Liu Xiuhe saw that Chen Shuyi had gone silent, so she raised her voice again and scolded her:
“Chen Shuyi! You are acting rude in front of your own fiancé, and when your mother tells you a few words and asks you to apologize, you feel wronged?!”
Chen Shuyi’s heart grew even more bitter.
“You all know he is my fiancé!
Father says such things about his daughter in front of her fiancé, and Mother scolds me in front of him. Do I still have any dignity left?
I know Father and Mother love me, but I do not want that kind of material love. What I want is for you not to be so harsh with your daughter, all right? I am almost at my limit!”
Chen Shuyi was on the verge of breaking down inside.
At that moment, Bai Zhao’s pleasant voice sounded softly from above her.
“Uh, Aunt Liu, isn’t that a bit too serious? I think it’s nothing at all. Are you treating me like an outsider, Aunt Liu?
Sister Shuyi only acted like that because she does not see me as an outsider. How can you say she is being discourteous? I think Sister Shuyi was trying to prove her innocence to me by saying that!
Hehe, looks like I still matter a little in Sister Shuyi’s heart.
So I think there is nothing wrong with what Sister Shuyi said. I like hearing it. Uncle Chen, Aunt Liu, please do not be angry anymore and stop scolding Sister Shuyi, all right?
After all, she is my fiancée. For my sake, could the two elders please not argue with Sister Shuyi? Would that be all right?”
As Chen Shuyi listened to Bai Zhao’s soft plea, lightly laced with playful teasing, she felt a warm current rush into her heart.
Chuntao, standing nearby, also seized the chance to plead on Liu Xiuhe’s behalf. Liu Xiuhe’s expression changed several times before she said coldly:
“Since Zhao’er is speaking for you, I will let it go this time. If it happens again, I will not be lenient!”
Chen Shuyi forced her tears back and replied in a choked voice with her head lowered:
“Yes, Mother. Your daughter understands.”
Bai Zhao, watching from the side, even felt stifled by the atmosphere and sighed inwardly:
“Tsk. How does this old Chen family raise children like this?
What’s the big deal about interrupting? Did she break some heavenly law? Was it really necessary?
This girl is truly pitiful. With parents like that, she may not lack food or clothing, but mentally, she probably has it rough. Feudal society is terrifying!”
As an outsider, Bai Zhao could not really say much, but he still felt Chen Shuyi was pitiful enough. He decided that from now on, he should treat her better.
“All right, all right, let’s stop talking about this. Uh, Uncle Chen, what were you trying to say just now?”
Seeing that the atmosphere had grown somewhat heavy, Bai Zhao hurriedly changed the subject.
Chen Wei’s expression eased. Thinking of what he had not finished saying, he spoke with a slightly stern tone:
“I was just thinking of telling you, why not compose a poem for my daughter on the spot?
After all, she likes poetry, and you two already have a marriage contract. Writing one could also help deepen your feelings, right?
I was just about to say it when this girl interrupted me. Isn’t that annoying? Truly outrageous!”
Seeing Chen Wei get angry again and start scolding Chen Shuyi, Bai Zhao quickly agreed without hesitation:
“What is so hard about that? Ah, Uncle, you should have said so earlier. Don’t blame Sister Shuyi. Isn’t it just writing a poem for my own fiancée? Bring me the brush and ink!”
Bai Zhao agreed readily, but his mind was racing. For a moment, he could not think of any ancient poem from his previous life to give Chen Shuyi, but since the words had already left his mouth, he could only force himself to think.
Seeing Bai Zhao agree so readily, the three members of the Chen family all brightened.
So confident?
Chen Shuyi looked at Bai Zhao’s profile in astonishment, still carrying the emotion from earlier, and only felt that this boy, two years younger than her, was wrapped in layers of mystery, making one unable to resist wanting to explore him.
She also could not help but look forward to what poem he would give her. Would it be the full version of those two lines from earlier, “lotus emerging from clear water, naturally unadorned”?
While she was still thinking in a jumble, she suddenly heard her father call her softly:
“Shuyi, what are you standing there for? Hurry and go get the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone! Since it is for you, you will grind the ink for Bai Zhao!”
“Yes, Father.”
Chen Shuyi startled, then obediently stood up, bent her knees in a curtsey, and answered.
As she reached the doorway, Bai Zhao called after her back:
“Sister Shuyi, no rush. Take your time. You do not need to grind the ink. I can do it myself.”
Chen Shuyi turned back and smiled gently at Bai Zhao, then said:
“Since you call me Sister Shuyi, and I am your fiancée, grinding the ink for you is only proper. There is no need to mind it.”
After saying that, she turned and went to the study to fetch the brush and ink for Bai Zhao.
Watching that smile over her shoulder, Bai Zhao had a flash of inspiration. He had it!
An incense stick later, Chen Shuyi came back with the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Her forehead was slightly damp with sweat, and her breathing was a little quick; it was obvious she had hurried back.
Seeing this, Bai Zhao stepped forward a few paces, took out a handkerchief embroidered with a gentleman’s orchid, handed it to Chen Shuyi with one hand while taking the brush and ink with the other, and said softly:
“I told you not to rush, Sister Shuyi. Wipe your sweat first.”
As he moved closer to Chen Shuyi, a faint young woman’s fragrance, like orchid and musk, drifted over. It smelled wonderful, and Bai Zhao could not help but take a light breath.
Seeing Bai Zhao inhale, Chen Shuyi took two hurried steps back, accepted the handkerchief, and nervously said, “Thank you, Zhao Di. Please just mind your own business and do not worry about me.”
After speaking, she retreated to sit beside her mother.
Wiping her sweat with the handkerchief, a cool pine scent filled her nose.
Unconsciously, a hint of sweetness settled in her heart.
This guy could still be very gentle sometimes.
Seeing Chen Shuyi a little shy, Bai Zhao shook his head and said nothing. He picked up the brush, returned to the table, dipped the brush in the ground ink, and wrote without hesitation:
Light silk brocade dress, white orchid fair,
Slender waist, jade belt, dancing in heavenly gauze;
Like a fairy descended from heaven,
Her smile upon turning back outshines the stars.
He wrote it all in one breath. The brushwork was bold and powerful, smooth and flowing, graceful yet full of momentum, as though clouds and smoke had fallen onto the paper.
This poem was by Wu Ping, and adapting it for this moment was just right. After all, the original line about a light silk fan would not work here, since Chen Shuyi was not holding a fan in this freezing weather.
In any case, this was not the first time he had taken something for free, so Bai Zhao felt absolutely no pressure.
Chuntao was so anxious she could hardly stand it, but since this was not their own estate, she could not lean over to look. She could only wait eagerly.
Chen Wei did not know much about poetry, but he thought Bai Zhao’s handwriting was truly beautiful!
Seeing that Bai Zhao had finished and that the four women opposite him were all staring at the sheet of xuan paper in his hand, he extended it to Chen Shuyi and said, “Since it is for you, then take a look.”
Chen Shuyi carefully accepted it. Just one glance, and she covered her mouth in surprise.
Chuntao could not wait any longer. She tentatively took the paper, and seeing that Chen Shuyi did not object, she took it and placed it in the middle for all four of them to see.
After the four had looked at it:
Qiulan did not understand poetry very well, but she still thought the poem was exceedingly beautiful;
Chuntao had studied literature with Bai Zhao since childhood. Do not be fooled by how uncomposed she looked; the little girl was actually a literary talent, a true young poet. That was why she softly exclaimed, “What a beautiful poem! The Heir really knows how to write about women! No, no, the Heir describes Miss Chen so perfectly!”
Realizing she had said the wrong thing, Chuntao quickly corrected herself. Bai Zhao’s face darkened, and the corner of his mouth twitched as he silently thought:
“What do you mean I know how to write about women! You bold little Chuntao! Careful, or the Heir will spank you!”
Liu Xiuhe came from Jiangnan and belonged to a scholarly noble family, so of course she could understand it. She was shocked that Bai Zhao could write such a poem in such a short time. This boy had hidden his talent very deeply!
But she was, after all, an elder, and her composure was excellent. She nodded slightly and praised him with a smile:
“Not bad. Zhao’er really is talented. Your mother actually hid this from me, after all these years of being close girlfriends!”
After praising Bai Zhao, she also complained about Lu Xinrou.
Bai Zhao could only smile awkwardly.
At that moment, Chen Shuyi was the most shocked of all.
She knew this poem had been written because Bai Zhao saw her smile at him just now and was inspired by it.
But to think he actually had such talent, and had hidden it for so many years. That must have been hard on him.
And his handwriting was also so beautiful, carrying an unyielding spirit. He must have had a very difficult and painful time all these years, right?
Chen Shuyi actually began to feel a little sorry for Bai Zhao.
If Bai Zhao knew, he would probably only say: woman, your imagination is running too wild!
The truth was that the poem was only average. Great Qian simply did not have this kind of romantic poetry, and the literary circles had been quiet for nearly a hundred years. These people had not seen a good poem in a long time, which was why they were so shocked.
Besides, he had not even written it himself. He had only been inspired by Chen Shuyi’s smile over her shoulder. As for the handwriting, that had been learned in his previous life for a mission, copied from the writing of a master calligrapher…
Self-assumed affection is the hardest thing to solve.
On the other side, Chen Wei saw his daughter staring at the poem for so long without saying anything, and then heard his wife speak like that. He immediately understood.
He patted Bai Zhao on the shoulder and laughed, scolding him affectionately:
“You really know how to hide your abilities!
No wonder you turned down my help that day. So you were already confident.
Not bad. I underestimated you. You are not the one who needs backup at all. Good, very good, haha!”
Bai Zhao could only smile bitterly and let Chen Wei thump his shoulder. What could he say? Nothing he said would be right.
Seeing that his daughter still had not spoken, Chen Wei said in a somewhat unhappy voice:
“Shuyi, do you not like Bai Zhao’s poem? Why have you not said anything? And you have not thanked Bai Zhao either. Are you being discourteous again?”
Chen Shuyi hurriedly came back to herself. Even her gentle, watery face showed a trace of obvious anxiety:
“Father, do not blame me. Your daughter was only momentarily lost in the beauty of Zhao Di’s poem. Please forgive my discourtesy!”
After explaining to Chen Wei, Chen Shuyi steadied herself and spoke softly to Bai Zhao:
“Thank you for the poem, Zhao Di. Your poem is excellently written, and your calligraphy is beautiful. Of course Shuyi likes it, but Shuyi is not worthy of such praise from Zhao Di. Please take it back.”
After saying that, she held the xuan paper in both hands and reluctantly handed it back to Bai Zhao.
Bai Zhao wore a smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze, and his voice was as warm as the rising sun in winter:
“Sister Shuyi is being far too modest. In my eyes, Sister Shuyi is exactly this beautiful. Saying that you are a fairy descended from heaven is not an exaggeration at all.
Since it was given to Sister Shuyi, then it naturally belongs to Sister Shuyi. Please accept it. Sister Shuyi would not be looking down on the poem I wrote and refusing to take it, would she?”
At the end, Bai Zhao deliberately turned it into a question.
Chen Shuyi’s heart fluttered wildly, and her watery eyes were full of shyness.
Bai Zhao’s praise was too direct. She felt terribly embarrassed, but since he had said it so clearly, she could only accept it.
Then, with red clouds blooming across her jade-like face, she asked in a trembling voice, “Mu… Ran… does this poem have a title?”
Bai Zhao looked at Chen Shuyi in front of him, somewhat puzzled.
Why are you trembling? And why is your face so red? How strange.
That Bai family straight-guy syndrome had flared up again. He had no idea how charming and warm his actions actually were.
Still unable to figure it out, Bai Zhao said softly:
“Since it is for Sister Shuyi, let it be called ‘Bai Zhao Presents a Poem to Shuyi at the Duke of Luguo’s Estate.’”