Niu Erwang looked stricken. "Forgive the offense, my lord prince. This small man can't draw."

Ning Chen frowned slightly and looked at the others.

Feng Qizheng shook his head. "Don't look at me. My hands are only good for swinging a blade and feeling up women."

Yuan Long said, "This officer would get it wrong even copying it."

Ning Chen looked exasperated. "Go ask Miss Xiao to come."

After a while, Xiao Yanxi arrived.

"Little Xixi, can you draw?"

Xiao Yanxi paused, then nodded. "Yes!"

Ning Chen smiled. "Perfect!" He pointed at Niu Erwang. "He'll talk, and you'll draw."

Xiao Yanxi nodded lightly. "Mm!"

Ning Chen said, "But I'll have to trouble you to draw the two mountains at Wangfeng Pass first. Otherwise..."

Xiao Yanxi smiled. "That's fine! Give me a moment."

Then she took paper and brush and began to draw.

Ning Chen and the others crowded around to watch.

Feng Qizheng blurted, "Damn, that's some serious skill!"

Ning Chen was amazed too. He'd never imagined Xiao Yanxi painted as well as Yudie.

Yudie could draw a portrait from nothing more than a description, and it would come out at least ninety percent right.

Xiao Yanxi was every bit her equal. In no time, the lay of the land at Wangfeng Pass sprang to life on the paper.

Her memory was astonishing too. She'd actually remembered the terrain here.

No wonder that when he'd asked whether she could draw, she'd said just one word: yes.

Most people would have said a little. Xiao Yanxi really could.

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth turned up. His women were each more impressive than the last.

Yudie was a master of the zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, and of disguise. In medicine, the only one in the world who could match Zisu was Lin Wen of the Imperial Physicians' Bureau. Wu Xingcheng and Huai'an were both rulers of nations, holding power over the realm. Xiao Yanxi controlled the greatest intelligence network under heaven. Tantai Qingyue... uh, she wasn't his woman yet.

Talk about pressure.

Ning Chen thought about what he himself could…