Unrequited Love, Secret Affair?

After much deliberation, Chen Yi decided that from now on, he would no longer casually show his running script or cursive script to others.

As long as his calligraphy copybooks didn't circulate, even if Mr. Yue Ming talked his mouth dry, no one would be foolish enough to travel a thousand miles to come find him.

With that thought, Chen Yi carefully chose his words and said:

"Eldest Sister, in my opinion, this poem was written to celebrate Old Master's birthday. It should be properly stored away from now on."

Xiao Wan'er smiled and nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Xiao Jinghong in the second-floor room nearby and knew she was ready. She stood up and said:

"Brother-in-law, you keep Wuge and the others company. I'll put this calligraphy in the study room for now."

"Much obliged, much obliged."

Chen Yi knew she and Xiao Jinghong had just returned to the residence and should be heading to see Old Master first, so he didn't say more.

Xiao Wan'er then gave a few instructions to Xiao Wuge and Zhang Heng before carrying the brocade box toward the wooden tower where Chen Yi lived.

As she walked, she was still thinking about how to bring Chen Yi and Xiao Jinghong together in the future, to strengthen the bond between them.

After all, they were husband and wife; living apart indefinitely was no long-term solution.

Xiao Wan'er knew her second sister's temperament. She had been strong-willed since childhood, and especially after leading troops in battle in recent years, she had matured a great deal, her thoughts growing harder to read.

But just as Wuge had said earlier—"Man can conquer nature"—as long as she persisted, she believed she could surely help her second sister and brother-in-law return to a normal married life.

Lost in thought.

Xiao Wan'er arrived at the study room, placed the brocade box on the table, but her eyes fell on the spread-out Yunsong paper.

She turned to glance at Chen Yi outside the window, then walked to the table and carefully examined the handwriting on the paper.

The more she looked, the more she liked it.

"No wonder Mr. Yue Ming was so relentless. Even I want to get my hands on one of brother-in-law's calligraphic masterpieces to take back and copy."

Xiao Wan'er sighed inwardly, unable to resist flipping through the stack of papers beside her, thinking she'd find one with more characters to ask Chen Yi for.

A full dozen or so sheets, either in running script or Wei Qing style—each one carried a distant artistic conception, stirring her hunter's delight.

Although these characters didn't show the "luster of artistic conception," purely in terms of calligraphic skill, they were all fine works.

A moment later.

Xiao Wan'er's eyes suddenly lit up. She picked up that piece of Wei Qing script calligraphy and studied it closely, her smile shifting to confusion.

On it was written: Qing Chun Ze - Graceful Spirit Ode, signed by Chen Qingzhou, written in the spring night of Year 21 of Anhe:

Snow Soul Cuts Clouds to Form Temples, Ice Silk Washes the Moon to Form Eyes. Kui Gate Night Swells with Stars and Rivers, pouring down a thousand mountains of jade brightness. Sword Qi first condenses into brow-and-eyebrow hues, crane shadows secretly cross the dawn of the Shu sky. Jade Steps, Jade Trees—like you, rare in the human world.

Once startled the Guye immortal to age, sighing over the Luo River's empty ode, the Red River's vain ballad. Flower countenance newly touched by moist snow, brocade robe still bearing the Wei flute. Beacon fires flicker, adorning golden hairpins; when northern geese return, they drop emerald tassels. Even with the finest pigments, it's hard to paint the bones—alone through a thousand autumns, the Chu sky stretches desolate.

After reading it, Xiao Wan'er's eyes widened. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand.

She looked at the pavilion outside the window, then back at the Yunsong paper in her hand, and inexplicably heard the pounding of her own heartbeat.

"Brother-in-law..."

"No. Impossible. No."

Even as she denied it, Xiao Wan'er's mind was still in turmoil.

Anyone who read this poem would think of her—after all, it was titled Graceful Spirit Ode, not Startling Swan Ode.

She couldn't help but recall that night when Chen Yi had climbed over the wall from Chunhe Garden to Jiaxing Garden, and had even met with her. Her heart grew even more chaotic.

If anyone else found out, especially her second sister Xiao Jinghong... wouldn't she become a sinner?

After a long while, Xiao Wan'er pressed her hand to her chest and forced herself to calm down.

She looked at the lines of the poem again and made a decision in her heart.

Then she carefully rolled up this sheet of Yunsong paper, along with a calligraphy copybook in running script, and tucked them both into the inner pocket of her cloak.

Next, Xiao Wan'er picked up the wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, spread out a blank sheet of Yunsong paper, and wrote:

"Brother-in-law, I've taken two of your calligraphy pieces. I hope you'll forgive me."

"Also, I hope brother-in-law won't let his imagination run wild, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble."

After writing, a trace of helplessness flickered in Xiao Wan'er's eyes. She bit her lip and sighed, all joy at obtaining Chen Yi's calligraphic masterpiece long gone.

She took one last look around, then walked out of the wooden tower, not even bothering to greet Chen Yi and the others, hurrying back to Jiaxing Garden.

Not long after.

Xiao Jinghong, now changed into a flowing red long dress with her sash fluttering, walked out of the wooden tower. From a distance, she saw Chen Yi gripping a fishing rod, locked in a battle of wills with a fish in the pond.

Beside them stood Xiao Wuge with a smile on his face, and Zhang Heng, who kept sneaking glances at her.

One adult and two children—the atmosphere between them actually seemed somewhat warm and harmonious.

After a moment's thought, Xiao Jinghong walked over. Her eyes, visible beneath the Half Armor, fixed on Chen Yi as she spoke with a hint of surprise:

"Husband, I'll trouble you to look after Wuge and Heng'er. Eldest Sister and I need to go to Qingjing Residence to see Grandfather."

Chen Yi turned to look at her, gave her a brief once-over, then rose with a smile. "No need for formalities, Madam."

Seeing Xiao Jinghong so composed, he felt a bit relieved.

Though he didn't know how much the Tiger Girl had said, it seemed Xiao Jinghong was unaware of his secrets.

In truth, Xiao Jinghong hadn't managed to pry anything out of Pei Guanli.

But from fragments of words, she could easily infer that Chen Yi had been cultivating on the Martial Path lately and had achieved some success.

She'd also noticed Pei Guanli's admiration for Chen Yi... and fondness.

It wasn't romantic love between a man and a woman, but rather the fondness of finding a like-minded playmate.

This only made Xiao Jinghong more curious about Chen Yi as a person.

She knew Pei Guanli's temperament well, and she was fully aware of the outrageous things she'd done among the Mountain Tribe.

Yet someone so lawless actually respected and liked her husband—it was hard not to be astonished.

Thinking this over, Xiao Jinghong nodded. "When Eldest Sister and I return, we'll eat together."

"Good."

Watching Xiao Jinghong head toward Jiaxing Garden from afar, Chen Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed nothing had happened.

But the Young Heir Apparent Zhang Heng beside him was even more obvious; his sigh of relief was almost as loud as a groan.

Xiao Wuge heard it and grinned.

Zhang Heng glared at him. "What are you grinning at? Careful, I'll tell Second Cousin later."

Though he tried his best to look fierce, his Aura wasn't even a tenth of what it used to be.

Chen Yi found it amusing. "Are you that afraid of your Second Cousin?"

"Who, who's afraid?"

Zhang Heng glared at him too, then huffed and went back to fishing.

"Brother-in-law, the Brother Heir Apparent isn't afraid—he just has trauma from how Second Sister used to discipline him."

"You, shut up..."

Chen Yi chuckled and didn't keep teasing the Young Heir Apparent. His gaze shifted to the wooden tower where his wife was.

Soon, he saw Pei Guanli sneakily poke her head out from the second floor, grinning at him.

Chen Yi shot her a look. Did you tell?

Pei Guanli returned a smug expression. Of course—don't you know how tight-lipped I am?

Relieved, Chen Yi gave her a thumbs-up.

Pei Guanli giggled, then clutched her stomach and pouted, clearly hungry.

Chen Yi understood and, after giving a few instructions to Xiao Wuge and Zhang Heng, turned back toward the wooden tower.

As long as the Tiger Girl hadn't sold him out, things were fine.

Chen Yi went to the Study Room to grab some pastries and fruit, but noticed the desk had been disturbed.

He looked at the note on the table, thought for a moment, then flipped through the nearby calligraphy works. A look of Suddenly Realized dawned on his face.

So Xiao Wan'er had seen that "Graceful Spirit Ode."

But why did she take it after seeing it?

Chen Yi shook his head with a wry smile. Wan'er, Wan'er, to me that poem was just wishful thinking—unrequited love at best.

In your hands, its nature changes entirely—it becomes a love poem.

What was this?

A secret affair? An illicit romance?

Inside Jiaxing Garden.

After Xiao Wan'er changed her clothes, Xiao Jinghong helped her toward Qingjing Residence.

Just as they left the courtyard, Xiao Jinghong looked at Xiao Wan'er with suspicion.

"Sister, did something trouble you?"

Lost in thought, Xiao Wan'er stumbled in her step, her heart racing faster.

She clutched her chest, forcing a smile onto her face, and shook her head. "No, nothing... I'm probably just tired..."

Xiao Jinghong, thinking of her health, said soothingly, "Why don't you rest first? I'll go to Grandfather's alone."

"No, it's fine. I'm alright."

Before she could say more, Xiao Wan'er waved her hand, signaling Shen Huatang, Xiao Die, and the others to follow, and instructed as she walked:

"Huatang, bring that cloak for the Old Master."

"Alright."

Seeing Xiao Jinghong turn to give instructions to Su Zhenyue, who was attending her, Xiao Wan'er relaxed and let out a silent sigh.

Second Sister, it's not that I don't want to tell you... it's just... too hard to speak of.