Chapter Fifteen: The Astonished Gu Xirou

After the gatekeeper left, Zhong Li You finally picked up his brush.

“Once word got out that I had arrived in Yunyang County, everyone wanted me to read their essays and poems. If they were good, that would be one thing, but unfortunately, those poems and writings were utterly unreadable—just a glance made my eyes feel polluted.”

“As for Yin Rong, although his poems are somewhat passable, they carry a forced, melancholic tone, as if sorrow is feigned for the sake of sorrow itself. Compared to your poetry, they’re only fit to be used as toilet paper.”

Zhong Li You shook his head as he spoke, spreading out two pieces of paper for couplets and then falling into a thoughtful silence.

“Your Xianglu is imbued with exquisite charm…”

With a flourish of his brush, he penned a couplet:

“The spirit flows like water deep and clear,
Elegance untouched by the sea’s dim mist.”

Jiang Han’s eyes lit up in admiration. “Master Zhong Li’s calligraphy is superb! And this couplet is perfect! ‘The spirit flows like water deep and clear, Elegance untouched by the sea’s dim mist’—it suits my Xianglu so well!”

Zhong Li You smiled faintly.

Jiang Han blinked. “Master Zhong Li, do you have your seal with you? Please leave your mark.”

“Certainly.” Without hesitation, Zhong Li You took out his seal and stamped the couplet.

Yuan Bin, standing nearby, was stunned. Zhong Li You was renowned for his mastery of both calligraphy and painting, with each character worth hundreds of gold coins. Even nobles would pay handsomely for a single work, depending on his mood.

Yet now, he had not only written a couplet for Jiang Han but boldly affixed his seal as well.

Jiang Han accepted the couplet delightedly. “Master Zhong Li, when my Xianglu shop officially opens, I hope to borrow your esteemed reputation.”

Zhong Li You nodded. “No problem! When your Xianglu shop opens, I shall come to see it myself.”

“I will be sure to welcome you with the utmost respect!” Jiang Han beamed, pleased that this would help him sell his Xianglu to scholars and literati.

Zhong Li You stroked his green beard. “Do you drink wine?”

Jiang Han replied, “I can manage a little.”

Zhong Li You laughed. “Come then, bring along a few jars of Fenjiu, and let’s drink at the Flower Pavilion.”

Though Jiang Han wasn’t fond of alcohol, he couldn’t refuse after inviting Master Zhong Li to write couplets. So he followed the two great scholars and Yuan Bin out.

The Flower Pavilion lay north of the Wangchao Garden, nestled in a quiet spot. Together with Wangchao Garden and Yunmeng Lake, it formed three of Yunyang’s seven scenic views.

As they headed toward the lakeside pavilion, outside Wangchao Garden, Yin Rong, Gu Xirou, and others were visibly disheartened. The gatekeeper had told them that Master Zhong Li was currently receiving guests and refused to see them.

Gu Xirou especially felt disappointed. Yin Rong had told her to bring a few poems, hoping that if Master Zhong Li praised them, they might be included in the “Great Yu Anthology.”

So, Gu Xirou had brought some poems she believed excellent, dreaming that if the grand master favored them, she would become Yunyang County’s foremost talented woman.

Yet Zhong Li You hadn’t even granted them an audience.

Yin Rong wore a moon-white scholar’s robe, handsome and elegant, but now his expression was downcast.

He had assumed that with his reputation and background, Zhong Li You would surely meet him. He had boasted confidently before Gu Xirou, only to be denied even a meeting...

“Master Zhong Li is likely seeing some important local official. Let’s return and visit again another day,” Yin Rong forced a smile.

“Yes, that must be it. Let’s go back for now,” Gu Xirou smiled weakly.

Only Wang Siyu felt no disappointment, having never imagined Master Zhong Li would appreciate her poems. She was simply accompanying her close friend.

At that moment, she happened to look up and saw three or four people emerging from Wangchao Garden. She immediately recognized Jiang Han. “Huh? Isn’t that Jiang Han? Why is he coming out from inside?”

Yin Rong also turned to look and was stunned. “That’s Master Zhong Li, and that young gentleman seems to be Yuan Bin, one of the Four Great Talents of the Capital…”

Gu Xirou stared blankly at the figures. How could Jiang Han be walking with Master Zhong Li? Could she have been mistaken?

She rubbed her eyes. The group was already heading toward the Flower Pavilion. Though she couldn’t see their faces, she recognized Jiang Han by his back.

After all, Jiang Han and she had grown up like childhood sweethearts—she would recognize him even in ashes.

Could the esteemed guest the gatekeeper mentioned just now have been Jiang Han?

No, it couldn’t be.

“Yin Gongzi, is that really Master Zhong Li?” Gu Xirou asked hesitantly.

Yin Rong was unsure. “It should be. I met him once in Luoyang City, but why would Master Zhong Li be with Jiang Han?”

“This…” Gu Xirou’s eyes widened. Watching Jiang Han and Master Zhong Li walk side by side, she was thoroughly baffled.

What on earth was going on?

It would be understandable if Jiang Zhensheng traveled with Master Zhong Li, but what right did Jiang Han have to be in his company?

Wang Siyu was equally shocked. The image lingered in her mind, making her doubt whether she was dreaming.

She pinched herself hard, wincing in pain, realizing it was real.

Jiang Han and Master Zhong Li chatted and laughed as they walked away, leaving Yin Rong, Gu Xirou, and Wang Siyu staring at each other, stunned.

……

Jiang Han was completely unaware that Gu Xirou had witnessed this scene. He sat down at the Flower Pavilion with Master Zhong Li and Master Gu.

Zhong Li You immediately poured several bowls of Fenjiu and invited Jiang Han to drink.

Jiang Han took a sip, clicking his tongue. The wine was light, only about ten or twenty degrees in strength.

He had already developed a distiller and, once his current work was done, would be able to produce distilled spirits himself.

“This Fenjiu I brought from Luoyang is renowned throughout the land—‘Drunken Immortal.’ I used to enjoy drinking it in my youth, but now I find it lacks potency,” Zhong Li You said after a bowl, shaking his head.

Jiang Han smiled. “Master Zhong Li, since you enjoy drinking, I’ll bring some of my own strong liquor to offer you next time. It will surely surpass this Fenjiu in strength!”

“Oh? You can brew liquor?” Zhong Li You’s curiosity was piqued.

“I know a bit!” Jiang Han replied.

“Good, I look forward to you bringing me strong liquor!” Zhong Li You laughed heartily.

After several bowls, Zhong Li You grew more spirited and kept calling for more wine.

Gu Qingqiu had an excellent tolerance and showed no signs of intoxication.

Yuan Bin didn’t drink; he stood nearby pouring wine for the three.

By the time the two jars were emptied, Zhong Li You’s face was flushed, but his eyes were bright. He fixed his gaze on Jiang Han. “Wine without poetry is hardly satisfying. Young brother, how about composing a poem?”

Jiang Han hesitated. “If Master Zhong Li commands, I dare not refuse! Please give me the topic.”

Zhong Li You smiled. “Then let it be on the theme of wine!”

Gu Qingqiu and Yuan Bin looked at Jiang Han with curious eyes.

Especially Gu Qingqiu, who had never seen Jiang Han compose a poem on the spot and had always harbored some doubts about his poetry.

Jiang Han paused briefly in contemplation, then smiled. “Got it!”

“Yuan Bin, get the brush!” Zhong Li You ordered.

“No need for a brush—just recite it off the cuff,” Jiang Han said with a smile.

Recite it off the cuff again? Yuan Bin was momentarily stunned.