Today, drain the wine in your cup; only when I soar above the clouds shall you call me extraordinary.

"Bravo!!!"

Qin Yan was the first to slap the table and rise, his face flushed, whether from wine or excitement was impossible to tell.

"What a line-'For ten years in seclusion, I kept my own door shut'! What a line-'Who says a humble household cannot hold the gleam of jade'! What a line-'Only when I soar above the clouds shall you call me extraordinary'!"

He cried his praise three times, then strode up to Wei Nisheng.

"Child! Did you compose this poem yourself?!"

Wei Nisheng nodded calmly. "Yes, Qin Gong. I composed it on the spur of the moment just now."

Qin Yan tilted his face toward the heavens and sighed deeply. "To possess such breadth of spirit and such literary talent at ten..."

Then he turned toward the assembled guests and declared excitedly,

"Listen, everyone! How could an ordinary person match this child's ambition?!

In my view, the one who brings the Wei Family to greatness shall be this Fiery Child!!"

The hall erupted into a clamor of discussion.

Meanwhile, a servant had already brought Qin Yan the sheet of rice paper bearing Wei Nisheng's still-wet ink.

Qin Yan took the paper and was about to read the verses again when his gaze suddenly froze.

He stared at the characters on the paper, his pupils contracting slightly.

"This... what script is this?"

At his words, the guests gathered around.

The few lines on the paper were slender yet forceful, their sharp edges fully bared. The turns looked as though they had been hewn by blades and axes, yet possessed a striking, unconventional beauty.

Every character resembled an unsheathed sword, its keenness pressing upon the viewer.

Zhou Yan, an assistant director at the Ministry of Works, leaned closer for a look and drew in a sharp breath.

"In all my forty-odd years, I have never seen a script like this!

Which... which master's work is this?"

Another Renowned Upright Scholar shook his head as well. "I have seen Chu Suiliang's airy grace and Yan Zhenqing's majestic strength.

But this script is neither clerical nor regular, nor running or cursive... could it be a school of its own?"

At that, everyone looked at Wei Nisheng again, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"You wrote this?!"

Oh no... I forgot about that. Wei Nisheng's heart tightened.

Slender Gold Script had been a hobby of his in his previous life.

Back then, he had thought it looked beautiful and practiced it for fun. He had never expected to get so carried away that he used the wrong script.

But Wei Nisheng did not panic. His mind raced, drawing together every resource he could use.

Then he raised his head, his gaze calm, and spoke slowly.

"Qin Gong, this script... is something I developed through my own study."

"Your own study?" Qin Yan's eyes lit up. "How did you study it?"

"After I began my schooling at four, I was placed in the Side Courtyard.

There were no books there, so I often went to the Ancestral Hall to 'clean.'

There were several plaques there bearing Grandfather's calligraphy from when he was alive."

"Grandfather's writing was strong and slender, its sharpness held in check. I was curious, so I studied it every day and tried to copy it."

"Later, I occasionally had a chance to enter Father's study, where I saw an original work by Chu Suiliang, a great master of the former Tang dynasty, hanging inside.

The script was graceful and free-flowing, and I liked it very much."

"Later still, I slipped into Grandfather's study, where there were several copybooks by Xue Ji and Xue Yao.

The Xue Brothers' writing was slender and firm, imbued with a wondrous spirit, its sharpness fully revealed."

"So I wondered: what would happen if Grandfather's writing, Chu Suiliang's grace, and the Xue Brothers' slender firmness could all be fused in a single furnace?"

"During my seven years in the Side Courtyard, I had nothing to do, so I studied and practiced every day. Over time, it became what you see here."

After hearing him out, Qin Yan remained silent for a long while.

He looked at the ten-year-old child before him, his eyes filled with admiration.

"You mean... you created a new script yourself?!"

Wei Nisheng shook his head slightly. "I would not dare call it my own creation. I merely combined the strengths of those who came before me and gained a little from it."

"Combining the strengths of your predecessors to establish a style of your own..." Qin Yan sighed toward the heavens. "How is that not your own creation?!"

Meanwhile,

Zhou Yan, the assistant director at the Ministry of Works, patted Wei Mingde's shoulder and murmured, "Brother Mingde, the Wei Family is destined to rise..."

Another Renowned Upright Scholar sighed with feeling. "Duke Wenduan's spirit in heaven must be smiling in the realm beneath the Nine Springs."

For a moment, every gaze rested on Wei Nisheng, filled with astonishment, admiration, and disbelief.

Why did no one suspect him?

Because the sharpness of Slender Gold Script perfectly matched Wei Nisheng's nature as the "Fiery Child."

For a child who dared draw a sword and kill a servant at ten, writing characters with such naked sharpness could hardly have been more natural.

And the proud, unbending spirit and ambition in the poem, paired with this fierce script, were truly a match made in heaven.

Qin Yan took Wei Nisheng's hand and said solemnly, "Child, I have taught for decades and seen countless talented young men.

But someone like you... all I can say is that if you are willing to work hard, you will surely become a great master of your age!"

Wei Nisheng bowed. "You praise me too highly, Qin Gong. I do not deserve it."

Qin Yan laughed heartily. "You do, you do! Does this script of yours have a name?"

Wei Nisheng paused slightly.

But there was no such term as "Slender Gold" in this era...

So he thought for a moment and said, "I have not named it yet. If you would not disdain the task, Qin Gong, might you bestow a name upon it?"

Delighted, Qin Yan stroked his beard as he studied the writing, then pondered for a moment.

"The characters are slender, forceful, and upright, with edges keen as swords, yet they lose none of their strength of character... how about 'Slender Gold'?"

Who would have thought it would come full circle after all? Hearing the name, Wei Nisheng laughed inwardly, but spoke with a respectful expression.

"Thank you for bestowing the name, Qin Gong. From this day forward, it shall be called 'Slender Gold.'"

The more Qin Yan looked, the more he liked it, and he could not help saying to Wei Mingde,

"Mingde, your Second Young Master is very impressive!"

Wei Mingde gave an awkward smile, unsure what to say.

Qin Yan, meanwhile, still held Wei Nisheng's hand as he went on at length.

"This script bares its edge too openly. You may use it for yourself, but in the imperial examinations, you will need something neat and rounded..."

Wei Nisheng nodded. "I understand, so I later practiced regular script again to prepare for the examinations."

Qin Yan paused at that, then burst into laughter. "Good! Good! You know what you want, and you know how to keep your blade sheathed."

"If you ever need anything, you may come find me at the Imperial College."

Hearing this, Wei Nisheng did not hesitate and immediately bowed deeply.

"Thank you for your generous regard, Qin Gong."

Qin Yan nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

Wei Shouzheng stood to one side, his face livid, but no longer dared say anything.

Especially after he himself saw the writing on the paper, sharp as swords,

Then looked again at the poem he had just composed, proper and conventional, utterly unremarkable.

One was a heaven-bestowed genius; the other was merely mediocre.

The banquet continued, but the atmosphere had changed completely.

Qin Yan no longer spared Wei Shouzheng a glance, speaking only with Wei Nisheng.

He asked about his studies, his insights into calligraphy, and his understanding of the classics.

Wei Nisheng answered fluently, neither servile nor arrogant. His occasional words of humility only made his character seem all the more worthy.

The surrounding guests' gazes never left the ten-year-old child.

"The Wei Family's twin jade discs-only today have we learned which is the true jade."

"This child will surely achieve great things."

"If Duke Wenduan were still alive, how delighted he would be."

Wei Mingde sat in the seat of honor, watching the scene, unable to describe what he felt.

Only yesterday, he had ordered this unfilial son to take his own life.

Now, the boy had become a genius who held the entire hall's attention.

And he, the father, could only sit there, accepting his colleagues' compliments with an awkward smile.

How many of those compliments held genuine admiration, and how many concealed pointed mockery?

As the night deepened and the banquet drew to a close, the guests departed one after another.

Qin Yan reluctantly released Wei Nisheng's hand and reminded him,

"Child, when you have time, come visit my residence. You may browse my study as you please."

Wei Nisheng bowed. "Thank you for your kindness, Qin Gong. I will certainly visit to seek your instruction."

Qin Yan nodded, then looked at Wei Mingde.

"Mingde, nurture this second son of yours well. Do not fail this piece of uncut jade."

"Rest assured, Qin Gong. I will certainly..."

Qin Yan smiled, then turned, boarded his carriage, and left.

At last, everyone had gone.

Only the Wei Family remained in the Central Hall, along with tables full of cold leftovers.

Wei Nisheng stood there, looking at Wei Mingde, Cui Shi, and Wei Shouzheng, and said evenly,

"Father, Mother, Elder Brother, if there is nothing else, I will return to the Side Courtyard."

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and left.

As he stepped out of the Central Hall, the night breeze brushed his face, carrying the chill of spring.

Wei An had long been waiting at the entrance. When he saw him emerge, he hurriedly draped a cloak over his shoulders.

"Second Young Master, the nights are cold."

Wei Nisheng nodded and drew the cloak closer.

The two walked along the path back to the Side Courtyard, moonlight spilling like water over the bluestone paving.

"Second Young Master," Wei An said softly, "after today, your reputation is firmly established."

Wei Nisheng did not answer. He merely raised his head to look at the moon, recalling the lines from his poem.

"Today, drain the wine in your cup; only when I soar above the clouds shall you call me extraordinary."