Chapter 37: Original Male Lead l


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    “Mother, wait a moment, let me go and ask around,” Wei Yichen replied, swiftly dismounting from his horse and merging with the crowd.


    After a short while, Wei Yichen returned, visibly more excited than when he left.


    “Mother, it’s a newly opened shop holding apetition,” he said.


    “What shop? Whatpetition?” Madame Yun asked, intrigued by her son’s enthusiasm.


    It was rare to see him this excited about anything.


    “It’s the Four Treasure House, they’ve opened a branch in Xingshan County, they’re holding a contest for calligraphy and essays, and the winner will receive a prized piece of calligraphy from the Tibetanyman.”


    “The Four Treasure House? Didn’t your father bring back some paper made by themst time?”


    “Yes, it’s the same Four Treasure House indeed!” Wei Yichen said, his expression filled with eagerness.


    “Ah! Is the Tibetanyman that renowned schr from Huzhou Prefecture? Your father had mentioned him before, he writes excellentpositions, once served as an esteemed schr at the Hanlin Academy, but he retired and settled down in Huzhou Prefecture. He nted a bamboo forest in front of his house, hence known as the Tibetanyman.”


    “It’s him!”


    Therefore, Wei Yichen’s excitement became more evident.


    No matter whether it’s the paper from the Four Treasure House or the artwork from the Tibetanyman, Wei Yichen was profoundly interested in both.


    Reading her son’s thoughts, Madame Yun promptly said, “Well, what are you waiting for? When ites to calligraphy and essays, my son is one of the very best in Xingshan County.”


    Hearing this, Wei Yichen consulted his father with a look.


    Wei Mingting agreed, saying, “Go ahead, I too, would like to see the caliber of my son’s writings.”


    “Very well, I will participate.”


    Excited, Wei Yichen blended back into the crowd.


    Wei Mingting then addressed the family members in the carriage, “You should also get off and stretch your legs.”


    Madame Yun let the three children step out of the carriage. She told Wei Qingwan and Wei Ruo to put on their veils, reminding their maids to stay by their side. As for Wei Yilin, she watched him herself, afraid lest he wander off too far.


    Once out of the carriage, Wei Ruo, along with Xiumei, plunged into the crowd to look at the peoplepeting for the Tibetanyman’s calligraphy.


    Both girls were excited. Although their enthusiasm was less pronounced than Wei Yichen’s, they seemed to care much more about this than about anything else, especially Wei Ruo.


    Thepetition rules were simple. The participants had to write a shortposition on the assigned topic on the spot, and the work would be judged on both content and penmanship.


    The shopkeeper of the Four Treasure House, a middle-aged man with a beard and a hearty smile, was overseeing thepetition.


    He enthusiastically weed each student who had been drawn to thepetition, exining the rules and inviting them to participate. The materials, including ink, brush, paper, and inkstone, were provided by Four Treasure House.


    When Wei Yichen thronged into the crowd, the shopkeeper cheerfully shared thepetition details with him.


    “You just need to write your thoughts on the given topic. We do not consider the content of the work, but the quality of the calligraphy.”


    “Alright, let me give it a shot. Could you please lend me a brush and paper?” n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    In a hurry, the shopkeeper instructed a shopkeeper’s assistant to prepare a new set of brush and paper for Wei Yichen.


    Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Wei Yichen started to write, his bold and powerful strokes immediately attracted a round of apuse from the crowd.


    After he finished, the shopkeeper did notment on his work, but had another assistant carefully hang up Wei Yichen’s piece.


    By now, many pieces were hung up on the shelf nearby, all were screenshots of today’spetitions. They were disyed side by side for passer-by to appreciate and judge.


    Avishly decorated carriage had been parked at distance for a while now with its upants watching the activities here.


    “Interested, brother Yuhong?” Chu Lan asked Lu Yuhong, who was engrossed in the spectacle.


    Lu Yuhong quickly shook his head, “Your Highness, don’t make fun of me. I can excel in martialpetition, horse riding, archery, strategic warfare, but I am utterly ipetent at calligraphy orposition.


    I just find the shop interesting with its unique method of presenting a venue for apetition on its opening day. Furthermore, they offered the Tibetanyman’s artwork as a prize, which I’m curious to know whether it is genuine or not.”


    “Certainly, they are somewhat more astute than most shops,” Chu Lanmented, his tone rather detached, show no keenness like Lu Yuhong’s.


    “By the way, aren’t those people on horses from the Noble and Principled Duke’s residence in Capital City? They seem familiar,” asked Lu Yuhong.


    Following Lu Yuhong’s line of sight, Chu Lan spotted Wei Mingting.


    “Indeed, that is the third son of Noble and Principled Duke, Wei Mingting, who’s currently serving as Sixth-rank Colonel.”


    “Your Highness remember everyone clearly. I am not good at keeping track of these people, not even those residing in the Capital City, let alone those outside the capital.”


    “The entire Noble and Principled Duke’s residence, including the Noble and Principled Duke himself, are spineless. Wei Mingting is the only exception. It’s a pity that he is only bold without flexibility; otherwise, he would have left this ce long ago.” Chu Lan remarked.


    “No wonder the Noble and Principled Duke residence is deteriorating in recent years. It seems like theyckpetent sessors. It’s a pity. I once heard my father mentioning that their ancestors were meritorious generals at the founding of the kingdom!” said Lu Yuhong. Despite his schrly background, he admired martial artists, especially those illustrious generals of the past.


    “Let’s go,” Chu Lan suddenly said, lifting the curtain of the carriage and standing up.


    “Where to?”


    “To thepetition.”


    “Eh? Have you taken an interest, Your Highness?”Lu Yuhong said in surprise, running after him.


    Chu Lan didn’t reply and made his way directly into the crowd.


    Thepetition was still on, nearly everybody had participated, and their works were on disy for everyone to see.


    Among all the works, Wei Yichen’s piece was prominent and garnered the most attention.


    No doubt, Madame Yun was correct. When ites to penmanship andposition, Wei Yichen is amongst the top notch in Xingshan County.


    His performance was superior to others and pushed others aside.


    We Qingwan couldn’t have been more pleased for Wei Yichen.


    Suddenly, a man in brocade robes approached.


    “I would like to try as well.”


    The crowd naturally parted to let the man through, knowing intuitively from the outfit and the entourage that he was no ordinary man.


    Wei Mingting took notice of the neer and was slightly taken aback.


    He wasn’t sure of the man’s identity, but he inferred something from the personal essories the man’s attendants were bearing.


    Wei Ruo recognised the man at a nce – it’s the seventh prince Chu Lan.


    The male protagonist of the original story and also the one who sentenced her to death in the original plot.


    Remembering this, Wei Ruo instinctively moved away from the crowd, creating a distance between herself and this perceived threat.


    Although she didn’t know how much of a difference it would make, her instinct just drove her to stay away from the perceived danger.


    Wei Ruo nced at Wei Qingwan, only to find her looking at Chu Lan.


    Chu Lan was meant to meet Wei Qingwan at the Huafa Temple in the original plot, but that encounter was missed because of her, a secondary character, not showing up.


    Could it be that this dyed encounter was happening now?