Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 11

I am going out to drink, why are you following me?

Yan Zhi’an was born into nobility. Her path had always been smooth; she had never known poverty or destitution. However, she firmly believed that regardless of the circumstances, one should never resort to theft or underhanded dealings.

The actions of the Madman were in the past, and she did not wish to pursue them, but she needed Xun Qi to understand that copying calligraphy and paintings was an elegant pursuit and should not be associated with deceitful, shadowy behavior.

Xun Qi looked bewildered. “Did I not paint it well enough?”

The young girl’s heart was pure. She merely thought her skills were lacking, rather than questioning the fundamental nature of the act.

Yan Zhi’an grew slightly impatient, but seeing the girl’s confused expression, she paused and said, “Xun Qi, the Madman taught you to copy calligraphy and paintings as a survival instinct, but you must know it is not a righteous path. She mimicked those works to fool others to support you and me, and I am grateful for that. But now, you do not need to do so. I must also tell you that it is wrong.”

“A person stands between heaven and earth, each with their own ambitions. One must have a backbone and should not abandon their integrity for a few coins.”

“A person must have pride.”

Xun Qi met her mother’s helpless gaze, opened her mouth, and silently shook her head. “I do not understand.”

Yan Zhi’an was silent.

In an instant, her usual air of composed mastery vanished completely. She said, “Copying calligraphy and paintings to sell them as genuine is an illegal act. Do you not understand that?”

“Now, I understand. Then I will simply not copy them anymore.” Xun Qi nodded obediently and offered a brilliant smile. “I do not like copying them anyway.”

Yan Zhi’an was so frustrated she almost stumbled. Xun Qi’s eyes were brimming with such earnest filial piety that she could only sigh. “Fine. As long as you understand. Go and practice your regular handwriting. You do not need to kneel anymore.”

Xun Qi’s expression changed instantly, and she said painfully, “I think I would rather kneel.”

Kneeling was better than practicing handwriting!

Yan Zhi’an’s eyebrows twitched, seemingly seeing through the scheme. She responded with a chuckle, “Then you shall practice two extra pages.”

Xun Qi looked at her with a sense of hopelessness, attempting to act spoiled, when Wushuang’s voice sounded from outside, “Family Head, Principal Yuan has arrived.”

“Why does she keep following me all the way to my house?” Yan Zhi’an was extremely annoyed and could not help but glare at Xun Qi again. It is all your fault!

Yan Zhi’an commanded, “Find a copybook and practice your writing. I will go see Principal Yuan first.”

What is that cursed Yuan Fusheng here for now!

Yan Zhi’an rose. Xun Qi fawningly handed over her hand warmer. Yan Zhi’an let out a dry laugh. “Even with a gift, you still have to practice.”

Xun Qi blinked and said, “Mother, I think Principal Yuan is truly beautiful.”

In the next instant, Yan Zhi’an pinched her ear, her dark eyes filled with dissatisfaction. “I am standing right in front of you, yet you praise someone else for being beautiful. Yan Xun Qi, is it my teaching that is lacking, or are you starting to have romantic thoughts at such a young age?”

“I am a woman, and she is a woman. What is wrong with praising her?” Xun Qi was very puzzled and reached out to hold Yan Zhi’s wrist. “The Madman said that for a woman to praise another woman is the purest form of appreciation, sometimes even carrying a sense of deep admiration.”

Hearing this, Yan Zhi’an’s expression turned even worse. She wanted to say: Yuan Fusheng likes women!

What a naive girl!

Yan Zhi’an pulled her hand back, clasped it behind her back, and strode away. Only Xun Qi was left rubbing her abused ear, completely perplexed. Forget it. I will not praise anyone next time.

The moment Yuan Fusheng entered the Talent Gathering Pavilion, she had seen Xun Qi’s poem. Without a second thought, she abandoned the hall full of scholars and rushed to the Yan residence.

Today, everyone from the Yan family was at the pavilion. Upon her arrival, the servants immediately went to invite the Family Head.

Yan Zhi’an was annoyed to her core, though she kept a smile on her surface. She glanced sideways at Yuan Fusheng. “What are you here for?”

“Shall we talk in the study?” Yuan Fusheng set down her teacup, rose, and looked around. “There are too many ears here.”

Yan Zhi’an sighed. “Are you here to overturn my nest?”

Yuan Fusheng was very happy. She reached out through her sleeves to grasp Yan Zhi’an’s hand and pulled her along. “Come, let us talk in the study.”

After taking two steps, Yuan Fusheng seemed to recall something, hastily let go, and stole a glance at Yan Zhi’an.

Yan Zhi’an’s expression was calm, neither angry nor happy. Yuan Fusheng felt slightly awkward. “I came for the poem written by your young successor.”

“What about it?” Yan Zhi’an asked calmly.

Yuan Fusheng said, “I want to take her as my student. What do you think?”

Yan Zhi’an was silent.

“Yuan Fusheng, Yuan Fusheng. Are you mad, or am I? She only came to my side when she was thirteen. How could I hand her over to you?”

In truth, it was not that she did not want to send her; she did not dare to. If she sent her today, Sima Shengrong might show up to kill them tomorrow.

“She is not your biological daughter, is she? Is she the illegitimate daughter of one of your brothers?” Yuan Fusheng lowered her voice, staring intently at her. “You only adopted her because you valued her talent, did you not?”

Yan Zhi’an looked at her with a sense of hopelessness and went along with it. “Yes, you are right, but I cannot give her to you.”

“Why? You are so busy; state affairs are the priority.” Yuan Fusheng was a bit anxious and sighed mournfully. “Is it not appropriate for me to take some of the burden off your shoulders?”

“Yuan Fusheng, I will tell you the truth. I do not dare to make the decision.” Yan Zhi’an had to say it. She reached out, grabbed her right wrist, and led her toward the study.

At this pull, Yuan Fusheng was shocked by the hand grasping her sleeve, and slowly, her gaze drifted to Yan Zhi’an’s brilliant, radiant eyes. She took a deep breath, her heart palpitating.

After they left the front courtyard, Yan Zhi’an released her hand. Yuan Fusheng frowned slightly, but soon regained her composure and glanced back. The maids were following far behind.

“What did you mean just now?” Yuan Fusheng reached out, holding her own right wrist, her breathing slightly rushed.

Yan Zhi’an slowed her pace. “She is the daughter of the Empress and the Emperor.”

“You are insane!” Yuan Fusheng was so shocked her foot slipped, and she had to reach out to steady herself by holding Yan Zhi’an’s waist.

Yuan Fusheng blushed, and quickly, her hands left the other woman’s waist. She was quite shaken. “What are you trying to do?”

“Yuan Fusheng, I have no choice.” Yan Zhi’an appeared helpless, a kind of childlike innocence appearing in her eyes. “I refused, but you should know that when the heavens are angry, a million corpses are laid to waste.”

Yuan Fusheng hesitated, remembering something. “Was today’s poem written by you on her behalf?”

“Do I look so desperate for quick success?” Yan Zhi’an frowned. “It was Wang Mingqing who insisted on showing off. You should hurry home. You know what you need to know. Do not bother me anymore.”

The winter was bleak, and the two stood in the corridor, observing the scenery of the garden, which had lost the vibrancy of spring and summer.

Yuan Fusheng’s excitement subsided. Unexpectedly, Yan Zhi’an said, “She is like a piece of jade, left for me to carve. I feel a bit of pride. The future of the empire rests in her hands, and yet, how she turns out is under my control. I find I have the ability to guide the empire, though I know not if it is a blessing or a curse.”

The future throne, raised by her own hand. The girl would surely remain close to the Yan family. That was her purpose.

Yuan Fusheng was speechless for a long time. She who usually had a silver tongue was now silent.

After a long while, she finally spoke, “After the new year, let her come to my place. I shall test her.”

With that, she left!

Yan Zhi’an walked back alone, feeling lost. The pressure was too great; finding someone to share the burden was a choice she had made herself, and it had nothing to do with her.

Upon returning to the room, Xun Qi was propping up her head, tilting it to gaze into the void. Yan Zhi’an walked over and tapped the table. “What are you doing?”

“Being lazy.” Xun Qi said it quite freely, but as she turned to meet her mother’s cold eyes, the smile on her lips vanished instantly.

She paused and jokingly added, “Mother, I will write now. I will write now.”

“Hmm, I will watch you write.” Yan Zhi’an suddenly gained a sense of refinement. She ordered someone to bring a stool, sat down, and watched Xun Qi write with poise.

Xun Qi could have been lazy, but now, sitting on pins and needles, she felt a chill on her back every time she looked up and met her mother’s eyes.

“Hurry up and write.” Yan Zhi’an urged, “You were quite clever today, having Seventeenth Lady write for you. With your handwriting, people would die of laughter.”

Xun Qi was deeply pained, twisting her waist, only to be met with a soul-piercing question from behind: “Is your waist stuck?”

“No!”

“Write!”

She was watched for half the day. Seventeenth Lady returned, poking her head in, but seeing the scene, she was so frightened that she turned and ran.

“Seventeenth Aunt…” Xun Qi had finally found a glimmer of hope, only for the other to flee.

Yan Zhi’an gave a cold laugh. “Write!”

“Do you have nothing else to do?” Xun Qi drooped her head. “You can go do other things; I will write by myself.”

“Your handwriting makes it impossible for me to face people.” Yan Zhi’an said honestly, resting her chin on her hand as she stared at her. “Xun Qi, I achieved fame in my youth. If I raise a daughter whose handwriting looks like a dog’s scrawl, how can I show my face in Jinling?”

Xun Qi was deeply stimulated and immediately picked up her brush to write furiously.

She practiced hard all day, but nothing could satisfy Yan Zhi’an’s eye. Page after page was filled with red ink marks highlighting her flaws. It was a truly tragic sight.

Xun Qi’s wrists were exhausted, but Yan Zhi’an stared at her hands and said, “If you had not just returned, I would definitely have beaten your palms.”

The sentence made Xun Qi take a step back, hiding her young hands behind her back.

Yan Zhi’an rose lazily. “Go and play by yourself. I am going out for a walk.”

“I want to go too.” Xun Qi was like one receiving a pardon and immediately stood up to follow. Unexpectedly, Yan Zhi’an looked at her in surprise. “I am going out to drink. Why are you following me?”

“I want to drink too.” Xun Qi looked at her pleadingly, her eyes curved with anticipation.

This time, it was Yan Zhi’an’s turn to look at the girl with hopelessness. “Children cannot drink alcohol!”

Xun Qi said righteously, “The Madman said that after the new year, I will be fourteen. I am old enough to be betrothed.”

Yan Zhi’an gave a cold laugh, mocking her. “And who are you betrothed to?”

Then, she reached out and poked her cheek. “You still want to be betrothed? Keep dreaming!”