freshly brewed pot of tea, but when she saw the scene inside, she cried out in surprise, then stood frozen, not knowing what to do.
The Silver-Faced Marquis roared at the maid, "Get out!"
The maid dared not hesitate. She begged pardon and hurried out, thoroughly frightened. She had never expected to see the illustrious