Beginning His Studies

"What! She... the madam is going to teach Qing to read?"

Hearing that her son's teacher had changed from a renowned master to Lin Yunwan, Ge Bao'er nearly wrung the handkerchief in her hands to shreds.

She asked tactfully, "Weren't we going to hire a renowned master from outside? Why did that suddenly change?"

Lu Zhengliu told her, "For a noble household, hiring a renowned master is difficult."

As for exactly what the difficulty was, he did not explain it to Ge Bao'er.

She did not need to know, and he did not want her to know.

Ge Bao'er pressed her lips together.

She had been at the Wuding Marquis Residence for some time. Though life with Old Madam Lu was a little dull, even that dull life was one of immense wealth and splendor beyond anything she could have imagined before.

How could the Lu family be unable to hire even one renowned master?

"The madam normally has such a large Marquis's Residence to manage, and now she has to teach two children as well. I'm just afraid... will she be able to manage it all?"

Lu Zhengliu glanced at her and said gravely, "Grandmother and I pleaded with her as earnestly as we could before she agreed to teach Qing."

Ge Bao'er found it hard to believe.

How could the Lu family let Lin Yunwan teach Qing?

Could she really teach him better than a renowned master?

Knowing that Ge Bao'er did not understand such matters, Lu Zhengliu patiently offered a brief explanation. "Yun Wan has excellent handwriting and has studied the Four Books and Five Classics since childhood. Her scholarship is no worse than that of men who entered officialdom through the imperial examinations. You needn't worry too much about that."

Ge Bao'er really did not understand.

But she knew that if she kept talking, he might run out of patience.

She forced a smile. "Heir, I don't doubt the madam's learning. Even if I don't understand how accomplished she is, I trust that you and Old Madam wouldn't make light of Qing's future."

"Mm."

The two were in the small Buddhist shrine in the Hall of Longevity, where a fifteen-inch statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva stood.

A bronze incense burner stood there, its bowl full of ash, with three sticks of incense burned down inside.

In this secluded, peaceful place stood a tall, handsome man before her. He was her childhood sweetheart, and she had a lovely, clever son with him.

Ge Bao'er lowered her head and shyly tugged at Lu Zhengliu's sleeve.

It instantly reminded Lu Zhengliu of their childhood in Liyang. In the fields and mountain woods, beneath the rising and setting sun, she had looked just like this.

But he had been mentally and physically exhausted these past few days. Only today, after settling the matter of his son's education, had he felt a little more at ease, though he was indeed tired.

His tone was gentle. "Old Madam will arrange for Qing to come and see you in a little while."

"Really?"

"Really. Spend some time with Qing. I'll go back first."

"Brother Azhen..."

Ge Bao'er's feelings rose and fell as she watched Lu Zhengliu leave, reluctant to see him go.

Not long afterward, Qing did come to pay his respects to Old Madam.

Mother and son embraced in Old Madam's main room. Old Madam Lu went to the Buddhist shrine to offer incense, leaving only Nanny Yan at the door to listen in on their conversation.

After so many days apart, Ge Bao'er wept for joy. What concerned her most, of course, was whether her son was well.

"Let Mother have a look at you."

She cupped her son's face and studied him closely, then smiled. "Qing, you've grown plumper and fairer than before."

Qing grinned.

Once her initial joy had passed, Ge Bao'er asked Qing, "Have you been happy here at the residence?"

Qing nodded vigorously and spoke animatedly about the front courtyard.

The stewards and young servants in the front courtyard knew how to read the room. Well aware that Old Madam and the heir doted on the young master, they spoiled him thoroughly.

He was young, and a whole group of people tended to his every need and played with him. He only had to hold out his arms to be dressed and open his mouth to be fed, and he could have whatever he wanted.

For a child, life could not have been happier.

"If you're happy, Mother is happy too."

At that moment, Ge Bao'er felt that returning to Lu Zhengliu's side had been worth it.

There was a figure outside the window, clearly visible in the candlelight.

Ge Bao'er recognized her as Nanny Yan.

So she secretly whispered a question about Lin Yunwan into Qing's ear.

Qing's face fell at once.

Ge Bao'er's heart plunged into an icy pit. She asked in alarm, "Has the madam been bullying you?"

Qing shook his head.

He knew that it seemed what had happened did not count as bullying.

"Miss Bao'er, Old Madam will be back after paying her respects to the Buddha."

Nanny Yan called from outside, urging them along.

Ge Bao'er answered. Before long, Old Madam and Nanny Yan came in together, and it was time for her to return to her own courtyard.

She tossed and turned in her room.

Although Lin Yunwan did not know Qing's true identity, her first impression of him had not been good.

More worrying still, could Lin Yunwan really teach Qing well?

No matter what, she would never sit and wait for disaster.

The next day, Ge Bao'er rose early again and made breakfast for Old Madam Lu.

She really was a good cook. She had once supported herself and her son with her cooking, and it was good enough to serve to Old Madam.

"After getting used to the heavily seasoned food in the residence, having something light like this now and then makes both my stomach and my heart feel more comfortable."

Old Madam Lu had eaten well and was in a good mood, so she casually praised Ge Bao'er.

Ge Bao'er pressed her lips into a smile. "If you like it, Bao'er will make it for you every day from now on."

She had sincerely wanted to serve Old Madam in the first place, and this was a reward of sorts, so she was happy from the bottom of her heart.

Old Madam Lu moved to another seat, a string of prayer beads in her hand, but her heart was unsettled. She could not help looking up toward Drooping Silk Hall.

She murmured, "The two boys should have arrived by now..."

Nanny Yan checked the time and said, "They've been there for nearly two quarters of an hour."

Ge Bao'er was nervous too.

She brought in tea and said to Old Madam Lu, "Surely the madam will treat them equally. Please have some tea."

Old Madam Lu looked at her and accepted the tea. "Do you really think so?" she asked mildly.

"I do."

Old Madam Lu studied her.

Ge Bao'er lowered her head without a word. Wearing her veil, she stood quietly to one side with her head bowed.

A room in Drooping Silk Hall had been tidied up for the two boys to use as a classroom.

Gauze curtains drifted inside, green bamboo grew in tranquil profusion outside the window, and a faint scent of ink filled the air.

It was the first day of lessons, so Lin Yunwan did not teach them anything too complicated. She simply introduced them to brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

"Hu brushes, Hui ink, Xuan paper, and Duan inkstones."

These were the most famous of the four treasures of the study.

"Although candidates are only allowed to write in the 'pavilion style' during the imperial examinations, to write well you must study all five scripts: seal, clerical, regular, running, and cursive."

This was basic knowledge about writing.

Lin Yunwan's voice was calm and gentle, and she spoke at an unhurried pace.

Lu Chang'gong listened very attentively, even though he was sleepy.

Thinking of their first day of lessons with the madam, neither of them had slept well the night before. They had arrived on time, but they could not stop yawning.

Tears welled up in Qing's eyes.

"That will be all for today."

Lin Yunwan guessed why they were sleepy and had no intention of making things difficult for them, so she ended the first lesson early.

Lu Chang'gong and Qing rose at the same time and bowed to her with cupped hands.

"Ping Ye, Tao Ye."

The two maids came over carrying trays.

Lin Yunwan said, "These are gifts for your Enlightenment Ceremony."

Both boys' eyes lit up.

The maids placed the gifts before them: a writing brush made in the manner of a zongzi, and a jade pendant carved with a swan goose.

"This brush zongzi sounds like 'certain to succeed.' May you both pass the imperial examinations in the future, and may you also harbor the lofty aspirations of a swan goose."

Qing looked curious and immediately picked up the brush zongzi to examine it.

How novel! I've never seen anything like it!

And when he had begun his studies in the countryside at five, there had been no Enlightenment Ceremony gifts. Neither his mother nor his teacher had given him one.

"The lofty aspirations of a swan goose..."

Lu Chang'gong picked up the jade pendant and held it in both hands.

He said to Lin Yunwan with the utmost respect, "Thank you, Mother. I will keep your words firmly in my heart."

Lin Yunwan gave him a slight nod.

After Lu Chang'gong went back, he threaded a cord through the jade pendant himself and wore it. He could not bear to eat the brush zongzi, so he placed it on display in his room.

Qing was mischievous. Instead of eating lunch, he ran off to play at the Hall of Longevity.

Old Madam was resting.

Ge Bao'er found Qing in the Green Gauze Cabinet.

Qing took out the brush zongzi and grinned. "Mother, guess what this is."

Ge Bao'er smiled. "Isn't that a brush?"

Qing shook his head. "It's a zongzi, Mother. Mother gave it to me as a gift for my Enlightenment Ceremony."

Mother? He says it so naturally already!

She saw that her son was about to unwrap the zongzi and eat it.

Ge Bao'er hurriedly caught his hand. "Don't eat it!" It was just a zongzi. Could making it into a novel shape really win her son's favor?

Qing was taken aback.

Ge Bao'er said confidently, "Mother will make you something more fun and tastier than this. Don't keep this one."

Though Qing was reluctant, he threw the brush zongzi away.

He did not dare throw it away at the Hall of Longevity, so he discarded it on the way back to the front courtyard. A steward picked it up and brought it to Lu Zhengliu.

"Heir, a brush zongzi means 'certain to succeed'—what an auspicious meaning. I don't know which young master threw it away."

Lu Zhengliu turned and went to the front courtyard.

This was his first visit to his son's courtyard.