Xiao Yuan Has Grown Old-Can He Still Eat His Fill?

The sun stood high, and the sky had cleared.

After two days of rain, the air in Chunhe Garden was much fresher, faintly scented with flowers, grasses, bamboo, and trees.

Even the Golden-haired Carp in the pond were livelier, leaping from the water one after another before Xiao Wuge caught them with his crude fishing rod.

His excited voice rang out from the pavilion from time to time.

"Brother-in-law, that's the third carp today."

"Brother-in-law, that's the fourth. Can we really not eat them?"

"Brother-in-law, that's the..."

That's your Second Uncle's leg!

There was definitely something wrong with the carp in this pond. Like vain creatures hungry for admiration, they bit at Xiao Wuge's hook with no regard for their lives-bootlicking fish!

Even with Chen Yi's good temper and disposition as placid as water, he could only put down his rod and return to the study to practice calligraphy. Out of sight, out of mind.

Lately, with his Great Accomplishment in the Way of Calligraphy bolstering him, his Running Script had improved rapidly. He reckoned it was probably because practicing Wei Qing calligraphy had given him extensive experience with brush techniques.

In just over ten days, he had brought his Running Script to the peak of the practiced level, only a step away from breaking through to proficiency.

As Chen Yi practiced his Running Script brushwork, he could not help thinking of the Old Marquis's birthday celebration.

The Old Marquis has spent his life in the saddle, defeating the Barbarian Tribe and the Poshushuo Kingdom's armies in succession... The Birthday Ode needs to have something to do with military life.

At that thought, several frontier poems and lyrics surfaced in his mind.

Some spoke of unfulfilled ambitions; others brimmed with killing intent and vast, surging grandeur. Few, however, could be applied to the Old Marquis.

After a moment's consideration, Chen Yi made his decision.

Then he looked over the Yunsong Paper, ran through a draft in his mind, picked up the Wolf-hair Brush, and dipped it in ink. Mobilizing the scant qi in his dantian to stir heaven and earth, he drove his strength through the paper and wrote:

"Through ages, rivers and mountains remain, yet nowhere can a hero be found where Marquis Dingyuan once stood. Dancing terraces and singing stages-all their splendor is swept away by wind and rain."

"Grasses and trees in the slanting sun, ordinary lanes and alleys, where people say the barbarians once dwelled. Think of those years: golden spears and armored steeds, a tiger's might devouring ten thousand miles... Who will ask: Xiao Yuan has grown old-can he still eat his fill?"

This time, Chen Yi did not use Running Script, with its slightly mellow brushstrokes. Instead, he chose the Wei Qing Style, whose rugged strokes displayed bold grandeur.

Soon, a lyric of unrestrained, sweeping ink, extraordinary aura, and faint hints of profound artistic conception sprang to life upon the paper.

As the final stroke stopped, Chen Yi abruptly tossed the Wolf-hair Brush aside and sank back into his chair. His limbs felt weak and powerless, and his vision darkened slightly.

He hurriedly closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, relaxing his mind to rest.

He had not expected guiding the brush with his intent to drain him so heavily.

Not only had it exhausted all the qi in his dantian, but even his blood and vitality had been somewhat depleted. The exhaustion felt just like practicing Great Spear Stance Cultivation for four hours.

"Brother-in-law, are you feeling unwell?"

Just then, Xiao Wuge pushed the door open and entered. Seeing his furrowed brow and weakened appearance, he hurriedly asked.

Chen Yi forced his eyes open and smiled. "I exerted myself too much. It's nothing. Bring me something to eat."

At that, Xiao Wuge pattered off to find some food. As he handed it over, he looked at the lyric on the desk.

Although he had only recently begun studying the classics and histories and knew little about poetry, he could already read. At the very least, he recognized "Marquis Dingyuan" and "Xiao Yuan" in the lyric.

After reading it carefully, Xiao Wuge committed the lyric to memory and asked in realization, "Brother-in-law, are you preparing a Birthday Ode for Grandpa?"

Chen Yi ate as he answered, "It's the Old Marquis's grand birthday celebration. As your sister's husband, I ought to make some preparations, whether out of affection or propriety."

Xiao Wuge chuckled. "Since it's a Birthday Ode, I'll keep it secret for you and give Grandpa a happy surprise when the time comes."

With his shallow understanding of lyrics, he naturally could not quite grasp the full artistic conception expressed in this one.

But he could tell that it praised his grandfather.

After finishing the pastries and recovering some strength, Chen Yi said, "It's fine. It's only a lyric. He'll find out sooner or later."

With that, he rose and took some xuan paper to blot the ink on the lyric, then added its tune title, "Yongyu Le: Ode to Marquis Xiao," and his signature, completing the work.

Still, before it could become a perfect "Birthday Ode," he needed to find someone to mount it.

"Then can I go tell Grandpa now?"

"As you like."

Chen Yi did not mind.

Since he had written the lyric, people would find out about it sooner or later. There was no point in hiding it.

"Then I'll go tell Grandpa right now."

Having received permission, Xiao Wuge immediately ran out, his face full of delight, and headed to the central courtyard under the escort of the armored guards at the door.

Watching him rush off like a whirlwind, Chen Yi could not help laughing. He leisurely tidied the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on his desk before heading outside.

He summoned Xiao Die, instructed her to invite a mounting craftsman to the mansion, and asked her to bring more food.

After Xiao Die left, Chen Yi saw that no one was around, took some pastries, and headed straight for Jiaxing Garden.

When Pei Guanli saw him approaching, she hurriedly flipped over and jumped down from the tree.

Without sparing time for words, she picked up a pastry and stuffed it into her mouth.

As she ate, she complained in a muffled voice, "Brother-in-law, if you hadn't come, I'd have starved to death."

In fact, Pei Guanli was not only so hungry that her belly clung to her backbone, but also terribly sleepy after staying awake all night.

Chen Yi watched her gulp down the food without a shred of decorum and did not rush to question her. Only when she slowed down a little did he ask:

"Did you find anything?"

"Yes, yes, I did."

Pei Guanli said excitedly, "Brother-in-law, you really do foresee things like a god. Someone came to collect that Secret Letter before dawn this morning..."

After hearing her account, Chen Yi understood.

He knew whom Pei Guanli meant-a servant responsible for hauling rubbish and other refuse out of the Marquis's mansion.

It was said that they were all Dingyuan Army veterans who had followed the Old Marquis on campaigns north and south for many years.

But this was strange.

Liu Si'er from before was one thing, but this elderly servant could be considered an old hand at the Marquis's mansion. How had he become a "Hidden Guard" too?

As Chen Yi pondered this, he told Pei Guanli to keep hiding in Chunhe Garden, lest she be spotted wandering about.

Having eaten and drunk her fill and regained her strength, Pei Guanli could not help growing excited again. "Brother-in-law, what do we do next?"

"No hurry. Let the bullets fly a little longer."

"Bullets? What are those?"

"You can think of them as arrows..."

The central courtyard of Xiao Manor.

Xiao Wuge skipped into a secluded residence, glanced around, and suddenly stopped.

Under the pavilion inside the residence, several elders, with the Old Marquis at their head, were leisurely drinking tea.

The young Duchess, Xiao Qiuyun, and the Young Heir Apparent, Zhang Heng, were also beside them, attended by several servants from the Marquis's mansion.

Xiao Wuge straightened his robes, walked over respectfully, and greeted them one by one.

"Greetings, Grandfather, Grandpa Zhang, Grandpa Sun, Grandpa Li, Aunt Qiuyun, Brother Heir Apparent."

Xiao Yuan gestured beside him. "Wu Ge, come sit here with Grandpa."

Xiao Wuge obediently went over and sat down.

Xiao Qiuyun glanced at him and said with a smile, "Eldest Uncle, Wu Ge looks more and more like Eldest Brother."

Beside her, the Young Heir Apparent, Zhang Heng, curled his lip and made faces at Xiao Wuge.

"Qiuyun is right. Wu Ge truly has his father's bearing." Duke of Qianguo Zhang Xuan nodded.

Xiao Yuan was naturally pleased to hear this. He waved a hand and offered a few modest words before asking, "Wu Ge, I hear you've been fishing in Chunhe Garden every day lately. You rarely come over. Is there something you need?"

Xiao Wuge nodded. "Brother-in-law wrote you a Birthday Ode..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Heng spoke up beside him in his childish voice. "What brother-in-law? He's just a runaway groom."

Xiao Qiuyun scolded him. "Heng'er, don't be rude!"

Even the Duke of Qianguo's expression soured. "Heng'er, if you're this rude again, go straight back to Jiaozhou!"

"It's fine, it's fine..."

Although Xiao Yuan was displeased, he would not go so far as to lose his temper with a child. He turned back to Xiao Wuge.

"Wu Ge, what lyric did Chen Yi compose? Do you still remember it?"

"I remember, Grandfather."

Xiao Wuge immediately began reciting, his young, childish voice echoing through the residence.

"Through ages, rivers and mountains remain, yet nowhere can a hero be found where Marquis Dingyuan once stood..."