Chapter 42: Unrequited Love, Secret Affair?

Chapter 42: A Lover's Secret Rendezvous?

After much thought, Chen Yì resolved that henceforth he would no longer readily display his clerical or cursive scripts to others.

For as long as his calligraphy did not spread beyond his own hands, and Mr. Yè Míng merely spoke a few empty words, surely no one would be so foolish as to travel thousands of li for such a thing.

Pondering this, Chen Yì composed his words carefully:

"My elder sister, in my estimation, this piece of poetry is meant as a birthday gift for our grandfather. It should be carefully preserved from here on out."

Xiao Wǎn'er nodded with a smile, her eyes catching sight of the Xiao Jǐnghóng in the second-floor chamber beyond, knowing he had already prepared himself, and rose to say:

"Brother-in-law, you may take Non-Gōu and Zhang Héng with you. I'll leave these sheets in the study for you."

"No trouble at all."

Chen Yì understood that since they had just returned to the manor, they were likely to visit the elder first, so he said nothing further.

Xiao Wǎn'er then gave a few more instructions to Xiao Wúgōu and Zhang Héng, and carried the brocade box toward Chen Yì's wooden pavilion.

As she walked, she continued to think about how to bring Chen Yì and Xiao Jǐnghóng together, to deepen their bond.

After all, a married couple living apart like this could not last forever.

Xiao Wǎn'er knew her younger sister's temperament—headstrong from childhood, and especially since she had grown into a capable general in recent years, her thoughts had become ever more difficult to read.

Yet, just as Non-Gōu had said just now, "Man can conquer heaven," so long as she persisted, she believed they could surely restore the couple's normal married life.

Thinking this, Xiao Wǎn'er arrived at the study, placing the brocade box upon the table, her eyes falling upon the spread-out cloud pine paper.

She turned to glance at Chen Yì outside the window, then approached the desk, examining the characters on the paper with care.

The more she looked, the more she admired.

"No wonder Mr. Yè Míng was so insistent. Even I couldn't help but yearn for a piece of my brother-in-law's calligraphy to copy."

Xiao Wǎn'er sighed under her breath, then flipped through the papers beside her, searching for one with more characters to request from Chen Yì.

Over a dozen sheets—some in clerical script, others in Wei Qing style—each carried a distant, poetic mood, making her heart quicken with delight.

Though these writings bore no "luster of artistic conception," from the standpoint of calligraphic mastery, they were all fine works.

After a moment, Xiao Wǎn'er's eyes brightened. She took up the sheet written in Wei Qing style, peering closely at it, her original smile turning to one of confusion.

There, written upon it, was the poem titled "Qìng Chūnzé·Wǎn Shén Fù," signed by Chen Qīngzhōu, written on a spring night of the first year of Anhe:

Snow-bearing clouds are cut into a beard,

Ice-silk wipes the moon as an eye.

The tiger gate swells with stars at night,

A waterfall of ten mountains of jade gleams.

Sword qi first congeals the dark brows,

A heron's shadow silently passes through Shu's capital.

Marble steps and jade trees,

Like your countenance, rare in this world.

Once, the archer startled an old immortal,

Sighing, the Luo River is left empty,

The Red River merely rumbles.

Flowers retain a fresh moistness from snow,

The brocade robes still carry Wei Xiao's scent.

Beacon poles and cauldrons bright and dim,

The northern geese return at the time of falling crest.

Even if danqing's bones are hard to paint,

For a thousand years, only he shines in the vast heavens.

After reading the poem, Xiao Wǎn'er widened her eyes, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.

She glanced at the pavilion outside the window, then at the cloud pine paper in her hand, and heard a strange pounding in her chest.

"My brother-in-law..."

"No, impossible, it can't be."

Even so, she denied it, yet her heart was in turmoil.

This poem, any person would associate it with herself, for it bore the title "Wǎn Shén Fù," not "Jǐnghóu Fù."

She couldn't help but recall that night when Chen Yì had crossed the Spring Lotus Garden to reach the Good Prosperity Estate, and their meeting there, her thoughts becoming more confused.

If others found out—especially if Xiao Jǐnghóng learned of it... she would become the culprit!

After a long while, Xiao Wǎn'er pressed her hand to her chest, forcing herself to calm down.

Looking again at those lines of verse, she made up her mind.

Then she carefully rolled up that cloud pine paper, and together with another sheet in clerical script, tucked both into the inner pouch of her robe.

Next, Xiao Wǎn'er took up a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote upon a fresh sheet of cloud pine paper:

"Brother-in-law, I have two sheets of your calligraphy here. Please forgive any transgression."

"Also, I hope you won't think such thoughts, lest it lead to unnecessary trouble."

When she finished, Xiao Wǎn'er's eyes flashed with a hint of regret, biting her lip with a sigh, her joy at obtaining Chen Yì's calligraphy already gone.

She cast one last glance around, then left the wooden pavilion without even greeting Chen Yì and the others, hurrying back to the Good Prosperity Estate.

Not long after, Xiao Jǐnghóudressed in a red long gown, her sash fluttering, emerged from the pavilion. Far off, she saw Chen Yì holding a fishing rod, struggling with a fish in the pond.

Beside him stood Xiao Wúgōu smiling gently, and Zhang Héng sneaking glances at her.

The two young ones, together, the atmosphere seemed quite warm and harmonious.

After a moment's thought, Xiao Jǐnghóu approached, her eyes beneath her helmet fixed upon Chen Yì, a note of surprise in her voice:

"My lord, please take care of Non-Gōu and Héng. My elder sister and I will go pay respects to Grandfather at the Cool Pavilion."

Chen Yì turned to look at her, taking in her appearance with a smile: "My lady need not bother."

Seeing Xiao Jǐnghóu so composed, he felt a little relieved.

He didn't know how many things Tiger Cub had said, but it seemed Xiao Jǐnghóu likely didn't know of his secrets.

In fact, Xiao Jǐnghóu hadn't pried into Pei Mènglí's mouth.

Yet from the few words she had spoken, Xiao Jǐnghóu could infer that Chen Yì had achieved some small success in cultivating martial arts recently.

She also discerned Pei Mènglí's respect for—and perhaps affection for—Chen Yì.

Not romantic love, but a kindred spirit finding a companion with shared interests.

This made Xiao Jǐnghóu all the more curious about this man.

She knew Pei Mènglí's nature, and was well aware of the scoundrelly deeds she had done in the mountain clans.

Yet this impossible, unjust person still held such respect and fondness for her husband, it was hard not to astonish her.

Thinking this, Xiao Jǐnghóu nodded, saying, "When my elder sister and I return, let's dine together."

"Very well."

From a distance, she saw Xiao Jǐnghóu heading toward the Good Prosperity Estate, and Chen Yì felt a sense of relief.

Nothing seemed to have happened.

Yet the young scion Zhang Héng beside him was even more obvious, his sigh of relief almost as loud as his exhale of air.

Xiao Wúgōu heard this, and grinned broadly.

Zhang Heng glared at him. "What are you laughing at? Be careful, or I will tell Second Cousin about this later."

Though he tried his utmost to project an aura of ferocity, his imposing manner was not even a tenth of what it used to be.

Chen Yi found the sight rather amusing and asked, "Are you that afraid of your second cousin?"

"Who, who says I'm afraid?"

Zhang Heng shot him an equally fierce glare before turning back to his fishing, huffing with indignation.

"Brother-in-law, the Prince isn't actually afraid. He is simply traumatized by how Second Sister used to discipline him in the past."

"You... shut up..."

Chen Yi smiled, choosing not to tease the young prince any further, and turned his gaze toward the wooden pavilion where his wife was staying.

Before long, he spotted Pei Guanli stealthily poking her head out from the second floor, grinning widely down at him.

Chen Yi gave her a questioning look: Did you tell her?

Pei Guanli replied with a smug expression, implying: Of course not, do you think my lips aren't sealed tightly enough?

Chen Yi felt relieved and gave her a thumbs-up.

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

Understanding her implicit request, Chen Yi left a few brief instructions for Xiao Wuge and Zhang Heng before turning around to head back to the pavilion.

As long as that wild girl hadn't sold him out, the situation was manageable.

Chen Yi arrived at the study to fetch some pastries and fruit, but notice that the desk had been disturbed.

He looked at the note on the table, pondered for a brief moment, and then reached out to flip through the calligraphy works beside it, a look of sudden realization dawning on his face.

Xiao Wan'er had seen that poem, "The Ode to the Graceful Goddess."

But why on earth did she take it away after seeing it?

Chen Yi shook his head, caught between tears and laughter, thinking to himself, "Oh, Sister Wan'er, Sister Wan'er, in my possession that poem is at most a token of my wishful thinking, a matter of unrequited love."

"But in your possession, its very nature changes completely; it becomes a token of mutual affection."

What could this even be considered?

A secret liaison, or an illicit affair?

...

Inside the Jiaxing Courtyard.

Once Xiao Wan'er had finished changing her clothes, Xiao Jinghong supported her as they walked toward the Quiet Residence.

Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, Xiao Jinghong looked at Xiao Wan'er with deep suspicion.

"Sister, have you encountered something troublesome?"

Lost in her thoughts, Xiao Wan'er's footsteps faltered, and her heart began to race even faster.

Pressing a hand against her chest, she forced a faint smile onto her face and shook her head. "No, nothing of the sort. I might just be tired..."

Remembering her sister's frail health, Xiao Jinghong offered comfortingly, "Why don't you rest first, and I will go to Grandfather's place alone."

"No, there is no need. I am perfectly fine."

Without giving her room to argue further, Xiao Wan'er waved her hand, signaling Shen Huatang, Xiaodie, and the others to follow, while giving instructions:

"Huatang, make sure to bring that heavy cloak along for the Old Master."

"Understood."

Seeing Xiao Jinghong turn to give orders to her personal attendant, Su Zhenyue, Xiao Wan'er felt a wave of relief and let out a quiet sigh.

Second Sister, it is not that your elder sister wishes to keep secrets from you, it is simply... too mortifying to speak of.