The Most Shameless Husband in History

Chapter 38: The Most Shameless... Husband in History

Speaking of the strange disappearance of that birthday ode, the mounting shop owner was full of grievances, with no one to turn to.

He had originally planned to find a famous calligrapher to forge a copy, but after seeking out four or five renowned—or down-and-out—calligraphy masters in Shuzhou City, none could capture even a tenth of the original's charm.

Later, still unwilling to give up, the mounting shop owner spent a hefty sum to enlist Mr. Yue Ming, a calligraphy master from Guiyun Academy, and only then managed to achieve about fifty percent of the original's essence.

But he truly dared not say that out loud, fearing Mr. Yue Ming would think he was belittling him. So he dawdled with that piece for several more days before finally handing it to Xiao Die.

What the mounting shop owner didn't know was that the moment the calligraphy reached Chen Yi's hands, he saw through the substitution of his birthday ode.

And they had even fobbed him off with a terribly clumsy imitation, as if afraid he wouldn't notice.

"And they dare to put my name on writing like this?"

"What? This isn't your writing, Husband?"

Chen Yi explained a few sentences, and Xiao Die understood, immediately raising her brows.

Without waiting for Chen Yi to say more, she grabbed the calligraphy and rushed out the door in a flurry.

"Husband, I'm going to find him!"

Chen Yi watched her retreating figure, shook his head with a smile, and didn't take it seriously.

But when Xiao Die returned, her expression was dejected as she said, "Husband, that calligraphy can't be recovered."

"Oh?"

"The mounting shop owner said it was stolen that very night. The one he mounted was written by Mr. Yue Ming from Guiyun Academy."

Chen Yi let out an "oh" and didn't dwell on it.

Perhaps some calligraphy enthusiast had taken a fancy to his piece and, in a moment of folly, stolen it.

"And the calligraphy?"

"Still at the mounting shop," Xiao Die said indignantly. "That owner is utterly despicable. He didn't say a word after it was lost and even had someone forge a copy. Too wicked."

Chen Yi glanced at her and hesitated before asking, "You didn't say anything else, did you?"

Xiao Die thought for a moment. "I said a lot. I don't know which sentence you mean, Husband."

"Something like how that forged writing was no good, very clumsy, that sort of thing."

"Such... well, I think I said all that kind of stuff."

"..."

Chen Yi sighed and asked her to grind ink for him.

Sensing his unease, Xiao Die ground the ink as she asked, "Husband, did Xiao Die say something wrong?"

"Not really, it's just that..."

That Mr. Yue Ming happened to be the teacher of Tanhua Lang Li Huaigu.

If such words reached his ears, it would likely stir up unwarranted resentment.

After a moment's thought, Chen Yi didn't continue, not wanting Xiao Die to overthink. He picked up the Wolf-hair Brush and spread out a fresh sheet of Yunsong Paper.

Steadying his mind, a rough framework formed in his thoughts. He dipped the brush in ink, set it to paper, and turned his wrist to rewrite that Ode to Marquis Xiao.

This time, he didn't use the Wei Qing script but instead employed the Running Script, which he had already elevated to the Mastery Level.

With each freer stroke of the brush, as if aligning with his state of mind, strands of Qi quietly emerged within him, drawing the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence to gather at the tip of the Wolf-hair Brush.

Every character he wrote seemed to take on its own brilliance, naturally complete, with a faint layer of pale white light flickering over the ink.

Xiao Die craned her neck to watch, and when she saw that pale white glow, she almost thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.

After rubbing her eyes and looking again, the already written characters indeed no longer had the pale white luster, but a fresh layer appeared on the ones being written.

Xiao Die's mouth fell slightly open as she looked at the earnest Chen Yi, then at the characters flowing from his brush.

After a few glances back and forth, she quickly covered her mouth, not daring to speak, afraid of disturbing the Artistic Conception of her husband's writing.

Though she couldn't understand it, nor grasp the meaning of this phenomenon, she knew that at this moment, her husband seemed to radiate light, making her afraid to move.

A moment later.

Chen Yi finished writing, added the title, signed his name, and stamped his seal before setting down the Wolf-hair Brush with a long exhale.

Still, his exhaustion was visibly plain. He rubbed his brow and leaned back into his chair.

"Bring me something to eat."

Xiao Die snapped out of it and hurriedly fetched some pastries and water, then stood behind Chen Yi, gently pressing her palms against his temples.

"Husband, the way you looked just now was so... so impressive."

Chen Yi sat up a little straighter, closed his eyes, and enjoyed her finger pressure, his body and mind relaxing considerably.

"Tell me, what was impressive about it?"

"It's, it's just those characters. They were glowing, very beautiful."

"Is that so?"

Chen Yi understood—Xiao Die must have meant that his qi had stirred the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence, leaving an Artistic Conception behind on the characters.

He had known this ever since he began training on the Martial Path, and as his Cultivation Base grew, his control became more and more refined, almost to the point where his intent moved with his heart.

Once he made another breakthrough in the Way of Calligraphy, his handwriting would advance further, and the Artistic Conception left on his Calligraphy Copybooks would carry even more depth.

But by then, his Ninth Rank Realm Cultivation Base would clearly no longer be sufficient.

He rested for a moment.

Then Chen Yi had Xiao Die take the calligraphy and painting to the Mounting Shop. "Remember to bring a few Armored Soldiers to guard it, so it doesn't get stolen again this time."

"I understand, Son-in-law. This time, Xiao Die definitely won't let it get lost!"

It had better be that way—otherwise, by the time this Birthday Ode was mounted and framed, the Old Marquis's birthday celebration would already be over.

The next day.

A faint light appeared in the east, casting a trace of Purple Qi upon the clouds and rosy dawn.

On the official road outside Shuzhou City, a Cloud-and-Dragon Carriage was parked at the roadside. Shen Huatang, dressed in a plain white skirt and robes, stood expressionless beside the carriage frame, holding a longsword in her arms.

Her features were not beautiful, merely delicate, but her cold and aloof temperament still drew a second glance from passing carriages.

Shen Huatang seemed completely unaware, her eyes fixed straight ahead on the end of the official road.

After about an hour, she spotted a carriage flying the Xiao Family Red Banner approaching from afar, and only then did she knock on the carriage wall and say:

"Eldest Miss, the Second Miss's carriage has arrived."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Xiao Wan'er lifted the curtain, stepped down from the carriage with Shen Huatang's help, and gathered her cloak around her, letting the fur at the collar wrap around her neck.

She looked at the approaching carriage, raised her hand slightly above shoulder height from a distance, and waved.

"Second Sister, over here."

Her voice was soft, but the person on the distant carriage had already heard it, and a cool voice replied:

"I apologize for making Eldest Sister wait here."

The moment the words fell, the carriage rushed over and stopped in front of Xiao Wan'er.

Then Xiao Jinghong, dressed in light traveler's attire, jumped down from the carriage. Her high ponytail fluttered in the wind, and she still wore that Silver Half-Armor over her face, revealing only her crystal-white lips and chin.

Xiao Wan'er stepped forward and took her hand, a delicate smile appearing on her pale face. "It's no trouble. I only arrived an hour earlier myself."

Xiao Jinghong curved her lips into a smile and nodded. "Eldest Sister, it's cold out here. Let's talk in the carriage."

With that, she pulled Xiao Wan'er and they sat down together in the carriage.

Once they were settled, Shen Huatang jumped onto the driver's seat, cracked the long whip against the horse's rump, and shouted, "Hyah!"

Clop, clop...

The horse's hooves struck the official road. They did not queue up in the long line entering the city but instead passed through the empty city gate on the side.

"Second Sister, your inspection tour of the Three Towns must have been tiring. There's no need to rush out again later—stay home and rest for a few days."

"Alright."

Xiao Jinghong nodded. Just as she was about to speak, her earlobes twitched, and a series of sounds from within Shuzhou City reached her ears.

Chen Yi of the Xiao Manor, Chen Qingzhou, in broad daylight had Forcibly Seized a Woman and even visited a brothel?

The most shameless son-in-law in history?

Xiao Jinghong pressed her lips together slightly, her gaze sharpening.

I'd say he's the most shameless... husband.