Third Madam spoke softly, “Shouldn’t you check on why your Second Sister is not feeling well suddenly?”
“Hmm?” Fu Yin found it strange. Third Madam nudged Fu Yin.
As Fu Yin walked into Fu Rou’s chamber, she saw Fu Rou staring blankly at the paper with “自强不息(striving for self-improvement)” written on it.
Fu Yin could not help herself, “Second Sister, I am not spouting nonsense. Brother Chumu really only knows how to write these four characters well. I saw a note written by him and the characters are really ugly.”
Fu Rou shook her head furiously. No, Chumu wouldn’t lie to her.
Fu Yin was not completely oblivious to her feelings. “Okay, I won’t say anymore. Now, I am learning calligraphy from Brother Lu. Brother Lu not only writes well; he also draws very well. Last night, he just painted a picture of a setting sun over the ocean. He said that when he frames it up, he will give it to me.”
Fu Rou forced a laugh, “You are so easily bought over with just a painting.”
Fu Yin protested playfully, “Not even. I am seeing the true side of him. On the other hand, Second Sister, you are so smart. Don’t be fooled by a bunch of sentences from a Chang'an hedonist…”
Fu Rou’s expression changed. Fu Yin immediately shut her mouth and took her leave.
Sheng Chumu was not at all concerned about the visit from the Fu family’s relatives. He had no idea that one of them knew his exact character. He only knew he was very lucky. Fu Rou was just talking about an ocean pattern and Du Ning happened to have a piece with him. Sheng Chumu stole the picture and was going to plagiarize it as his own. Carrying the scroll, he rushed happily into Fu Rou’s garden, calling for her loudly.
As Fu Rou walked out of her courtyard, she said, “Don’t shout so loudly, the entire residence can hear you.” Should she ask Chumu about it and hear what he has to say?
Sheng Chumu assessed her expression and figured that she was no longer angry with him. His emotions relaxed. “You’re no longer angry with me?”
Fu Rou said blandly, “I am not so petty. With regard to me and Yan Zifang, it is not like I can’t tell you. If you want to know…”
Sheng Chumu hid the fact that he had already found out and pretended to be magnanimous. “The most important thing between people is trust. As long as I trust you, it doesn’t matter if it is Yan Zifang, Yan Ziyuan or even Yan Zituoyuan [1]. I don’t care.” The person was dead now and was no longer a threat to him!
Fu Rou had another deeper thought as she repeated, “That’s right, trust is the most important thing amongst people…”
Sheng Chumu was busy spreading out the painting and could not sense her intention. “This is the draft you wanted me to draw for the embroidery of an oceanic scenery. How is it?”
“Did you…really draw this?” Didn’t Fu Yin just mention that Du Ning drew a scene of a sunset over the ocean? Chumu also drew the same ocean sunset? Could it be a coincidence?
“Of course. I am famous in Chang'an for my painting skills. Even my brother-in-law, Prince Han, praised me.” Sheng Chumu did not need to have a script to talk big.
“I just mentioned it this morning.” Fu Rou said lightly.
“I drew it this afternoon. It was done in one sitting.” Sheng Chumu continued easily.
Fu Rou took the painting and walked to the study room. Sheng Chumu followed her.
Who would have known that the minute Fu Rou entered the study room, she spread the painting onto the table, readied the ink and dipped a brush in. She then held it out for Sheng Chumu.
“What are you doing?” Chumu found it weird.
“Write something.” Fu Rou remained expressionless. “I will sew the characters in as well. How great would that be.”
Sheng Chumu took the brush and was about to write.
“Don’t write striving for self-improvement.” Fu Rou suddenly declared.
Sheng Chumu froze. “Why not?”
“This is a painting of a sunset over the ocean, what has it got to do with self-improvement? Write beautiful day.” Fu Rou was feeling increasingly uncomfortable about the situation.
“Look at this fishing boat, it is catching fish for one’s livelihood. Isn’t that self-improvement? Look at this mew gull, it is flying desperately. Isn’t that also self-improvement? If you want me to write, I will write self-improvement.” Words flew out of Sheng Chumu’s mouth.
“Write beautiful day (风和日丽).” Fu Rou insisted. She wanted to see for herself whether Chumu was a fraud.
“No, I will write striving for self-improvement.” Sheng Chumu desperately tried not to fall into her trap. He did not allow her to argue anymore as he wrote self-improvement on the painting. He still had the audacity to show-off. “How is it? Doesn’t it match well with the painting?”
Fu Rou looked at him with a complicated expression. Although she had lost all hope, she hesitated for a while before asking, “Do you have any siblings?”
Sheng Chumu had no suspicions as he answered, “I have two younger brothers, Chuling and Chujun. We are very close and often go together to…” He almost slipped up. “To study.”
Fu Rou did not say anything as she turned and left. When she returned to her courtyard, Fu Rou shut the door behind her tightly. If this continued, the only person she would be fooling would be herself. She turned around to face the wall and gazed at the characters that Sheng Chumu had gifted her. The four characters were bold and strong, she had looked at it and associated it with his personality. Who knew—
Fu Rou stared blankly at it for a while before suddenly ripping the paper to shreds.
* * *
1. Fang (square), yuan (circle), tuoyuan (oval) in Chinese. It’s a play on words.
* * *
Note: Original names from the novel. We are following the names from the drama so there are differences
Chapter 5.2: Heartbroken
A table of delicacies sat in front of him. There was lamb, steamed fish and green leaf noodles. They were dishes that could forever raise Sheng Chumu’s appetite and get him to dig in, but they did not work this time.
Wine jars were strewn all over the place.
Du Ning’s head ached as he looked at the drunk Sheng Chumu. Ever since he met Fu Rou, this old friend of his was behaving out of the norm. He was actually drinking his sorrows away because of a girl.
“Tell me, what did I do wrong? She wanted a painting, so I gave her a painting. She wanted me to write, I wrote. For her, I willingly let myself get tortured by my uncle who is the king of hell. I learned military tactics, how to ride and shoot. I got scolded and beaten and barely got out alive. Was it easy for me? In the end, as soon as she is not happy, she completely ignores me.”
“How did you offend her?” Du Ning thought about how Fu Yin had seen Sheng Chumu’s writing. He comforted himself as he thought that it shouldn’t be a problem.
“I don’t know. Winning over a woman’s heart is like trying to dig a needle out from the ocean. Even if I was the Thousand Hand Bodhisattva, I still won’t be able to dig hers out. I asked her and she won’t tell me. She just pulled a long face and stared at me with eyes as big as my fist.” Sheng Chumu got angrier as he spoke. He lifted his hand and smashed one of the cups. Pointing to the sky, he called, “Fu Rou, do you think you’re the only woman in this world?! Don’t think that I am easy to bully! I won’t serve a tigress like you!”
“That’s right, there are many other women in the world, why bother with one so difficult? Second Lady Fu has a very strong personality and is not gentle. It is not easy to get along with her. Her fourth sister, on the other hand, is a lot more obedient.” Du Ning believed that Sheng Chumu should go for someone easier.