Chapter 155: The Wager

Zhu Xueya hesitated. She looked down at the bracelet on her wrist.

This bracelet was a family heirloom of the Zhu family.

 If she lost, her father would definitely scold her.

She looked at the jade bracelet on Ling Yao’s wrist and felt a sense of familiarity, as if she had seen it somewhere before.

As she searched her mind for information about the bracelet, she heard Ling Yao speak.

“Isn’t my bracelet beautiful? My mother-in-law gave it to me. She said it’s a family heirloom passed down only to the Lu family’s daughters-in-law.”

 Ling Yao smiled gently as she stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist.

When she was at the mall, she had noticed that Zhu Xueya had different feelings for Lu Qingyun. By saying this, Zhu Xueya would definitely agree.

Hearing this, Zhu Xueya took a deep breath and made up her mind, “Okay! I agree!” She had absolute confidence in her calligraphy.

As long as she won, she could get this bracelet. Then, she could return the bracelet to Lu Qingyun.

 If Lu Qingyun knew that Ling Yao used their family heirloom as a wager, he would definitely be angry with Ling Yao, and maybe even…

Thinking about this, a smile appeared on Zhu Xueya’s face.

She turned to glance at Lu Qingyun, who was not far away.

Ling Yao nodded and turned to Ji Youran, “You lost the competition earlier, shouldn’t you also show something?”

Ji Youran glared at Ling Yao fiercely and retorted angrily, “I didn’t bet with you.”

“Then forget it. I don’t want to compete. I’m tired anyway. I’ll go back and rest for a while.” Ling Yao said and turned to leave.

Ji Youran panicked and quickly stopped Ling Yao, “What do you want?”

 Ling Yao definitely didn’t dare to compete with Xueya, she was just saying this on purpose.

Ling Yao leisurely looked around Ji Youran, finally stopping at the jade pendant hanging around her neck, “That jade pendant is nice. I’ll take that.”

“You wish. This is my grandmother’s.” Ji Youran hurriedly covered the jade pendant with her hand, afraid that Ling Yao would snatch it away.

Ling Yao shrugged, didn’t say anything more, and turned to leave.

“Wait! I’ll give you the jade pendant, but if you lose the competition, you have to return it to me.”

“Alright!” Ling Yao nodded in agreement.

Ji Youran rolled her eyes at Ling Yao and turned to Zhu Xueya, “Xueya, with your skills, you definitely won’t lose to her. I believe in you.”

Zhu Xueya smiled slightly and gestured to Ling Yao with a “please” gesture. Her calligraphy was taught by calligraphy master Wang Zhiqian himself.

 Even in the calligraphy association, there were few people whose calligraphy could surpass hers.

She had also looked at Ling Yao’s information and found nothing special.

 The piano performance earlier was just a fluke. She didn’t believe that Ling Yao could create another fluke.

Seeing Ling Yao and Zhu Xueya walk towards the table with the four treasures of the study, everyone started discussing.

“Zhu Xueya’s calligraphy was personally taught by calligraphy master Wang Zhiqian.

 Ling Yao is competing with her in calligraphy. Isn’t she asking for humiliation? She’s definitely going to lose this time.”

“Not necessarily. Didn’t she win earlier?”

“That was just a fluke. It’s already amazing that she had one fluke. There’s no way she can have another one.”

“Brother, do you think Big Sister-in-law can win?” Lu Qingshuang looked at Ling Yao with worry. Zhu Xueya’s calligraphy had won many awards.

 Although Big Sister-in-law’s handwriting was also very beautiful when she wrote prescriptions, it was probably still a bit worse than Zhu Xueya’s.

“She’ll win.” Lu Qingyun looked at Ling Yao, his eyes filled with unwavering trust. His Yaoyao never did anything without a chance of winning.

“After you!” Zhu Xueya gracefully extended her arm to Ling Yao, making a polite and humble invitation gesture.

Ling Yao smiled faintly, “You go first!”

Hearing this, Zhu Xueya didn’t decline anymore. She gracefully stepped forward and picked up a delicate brush.

 With a flick of her wrist, the tip of the brush danced across the paper like a dragon, quickly leaving behind flowing lines.

In the blink of an eye, lines of elegant calligraphy appeared on the paper, like a beautiful scroll unfolding before everyone’s eyes.

It was a poem by Li Yu, “Butterfly Loves Flowers”:  The distant night, the riverbank, I stroll leisurely.  Just past Qingming, I gradually feel the sadness of spring’s end. 

A few drops of rain, the wind holds them back,  The hazy pale moon, clouds come and go.  Peach blossoms and apricot blossoms, their fragrance drifts secretly.

 Who is on the swing, laughing softly.  An inch of longing, a thousand threads,  There’s no place for it in this world.

The calligraphy style of the entire poem was unrestrained and vigorous, the strokes flowing naturally, the characters elegant and lively, faintly revealing a grandmaster’s style.

 Especially the line “An inch of longing, a thousand threads,

There’s no place for it in this world,” was interpreted by Zhu Xueya with a unique technique, leaving everyone captivated.

Then, Zhu Xueya wrote another poem, “Nightingale’s Cry”: Last night, wind and rain,

 The curtains rustled with the sound of autumn.  The candle burned out, the hourglass ran out, I tossed and turned.

  I couldn’t lie still, I got up and sat down.  Worldly affairs drift by like water,  It’s all a fleeting dream.

 The path to the land of intoxication is steady, it’s good to go there often.  Beyond that, it’s unbearable to walk.

Her brushwork was skilled and natural, like a fairy dancing, each stroke filled with endless emotion and power.

 Everyone present was captivated by her exquisite skill, secretly admiring her.

Everyone stepped forward to admire it.

“Good calligraphy! It’s truly excellent!”

“As expected of Master Wang’s disciple. This calligraphy definitely has a hint of Master Wang’s style.”

“It seems Ling Yao is going to lose this time.”

“You’re all flattering me!” Zhu Xueya gave everyone a humble smile, turned to look at Ling Yao, her eyes filled with a hint of triumph, “Miss Ling, it’s your turn.”

Ling Yao smiled faintly and took a step forward.

Under everyone’s varied gazes, she stretched out her hands and took two brushes from the brush rack.

Then, with a slight movement of her wrist, the brush tips gently touched the paper.

The two brushes, as if imbued with life, began to dance at her fingertips, like butterflies fluttering, leaving behind a trail of beautiful calligraphy.

Every stroke, every line was smooth and natural, without any hesitation, like a clear spring flowing from the heart.

In the blink of an eye, lines of flowing calligraphy appeared on the paper, completed in one breath like flowing clouds.

These characters were either strong and powerful, or graceful and elegant, echoing each other, forming a unique rhythm and tempo.

The entire piece was like a beautiful scroll, pleasing to the eye, captivating the viewer.

Ling Yao’s calligraphy was the famous poem by Li Yu, the last emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty, “Ode to the Hibiscus”:

When will the spring flowers and autumn moon end?  How many past events do I know?

 Last night, the east wind blew again in the small building,  The old country is unbearable to look back upon under the bright moon.

The carved railings and jade-paved paths should still be there,  Only the rosy face has changed.

 I ask you, how much sorrow can you have?  It’s just like a river of spring water flowing eastward.

“My goodness! She can actually write calligraphy with both hands at the same time! That’s simply astonishing.”

“Even the president of the calligraphy association might not be able to do that.”

“This calligraphy is powerful and vigorous, the lines flow seamlessly like the Yangtze River, far surpassing Miss Zhu.”