Chapter 39: Handwriting Reflects One's Character

Gurgle, gurgle.

A carriage with a black background and red patterns resembling a dragon's head, pulled by four fine horses, slowly traveled south from the north gate of Shuzhou City along Kangning Street.

Listening to the chaotic sounds around him, Xiao Jinghong slightly pulled back the brocade curtain on one side of the carriage window and looked at the scenery outside the carriage through the gap.

Ten days have passed since the third-ranked scholar Li Huaigu rode his horse through the streets, yet the taverns and students in the academies along Kangning Street still talk about it.

Some described the scene in flowery language, adding a line like, "The scenery that day was so beautiful that we couldn't even catch up with it," which drew laughter from the audience.

Some say that Li Huaigu had a smooth career, ranking third in the imperial examinations, and was then assigned to the Shu Prefecture Administration Office. After returning, he even won the heart of a beautiful woman.

It can be said that he has everything: money, fame, and beautiful women.

It's the envy of everyone.

When Li Huaigu was mentioned, these students would naturally bring up Chen Yi, cursing him as "the son-in-law of the Marquis of Wu's mansion," or "shameless and vulgar," or "a disgrace to scholarship," never saying a good word about him.

After much sifting and picking, only two kind words were hidden amidst the cacophony of criticism.

One sentence reads, "We are no match for him in that birthday poem," followed by the occasional student striking up a pretentious recitation of a few lines.

The second, more palatable statement was: "The half-line poem that the son-in-law of the Xiao family wrote to the third-ranked scholar is very charming, but unfortunately there is only half a line, so we have no chance to see the whole picture."

Although this statement was followed by derogatory remarks about Chen Yi, no one denied his poetic talent.

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, for ye may ye have nothing left but bare branches."

After listening for a moment, Xiao Jinghong realized that the poem was from Chen Yi, and that it was written by him when he forcibly took the wife of the top scholar.

To paraphrase those students, "Shameless scoundrels! They describe the abduction of women in such an elegant way, something I simply cannot write. Alas..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghong closed the curtain and silently leaned back on the soft couch filled with fluffy bedding.

She had to admit that it was quite an achievement that her husband had managed to incur the contempt of so many students and common people in Shuzhou City in just three months.

Xiao Wan'er noticed her unusual expression. "Second sister, are you tired?"

Xiao Jinghong gently shook her head, the sharpness in her eyes fading. "Elder sister, you wrote in your letter earlier that Mr. Chen... has changed his mind?"

Seeing that she brought up Chen Yi, Xiao Wan'er scolded, "And you're one to talk! You went off to inspect the three towns without a word, and only now you think of asking about him."

"sister……"

"Alright, alright, I know you're not wrong, it's all your brother-in-law's fault."

Xiao Wan'er made a couple of jokes, then recounted Chen Yi's behavior before she left the Marquis's residence.

“After you left, my brother-in-law was locked in his room, copying the family rules all day long, occasionally reading a book, and never complaining.”

"Actually, my brother-in-law is a good person, especially his handwriting..."

When Xiao Wan'er thought of Chen Yi's calligraphy, she couldn't help but think of the poem that Xiao Die had read to her.

Seeing her pause, Xiao Jinghong looked over. "His handwriting?"

Xiao Wan'er came to her senses, took her hand and smiled, "Second sister, your handwriting reflects your personality. Your husband's handwriting is free and unrestrained, which shows that he is a straightforward and easygoing person."

Candid and unrestrained?

The gossip he had just heard resurfaced in Xiao Jinghong's mind.

Opinions about her husband seem to be mixed. It is true that he writes good calligraphy and poetry, but his frankness and unrestrainedness as well as his shamelessness and vulgarity are debatable.

Fortunately, she has already returned to Shuzhou City, and she can find out the truth once she gets back to her residence.

"Second sister, let's go to grandfather's place first."

"good……"

Just then, the carriage paused briefly, interrupting Xiao Wan'er and Xiao Jinghong's conversation.

Xiao Wan'er sat up straighter and asked in confusion, "Hua Tang?"

Shen Huatang, who was outside the carriage, stopped the carriage by the roadside and called back inside, "Miss, Second Miss, something's up."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinghong immediately pulled back the curtain and looked outside.

She then saw several armored soldiers dressed as Xiao family guards surrounding a framed shop not far away, with an old man in a simple long robe pulling at a Xiao family maid in the middle.

Wang Lixing and Xiaodie?

Xiao Jinghong recognized the people in the mansion, and then she carefully examined the old man, her eyes widening slightly.

Unable to see what was happening outside, Xiao Wan'er couldn't help but ask, "Second Sister, what happened?"

"Elder sister, it seems that Mr. Yue Ming from Guiyun Academy got into a dispute with the guards and maids in the mansion."

With so many people talking, Xiao Jinghong only heard something about calligraphy and then said, "Sister, please sit in the car for a moment, I'll be right back."

Xiao Wan'er shook her head, "Mr. Yue Ming dislikes people in the military the most, I'll go with you."

Knowing he couldn't persuade her otherwise, Xiao Jinghong didn't say anything more and helped her out of the car to walk outside the framing shop.

Inside, Mr. Yue Ming was sighing: "Young lady, young lady, I really love this calligraphy. Would you... would you be willing to part with it?"

Xiaodie held onto the calligraphy copybook tightly, saying, "Sir, this is a birthday gift from my son-in-law to my husband. How can I give it to you?"

If Wang Lixing hadn't reminded her earlier that this old gentleman was Yue Ming from Guiyun Academy, the most renowned Confucian scholar in Shuzhou...

She even suspected that the calligraphy her son-in-law had lost earlier might have been made by the old gentleman in front of her.

Even though she had clearly stated that the calligraphy could not be given away, the old gentleman still wouldn't let it go and even tried to grab the newly framed calligraphy, which made her very angry.

“Son-in-law? The son-in-law of the Xiao family? Then tell me, where did he buy this calligraphy scroll? I am willing to pay a high price for it.”

"What do you mean, 'buy'? This is calligraphy written by the young master himself. If you wish to buy it, you can go to the Marquis's residence to find the young master."

After hearing this, Mr. Yue Ming was taken aback. "You mean this calligraphy is by Chen Yi, Chen Qingzhou?"

Xiaodie looked at him warily: "Of course it was written by the son-in-law. Could it be that you wrote it? The boss already gave you your calligraphy."

Mr. Yue looked at her suspiciously, still not believing her. "Young lady, I only want this calligraphy copybook or its provenance. If you don't want it, fine. Why lie to me?"

"I didn't..."

Before Xiao Die could continue explaining, Xiao Wan'er, who was outside the crowd, spoke up: "Mr. Yue Ming, please hear me out."

Only then did Xiao family guards and Xiao Die notice Xiao Wan'er, Xiao Jinghong, and the others outside, and quickly bowed:

"Your subordinate greets the eldest and second young ladies."

"Xiaodie greets the eldest and second young ladies."

Passersby and onlookers were stunned, only then realizing that the people in front of them were the two sisters from the main family of the Marquis of Wu's mansion.

Immediately, most people knelt on the ground, but a few students who had achieved academic success remained standing.

Xiao Wan'er glanced around and responded gently, "Get up, everyone."

After everyone stood up, she took Xiao Jinghong's hand and came to the old man, bowing slightly and saying:

“Mr. Yue Ming, what Xiao Die just said is true. This calligraphy was indeed written by Wan'er’s brother-in-law, Chen Yi, or Chen Qingzhou.”

Although she had not seen the calligraphy copybook in Xiaodie's hand, judging from Chen Yi's calligraphy which she had seen before, it was indeed possible that it would attract Mr. Yueming's favor.

Mr. Yue Ming glanced at them, ignoring Xiao Jinghong, and asked, "Miss Wan'er, do you know the meaning of the words on it?"

Xiao Wan'er was slightly taken aback. After a moment's thought, she reached out her hand to Xiao Die.

Xiao Die carefully placed the birthday greeting in her hand, glanced at Xiao Jinghong but didn't dare to say anything, and then returned it.

Xiao Wan'er opened the box and took out the calligraphy copybook, which she slowly unfolded with Xiao Jinghong's help.

Even with just a few strokes of the writing showing, a wisp of fluorescence appeared, as smooth and lustrous as warm jade.

Xiao Wan'er's hand immediately stopped, her eyes widening as she dared not continue.

She quickly looked at Xiao Jinghong beside her, and when she saw her nod slightly, she was both surprised and delighted.

What amazed me was that the characters on the calligraphy copybook truly embodied the "artistic conception of calligraphy."

She was naturally delighted that this calligraphy scroll might indeed have been written by her brother-in-law, Chen Yi.

(End of this chapter)