Daily Dossier: Secrets of a Lazy Husband

3

Generally speaking, Celeste is remarkably beautiful.

Although Luna remained tight-lipped and didn't provide a direct answer, her exact words were: "Luna thinks the Second Miss is very, very beautiful... really, really beautiful."

However, Caelum had already discerned the truth from her stammering and darting eyes—Madam Celeste was a rare beauty! Yet, perhaps her beauty was slightly different from the conventional understanding of the term?

Caelum thought to himself that as long as she wasn't a female version of Zhang Fei, he was willing to trade all his potential power and fame for it. After all, a live-in son-in-law in the Great Wei Dynasty was barred from taking imperial examinations or becoming a high-ranking official; thus, power and fame were useless to him. He might as well exchange them for something more practical.

Furthermore, Caelum had no desire to be an official or compete for fame and fortune. Besides disliking the mental and physical strain of political intrigue, he simply didn't want to add any more burdens to his life. In his previous life, he had been a beast of burden, constantly focused on work and study; in this life, he just wanted a simpler existence.

To paraphrase Tao Yuanming's poem: "Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I leisurely gaze at the Southern Mountains."

This tranquility and serenity were exactly what Caelum desired.

Before he knew it, a month had passed in the blink of an eye. From early spring to mid-spring, the flowers in the lotus garden grew even more vibrant, and the grass turned tender and green. The pond, covering a full ten acres, with its shaded willows and elegant pavilions, was a truly delightful sight.

"Sitting there fishing and drinking tea with a gentle breeze blowing—that would feel wonderful," Caelum thought.

But he could only peer longingly from the window at the small pavilion, feeling like a prisoner. If only he could go out! Unfortunately, his wife, Celeste, insisted on having him "protected" for a hundred days.

Caelum turned his head toward the doorway, meeting the gaze of four tall, burly armored soldiers. A friendly smile immediately appeared on his face as he remarked: "The sun is shining brightly today, perfect for a spring outing."

Seeing that they continued to stare at him expressionlessly, Caelum felt a wave of awkwardness. He got up, removed the window latch, and closed it. He wondered what these soldiers ate to grow so tall; each of them was about two meters tall and incredibly strong. Although Caelum wasn't short, standing at 1.8 meters, compared to them, he perfectly fit his image as a "weak scholar."

"Young Master, are you finished counting?" Luna asked as she approached, carrying a stack of Yunsong paper.

Caelum casually asked, "How many is it?"

"A total of eight hundred!" Luna exclaimed in admiration. "Young Master, you've written a full six hundred pieces this month! That's an average of twenty pieces a day—two thousand words!"

Two hundred more pieces were still needed.

Caelum thought to himself that if he had a fountain pen or a pencil, he could easily write a hundred pieces a day. But with a brush, and having to constantly refine his calligraphy skills, his speed was truly slow.

However, this didn't stop him from being smug: "Am I amazing, or what?"

This time, Luna didn't refute him; she praised him sincerely, "Amazing."

"Since you know I'm amazing, why don't you hurry up and deliver these to the Miss?" Caelum rubbed his stomach and added, "I'm hungry, remember to bring lunch back."

That cursed Wei Qing font, with its emphasis on thick strokes and broad frames, somewhat resembled the work of the calligrapher Mi Fu from his previous life—it was extremely physically demanding.

"Okay, I'll go right now. I heard from Sister Xiao Qin that the chef made roast duck for lunch; it won't taste good if it gets cold."

Luna hurriedly grabbed the Yun Song paper and rushed out the door, still taking a moment to remind the soldiers to keep a close eye on Caelum.

That girl.

Caelum smiled and shook his head, then leaned back in the recliner, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

A virtual screen appeared before him:

Name: Caelum

Calligraphy: Minor Success (35/100)

Font: Wei Qing (Proficient, Full)

Opportunity: 1

[Daily Intelligence - Yellow-Rank Superior: It will rain at the Chou hour on Wushan Mountain. Fang Lichun, the daughter of the Fang family, eloped with her lover Wang Boyuan here, but her family caught up with them and forcibly broke up their union. A small amount of opportunity can be obtained.]

[Comment: The person has not arrived, the voice has not been heard, and the scene has not been seen. To fail to seize an opportunity that falls from the sky is to be a lazy person by nature.]

After reading it, Caelum thought to himself, "The content of this daily intelligence is getting stranger and stranger."

Over the past month, the daily intelligence updates ranged from minor squabbles within the Xiao family to major incidents of local bullies seizing fertile land in Shuzhou. All of this made him feel that the opportunities provided by the "daily intelligence" were somewhat old-fashioned.

Like today's story of a rich young lady eloping with a poor young man; the scene would likely unfold with the Fang family ignoring their daughter's cries as they forcibly dragged her away. Meanwhile, Wang Boyuan, struggling to hold his beloved's hand, would be knocked unconscious with a blow, collapsing amidst the wind and rain.

It was a scene full of impact, heartbreaking and regrettable.

Even then, Caelum wondered whether he should just sit back and watch the drama unfold or feel moved by their genuine affection and offer his help.

"Daily intelligence? I think it's more appropriate to just watch the drama today."

If he weren't currently confined to his quarters with guards outside, he would definitely go and see what this intelligence was all about.

Thinking this, Caelum focused his attention back on his calligraphy, concentrating specifically on the "calligraphy style" section.

"Eight hundred family rules, a full eighty thousand characters, and I've raised Wei Qing's calligraphy to the proficient level... not bad."

Although Caelum's calligraphy skills were still at the "Minor Success" level, the system didn't just grant him hollow experience; rather, the act of writing enhanced his profound understanding of the craft. From the simplest strokes and frameworks to the overall structure, spatial balance, and themes, he received clear guidance, which exponentially accelerated his growth.

In just a month and a half, he achieved a level of mastery that might take others years, decades, or even a lifetime to reach.

"It's a pity that 'Lesser Completion' only brings one's skill to the proficient level. If I can achieve a further breakthrough, I'll be recognized as a renowned calligrapher of the Wei Dynasty," Caelum thought to himself before picking up a book to read.

In recent days, besides copying the family rules, he spent his leisure time immersed in history books, folk stories, and travelogues. According to the records, two hundred and fifty years had passed since the Great Wei overthrew the Qianyang Dynasty, and the current Emperor Anhe was the thirteenth ruler of the line.

For the first fifty years, the Wei Dynasty waged constant wars of expansion. Following that, it enjoyed two centuries of peace during the prosperous Rongping and Huijing eras, when nations paid tribute and the dynasty reached its zenith. However, as is the nature of all things, prosperity inevitably led to decline. In recent years, the rise of neighboring states has caused friction and conflict. Twenty-five years ago, the Southern Barbarians rebelled, forcing the Xiao family, the Marquis of Dingyuan, to lead a massive army for five years to repel the northern advance.

The conflict was so brutal it was described as "a thousand wounded for every eight hundred of the enemy," leaving every town and village in Shu Prefecture in mourning. Since then, the Xiao family has been in decline. While there haven't been major wars in twenty years, barbarian tribes still conduct occasional raids, and members of the Xiao family continue to fall in action.

"No wonder a woman like my wife, Celeste, chose to take up the sword," Caelum mused. "Dealing with barbarians and neighboring foreign lands is a constant struggle. If we don't eliminate the threat entirely, how can there be lasting peace?" He firmly believed in the old adage: "Those who are not of our race will surely have different hearts."

To his mind, the only way to deal with the barbarians or the Buddhist kingdoms to the west was to strike them with such terror—much like Huo Qubing did to the Xiongnu—that they would never dare rise again. "Ha, I'm overthinking things," he chuckled. "I'm just a carefree son-in-law who wants a quiet life." He put down the book and looked longingly toward the door. "Luna, if you don't return soon, your son-in-law is going to starve."

...

Jiaxing Garden—the name signifying "family harmony brings prosperity."

Twenty years ago, the Old Marquis, grieving for his fallen and crippled kin, sought a Taoist master to rename the residence. Separated from Caelum's Chunhe Garden by only a wall, it was now home to Wan, the eldest daughter, and the young Julian.

Compared to Caelum's quarters, Jiaxing Garden was smaller but elegant, featuring two three-story wooden buildings surrounded by lush greenery and a serene garden. In the west wing, Luna carefully placed the papers on the table and said respectfully, "Miss, the Young Master has finished his copying for today."

"Hmm," a soft voice responded from behind a study curtain. "Luna, has he shown any intention of escaping lately?" The voice was soothing and clear, reminiscent of a gentle Jiangnan drizzle, though it carried a hint of physical frailty.

Luna shook her head. "No. Lately, he spends all his time copying rules or reading. He hasn't been writing those rebellious poems like before." After a pause, she added, "However... I can tell he's restless from being cooped up; he spends a lot of time staring at the pond."

Soft laughter echoed from the study. "That is only natural. If I were confined to a single room, I would feel restless too." The voice drew closer as the curtain was lifted, and a graceful woman stepped out. She was stunningly beautiful, with an oval face and eyes like starlight—a literal fairy on earth. Yet, even in the warmth of early summer, she wore a thick cloak, her fair skin tinged with the paleness of lingering illness. This was Wan, the eldest daughter of the Xiao family.

"Go and tell him that once he completes the thousand chapters, he is free to move about the Spring Lotus Garden," Wan instructed.

Luna hesitated, "But..."

"Don't worry, I will write to Celeste; she won't blame you," Wan said, examining the calligraphy. "It has been a month and a half since the wedding; hiding him away forever is no solution."

Luna lowered her head, not daring to comment on Celeste's matters.

"Go and tell my brother-in-law what I said. As long as he stays safely within the manor, the Xiao family will not neglect him."

"Yes, Miss, I'll go right away."

After Luna left, Wan's eyes lingered on the calligraphy, a look of surprise crossing her face. "His writing is truly extraordinary." With her refined taste, she could see the depth in Caelum's work. Calligraphy, like painting, requires an appreciation of strength, structure, and balance. She noticed a certain "spirit" had emerged in his recent work.

"If I hadn't seen it myself, I wouldn't believe Caelum wrote this," she thought. With such talent, his previous desire for freedom and elopement became more understandable. She wondered, however, if Celeste would ever change her opinion of him. It was difficult for any woman to forgive a husband who fled on their wedding day—especially a woman as proud as Celeste.

Wan sat down and wrote a delicate letter: "To Celeste, everything is well at home. Grandfather's health is improving... Also, my brother-in-law has shown signs of repentance; please take note. —Wan."