Chapter 4: Tan Chun

Wenhan Street was to the east of the Rongguo Prefecture. Going out from the black-oiled gate of the East Road Courtyard required taking a big detour.

But passing through the Rongguo Prefecture's back garden and going out from the West Corner Gate saved half the distance.

Zhao Mama was holding the note written by Jia Cong. When passing through the back garden, several young women walked towards her on the stone path.

Among them, one had slender shoulders and a thin waist, a tall figure, a duck-egg-shaped face, handsome eyes and groomed eyebrows, looking around with spirit, and her literary talent was the essence; seeing her made one forget the vulgar.

Another one had slightly plump skin, a medium figure, cheeks like fresh lychees, a nose like goose fat, gentle and silent, and was approachable.

That woman with handsome eyes and groomed eyebrows looked at Zhao Mama, her gaze deep and spirited, as if she could see into the bottom of a person's heart.

Zhao Mama panicked, and the note she was holding in her hand fell to the ground, was rolled up by the wind, and drifted forward leisurely.

She was not a house-born slave of the Jia Prefecture, and because of Jia Cong, she was not well-liked in the Jia Prefecture either.

Usually, she only went in and out of the East Road Courtyard and rarely came to the West Prefecture, but she also knew that the West Prefecture raised three golden daughters.

Unlike Jia Cong, who was hated by people and dogs, those three young ladies were the apple of the Jia Prefecture's eye and had been raised by the Old Mistress of the Jia Prefecture since childhood.

The note written by Jia Cong was what he wanted to buy. Zhao Mama didn't know much about characters, and the note was for the shop assistant and shopkeeper of the bookstore.

The note read: "Comprehensive Examination of Ancient and Modern Historical Facts," "Biographies of Famous Calligraphers," and two knives of coarse hemp raw xuan paper.

"This was written by our Young Master Cong, asking the old woman to buy books and paper for him."

"Young Master Cong..." Tan Chun's gaze was stunned; the name was clearly a bit unfamiliar to her, and she didn't react for a while.

Seeing the Third Young Lady's surprised expression, Zhao Mama saw that her skin was glowing and her cheeks were blushing, making her look even more pretty, and she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.

The one who just looked at her was the Third Young Lady, Tan Chun, who was not only as beautiful as a flower but also shrewd and capable, and was the most valued by the Old Mistress of the Jia Prefecture among the young ladies.

Tan Chun loved calligraphy, and even the names of her personal maids, Shi Shu and Cui Mo, were related to calligraphy.

She asked urgently, "Who wrote the characters on this note?"

Jia Cong had been confined to the East Road Courtyard since he was a child. Because his biological mother was lowly, the Old Mistress of the Jia Prefecture had never liked this grandson.

Tan Chun was deeply immersed in calligraphy and was more easily moved by superb calligraphy than others. In her agitated mood, two red clouds actually appeared on her pretty face.

Although this Third Young Lady was also born of a concubine like Jia Cong, no one dared to look down on her, and even the most formidable Second Grandmother Lian in the two prefectures feared her by three points.

"Better than the calligraphy posts in my room. Second Sister, you hid such a remarkable brother, and you don't often invite him over to play."

Jia Cong had almost never been to the West Prefecture, and even the Old Mistress couldn't remember what this grandson looked like, let alone Tan Chun and the other sisters.

In addition, there was a legitimate son born with jade in his mouth, who was incomparably noble, like a pearl or treasure, and was the most doted on by the Old Mistress of the Jia Prefecture.

Ying Chun took the note from Tan Chun's hand, and after a long while, she replied, "I've never heard before that he could write such good characters."

Ying Chun was born to Jia She's concubine and was Jia Cong's half-sister, so she naturally knew this brother, but it was usually difficult to have contact.

She was naturally a person with a discerning eye. The running script on the note was warm, moist, bone-elegant, clear, free, and easy, skilled and condensed, making one feel amazed at first sight.

Tan Chun came back to her senses and exclaimed, "So it's Third Brother Cong. I really didn't expect him to write such good characters."

Tan Chun bent down to pick up the note, and a light suddenly shone in her clear, handsome eyes, which was very moving at that moment.

The note Zhao Mama dropped was blown by the wind and happened to roll to the side of Third Young Lady Tan Chun's embroidered shoes.

Ying Chun laughed with a "pfft": "Third Sister, why are you confused? Young Master Cong is my third brother, but he grew up in the East Road Courtyard since he was a child, so Third Sister is not familiar with him."

Tan Chun asked strangely, "He's my own brother, and he's so outstanding. How come I didn't know?"

Ying Chun's face flushed. She knew that the Great Master and Mistress were very disgusted with Jia Cong and had beaten and scolded him since he was a child, treating him very harshly.

Although she was Jia Cong's biological sister, she also felt that it was very inappropriate for him to be treated like this.

But she had a gentle and silent personality, her words were soft, far less shrewd and upright than Tan Chun, and she didn't dare to persuade her father and mother about this matter.

She had also been raised in the West Prefecture since she was a child and had no contact with this brother Jia Cong...

She didn't have the face to tell Tan Chun about these things. She felt a bit ashamed that she, as a sister, didn't have the ability to help her brother.

Seeing that she didn't have anything to say after two sentences, Tan Chun was used to this Second Sister, nicknamed "Second Wooden Head," who often couldn't chat for two sentences before the conversation died.

Tan Chun looked at the characters on the note and couldn't put it down, feeling that it was a waste of good things to write such good characters on this rough paper on the side.

Her handsome eyes and bright pupils turned, and she had a plan in her heart.

"Third Brother Cong wants to buy books and paper. I have plenty in my room. Mama doesn't need to go out to buy them. It would be more convenient to take them from me to use."

Third Young Lady Tan Chun loved calligraphy, read classics thoroughly, had an upright ambition in her heart, and was the best among the sisters. She was even a few points stronger than her brother who was born with jade in his mouth.

She often regretted being a woman and not being able to go out to establish a career. She was addicted to calligraphy and classics, and there was a hidden desire in her heart to emulate men.

Therefore, these books that Jia Cong wanted were not lacking in her room, which was why she said such things to Zhao Mama.

Zhao Mama had suffered a lot of idle anger in the East Road Courtyard, and now this Third Young Lady was so polite, which made her feel a bit flattered.

"How can I trouble Third Young Lady?"

Tan Chun smiled: "Mama is being an outsider. We are all own brothers and sisters. What is this worth? I'll pick out the good ones when I go back and have Shi Shu send them over."

"That's too kind of Third Young Lady. I'll definitely tell Young Master Cong about the Young Lady's kindness when I go back."

Tan Chun thought again, her face flushed, and she said:

"Mama, please help me bring a message to Third Brother when you go back, saying that I love his calligraphy and would like to ask Third Brother to write a piece for me to copy."

Zhao Mama suddenly realized that this Third Young Lady was the same as that old scholar, having taken a fancy to Young Master Cong's calligraphy.

It was really true that scholars were precious. Being able to write a few characters actually made so many people fawn over him.

"Young Lady, don't worry. What is this? I'll definitely bring the message when I go back. When Young Master Cong writes the characters, I'll send them to the Young Lady."

Watching Zhao Mama walk away, Tan Chun said to Ying Chun: "Second Sister, Third Brother Cong is only ten years old, and he can actually write such good characters. I've copied many famous calligraphy posts, but I've rarely seen such good ones. Today, I've seen something rare."

Ying Chun was stunned and didn't know how to reply. After a long while, she said: "Third Brother has grown up and is showing his talent."

At this moment, Tan Chun had no intention of strolling in the garden with Ying Chun anymore and took Shi Shu back to her room.

She picked out the books Jia Cong wanted from the bookshelf and took two knives of high-quality xuan paper, which was fine, moist, and ink-absorbent, best for writing.

She also called Shi Shu to give instructions, asking her to inquire about it. She saw that Ying Chun was hesitant to speak just now and knew there must be a reason.

After tidying up the things, she copied the characters on the note for a long time, admiring and loving them more and more in her heart, and saw that Shi Shu had already returned from shopping outside.

Hongyuan Lane was near the south side of the Imperial City, where the Prince Jia Shun Prefecture of the Great Zhou Dynasty was located.

Zhou Changyan was a guest of the Prince Prince Jia Shun Prefecture, good at meticulous flower-and-bird painting, well-versed in classics and articles, and his calligraphy also showed skill, so he was very close and treated with courtesy by Prince Prince Jia Shun.

He carefully held two sheets of coarse red nitrate paper in his right hand and walked into the Prince's Prefecture with a joyful expression. He didn't care about the slight pungent odor unique to the red nitrate paper.

Prince Jia Shun, Li Haocheng, was the youngest son of the Retired Emperor, in his twenties, with a handsome and scholarly appearance. He was a famous talent in the royal family, loved books and paintings, liked to read, and was well-versed in compilation and learning.

The Prince's Prefecture raised many guests full of talent and learning. Prince Prince Jia Shun didn't like political affairs since he was a child and was bent on doing academic work, leading his guests to do some elegant things like compiling ancient and modern book collections.

Such a scholarly and idle prince always had good popularity. The Retired Emperor doted on this youngest son and often called him into the palace to talk about books and paintings to enjoy family happiness.

Civil officials in the court also had a good impression of this talented prince.

Prince Prince Jia Shun was raised by his brother, Wu Wang, when he was young, and the brothers had a deep affection, but it was limited to brotherly affection.

Because Prince Prince Jia Shun was only five years old when Wu Wang got into trouble, even though there was such an awkward old matter, the current Emperor had no misgivings and had always been close to this youngest brother.

At this moment, Prince Jia Shun, Li Haocheng, was drinking and chatting with a group of guests in the hall, and just saw Zhou Changyan entering with a happy expression.

Prince Prince Jia Shun smiled: "I was just about to look for Changyan to drink. Where did you come from, and what object are you holding in your hand?"

Zhou Changyan smiled: "Prince, I encountered a rare thing when passing by Juede Lane today, and I specially brought an object for the Prince to appreciate."

(End of chapter)