He Had Quite the Nerve

After trying to persuade him for a while, Chen Yi still declined. Li Huaigu could only leave Xiao Manor with Yunxiang in dejection.

The two sat in the carriage.

Seeing that Li Huaigu was absent-minded, Yunxiang softly asked, "Li Lang, are you worried you won't be able to explain things to Mr. Yue Ming?"

Li Huaigu came back to himself and shook his head. "I was thinking about Brother Qingzhou."

"Him?" Yunxiang thought for a moment. "He seems different from everyone I've met. Very... very easygoing."

Li Huaigu sighed at that. "Yes, Brother Qingzhou truly is different. Easygoing and free-spirited, he does not contend with the world and treats fame and profit as passing clouds."

In his view, only great scholars like his teacher possessed such a temperament.

After all, most people were trapped by fame and profit. The more outstanding their learning, the more they cared about such things, toiling and rushing about all their lives.

Yet Chen Yi seemed utterly free of such thoughts.

He was clearly young and accomplished, with talents far beyond ordinary men.

"Then what do you intend to do, Li Lang?"

"I'll first return to Guiyun Academy and report to my teacher. I only hope the old man won't be angry."

Guiyun Academy.

"He truly refuses to come?"

Within the spacious study room, Mr. Yue Ming sat upright before his desk. A trace of anger showed on his face as he said unhappily:

"The status of a live-in son-in-law at a Marquis's mansion may indeed be unfit for refined society, but since I invited him to attend the Poetry Gathering, I would naturally protect him."

"Moreover, I have exchanged many letters with Master Juyi. How could I allow his student to suffer embarrassment?"

Seated below, Li Huaigu shook his head. "Teacher, this student has already done his utmost to persuade him, but... but Brother Qingzhou's attitude was resolute."

"He also said that the matter of this Imperial Examination would inevitably be brought up at the Poetry Gathering. Since his elder brother Yun Fan is the Zhuangyuan, people would inevitably compare the two brothers."

Mr. Yue Ming paused at those words, and his expression softened. Stroking his beard, he said, "In that case, it was this old man who failed to consider things thoroughly."

Seeing his expression, Li Huaigu thought for a moment before asking, "Teacher, there is something this student does not understand. Why are you so insistent on inviting Brother Qingzhou?"

As if afraid Mr. Yue Ming might misunderstand, he continued, "If it is because of the earlier matter of 'Forcibly Seized a Woman,' this student has already explained it clearly at the magistrate's office. That matter had nothing to do with Brother Qingzhou. He acted out of good intentions."

"Good intentions?" Recalling that incident of "Forcibly Seized a Woman," Mr. Yue Ming's aged face turned stern.

"Fanggui, do you truly believe so?"

"Parents' orders and matchmakers' words—although your mother's methods were somewhat extreme, she acted for your sake."

"Do not be fooled by how deeply in love you and Yunniang are at present. The days ahead may not be so easy."

Li Huaigu gave a bitter smile and nodded in agreement.

He understood all the reasoning, but he was unwilling—and would never be willing—to abandon Yunniang.

Just as Chen Yi had written on the note he gave him, some things might bring regret in the future if done, but if left undone, they would leave one with lifelong regret.

If he followed his mother's arrangements and married a woman of equal family standing or noble birth, he would never be happy for the rest of his life.

Mr. Yue Ming naturally saw through his thoughts. He waved a hand, unwilling to discuss such romantic entanglements, and instead said:

"The main reason this old man sought Chen Yi was for a calligraphy copybook."

"What calligraphy copybook could make Teacher care so much?"

Li Huaigu knew that aside from his profound scholarship, his teacher was especially skilled in the Way of Calligraphy. He often appraised calligraphy works with several other teachers from the academy.

For his teacher to value it so highly and even personally extend an invitation, Brother Qingzhou must surely possess a calligraphy copybook written by a famous master.

Mr. Yue Ming said wistfully, "I do not know where Chen Yi found a work written by a great calligrapher. Every character bloomed with fragrance and splendor."

Li Huaigu's spirits lifted. "Its Artistic Conception revealed itself naturally? There are not many famous calligraphers in the Great Wei Dynasty capable of such work."

Recalling the calligraphy copybook he had glimpsed only briefly, a hint of fervor welled up in Mr. Yue Ming's clouded eyes.

"That was no ordinary calligraphy. It was an entirely new style of script, clearly distinct from the Wei Qing Style."

Li Huaigu was dumbfounded. "A new style? A New Style Characters copybook whose Artistic Conception reveals itself naturally?"

No wonder he was shocked. If this were true, it would be enough to shake the entire Great Wei Dynasty.

Over the two hundred years since Great Wei was founded, it was not as though no one had sought to break with the old and create New Style Characters. Yet none had ever reached the maturity of Wei Qing script.

Not to mention New Style Characters whose Artistic Conception revealed itself naturally—even calligraphy copybooks worthy of catching the eye of famous calligraphers were exceedingly rare.

Mr. Yue Ming understood this as well and sighed. "Yet such a priceless treasure is in Chen Yi's hands. What a wanton waste of Heaven's gifts."

"What irritates this old man most is that his maidservant even argued with me, claiming those characters were written by Chen Yi himself."

"Ridiculous—utterly ridiculous!"

Li Huaigu could not help laughing. He had never expected his usually stern and humorless teacher to quarrel with a maidservant, which showed how dearly he cherished that calligraphy copybook.

At the same time, however, a trace of doubt arose in his heart.

Although he had not interacted much with Chen Yi, he could tell that Chen Yi was not one to fire arrows without a target.

Li Huaigu suddenly thought of something. He hurriedly took an item from the inner pocket of his robe and unfolded it for a look.

The more he looked, the stranger his expression became. By the end, even his hands were trembling faintly.

Mr. Yue Ming noticed his abnormality. "Fanggui, is something wrong?"

"Yes, Teacher, no... this."

Li Huaigu could not explain it clearly for the moment. Forgetting the proprieties between teacher and student, he stepped forward and placed the sheet of paper before him.

"Teacher, look at these characters."

Mr. Yue Ming glanced at the palm-sized sheet of Yunsong Paper, its edges bearing torn marks, and frowned.

Yet out of trust in Li Huaigu, he held back his displeasure. Taking the paper, he examined it carefully and murmured:

"When flowers bloom, pluck them while they may be plucked; do not wait until there are no flowers left, and vainly..."

Before he could finish, Mr. Yue Ming shot to his feet. Delight and astonishment mingled on his face as he stared at the writing. His eyes moved up, down, left, and right, clearly following each stroke as he read the copybook character by character.

After a while.

Mr. Yue Ming smacked his lips and let out a sigh, as though he had been utterly refreshed.

"Fine characters. They should have come from the same hand as the calligraphy copybook this old man saw earlier."

Then he looked to Li Huaigu and asked, "Fanggui, these characters are?"

Having confirmed his suspicion, Li Huaigu could barely contain his excitement. "Teacher, these were written earlier by Brother Qingzhou!"

"Truly?"

"This student would not dare deceive Teacher."

Mr. Yue Ming stared at him for a moment before withdrawing his gaze. He slowly sat down again, his eyes fixed on the handwriting in his hand.

"This old man was mistaken before. I misunderstood that maidservant."

"And Chen Yi... thinking back on it, that old fellow Ju Yi truly had sharp eyes. He had long ago determined that Chen Yi's calligraphy possessed spiritual charm."

Li Huaigu consoled him, "Teacher need not dwell on it. After all, Brother Qingzhou has only recently arrived in Shuzhou, and the things he does do not follow common sense, so..."

Mr. Yue Ming raised a hand to cut him off. "Wrong is wrong. Whether this old man was prejudiced from the start or stubbornly clung to etiquette and law, it was ultimately this old man's fault."

Li Huaigu pressed his lips together and did not dare offer further persuasion.

Silent for a while.

Li Huaigu tentatively said, "Teacher, why not let me ask Brother Qingzhou for a calligraphy copybook?"

"You?"

Mr. Yue Ming shook his head. "Forget it. Since this matter began because of this old man, this old man shall handle it himself."

"Then this Poetry Gathering..."

"It shall proceed as scheduled. Consider it your teacher welcoming you and washing away the dust of your journey."

"Thank you for your trouble, Teacher."

Not long afterward, Li Huaigu left Guiyun Academy. Seeing Yunxiang waiting beneath a tree not far away, he could not help letting out a long breath.

Yunxiang was startled. "Li Lang, did Mr. Yue Ming blame you?"

Li Huaigu shook his head. "Not Teacher, but Brother Qingzhou."

"Mr. Yue Ming blamed him?"

"Blame him? No. From now on, Teacher not only will not blame him—he may even personally come to the door to seek an audience with him..."

Chen Yi had no idea just how "shameless" the "old shameless fellow" in his words truly was.

After declining Guiyun Academy's Poetry Gathering, he carried on as before.

Apart from staying shut away in the study room, neither leaving through the main gate nor stepping out the second, he would occasionally take Xiao Die around to join in some of the lively happenings within the manor and seek Fortune.

At other times, if something arose, Xiao Die or Su Zhenyue would naturally come find him.

If nothing arose... it would be best if nothing ever did.

With the two young ladies of Xiao Manor returned, Xiao Wuge had moved back into Jiaxing Garden. Zhang Heng would rather be beaten to death than come again, while Chunhe Garden had instead become livelier than ever.

Over the past few days, Chen Yi had followed Lady Xiao Jinghong to meet so many people that all the polite pleasantries and gentle, virtuous, respectful bearing had nearly stiffened his entire body.

Those generals who came from military backgrounds were manageable. At most, they looked down on him and muttered "too weak to withstand the wind" to his face before letting the matter drop.

But the young ladies and young masters from aristocratic clans and powerful families spoke in twists and turns, making him uncomfortable from head to toe.

Fortunately, Xiao Jinghong remained calm throughout it all.

"The capable should bear more burdens. Let Lady Xiao Jinghong deal with them."

Chen Yi lay in a recliner, flipping through Four Diagnostic Records while comparing it with the Medical Canon in his mind.

Just then, Xiao Die pushed open the door to the main hall and led Liu Si'er inside.

"Fourth Brother, Son-in-law is inside."

Liu Si'er clasped his fists in salute, then entered the study room. "Son-in-law."

Hearing him, Chen Yi put down his medical book. He looked Liu Si'er over and asked with a smile, "Fourth Brother, is there something you need?"

It had been some time since he had seen Liu Si'er. Presumably, because Xiao Jinghong had returned to the manor, this Hidden Guard did not dare approach Chunhe Garden.

Together with the phrase "to be handled by another person" mentioned in the Secret Letter, Chen Yi had observed recently but found no clues. He could only keep it hidden for the time being.

"Just now, someone handed a Name Card to Son-in-law at the gatehouse. I brought it over for you on the way."

Liu Si'er naturally placed the red-lacquered hard card on the table, bowed, and said, "Son-in-law, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Chen Yi gave a sound of acknowledgment. Only after watching him walk away did he pick up the Name Card and read it.

[My younger brother Qingzhou, it has been several months since we last met, and your brother misses you greatly.

Whenever I think of how you traveled ten thousand miles to marry into the Xiao Family, your brother cannot bear it. I fear you have not eaten well or slept well in the Xiao Manor.

By fortunate coincidence, your brother has attained Zhuangyuan in this Imperial Examination and, by His Majesty's order, has been appointed to the Shu Provincial Administration. At dawn tomorrow, I await a chance to speak with you on North City Official Road—Chen Yunfan.]

After reading it, Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. "Elder Brother, Chen Yunfan?"

He wanted me to go welcome him tomorrow? Hah, he had quite the nerve.