TSLSILMH Ch 28

Chapter 28

When Xie Shu heard this, the tip of his brush paused slightly, but without changing his expression, he calmly continued writing. Only after he had finished sketching a clear character did he quietly ask, “And what is the difference?”

Being countered by his master with such a question, Xi Mo scratched his head. In truth, he had not thought about it that deeply before, he had only felt that his master’s handwriting had become much more pleasing to the eye compared to before…

This time, Xi Mo carefully studied it again and said: “I can’t really explain the exact structure, but it feels like the strokes have gained some spirit, and the characters also now show some framework.”

Thinking of this, Xi Mo felt puzzled. These days, although his master had indeed been practicing his calligraphy, the style he usually copied was not quite the same as what was shown in front of him now…

Soon, Xi Mo came back to his senses, and feeling happy at his master’s improvement, he sincerely praised, “Master, the characters you write now are truly beautiful. When you enter the examination hall in the future, they will surely strike the examiners with brilliance at first sight!”

Xie Shu, upon hearing this, gave a faint smile and shook his head without speaking.

Yet Xi Mo’s words were not without reason.

Whether it was the imperial examinations or later appointments through the Ministry of Personnel, “calligraphy” was always an important element. Having a fine hand could indeed make an answer sheet stand out amongst the countless scrolls, even the memorials submitted by officials to the Emperor required neat and well-formed characters.

This was precisely why Xie Shu needed to practice every day.

The style of calligraphy he had once studied was actually the result of integrating what he had learned from the Yan style and the Slender Gold style. Though in this world such figures had not yet existed, the aesthetic standards for appreciating calligraphy were not all that different.

Now that he had been discovered by Xi Mo, he resolved that from now on, he would no longer deliberately imitate the handwriting of this body’s former owner, but would slowly return to his own original style.

Xie Shu practiced for an hour until his wrist felt slightly sore. He set down his brush and prepared to rest for a while.

Just then, he heard a knock on the door outside. Xi Mo hurried to answer it and soon came back carrying a plate of fruits.

After placing the plate on Xie Shu’s desk, Xi Mo chuckled and said with a grin: “Master, this was sent over by the Young Lord’s men. He must be worried you are studying too diligently and tiring your body.”

Xie Shu’s gaze fell upon the carefully arranged fresh fruits, and he smiled.

He recalled how, a few years ago, when his parents were still alive, while he studied in the study, he too would receive such thoughtful care.

In that moment of daze, it felt as though a very long time had passed since then. Yet the warmth that rose in his heart remained unchanged, just as it always had been.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Xie Shu softly said: “I should thank the Young Lord later.”

Hearing how his master still spoke of the Young Lord in such polite and formal terms, Xi Mo was a bit frustrated, though he dared not rebuke him directly. Instead, he dropped hints in a roundabout way: “Master and the Young Lord need not stand on such ceremony. The Young Lord probably dislikes hearing you say that all the time anyway.”

Xie Shu, upon hearing this, felt that there was indeed some truth in Xi Mo’s words.

The Young Lord treated him so well, yet he could only express his gratitude in words. Spoken once or twice it was fine, but if repeated too often, they became empty words. Actions would be a far truer expression.

He resolved to redouble his efforts and strive to obtain a good ranking in the upcoming provincial examinations, so as not to render the Young Lord’s kindness for naught.

With this thought, Xie Shu unfolded his scrolls once again and immersed himself in his reading.

Seeing this scene, Xi Mo was left dumbfounded. Had the master misunderstood his meaning altogether?

Meanwhile, Yu Wanchun sat weakly slumped against the cold iron bars. The environment around him was dark and oppressive, damp and confining. In just over ten days, Yu Wanchun appeared to have lost a great deal of weight, new wrinkles creased the corners of his eyes, and his eye sockets had sunken deeply, as though all the vitality had been drained from him.

Where was the former visage of smiling gentleness, of amiable benevolence?

During these ten-odd days, Yu Wanchun had been imprisoned in a cell, undergoing countless rounds of interrogation. At first, Yu Wanchun still had some strength to make a few rebuttals, but when he refused to confess, they put him to the “spiked restraints.” Yu Wanchun had always lived in privilege and comfort—how could he bear such treatment?

He could not help but be filled with rage and hatred. This fall had been far too severe. Not only had his plan failed, but he now stood no chance of inheriting the Yu family, and his reputation was likewise ruined. Only by enduring could he hope for another chance one day.

Thus, Yu Wanchun gave his confession one by one. Yet regarding the red agate, he still insisted adamantly that he had obtained that piece from a gambling house.

Unfortunately, apart from himself, all the other loafers and ruffians testified with unusual neatness and uniformity—they all claimed that they had never seen the red agate before, and that everything was orchestrated by Lord Yu, Yu Wanchun, from behind the scenes.

Yu Wanchun now understood clearly that, on one hand, they must have been bribed by that fine nephew of his, and on the other, they wanted to push all the blame onto him!

During these days, Yu Wanchun had not failed to try and make some arrangements. Though some of the prison wardens had indeed been bribed by his nephew, there were always those unpredictable ones, eyes blinded by money. As such, Yu Wanchun was able to see his loyal servants a few times and gave them secret instructions.

For these ten days, Yu Wanchun had been reviewing everything from beginning to end, and began to notice certain oddities. Thinking carefully now, he realized that from the very moment Xie Shu had fallen into the water and woken up again, events had begun shifting away from his plans.

Yu Wanchun knew that his only remaining chance was to recant during the public trial that would take place in several days.

At present, punishments under the law were divided into the Five Penalties: flogging, beating with the heavy staff, penal servitude, exile, and death—the last of these being the most severe.

Yu Wanchun knew that his crime would not warrant death, but any of the preceding punishments filled him with paralyzing dread.

Crimes warranting penal servitude or higher required hearings through multiple levels of government. After the county came the prefectural authority. As long as he could overturn his confession in court, he still had hope.

At this time, in Jinling Prefecture, Magistrate Wan Linming had just received a stack of new case files upon his desk.

Wan Linming had just turned forty and had already served as Prefect of Ying Tian Prefecture for three years.

As a Prefect of the fourth rank, he held one of the most prominent positions in local administration, especially in the prosperous region of Jinling—a rather remarkable achievement at his age.

Wan Linming was in fact a proper Hanlin scholar by origin, yet being unskilled in courtly flattery, he had initially been relegated to minor posts. Later, by fortune’s favor, he climbed step by step.

Stroking his beard, Wan Linming opened the case file. The very first that met his eye was the case concerning the Yu family.

These past days, he had already heard much about the scandal sweeping the city, and so had a general idea of the case.

Examining the file in detail, he found the reports meticulous and logically consistent, the confessions and evidence aligned. He judged there to be little dispute in sentencing Yu Wanchun to exile.

But then Wan Linming noticed that this case involved a certain Xie Xiucai, Xie Shu. The name struck him with familiarity.

Suddenly he recalled—was this not the very same Xie Shu who, at the poetry gathering in the Western Gardens several days ago, had risen to fame with his peach blossom poem?

Wan Linming was ever fond of talented scholars. After all, in the provincial examinations of Jiangnan, the admission rate of examinees from Jinling also reflected upon his political performance. He had once even ordered an investigation into this Xie Shu, only to discover that he had once been a classmate of his son, Wan Tianyun.

Upon learning that Wan Tianyun knew Xie Shu, Wan Linming had naturally urged his son to learn from him.

Truth be told, Wan Linming’s career had gone from strength to strength, his official life smooth and successful—the only blemish was his son. Years ago, when he had been relegated to Jinling, his wife, then with child, could not travel, and lacking means to provide for them, he had left her in his hometown.

By the time his fortunes had risen and he brought his wife over, his son Wan Tianyun was already six years old.

Guilt over the years of absence led Wan Linming to indulge nearly his every request. As his mother also doted on him without restraint, by the time he grew older, Wan Tianyun had developed into a complete wastrel. Wan Linming then regretted it bitterly.

Originally, Wan Linming had sent him into Jinling Prefecture’s academy in hopes that he would make some progress. Yet he only grew worse, leaving Wan Linming perpetually troubled.

Thus Wan Linming frequently rebuked him, hoping for reform.

That day, he had urged his son to take Xie Shu as a model. But instead, Wan Tianyun had argued, claiming that Xie Shu had not been so outstanding in Jinling Academy, and his recent fame was due merely to fortuitous luck.

Wan Linming had been too angry to reply.

Now, seeing Xie Shu’s name again in this case, Wan Linming took further interest. The young scholar had, under such circumstances, calmly seen through the plot—he was clearly no mere pedantic bookworm. If only his own son could have a portion of such ability.

At dinner that day, Wan Linming brought up the matter once more.

This time, however, Wan Tianyun’s displeasure grew all the stronger.

That Xie Shu, who once hovered around him and had even been reduced to marrying into a merchant family, had now become his father’s paragon of praise?

Even more unbearable was that Wan Tianyun had once heard of certain scandalous rumors about Xie Shu’s amorous affairs, yet now Xie Shu was being depicted as a man both gifted and devoted!

Of course, Wan Tianyun had to expose the truth. Adding fuel, he deliberately linked Xie Shu with Shuang’er in this case.

Little did he realize that, by sheer accident, he had spoken closer to the truth than he knew.

When heard by Wan Linming, his suspicions were stirred. Though he knew well his son’s character, Wan Tianyun’s story was so detailed and vivid that Wan Linming could not help but harbor some doubts.

Yet, with the case already at this stage, all that remained was for him to preside in court and deliver judgment. If he delayed things now by reinvestigating, he feared unnecessary waste of time due to misunderstandings.

After careful thought, Wan Linming resolved that before the trial, he would personally observe Xie Shu—determine whether he was truly a man of integrity and talent, or merely a petty self-seeker.

Meanwhile, these days Xie Shu had focused solely on his studies. As the trial day drew closer, one day men from the yamen suddenly arrived at the Yu residence to summon him.

Though somewhat surprised, Xie Shu reasoned it was most likely that certain points in the case had yet to be settled.

His conscience was clear, so he felt no need for unease.

Yu Chuxi, however, was puzzled: “These past few days I have found out that Second Uncle has been making many moves. Could it be that he has bribed the officials? The trial begins tomorrow—why are they suddenly summoning you today?”

The Young Lord’s concern was not unfounded. But Xie Shu’s expression did not waver. He simply smiled serenely and shook his head, offering comfort. Being pressed for time, he could say no more before setting off.

As he was about to leave, he noticed the Young Lord’s gaze fixed upon him. Xie Shu’s steps paused unconsciously. His eyes lingered at the frown between the Young Lord’s brows, furrowed like spring mountains, distant like autumn waters.

In that moment, he could not help but want to lower his head and softly reach out, little by little, to smooth it away.