Taking the Act Too Far

At Wu Xuan's question, Old Master Tang inwardly cursed. He knew exactly how much his grandson was worth. While he racked his brains for a way to salvage the situation, Tang Yan's voice rang out.

"Miss Wu Xuan is absolutely right. Today, I must tell Miss Lin what is in my heart. Whatever Miss Lin thinks of me in the end, I will argue no further. Someone, bring brush and ink!"

Old Master Tang could not help fuming. You brat, do you think you're the Star of Literary Brilliance reincarnated? You've never touched a book, yet you expect to compose a fine poem? Very soon, however, he realized he was mistaken. This little bastard had indeed read widely-for instance, that bedful of erotic picture books stashed underneath!

Could this brat be planning to write some filthy, vulgar verse? At the thought, Old Master Tang's blood pressure climbed a little higher.

The servants soon brought the Four Treasures of the Study and spread a broad sheet of snow-white paper across the table.

"Young Master Tang, can you begin now?" Qin Changdao sneered, a trace of contempt flashing in his eyes.

Qin Changdao's strength was nothing exceptional within the City Lord's Residence; he was only at Profound Rank Second Grade. His literary accomplishments, however, far surpassed his martial attainments. Many of the residence's documents passed through his hands, either for drafting or review.

As a guest retainer of the City Lord's Residence, he often heard about matters great and small throughout Cloud City. This eldest young master of the Tang family, in particular, was notorious for his ignorance and lack of ability. Someone like Qin Changdao, with a streak of lofty pride in his bones, had little fondness for such wastrel scions.

He was waiting for Tang Yan to produce some atrocious handwriting and a dreadful poem, so he could enjoy watching the Tang family make fools of themselves.

"Miss Lin, as I said, I spent three years on this poem, revising it five thousand two hundred and nine times. Today's version will be the five thousand two hundred and tenth. And that number also represents my feelings." Tang Yan ignored Qin Changdao and said this instead.

Everyone turned the number over in their minds, then understanding dawned on their faces. Five-two-one-zero-didn't that sound like "I love you"?

Everyone in the Tang household inwardly gave their young master a thumbs-up. When it came to shamelessness, if their young master claimed second place, who would dare claim first?

Yet the anger and disdain in Lin Dongxue's eyes, so strong only moments before, faded somewhat.

These sweet nothings of Tang Yan's, which would have been corny enough to crumble into dust in his previous life, were fresh and heart-fluttering in this world.

She even quietly decided that as long as whatever this brat wrote was remotely presentable, she could let bygones be bygones.

"Young Master Tang, please." From beginning to end, Wu Xuan had seen no sign of stage fright in Tang Yan. His confidence and composure had sparked some interest in his poem.

Tang Yan wasted no more words. Rolling up his sleeves, he dipped the brush in ink, raised it, and set it to the flawless white paper.

Everyone craned their necks to see whether Tang Yan's handwriting would resemble a dog's crawl or a cat's scratches.

"Joy at Reunion."

The three characters forming the title appeared at the top center of the white paper.

There was no deliberate pause, nor any awkwardness. All three characters flowed out in a single breath, their strokes like iron lines and silver hooks, yet graceful and spirited!

Tang Yan was naturally tall and straight-backed, with exceptionally handsome features. Dressed in a gold-trimmed robe, he now held a writing brush with a focused gaze. Together with the three characters on the paper, which bore the air of a master's work, he suddenly presented the image of an elegant young gentleman.

Refined, graceful, so handsome...

Old Master Tang's eyes bulged wider than an ox's, while Uncle Mo's jaw nearly reached his neck. These two elders had watched Tang Yan grow up from the day he was born. When had this brat learned to write so beautifully?

Qin Changdao's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets as well. Could this wastrel really have produced such splendid calligraphy?

Lin Dongxue and Wu Xuan exchanged a glance, each finding astonishment in the other's eyes.

"Beautiful calligraphy!" Wu Xuan praised him without reservation. Even Qin Changdao nodded in considerable agreement upon hearing her.

"Wordless, alone, I climbed the western tower; the moon was a hook. In the deep courtyard, lonely parasol trees locked away the clear autumn..."

The opening stanza poured forth like drifting clouds and flowing water, without the slightest pause or even a hint of hesitation. It was as though he had truly practiced it millions of times, so smooth and natural was his writing.

A woman's heart was sensitive. As these desolate lines appeared on the paper, Lin Dongxue's heart gave a sudden tremor.

Qin Changdao, too, furrowed his brow, his eyes filled with admiration, wonder, disbelief...

As for Old Master Tang and Uncle Mo, they no longer knew where they were. Could this be a dream? Old Master Tang pinched Uncle Mo hard. Only when he saw Uncle Mo bare his teeth in pain did he realize he was not dreaming.

Uncle Mo wore a mournful expression, feeling terribly wronged. You're old enough to have one foot in the grave, so why are you pinching people like a child? And so hard, too!

"No shears could sever it; the more I combed it, the more it tangled-this sorrow of parting, a flavor all its own within the heart."

Once Tang Yan wrote out the closing stanza, Lin Dongxue's heart thumped like a little deer bounding against her chest.

The two women's gazes upon Tang Yan had also changed, their initial disgust and curiosity turning into emotion and understanding.

The lyric ended, and the entire hall fell silent.

Even Qin Changdao, who had come prepared to find fault, fell quiet, reading the lyric over and over in his mind. He was already fifty-seven, yet this poem still filled him with a grief that tore his tender heart to pieces.

Tang Yan did not speak to disturb them.

After a long while, Wu Xuan finally let out a deep sigh. "I truly never expected Young Master Tang to be such a devoted soul. At first, I didn't believe you and suspected your earlier words were nonsense. But after reading this lyric today, I feel you truly have poured your heart into this. Dongxue, dear sister, I think we should let the matter rest here. What do you say?"

Lin Dongxue had already decided to forgive him as long as his writing was barely presentable. Yet the lyric Tang Yan had written this time was not merely presentable-it had thoroughly shaken everyone there.

Every word and line was concise and distilled, yet held countless emotions. No shears could sever it; the more she combed it, the more it tangled-this sorrow of parting, a flavor all its own within the heart. Upon reading that line, the young maiden's heart had already been thrown into utter disarray.

The profound longing and secret love were expressed to their fullest in this lyric. It read with delicate restraint, neither ostentatious nor showy, yet drew its readers into a spell from which they could not escape.

As the city lord's daughter, after all, Lin Dongxue regained her composure within moments. The shyness at the corners of her eyes vanished in a flash. She gave Tang Yan a long look and said in a clear voice, "I will believe you this once. The City Lord's Residence will pursue this matter no further. If there is a next time, whatever the reason, we will not let you off lightly! Let's go!"

With that, Lin Dongxue turned and left. Just as she was about to exit the hall, she suddenly instructed, "Retainer Qin, this matter cannot simply end without anything to show for it. Bring back that piece of evidence on the table."

Then she lingered no longer, hurrying outside without looking back.

Qin Changdao, too, was so fond of Tang Yan's lyric that he could hardly bear to put it down. At Lin Dongxue's instruction, he wasted no words, simply rolled up the paper and followed her.

"Young Master Tang has truly opened my eyes today. Though your reputation in Cloud City is poor, in my view, you have considerable talent for poetry. If you devote yourself to literary study, you will surely accomplish something in the future. There are many days ahead; if fate permits, we shall speak again. Farewell." Leaving those words behind, Wu Xuan departed with graceful steps.

The remaining members of the Tang household finally came to their senses. Old Master Tang and Uncle Mo stared at Tang Yan as though they were looking at a maiden untouched by the world.

Feeling the questioning gazes of the two elders, Tang Yan inwardly cursed. Looks like I took the act too damn far!