Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 166 The Identity of the Mysterious Talent

Lin Xuan, along with Zhou Xian, the magistrate of Wanping County, and a group of witnesses and evidence, returned directly to the Commander's Office.

The Jingye Division had the duty of supervising officials, and could arrest officials of the fourth rank or below in the capital without reporting to their superiors.

Zhou Xian admitted in court that the case was a frame-up, with the aim of setting a trap for Lin Xuan, who was a member of the Sixteen Guards. Many people had heard him say this when he was in Wanping County. Once he entered the Commandery, there was no way he could leave on his own.

Commandery.

Lin Xuan was drinking tea in his duty room when Lu Feng walked in and said slowly, "Zhou Xian has confessed. He was instructed to frame Zhao Jing in order to lure you into action. The Commander's Division will deal with him and the woman who framed him according to the law. As for the person behind it, it is not advisable to investigate further for now. Let's leave this case here. The Commander asked me to tell you..."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly. He knew very well that someone who could instruct the magistrate of Jing County to set up a scheme must be connected to a behemoth in the imperial court.

Zhou Xian is the Grand Secretary's man, so this whole affair was probably a scheme orchestrated against him by the Grand Secretary's faction from the very beginning.

Since Lin Xuan entered the capital, both factions have been trying to win him over, but he has politely declined both attempts.

This time, instead of directly targeting Lin Xuan, they tried to find a breakthrough through the Zhao family. If Lin Xuan tried to abuse his power through the magistrate of Wanping County, they would naturally have something to hold over him, thus creating a hidden danger for the future.

Then they can use this as leverage to seek favors in return, or use this as leverage to threaten him, directly or indirectly, to make him side with the Grand Secretary's faction.

Since this case involves the core of the Grand Secretary's faction, the Jingye Division will naturally not investigate further.

Here, a principle that is not explicitly stated but everyone knows is: never get involved in factional strife.

The Jingye Division is responsible only to His Majesty.

Lu Feng continued, "Go and appease the Zhao family. The department will handle the rest..."

Zhao Mansion.

Upon hearing of Zhao Jing's accident, Zhao's relatives all rushed to offer their condolences.

When Lin Xuan returned with Zhao Jing, who was unharmed and only slightly frightened, everyone in the Zhao family breathed a sigh of relief.

Holding her son's hand, Zhao's mother wept with joy, repeatedly thanking Lin Xuan: "This time, we really owe it all to you, son-in-law. If it weren't for you, Jing'er would have suffered an injustice..."

Zhao Runzhang also breathed a sigh of relief. Although he didn't say anything, his gaze towards Lin Xuan was filled with gratitude.

He not only saved Zhao Jing, but also restored the Zhao family's reputation.

The Zhao family has been known for its integrity for generations. If his son were convicted of raping a woman by the authorities, he would have no face to face the ancestors of the Zhao family after his death.

Zhao Wan stood to the side, looking at that composed figure, her heart filled with an indescribable sense of security and a faint sense of pride.

At the most critical moment for the Zhao family, it was her husband who turned the tide, saved his younger brother, and restored the Zhao family's reputation.

At that moment, she suddenly felt that poetry, songs, and romantic themes didn't seem so important anymore...

Zhao Jing gradually recovered from his shock and began to recount his experience in detail.

"You didn't see how powerful my brother-in-law was at the county government office!"

"The magistrate of Wanping County didn't even dare to breathe loudly in front of his brother-in-law..."

"I heard from the Jingye Division that his term as magistrate is over. Not only will he lose his official position, but he might also be exiled..."

The Zhao family's relatives all wore expressions of shock or envy.

The magistrate of Jing County was a fifth-rank official, two ranks higher than Zhao Jing's father, and a high-ranking official who could attend court and meet the emperor.

Such an official, exiled so easily... the Zhao family has really climbed onto a powerful tree!

Zhao Wan's cousins ​​looked at her with envy.

His Majesty bestowed this marriage upon her, and the entire wedding was arranged by the court and held in the royal gardens. Her brother-in-law is handsome, dashing, and promising. Heaven has been too kind to Wan'er, giving her unparalleled beauty and talent, and arranging such a wonderful marriage for her...

Feeling their envious and jealous gazes, Zhao Wan initially felt a surge of secret joy, which was quickly overwhelmed by deep regret...

At this moment, inside a mansion in the capital.

A man sighed and said, "I never expected him to directly attack Zhou Xian. This Lord Chen's actions are truly unpredictable. It's a pity for Zhou Xian. He's been in this position for so long and has done so much for us. This time, he's actually fallen into the hands of the Jingye Division..."

The middle-aged man merely sipped his tea, gently set down the cup, his expression neither joy nor anger, and said calmly, "Indeed, I miscalculated. However, this also shows that Zhou Xian is still not up to the task. Let's replace him with someone more capable, preferably someone with a strength of at least the fifth rank, enough to handle the Jingye Division's 'Heart-Questioning Mirror'..."

The man thought for a moment and said, "If the strength is above the fifth rank, then we can't look for someone from among the civil officials, and among the military officials, there doesn't seem to be a suitable candidate..."

After pondering for a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "Your Excellency, Wu Xianren, the deputy commander of the Tongzhou Thousand-Household Garrison, was recently promoted to the fifth rank. He has always been overshadowed by the commander of the Tongzhou Thousand-Household Garrison. This man served the court in guarding the border for more than ten years in the Southwest Pacification Division. He has sufficient experience and is loyal to us. Last year, he made Shen Qingya of the Shen family slink back to the capital. His ability is beyond doubt. Why not let him fill Zhou Xianren's position..."

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "That's him. You submit the memorial, and I'll figure something out with the cabinet..."

Then, he let out a soft sigh and muttered, "This Chen Yu is really a tough nut to crack..."

Zhao Mansion.

After resolving Zhao Jing's matter, Lin Xuan's parents-in-law prepared a lavish dinner at their home to express their gratitude.

The dinner ended after curfew.

Given Lin Xuan's status, even under curfew, he could move freely in the capital. However, he couldn't resist his parents-in-law's repeated requests to stay. If he insisted on refusing, it would seem to be disrespectful to the Zhao family. So, he could only stay at the Zhao residence for one night.

Inside Zhao Wan's original boudoir.

The two entered the room and found it had been carefully decorated.

Red candles flickered, the bedding was brand new, and the walls and headboard were decorated with the character for "happiness".

They've only been married for two days, so this kind of arrangement isn't surprising.

Lin Xuan rummaged through the closet but couldn't find a second quilt.

A subtle silence fell over the room.

This is the Zhao family home. If he were to sleep in another room, the Zhao family would inevitably have some doubts.

Lin Xuan picked up a pillow from the bed, breaking the silence first, and said, "Let's do it the same as that day, you sleep on the bed, and I'll sleep on the floor."

Zhao Wan grabbed his pillow and quickly said, "No, this is my family home. It's not proper for my husband to sleep on the floor. If my parents find out, they will definitely blame me for being impolite..."

She sat on the bed, looked down and said, "This bed is big enough for two people to sleep in. Tonight, I'm afraid my husband will have to make do."

Seeing her resolute attitude, Lin Xuan didn't insist any further, simply saying, "There's nothing to be aggrieved about. Having a bed to sleep in is already a blessing. Back when we were on missions, the sky was our blanket and the ground our bed. If we could find a cave to shelter from the rain, we were considered extremely lucky..."

When Lin Xuan was infiltrating the Longya Army, the conditions were extremely harsh. He said a few more words, but then realized that Zhao Wan probably wasn't interested in these things, so he quickly shut up.

This was the first time he had told her these things, and Zhao Wan wanted to hear more. Seeing that he didn't speak again, she didn't ask any more questions. She silently walked to the inside of the bed, lay down fully clothed, and pressed herself tightly against the inner wall, leaving as much space as possible. Her heart started pounding.

This was the first time she had slept in the same bed with a man, and recalling the descriptions in those storybooks she read, her mind began to wander.

A man and a woman alone, living together in the same room...

If he wants it, should she give it to him or not?

Although she wasn't ready, refusing to give it would be disobeying an imperial decree, and everyone would be implicated...

Anyway, this is the only step left in the wedding process. Can she marry someone else after this?

At that moment, she suddenly felt very fortunate, fortunate that she had insisted on drinking that cup of nuptial wine...

Lin Xuan, unaware of Zhao Wan's thoughts, blew out the excess candlelight, leaving only a small lamp in the distance emitting a dim glow. He then walked to the outside of the bed, lay down fully clothed, and tried to get as close to the edge of the bed as possible. In the middle of the bright red brocade quilt, there was a deep cleavage.

Zhao Wan closed her eyes, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

The male presence behind me was unfamiliar yet carried a strange sense of reassurance.

She thought of his humility and gentleness, his subtle thoughtfulness and care for her, and the gratitude on her parents' faces and the envy of her relatives when he returned with his younger brother... All of this was completely different from what she had imagined before marriage.

A strange feeling, like vines in early spring, quietly twined and grew in my heart.

With a beautiful woman by his side and a subtle fragrance wafting in the air, Lin Xuan's mood remained as calm as ever. Having experienced so much, he was naturally not tempted by such beauty. His only thought was that he hadn't brought his binoculars when he came out today, and Qingluan was probably still waiting for him. He could only explain to her when he got home tomorrow...

Zhao Wan lay on the bed waiting, waiting and waiting, but nothing came. She eventually fell into a deep sleep...

As dawn broke, the light streamed through the window lattice and fell evenly on Zhao Wan's boudoir bed.

Lin Xuan had actually woken up long ago, but he couldn't get up.

Although the two slept in the same bed and shared the same blanket last night, there was still some distance between them.

At this moment, that distance had long since disappeared. Zhao Wan was curled up, gently nestled beside him, her cheek pressed against his arm, one arm even unconsciously resting on his waist. Her breathing was even and deep; she was fast asleep.

Lin Xuan could clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from her hair and feel the warmth emanating from her body through her clothes.

If he makes any move, it will surely wake her up; let her wake up first.

He simply cleared his mind of all distractions and began to meditate. After about fifteen minutes, Zhao Wan's long eyelashes fluttered a few times, and she slowly woke up.

The first thing she felt was the solid warmth coming from her side, and the sensation of her arms encircling her.

She slowly opened her eyes, and what came into view was her husband's peaceful sleeping face so close to hers. Then she realized that he was still sleeping by the bed, and she was almost entirely nestled in his arms...

Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she abruptly withdrew her hand, quickly retreating to the inside of the bed. Then, she held her breath and cautiously observed Lin Xuan.

Seeing that his eyes were closed and his breathing was steady, as if he had not woken up, she breathed a slight sigh of relief, quietly sat up, tidied her slightly disheveled hair and clothes, and tried to calm herself down, but her heart was still pounding.

Just as she was at a loss, she heard a soft nasal sound beside her.

Lin Xuan woke up at just the right time. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with the drowsiness and confusion of someone just waking up. He then sat up, stretched his neck, and looked at Zhao Wan in his usual tone: "Awake?"

Zhao Wan blushed and nodded, giving a soft "Mmm".

"It's getting late. Go wash up and head home early." Lin Xuan said as she got out of bed, dressed herself, and moved smoothly and naturally without giving Zhao Wan a second glance.

Looking at his tall and straight back, Zhao Wan felt a sense of relief, but also a faint sense of loss that she herself did not realize.

She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself down, and quickly got up to do her hair and makeup.

After having breakfast at the Zhao residence, the two bid farewell to Zhao Runzhang and his wife and returned to the Chen residence together.

Before leaving, Zhao's mother pulled Zhao Wan aside and whispered, "Wan'er, did you read the book I gave you last time?"

Zhao Wan knew what she was talking about, her face instantly flushed red, and she whispered, "Yes, I saw it..."

Seeing her shy expression, Zhao's mother smiled and said, "The pleasures of the bedroom are human nature, there's nothing to be ashamed of. You must study the contents of that book carefully, and make sure to keep your husband firmly by your side..."

Zhao Wan nodded, blushing.

On the carriage back to the Chen residence, Lin Xuan closed his eyes and meditated, while Zhao Wan sat upright with her eyes lowered, occasionally stealing a glance at him. Recalling the scene when she woke up that morning, her heart couldn't help but beat faster.

At one point, she suddenly spoke softly, "My husband."

Lin Xuan stopped meditating and opened his eyes.

Zhao Wan lowered her head, her face filled with worry, and said, "The palace lady mentioned a seven-day deadline, and today is already the fourth day. What should we do after three days...?"

Lin Xuan did not answer this question immediately.

He has been trying to find a solution these past few days.

His Majesty's bestowal of a marriage is truly an act of controlling everything, even whether or not other people consummate their marriages.

Whether Zhao Wan was a virgin or not, the female official could tell at a glance; there was no way to fake it.

The crime of deceiving the emperor can be considered serious or minor, depending entirely on how His Majesty handles it. The problem is, Lin Xuan doesn't know how His Majesty will deal with it. It would be best if His Majesty could let it go lightly. But if His Majesty were to actually punish him for deceiving the emperor, would he really have to take out that first-class Jing'an Medal?

This is too wasteful.

That's a treasure that can save you from a death sentence. He used it to avoid the wedding night. Isn't that just plain stupid?
If this gets out, he'll probably become a laughingstock in history books.

He didn't give Zhao Wan a definite answer, but said, "There are still three days left, let me think of something..."

Zhao Wan's lips moved, but in the end, she couldn't say those words.

Actually, she doesn't mind...

When she wrote that poem, she didn't know him well. After they got married, and after spending these few days together, she gradually realized that, apart from not understanding poetry, he was exactly the ideal husband she had ever imagined...

But as a woman, how could she possibly be the first to speak up in such a situation...?

Back at the Chen residence, Zhao Wan's emotions were still not completely calm.

The feeling of her husband's embrace in the early morning, and his composed profile, kept flashing through her mind, making her cheeks burn.

To distract herself, she forced herself to immerse herself in poetry, taking out the mysterious scholar's manuscript and hoping to cleanse her chaotic thoughts by reading this masterpiece.

She spread out a sheet of Xuan paper and carefully traced the characters on it, trying to understand the state of mind of that great poet.

However, the more she copied, the more tightly her eyebrows furrowed.

The words on this manuscript are not only unremarkable, but there is also a deliberate awkwardness in the strokes. This master not only concealed his identity, but also did not want anyone to see his real handwriting.

She put down her pen, completely baffled.

Just then, Zhiqin entered the room and asked softly, "Madam, I'm going out to shop. Is there anything you need to buy?"

Zhao Wan put aside her thoughts for a moment, thought for a moment, and said, "Bring me back a ream of Xuan paper."

"Yes."

Zhiqin took out a folded piece of paper from her sleeve, spread it out on the corner of the table, and smiled, "Madam, may I borrow your pen and ink?"

She picked up a brush and skillfully added the four characters "a ream of Xuan paper" below the paper that was already covered with the names of items.

Just as she was about to put away the list and leave, Zhao Wan suddenly spoke up: "Wait..."

Zhiqin looked at her and asked, "Does Madam need anything else?"

Zhao Wan did not answer her, but took the paper from her hand and stared intently at the words on it.

The handwriting on this paper is from more than one person.

At the top of the note were the names of some spices: Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds… presumably for the kitchen to buy. Zhao Wan wasn't concerned with the contents, but rather with the handwriting…

The rise and fall of the brushstrokes, and the barely perceptible brushwork habits between transitions...

She placed the mysterious scholar's manuscript next to this piece of paper, and the next moment, her breath caught in her throat!

As a master calligrapher who has been immersed in calligraphy for many years, Zhao Wan's insight into handwriting far surpasses that of ordinary people.

Upon comparing the two, she was shocked to discover that the mysterious scholar's manuscript and the casually written words on this paper shared an astonishingly similar underlying structure, the point of force in the strokes, and the way certain strokes were handled...

Even if someone deliberately changes their handwriting, they cannot change certain subtle pen-writing habits.

Zhao Wan could almost conclude that these two seemingly dissimilar handwritings originated from the same person!
In other words, the mysterious genius who wrote the "Ten Exquisite Poems" that shocked the poetry scene in the capital was hiding in the Chen residence!
Suppressing her shock, she pointed to the names of several spices on the list, her voice trembling without her even realizing it, and asked Zhiqin, "These... these words... who wrote them?"

Zhiqin followed her gaze, a natural smile appearing on her face, and said, "Madam asked about these spices? These were written by the young master himself. He is skilled in cooking and often personally prepared the spices in the past..."

"Husband?"

Zhao Wan suddenly raised her head, her beautiful eyes wide open, her pupils filled with extreme shock and disbelief.

The "nameless man" who was famous in the capital, who attracted countless literati to search for him and who made her admire him endlessly, the peerless talent who wrote the "Ten Wonderful Poems" and whose talent was as brilliant as the God of Literature descending to earth, was actually her husband.

how can that be!

Didn't he say he had no interest in poetry?
However, the handwriting comparison before us is irrefutable and cannot be faked!
Zhao Wan suddenly remembered the two thousand taels of silver notes her husband had given her that night. At the time, she hadn't thought much of it, but now she realized that the prize money for the top ten in the Brocade Poetry Competition was a full four thousand taels...

She believed her husband wasn't a corrupt person; how could he have earned so much money in just half a day...?

One coincidence might be a coincidence, but surely every coincidence can't be a coincidence?

After the initial shock, an indescribable and extremely complex emotion surged within her.

It turns out that from the very beginning, the person she married was the one she most wanted to marry.

In an instant, an indescribable and immense joy welled up in my heart.

However, this extreme joy lasted only a moment before being overwhelmed by an even stronger sadness and bitterness.

How could someone who can write such exquisite poems as the Ten Great Poems of Brocade not be interested in poetry?
However, even though he knew she loved poetry, he completely hid his most dazzling side from her, not letting her know a thing about it.

Then I thought back to what he said on our wedding night: he treated her with the utmost respect, slept in the same bed with her, yet never made a move against her. He said he had someone he loved, someone waiting for him in the southwest…

It's not that he's uninterested in poetry.

He's not interested in her...

This conclusion, like a cold steel needle, pierced the softest part of her heart unexpectedly, bringing a clear and persistent pain. This pain was even greater than when the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon her, and she thought she was going to marry a hot-tempered warrior...

She was like a person dying in the desert who suddenly discovered an oasis, only to find, as she ran towards it, that it was surrounded by insurmountable high walls...

The immense joy was accompanied by an equally immense loss, tearing at her at the same time, making her experience, in a very short period of time, the feeling of falling from the clouds to the bottom of the valley. Her ideal husband was clearly within reach, yet he deliberately excluded her from his spiritual world...

Now, recalling her poorly written "Partridge Sky," a profound sense of shame overwhelmed her, making her feel utterly humiliated...

(End of this chapter)