Chapter 68 Give My Brother-in-Law a Hand

The next day, the sun shone brightly.

It should be said that it's scorching hot in summer.

Even in the beautiful Chunhe Garden, with its lush vegetation, ponds, and purple bamboo groves, one can still feel a touch of heat.

Chen Yi is doing somewhat better.

After he achieved mastery of martial arts, his internal energy had many wonderful uses, one of which was immunity to heat and cold.

Xiao Wuge and Xiao Die suffered quite a bit.

Xiaodie, in particular, has no free time once she gets up at 3 AM.

First, she helped Xiao Wuge get up, and then she helped Chen Yi wash up and get dressed.

Since Xiao Jinghong and Su Zhenyue were not in the mansion, Pei Guanli needed her to wake them up, help them get dressed, and then prepare breakfast.

It was undoubtedly hard work.

But Xiaodie was enjoying it.

As a maidservant who had lived in the Marquis's mansion since childhood, she was already considered lucky to have gained the favor and appreciation of her master.

Therefore, she was very content.

"Young master, the manor has been quite lively these past few days."

Chen Yi blew on the rice porridge in the porcelain bowl, took a sip, and asked, "What's all the commotion about? Those guests should have left by now."

Four days have passed since the old master's birthday banquet, and he has remained in Chunhe Garden without going out.

It wasn't that I was really worried about the influence of that calligraphy and the Emperor's edict, but rather that it would take some time for the guests in Shuzhou City and the Marquis's residence to leave.

He simply didn't want to engage in polite interactions with people he didn't know.

"Most of the guests in the mansion left yesterday, with only the old Duke and Mr. Sun remaining."

Xiaodie answered his question first, then smiled and said, "Young master, Xiaodie isn't talking about inside the mansion, but outside."

"Now the whole of Shuzhou is talking about your calligraphy."

Chen Yi wasn't surprised. He said "Oh," put down the porcelain bowl, picked up his chopsticks, took a pickled bamboo shoot, and put it in his mouth, crunching away.

Xiao Wuge followed suit and also picked up a bamboo shoot to eat.

Then came Pei Guanli, who directly reached out and pinched two sticks, popping them into her mouth and making her cheeks puff up high.

Creak, creak, creak.

Xiaodie looked at the three of them, blinked, and couldn't help but laugh.

She should have thought of that sooner.

A man as talented as my son-in-law would naturally not care about that calligraphy copybook.

Chen Yi seemed to think he should continue asking questions, so he said, "Go on."

"..."

Xiaodie pouted, thinking to herself, "What's that saying again? The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is."

The son-in-law is generally like this.

However, she wasn't angry with her son-in-law. Sitting on a small stool, she watched the three of them eat breakfast while chattering away:

"The scions of prominent families in Shuzhou City have heard that several teachers from Guiyun Academy admire the young master's calligraphy, and they have been visiting the mansion these past few days."

"They didn't bother the son-in-law, but asked the elders in the family to visit the master, hoping to copy that calligraphy model."

"At first, the master didn't pay attention and sent someone to fetch some for them to copy. But then more and more people came, so the master ordered the steward to guard the door and prevent them from coming any more."

"However, the news of the son-in-law's calligraphy has finally spread..."

Chen Yi just listened to it as a joke.

He knew in his heart that there were many famous calligraphers in the Great Wei Dynasty who could write with such elegance and beauty, so this was not unusual.

The reason it caused such a sensation lies in the perfection of his running script.

Its perfection, enough to establish a new school of thought, is the reason why those people are so eager to visit it.

That's why the teachers from Guiyun Academy lost their composure at the birthday banquet that day.

I have had breakfast.

Chen Yi then grabbed a few large earthworms with a small bucket and continued his battle with the golden carp with Xiao Wuge.

It's strange, really.

No one but Xiao Wuge could catch the golden carp in this pond.

Well, to be precise, it's Chen Yi and Zhang Heng.

Chen Yi is doing alright; he hasn't caught a single fish in two months, but he still maintains the optimistic attitude of a fisherman.

Zhang Heng fished for several days, but kept complaining that it was boring and tedious.

Especially after seeing Xiao Wuge catch one golden carp after another, he was furious and his lips were pursed high.

Upon hearing this, Pei Guanli also enthusiastically grabbed her fishing rod and set up a fishing spot nearby.

However, she is clearly not a patient person.

Before an incense stick had burned out, she angrily threw down her fishing rod, muttering that it was boring and tedious.

Their explanations were exactly the same as those of the young prince.

Chen Yi remained completely unaffected, sitting upright on the pavilion railing like a statue.

His eyes were fixed on the float, and his eye twitched slightly—out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Wuge catching one fish after another.

If you were to ask what the most humiliating moment for a fisherman is, it would undoubtedly be when, in the same pond and at the same fishing spot, everyone else is catching fish while he remains empty-handed.

At this moment, Chen Yi's feelings were roughly like this.

After Xiao Wuge had caught five fish in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, even someone as temperamental as him secretly exclaimed that he couldn't stand it anymore.

So, taking advantage of the moment when Xiao Wuge's float moved again and pulled the golden carp out of the water, he directly took the fishing rod from Xiao Wuge's hand.

"Let go of Wu Ge and give your brother-in-law a good time... No, this fish is strong, let your brother-in-law help you."

Without saying a word, Chen Yi pulled hard, his eyes fixed on the water's surface, hoping to catch a fish.

To his surprise, the golden carp that had taken the bait flipped over and escaped the moment he took the fishing rod.

Chen Yi's smile froze, "..."

Xiao Wuge wanted to laugh but didn't dare, and silently took the fishing rod back. "Brother-in-law, it's probably full."

Pei Guanli laughed without any regard for her image, "Brother-in-law, so there are things you can't do, huh?"

Chen Yi looked at it for a moment, then calmly withdrew his hand, gripped his fishing rod, and said lightly:

"It's not that I can't, but..."

Xiao Wuge spoke up before he could: "Those who are willing will take the bait, right, brother-in-law?"

"...That's right."

Damn it, there's definitely something wrong with these golden bream in the pond.

You're treating people differently based on their status, aren't you?

Okay, okay.

Chen Yi decided to find a fishing net that afternoon; he refused to believe that he wouldn't catch a single fish after casting the net.

Then, as usual, he went to his study and wrote for a while.

He wielded his brush, writing freely without fixed phrases, until he became proficient in Wei Qing's running script style.

It was nearing noon.

After composing himself, Chen Yi prepared to go to Jiaxingyuan to see how Xiao Wan'er would "reprimand" the pharmacy manager.

He'd already come up with a reason—to freeload a meal.

But as soon as he stepped out of the wooden building, he saw several figures appear in the Spring Lotus Garden.

Who else could it be but Duke Zhang Xuan, Sun Fu, and others?

Chen Yi glanced at them, ignoring Xiao Qiuyun and Zhang Heng behind him, and stepped forward to bow.

"I have met Duke Gan and Mr. Sun."

Seeing that he ignored her, Xiao Qiuyun's smile faltered, and she said, "Nephew Qingzhou, why don't you greet your aunt?"

Chen Yi looked at her, and said belatedly, "I have met Aunt Qiuyun."

Xiao Qiuyun is Xiao Jinghong's third aunt, so she is indeed his elder.

However, she was born when Xiao Wang was nearly forty years old. Although she was of a higher generation, she was not much older than them, about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old.

"That's good, my niece Jinghong is quite lucky."

good?

Chen Yi frowned inwardly, but did not continue to speak, wanting to see what their purpose was.

Zhang Xuan glanced at the two of them and said with a smile, "We came uninvited, we hope we haven't bothered you?"

Chen Yi's expression turned serious. "A little."

"Forehead."

The smile on the face of the Duke of Gan Guo froze instantly, as did that of Xiao Qiuyun.

Instead, Sun Fu burst out laughing, "Qingzhou, you have a straightforward personality, not bad, not bad."

Zhang Xuan was furious and glared at him: "What's so good about it?"

Xiao Qiuyun nodded in agreement and said softly, "Jinghong has always been very good to you, hasn't she?"

"The lady has indeed treated me very well."

Don't blame Chen Yi for being so straightforward; he knew their intentions without even thinking.

It's unlikely there's anything else besides his calligraphy.

Seeing this, Sun Fu smoothed things over and said directly, "Qiuyun took Heng'er back to Guangyue Prefecture today. Jinghong wasn't there, so Duke Zhang was thinking of having them say goodbye to you and pass on a message to Jinghong."

Chen Yi nodded in realization and said with a smile, "I misspoke just now, and I hope the Duke will forgive me."

Zhang Xuan pointed at him, not believing him at all.

However, he didn't want to get angry with Chen Yi over such minor complaints, lest he appear petty as the Duke of Gan.

He then waved his hand to Xiao Qiuyun and said, "It's getting late. You should take Heng'er back. The journey has been tiring, so please be careful."

Xiao Qiuyun's expression calmed down. She bowed slightly, said nothing more, and left Chunhe Garden with Zhang Heng.

But just before leaving the porch, Zhang Heng turned back and shouted, "The most shameless runaway groom in history, hehe..."

Xiao Qiuyun only gave him a token tug, then let him shout.

"..."

After the two had walked far away and Zhang Heng's voice could no longer be heard, Chen Yi looked at the two elders and said with a smile:

"It's even."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan, who had initially looked displeased, burst into laughter, pointing at him and jokingly scolding:

"You're just like your father, you can make someone furious with a single sentence, but you always manage to get back at them."

Sun Fu shook his head with a wry smile, "There are some differences. Chen Xuanji is a calm and composed person with a deep mind; he wouldn't say anything witty."

Chen Yi didn't want to say much about his "father".

"Alright, if you have something to do, go ahead and do it. Old Man Sun and I, hmm..."

Zhang Xuan spotted Xiao Wuge fishing in the pavilion, his eyes lit up, and he pulled Sun Fu toward him, saying, "There are fish in this pond!"

Seeing this, Chen Yi smiled, instructed Xiao Die to serve him, and then went to Jiaxing Garden alone.

Do you like fishing?

It seems that the old Duke and Mr. Sun get along very well.

This is probably what it means for anglers to appreciate each other.

(End of this chapter)