Glory

The scenery at the Lin'an residence had been renovated, but the one in the capital was the result of numerous discussions between Ye Yaming and a garden architecture team from Jiangnan before the final design was settled upon.

Many of those present did not understand garden design, but Ye Yaming explained it so clearly that everyone grasped the concept.

Fan Yu remarked, "In your book Tea Arrangement, you mentioned 'framed scenery,' saying that the view outside a window is like a painting framed by the window lattice, using the artistic conception within the painting to correspond with the theme of the tea arrangement. Last winter, I used the snowscape outside my window to complement the tea arrangement, though I did it in reverse."

He clapped his hands and sighed, "Afterward, I often regretted that the scenery outside the window remained unchanged, with only slight variations as the seasons shifted. Yet, there are only four seasons in a year, so the changes are quite limited. I never imagined one could create scenery like this."

He then asked, "Which master did you hire to design this garden? I have a garden of my own and would like to enlist his help for renovations."

Ye Yaming turned to look at a middle-aged man standing at the back of the crowd and smiled, "It was this gentleman, Mr. Xia Junquan."

"I am Xia Junquan, pleased to meet all you esteemed guests," Xia Junquan stepped forward and bowed.

"Xia Junquan? Are you the one known for your excellent paintings?" Tan Xuan inquired.

Xia Junquan immediately grew excited, "You know of me, Master Tan?"

"Haha, I've seen your paintings at a friend's place. Your landscape paintings are quite impressive," Tan Xuan said.

Curiously, he then asked, "But aren't you a Recommended Man? How did you end up designing gardens?"

Xia Junquan looked somewhat embarrassed, "My family circumstances are modest. Because my landscape paintings are well-regarded, many wealthy families in Jiangnan commission me to paint a scene first, and then have craftsmen construct the garden based on that painting."

Before Tan Xuan could respond, Fan Yu patted Xia Junquan on the shoulder and said, "Excellent! Mr. Xia, could you design a garden for me as well?"

Xia Junquan's face flushed even redder, "The credit for this garden's design does not belong to me. I only paint. The concepts of 'suppressed scenery' and 'borrowed scenery' that Madam Lu mentioned earlier were all her ideas. These landscape features…"

He pointed out the window, "were all crafted under Madam Lu's direction. I dare not take credit."

Tan Xuan snapped his fan shut, "I thought as much. I've read nearly all the books on this subject and never came across terms like 'framed scenery' or 'borrowed scenery.'"

Eagerly, he turned to Ye Yaming, "Where did Madam Lu derive these theories from?"

Ye Yaming smiled, "They came to me in a dream. But my understanding is superficial, and it's all theoretical. When it comes to true expertise, no one surpasses Mr. Xia."

She then said to Xia Junquan with a laugh, "Mr. Xia, you must stop being so modest."

In this era, the construction of private gardens, much like during the Tang and Song dynasties in China, remained in the "literati culture" stage, with landscaping methods not yet systematized into theory.

Ye Yaming had no deep study of garden design; she only had a superficial understanding from what she had seen and heard in her previous life. Had it not been for her desire to create such a garden, she would never have spoken of these concepts.

The reason she had invited Xia Junquan today was precisely because she knew that Fan Yu and the others, upon seeing the garden, would inevitably have questions. Now, she naturally handed them over to Xia Junquan.

Fan Yu and the others had met Ye Yaming in Lin'an, where Master Zhineng had often boasted to them, so they were well aware of the story behind Ye Yaming's "divinely inspired knowledge."The reason Fan Yu and his wife strongly supported Ye Yaming was not only because of her extraordinary insight and eloquence but also due to her "remarkable origins." Their circle speculated that Ye Yaming was a fairy who tended tea trees beside the Jade Emperor or the Queen Mother of the West, descending to the mortal world to undergo trials. Thus, seeing those who considered themselves noble commoners putting on airs in front of Ye Yaming struck them as both laughable and pitiable.

"Let's set aside Mr. Xia for now. Today, I want to hear what Madam Lu has to say," Fan Yu said with great enthusiasm. "Come, let's go see the other room and enjoy the view outside the window."

Most of the people in the room were scholars and refined individuals, naturally intrigued by the vastly different scenery outside the two rooms. They had experienced tea arrangements far too often over the past two years, and even though the tea arrangements here were uniquely designed, they held little appeal. Instead, the landscaping techniques piqued everyone's curiosity.

Thus, they all responded eagerly, asking Ye Yaming to lead them through the various rooms.

Ye Yaming had no choice but to guide them room by room, allowing them to admire the interior decorations and the distinct styles of the tea arrangements, as well as the varying views outside the windows.

Watching Ye Yaming being surrounded and admired by the crowd, speaking confidently and gracefully, radiating brilliance, Lu Guanyi felt his heart flutter and his vision dazzled. She showed no trace of unease in the presence of Princess Yu Ning, the Imperial Consort, and others; her demeanor and comportment were in no way inferior to these nobles of exalted status.

Most of Fan Yu's group had visited Lin'an to observe tea production and had formed friendships with both Ye Hongsheng and his daughter, Ye Yaming. They had come specifically to show their support today, arriving precisely at the auspicious hour.

Aside from them, other invited guests arrived less punctually. While Ye Yaming was leading the group through the rooms, people trickled in. After inquiring about the other guests, they were directed by Zhang Tao and Wen Xiu to join the main party.

"Is... is that the Miss Ye from a merchant family?" Princess Pingyang nearly couldn't believe her eyes as she watched Ye Yaming chatting and laughing with Princess Yu Ning and the others.

"Yes, it's her," An Jingning replied, her gaze toward Ye Yaming filled with complexity.

Ye Yaming was naturally beautiful today as well. However, her wedding day makeup had been strikingly bold, a captivating beauty that seized one's attention at first glance. Today, she had adjusted her makeup—still beautiful, but without that aggressive edge. She blended into the crowd without seeming out of place, highlighting her confident and poised temperament.

Therefore, An Jingning did not feel that Ye Yaming was "unrecognizably different."

That day, she had been stunned by Ye Yaming's beauty and felt ashamed of her own inadequacies. Later, she sought out three books on tea allegedly written by Ye Yaming to read. While deeply astonished, she also doubted the authenticity of these books.

She simply couldn't believe that a young woman from a merchant background could write such works at such a tender age.

Her close friend, Princess Pingyang, had insisted that the books must have been ghostwritten, accusing Ye Yaming of being a fraud, and they were determined to expose her true nature. That was why Princess Pingyang had dragged her along today.

But seeing Ye Yaming as she was now, An Jingning suddenly wondered if those three books might indeed have been written by her. Otherwise, how would she dare to speak so boldly in front of two princesses? Moreover, everything Ye Yaming said seemed profound and beyond An Jingning's understanding.

Could she truly be a woman of immense learning?Seeing the room getting increasingly crowded, Princess Yu Ning stopped Fan Yu: "Enough about the gardens. You can discuss that with Madam Lu and Mr. Xia later. Today is the teahouse opening—let's go have some tea first."

Author's Note

Extra update today! Still seeking monthly votes~

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