Chapter 5: Practice Calligraphy

"This king still has many things to do." Yinzhen said as he stood up and smoothened out his robe. "Fujin, remember that you are the wife this king personally requested to Huang Ama to marry. So do your duties well and don't disappoint this king and E-Niang."

With that, Yinzhen left with his hands folded behind his back, not bothering to look at Rouze's aggrieved expression.

When he stepped out of the courtyard, Yinzhen saw a vague figure quickly disappear from his sight. His lips curling, he walked to a nearby maid and asked, "Who was here not long ago?"

The maid curtsied before nervously answering, "Replying to the Lord, it was Xiao Xizi who had just left in a hurry. He said he needed to go the latrine."

"Go send someone to watch Xiao Xizi, no need to get too close." Whispered Yinzhen to one of the original owner's confidants.

Yinzhen didn't expect he would be able to identify one of the Kangxi's spies so early. It seems that he really needed to clean and rectify his mansion soon. Kangxi's spies are fine, but it is imperative to prevent other people's spies from entering, especially those brothers of his, all of whom could potentially become his enemy. He wanted his mansion to be an impenetrable iron bucket.

Strolling to his study room, Yinzhen took the opportunity to explore his mansion, traversing the mansion's gardens and concubines' courtyards. Although compared to the Imperial Palace, it wasn't as impressive, but still sizeable.

When he reached his study room, he heard a ping sound in his mind. "Ding! Issuing the first task: Recite the Thousand Character Classic and practice calligraphy for an hour."

"Recite the Thousand Character Classic? Isn't that for children to do? And isn't this task too simple?"

"Not many people can read the old traditional characters, and I doubt you can as well. Moreover, your calligraphy with a brush will undeniably look like dog scrawls. It's better to practice everything from the beginning." The system said with a flat tone.

"...." Why does he feel that the system was mocking him?

Yinzhen brushed his nose. Well, the system is indeed correct, he does need to be well versed with those traditional characters and calligraphy so as not to ruin the original owner's reputation and place an uneducated label on his head.

When he stood behind the table, a blue screen popped into existence in his eyes, and its content are from the ancients' Thousand Character Classic. Picking up the brush, Yinzhen dipped it in the ink and tried to copy the characters in the Thousand Character Classic neatly. While writing, he took the time to ask, "What do I get for completing the task?"

"Completion of a task earns you system currency, crystals, which can be used to exchange for items and blueprints in the system mall. Only by completing ten tasks can you unlock the system mall." Answered the system.

Crystals? System mall? It looks like there's much in store for him in this life.

Finishing off his last stroke, Yinzhen stared at his work. Exactly like the system said, his handwriting looked like dog scrawls.

Yinzhen was stressed. He was confident that he would be able to recite the Thousand Character Classic with ease, but when it comes to calligraphy, to develop good handwriting with a brush undoubtedly takes a good deal of time.

There was no guarantee that he would not be forced to present his calligraphy in front of others in the future. If his calligraphy was still not up to standard at that time, his face would be lost and stomped on the ground, not to mention that others might view him with suspicion. The original owner's calligraphy was top notch, but his was like dog scrawl. How could this not attract the eyes of others?

"System, do you have a manuscript of the original owner's calligraphy? I need it."

"Here Host." The blue screen containing the Thousand Character Classic in front of him was quickly replaced with another, and the style of calligraphy in it was quite different. If the former was robotic and without personality, then the new one has a certain strength and majesty to it.

Rolling up his sleeves, Yinzhen, who was determined to not let himself become a joke in front of others, started to practice diligently.

The eunuch who was grinding ink beside him peered at his master worriedly. His master was acting strange today, he keeps looking up and down while practicing calligraphy. The eunuch pondered for a moment before his eyes lit up.

His master must be missing Fujin! The master loves Fujin so much, he must've felt sorry that he used a harsh tone earlier when talking to Fujin, so that's why he's distracted!

He must seize this chance to look good in front of Master! The eunuch patted himself on the back for his cleverness, then tentatively said, "Master, Fujin is in her courtyard, she won't blame master-"

Being interrupted when he was concentrating was not pleasant. The eunuch was frightened and immediately shut up when he saw Yinzhen's eyes looking at him like he was looking at a dead person.

****

A young woman dressed in a light blue cheongsam sat at her son's bedside in a daze. When Jianqiu saw her master staring outside with red eyes, she knew what she was thinking about. "Master, it's a good thing that the Lord is willing to care for the young master."

Yixiu wiped the tears forming in her red eyes and smiled. "Yes, it's a good thing." When Yixiu finally stabilized her mood, it was time for Honghui to take medicine, so she asked Jianqiu to personally prepare the concoction in case of any variable. It was better to be careful after all.

After Jianqiu left, Yixiu turned around, holding the asleep Honghui's hand, she muttered, "Honghui, your Ama finally remembers you. Your Ama hasn't forgotten us...your Ama hasn't forgotten us...."

When she said this, Yixiu's voice choked and couldn't help but sound hoarse. Ever since her sister entered the mansion, her husband's love and care for her and Honghui was something she could only dream of, but could never fight for.

The gentleness and sweetness he had initially shown her seems to be a fleeting illusion, gone like drying streams of water, replaced by distance and indifference.

Just now when he was indifferent to her sister but cared for her and her son, Yixiu's lost heart seemed to have found light again.

What happened today made her want to try and regain his affection. Even if she was scared that what he did today was just a whim, she yearned for that tender feeling. She, who had always been neglected since childhood, also wanted him to love her as he did her sister, even if his love for her was only a small stream compared to her sister's torrent.

Her emotions was like a fire that couldn't be extinguished, but instead kept growing stronger and stronger until it swallowed her heart. It was only when Jianqiu reported that the head maid at Rouze's side came bringing supplements and medicine that Yixiu was able to extricate herself from her thoughts.

"Jianqiu, tell them that I would like to thank my sister for her attentive regard, and that I'm grateful for her care." Yixiu instructed coldly, her tone containing faint annoyance and jaundice.

"This maidservant will do so." Of course, Jianqiu would not say it like Yixiu, but reply in a polite and respectful manner, else who knows what Fujin would accuse her master of.

When Jianqiu returned, indignation was written all over her face. "Tell me. What did they say to provoke you again?" Yixiu asked, her tone softening. This was her most loyal maid, the confidant she grew up with. If she could not even trust Jianqiu, then she was afraid she could trust no one.

"The dowry maid beside Fujin said that if my lady needed anything in the future, just tell Fujin, no need to disturb the Lord." Jianqiu said with ire.

Yixiu understood why Jianqiu was so angry. That dowry maid, or her sister to be precise, was accusing her of disregarding the Fujin's authority and directly complaining to the Lord about matters that should be handled by the Fujin. This was explicitly charging her with disrespecting the rules.

Yixiu smiled. She would not pay attention to this little thing. She did not do anything out of bounds, so she would like to see how her sister could pick faults on her.

From this, she could see that today's incident had done considerable damage to her sister's pride and gave her, whose life had always been smooth, immense humiliation. Thinking of this, Yixiu's mood greatly improved. If Yixiu knew that Rouze was still gnashing her teeth and twisting her handkerchief in frustration, she would be even happier.