Chapter Sixteen: The Jade Portrait

“Ding! Congratulations, Host. Due to the growing influence and widespread praise among the common people for your poem ‘Song of the Artemisia Fields,’ you have stirred a ripple in this era. Hidden mission—Fame Across Hebei (your overall renown in Hebei has reached 50%) completed. You have received a paper copy of ‘The Spring and Autumn Annals,’ 500 experience points, and 1,500 prestige points. Current experience: 1,050. Current prestige: 1,500 (2,650 in total).”

“Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your current prestige value is 2,150, granting you the title [Renowned Far and Wide] (your name carries greater meaning, and those who have heard it find it hard to refuse you; commoners feel respect for you). You need 2,350 more prestige points to advance to the next rank: [Famed Throughout the Realm].”

The notifications had not yet finished; the next would concern bonds. Zhang Yu didn’t bother to keep listening and instead manually switched the interface to the Bonds view.

Zhang Fei, Affinity: 76; Guan Yu, Affinity: 74. Both their portraits glowed with a yellow [Affection] ring.

“Ah, as expected of my uncle’s sworn brothers—their affection rises quickly.”

Gazing down after basking in the favor of two peerless generals, Zhang Yu was momentarily baffled—Liu Bei, Affinity: 68, the ring a grassy green, indicating confusion and embarrassment.

“Seriously?! You’re my real uncle... Isn’t it only natural for a nephew to trip up his uncle once? How is being petty manly at all!”

After venting about Liu Bei, Zhang Yu was truly puzzled by the appearance of Yuan Shao—Yuan Shao, Affinity: 73, yellow ring.

“Could it be Yuan Benchu was genuinely moved by my poem? With his temperament, to not be angered by my barbs—could resentment have turned to admiration? He must be close to taking over Ji Province by now...” Random thoughts flickered by, but Zhang Yu shook his head. “No matter what, I’m definitely a player in these times now!”

The happiness and troubles that had entangled Zhang Yu these days lightened somewhat with the system’s notifications. Clearly, his system was quite decent.

There were rewards, rapid upgrades, no forced mandates, no obliteration.

It wasn’t a golden finger for conquering the world, but it did let him appreciate this era more deeply. Perhaps, in his own unique way, he could add even brighter colors to this vast, epic tapestry of history.

“By the way, System, can you make my crazed fans a bit more rational...? After all, when it comes to idols versus the homeland, of course we must put the country first and resist Rakuten!”

“Host, please rephrase your statement.”

“I love Huaxia! The nation above all!”

“Congratulations, Host, for embodying the correct values. You have gained 500 experience points. Current experience: 1,550.
Host, please rephrase your statement.”

“...This works for me, I admit defeat.” Zhang Yu hadn’t expected his system to be so upright and principled; by sheer luck, he’d stumbled into a windfall. “So, do party membership candidates get an experience bonus too?”

The system gave no reply—seems there were no further benefits.

Zhang Yu opened the Arts interface, selected the Drawing section, and found the [Sketching] skill he wanted, complete with three sketching pencils, a sketchbook, and an easel.

Glancing at the price, Zhang Yu jested at the system, “Miss, I’ve got money to spare,” then spent 200 experience points to redeem it, and another 100 to upgrade it to Master level.

He set up the easel beside the bronze mirror. Once the voices outside the courtyard faded again, he began to draw.

With genuine skill in hand, Zhang Yu understood the meaning of “guided by divine inspiration.” His left hand moved across the sketchbook as if electrified, and in a moment, his first self-portrait was complete.

He propped up the finished portrait, compared the bronze mirror to the sketchbook, and felt—it looked even more like him than reality. If this portrait were passed down to later generations, it would be a treasured collection for all lovers of ancient style!

Or perhaps displayed at the bedside for nightly admiration.

By mid-morning, some of the boys and girls outside the courtyard had left, but loyal fans still huddled under lotus leaves and burlap, keeping watch at the eaves.

“Hello there!”

A gentle, magnetic voice rang in the weary ears of the crowd.

Lazily turning their heads, they saw a young man standing there, smiling brightly at them.

“Crack!”

It was as if lightning had struck, as if they’d been transported to another world; no one could believe their eyes.

“Are you... Jade Gentleman?!”

“I am, indeed.”

“Jade Gentleman!”

“It’s him—he’s come to see us!”

“I knew it! If Jade Gentleman could help even the refugees, how could he bear to let us roast in the scorching sun!”

A dozen or so fervent fans immediately surrounded Zhang Yu; if Han Long hadn’t been nearby to deter them, they might have grabbed hold of him then and there...

“Jade Gentleman, what are you doing out here? Go back inside! The sun’s too strong—you’ll get sunburned!” a woman, slightly older, raised her voice, her words echoed by the others.

“She’s right! Your health isn’t strong to begin with, you mustn’t treat yourself like this!”

“Jade Gentleman, here’s some water for you.”

Zhang Yu heard the voice but didn’t see the speaker. Looking down, he saw a little girl only reaching his waist, offering him a bowl of water.

“Thank you, little one,” Zhang Yu took a sip and returned the bowl to her, only to see the girl, beaming, finish the rest from the very place he drank.

“I drank from the same bowl as Jade Gentleman!”

“Pfft...” Watching the delighted child, Zhang Yu turned to fetch his sketchbook, only to see little Han Yan with a stern face, handing him the book with a cool, aloof demeanor.

Ah! Too much charm is truly a bother—what can I do? I’m quite helpless here...

“Brothers and sisters, may I say a few words?”

The power of an idol knows no bounds; as soon as Zhang Yu spoke, the crowd fell silent, and a dozen pairs of eyes fixed on him.

“I trust you’ve all read my poem,” he began, but before the crowd could respond, he continued, “In these tumultuous times, with the country and people in peril, I believe that love for our nation must outweigh personal affection. To receive your admiration is an honor, but to spend such precious time in this vigil is, I think, not the wisest choice.

An inch of time is worth an inch of gold, but an inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time. I hope we can all use this precious time where it counts the most. For instance, by contributing to our nation and our families—

These are portraits I made of myself, offered as a token of thanks for your unwavering affection.” With that, Zhang Yu opened the sketchbook, and the lifelike portrait inside drew gasps from the crowd.

“From now on, my humble works will be displayed from time to time at the Zhang family’s shop. Anyone wishing to show kindness can have a chance to receive a portrait as a gift.

Moreover, I have an announcement—all funds and grain donated at the Zhang family’s shop for charity will be used entirely to help and support the disaster victims; I will not take a single coin. I hope you can help spread the word, and for this, I thank you all!”

“Jade Gentleman, you’re too polite!”

“It’s nothing! Jade Gentleman, you don’t need to go to such lengths—I’d pay a hundred coins for this portrait!”

“Your heart moves heaven and earth, Jade Gentleman—you’ve awakened me. Sisters, who’s with me? Let’s donate at the Zhang family shop!”

“Jade Gentleman, may I ask what technique you used? I’ve never seen portraits like these.”

Zhang Yu was taken aback and blurted out, “Sketching.”

“Sketching... Since it’s your sketch, why not call it ‘Yu-drawing’—Jade Drawing?”

“What a fine name, and a fine portrait! Let’s call it Jade Drawing!”

The name “Jade Drawing” quickly gained wide acceptance.

Zhang Yu hadn’t expected that this small, timely strategy would lay the foundation for the greatest charitable foundation in future Huaxia.

Nor could he have imagined that the sketching skill he redeemed would once again make him famous, earning him another 300 prestige points.

The unique paper, the pencils made of lead, and their spreading sparked a wave of excitement; the name “Jade Drawing” became widespread, and many scholars and gentlemen vied to learn the technique.

“Heaven have mercy,” Zhang Yu said innocently, “I truly didn’t mean to plagiarize this time!”