Heavenly Star

“Every person has a most favorite thing in their heart. In this case, we will paint our most favorite thing, regardless whether it’s a person, a thing, a scenery, good or bad, difficult or simple, all of them that can be portrayed by the paintbrush. If you cannot even sketch your most favorite thing, then you have lost the true purpose of learning how to paint. Use your mind to think, use your hand to paint, even if the painting is bad, it doesn’t matter. As long as you have strived hard to do it, then that will be okay.”

Ye Wuchen had successfully ignited their passion. He did not need to explain anything about the method, did not need to demonstrate, did not need to sketch an uninteresting outline to be followed; he only fired up their spirits and had them gather their state of minds to paint their most favorite thing in their minds.

Hua Buhao looked at the once boring painting class as if it was now under a burning fire from being flooded by passion. On the face of those students who follow the rules inflexibly, they were now full of unprecedented earnestness with single-hearted devotion.

“The kind of painting you have taught them was the rigid painting that I was talking about.” Ye Wuchen approached Hua Buhao, and said in a low voice to try not to disturb those students who were in serious concentration, “To be frank, the method that you’ve applied on them was the same method that you used on yourself. You had taught them what to paint and what not to paint; you told them which methods to use and which not to. You must bear in mind, that every person has their own nature and style, this also results in different styles that they will develop during painting—their painting styles. As a teacher, you should nurture their own unique painting style. The style that suits them best can make them progress more quickly. The method of following the prescribed pattern, can only distort or even ruin their own unique style, making them advance slowly. Worst case would be that they would forget the reason why they wanted to paint and eventually give up on painting.”

He turned his head around. Looking at those enthusiastic students while smiling, he said, “Now that they are enthusiastic, after finding a reason to learn painting, they will be able to portray, and retain their most favorite thing.”

Ye Wuchen’s words had brought an expected shock to Hua Buhao. The unprecedented high spirits of the students were the iron-like evidence. After all these years, a few comments completely overturned the way he taught people to paint, yet it did not cause him any bit of unacceptance. He drooped his head, ashamed, and said, “Today, after I hearing these instructions from Master Ye, it feels like I am being enlightened with perfect wisdom and sudden realizations. As it turns out, during all these years of teaching, I have been making people confused!”

Ye Wuchen shook his head, “Mister, you are being too serious. You must bear in mind that it will be easy to say that every person has his own unique style, but putting them into action is very difficult. Especially when you are to attend to a lot of people, it will be a few times harder than usual.”

Hua Buhao bent at the waist once more, and in a serious tone, he said, “No! As a teacher, my greatest gratification is to see my students surpass me. Master Ye, your comments have shown me a designated path, so how can I neglect it? Even if it is exhausting, it will calm and comfort my heart.”

The huge art studio was full of sounds of paintbrush against paper. Rustling sounds echoed, yet no one talked, as they concentrated their attentions and dared not to disturb others while also not allowing others to disturb them. Even Long Huang-er was painting well-behaved in her seat. Her seating posture was not that elegant, and the way she held the paintbrush was a horrible sight, but at least her face exposed a rare seriousness. That pair of sparkling eyes stole glances at Ye Wuchen from time to time.

Ye Wuchen could not help but think that she was painting him.

“Teacher, I’m done painting!”

After a very long time, the very first student who Ye Wuchen had questioned raised her hand and yelled, unintentionally calling him the teacher. Ye Wuchen walked over to the painting and observed it for a few moments, then asked in a low voice, “Do you feel that this painting of a phoenix feather flower is similar to what you have in your mind?”

“It’s different.”

“Where do you think is different?”

“Oh…The shape of the flower is not that beautiful, the leaves are somehow wide, also… it’s an unfit match.”

“En, since you are able to point out the areas that are different from what you have imagined, the next time you paint it, you should be able to adjust them better, right?”

The little girl immediately nodded her head with confidence, “En! I certainly will, I will surely be able to paint the most perfect phoenix feather flower and show it to teacher.”

She took off the previous painting, then delicately started to portray it on the new paper. Her expression did not contain the slightest degree of impatience or boredom, and was still as concentrated as before.

Ye Wuchen quietly moved to the back of the studio. From there, he proceeded behind Long Huang-er’s seat, looking at her painting board. Suddenly, as if he was struck by thunder, he wished he could immediately cover his eyes and run away… This could not be him. This was certainly not him.

Long Huang-er stole a furtive look in front, only to discover that Ye Wuchen’s figure was not there. Immediately, she subconsciously glanced behind her, and at once, she saw him standing there with an extremely strange expression. She was startled, and in a great rush, extended her arms to cover her painting board, but then she lowers her hands and said with a big grin, “Did I paint it nicely?”

“... Let’s not discuss whether it is nice or not. What are you painting?” Ye Wuchen asked carefully, for fear that he might get the answer that he was expecting. This time though, he did not have the courage to take another look.

“Of course it is you. I’ve found out that the you are my most favorite person just now.” Long Huang-er said happily.

“……”

“Princess, can you just tell me the truth, do you really like painting?” Ye Wuchen said helplessly. To be able to portray a person this way, the condition was so grave that it made him gasp in surprise.

Long Huang-er thought for a while, then she answered honestly, “I dislike it… but what I dislike even more is to learn etiquettes. The so-called feminine arts and the principles of being a woman—I hate them.”

“Then let’s just secretly slip out and play, okay?” Ye Wuchen said. Even if he was to face the consequences of Long Yin’s anger, he could not bear Long Huang-er destroying his image.

Long Huang-er’s eyes brightened, almost jumping out in her excitement. Ye Wuchen stucks up an index finger to make a hush gesture as a request for her to lower her voice. He proceeded to Hua Buhao and said, “Master Hua, the princess’ heart is clearly not focused on painting, and you cannot force her. Interest is the most effective teacher, so you cannot compel it through force. I would like to take the princess to look around, and find something she really likes. We will come back again tomorrow. If the Emperor questions it, you only need to answer them that I have brought the princess here, and that she went out with me. This certainly doesn’t mean that I am deceiving our ruler.”

Although Hua Buhao was reluctant, hearing that Ye Wuchen would come again tomorrow, overjoyed him. H respectfully said, “Please do as you wish, Master Ye, and I will respond accordingly. As for the students, I already know what I should do.”

Continuing on, he would use Ye Wuchen’s method to coach and provide them guidance them one by one.

In the instant Ye Wuchen and Long Huang-er stepped out of the room, Hua Buhao rushed over to the platform with surprising speed, and carefully rolled up the painting with the three characters of “Ye-Wu-Chen” on it. Holding it in his hands, his entire body trembled with excitement.

What kind of a teacher is he? In front of just these three characters made by Master Ye, he was useless!

“Where should we go to play?” Long Huang-er’s excitement was like a bird that had just broken free from its cage.

“Princess, didn’t you say you haven’t been outside of the Tian Long City? Let’s head out of the city to play.”

“Woah! Really? Is this true? Don’t deceive me!”

“Of course it’s true. Aside from me, your father didn’t assign anyone to follow you from behind, so even if we head out of the city no one will ever know.” Ye Wuchen said smiling. He led her to the North Gate which was the nearest. Feeling happiness in her heart, gave him a subtle feeling of warm satisfaction. Of course, there was also the feeling of guilt for kidnapping the princess.

“Very good! Very Good! Before, I thought that you’re a big scoundrel. Now I realize that you are a indeed a good man, I become more and more fond of you.” Long Huang-er said excitedly. Leaving the city was a very normal thing for any ordinary person, yet it was an unachievable wish for a princess who had longed for it for many years. The outward appearance of the Royal Family was so bright and neat, yet it concealed so many choiceless options.

“Hush! Lower your voice. If they find out that you are Princess Fei Huang, it will be bad.”

The two of them headed north like thieves. The route they took was the route that Ye Wuchen had taken during his arrival to Tian Long City from the northern side.

The guards in the North Gate of the Tian Long City had not seen Long Huang-er before. Other than their eyes being already dazzled by the passers-by who came and went, they did not deliberately try to observe all who passed by. Ye Wuchen and Long Huang-er headed northwards without hindrance and soon, Long Huang-er shouted out wildly, running ahead without fear.

“I’m out of the city! I’m out of the city!”

Just like a canary that has just obtained freedom, she looked to the sky, breathing the pure air and laughed melodiously.

The farther they went, the lesser the passers-by. Since entering Tian Long City, this was the first time he had come to the northern area of the city.

“Where do you want to go, Princess?”

“Hmph! I don’t want to be called Princess now. You should call me Huang-er.” Long Huang-er, said, creasing her nose.

“Okay. Well, where would you like to go, Huang-er?” Ye Wuchen asked, smiling.

“Anywhere will do, just not back to the palace.” she said in an unruly manner.

“Well… Let’s go fishing; there’s a shallow creek ahead. Previously, when I returned accompanying your Imperial brother, before we entered the city, we especially caught some fish there to eat.”

“Catching fish?” these words were certainly new and exciting for Long Huang-er. She quickly nodded her head, “Take me there quickly, I want to go there.”

The creek flowed continuously with the water, very clear and clean, barely touching the knees. Numerous fish of different sizes came swimming by. Based on Ye Wuchen’s memory, such kinds of creeks were near extinction, yet in this world, they can be found everywhere.

Inside the palace were plenty of man-made ponds and small lakes, so this was the first time that Long Huang-er had seen a stream. The babbling sound of water resounded in her ears like some heavenly music. Her eyes could not stop flickering pure and clean lights that were even brighter than the stream water.

She removed her own shoes and lifted her skirt. Standing barefoot in the creek, she enjoyed the feeling of being stroked lightly by the flowing water. Her heart was more pleasurable and tranquil than it ever been before. This natural stream, for her, was just like heaven.

“Well, don’t just stand there. We are here to catch fish. The fish that you catch by yourself are the most delicious. Don’t tell me Huang-er doesn’t like to eat fish you catch by yourself?”

Ye Wuchen’s hand was holding a violently struggling carp while his face revealed a smile.

Translated by: Fatty_Uncle

Edited by: seriouspotato and patrick_father_of_dragons