Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 10

Outside the Hall of Excellence, carriages flowed like a river. Scholars from all over Jinling, whether from humble backgrounds or noble families, came in search of fame, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the flourishing talent of the age.

However, Yan Zhi’an, who had been lavishly praised by the “Number One in Jinling,” was already preparing to slip away before the competition even began.

As luck would have it, Yan Zhi’an was intercepted. The person who stopped her was dressed in plain robes with her long hair draped over her shoulders, her entire being suffused with the scent of books. Behind her followed five or six young maidens.

When the group saw Yan Zhi’an, they came to a halt. The leading woman was just over thirty, her eyes sharp. After closing the distance, she stopped and said with a wry smile, “Left Prime Minister, you are trying to sneak away again.”

Both women exchanged bows, the formal greeting of equals, with elegant poise. In the biting cold wind, they looked like figures from a painting of noble ladies. Xun Qi marveled at their beauty and was amazed by how they could make a simple gesture of courtesy look so refined and graceful.

The essence of elegance was etched into their very bones.

“Principal Yuan,” Yan Zhi’an narrowed her eyes slightly and patted the back of her daughter’s head. “Greet Principal Yuan. She is the Principal of the Jinling Academy.”

Xun Qi did not understand what a Principal was, but since a stranger was present, she followed her mother’s instruction and bowed. “Xun Qi greets Principal Yuan.”

Yuan Fusheng looked at Xun Qi with surprise. The young girl’s features were delicate and her expression somewhat sickly, but her eyes were bright and lively; she was clearly a beauty in the making.

“Has the Left Prime Minister taken on a student?” Yuan Fusheng was deeply astonished. She had known Yan Zhi’an since childhood and knew her temperament best, someone with laziness in every bone, so why would she take on a student?

Yan Zhi’an had been precocious and steady from a young age, yet incredibly cold and aloof. She kept her distance from everyone.

Yan Zhi’an was sharp-witted and understood her meaning immediately. “This is my young daughter, Xun Qi.”

“Your young daughter?” Yuan Fusheng stepped back, her brow furrowing as she drew in a sharp breath. “Yan Zhi’an, those stubborn old fools in the Yan family will flay you alive.”

Yan Zhi’an had given birth out of wedlock, tossing away her reputation as the “Number One in Jinling.”

Yan Zhi’an raised an eyebrow, looking entirely at ease. “I will let them fuss. At worst, they can banish me from the family. I will return to the capital and start a new genealogy record. Principal, what do you think?”

“You,” Yuan Fusheng gave a cryptic smile. “I believe you are capable of doing it. Who is her father?”

She stepped forward toward Xun Qi and reached out her hand. Xun Qi was surprised, but the gesture was a feint; Yuan Fusheng shifted her hand to grasp Yan Zhi’an’s wrist instead.

The next moment, Yan Zhi’an pulled her hand back, but it was too late. Yuan Fusheng smiled and said, “Left Prime Minister, you are in frail health. You should seize the day and enjoy yourself.”

“Get out.” Yan Zhi’an flicked her sleeve and walked away.

Xun Qi could not understand the riddles between the two. She followed her mother’s footsteps in a daze, while Yuan Fusheng laughed heartily behind them.

The carriage was waiting at the door, and the mother and daughter climbed inside. Xun Qi asked in confusion, “Mother, what did that Principal mean? Does she manage mountains? That person seemed like a scholar, much like you.”

“That is the Dean of the Jinling Academy. Because the academy is located in the mountains, she is called the Principal. The Yuan family has always run academies. By this generation, Yuan Fusheng inherited the position. This woman is highly skilled in all the fine arts, the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Do not underestimate her. Even the Emperor invited her into the imperial court, and she refused. The Yuan family has a family precept: descendants shall not enter the court.”

Yan Zhi’an wearily closed her eyes. “Aside from her mastery of the arts, she also studied medicine, and her skills are quite profound.”

When she had taken her pulse earlier, she must have discovered the secret.

Yan Zhi’an sat up straight, lifted the carriage curtain, and ordered, “Prepare generous gifts for me. We will go to the Yuan Academy the day after tomorrow, and make an appointment with Principal Yuan for me.”

“Understood,” Wushuang replied.

Xun Qi, inside the carriage, caught on to something. “Mother, are you going to bribe her?”

“Shut up. I am in a bad mood right now.” Yan Zhi’an made it clear to the little brat that she was unhappy and should not provoke her.

Xun Qi looked at her, remembering how the Madman often hung that phrase on her lips: “Don’t provoke me. Be observant; I’m angry, stay on the side.”

“Fine, I won’t provoke you,” Xun Qi obediently shrank into a corner.

But a moment later, Yan Zhi’an tugged on her ear. “Yan Xun Qi, I am already in a bad mood, are you not going to coax me? I must have been a wretch in my past life to be your mother in this one!”

“Ouch, let go of me! I will go beat that Principal Yuan up to vent your anger.” Xun Qi’s head tilted from the tug. “Is there some story between you and her?”

“What kind of story could there be?” Yan Zhi’an withdrew her hand. Looking at the trouble before her, her anger flared up again. Yuan Fusheng was a madwoman, and now, even worse, she was being provoked by a madwoman.

Xun Qi wondered, “What is her background?”

“The Yuan Academy is famous throughout the country and holds half the talent of Jinling. Therefore, Yuan Fusheng’s talent is unparalleled in Jinling.”

“If she is unparalleled in Jinling, then what about you?” Xun Qi asked.

Yan Zhi’an shot her a glare. “When she became famous, I was out looking for mines. I left Jinling when I was seven. By the time I returned, she had already made a name for herself. It is merely the younger generation pushing the older one forward.”

Xun Qi understood; there was a time gap between them.

After returning to the residence, Yan Zhi’an actually threw an abacus at her. “Young Master, write a few more poems about peonies.”

Xun Qi looked at her and asked, “May I write while sitting?”

Yan Zhi’an replied, “Do you want to write while kneeling? Sure, that is fine.”

Xun Qi immediately retorted, “I was just joking. I will write them for you right now.”

“Why are you so dull?” Yan Zhi’an clutched her forehead. Dull and foolish, where was the demeanor of a crown prince?

Yan Zhi’an was worried sick, but soon she walked over to Xun Qi’s side. Looking at her dog-scratch handwriting, her vision went black. “You can write poetry, so how can you write like this?”

“I, I,” Xun Qi stuttered for a long time without getting it out.

The Madman had said: “Someday, if this poetry can make you a profit, then it belongs to you.”

Xun Qi blinked her eyes and looked up with a smile. “I know how to paint, but the Madman said I paint very badly.”

“How bad is it?” Yan Zhi’an was surprised. What kind of person was this Madman?

Xun Qi looked around the room and saw the painting of winter plum blossoms. “I can copy that one.”

“Copy?” Yan Zhi’an faintly understood the situation. Some people specialized in copying famous paintings, creating fakes that looked like the real thing to make a living.

Wishing to know the extent of Xun Qi’s skills, she shouted outside, “Bring the brushes and pigments.”

Xun Qi stood up immediately, but Yan Zhi’an pressed down on her hand. “Write first.”

Xun Qi made a bitter face. “I think I should practice my calligraphy first.”

“The Young Master has self-awareness, very good,” Yan Zhi’an mocked. “If you have time to paint, why not practice your writing?”

“I have no money, and paper is expensive,” Xun Qi lowered her head. “Copying paintings can support myself; it is considered a trade. But the Madman said I paint too ugly, so I didn’t learn either skill well.”

The little girl hung her head in shame. Following the Madman, she hadn’t learned a single skill well, and even on her deathbed, the Madman was worried about how she would survive.

She had let the Madman down!

Yan Zhi’an’s eyes focused on the dancing shadows on the floor as she reached out to stroke the back of the girl’s neck. “You are still young. The four books and six arts can be learned slowly.”

She could not help but feel heartache for her. If it were not for the Emperor Hui’s usurpation, she should have been the eldest daughter of Emperor Ming, living in luxury, to say nothing of a few sheets of paper.

Yan Zhi’an’s emotions came and went quickly. “Start practicing calligraphy tomorrow. Practice until you get rid of that dog-scratch style of yours.”

“Head of the house, the brushes and paints are here.”

“Put them on the table.”

Yan Zhi’an took the poem and glanced at it, a flash of amazement crossing her eyes. Looking back at Xun Qi, she thought: To compose such poetry at such a young age, how exactly did that Madman teach her? This kind of talent must be carefully polished.

On the other side, Xun Qi picked up the brush, swept her eyes over the plum blossom painting, and within half an hour, she finished.

Yan Zhi’an looked at the painting on the wall, then at the still-wet ink on the table, and her vision went black. It wasn’t that it didn’t look like the original; it was exactly the same.

She asked, “Is this what you called ugly?”

Xun Qi replied honestly, “That is what the Madman said. She said that at a single glance, anyone could tell it was a fake.”

Yan Zhi’an finally understood. For a time, many fakes had appeared in Jinling City. Because the genuine originals were in her own hands, many people bought the fakes and boasted about them. Most of them must have come from the Madman’s hand.

She clutched her forehead and glared at Xun Qi. “Kneel. Kneeling will let you know just how ridiculously wrong you were.”