Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 26

Yu Qizhe extended his fair, slender wrist and gently pulled the ten sheets of calligraphy practice from Yu Jiao’s hands. He examined them one by one, his peach blossom eyes focused and intent, long dark hair cascading loosely down his back.

Perhaps because of their close proximity, a few strands of his smooth black hair slipped over his shoulder and brushed against Yu Jiao’s cheek, tickling her. She blinked her dark eyes and resisted the urge to brush them away.

At this distance, she could even make out the soft expression on Yu Qizhe’s face under the warm candlelight. His skin was smooth and pale, without a visible pore. His refined profile glowed softly in the dim light, looking like it had stepped out of a delicate, ancient painting.

“What are you staring at my little brother for like that?” Yu Fuling’s voice suddenly rang out.

Startled, Yu Jiao quickly averted her gaze and stepped back a little. A light flush crept up her ears, and a rare awkwardness surfaced on her usually calm and composed face. 

She bit her lip lightly and stammered, “I… I was just looking at my handwriting, not staring at him…”

She immediately bit her tongue, her explanation only made it more obvious.

“You liar! You were totally ogling my little brother!” Yu Fuling declared sharply and bluntly.

Meanwhile, Yu Qizhe’s gaze remained on the rice paper as he gave a lazy “mm.”

That soft hum landed squarely on Yu Jiao’s heart. Her breath hitched. She couldn’t tell if Yu Qizhe was responding to Fuling or to her. Her ink-black eyes flicked toward the window as she exhaled and used the excuse, “It’s time to make dinner.”

She got up to leave.

Yu Qizhe spoke up to stop her. “The characters are ugly, but each stroke is neat. Just keep practicing with a bit more focus.”

Yu Jiao nodded and quickly left the room, almost as if fleeing. Once outside the eastern wing, she covered her face with both hands in frustration and silently scolded herself, Yu Jiao, come on! You’ve already lived a full lifetime, how can you be swooning over an underage boy?!

Yu Qizhe’s eyes followed her figure as she left. Through the window, he caught a glimpse of her flustered and embarrassed expression, and a flicker of amusement sparkled in his peach blossom eyes. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Yu Fuling grabbed the calligraphy sheets from the desk and glanced at them with disdain. She huffed, “She was tracing your writing and still managed to make it look this bad. What a waste of good paper!”

Yu Qizhe said nothing, quietly tidying up the desk that Yu Jiao had left in disarray.

Still grumbling, Yu Fuling continued, “You’re usually so frugal with the white rice paper, but you let Meng Yujiao use it for practice? She doesn’t deserve it. Little brother, you shouldn’t be so nice to her. That wretched girl’s heartless, your kindness will be wasted!”

Each sheet of white rice paper cost two copper coins. Back when Yu Qizhe was still in good health, Yu Ruhuai had spared no expense on his writing materials. But after his health declined, whether intentionally or not, the household stopped supplying him with the same quality.

Now, both the rough hemp paper and the fine white rice paper Yu Qizhe used were purchased with coins he earned by copying texts and writing letters for others in his spare time.

Hemp paper soaks up ink easily and is usually considered unsuitable for calligraphy, most people bought it to cut up and use as toilet paper. But Yu Qizhe’s calligraphy skills were strong and precise. Even on poor-quality paper, his ink remained crisp and unblurred.

“Fuling,” he said after a pause, his tone calm, “as long as she’s part of the Yu household, she’s a member of our second branch. Let’s not speak of this again.”