Chapter 207 The Light Boat Has Already Passed Ten Thousand Mountains

Mr. Yue Ming looked serious and focused.

After saying that, he unfolded the calligraphy copybook in his hand.

One after another, dazzling characters appeared.

Although it is still the Da Cheng style, these large characters are completely different from the previous Wei Qing style.

It's running script!

Each stroke is not confined to horizontal and vertical lines, but rather has slant and crookedness, and varies in size.

However, it contains an aesthetic that is different from that of Wei Qing's style.

—The sense of freedom and spontaneity leaps off the page.

"This is... a new body?"

Mr. Han Zhe, also known as Mr. Han Zhangping, is a teacher at Yuelu Academy and naturally has a wealth of knowledge.

He had also studied the Wei Qing style of calligraphy, which represents the pinnacle and even perfection of calligraphy.

However, Wei Qing's calligraphy is meticulous and disciplined, at most possessing a majestic beauty, but rarely exhibiting the unrestrained and free-flowing style of running script.

"It's different, completely different from Wei Qing's style, but it truly represents the pinnacle of calligraphy..."

Han Zhangping couldn't help but move closer, ignoring the artistic conception on the calligraphy copybook and focusing his gaze on the paper.

"I had long heard of Qingzhou's new font, and seeing it today, this trip was definitely worthwhile."

He looked at Chen Yi and exclaimed, "No wonder you can teach students who are so accomplished in calligraphy. With just this pioneering new style of writing, you are comparable to the great calligraphers who have emerged in the Wei Dynasty over the past two hundred years."

Chen Yi smiled and bowed, "It was just a clever trick, I don't deserve your praise."

Seeing this, Mr. Yue Ming finally smiled, with a hint of smugness in his eyes.

After all, Chen Yi is now an instructor at Guiyun Academy, and he has become famous in Shu Prefecture for teaching Ma Guan, a student who has achieved great success in calligraphy, attracting many prominent families to come to him.

As the dean of Guiyun Academy, Mr. Yue Ming has a duty to defend it, both morally and logically.

"Qingzhou's calligraphy has already forged its own path, and given time, it is possible that it will become a sage."

"Mr. Yue Ming is right."

"If Qingzhou's calligraphy skills advance further, your Guiyun Academy will be extraordinary in the future..."

Seeing everyone praising Chen Yi, including Mr. Zhang Ping who had brought him to Shu Prefecture, Pei Zhaoye, a young man standing nearby, couldn't help but mutter to himself:

"What's so great about it? It's just a new font. Grandpa said only rebellious people would think about that..."

However, this time, before Mr. Yue Ming could show his displeasure, Han Zhangping had already rebuked him, "Zhao Ye!"

"How could your grandfather, a learned man of such stature, utter such words?"

"That's how it is..."

Seeing this, Chen Yi couldn't help but grin.

The boy was about twelve or thirteen years old, even younger than the boy from the Tang family.

He obviously couldn't take those words to heart.

Even Mr. Yue Ming saw through Pei Zhaoye's character and shook his head inwardly, saying, "Zhang Ping, there are still things to do at the academy today. Let's find another time to catch up."

Han Zhangping naturally understood his meaning, and helplessly bowed, saying, "Please forgive me."

After a brief pause, he did not immediately offer his farewell, but instead pulled Pei Zhaoye aside.

Mr. Yue Ming and the others exchanged glances, then ignored the two men and continued looking at Chen Yi's calligraphy.

While admiring the exhibits, the group also discussed details such as how to display them and where to place them.

Chen Yi found it a bit boring, so he didn't join in.

On the contrary, Xiao Wan'er kept her eyes fixed on Mr. Yue Ming and the others, seemingly very interested in everything.

Chen Yi initially thought she was attracted by his calligraphy skills, but after watching for a while, Xiao Wan'er asked in a low voice:

"Brother-in-law, do you think our academy should also set up a similar exhibition hall to showcase content related to medicine?"

Before Chen Yi could answer, Xiao Wan'er continued, "I was just thinking that if there were such an exhibition hall, it would probably attract some doctors."

"Perhaps there are some truly skilled individuals among them, even renowned medical masters?"

After listening, Chen Yi secretly raised an eyebrow.

Medical Hall of Fame?

Good idea.

Although it differs from his original intention in setting up this exhibition hall at Guiyun Academy, it does attract some doctors.

After all, at this time of year, most people would want to make a name for themselves in history.

Those doctors who practice medicine to save lives are no exception.

Thinking it over, Chen Yi looked at Xiao Wan'er, smiled and nodded, saying, "That's feasible."

Xiao Wan'er's face lit up with joy: "Really? Is that possible?"

"certainly."

"However, if you want to attract truly skilled doctors, an exhibition hall alone is not enough."

“Writing books and erecting monuments, spending a fortune to buy horse bones, and other such methods can also be used.”

"Okay, I'll write it down later."

"No rush, that academy can't be built overnight, you..."

Meeting Xiao Wan'er's gaze, Chen Yi saw that she had made up her mind, sighed inwardly, and didn't continue speaking. Instead, he said:

"Let's choose a location after the Mid-Autumn Festival."

"If I have time then, I'll take a look with you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan'er nodded with a smile in her eyes, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

As soon as she said it, she felt that her words were somewhat ambiguous, and something seemed off.

Shen Huatang thought to herself, "Of course it's strange."

The husband and wife are in perfect harmony; this is exactly what it means.

It's just the eldest daughter and the second son-in-law...

I really hope it's not what she thinks, otherwise... I'm doomed.

On the other side.

Han Zhangping also instructed Pei Zhaoye: "The academy teaches you to respect your teachers and value the Way, and this does not only refer to Yuelu Academy."

"Mr. Yue Ming, the dean of Guiyun Academy, is a great Confucian scholar, just like your grandfather. He has many students, including the third-ranked scholar in this imperial examination."

"Tanhua Lang?"

Pei Zhaoye may not care much about other things, but the imperial examination was obviously not among them, otherwise he wouldn't have passed the provincial examination at such a young age.

Han Zhangping nodded, his expression still serious, and said, "I know you've been intelligent since childhood, but you need to know that there are always people more capable than you, and there's always something beyond your understanding."

Even if you have exceptional talent, you should focus your mind on studying, not on being arrogant and conceited.

Pei Zhaoye pursed his lips, turned his head to look at Mr. Yue Ming and the others in the distance, and said lightly, "I know."

Whether he truly knows or pretends to know, only he knows.

Han Zhangping was well aware that his personality was not formed overnight, nor could it be corrected by a few words.

"Zhaoye, the reason I brought you to Shuzhou this time is to confirm whether Chen Qingzhou's calligraphy is as rumored."

"If that's true, as the dean instructed, you will need to study at Guiyun Academy for a period of time."

"After I have mastered calligraphy, I will return to Yuelu Academy..."

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Zhaoye interrupted, "I don't want to."

“His calligraphy is at the same level as my grandfather’s. If I let him teach me, I’d rather stay at Yuelu Academy.”

"you……"

Just as Han Zhangping was about to try to persuade him again, he heard several exclamations from not far away.

Even Pei Zhaoye, who had just said those words, showed a look of astonishment on his face, as if he had seen something unbelievable.

Han Zhangping turned his head to look suspiciously—

Then they saw a calligraphy scroll about six feet long being unfolded by Mr. Yue Ming and Mr. Zhuo Ying in the distance.

Above it, the dazzling golden characters were no longer there, but a phantom scene.

Amidst the rolling mountains, there are cities above and small boats below, swiftly traversing towering peaks and deep valleys in the blink of an eye.

In the dim light, you can still see a figure standing on the boat with a smile on his face.

Han Zhangping stared blankly at the calligraphy scroll, his face filled with disbelief. "This, this is..."

If he was only somewhat moved when he first saw the running script, now that he saw the artistic conception in that calligraphy, he could no longer maintain his focus.

I was so excited that my whole body trembled.

Pei Zhaoye, standing to the side, also stared wide-eyed. He was indeed young, arrogant, and somewhat disdainful of others, but that did not mean he had a narrow perspective.

"Grandpa said that when the artistic conception of calligraphy resembles a painting, it reaches a state of perfection, so that calligraphy copybook is..."

"Perfected Realm of Calligraphy!?"

Pei Zhaoye still couldn't believe his eyes.

He also didn't want to believe that the calligraphy was written by the son-in-law he looked down upon.

However, the brightly lit new style of running script on the calligraphy copybook left him no choice but to believe it.

"How is that possible? He... he has elevated the new script to perfection?"

Pei Zhaoye vividly remembered the longing on his aged face when his grandfather told him how to distinguish between the perfect realms of calligraphy.

Even his grandfather wasn't at the Perfected Realm, so what makes Chen Qingzhou so special?!

In contrast, the expressions of Mr. Yue Ming, Mr. Zhuo Ying, and others were rather strange.

It's roughly like finding gold in a pile of sand.

They all thought that Chen Yi's twenty-odd calligraphy copybooks would be enough.

Unexpectedly, they were given a huge surprise in the end—their calligraphy skills were perfected!

The running script is still the best!

“New style of characters, calligraphy, the perfect realm… Qingzhou, this… your calligraphy…”

Seeing Mr. Yue Ming's excited and incoherent speech, Chen Yi smiled gently and said:

"I was lucky; I broke through while I was writing."

Mr. Zhuo Ying clicked his tongue in amazement and said, "Can this be considered luck?"

"If we could improve our calligraphy skills through luck, our Great Wei Dynasty would have at least a dozen more calligraphy sages."

"Zhuo Ying, the key isn't in the first half of the sentence, but in the second half. As you write..."

"I'll write some later too."

"Can you write it? Have you entered the realm of calligraphy?"

Seeing the teachers from Guiyun Academy arguing and bickering, Chen Yi assumed they were just overly excited and said:

"I think these calligraphy practice books should be enough. I'll leave the rest to you, Dean."

"That's enough, it's enough, it's not tiring, it's not tiring..."

One sentence, four tones.

Mr. Yue Ming was beaming from ear to ear.

He couldn't help but be unhappy.

Chen Yi's great achievements in calligraphy had already attracted many talented scholars from within Shu Prefecture.

Many scholars from outside Shu Prefecture traveled great distances to study there.

If word gets out that Chen Yi has achieved mastery of calligraphy, the number of people coming will likely increase several times over.

Not to mention people from Yanzhou and Youzhou, I reckon people from Kyoto Prefecture and Beizhou also come to study.

"Qingzhou, please let me know in advance if you make any progress next time."

"Fortunately, I was careful enough, otherwise I would have ruined this calligraphy."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhuo Ying echoed with lingering fear, "Indeed, it was terrifying."

"Qingzhou, you know I'm not in good health."

"If I don't have a calligraphy model that is perfect in calligraphy this time, I'm afraid I won't recover."

"Hey, you old scoundrel, you have absolutely no shame! How can you be so shameless?"

"As you know, my health has never been good..."

Only then did Xiao Wan'er come to her senses, look at Chen Yi, and couldn't help but ask:

"The light boat has already passed ten thousand mountains... Is this line referring to yourself?"

Chen Yi was taken aback, and said vaguely, "Well, I guess so."

It can only be said that this was a beautiful misunderstanding.

However, it makes sense when applied to him.

Xiao Wan'er smiled and nodded, "This poem is very good."

She had already learned from Old Master Xiao about Chen Yi's mastery of calligraphy, so her focus just now was not on calligraphy.

Instead, it was the imagery in those evocative scenes that caught her attention.

The poem has a grand and majestic overall imagery, giving the feeling of breaking through barriers and seeing the light.

This inevitably made Xiao Wan'er think more.

She carefully recalled what had happened to Chen Yi during this period, and felt a slight joy in her heart.

Brother-in-law, you must have moved on from the shadow of marrying into the Xiao family and regained your confidence, right?

Chen Yi was unaware that Xiao Wan'er would have such thoughts.

Even if he knew, he could only treat it as a beautiful misunderstanding and could not reveal his actions in burning the summer grain in the three towns.

With nothing else to do, Chen Yi decided to take his leave.

"Mr. Yue Ming, you..."

But before Chen Yi could finish speaking, Pei Zhaoye suddenly ran over to him and said, "Mr. Qingzhou, could you teach me your calligraphy?"

Chen Yi frowned slightly, glanced at him, but didn't respond. He continued to bow to Mr. Yue Ming.

"Dean, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

Mr. Yue Ming glanced at Pei Zhaoye, then smiled and replied, "When you come to teach calligraphy before the Mid-Autumn Festival, this exhibition hall will surely satisfy you."

"As long as the dean is satisfied."

After saying goodbye to the others, Chen Yi signaled to Xiao Wan'er to prepare to leave.

Seeing this, Pei Zhaoye, unwilling to give up, blocked his path and said:

“Mr. Qingzhou, I apologize for what I did before. I hope you can forgive me and teach me calligraphy.”

Chen Yi glanced at him, shook his head and said, "Please apologize to your grandfather for me."

Before Pei Zhaoye could say anything more, he had already led Xiao Wan'er and Shen Huatang straight out of the schoolhouse.

Pei Zhaoye watched his retreating figure, somewhat puzzled, and said:

"If he refuses, he should refuse. Why should he apologize to my grandfather?"

At this moment, Han Zhangping walked over and said in a deep voice, "Because of you, Pei Zhaoye, you are not qualified to be forgiven by him."

Pei Zhaoye was taken aback, and his face immediately turned ugly.

"What right does he have? He's nothing but a son-in-law of the Xiao family, a disgrace to scholars, how can he..."

"Shut up!"

Han Zhangping's voice suddenly rose, startling Pei Zhaoye.

He glanced at Han Zhangping, whose face was ashen, hesitated, and didn't dare to speak again.

Han Zhangping stared at him for a moment before taking a deep breath and bowing to Mr. Yue Ming and the others, saying, "I apologize for disturbing you today."

Mr. Yue Ming shook his head calmly, "We have failed to provide adequate hospitality. Please leave."

Seeing Han Zhangping leading the reluctant Pei Zhaoye away, Mr. Yue Ming shook his head:

"No wonder Old Pei sent him to Shu Prefecture. Without tempering his character, he will hardly amount to anything."

Mr. Zhuo Ying and the others nodded, but did not say anything more.

They knew Mr. Yue Ming's temperament.

Even if Pei Zhaoye comes from a good background and is talented, he would not allow such a person to enter Guiyun Academy.

Of course, Chen Yi wouldn't do that either.

Although he didn't care about Pei Zhaoye's lack of manners, it didn't mean he would accept Pei Zhaoye into the academy.

After all, forgiving Pei Zhaoye was his grandfather's business, what did it have to do with Chen Qingzhou?

On the way back.

As usual, Chen Yi chatted and laughed with Xiao Wan'er.

It took half a day to travel from the north of the city to the west market to prepare all the gifts and other items needed for the festival before finally heading home.

At this moment, the old man had already returned with his men.

Armored soldiers stood guard inside and outside the mansion, creating an atmosphere that showcased the majesty of the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.

Chen Yi glanced around and saw that although Wang Lixing and the others looked serious, they were still relatively relaxed.

He then knew that the old man's trip to the Provincial Administration Commission should have yielded good results.

Come to think of it.

Liu Wen died outside Tiebi Town, and there was also evidence of his conspiracy with Xiao Dongchen—letters and the 300,000 taels of silver.

Under such circumstances, if Old Master Xiao cannot make the Liu family back down, he should stay in the mansion and not go out.

However, Chen Yi was unsure what conditions the Liu family had promised.

But soon.

When he returned to Chunhe Garden, he learned from Xiao Wuge about some rumors that had circulated after the meeting between the old Marquis and Liu Hong.

Overall, it was almost identical to Chen Yi's deduction.

The summer grain tax for the three towns of Dingyuan Army was waived, according to the Provincial Administration Commission, which said it was in accordance with the new regulations of the imperial court.

Anyone with eyes can see this is nonsense.

The Liu family of Jingzhou replenished the grain and fodder that had been burned in Tiebi Town at a low price.

There was also some monetary compensation.

No more, no less, 500,000 taels.

With the 300,000 taels Liu Wen had given them earlier, the Xiao family should not be short of money or food for the time being.

After listening, Chen Yi thought for a moment and asked, "Do you know what conditions the Liu family proposed?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wuge's smile vanished, and he snorted:

"They said that Grandpa should not reveal Liu Wen's involvement to outsiders, and in return, they would keep Uncle Dongchen's affairs a secret."

"Is this all?"

"Also, they seem to be talking about some kind of marriage alliance."

Chen Yi frowned slightly. "They still want to marry your eldest sister?"

Xiao Wuge shook his head: "It's not my eldest sister."

"It seems they're going to marry the third young lady of the Liu family's eldest branch into the family. I don't know who she is... Could it be the pretty lady I saw the other day?"

The third young lady can only be Liu Zhaoxue.

Chen Yi wondered to himself whether Liu Zhaoxue's actions had been discovered by the Liu family, or if the Liu family had ulterior motives.

After much thought, he deduced that the latter was more likely.

If the Liu family finds out what Liu Zhaoxue did, she will probably suffer a terrible fate.

"Did the old master agree?"

"They agreed, saying that Xiao Ziqi should marry her."

"The one from the second wife?"

Chen Yi chuckled, "Would Liu Hong agree to that?"

After this incident, the second branch of the Xiao family has been clearly expelled from Shuzhou.

Even though Xiao Ziqi did not leave because of his position at the Shu Prefecture Commandery, it would be difficult for him to return to the prefectural city in the future.

Under these circumstances, it would be strange if Liu Hong agreed.

Xiao Wuge chuckled: "I didn't agree."

"Grandpa said that the Liu family is ambitious and will eventually fall."

"Maybe..."

Looking at the rain outside the window, Chen Yi knew that the old man and Liu Hong must have other conditions.

Or rather, what the Liu family paid for was far more than that.

However, other details may not be suitable to be disclosed to the public.

"It seems the old man is still choosing to play it safe."

Chen Yi thought about it and then used the excuse that he was tired to return to his room to practice the Four Symbols Technique.

I wonder if Xiao Jinghong went to see Pei Guanli. I hope that the little tiger girl can keep her mouth shut.

otherwise……

He still needs to think of a way to remedy the situation.

Did he happen to meet "Knife Madman" Liu Lang by chance?

He'll probably be killed by a single sword strike...

...

at the same time.

On Kangning Street, in a shop not far from Guiyun Academy.

Lou Yuxue glanced around, a hint of gritted teeth showing on her beautiful face.

"Cui Qingwu, you're really baffling!"

She only needed a hiding place; any courtyard that could withstand a search would have been fine.

The result was—a shop!

Lou Yuxue knew without even thinking that this must be the Cui family's young lady's wicked hobby.

I'm waiting to see her make a fool of herself.

"Hmph, do you really think I wouldn't dare hide under the noses of the Xiao family and the Criminal Investigation Department?"

Lou Yuxue snorted, then immediately summoned two of her men to tidy up the shop and prepare to resume normal operations.

After all, it's a shop.

If they remain closed and do not operate, they will attract even more attention.

"grown ups……"

"Call her 'boss lady'."

"Boss lady, what kind of business do we do?"

Lou Yuxue thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered that guy "Liu Wu," and subconsciously said:

“That bastard…”

"Wontons? That'll do..."

(End of this chapter)