Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn - Chapter 3
"Yes, but such opportunities are rare. The teacher is very strict and rarely lets me out." Mu Shaoting pointed to the man beside him, who turned out to be the tutor of the Marquis's mansion.
"Then, brother, can I go to school? Can I study with you?" I asked expectantly.
“You’re still too young. I didn’t start school until I was five,” Mu Shaoting said, glancing at me and shaking his head.
"But my mother and aunt have taught me some things. They say I'm very smart and learn quickly." I continued to try my best; I couldn't miss this opportunity.
"Don't joke around. You're so young, it's more like I'd rather teach you a few nursery rhymes," Tianqi interrupted me first.
"Really, I can recite a bit of the Analects." I wanted to prove it to them.
"Haha, do you know what the Analects is?" Tianqi looked at me with amusement.
I pretended to think for a moment and said, "It's a book that records the words and deeds of Confucius and his disciples."
"That's about right. Why don't you recite some of the Analects and listen to it?" Mu Shaoting finally started to believe him.
Confucius said, “Is it not a pleasure to learn and at due times to practice what you have learned? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar? Is it not the mark of a gentleman to remain unperturbed when others do not understand you?” Youzi said, “A person who is filial and respectful to his elders yet likes to defy his superiors is rare. One who does not like to defy his superiors yet likes to create chaos has never existed. A gentleman focuses on the fundamentals; when the fundamentals are established, the Way arises. Filial piety and brotherly respect—are these not the foundation of benevolence?” Confucius said, “Those who are clever with words and ingratiating in appearance are rarely benevolent.” Zengzi said, “I examine myself three times a day: Have I been disloyal in serving others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends? Have I neglected to practice what I have been taught?” After a brief adjustment, I recited the first four passages and looked at them expectantly. I saw the schoolteacher also looking this way. They both looked surprised.
"Do you know what these words mean?" Tianqi was the first to react.
I pouted and shook my head, saying, "Auntie said I'll understand what it means when I grow up." Tianqi burst out laughing.
Mu Shaoting looked at me with a newfound affection, and said in a mature tone, "Little sister Huai'en, you are really smart. I'll go back and talk to Father to see if you can study with me, okay?" I nodded happily, and he asked again, "Where do you live? I'll have Tianqi bring you a message later."
"I'm at Hongxiu Residence in the West Courtyard, hoping to see Brother Ting soon." I smiled happily. Hard work pays off, and the day finally arrived. Turning around, I saw a slight movement on the fishing line. I quickly pulled the rod up, and a small fish, about half a foot long, was thrashing about with the hook in its mouth. "Brother Ting, look how happy I am today! I caught a fish and met you!"
"Well, it's getting late, you should head back now. My husband and I are going back too, we'll have someone pick you up in a few days." Mu Shaoting patted my head, then left with Tianqi and my husband, leaving me to deal with my fish and fishing rod.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 003
Chapter word count: 3410 Update time: 09-07-25 11:01
Today is the first day of the fifth lunar month. My aunt took Yu Rong and Yu Jie to the storeroom to collect their supplies and monthly allowance for May. Li Momo and I stayed at Hongxiu Residence to look after Zinuo, who is almost two years old. Zinuo is very pretty, like a delicate porcelain doll, and very well-behaved, saving everyone a lot of trouble. I played with him, letting him run slowly in the yard, and sang a few nursery rhymes to cheer him up. He would stretch out his little arms and run his little legs, calling out "Sister, Sister" to me incessantly, which greatly satisfied my sense of accomplishment.
It's been almost ten days since I met Mu Shaoting, and I've rarely gone out during this time, afraid that someone will come to pick me up and I won't be there. But as the days go by, my heart grows colder and colder.
"Huai'en, why have you been so quiet these past few days? I haven't seen you go out at all?" My aunt often asked me this.
"Oh, I wanted to help Auntie take care of Zinuo a bit more, so Auntie could have an easier time." I gave her a sweet smile to hide my disappointment, and that promise seemed to have vanished without a trace.
Coming to my senses, Zinuo had already thrown himself into my arms. Caught off guard by his sudden movement, I was knocked to the ground, and we rolled around in a heap. Zinuo found it amusing and giggled. This was exactly what the concubine saw when she entered the room with her maid.
My aunt picked us up one by one, gently patted the dust off us, and asked Zinuo affectionately, "Does Nuo'er like Sister Huai'en?"
"I like it, I like it." Zinuo nodded repeatedly, then opened her arms and hugged me.
My aunt chuckled and pulled him away, leading us into the house by the hand in each of ours. Yu Rong and Yu Jie neatly sorted and put away the items we had received. My aunt then found a beautiful butterfly hairpin and placed it in my little bun, pointing to a piece of pale yellow fabric and saying, "It's getting warmer, how about your aunt makes some new clothes for Huai En?"
"Would you like Auntie to make it herself?" I asked, looking at her.
“Yes, Auntie’s skills are quite good. Besides, the eldest young master’s ninth birthday is on the fifth day of the sixth lunar month, and the embroidery workshop is really too busy right now. By the time it’s Huai’en’s turn to make clothes, summer will be over.” Auntie said to me with a smile.
So I smiled happily and let her take my measurements. Of course, I was happy to have new clothes to wear.
After lunch, my aunt took Zinuo and me to the locust tree in the courtyard to tell stories. Just as we were engrossed in listening, a hesitant "greeting" came from outside the door: "Excuse me, does Miss Huai'en live here?" I turned around and saw Tianqi and a boy I didn't recognize. My aunt looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"I'm here," he hurriedly replied to Tianqi as he ran to the door.
"Young Master asked me to take you to his study starting today," Tianqi said with a smile. I was overjoyed and quickly ran to my aunt to explain the situation. Then, under my aunt's puzzled gaze, I followed Tianqi out.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, we finally arrived at the legendary North Courtyard. Mu Shaoting was already waiting for us at the entrance of his "Qingyuxuan" (Sunny Rain Pavilion). When he saw me, he smiled and said, "You've been waiting for many days, haven't you? Father hasn't been here these past few days; he only returned yesterday." Hearing his explanation, I was flattered.
"It was a long wait, but I'm so glad to see my brother again." I smiled, my eyes crinkling.
Mu Shaoting led me into the study, where the gentleman I had met before was sitting at his desk writing.
“Huai’en, your brother’s studies will not stop, and Mr. Song doesn’t have time to teach you individually. Can you still study with your brother?” Mu Shaoting explained the situation to me.
"Brother, you should focus on learning first. Huai'en will try her best to keep up. If there's anything you don't understand, write it down and ask someone who knows later. That's how Mother taught us," I said without hesitation.
Mr. Song put down his pen and looked at me for a while before asking, "May I ask which lady is Miss's mother?"
“Mo Feiru, Madam Ru.” I said each word carefully, and I saw the expressions of the three people present change slightly. After a long while, Mr. Song said softly, “Madam Ru is a very talented woman. No wonder Miss is so intelligent at such a young age.” I caught a glimpse of pain in his eyes. His beautiful mother’s fate was so ridiculous! My dissatisfaction with my Marquis father grew even stronger.
"That's what my aunt said too. She even said that a poem from the Book of Songs perfectly describes my mother. It's just a pity that she had such a hard life, falling ill and passing away so young." Aside from my aunt telling me the truth, no one else ever mentioned my mother to me. The versions I occasionally heard were that she died of illness. Didn't the Marquis know? If you don't want others to know, don't do it in the first place. What wrong did my mother commit that made him so cruel to a woman so beautiful in everyone's eyes?
When they heard me say that my mother had gone there because she was sick, they seemed relieved. They probably knew the truth too. "Which poem is it?" Mr. Song asked.
"The peach tree is young and tender, its blossoms are bright and beautiful. This maiden is going to her husband's home, may she bring harmony to her family. The peach tree is young and tender, its fruit is plentiful. This maiden is going to her husband's home, may she bring harmony to her household. The peach tree is young and tender, its leaves are lush and green. This maiden is going to her husband's home, may she bring harmony to her family." I slowly finished reciting, then looked at Mr. Song, "What do you think, sir?"
Mr. Song gave an awkward laugh: "Miss's mind is far beyond that of ordinary people." He avoided my question.
Seeing that it was getting late, Mr. Song was going to arrange Mu Shaoting's lessons for the day. It turned out that Tianqi was his study companion and would also study together, and now little me was added to the list.
Today, Mu Shaoting will be studying the "Li Lou" chapter of Mencius. Mr. Song picked up the book and read aloud with measured intonation: "Mencius said: 'Jie and Zhou lost the empire because they lost their people. To lose the people is to lose their hearts. There is a way to gain the empire: gain the people, and you will gain the empire. There is a way to gain the people: gain their hearts, and you will gain the people. There is a way to gain their hearts: give them what they desire, and do not impose on them what they dislike. The people's inclination towards benevolence is like water flowing downhill, or beasts running to the pit. Therefore, those who drive fish into the deep are otters, and those who drive birds into the thickets are otters; those who drive the people to serve Tang and Wu are Jie and Zhou. Today, the rulers of the empire have…'" Those who are benevolent will have all the feudal lords at their beck and call. Even if one desires not to be king, it is impossible to avoid it. Those who desire kingship today are like those suffering from a seven-year illness seeking three-year-old moxa. If one does not cultivate virtue, one will never attain it in life; if one does not aspire to benevolence, one will suffer lifelong sorrow and disgrace, ultimately leading to death. As the poem says, "How can they be virtuous? They will all be drowned." This is what it means. I once studied classical Chinese, memorizing these tongue-twisting passages whole, hoping only for a word of praise from my Chinese teacher. Now, I still only know the surface meaning, not the underlying reasons. A chill runs down my spine; who told me to travel back to ancient times?
Mu Shaoting and Tian Qi listened attentively to Mr. Song's explanation, while I could only feign a blank expression.
After his literature lessons, there were also arithmetic and martial arts lessons. It seemed this young master had a tough time. Because I was too small, I didn't go to the martial arts lesson with them. Mr. Song looked down at me with a half-smile and asked, "How are you feeling today, Miss?"
I glanced at him and said, "My aunt said that Huai En has a photographic memory, which Huai En didn't really believe at first. But today, the article that the teacher taught was something Huai En had never heard of before, and now he can recite it word by word. It's just a pity that he doesn't quite understand its meaning."
Mr. Song looked at me with disbelief. I recited the part he had read earlier that day clearly, and he stared at me incredulously. After a long while, he stared at me and said, "Miss, you have a very high talent. At least you are still young. Given time, you will definitely be able to master the profound knowledge."
I smiled slightly and took my leave. When I returned to my Red Sleeve Residence, I saw my aunt looking out at the door. I ran over and hugged her, saying sweetly, "Auntie, Huai'en is back."