Chapter 17: When Yun Yang left, Xue Yu gave the calligraphy book to...
When Yun Yang left, Xue Yu gave her the calligraphy book.
The expression on Siqing's face was almost unbearable.
Xue Yu's calligraphy is something that many people would love to learn.
The calligraphy of the top scholar, who is the descendant of Wenquxing, is not only priceless, but also brings good luck.
What's more, the young man has a bright future, and many well-connected families want to collect his calligraphy when he is young. After a hundred years, the value of his calligraphy may increase exponentially.
Not to mention that the calligraphy is an extremely personal thing, it was written by the top scholar in the imperial examination, and its value is unknown.
People like Xue Yu, who came from a noble family, hated the shallow act of exchanging their personal belongings for vulgar things. As a result, coupled with his elegant reputation in the capital, his calligraphy was even more difficult to come by at great cost.
Now he casually gave this copybook to Miss Yun Er for copying... Si Qing felt that Miss Yun Er would definitely not know the value of the young master's calligraphy, so he would have to talk to her about it when he had time.
Si Qing washed the brush and inkstone, and waited for the young master's instructions, but saw that the young master was leaning his forehead and staring at the rice paper in his hand.
Watched it again and again.
Si Qing quietly identified it and found that it was the one where Miss Yun Er had written the small name of "Young Master" just now.
*
After that, Yun Yang met Xue Yu more often. One reason was to sincerely thank him for the calligraphy, and the other was to show his concern for his arm injury.
The autumn wind was brisk and the sunlight was soft. Every morning, Yun Yang would go to have breakfast with Old Madam Xue, and sometimes he would just eat a few bites and then go to study at the clan school with the other girls and boys from the Xue Mansion.
After school, I would review my lessons and practice, and then go to Fushan Pavilion after my brother-in-law returned from court. The days were dull yet profound, day after day.
But I can’t see my brother-in-law every time.
Yun Yang felt a faint melancholy in his heart. This melancholy was very unfamiliar, a bit lost, a bit bitter, and a bit disappointed.
One day, Xue Yu returned from outside the mansion and pushed open the gate. He saw the girl practicing calligraphy under the wisteria tree, with the written rice paper neatly stacked beside her.
The autumn weather is clear and crisp, the red maple leaves are turning red, and the newly made autumn clothes are made of soft red satin with black velvet and rolling texture.
The girl picked up the fermented rice on the stone table. In the small celadon bowl with ice patterns, the crystal lychee flesh and soft glutinous rice were blended together, and a layer of golden nectar was poured on top. She scooped a piece with a silver spoon and put it into her mouth. The sweet and slightly intoxicating taste suddenly spread in her mouth, and a sweet smile appeared on her moon-like face.
She stood up and washed her brush in the spring connected to Qinghu Lake in the courtyard. Her white hands and black ink. A breeze blew, and Yunyang yawned lazily. Her relaxed eyebrows carried a touch of the unique tenderness of a woman, like a colorful painting.
Yun Yang suddenly heard a light laugh, as ethereal as smoke, seeming to be there and not there, and not real.
She looked over and saw Xue Yu standing under the shade of a tree. He looked up at her calmly, still as gentle and elegant as the bright moon and gentle breeze. However, she was a little afraid of him and walked forward to greet him politely, "Brother-in-law is back."
After that, he glanced at the unfinished fermented rice in the small bowl, bit his lip and said, "I didn't slack off while practicing calligraphy. I just got hungry and ate a few bites."
Xue Yu lowered his eyes and his gaze fell on Yun Yang's lips.
Her chin was pointed, her red lips were full and lustrous, and the slightly raised corners of her lips were stained with transparent honey. Xue Yu seemed to be able to smell the faint sweet aroma of wine.
At the age of 28, the thrilling beauty of youth makes people intoxicated.
Xue Yu smiled slightly and looked at the pile of papers, "Let me see."
He looked calm and not annoyed.
As Xue Yu's expression changed as he flipped through the pages, Yun Yang's restless heart suddenly calmed down. She thought, perhaps she had made some progress?
I practice calligraphy by imitating his handwriting every day. Even though I am still far from his level, I will make some progress, right?
Xue Yu turned a page, and Yun Yang stood aside with his hands behind his back, lost in thought.
This brother-in-law seems pretty good. Daddy really found a good marriage for my sister.
His serious expression was a bit annoying, and sometimes his "teachings" to her always made her feel like she was being lectured by her father. Apart from these two points, he was handsome and tall, and with her hair in a bun, she only reached his chin, making her look a little thin. But she could train harder in the future... She just didn't know if he would attract more attention when she couldn't see him.
Xue Yu's voice came: "Not bad."
"Ah?" Yun Yang was pulled back from his trance. Coming to his senses, he smiled and said, "Really? I put a lot of effort into it. Does this character capture even one tenth of my brother-in-law's essence?"
"Write it again." Xue Yu's expression remained calm. He leaned forward slightly, tapping his long, clean knuckles on the snow-white rice paper. "What you wrote that day was my nickname, Lingjun. Only by writing the same characters again this time can we see if there has been any improvement."
Yun Yang responded, leaned over, and carefully wrote the word "Lingjun" again, stroke by stroke.
Yun Yang felt that what he wrote this time was much better than last time, and he was waiting for Xue Yu's praise with great joy. He raised his head and saw Xue Yu with his eyebrows lowered, staring at the two words he wrote without saying a word.
The leaves of the Koelreuteria tree turned red. A gust of north wind blew, and the fallen leaves floated down, swirling a few times, and landed on Xue Yu's black hair.
Yun Yang subconsciously raised his hand to help him brush off the fallen leaves.
She turned around and leaned so close to him, her eyes filled with the clear and sparkling smile that was unique to young girls.
The fallen leaves fluttered down in all colors, and he seemed to be dazed. He did not dodge, but let her pick the leaves from his hair. Her white fingertips brushed across his hair, and his nostrils were filled with the faint sweetness of lychees and the aroma of fermented rice wine.
Yun Yang showed him the fallen leaves in her palm and smiled slightly.
Xue Yu said calmly, "You were in a daze just now. What were you thinking about?"
"I just miss my sister. I wonder if she's doing well in Jiuyi Mountain," Yun Yang said. "Why don't you send me letters? Can I write to her?"
Xue Yu hesitated for a moment, then agreed, "Give it to me after you finish writing it, and I'll send someone to deliver it."
There won't be any reply.
The girl's eyes lit up with joy. "That's great! I have a lot to say to my sister. Hey, brother-in-law, you can also write to my sister. My sister has a cold exterior but a warm heart. She looks aloof and dignified, but in fact, she's just as childish as me. She's very easy to talk to and get along with."
Xue Yu smiled faintly, she still knew that she was childish.
Yun Yang and his brother-in-law recounted some interesting stories about his sister Yun Jia from her childhood to her coming of age, and they talked endlessly, intending to let Xue Yu deepen his understanding of Yun Jia so as to cultivate feelings in the future.
Xue Yu stared intently and listened quietly.
Yun Yang had initially tried to speak, expecting to be ignored, but she hadn't expected him to be so patient. Her words faltered, and her thoughts became muddled. She placed the teacup in front of Xue Yu, and what she wanted to say ultimately came down to one sentence: "My sister Yun Jia, like you, my brother-in-law, are both very good people!"
Xue Yu nodded, picked up the teacup and looked thoughtful, but a sense of confusion arose in his heart, "Am I fine?"
Yun Yang was still young and had never seen anything shady, so his impression of him was limited to the backyard.
If you really knew what kind of person he was, you might not be so willing to get close to him.
Yun Yang nodded, "Of course, my brother-in-law has never held such a high position, and he is always concerned about the country and the people. I heard that he handled many major cases recently, saving His Majesty a lot of money."
"Are you talking about the case of Jiangbei officials privately minting silver?" Xue Yu raised his eyebrows.
Yun Yang said, "It seems so. Anyway, I heard from the servants that you, brother-in-law, have handled a great case and done a great job."
"When it comes to the nation's foundation, it's a big deal." Xue Yu said, his eyelashes drooping, as if he didn't want to talk anymore, "Go back."
Yun Yang also felt that staying any longer would inevitably disturb her brother-in-law, but before she could ask what she wanted to say, she bit the bullet and said, "Just now, when I was daydreaming, I was wondering... Has any young lady taken a fancy to my brother-in-law recently? Brother-in-law, are you keeping yourself clean?"
Xue Yu raised his eyelids and answered briefly: "Yes. No."
"What do you mean by 'yes' or 'no'? 'Yes' means yes, no means no." Yun Yang put his hands on his hips, squinted his eyes and leaned forward, interrogating him. "You're always out and about, and I can't keep an eye on you. Who knows if some flirt will get entangled with you again?"
Xue Yu said frankly, "Whether someone has taken a fancy to me, I don't know yet, but Si Qing knows my daily schedule. If you have any doubts, you can come find me at any time."
Si Qing stepped forward, puffed out his chest and nodded.
"Then can I leave the house at will? Studying in the clan school every day is so boring, I want to go out for a walk." Yun Yang said.
"Okay." Xue Yu agreed casually.
The girl's eyes suddenly lit up.
Before leaving, Yun Yang was still a little worried. Looking at her brother-in-law's back, she called out, "Brother-in-law, that..."
"What?" Xue Yu turned around.
As if she had made up her mind, Yun Yang spoke very quickly: "You must remain a virgin for my sister."
Xue Yu lowered his eyes to look at her expression, only to see that her originally fair cheeks were rosy red, and she was biting her red lips lightly, with a silly and coquettish look.
She suddenly raised her eyes, then quickly lowered them again, her eyes shining brightly.
"Please, please? Don't let others seduce her..." Yun Yang begged in a low voice.
Xue Yu pursed his lips and answered solemnly, "Okay."
The author has something to say:
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Yun Yang (clenching her fist): Hey! Sis, I'll help you keep an eye on him!
Xue Yu (touching his chin): She controls me, well, she controls me because she’s interested in me…
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