Chapter 97: Lingyan Pavilion

Li Shimin let out a regretful sigh, but did not pursue the matter too deeply, since an unverified problem was not enough to shake his composure. Meanwhile, Princess Jin Yang kept coquettishly clinging to Li Shimin’s chest, whispering softly in his ear.

Li Shimin gazed at her with fond affection and glared at Mo Dun with displeasure, declaring, “For the sake of Jin Yang, I will spare you this once! If you dare to cause trouble again, be careful not to get the cane again!”

Mo Dun immediately breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed he had managed to slip away this time.

“Thank you, Princess Jin Yang!” he said, quickly bowing in gratitude.

“I haven’t thanked you for saving little Jin yet?” Princess Jin Yang replied with an air of cultivated elegance, her expression irresistibly adorable.

Mo Dun had a sudden idea and suggested, “Since His Majesty is so devoted to his daughter and Princess Jin Yang is so refined, why not let Mo Dun paint this scene of family harmony and preserve it forever?”

He realized Li Shimin’s weakness lay in his special love for Princess Jin Yang; flattering the Emperor directly was less effective than flattering his beloved little cotton-padded jacket—Jin Yang herself.

“Wonderful! Wonderful! Jin Zi wants to always stay by Father’s side!” Overjoyed at the prospect of being painted with Li Shimin, Princess Jin Yang clapped her hands and cheered.

Li Shimin’s eyes brightened, though he still cast Wei Zheng a worried glance.

Wei Zheng could only look helplessly at Mo Dun. This fellow’s flattery was impossible to guard against. Yet seeing Princess Jin Yang’s eager face, he found it impossible to voice his reservations. If it had been just Li Shimin, Wei Zheng would have advised him at once, but Mo Dun’s reason was so legitimate that he could not disturb the Emperor’s family harmony!

“Little slippery one!” Wei Zheng thought to himself.

“Very well,” Li Shimin replied with a laugh. “Today I shall see for myself how remarkable this new painting technique of Yan Liben’s truly is—capable of inducing such intoxication.”

Not only Li Shimin but also Wei Zheng wore expectant expressions. As a high official, he could not personally visit the imperial painting workshop to view Mo Dun’s work, yet he was deeply curious about this new technique said to capture lifelike reality.

Originally, Mo Dun had entered the palace intending to return the painting he owed Li Chengqian and had brought a pencil along. It was now perfectly suited for use.

The pencil was sharpened; rice paper was laid out. All preparations were complete.

“May I trouble Your Majesty to sit with Princess Jin Yang?” Mo Dun instructed.

Princess Jin Yang immediately scrambled into Li Shimin’s arms, hugging his neck tightly. With no trace of imperial sternness, Li Shimin smiled gently and affectionately embraced her, the very picture of a loving father and doting daughter in perfect harmony.

Mo Dun committed the scene to memory, his pencil moving swiftly to capture every detail. He painted with exceptional care.

After a long time, Mo Dun set down the pencil and sighed, turning to the still-stiff Li Shimin who held Princess Jin Yang. “Your Majesty, it is finished.”

Li Shimin shot him a fierce glare. He had not expected this brat to make such a fuss over a single portrait. If it were poorly done, he would have a good thrashing.

Mo Dun felt a chill at the glare but took heart in his own skill.

“Your Majesty, please look!” he said confidently.

Li Shimin stepped to the table, curious after the long wait. “Sigh… Is this me?”

On the paper stood a tender father cradling a charming daughter, his gaze overflowing with paternal love. The child’s likeness was lifelike, identical to his beloved Jin Yang, while the father’s features were clearer than in a mirror. The new technique rendered reality so vividly that Li Shimin was stunned.

“Father! What is it? Did Jin Zi paint badly?” Too short to reach the table, Jin Yang stood on tiptoe, stretching her neck to examine the portrait.

Li Shimin understood at once and said with affection, “Of course not. How could my Jin Zi paint poorly?”

He lifted Jin Yang onto the chair so she could see.

“Haha, this is Father, and he is holding me!” Recognizing the figures at once, Jin Yang clapped. Young and innocent, she could not judge quality, yet the lifelike portrayal of herself and her father filled her with delight.

Wei Zheng could no longer contain his curiosity. He went to the table and exclaimed at the realistic father and daughter, “It is worthy of the new painting technique that Yan Liben is so inferior to—how lifelike!”

As a senior official who had seen countless painters, Wei Zheng had never witnessed such astonishing realism.

Mo Dun modestly replied, “Wei Zheng overpraises me. Yan Liben is a master painter who rendered the twenty-four meritorious officials of Lingyan Pavilion, and I hold him in great admiration.”

“Lingyan Pavilion?” Li Shimin and Wei Zheng turned in unison.

“Uh…” Mo Dun’s heart skipped at their puzzled faces. Could Lingyan Pavilion not have been built yet?

Sweat beading on his brow, he quickly explained, “This is my humble proposal. Since our Great Tang’s founding, sovereign and ministers have complemented each other. If we establish a Lingyan Pavilion to enshrine the portraits of each meritorious official, first, it would express the Emperor’s friendship with the founding heroes. Second, it would inspire later generations to achieve great deeds for Tang. As long as one serves Tang with merit, Tang will never forget it. ‘A man, why not take up the hooks, to conquer fifty states of Guanshan. Please come up to Lingyan Pavilion, if a scholar of ten thousand households.’”

“Please come up to Lingyan Pavilion, if a scholar of ten thousand households!” Wei Zheng’s heart stirred, recalling the turbulent years of his youth.

“What a splendid Lingyan Pavilion! What a splendid title of ten thousand households!” Li Shimin’s eyes gleamed. Tang prized military merit and longed to expand its borders. Such a pavilion would win ministers’ loyalty while inspiring future generations—two birds with one stone.

“Moreover, Yan Liben is our Tang’s most renowned painter and the only choice to immortalize the Lingyan Pavilion officials.” Mo Dun finally exhaled, sealing the flaw.

Mo Dun fled the Chongwen Pavilion in embarrassment, despising Li Shimin and Wei Zheng. Upon hearing the Lingyan Pavilion plan, the pair wasted no time discussing it, their attention elsewhere. Mo Dun had escaped this peril.