Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 164 Zhao Wan's Adoration

Wenren Mansion.

In Wenren Yue's boudoir.

The Chen residence has only three courtyards. The front room is where male servants live, and the back room is where maids live. The inner courtyard originally belonged to Lin Xuan alone, but now it also has a mistress. He no longer has his own private space, so he might as well come to Wenren Yue's place to avoid it.

As Lin Xuan ate the fresh cut fruit on the table, Wenren Yue said, "Why aren't you with the bride? What are you doing here?"

Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "You've seen the poem she wrote before. If I'm at home, it will only scare her. It's better to stay here with you for now. You go about your business and don't worry about me."

Wenren Yue was silent for a moment, then asked, "Are you going to continue like this?"

Lin Xuan countered, "Otherwise what?"

He took a sip of tea and said, "Miss Zhao doesn't like me, and I don't like her either. What good can come of a relationship forced upon us by His Majesty? We already agreed last night that we wouldn't interfere with each other. This is better for both of us..."

Wenren Yue looked at Lin Xuan: "Isn't she pretty?"

Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "Not really. Miss Zhao is beautiful, but she's not my type."

He still preferred Qingluan's enthusiasm and liveliness. Although Youmeng was aloof, she was warm-hearted despite her cold exterior. Lin Xuan had read Zhao Wan's poetry collection. This kind of artistic young woman was always lamenting the passing of spring and autumn, feeling sentimental about this and that. She was sensitive, pretentious, and fragile, and was not his type at all.

Wenren Yue didn't say anything more.

She didn't know Zhao Wan, but she knew Lin Xuan.

If this Miss Zhao takes the initiative, just like Qingluan and A'luo did back then, she could become the rightful mistress of the Chen family in less than three months.

Of course, she wasn't familiar with Zhao Wan, and there was no need for her to tell her these things.

With an extra person in the inner courtyard, Lin Xuan naturally could no longer cook in the small kitchen at home.

Fortunately, there was a small kitchen in Wenren Yue's courtyard.

Lin Xuan could tell that the kitchen must have been newly built recently.

Although Zhao Wan was his wife in name only, he was closer to Wenren Yue in terms of their relationship, and Lin Xuan was also used to eating with her.

As for Zhao Wan, Lin Xuan could tell that she was terrified of him and would avoid seeing her if possible.

Chen Mansion.

At lunchtime.

Zhao Wan looked at the sumptuous meal on the table but did not touch it. Instead, she sat quietly at the table and waited.

Zhiqin stepped forward and said softly, "Madam, the young master just instructed that you should have your meal first."

Zhao Wan shook her head slightly and said, "I will wait for my husband to return."

Zhiqin said, "Madam, you may not know this, but the young master never eats at home. These dishes are all prepared for you alone."

Zhao Wan paused for a moment before picking up her chopsticks.

Before she married him, she had worried that if the two of them had nothing in common, even eating together would be a torment.

When Zhiqin showed her around the mansion earlier, she briefly peeked into her husband's study.

In his study, besides a bed and some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, there were only a few maps and military books, which suggests that he probably didn't read much on a regular basis.

This made her somewhat worried about their daily interactions.

However, her worries were completely unnecessary.

She wasn't the only one dissatisfied with the marriage.

He seemed even more dissatisfied than she was.

When Lin Xuan returned home, he had only been sitting in the study for a short while when Zhiqin came in and told him that the accountant's money was running out.

The servants of the Chen family were supported by the imperial court, but Lin Xuan had to pay for their daily living expenses himself.

Before coming to the capital, Lin Xuan did not anticipate what would happen later. He only brought a few dozen taels of silver and a few hundred taels of silver notes. This money was enough for travel expenses, but not enough for a long-term stay in the capital.

Tomorrow, Lin Xuan will be taking Zhao Wan back to her parents' home. After buying the gifts for the return visit, Lin Xuan only has less than fifty taels of silver left.

The salary of the Sixteen Guards is quite generous, thirty taels a month, but it is far from enough to maintain the operation of this mansion.

Although he could apply to the Commandery, Lin Xuan did not intend to do so.

He felt obligated to accept bribes, so he decided to find a way to earn some money himself.

Lin Xuan handed the remaining few dozen taels of silver to Zhiqin and said, "Take this silver for now, and I'll give you some more in a couple of days."

After Zhiqin left, Zhao Wan knocked on the door, slowly walked into the study, took out a stack of silver notes from her sleeve and handed them to Lin Xuan, saying, "My lord, I have five hundred taels here, which can be used to supplement household expenses..."

Lin Xuan did not take it, but shook his head and said, "No need, you keep it. I will try to earn some more money in the next two days."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan did not insist.

She knew that such an important person must have a certain arrogance and probably wouldn't want to spend a woman's money.

But he also said that she was the mistress of the Chen family mansion.

She also felt a responsibility towards this mansion.

She found Zhiqin and handed her the five hundred taels of silver. Zhiqin initially resisted accepting it, but Zhao Wan simply placed the silver notes on the table and instructed her, "Please don't tell your husband about this..."

Left with no other choice, Zhiqin could only nod respectfully and say, "Yes, Madam..."

……

According to the traditional rites, the third day after the wedding is the day when the bride returns to her parents' home.

For this wedding, the Commandery granted him a two-week leave.

Early in the morning, carriages and gifts for the bride's return visit were already prepared in front of the Chen residence.

The gifts were carefully prepared by the steward at Lin Xuan's instruction. They were not overly luxurious, but everything was thoughtful and considerate. There were writing implements suitable for Zhao's father, as well as precious fabrics and nourishing medicinal herbs for Zhao's mother. Lin Xuan also prepared a gift for each of the younger members of the Zhao family.

Their preferences are recorded in detail in the Jingye Division's archives.

Lin Xuan walked out of the study, looked at Zhao Wan who was coming out of the main hall, and asked, "Are you ready?"

Zhao Wan nodded slightly.

Today she wore a festive yet elegant red dress. She walked to Lin Xuan's side and gently placed her hand on his arm. Although they did not sleep together in the mansion and could not even see each other a few times a day, once they stepped out of the Chen mansion, they were a loving couple whom the emperor had arranged and whom everyone envied.

Lin Xuan helped Zhao Wan into the carriage. Along the way, he noticed that her lips trembled several times, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Lin Xuan asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhao Wan lowered her head and whispered, "My lord, may I bring my former maid back to the Chen residence?"

Lin Xuan nodded without hesitation and said, "Of course you can, you can bring as many as you want."

Zhao Wan was overjoyed and immediately said, "I only need to bring one personal maid, thank you, sir."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and did not speak again.

The carriage stopped in front of the Zhao residence, where Zhao Runzhang and his wife were already waiting with the younger generation of the Zhao family.

Seeing Lin Xuan get out of the car first, and then gently help Zhao Wan down, their intimate posture put their minds at ease.

Before their wedding, both of them worried that Wan'er would marry the wrong person.

It wasn't until the wedding day, when they met the new son-in-law of the Zhao family and saw that he was young, handsome, humble, and polite, that they realized they had been misled by the rumors. The Emperor had truly treated the Zhao family well.

Lin Xuan stepped forward and bowed slightly: "Greetings, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law."

Zhao Runzhang smiled sincerely, reached out to help him up, and said, "Please get up, my dear son-in-law."

Zhao's mother couldn't help but look at her daughter. Seeing that her complexion was rosy and her eyes were bright, and that she was nestled beside her husband, she was no longer as worried and fearful as she had been before the marriage, her last bit of worry vanished.

She knew her own daughter, of course.

If she were truly depressed, she couldn't have faked it like this.

It seems that she is quite satisfied with the husband that His Majesty has chosen for her.

Thinking back to how anxious and fearful her daughter was before her wedding, she couldn't help but chuckle. Fate can be so unpredictable sometimes.

Zhao Wan was pulled into her room by her mother to talk, while Lin Xuan stayed behind to play chess with Zhao Runzhang.

Zhao Runzhang was a master of chess, with few rivals in the capital. However, when Chen Yu played against him, he was in no way inferior, and Chen Yu made many brilliant moves, making the game extremely enjoyable for Zhao Runzhang.

Although Zhao Runzhang ultimately won with two sons, his intuition told him that his son-in-law had probably held back.

Through Chen Yu, his preconceived notions about the Jingye Division were completely overturned.

It turns out that not all the members of the Jingye Division are uncouth brutes. My daughter really married the right person. The Emperor's grace is so boundless; the Zhao family is truly ungrateful...

Lin Xuan originally didn't know how to play chess, but he had countless Jiuli clan traditions in his mind. One of his predecessors happened to be skilled in chess and included his chess skills in the tradition.

Lin Xuan is capable of beating his father-in-law, but he clearly cannot.

Out of politeness, he cooperated with him throughout, and finally politely lost by a piece or two, then showed a look of regret. Both host and guest were happy, and the atmosphere was harmonious...

During the luncheon, Lin Xuan's performance was impeccable.

He carefully served food to Zhao Wan, his movements natural and considerate; when drinking with Zhao's father, he maintained perfect decorum, showing both respect and composure; he politely answered Zhao's mother's questions, and Zhao Wan's mother looked at him with increasing satisfaction.

The meal was a joyful and harmonious affair, filled with a warm and lively atmosphere.

Although Lin Xuan had never been married before, treating his parents-in-law the way he would treat his superiors was not wrong.

After the homecoming ceremony was completed, as they were about to part, Zhao Runzhang personally escorted Lin Xuan and Zhao Wan to the door, gently patted Lin Xuan's shoulder, and said with great satisfaction, "My dear son-in-law, we entrust Wan'er to you."

Lin Xuan looked serious and solemnly promised, "Father-in-law, rest assured, I will definitely take good care of Wan'er."

The carriage slowly drove away from the Zhao residence. Zhao Wan looked through the carriage window at her parents, younger brother, and sister-in-law waving from the doorway until they disappeared from sight around the corner, then slowly withdrew her gaze. Zhao Wan looked at Lin Xuan sitting opposite her and said gratefully, "Thank you, sir."

Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "Of course."

Looking at her husband across from her, she felt a mix of complex and conflicting emotions.

She had seen him show no mercy to the palace ladies, but just now at the Zhao family, he had put aside all his pride, just to put her parents at ease. He was more gentle and considerate than she had imagined.

Aside from not being able to discuss poetry with her, isn't this the husband she's dreaming of?
only……

Why did she write those lyrics in the first place...? If it weren't for that poem, "Partridge Sky," their relationship wouldn't be what it is now. She could rightfully call him "husband" instead of "sir"...

Ultimately, she brought this upon herself...

Lin Xuan's gaze swept across Zhao Wan's face, and he noticed that a look of sadness had returned to her.

But that's understandable. Being forced by the emperor to marry someone she doesn't love, and never being able to return to her former home, it's understandable that she feels a lot of sadness when she says goodbye to her parents during her homecoming. Let her be alone for a while, after all, I am the source of her sadness...

Lin Xuan stopped the carriage and said to Zhao Wan, "You should go home first; I still have some things to take care of..."

After saying that, he jumped off the carriage without hesitation.

The carriage started moving again, and Zhao Wan leaned against the carriage, sighing inwardly.

He must have been quite annoyed with himself too; after the homecoming ceremony, he didn't want to spend even a quarter of an hour more with her...

But she didn't resent him. Putting herself in his shoes, if she were him, his soon-to-be fiancée, and he wrote such lyrics, she wouldn't feel good either. The fact that he treated her so well after marriage was enough to show his good character...

Watching the carriage head towards the Chen residence, Lin Xuan walked alone on the street.

He and his nominal wife had nothing to say to each other, and going home was boring, so he might as well think about how to make money and earn some money to supplement the family income as soon as possible.

The quickest way, of course, is to sell a few profitable ideas, just like we did in Sizhou.

However, Lin Xuan had already handed over those highly profitable businesses to Qingluan, so naturally he wouldn't give them to anyone else.

For a moment, he was truly at a loss.

He could make some telescopes, but who to sell them to was a problem.

This kind of thing can only be made by the Jiuli tribe, and it is basically monopolized by the imperial court. It is very difficult for outsiders to obtain it. Once it appears on the market, it will definitely attract the attention of the imperial court quickly.

If the imperial court knew that he could make telescopes, he would probably never have a peaceful life again.

Lin Xuan wandered aimlessly through the streets, continuing to ponder ways to make money. Several young men dressed as scholars walked past him, their hushed conversation reaching his ears.

"Have you heard? The prizes for this splendid poetry gathering are extremely generous!"

"It's not just generous, it's downright extravagant! The top ten will all receive a reward of silver, with the lowest being one hundred taels!"

"I heard the winner of the poetry contest will receive a whopping one thousand taels of silver and a month of carefree living at the Brocade Pavilion. The ladies can choose any one they like, but I wonder who will be the winner..."

"All the talented poets in the capital have come. I heard they've even invited several highly respected masters of the poetry world to comment. The manager of Jinxiulou is really willing to spend a lot to promote his establishment..."

Watching the young people hurriedly leave, Lin Xuan paused slightly.

……

Chen Mansion.

Inside the courtyard, Zhao Wan held Liuli's small, cool hand and asked, "Why did you take so long to arrive?"

Liuli put down the small bundle on her shoulder, a mysterious and excited smile on her face, and said with a grin, "Miss, I'll show you something, I'm sure you'll like it!"

She took out several folded sheets of paper from her bosom and handed them to Zhao Wan.

Zhao Wan took it with a puzzled look, and when her gaze fell on the first line of the poem, she could not look away.

She slowly turned the pages, word by word, her breathing unconsciously becoming much lighter.

After a long while, she finally recovered from the shock and looked at Liuli with astonished eyes, asking incredulously, "Where did you get these poems?"

Seeing her mistress's reaction, Liuli became even more smug and chattered on, "On my way to the Chen residence, I happened to come across a poetry gathering being held at Jinxiu Tower. I thought that you would definitely be interested, so I stayed and watched for a while. These are the 'Top Ten' poems they selected for the gathering. I knew you would like them, so I asked them for a few sheets of paper and copied them down for you. That's why I'm late..."

As she spoke, an expression of admiration appeared on her face. She said, "Miss, you would never guess that all ten poems were written by one person. He single-handedly pocketed all the prize money from the poetry gathering, taking away a full four thousand taels..."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan's beautiful eyes widened, her shock evident in her expression.

She looked down again, examining the poem in her hands with disbelief.

These ten poems, though all about spring scenery, are distinct in style, ranging from majestic and grand to delicate and graceful, and from profound and timeless. Each one is a masterpiece worthy of being passed down through the ages.

She boasted that she had studied poetry for many years, but even if she devoted her entire life to it, she probably could not capture even a fraction of the spirit of any of them.

It's hard to imagine that these poems could have come from the same poetry gathering, and all from the pen of one person...

Could there really be such a talented person in the world?

She looked at Liuli and asked eagerly, "Who are the authors of these poems?"

Liuli shook her head and said, "I don't know. He was wearing a cloak, so I couldn't see his face, and he didn't leave his name. It seems like he participated in the poetry gathering just for the reward money..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan felt nothing but admiration.

Are there really people in this world who possess such talent and do not seek fame?

She couldn't help but think of herself.

Although she often said that poetry was just for enjoyment, when her poems were circulated among the servants in the mansion and were admired by countless people, she would feel a little proud.

No… it’s a lot of pride.

Her slender fingers gently brushed across the ink marks on the paper, as if she could touch the extraordinary soul of this great poet through them, and a heartfelt sense of awe rose in her heart.

Perhaps this is why she couldn't write these poems...

At this moment, a figure slowly walked into the inner courtyard.

Upon seeing this, Liuli immediately bowed her head and said, "Greetings, son-in-law!"

Lin Xuan nodded slightly, then walked into the study.

After pouring himself a cup of tea, he took out a stack of silver notes from his sleeve, which was probably the easiest sum of money he had ever earned.

There are more wealthy people in the capital. When Lin Xuan was in the southwest, he had never heard of any poetry or song gatherings.

While he was at the Brocade Pavilion, he heard people say that such poetry gatherings were held every month in the capital. If he copied a few poems each month, he could at least support his family.

Although he was not short of money, all his money was with Qingluan.

He wouldn't do something like taking money from Qingluan to support his family in the capital.

Lin Xuan took out one thousand taels and gave it to Zhiqin, who was in charge of the family finances. She was responsible for kitchen purchases, furniture purchases, and various daily expenses, so there were many places where money was needed.

He then took out another thousand taels and kept it for his own use.

Lin Xuan planned to give the remaining two thousand taels to Zhao Wan.

Zhiqin secretly told him that the lady had given her five hundred taels to supplement her household expenses.

This five hundred taels should be all her savings.

Although the Zhao family is not short of money, she is already a married daughter, and Lin Xuan can't let her continue to spend the Zhao family's money. Although their relationship is nominal, she is still his wife in name only, so he can't treat her badly.

night.

Inside the inner courtyard, inside the main hall.

The flickering candlelight illuminated Zhao Wan's focused and earnest face.

She read those ten poems repeatedly, and with each reading, her admiration for them grew.

Liuli yawned and couldn't help but remind her, "Miss, you've been watching all night..."

Zhao Wan gently put down the poem, let out a long sigh, and tried to calm her turbulent emotions.

She gazed out the window at the deep night, her eyes flashing with a complex light—admiration, longing, and a hint of sadness and loss.

She has always been quite confident in her talent, believing that her mastery of poetry is second to none among men.

But each of these ten poems was like an insurmountable mountain peak, a realm she could never reach in her lifetime, shattering her previous confidence...

There was a sudden knock on the door.

Zhao Wan walked to the door, opened it, and saw the figure standing outside. She felt a sudden panic, and her heart even beat faster. She lowered her head and said, "Husband, is...is something the matter?"

Lin Xuan smiled slightly and asked, "It's so late, aren't you going to sleep yet?"

Zhao Wan said, "I'm getting ready to sleep."

Lin Xuan handed her a stack of silver notes and said, "This is two thousand taels. You can keep it."

Zhao Wan was slightly taken aback, looking at the stack of silver notes containing a huge sum of money, and subconsciously wanted to refuse: "Husband, I have..."

Lin Xuan stuffed the silver notes into her hand and said, "Now that you've entered the Chen family, you're the mistress of this place. You can't ask Zhiqin for everything—daily expenses, social obligations, clothes, jewelry, writing materials, etc. Keep this money with you for easy access. Let me know if you need more."

Without giving Zhao Wan a chance to refuse, he left her with the instruction to "get some rest" before turning and leaving.

Zhao Wan stood at the door, motionless for a long time, until his footsteps completely disappeared, and she remained standing there.

She looked down at the slightly warm banknote in her hand, feeling his thoughtfulness and sense of responsibility. A trace of regret gradually spread in her heart. Thinking about what she had done before, although it was an unintentional mistake, it was ultimately because of her. She didn't deserve his kindness...

(End of this chapter)