Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

With heaven and earth as their matchmaker and the stars and moon as their witness, the two of them bowed to each other and were married.

Afterward, Jin Yuan passed the provincial exam to become a Scholar. He then traveled to the Capital City for the metropolitan exam, living in this courtyard while waiting for the spring session to begin.

Because their funds were running low, Ji Yue managed the household chores and did needlework to supplement their income.

Meanwhile, the man named Jin Yuan, in addition to preparing for his exam, taught at a private school and sold his calligraphy.

Although their days were very modest, not a trace of complaint could be seen in Ji Yue’s eyes. Instead, there was a sense of simple happiness.

”Wife, I’m home.”

About fifteen minutes later, just as Qin Siyao and Ji Yue were deep in conversation, a man’s voice called out from beyond the courtyard gate.

Ji Yue quickly stood up, opened the gate, and happily welcomed her husband. ”You’re back, husband.”

”I’m back.”

The man, Jin Yuan, nodded. His gaze then fell upon the two women in the courtyard.

Judging by their attire, especially the woman who was seated, their status was clearly extraordinary. At the very least, she was the daughter of a wealthy family.

”Wife, who are these two?” Jin Yuan asked.

”Husband, this is the daughter of a certain Lord Qin in the city. Lord Qin once saw your calligraphy and thought it was excellent, so he specifically sent his daughter to commission a piece,” Ji Yue explained.

”I see.” Understanding the situation, Jin Yuan hurried forward and bowed with his hands clasped. ”I am Jin Yuan. It is a pleasure to meet you, young ladies.”

”A pleasure to meet you, Young Master Jin.” Qin Siyao and Ming Yue curtsied in return.

”I apologize for making you wait. I’ll go fetch the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone now,” Jin Yuan said.

”I’ll get them for you, husband.” Before her husband could trouble himself, Ji Yue hurried into the room and brought out the writing supplies.

In the courtyard, Ji Yue carefully ground the inkstick for her husband.

When it was ready, Jin Yuan lifted his brush and asked Qin Siyao, ”May I ask what your esteemed father would like me to write?”

”Just write...”

Qin Siyao thought for a moment, glanced at the couple, Jin Yuan and Ji Yue, and smiled.

”Just write these two phrases: ’Peace and Joy’ and ’A Hundred Years of Happy Union.’”

”Of course. Please wait a moment, miss.”

Jin Yuan rolled up his sleeves, dipped his brush in the ink, and began to write on the scroll with careful, deliberate strokes.

When the phrases were complete, Jin Yuan carefully set down his brush.

Looking at the words he had written, Jin Yuan felt quite satisfied.

”What do you think, miss? If it’s not to your liking, I can certainly write it again,” Jin Yuan asked the woman beside him.

’My satisfaction is irrelevant; the client must be pleased.’

Looking at the phrases on the paper, Qin Siyao nodded in satisfaction. ”Thank you for your hard work, Young Master Jin. These phrases are written extremely well; there’s no issue at all. Your talent is truly remarkable, Young Master Jin.”

As she finished speaking, Qin Siyao took a small box from her sleeve and handed it to Ji Yue. ”This is the fee for your services. Please accept it.”

Ji Yue took the box and opened it. Inside were eight small gold ingots.

”This...” Ji Yue was startled. She quickly closed the box and tried to hand it back. ”Miss Qin, this is far too much. We cannot accept it.”

”Indeed, Miss Qin. I am no great master of calligraphy. It is honor enough that my writing has earned your father’s appreciation. How could I dare accept such a generous fee?” Jin Yuan chimed in hurriedly. ”Twenty copper coins would have been sufficient.”

Qin Siyao shook her head and insisted, ”It is worth what it is worth. If I believe Young Master Jin’s calligraphy is worth this much, then it is.

If you still feel uneasy about it, Young Master Jin, then please pour your efforts into the spring examinations.

After you achieve a high rank in the future, your calligraphy will be worth a thousand pieces of gold. What then is a small ingot for each character today?”

”But...” Jin Yuan still felt it was improper.

’This really is too much.’

”If you continue to be so polite, Young Master Jin, it will spoil the gesture,” Qin Siyao said with a gentle smile.

Jin Yuan glanced at her, then at the gold in his wife’s hand, and finally at the calligraphy scroll he had written.

How could he not understand? She had indeed come for calligraphy, but she also intended to sponsor his examination efforts.

He suspected she was using the calligraphy fee as a pretense to fund his daily living and study expenses.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jin Yuan stopped being evasive. He gave a deep bow. ”May I ask the location of your father’s residence? If I succeed in the spring examinations, I will surely repay this kindness in the future!”

”One hand provides the work, the other provides the payment. This is what you have earned, Young Master. Why speak of repayment?” Qin Siyao smiled softly and personally rolled up the now-dry scroll. ”Since I have the calligraphy I came for, I, Siyao, will not disturb you any longer. I shall take my leave.”

”But...”

Ji Yue glanced at her husband.

She had the same thought as him; they both wanted to know where she lived.

Not to curry favor, but truly to thank and repay her if they had the chance in the future.

”I understand.” Since she did not say, Jin Yuan didn’t press the matter. ”My wife and I will see you out, miss.”

”Mm.” Qin Siyao did not refuse this time.

The couple, Jin Yuan and Ji Yue, escorted Qin Siyao out of the courtyard.

”The gate is far enough. We will be on our way now.” Qin Siyao and Ming Yue boarded their carriage.

”Please take care, miss.” Jin Yuan and Ji Yue bowed.

Qin Siyao nodded and lowered the carriage curtain.

”Hya!”

With a crack of the whip against the horse, the carriage drove into the distance, soon disappearing at the end of the street.

”Husband... who was that young lady? Are you sure you don’t know any Qin Family here in the Capital City?”

Standing at the courtyard gate, Ji Yue asked her husband.

”I’m sure I don’t.” Jin Yuan shook his head with a wry smile. ”We’ve only been in the Capital City for a month and a half. I spend all my days teaching at the private school, and there’s no one with the surname Qin there. I truly can’t think of who it could be.”

”But...” Jin Yuan frowned as he gazed toward the end of the street where the carriage had vanished. ”For some reason, I feel like I’ve met that young lady before. There’s this inexplicable sense of familiarity... as if... as if she were a younger sister I haven’t seen in a very long time... It’s a strange feeling...”

”You feel that way too, husband?” Ji Yue blinked. ”When I met Miss Qin, I also felt like I’d seen her before. She felt so familiar and kind, as if I’d known her for a long time. That’s why I ended up chatting with her so much and even told her about our elopement.”

As she spoke, Ji Yue’s eyes lit up. ”Could it be that she knew we were struggling financially and so gave us a larger fee?”

”Perhaps it’s as simple as that.”

Jin Yuan took his wife’s small hand in his.

”Never mind, let’s not dwell on it.

Someone so generous is no minor household, even in the Capital City.

With a few inquiries, we should be able to find out who she is.

If I succeed in the spring examinations, we will pay them a visit to thank them for today’s kindness.

Besides, if I succeed, Yue’er, you won’t have to live such a hard life with me anymore.”

Ji Yue shook her head and said softly, ”I have never felt that my life with you is a hard one. As long as I’m with you, husband, everything is worth it.”

Hearing his wife’s words, Jin Yuan’s heart was gently stirred.

He reached out, pulled his wife into his arms, and gently stroked her hair. ”Yue’er, thank you... Don’t you worry. This time, I will definitely earn a first-rank position for you, and we will return home in glory!”

***

In the carriage, Qin Siyao unrolled the calligraphy scrolls and looked at the phrases written on them.

Ming Yue also sat beside her mistress, looking on.

”Your Majesty, is that scholar’s writing really that good?”

’The scholar’s calligraphy was indeed good,’ Ming Yue thought, ’but no matter how I look at it, it’s not worth a piece of gold per character...’

”Of course it’s good. And in the future, it will only get better.”

As she finished speaking, Qin Siyao rolled up the two scrolls and tossed them lightly out the window.

The two scrolls flew toward the dilapidated courtyard like autumn leaves.

The scrolls hovered over the courtyard, and the characters upon them detached from the paper, imprinting themselves one by one on the left and right sides of the courtyard gate.

A blessing for my Second Brother and Sister-in-law—

”Peace and Joy.”

”A Hundred Years of Happy Union.”