Chapter 204 - 128: From Now On, the King Skips Morning Court

Chapter 204: Chapter 128: From Now On, the King Skips Morning Court

"Aaaaaaaah!"

Completely devoid of inspiration, Shan Weizi screamed, clutching her head in frustration. The sound carried out from the classical Hangzhou Garden, drifting over the surface of West Lake. She had no fear of disturbing the peace, as there were no neighbors nearby—the only other residence was the Guozhuang Villa.

Shan Weizi had grown up in just such a scholarly family, one with a rich cultural heritage. From a young age, her grandfather and Shan Zhentian had educated her in the Chinese classics. Later, as she came to appreciate the splendor of Huaxia culture and the vast depth of Chinese civilization, she fell deeply in love with the traditional national aesthetic.

Naturally, she came to believe in her heart that the magnificent five-thousand-year-old culture of Huaxia was the greatest on Earth, that no other country’s culture could compare. This cultural heritage was the very source of her confidence.

As a result, compared to other girls her age who liked romance and celebrating Western holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas, she felt nothing and never participated. Instead, it was the traditional holidays that the Shan Family celebrated with great fanfare.

As her grandfather would say, "We don’t celebrate foreign holidays. We have our own Valentine’s Day—the Lantern Festival is China’s Valentine’s Day. In ancient times, curfews would be lifted in many places on the day of the Lantern Festival. Everyone, young and old, man or woman, could go out on the streets to celebrate that night. Young men and women would also go on dates. Naturally, many famous stories happened during the Lantern Festival... like the story of Wang Anshi enjoying a double stroke of good fortune on the day of the festival while he was traveling to the capital for the imperial exams, or the story of Dongfang Shuo and Miss Yuanxiao. And then there’s that poem by Xin Qiji, ’A thousand times I searched for him in the crowd / Suddenly, I turned, and there he was / in the dim, fading lamplight...’ Which of these isn’t a beautiful story passed down through the ages? Why would we need to worship and celebrate Western holidays?"

Her grandfather didn’t teach Shan Weizi about traditional culture so she would learn ancient customs, but so she would understand just how magnificent five thousand years of Huaxia culture truly was and develop confidence from within.

Thus, steeped in this traditional culture, Shan Weizi fell in love with the national style. She was captivated by the moving and epic stories from the long river of five thousand years of history and was willing to do her part to promote it to the world.

When she had nothing to do, she could stay home for half a month or even longer without ever stepping out, content to do things she enjoyed, like painting, doing embroidery, playing chess with her grandfather, or watching dramas with Liu Piaopiao. She never found it boring; in fact, she reveled in it. On the rare occasion she felt frustrated, she would practice her swordplay in the courtyard to blow off steam. This was the daily life of Shan Weizi.

At some point, Shan Changqing appeared, standing under the plum blossom tree in the small courtyard. He looked up at Shan Weizi, who was slumped listlessly by her second-floor window.

"...I heard you all the way from the hallway. If you have no inspiration, come down. Stewing in your room will only make it worse. Come down and have some of your favorite little chicken cakes."

"Oh..." Shan Weizi replied, getting up and heading downstairs. She sat at the stone table in her private little courtyard, nibbling on a chicken cake and asking her grandfather for advice on creative inspiration. As always, he held nothing back, answering all her questions at length.

The wind stirred the plum blossoms in the southeast corner of the courtyard, and a petal traced an arc through the air, swirling down to land on Shan Weizi’s shoulder. She was dressed in a flowing white Hanfu, her long, dark hair cascading down her back. The overall effect was one of virtuous grace, yet she still retained a girlish charm.

"...Inspiration isn’t something you can have all the time, of course. When you don’t have it, stop trying to think about painting. Do something else you enjoy to relax your mind, and the inspiration will come naturally." As he spoke, her grandfather gently brushed the plum blossom from her shoulder.

"Sigh... Ever since I got back from Spirit Sword Mountain, I haven’t had any inspiration. It’s been agonizing, and I keep making mistakes," Shan Weizi said, her head hanging low.

Her grandfather laughed. "Hahaha... Come on. Go with your grandpa to the market to buy some nice ingredients. We have a guest tonight. Once he’s here, your inspiration will return."

"Who’s so amazing that you’re personally cooking for them, Grandpa? Do I know them?"

Her grandfather teased with a smile, "I don’t think you do. Go get a jar of the wine you brewed. We need to give our guest a proper welcome tonight."

Shan Weizi shook her head, refusing. "No, no way. I just opened a jar the last time Su Ran came. This time it’s your friend, and I don’t even know them. No. If I give it all away, there won’t be any left for later."

"So you only bring it out when Su Ran comes, is that it?"

"No! If you want some, I’ll give it to you. Outsiders can’t have any. Uh... if Su Ran comes, then, ahem, I suppose I could reluctantly let him have a taste."

"Just a taste?"

"Grandpa, are you making fun of me? Let’s go! Time to go buy groceries."

...

「At the same time.」

Su Ran had just landed at Hangzhou Airport. He hailed a cab to West Lake and turned on his phone. He had a WeChat message from Shan Weizi, sent just a few minutes ago. It was a photo of a pair of long, slender, beautiful hands holding red azuki beans in what looked like a dried goods shop. Attached was a poem: [Red beans grow in southern lands / How many new shoots in spring? / I hope you gather them aplenty / For they are the truest tokens of longing.]

Su Ran typed back three words: [Be more direct!]

[It just means I miss you and I’m asking when you’re coming to Hangzhou.] Shan Weizi sent the message and waited a moment. Soon, she received a two-word reply from Su Ran: [Very soon.]

Seeing those two words, Shan Weizi’s brow furrowed slightly. ’Very soon? That’s so noncommittal. Is he scared? She remembered their time on Spirit Sword Mountain, how she’d been holding a sword. Had she given him some kind of psychological trauma? Is that why he replied so vaguely?’

’Mmm, I probably did give him a complex.’

And so, Shan Weizi replied with three words: [Don’t be scared.]