Chapter 9 Concealing one's shortcomings, achieving minor success in understanding the Dao!

It wasn't until he finished writing that Chen Yi came back to his senses.

He looked at the poem on the Yunsong paper. The characters, some big, some small, some simplified, some connected, stretched out like a whole scroll.

"So that's how it can be done."

"Xiaocheng Calligraphy not only guides the improvement of calligraphy, but also provides the artistic conception of calligraphy. I just didn't realize it before."

"Not only can I rely on chance to elevate my realm and attain profound enlightenment, but I can also make progress through my own understanding."

Just like this time, the energy generated in his body by the spear stance exercise accidentally connected him to the will of heaven and earth when he wrote, giving his words a touch of charm.

Thinking it over, Chen Yi looked at the poem again, then picked up his brush and wrote the title of the poem, "Qing Chun Ze · Wan Shen Fu," on the right side of the poem, and the inscription on the left side: "Written by Chen Qingzhou in the spring of the twenty-first year of Anhe, during a night stroll."

He didn't think there was anything wrong with writing lyrics for a woman other than his wife.

After all, a beautiful and graceful lady is the object of a gentleman's affections, and he, an ordinary man, naturally wouldn't be moved by her.

On the contrary, Chen Yi was very satisfied with the unrestrained and natural lyrics.

"There was the Ode to the Goddess of Luo River before, and the Ode to the Goddess of Wan after. It's like Cao Zijian and I share 80% of the world's talent."

Of course, this was just wishful thinking on his part.

Cao Zhi's ability to compose a poem in seven steps relied on his own talent and learning.

The reason why he was able to write "Wan Shen Fu" was not only because of some neat rhythm and parallelism, but also because of the touching feeling in his heart.

If he were to write another similar poem, he would probably only be a copyist of "Three Hundred Tang and Song Poems".

However, besides its beauty, what's even more outstanding about this poem is its calligraphy.

"My attainments in Wei Qing calligraphy are now considered among the most famous of our time."

“It’s time to learn other fonts, running script, cursive script…”

Just as Chen Yi was thinking, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Then came Wang Lixing's voice: "Son-in-law, it's past midnight, you should start practicing your stance training."

Before I knew it, it was already four in the morning.

Chen Yi responded, put "Wan Shen Fu" on the table, and got up to go out.

"Brother Wang, have you been keeping watch outside the garden all night?"

"I am preoccupied with military duties, and I hope my son-in-law will understand."

"It's okay, it's okay. I just asked casually. Let's go..."

Xiaodie woke up instantly upon hearing the noise and hurriedly got out of bed and dressed.

Seeing that Chen Yi and Wang Lixing had already walked far away, she couldn't help but pat her face in self-reproach.

"Xiaodie, Xiaodie, your husband is already up, and you're still sleeping in."

"You are to prepare breakfast for your son-in-law. Also, he will sweat after practicing martial arts, so you must prepare bath water and clean clothes for him."

While making plans, Xiaodie tidied up the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the table.

Upon seeing the poems on the messy papers, she flipped through them one by one, her bright and spirited eyes fixed on the poem "Ode to the Graceful Goddess".

Although she only studied with Xiao Wan'er for five years and her academic knowledge was not high, she was already able to understand the meaning of the poems.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have understood the meaning of Chen Yi's poem "Marrying into the Xiao Family" as "the son-in-law still wants to escape the Xiao family" after reading it.

Therefore, when Xiaodie finished reading "Qingchunze·Wanshen Fu" word by word, a look of surprise immediately appeared on her little face.

"... Jade steps and jade trees like you are rare in the world. I once marveled at the old age of the Gushe Immortal, lamented the empty poems of Luochuan and the empty songs of Chishui... Even if ink could not depict your bones, you alone shine in the desolate Chu sky for thousands of years."

"Wan Shen Fu, Wan... Could it be that the young master saw the eldest young lady last night?"

In some ways, Xiaodie is quite clever.

Especially when she thought of Chen Yi appearing on the outer wall of Jiaxing Garden, combined with the word "Wanshen" in the lyrics, the figure of Xiao Wan'er emerged in her mind.

And in her heart, the only person who could match the beauty described in this poem was the eldest daughter.

Even the second young lady, Xiao Jinghong... is only about equal in skill.

Thinking of this, Xiaodie almost threw the lyrics away. Her heart was pounding and she felt like she had discovered a huge secret.

"Oh my god, the son-in-law and the young lady... no, no, it's the son-in-law and the young lady... it can't be, it's not."

Xiaodie suddenly felt like her brain couldn't keep up.

After thinking it over, a look of determination appeared on her face. "Xiaodie didn't see anything, so I can't tell anyone."

Only in this way will the son-in-law not be punished by the young lady for this "ironic" poem.

“That’s right, Xiaodie doesn’t know anything, Xiaodie doesn’t know…”

Xiaodie muttered to herself as she tidied the table, thoughtfully placing "Qingchunze·Wanshen Fu" at the very bottom to prevent others from seeing it.

What I fear even more is that if the second young lady sees this in the future... the son-in-law will probably be beaten to death, right?

...

Chen Yi, on the other side, had no idea about Xiao Die's dilemma.

He was following his previous plan to conceal his martial arts talent.

He was very careful not to arouse Wang Lixing's suspicion.

Either the movements are incorrect during the standing meditation, or there is only the form but no effect.

His most frequent problem was that his breathing rhythm was off, and he would cough every now and then, interrupting his standing meditation practice.

"Young Master, your stance training is much worse today than yesterday," Wang Lixing couldn't help but say.

Are you feeling troubled and unable to clear your mind?

Chen Yi pretended to ponder, then nodded, a slight hint of apology on his face, and said:

"I probably didn't get enough rest last night. I feel weak and short of breath, and my body feels tired and fatigued."

Wang Lixing looked him up and down, then frowned and said, "Young master, it must be because your body is too weak, and you didn't replenish it in time because you stood in meditation for too long yesterday."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi blinked. Was he being told that he was physically weak?

Unexpectedly, Wang Lixing, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, had such a wicked mouth, actually saying that he was physically weak.

This is intolerable...

Endure! Must endure!

Thinking about his plan, Chen Yi chuckled dryly, "Maybe. How about we stop here for today? I'll have Xiaodie prepare some more food later and see if things will be better tomorrow."

Wang Lixing hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright."

"However, martial arts cultivation requires diligent and unremitting practice, like rowing against the current. One day without practice is fine, two days is also acceptable, but after three, four, or five days, even the highest level of cultivation will regress, not to mention..."

Although he didn't finish his sentence, his meaning was clear—without hard work, one cannot achieve mastery of martial arts.

"I will make it up to you once I have rested well."

Seeing this, Wang Lixing had no choice but to say goodbye and leave Chunhe Garden.

Chen Yi watched Wang Li walk away and wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead.

Luckily he left early; otherwise, he would have been exposed.

In fact.

Because he raised [Martial Arts Body] to the beginner level yesterday, he immediately entered the state of mind as soon as he started practicing the spear stance today.

If he hadn't reacted quickly and interrupted the cough, all the muscles, bones, and skin on his body would have emitted heat, generating a wisp of energy to nourish his internal organs.

Being too talented isn't always a good thing.

Thinking this, Chen Yi opened the panel and directly increased "Martial Arts Body" to the minor completion level.

Suddenly, some profound and mysterious Daoist ideas appeared in his mind, like a lake shrouded in mist, waiting for him to explore its depths.

(End of this chapter)