After being forced into a marriage with a wealthy family, the virtuous wife caused a huge uproar.

"This... we don't have any in our shop right now, but our owner has one in his collection. It was left behind by Master Mingyang from the previous dynasty. I heard it's a really good piece, and it's very well preserved." The shopkeeper didn't want to say it, but thinking of the kindness Madam Gu had shown to Baibaozhai, he betrayed his owner.

Rong Yingluo's eyes lit up. Anything that Master Mingyang had used must be good. She wanted it.

It seems there's no point in keeping the old Prince An in his possession, since he's not a hermit.

"Husband, let's go pay our respects to Prince An." Rong Yingluo couldn't wait any longer.

The shopkeeper led the couple to the Prince An's residence in a carriage.

Prince An was the late emperor's younger brother and had rendered meritorious service in helping the emperor ascend the throne. After the late emperor became emperor, he retired gracefully and spent his life as a leisurely prince, enjoying a lifetime of wealth and honor.

Upon seeing that it was the Prime Minister, the gatekeeper immediately scurried inside to report.

Prince An is over sixty years old and recently fell seriously ill. He is currently practicing calligraphy in the warm pavilion to pass the time.

"Your Highness, Lord Gu and his wife have come to visit," the steward announced personally.

"Oh? Gu Ce, lead him to my study and bring his wife here," Prince An ordered without even looking up.

The steward was quite puzzled. The prince didn't see Lord Gu, but only his wife. What did this mean?

"Your Highness, what is the reason for this?" the steward asked, genuinely curious.

"Just go when I tell you to." Prince An glared at him.

The butler, despite being scolded, cheerfully accepted the order and left.

"Lord Gu, I'm so sorry. Our Prince invites you to his study for tea. Young Madam, please come with me." The steward felt a little embarrassed saying this, but he had to convey his master's message.

Gu Ce was taken aback: "Madam, do you know Prince An?"

"I don't know her." Rong Yingluo was also completely confused.

"You must be respectful when you see the prince, and do not be rude," Gu Ce earnestly instructed before leaving with a servant.

Rong Yingluo had Yinghong carry two boxes containing paintings and follow behind her.

The steward led Rong Yingluo through the moon gate, across several covered corridors, and into the warm pavilion where the old prince resided.

The old prince had just finished writing a piece of calligraphy and painting and then stopped.

With a smile on her face, Rong Yingluo stepped forward gracefully and bowed respectfully: "Your subject, Rong, greets Prince An. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

"No need for formalities. Come, help me to sit down." The old Prince An treated him as if he were a junior, showing no formality whatsoever.

Rong Yingluo was stunned for a moment, then suddenly sat up straight and looked at the old Prince An.

Prince An looked at her with a hint of displeasure in his eyes: "Hurry up, you have no sense of propriety at all."

"Please sit down too," Old Prince An gestured.

Rong Yingluo obediently sat down to the left: "Does Your Highness recognize this humble woman?"

"I don't recognize him, but I do recognize your master. That old man hasn't come to the capital for so many years, which has given me quite a bit of complaints."

"If you hadn't been the one who identified those fake antiques at Baibaozhai, I wouldn't have guessed that it was his disciple in the capital." Old Prince An stroked his beard and chuckled as he spoke in a vulgar tone.

"So the prince is a good friend of my master." Rong Yingluo suddenly realized.

She never imagined that her master and Prince An had such a close relationship.

"I am more than just a friend to him, I am also..." The old Prince An stopped there.

"Or what?" Rong Yingluo was already curious about her master's identity, and seeing that the old Prince An had already brought it up, she wasn't about to let the opportunity pass.

"We're still sworn brothers." Old Prince An changed his words, remembering the old man's instructions.

Rong Yingluo was skeptical, but since the prince had said so, she decided to take it as the truth.

"So Your Highness is my master's sworn brother? But how come I've never heard him mention you before?" Rong Yingluo had already figured out that the old Prince An was a playful old man.

"Hmph, ever since he took you as his disciple, he has never come to visit me again. He only thinks about how to teach you and has taken you all over the country."

I haven't seen him for over a decade. If I didn't know his abilities, I wouldn't have guessed you were his disciple.

He never accepted direct disciples, and you were the only one he ever took in, and it turns out you're a little girl." Old Prince An looked at Rong Yingluo with a critical eye for a long time.

After listening to the old Prince An's complaints, Rong Yingluo smiled: "So Your Highness is angry that I, your wife, have taken over my master's position. To express my apology, I will present you with two of my master's paintings."

Rong Yingluo took the brocade box from Yinghong, took out one of the paintings and unfolded it; it was the painting of distant mountains.

Old Prince An's eyes lit up, and he praised it highly: "What a fine painting! It is magnificent and the mountains are majestic. Only someone who has traveled frequently and seen different terrains and mountains could create such a masterpiece."

Old Prince An leaned closer to examine the seal: "Lingyin Hermit! This is a painting by Lingyin Hermit. How can you say it's your master's work? Isn't he Puyang Zhenren? How can you, a young girl, attribute another person's name to your master and try to glorify him?"

Old Prince An blurted out a series of questions.

"It seems that the prince and my master are not very familiar with each other. How come you don't even know his other name? You must be lying when you say you are his sworn brother." Rong Yingluo was very proud, having been caught out.

"In the past, whenever he came to the capital, he would only stay for three days at most. How was I supposed to know that he was also a master painter? He has never painted in front of me before." The old prince said innocently.

If it weren't for his love of antiques, and the fact that Master Puyang happened to see his collection and immediately point out which were fake and which were real, he wouldn't have known about Master Puyang's remarkable ability to distinguish antiques.

From then on, he fell in love with identifying antiques, but his ability was still far from satisfactory, not even half as good as the little girl in front of him.

"I see. I have brought two paintings for Your Highness. Please take a look." Rong Yingluo then unfolded another painting.

The moment the painting came into view, Old Prince An's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets: "This...this is the battlefield of the North!"

Old Prince An saw soldiers covered in filth wielding broadswords and spears, charging towards the enemy.

The warhorse raised its front hooves high to dodge a spear thrust from the enemy general.

Corpses were everywhere lying on the ground. The setting sun was about to sink, and the afterglow shone on the earth, mixed with blood. It was so magnificent and horrific. A strong smell of blood seemed to burst out of the paper.

That poignant beauty brings tears to the eyes of those who see it and sorrow to those who contemplate it.

The old Prince An's eyes welled up with tears: "Our Southern Xia kingdom is protected by so many soldiers who are not afraid of death. I want to present this painting to the Emperor so that he can display it to all the ministers in the Golden Palace."

He made a decision immediately.

"Your Highness, actually this is a discarded draft that my master painted. He has a more perfect one." Rong Yingluo told the truth, embarrassed.

"This is very good. I dare not hope for his masterpiece." The old Prince An was not greedy; the painting by the Hermit of Lingyin was priceless.

Very few people in the capital possess such a work, and he only had one, which was an early piece from his life.

If he had known earlier that the Hermit of Lingyin was the True Man of Puyang, he would have asked for it without hesitation.

"Your Highness, I have also learned some traditional Chinese medicine from my master. Judging from your appearance, your lifespan may not be long. If you allow me to take care of your health, you may live a few more years."

"However, I am not saving him for nothing. I have a request." Rong Yingluo, considering that the old Prince An was a friend of her master, did not mind saving him and letting him live a few more years. Otherwise, her master would scold her if he found out.