The Art of Flower Arrangement
She felt that her master named himself "Mister Kumu" not only to express his "old and decrepit" state, but also because he liked that kind of artistic conception. She could feel it from his paintings.
Therefore, when she instructed Qingfeng and Ma Sheng to collect materials, she specifically instructed them to remove some moss and pick up some small stones. Before Granny Li could attach the handle to her last bamboo basket, she flattened it a bit to make it less round, then put stones and moss on it and stuck some dry branches in. Instantly, the Zen-like "dry landscape" of Nihon Ben came to the fore.
Her flower arrangement for Wu Zong was also extremely rustic, using mostly trees, wild grasses, and stones. Only after arranging all the grasses and trees did she add two or three small purple wild chrysanthemums as embellishments. This was also the result of her observation of Wu Zong's preferences. She felt that he liked this style.
Indeed, giving gifts that cater to someone's preferences is the most lethal approach.
This kind of thing probably wouldn't have been very appealing to the average person in ancient times. After all, it's just grass and flowers, and not even anything rare or precious. To put it bluntly, it's worthless; you could just grab a handful from any roadside. To someone who doesn't appreciate this kind of art, giving this as a gift would be incredibly stingy. Even giving two white jujubes would be better.
But Kang Shilin and Wu Zong were both artists. The moment these two flower arrangements were presented, they immediately captured the hearts of Kang Shilin and Wu Zong, and the two of them couldn't put down the flower arrangements they had received.
Not only the two of them, but everyone in the art academy was like that. Everyone had a very rich cultural background and aesthetic awareness, and they could see at a glance the beauty and meaning that Zhao Ruxi wanted to express in her flower arrangement.
"I never imagined that a few stones, a handful of weeds, and two withered branches could be arranged so beautifully. How did you come up with that idea, Layperson Zhiwei?" Everyone gathered around Zhao Ruxi and asked.
"Uh." Zhao Ruxi was inspired by Granny Li's bamboo basket and didn't know that flower arranging was not an art form at that time. She inadvertently became ahead of the trend again.
"I guess it's because we girls like flowers, plants, and trees, and I'm an artist," she said with a forced smile.
"As expected of the Layperson Zhiwei, truly remarkable."
Everyone learned new painting techniques from Zhao Ruxi. Although they were given three thousand taels of silver, that amount was just a number to them, who were wealthy. They were grateful to Zhao Ruxi, but out of politeness, they didn't dare to show it. Now that they had the chance, they showered Zhao Ruxi with compliments like water.
After praising her a few times, everyone was eager to try arranging flowers themselves. With Kang Shilin's permission, they immediately ran to the garden to pick some flowers and plants.
Cen Song was the youngest in the group, and none of them were married yet. Perhaps out of curiosity, he was the most interested in this art of flower arranging.
Looking at Zhao Ruxi's two bamboo baskets, he asked, "Layperson Zhiwei, where did you get these bamboo baskets? They're very unique. Were they sold on the street? I'll have my servants go buy them right away."
"These were made by an old woman from my village, there are only three of them. I'm planning to put one in a flower arrangement to visit Master Xiao later, so I can't give it to you." Zhao Ruxi refused without any hesitation.
Upon hearing this, Cen Song felt dejected.
"You can use containers like bamboo tubes, vases, or earthenware jars as a base; you don't necessarily have to use a bamboo basket," Zhao Ruxi said.
She took the white porcelain vase she used as a model for her painting, broke off a withered branch from the garden, and put it in the vase.
The vase was shaped similarly to a plum vase. The piece of Kumu she had broken off was also somewhat vigorous and crooked. When she inserted it into the vase and placed it on the table, it immediately displayed a Zen-like quality reminiscent of Kumu in the mountains.
Kang Shilin loved this kind of artistic conception. As soon as Zhao Ruxi's flower arrangement came out, he was overjoyed and immediately took the white porcelain vase in his hand. "I want this one. I'll take it back to my room tonight, and I'll bring another white porcelain vase for everyone to paint with tomorrow."
Naturally, no one dared to compete with him, nor could they outdo him, so they all ran to the house or kitchen to find various containers to arrange the flowers.
"It's getting late, aren't you all going home?" Zhao Ruxi asked.
"I'm not going back," Cen Song said while arranging flowers. "I'll stay here."
The others also said they wouldn't be going back.
Anyway, Kang Shilin's villa has quite a few rooms, and there's another house of the same size next door belonging to Wu Zong, with even more rooms. Everyone can stay and there's enough room. If they need anything, they can just ask the servants to go home and get it. Not to mention, several people already have villas in Beining.
Zhao Ruxi wanted to visit Xiao Ruotong, so she said goodbye to Kang Shilin and prepared to leave.
"Wait, girl." Kang Shilin finally remembered the gift Xiao Ge had given Zhao Ruxi when they first met.
He beckoned to a servant to bring out an exquisite little box and handed it to Zhao Ruxi, saying, "This is a gift from the Emperor to you, and also a reward for teaching the officials of the Court of Judicial Review how to paint."
"Huh?" Zhao Ruxi was surprised. She opened the small box, revealing the house deed inside.
"I sent someone to check it out. It's a two-story shop in a good location in the capital. If you're not going to do business, you can rent it out," Kang Shilin said absentmindedly, staring at the vase in his hand.
"Thank you, Master." Zhao Ruxi bowed to Kang Shilin. "If it weren't for Master's sake, I probably wouldn't have received this gift."
Seeing that his young apprentice understood, Kang Shilin nodded with satisfaction. "It's good that you know. From now on, listen to your master and don't be naughty."
Zhao Ruxi chuckled, her smile quite mischievous.
She took her leave, boarded a carriage and entered the capital. Along the way, she arranged the flowers and had Uncle Lu drive directly to the Prince of Zhennan's Residence.
Upon reaching the door, the maidservant went in to announce their arrival, and after a while, came out and said to Zhao Ruxi, "Miss Zhao, please."
Zhao Ruxi led Qingfeng, who was carrying a flower arrangement, inside, but as they walked, she began to feel that something was amiss.
She has a great sense of direction. Although she had only been to the Prince of Zhennan's Residence once, the places she visited last time were definitely different from this one.
If it weren't for the fact that they were going to the main courtyard on the central axis, rather than a secluded garden or other accident-prone area, she might have suspected that the maid was deliberately trying to harm her.
There was no way around it; she had witnessed too many palace intrigues and family feuds in her past life, which made her unable to help but think the worst.
Now, is it the Princess of Zhennan who wants to see her?
The maid led her up the steps to the main house in the main courtyard, then gestured and stood in front of the door.
The maidservant of the Princess of Zhennan, whom Zhao Ruxi had met that day, was already waiting at the door. Upon seeing her, she politely smiled and said, "Miss Zhao, please come in. Our Princess is waiting for you inside."
Just as I expected.
As she stepped across the threshold, she saw the Princess of Zhennan sitting at the head of the table, smiling at her.
"Ruxi greets Your Highness, the Princess." Zhao Ruxi bowed.
"Child, please sit down." The Princess of Zhennan seemed even more affectionate than that day, insisting that Zhao Ruxi sit next to her.