You Promised to Be an Idle Son-in-Law, How Could You Become a Land Immortal?-Chapter 55: Poetry and Calligraphy

Xiaodie couldn’t refuse her, so she recounted what happened when the brothers Chen Yi and Chen Yunfan met that afternoon.

After she finished listening, Pei Guanli’s eyes darted around. "Do you want to go check out the poetry gathering?"

Xiaodie glanced at the dark night outside the window and said hesitantly, "Miss Pei, the first watch of the night has already begun..."

"We’ll just go to the academy, take one look, and come right back."

"But if we get back late, I’m afraid the Master and Miss Jinghong will be displeased."

"Don’t worry, I’ll handle my brother-in-law and Sister Jinghong."

Pei Guanli patted her chest in assurance, making the pair of bells she wore sway and jingle.

Xiaodie looked at her, unconvinced and still hesitant.

"Really? Just one look?"

"That’s right, that’s right."

"Then can you go by yourself? I’ll wait for you here."

Pei Guanli stared at her, surprised. "You’re not going?"

Xiaodie shook her head. "The Eldest Miss took me to a poetry gathering once."

Having recently witnessed her master-in-law’s poetry and calligraphy, she was no longer impressed by the so-called "talented scholars and beautiful ladies." She didn’t think there was anything special to see at such an event.

Pei Guanli thought for a moment and decided not to press the issue.

After Old Luo parked the carriage by the roadside, she clutched the brocade box containing the calligraphy copybook and skipped toward Guiyun Academy.

Xiaodie sat in the carriage, watching her disappear into the distance. She wondered what excuse Pei Guanli had used to get into the academy so easily. Resting her chin in her hands, she began to wait in silence.

She wasn’t afraid of being punished by her master and miss, but she was worried that Miss Pei Guanli was too playful and would lose track of time, making them late to return to the mansion.

Alas, she was simply too young and naive.

If Chen Yi had been there, he would never have let Pei Guanli act so recklessly. He would have dragged her back to the mansion if he had to.

Inside Guiyun Academy, the grounds were brightly lit.

Although the poetry gathering was organized by the academy, other scholars in Shu State City who held official ranks, as well as young ladies from respected literary families, were also welcome to attend.

This was how Pei Guanli, a girl from the Mountain Race, was able to enter the academy so easily.

When the guards at the gate heard she was delivering a calligraphy copybook to the Imperial Top Scholar, they let her pass without a moment’s hesitation.

The Imperial Top Scholar visiting Guiyun Academy so soon after his arrival in Shu State would make for a fine tale.

So, it was perfectly reasonable that the Imperial Top Scholar, having arrived to find the poetry gathering already nearing its end, would have someone deliver a piece of calligraphy to him.

And so, clutching the brocade box, Pei Guanli made a beeline for the garden deep within the academy grounds.

The moment she passed through the covered walkway, the faint buzz of voices became the clear sound of laughter and conversation.

In the spacious garden, four brightly lit pavilions were filled with people—all elegantly dressed young men and women of letters.

Pei Guanli scanned the crowd but couldn’t find the Imperial Top Scholar in his bright red robes.

With a quick glance around, she sat down in the pavilion closest to the walkway and waited quietly.

’Since I can’t find him, I might as well stop looking. The only way in or out is that walkway. I’m bound to run into my brother-in-law’s brother eventually.’

’So you want to make fun of my brother-in-law, huh? Hmph. I’ll make it so you can’t eat or sleep, and you’ll be itchy all over... but that doesn’t seem satisfying enough.’

Pei Guanli fiddled with the packets of medicinal powder she had with her, considering and discarding each one. Finally, she decided to give him an experience he would never forget.

Just then, a young scholar in a long robe caught sight of her, and his eyes lit up.

He approached her and said politely, "Miss, I wonder if you might be interested in the poem I just composed?"

Pei Guanli looked up at him. "Not interested."

"Well then, miss, would you perhaps care to move to..."

Before he could finish, Pei Guanli bared her canines. "Get lost! Say one more word and, believe it or not, I’ll drag you back to the mountains with me."

The scholar froze, then beat a hasty retreat with an embarrassed smile.

A few other scholars who had overheard the exchange began to tease him.

"It’s only natural that a girl from the Mountain Race wouldn’t recognize Brother Liu’s talent."

"Still, seeing Brother Liu make such a bold move reminds me of a line of poetry."

"What a coincidence, so did I."

"Gather ye flowers while ye may, lest ye find but barren twigs in time... HA HA HA..."

Pei Guanli didn’t understand what they were talking about, so she ignored them, turning back to stare intently at the walkway. In her head, she chanted:

’Not listening, not listening, it’s all just gibberish.’

What she didn’t know, however, was that the Guiyun Academy poetry gathering was being held in two separate locations.

In a wing of the building, just a wall away from the garden.

Originally, the room had been occupied only by a few of the academy’s masters, Li Huai’gu, and a handful of exceptional students.

But Chen Yunfan’s arrival had added a certain tension to the otherwise harmonious atmosphere.

Chen Yunfan, seated in a place of lower honor, bowed with clasped hands. "Mr. Yue Ming, I’ve come uninvited. I hope you will forgive my intrusion."

Mr. Yue Ming smiled. "Think nothing of it. It is my duty to welcome this year’s Imperial Top Scholar to our academy."

"However, the poetry gathering is already drawing to a close... Perhaps the Imperial Top Scholar would care to critique the best works from our students?"

Chen Yunfan hesitated. His eyes flickered toward Li Huai’gu and the others before he shook his head. "I came only to pay my respects to the masters here."

’I may have been a bit presumptuous.’

’These book-addled idiots actually want to test me and make me look like a fool.’

With that thought, Chen Yunfan added, "Please, continue. I am content to just listen."

Mr. Yue Ming exchanged a glance with the other elderly men. After a brief hesitation, he instructed Li Huai’gu to keep Chen Yunfan company.

Li Huai’gu, of course, did not refuse. He took a seat next to Chen Yunfan and struck up a conversation.

"Brother Yunfan, it’s been over a month since we parted ways in the Capital Prefecture. I never thought we would meet again so soon."

"I didn’t expect it either. To think the Holy Emperor would banish me to Shu State."

"..."

Li Huai’gu’s expression soured. To use the word "banish" for an official appointment was hardly appropriate.

But having witnessed Chen Yunfan’s spoiled, aristocratic ways back in the Capital Prefecture, he wasn’t particularly surprised.

Chen Yunfan glanced around the room. "What were you all just discussing?" he asked.

He may not have attended many poetry gatherings, but he was familiar with the general proceedings.

Since the gathering was nearing its end, the masters should have been selecting the day’s top prize winner.

But judging by the way Mr. Yue Ming and the others were huddled together, whispering, it didn’t seem like they were discussing the winner’s masterpiece.

His curiosity was piqued.

Li Huai’gu shot him a look. "My master and the others are discussing their visit to Duke Dingyuan’s birthday celebration tomorrow."

"Oh?"

Chen Yunfan looked puzzled. He had heard before his arrival that the masters of Guiyun Academy did not get along with the Xiao Family.

The reason was simple enough—the great Confucian scholars looked down on military men.

So why would they be going to Old Marquis Xiao’s birthday celebration?

Seeing his curiosity, Li Huai’gu thought for a moment before asking, "Brother Yunfan, may I ask about your relationship with Brother Qingzhou?"

’It’s probably not good,’ he mused.

He had recently heard that before Chen Yi married into the Xiao Family, he had been confined to his home for several years by a certain Miss Cui.

Therefore, as the legitimate son of Miss Cui, Chen Yunfan’s relationship with Chen Yi was likely not a close one.

Not understanding Li Huai’gu’s intentions, Chen Yunfan replied casually, "It’s decent enough. Brother Yi and I were classmates since we were young, ate from the same pot... though we didn’t share a bed." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Why do you ask? Does Mr. Yue Ming and the others attending the Old Marquis’s birthday have something to do with Brother Yi?"

Li Huai’gu shook his head discreetly and said in a level voice, "My master is only attending the celebration because he wants to see the calligraphy copybook written by Brother Qingzhou."

At these words, Chen Yunfan froze, the pastry he had just picked up with his chopsticks stopping halfway to his mouth.

"Brother Yi’s calligraphy?"

"Brother Huai’gu, I know that Brother Yi practiced calligraphy diligently since he was a child and was even praised by Mr. Ju Yi once. But to say his work is so good that it would compel Mr. Yue Ming to visit the Marquis’s Mansion... I’m afraid that’s..."

Li Huai’gu said no more, simply gesturing toward Mr. Yue Ming and the other masters.

Chen Yunfan looked over and heard Mr. Yue Ming saying:

"My mind is made up. If the rest of you are unwilling to go, then I will swallow my pride and go alone."

An elderly man beside him frowned. "It’s not that we are unwilling, but the Xiao Family resides in the mansion of a military marquis. Our visit might send the wrong message to the scholars of Shu State."

"Indeed, Brother Ming. Besides, based solely on your description, we still find it hard to believe that the Xiao family’s live-in son-in-law could possess such skill in calligraphy."

"I don’t believe it either," another said. "How old can he be? To have achieved the Calligraphy Dao Realm of Beauty and Grace? And with a new script style, no less?"

At this, Mr. Yue Ming’s expression turned stern. "You’ll find out whether it’s true or not when you accompany me tomorrow!"

"If I am mistaken, I will bear all the consequences myself!"

The other masters paused, exchanged glances, and shook their heads in resignation.

"Guiyun Academy stands as one. How could we let you go alone?"

"Fine, we might as well go and see for ourselves. Perhaps it is true."

"Hmph! I’ll go, but I refuse to believe that live-in son-in-law has such ability!"

"..."

Hearing their conversation, Chen Yunfan blinked, a look of utter bewilderment on his face.

’Brother Yi’s calligraphy has achieved the Calligraphy Dao Realm of Beauty and Grace? And it’s a new script style?’

’That’s impossible... Impossible!’