Chapter 16 I didn’t want to look at him any more closely. Yun Yang had already lowered his head to drink his porridge…
Looking more closely, Yun Yang had already lowered her head to drink porridge. Her drooping neck was slender and white, making her face look even redder.
"Well, there's only one like your brother-in-law, and it's hard to find one." Old Madam Xue raised her eyes and glanced at Xue Yu. "Lingjun, please help your sister-in-law look for someone. I think Chu Qin is a good candidate. He has a good family background, is polite, and is familiar with you. He also got along well with Yun girl when he came to the mansion before."
After saying that, he pushed the sliced boiled egg in front of Yun Yang and said with a smile: "Yun girl, you have met Chu Qin. He is also a handsome young man."
Xue Yu simply drank a few mouthfuls of porridge, took the handkerchief handed to him by Si Qing, and said, "Yun Yang is marrying from the Xue family, so why should we consider the other party's family background?"
"Grandmother, what does it mean that Chu Jieran is good? Is it good that he has a princess as his mother? Or is it good that he serves in the same court as me? Grandmother, you don't know that his father has a mistress outside. Princess Shoukang cries and yells all day long, and the mansion is depressed, so Chu Qin lingers in Qinlou and Chuguan. Grandmother, you don't know that Chu Jieran has three older sisters, all of whom are married. There are those who come back crying all day long because of their bad marriages. There are... well, I won't say anymore."
"That's tough for Jieran," Old Madam Xue sighed. After a pause, she looked at Yunyang, her tone filled with pity for the younger generation. "Then there's no need to rush. Your brother-in-law knows more about officialdom, and men understand men best. Let your brother-in-law take his time to pick someone you like."
Yun Yang put down his bowl and chopsticks, shook the old lady's hand, and felt ashamed of his previous perfunctory attitude. Now he said sincerely, "Thank you, old lady."
Xue Yao, who was standing by, was unhappy. She pouted and said sullenly, "Why are you all so busy asking Sister Yun what kind of husband she wants to marry, and no one is asking me?"
"Yao'er is still young, are you preparing for a rainy day?" Xue Yu smiled calmly and patted his sister's head lovingly. "Tell me, big brother, what kind of man do you want to find?"
Xue Yao pursed her lips, tilted her head, thought for a moment, and said seriously, "What Big Brother said about Brother Jieran just now, Yao'er just felt that Brother Jieran was pitiful. He didn't have a father who loved him, and his mother didn't love him, so he went to Qinlou and Chuguan to seek comfort. There's nothing wrong with that. Big Brother doesn't like to smile, but Brother Jieran always has a smile on his face, and he's very gentle."
"Yao'er, do you know where Qinlou Chuguan is?" asked Old Lady Xue.
"It's a place that can comfort people." Xue Yao said.
Everyone laughed but said nothing.
"Besides, if Brother Jieran and Big Brother have a good relationship and often come to our house, wouldn't it be the same as not marrying him? He can still come back home often?" Xue Yao also smiled sweetly and looked at Yun Yang. "Don't you think so, Sister Yun?"
"Yes, Yao'er is right." Yun Yang smiled and agreed, "Don't look at Yao'er's small size, she is very observant."
Xue Yu looked calm, but the tea always tasted hot or bitter when he drank it.
Maybe it was because Xue Yao was still young or something else, but when Xue Yao said she liked Chu Qin, he didn't feel the same uncontrollable restlessness as before...
Yun Yang is betrothed to Chu Qin?
No, that's not a man you can trust.
*
In the evening, Yun Yang knew that Xue Yu was in the habit of reviewing official documents after dinner. She felt guilty when she thought about how his arm's recovery period had been prolonged twice because of her.
She lifted her skirt and stepped onto the winding corridor. The gentle evening breeze from Qinghu Lake swayed the reeds slightly, creating a beautiful and lonely scene. Yun Yang curled her lips, not liking the loneliness. She walked around the reeds and raised her voice, "Brother-in-law, is brother-in-law here?"
Upon hearing the voice, Si Qing came out to greet the guest, smiling, "Second Miss Yun is here. Young Master, what can I do for you?"
"Brother Suqing," Yun Yang said with a smile, shaking the brush in his hand and showing it to him. "I heard that my brother-in-law's arm was injured and he couldn't hold a pen, so I came here specially to atone for my sin."
"The young master is worrying about those documents on the second floor. Miss Yun, please come with me." Si Qing said.
When Yun Yang went up to the private room on the second floor, Xue Yu was sitting in an armchair by the window. A brush was suddenly thrown on the ground, and black ink splashed all over the floor.
She held her breath for a moment, feeling a little guilty and embarrassed. "Don't worry, brother-in-law. I can read and write. I will be your penman. What do you want to write?"
"Sit down." Xue Yu nodded slightly and said calmly, "Write a few words and let me see."
Yun Yang sat where Xue Yu had just sat. The chair was a little far from the table, so she tried to move it forward. The rosewood was heavy, but it was not as heavy as the heaviness in her heart.
Somehow, although Xue Yu was not mean to her, she felt an indescribable sense of oppression, which made her feel like a thorn in her side.
Could it be that he is not skilled enough and feels guilty?
Yun Yang glanced at the words on the rice paper on the table.
She heard that he had been in the Ministry of Justice for three days reviewing official documents because his hands were not convenient for writing. She originally wanted to write for him, but now she realized that she might have been too arrogant. Her handwriting was not up to standard.
When we were in Yun Mansion, the Master said that handwriting is a person’s second face and will accompany him throughout his life.
Yun Yang felt that her handwriting did not match her face, but there was nothing she could do about it. This was life. Past laziness was always waiting to hit people head-on at important moments.
Yun Yang nervously picked up the pen, licked the ink, and casually wrote two words on the snow-white paper.
Alas, the handwriting is just average. Compared with my brother-in-law's handwriting, it can only be said to be passable.
Xue Yu stood up, lowered his eyes, and slowly read the words on the paper, "Lingjun."
Lingjun is his courtesy name.
The brushwork could only be described as neat, with no skill or technique at all, but he felt as if these two words were engraved on his heart.
"Well, I heard the old lady call your brother-in-law Lingjun. Is that your courtesy name? Are those the two characters?" Yun Yang looked up and asked, "My name is Zhengzexi, and my courtesy name is Lingjun?"
"Yes." Xue Yu said.
"My handwriting is not good. I haven't practiced hard enough. I will work hard in the future." Yun Yang said in a low voice, and hurriedly folded the paper with the words "Lingjun" written on it and put it into her sleeve. "I don't want to make my brother-in-law laugh..."
"Give it to me." Xue Yu stretched out his hand.
The night breeze is blowing, the water is gurgling, and there are occasional frogs croaking. The reeds not far away are swaying gently like an illusory dream.
Yun Yang was stunned and quickly looked up at Xue Yu. His handsome face had no expression, no ridicule, no disgust, he lowered his eyes calmly, with a kind of conviction that could not be refused.
She had no choice but to listen to him and handed him the folded paper.
Xue Yu opened it and stared at it.
She said she neglected to practice, but he thought that the person who taught her calligraphy was not serious enough.
He pulled out another piece of paper, rolled up his sleeves and picked up the pen, "Look."
Yun Yang quickly stretched his neck and leaned over, only to see that the slender hand like cold jade was holding a pen that was as fast as a swimming dragon. As soon as the pen was put down, one could see the fluency and neatness of the brushstrokes, and each stroke was vigorous and powerful.
Yun Yang sighed sincerely, "Brother-in-law, your handwriting is so beautiful. It's the most beautiful handwriting I have ever seen."
"The most beautiful? You're quite good at praising people." Xue Yu said calmly, "Could it be comparable to those calligraphy works of masters you copied?"
Yun Yang flattered, "Of course, of course!"
Xue Yu didn't comment. He turned and walked to the antique shelf, took out a copybook with slightly yellowed pages from the top shelf, and said, "Take a look."
Yun Yang opened it as he was told. On the rice paper with flowers painted with gold threads, the brush strokes flowed smoothly, the characters were natural and beautiful, and the running script had a hidden tip.
"How beautiful! How can this handwriting be so beautiful!" Yun Yang exclaimed as he flipped through the pages. The handwriting on the first few pages was neat, showing the steady and careful mindset of the person who wrote it. But the further he flipped, the more frantic the strokes became. "Is this cursive script?"
How can someone be proficient in both the Slender Gold style and the cursive script?
Xue Yu's voice was filled with laughter, "Are you really praising me this time?"
"I was really praising you just now. Brother-in-law's handwriting is beautiful too," Yun Yang defended herself, still fascinated by the calligraphy. "It's just that this person's handwriting is too beautiful. Whose calligraphy is this?"
The candlelight flickered slightly, exuding a hazy tenderness. The young man sitting by the window, wearing a light fur coat and loosely belted, raised his right hand and curled his lips in a smile.
Yun Yang widened his eyes and realized that Xue Yu was writing with his uninjured left hand!
Even the way he holds the pen and writes with his left hand looks so beautiful, and his handwriting is better than others who write with their right hand...
"How come I can write with my left hand, and write so well?" Yun Yang expressed his thoughts.
"Basic skills." Xue Yu smiled faintly. "When I was young, I had nothing to do, so I practiced calligraphy with both hands. But my left hand is still far behind my right hand."
"That's right, brother-in-law, the handwriting you write with your right hand is so beautiful. I have never seen such beautiful handwriting." Yun Yang sighed.
"This is the second time you've said 'never' tonight." Xue Yu smiled suddenly, as graceful as a delicate orchid and a jade tree. "Come."
He picked up the brush and spread another piece of rice paper on the side. Yun Yang hurried over to learn seriously.
"The most important thing when writing is to calm your mind, keep your wrist steady, and don't shake your waist," said Xue Yu.
After practicing for a long time, Yun Yang found that the characters he wrote with his right hand were still far behind those written with his left hand. He felt a little frustrated. "I came here to help my brother-in-law with his writing, but why did I ask him to teach me? I am causing trouble for him, am I not..."
Xue Yu stared at her for a moment and said, "You are still young. You have plenty of time to practice calligraphy. Your handwriting reflects your personality. Your handwriting will stay with you for the rest of your life. Neat handwriting is always good."
Yun Yang sensed that he was hesitant to speak, froze, and raised his head.
Xue Yu slowly put down his pen and looked directly at her, "Do you like Chu Qin?"
Yun Yang had long forgotten what happened during the day. Her mother had always said that she was forgetful and careless, and only knew how to be happy. But when Xue Yu said this, Yun Yang was no longer happy, and her hand holding the pen tightened.
He was very patient, staring at her without saying a word, waiting quietly for her answer.
"Brother-in-law, I have no interest in Lord Chu," Yun Yang said, without the shyness of a young girl. She calmly asked, "I've only met Lord Chu a few times. Why must I marry him? Just because he knows you, brother-in-law, well-connected, and handsome, do I have to marry him?"
"You've reached the age of marriage this year, and it's common for women to be betrothed to someone else upon reaching that age. You're now in the Xue residence, so Grandmother and I have no choice but to make plans for you." Xue Yu placed her slender hands lightly on the table, then took a sip of tea. "What I said to Grandmother today was also biased. Now that I think about it, as Xue Yao said, Chu Qin isn't necessarily a bad match."
Yun Yang smiled, a cold smile. "Brother-in-law must have thought that I came from a humble family and that I would be eager to get close to a noble young man when I saw him in the capital? Or does brother-in-law think that I have not seen much of the world and that a handsome young man like Lord Chu should be of interest to me? Brother-in-law is really underestimating me. I have absolutely no such intentions towards Chu Qin or Lord Chu."
"Okay." He put down the teacup and smiled faintly, "Since you have no interest in Chu Qin, I won't let him contact you. If he bothers you, come and tell me."
The author has something to say:
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Xue Yu, the old thief, crossed out Chu Qin's name in his notebook and gave his sister a heads-up first.
My name is Zhengze and my courtesy name is Lingjun, which come from "Chu Ci".
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