Chapter 55: Poetry and Handwriting

Chapter 55: Poetry and Characters

Little Butterfly could not persuade her, so she recounted once more the matter of Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan’s meeting in the afternoon.

After hearing this,

Pei Wanlu’s eyes drifted a few times. “Would you like to take a look at the poetry gathering?”

Little Butterfly glanced at the dim night outside the window, hesitating. “Miss Pei, it’s already past midnight…”

“We’ll just go see it and return. It won’t take long.”

“But if we return late, Brother Chen and Sister Jinghong might not be pleased.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll speak to them myself.”

Pei Wanlu patted her chest with assurance, her silver pendants swaying gently, jingling softly.

Little Butterfly stared at her uncertainly, still hesitating. “Are you sure? Just for a quick look?”

“Exactly. Just a moment.”

“Then can I go alone? I’ll wait here.”

Pei Wanlu looked surprised. “You won’t go?”

Little Butterfly shook her head. “Before, the Young Mistress once took me to the poetry gathering.”

These days, she had seen enough of Brother Chen’s poetry and calligraphy; her heart had grown indifferent to those scholars and beauties, finding no particular charm in such occasions.

Pei Wanlu thought it over and finally relented.

When Old Luo’s cart came to a stop by the roadside, she clutched the calligraphy scroll and silk box, bounding merrily toward the Gongyun Academy.

Little Butterfly sat in the carriage, watching her disappear into the distance, unaware of the reason she had been given, and directly entered the academy, leaning against the wall and waiting silently.

She wasn’t afraid of being scolded by the Mistress or Brother Chen; rather, she feared that this Pei sister’s playful nature might delay their return to the manor.

Alas, she was still too young.

If Chen Yi were here, he would surely not let Pei Wanlu run wild, dragging her straight back to the manor.

At that moment, the Gongyun Academy glowed brightly with lantern light.

Though it was a poetry gathering organized by the academy, scholars of achievement from across Shuzhou City, as well as daughters of scholarly families, could also attend.

This was also the reason Pei Wanlu, a young woman of the Pei clan, could so easily enter the academy.

The guard at the entrance, upon hearing she was to deliver calligraphy to the top scholar, hesitated not at all and let her pass.

The top scholar had arrived at Gongyun Academy shortly after his arrival in Shuzhou, and tales of his visit had already spread.

So when he arrived, finding the poetry gathering already nearing its end, someone presented him with a fine inkstone as a token of appreciation.

Pei Wanlu, clutching the silk box, made her way directly to the garden at the academy’s heart.

As soon as she passed through the corridor, the faint buzzing of conversation swelled into clear laughter and discourse.

In the spacious garden, four pavilions illuminated by lanterns were filled with people—scholars in long robes and beauties in elegant attire.

Pei Wanlu scanned them all but saw no one in the crimson robes of the top scholar.

She turned her gaze and spotted a pavilion nearest the corridor. She settled there quietly, waiting.

Since she couldn’t find him, she decided not to search further. The only entrance was through that corridor, so she would wait until that brother of hers arrived.

“Thinking of mocking Brother, hah hah. Making him unable to eat or sleep, his whole body itching… seems he’s not in a good mood.”

Pei Wanlu patted the powder in her chest, systematically dismissing each thought, and finally resolved to give him an experience he’d never forget.

At that moment, a young scholar in a long robe noticed her. His eyes brightened.

He approached respectfully. “Miss, might I be interested in the poems I just composed?”

Pei Wanlu lifted her head. “No interest.”

“Then, might you—”

Before he could finish, she bared her teeth, “Get away, get away. If you dare say another word, I’ll drag you back to the mountains myself!”

The scholar startled, then chuckled awkwardly and retreated.

The other scholars, overhearing their exchange, teased the young man.

“A mountain clan miss not recognizing Liu Brother’s talent—quite natural.”

“Though Liu Brother’s forwardness reminds me of a line of poetry.”

“Speaking of which, I was just thinking the same.”

“A flower that blooms brightly is worth plucking; don’t wait till it’s gone to pluck a bare branch, hah hah hah…”

Pei Wanlu didn’t understand their chatter, so she ignored them, turning her back and fixating on that corridor, muttering to herself:

“Hear not, hear not, the octopus recites sutras.”

She didn’t realize the poetry gathering had two venues.

In a detached room just a wall away from the garden,

Originally only a few masters of the academy, Li Huigu, and a handful of exceptional scholars were present.

But with Chen Yunfan’s arrival, the harmonious atmosphere had gained a touch of tension. Chen Yunfan sat in the rear position, bowing and courteously greeting: “Master Yue, students have come uninvited—please forgive us.”

Master Yue smiled. “No matter. The top scholar of the current examination has come to our academy as a guest. I must welcome him warmly.”

“Now the poetry gathering is nearing its end… perhaps the top scholar might appreciate the students’ finest works?”

Chen Yunfan paused, glancing at Li Huigu and others, then shook his head. “The students came only to pay respects to these masters.”

He seemed a bit impatient.

These bookish fools, daring to test his knowledge, making him look foolish.

Thinking this, Chen Yunfan continued: “You all carry on. I’ll listen from here.”

Master Yue and the other elders exchanged glances, hesitated slightly, then instructed Li Huigu to accompany him.

Li Huigu wouldn’t refuse, so he naturally took a seat beside Chen Yunfan, engaging him in conversation.

“Yunfan elder brother, it’s been over a month since we last met in the capital.”

“I didn’t expect you either. The Emperor sent me to Shuzhou as an exile.”

“…”

Li Huigu’s face showed displeasure. The word “exile” wasn’t quite appropriate in official appointments.

But he’d seen enough of Chen Yunfan’s prosperous family background back in the capital, and grew accustomed to such behavior.

Chen Yunfan scanned the room, asking: “What were you all discussing just now?”

Though he attended poetry gatherings rarely, he understood the general flow.

The gathering was nearing its end, so several masters should select the day’s standout entry to award.

But seeing Master Yue and others huddled together whispering, it didn’t seem like they were discussing the day’s best poem.

A certain curiosity prickled at his conscience.

Li Huaiyu glanced at him and said, “They’ve been discussing tomorrow’s plans for paying respects to the late Duke of Given Feast.”

“Oh?”

Chen Yunfan furrowed his brow, for before his arrival, he’d heard that the senior scholars of Guibei Academy were at odds with the Xiao family.

The reason was simple—those great Confucians couldn’t stand martial artists.

So why on earth would they go to honor the Duke of Xiao?

Li Huaiyu noticed his curiosity and, after a moment’s thought, asked, “Yunfan, how’s your relationship with the Light-boat Brother?”

It was probably not good.

Recently, he’d heard that Chen Yi, before marrying into the Xiao household, had been locked away by that Cui family miss for years.

Thus, as the biological son of the Cui family miss, Chen Yunfan and Chen Yi must not be close either.

Chen Yunfan didn’t grasp his meaning and replied carelessly, “We’re on good terms. Since childhood, we’ve studied together, shared the same pot for meals, shared the same bed… though not exactly.”

“What? Are those who are paying respects to Duke Xiao related to the younger brother?”

Li Huaiyu shook his head silently, his tone calm as he said, “When I go to pay respects, it’s merely to see what the Light-boat Brother has written.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yunfan paused midair, his hand still clutching the pastry he’d been about to eat.

“The younger brother’s calligraphy?”

“Huaiyu, I know the younger brother labored over his brushwork since childhood, once earning praise from Master Yu. But if his calligraphy could make those fellow scholars risk going to the Duke’s mansion, I fear it might be…”

Li Huaiyu didn’t speak further, merely gestured toward the group of scholars.

Chen Yunfan looked over, and heard one of the scholars say, “My resolve is firm. If you all refuse to go, I’ll venture forth alone, staking my reputation on it.”

Beside him, an elderly man furrowed his brows: “It’s not that we don’t wish to go, but the Xiao family’s household guards might lead to misunderstandings for scholars from Shuzhou.”

“Indeed, Huaiyu, considering what you just said, we still don’t believe that stepson of the Xiao family could possess such skill.”

“My own doubts are no less. How could a youth of such age write calligraphy fit for the prime of literary and martial arts? Or is it the new script style?”

At that moment, the scholar’s expression grew solemn: “We’ll see tomorrow when we accompany me. It’s the truth.”

“If I’ve erred, all consequences shall rest solely on my shoulders!”

The other scholars exchanged glances, then all shook their heads with a mixture of resignation and weariness.

“The entire Guibei Academy wouldn’t let you go alone?”

“Well, seeing as how it might be true, I suppose we’ll go take a look.”

“Hmph. I’ll go and return, but I’ll never believe that stepson of the Xiao family could manage such a feat!”

“…”

Hearing their conversation, Chen Yunfan blinked, his face blank with bewilderment.

Calligraphy imbued with the flourishing of literary and martial arts? Or the new script style?

Impossible… impossible!

(End of chapter)