Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn

Chapter 4

"Why did it take you so long?" Auntie asked with a worried expression.

"I'm taking classes with the young master, but I can't understand a word the teacher is saying," I said, pouting.

"You're too young to understand. Why did you go over there?"

"Auntie, have you forgotten? You told me yourself that the eldest young master has a tutor to teach him to read. I also want to learn, I want to become stronger, and protect Auntie and my younger brother." I pretended to be aggrieved.

Auntie sighed: "Huai'en, your intentions are good, and I am very happy, but you are a girl, and it is of no use for you to study a lot. Isn't your mother also full of knowledge?"

"Don't worry, Huai'en won't turn into something like Mother." I took her hand and led her across the yard back into the house.

I saw the cut fabric on the table, the very material my aunt had said she would use to make me new clothes earlier that day. "Isn't there a need to rush?" I asked my aunt.

"Since we're just killing time anyway, Auntie can't wait to see our little beauty Huai'en in her new clothes." Auntie looked at me with doting eyes.

I picked up the fabric and examined it carefully. Then I cautiously asked my aunt, "Can I ask what kind of design I want it to be?"

What kind of shape do you want it to look like?

"Isn't this supposed to be summer clothing? Won't it be too hot if I cut it like Auntie did?" I said, holding the fabric up to myself. "I want this part cut out, and just two thin straps on the shoulders, which Auntie can make into pretty knots to tie on. There should be a belt at the waist that can be tightened, and a bow that can be tied at the back. The skirt should have large pleats, and the hem should be cut into irregular wavy shapes. Auntie can also make a short top so I can wear it when the weather is a little cool."

"Why make it look so strange? But it does look quite nice," the aunt asked, puzzled.

"Isn't next month the young master's birthday?" I replied meaningfully.

The aunt's face hardened: "Huai'en, don't do anything reckless."

"I just want Father to notice me, or even the eldest young master. Although I'm studying with him now, like you said, I'm just a girl. If Father notices Hongxiu Residence, wouldn't Aunt's life be much easier?"

"Huai'en, your aunt doesn't need wealth, just peace and safety. Please don't do those things," the aunt said with a sigh.

“But even if you don’t think about yourself, you should think about Zinuo. Zinuo is about to grow up. Are you just going to let him live an ordinary life in this little courtyard? He’s a boy, and there are many things he needs to do. If his father doesn’t care about him, where will he get his chance? We should let him learn the best things as soon as possible.” I didn’t back down.

My aunt gave me a deep look: "Huai'en, are you only four years old?"

I was startled and quickly said, "The principles are taught by mothers, and besides, children without mothers mature early." As I spoke, my eyes welled up with tears.

Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 004

Chapter word count: 4625 Update time: 09-07-25 11:01

Every day, I studied with Mu Shaoting and Tianqi in the study, and occasionally I would go to the martial arts field to watch them practice. When Mu Shaoting had time, he would even personally teach me calligraphy. I don't even know when or what sentence it was, but Mu Shaoting started treating me with almost unreserved kindness, a stark contrast to the awkwardness and coldness we had when we first met. It made me wonder if my initial impression was just my imagination, or if his affection for me had developed too rapidly. Of course, this only applied to the few people in the study; in front of others, he remained the high and mighty young master of the Marquis's mansion. Perhaps it was because I behaved well in the study that he was so kind to me. In short, thanks to him, I now have a certain status in the mansion; almost everyone knows that I accompany him in his studies, and he dotes on me exceptionally. My aunt's expression was strange when she heard this news; I didn't know if she was happy or worried.

After I entered Mu Shaoting's study, my father, the Marquis, came a few times. Each time, he would inquire about Mu Shaoting's studies and give him a random quiz. Tianqi and I were practically invisible to him. Tianqi was Mu Shaoting's study companion, so perhaps in my father's eyes I was just a study companion, not his daughter. I felt a little sad.

That day, I quietly asked Mu Shaoting, "Brother, Father has always loved you very much, hasn't he?" He hesitated for a moment before saying, "What does 'love' mean? I only know that he cares about me a lot, especially about my studies."

“Perhaps this is how men interact. You can’t possibly act like me, all sweet and innocent,” I said, seemingly understanding. Then, I unexpectedly saw Mu Shaoting and Tian Qi’s bewildered expressions. I continued to comfort him, “You know, brother is the eldest son of the Marquis’s mansion. The burden on his shoulders is certainly not light. It’s only natural that Father has high hopes for him. No matter what, brother is much better than me. Father probably doesn’t even know I exist.” Originally, I was trying to comfort and encourage him, but the more I said it, the more I felt like I was complaining about my father’s favoritism.

"Father is just not good at expressing himself. Even if Huai'en doesn't love you as much as Father does, it's the same if my brother does. The eldest brother is like a father." The protagonist immediately switched, and now it was Mu Shaoting who comforted me.

I gave him a nonchalant smile: "Actually, having an older brother is enough. There's a generation gap between me and Daddy, and even if he loves me more, it's not as good as having an older brother."

"Generation gap?" Mu Shaoting and Tian Qi seemed unable to process these two words.

I cursed inwardly, "Too much talk leads to mistakes," and then carefully explained to them, "It's just that because of the large age gap between the older and younger generations, there are many things they can't understand each other, creating an invisible chasm that they can't cross. Ah, I thought of this phrase the other day when I was almost late and encountered a big ditch while taking a shortcut!"

"Miss Huai'en's name is quite fitting." Mr. Song had entered at some point and was smiling at me. Behind him was someone whose mouth I couldn't close for a long time—the Marquis's father!

Mu Shaoting and Tian Qi pulled me, still in a daze, and pressed me into my seat. I was still wondering how much of what I had just said. Fortunately, my father, the Marquis, hadn't glanced at me once, and his face remained expressionless, still sitting there listening with that cold, handsome face. So I just bury my head in the sand and pretended that nothing had happened.

Because I had been secretly observing the Marquis's father's behavior, I didn't listen to much of what Mr. Song said throughout the entire class, until Mr. Song came to my side and asked me, "Miss Huai'en, do you know the meaning of this passage?"

"Huh?" I looked at him, still confused.

"Accumulated soil forms a mountain, where wind and rain arise; accumulated water forms a deep pool, where dragons dwell; accumulated good deeds form virtue, and divine wisdom is naturally attained, and the sage's heart is complete. Therefore, without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand miles; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form a great river or sea. A fine steed cannot leap ten steps in one bound; a slow horse, if it perseveres, can travel ten times the distance. If you chisel and then give up, even rotten wood will not break; if you chisel without giving up, even metal and stone can be carved. The earthworm has no sharp claws or teeth, nor strong muscles and bones, yet it feeds on the soil above and drinks from the springs below, all because of its single-mindedness. The crab has eight legs and two claws, yet without the burrows of snakes and earthworms, it has nowhere to dwell, all because of its restless nature." Mr. Song kindly repeated, "Miss Huai'en, do you understand the meaning?"

I quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the passage wasn't too difficult. I pretended to think about it for a moment before asking in a somewhat uncertain tone, "Does it mean that one should be down-to-earth, have clear goals, and not be unrealistic or indecisive?"

"Miss Huai'en has already grasped so much, which is quite remarkable. Remember to pay more attention in class from now on," Mr. Song said meaningfully, before turning around and starting to talk about other things.

So it was a targeted question, huh? I was wondering why he suddenly brought up "Exhortation to Learning" when we were still studying Mencius. He really has a keen eye! Why is he staring at me instead of the main subject? Is he worried that my study companion isn't doing well and is holding Mu Shaoting back? A quick glance around the study shows that I'm indeed the only one not paying attention. But I can't blame him; it's my father, the Marquis, who suddenly came to visit, making my heart race! (Before meeting my father, I didn't care about him, thinking he was heartless and promiscuous; after meeting him, although he's still heartless and promiscuous, he's handsome, so I started to get nervous, cough cough!)

Restless, Mu Shaoting waited until the end of get out of class. Mr. Song calmly revealed another piece of news: "Young Master is getting older and needs to learn more. Starting tomorrow, we will add music lessons to cultivate his temperament." Mu Shaoting nodded in agreement, and his father, the Marquis, did not say a word.

When I returned to Hongxiu Residence after class, it was already dark, and I saw my aunt leaning against the door waiting again. I ran up to her and teased her, "Auntie, are you waiting for your husband to come home?" My aunt was about to hit me in an annoyed manner, but I nimbly dodged and ran back into the house.

During the meal, the aunt casually mentioned, "Huai'en, the day after tomorrow is the fifth day of the sixth lunar month. You're getting so close to the eldest young master now, have you given him a gift?"

"Hmm?" My mouth was full of food, so I couldn't make a sound. I could only stare wide-eyed at my aunt, who couldn't help but tap me on the head. After finally swallowing the food, I cleared my throat and asked, "Should I prepare a birthday gift for the young master?"

"What do you think?" My aunt seemed to have given up on me. Zinuo heard us talking and quickly crawled over, reaching out his hand, "Nuo'er wants some too!" Looking at his mischievous grin, I felt like crying.

"But we don't have enough money to prepare expensive gifts, and if they're too inexpensive, they won't even glance at them," I said helplessly. Actually, I don't know much about gift-giving, especially for boys. I never really studied this aspect in my past life.

“You’re still a child. Just give him what he wants. Sincerity is enough. He probably can’t even carry all the expensive gifts,” my aunt patiently coaxed me. So I kept thinking about what gift would please Mu Shaoting. He was my protector at the Marquis’s house; I probably couldn’t count on my father, the Marquis. That night, in my dream, I saw a pile of small gifts in front of me. Mu Shaoting stood beside me, saying he didn’t want this or that, and even threatened that if I didn’t give the right gift, he would never protect me again and might even kick me out of the house. I was so anxious I was running around in circles.

The next morning, when I looked in the mirror, I was surprised to find that I already had dark circles under my eyes, despite my young age. My aunt was startled when she saw me, and I explained that I had too many dreams last night and didn't sleep well. Of course, I wouldn't tell her that I dreamt about giving gifts, and that I still hadn't figured out what to give.

Covering my eyes, I went to the study in the north courtyard. Today I took a longer route, passing by the large lake where I first met Mu Shaoting. Most of the lotus flowers in the lake were in bloom, and the morning breeze carried their fragrance. In the distance, several large white geese were gracefully swimming on the lake. "The geese of the Marquis's mansion seem particularly arrogant!" I thought resentfully, glaring at the geese. Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind, and I had a plan. I quickened my pace, almost running, to the study. Mu Shaoting and the others were already there.

"Sir, may I ask for leave today?" I grabbed Mr. Song, panting.

"Are you taking leave? What are you going to do?" Mr. Song looked at me suspiciously.

"It's my secret, is that alright?" I shook his sleeve. "I also need to borrow your brush, ink, paper, and paints, and please return them before get out of class ends."