After the Lantern Festival, the Liu sisters all circled around and then went to the Tseng Girls' School. Before everyone had exchanged pleasantries, Mr. Gong began to talk about "Mencius": "Confucianism started with Confucius, and Mencius spread its origin. Zhuzi Taking "Mencius" next to "The Analects" is to stimulate the high-spirited ambition of scholars after their basic foundation is established. Studying "Mencius" is mainly about the spirit of continuous learning."
Lishu recovered her mind and began to listen to Mr. Gong's lecture on "Mencius", but Lizhen was not interested at all, as if listening to a book from heaven.
After finally finishing the lecture and her husband left first, Li Shu closed her book and chatted with Zeng Yingxiu and Lu Jingyi. They had not seen each other for a long time and both had a lot to say.
"Yes, why didn't you come to my house during the Chinese New Year this year?" Li Shu asked, holding Zeng Yingxiu's hand.
Zeng Yingxiu said: "I followed our wife back to my parents' house, so I didn't go to your house. Yes, although I didn't go, I heard that you are a master of throwing pots."
"It's just a small test, these are nothing." Li Shu didn't care much and looked around again. When she saw Zhong Yunran again, she seemed to be in low spirits.
"What's wrong with Sister Zhong?" Li Shu thought it was just that her father's identity was gone, but it wasn't to this extent. At least she still had her father alive, and Mrs. Zeng San didn't treat her harshly in life. This was better than her elder brother. The room was much better for Lu Jingyi.
Zeng Yingxiu pursed her lips angrily, but didn't say anything after all. Li Shu suppressed her curiosity. Unexpectedly, this secret would soon be known to her family.
After lunch, the Liu sisters went to pay their respects to Mrs. Zeng and the ladies. Of course, they didn’t do it on weekdays, but now that the New Year has just ended, this etiquette is still required.
After saying goodbye, he said that the piano lesson would be held in the small garden of the second bedroom of the Zeng family, so Lishu and the others had no choice but to move from the school to the second bedroom.
"Sister Lu, why do we have to go to the second room to study? Wasn't the quiet place in the south nice?" Lishu was puzzled.
Lu Jingyi whispered: "This gentleman was hired by the second room. I heard that Mr. Zeng was very dissatisfied with Yingdan's homework and said that she didn't know anything. She wanted to celebrate the New Year well, so their family had a quarrel. This is not three reasons. All the gentlemen were hired by the second room, so they all learned music, chess, calligraphy and painting here in the future."
Li Shu spread her hands: "I don't care, as long as I can learn from a few gentlemen. If I can't learn, I will ask my mother to invite one for me when she comes back."
This year, his father's term of office has expired. Seeing how his grandmother is doing, he wishes that his father would be the censor for a few more years. One year as censor is very prestigious.
The patrol censor is very beautiful!
The two joked for a while, and then went to the small garden in the second room of the Zeng family. This garden within a garden was even more exquisite. It was also called the Peony Garden. It was said that it had the most complete variety of peonies in Beijing.
When Mr. Shen saw them, he gave them baked rice cakes that he brought from home. They were warm. After eating, Li Shu began to play the piano with Mr. Shen. Everyone was relaxed.
"This time we are going to learn something a little more difficult."
This time is different from last year. Last year, I learned piano in one day, then learned calligraphy, calligraphy and painting on the same day, and learned various chess games on the same day. This time, I learned all three together in the second half of the day. An hour of playing the guqin, an hour of calligraphy and painting, and an hour of playing chess.
Li Shu didn't care. She could go back later anyway. They were young now and had nothing more to do.
Generally, Mr. Shen will teach a section first and then let them play by themselves. If they don't play well, Mr. Shen will correct their body shape and fingering. The garden is beautiful and the music of the piano is melodious. Zhong Yunran pulls Lu Jingyi to wander outside, but she can only be forced to leave.
"Miss Lu, you see, I didn't think this was bad before, but now I think we are really pathetic. Girls who are also studying in women's schools can still learn everything just because they are the daughter of an official family. They are separated by several generations. , but we have to go back to the room and do the unfinished sewing work." The more Zhong Yunran understood, the more unwilling he became, but she didn't know that she shouldn't be unwilling.
Lu Jingyi said calmly: "Sister Zhong, isn't it always like this?"
Zhong Yunran sneered: "Is this always right? Yes, I am just a cousin living in Zeng. My father was framed and lost his official position, and he has become a commoner since then. With ten guqins, we can In addition to the monthly increase, the amount of money is only two guan a month, and it has to be managed every day, not to mention the pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, and it is already difficult to pay for the ointment. Besides, it is the guqin of the previous generation. I heard the eldest girl of the Liu family said that it Third sister’s guqin is worth a thousand taels, it’s a guqin from the previous dynasty, how can we compare with it?”
"But even if I can afford it, I won't come here." What should Lu Jingyi say? She is not the real girl of the Zeng family. It would be good if she can study with her and be taught by a famous teacher.
She stayed in other people's homes and took care of the needlework everywhere. She often had to make some women's clothes for her cousin and her own clothes. Besides, even with this condition, she is not a serious lady, so she doesn't need to take advantage of others.
The girls of the Liu family can buy it, firstly, because Mrs. Liu is an old aunt of the Zeng family, and secondly, because the Liu family and the Zeng family have a mutually supportive relationship, so they can give nothing to the Zeng family.
Therefore, Lu Jingyi said: "Sister Zhong, I'm leaving first."
Zhong Yunran waited until she was far away before saying, "As timid as a mouse."
The little maid who is following her has been with her since she was a child. In the past, when Yun Ran's mother was still alive, life at home was pretty good and she was carefree.
Now...
"Miss, let's go to the pavilion over there to rest for a while." The maid also understood that it was not a question of whether she could afford the piano at all, but the three female gentlemen invited by the second room. Miss Zhong was a cousin of the third room, and the eldest girl was even more important. She is the niece of the late eldest wife, so she should be sensible.
Zhong Yunran was a little discouraged and a little unwilling.
At this time, Li Shu had finished her song. She probably had a stomachache after eating rice cakes and drinking cold water, so she had to go out first. She was afraid that someone would cut the strings of the guqin again this time. After all, last time Li Zhen was so jealous that she cut off her ancient guqin. During the Chinese New Year, she won a pot throw and she screamed, but she was afraid that she would get hot-headed and do something wrong again.
"Tingxue, you stay and guard here for me, and Siyu can accompany me there," Li Shu said.
Tingxue was also afraid that Li Zhen would destroy the piano, so she repeatedly agreed: "Don't worry, girl."
It was my first time to come to this peony garden, and the master and servant had to look for it for a while. When they approached the rockery, they heard a man and a woman talking. Lishu was shocked. It was Zhong Yunran's voice again. Did she still like talking in the rockery?
"I am just a poor girl now, how can I be worthy of you? You should find a real official daughter. The Liu family and your family have decided to get married in your generation, so I will..."
"No, this has nothing to do with me. Our Zeng family is not just you and me."
Li Shu heard Zhong Yunran say: "But I am of low status, how can I be worthy of you." She immediately pulled Si Yu away, and she no longer wanted to hear the rest of the words.
Everyone had told her about this status gap after her husband was robbed. They said how can you compete with the emperor's daughter? Your father is just a third-rank politician who abides by the Tao, and he is the daughter of an emperor.
At that time, no matter how much Li Shu disagreed, she had no choice. It was not her who had the final say.
But Zhong Yunran was still too young at this time, and she didn't know that the more she secretly met Mr. Zeng like this, the worse it would be. Of course, I'm afraid this matter is fundamentally useless, because Mrs. Zeng is definitely not a character that is easy to mess with.
"Girl, do you think that girl just now is Miss Zhong?" Siyu asked.
Li Shu nodded: "It's her, but let's just pretend we haven't heard of it."
Siyu said: "Actually, I don't think Miss Zhong is worthy of that Young Master Zeng. She is very beautiful, speaks well, and is no worse than the older girl."
"You are right. I think she is also a remarkable person. Their second wife is a businessman. It would be a blessing to find such a suitable person."
But Li Shu also knew that the second brother of the Zeng family was trapped in his status as a merchant. The second master heard that although he donated his status, he could not compare with his brothers who were both Jinshi.
Their family must marry a daughter from an official family. Since ancient times, it has been common for officials and businessmen to marry.
But it would be okay if Zhong Yunran could finally get married to Mr. Zeng, but it would be inappropriate for them to have such a private meeting. Lishu wondered how Zhong Yunran, who usually worried about people like this, didn't know the dangers involved, which was probably her future. Uneasy, that's why.
"Let's go."
…
In the blink of an eye, the ice and snow melt, spring returns to the earth, and everything revives. Everyone also changed into spring clothes, and Li Shu found that she had grown a little taller. She gestured to herself in the mirror.
Because she was busy with her studies, especially the homework assigned by Mr. Gong, she had to shut up and think every day when she came back. Unknowingly, when she saw Liusu again, she felt that Liusu had grown wider than before. She and Fu's The relationship seems much better than with Lirou.
Before the Dragon Boat Festival, the family received another letter from Liu Chengxu. His appointment had been changed from the patrol censor to the supervisory censor of Shandong Province, this time for a period of three years.
Lishu knew that her father was a capable minister and was not afraid of power. Although he occasionally acted clinging to him, he was still very good in matters of right and wrong.
Later, I heard that when my father left Henan, the people of Henan were very supportive. The local people blocked the road to persuade him to stay and worshiped him in statues at the county school.
Both grandfather and grandmother's faces were bright, and my grandmother said specifically: "When you were in office, your father rebuked powerful people, punished corrupt officials, and defeated thieves. He really made great achievements."
Everyone was very happy after hearing this, and grandfather also said: "Your father is now promoted to the Northern Zhili School and supervises Shuntian Mansion. Don't worry, he might be back in two or three years."
Lishu was also very happy because she had received a letter from her mother. The letter said that her younger brother was already very good at talking and was well raised. She followed her father to Shandong to learn Shandong's cooking cakes and make them when she came back. She eats it to make her feel at ease.
It can be seen that little Fu is actually very happy outside, how can it be bad? No one outside knows about her and Fu's situation. She can be the master of the family, and she and Liu Chengxu are in love, and she still has the means to control Aunt Ding.
Aunt Ding has always been good at watching from the other side and provoking disputes, but she does not dare to take the lead, and she is not even very favored. This is her shortcoming.
Speaking of the female relatives in her father's backyard, Li Shu looked at Mrs. Fu, but there was unconcealable disappointment in Mrs. Fu's eyes. She knew very well why Mrs. Fu was like this. She was no longer in her prime. She went to the temple very frequently recently, adding money for incense and incense. She also often drank medicine to recuperate her body, probably just to have another child.
But now Liu Chengxu actually has to stay in office for more than two years, switching from the patrol censor to the supervisory censor. In these two years, she still has to guard the empty house alone, which is equivalent to declaring that everything is in vain.
She also thought that it would be great if a man only married one woman, so there would be no need for women to compete for one man.
Lishu missed her mother and brother very much, but she knew that her mother could live a good life outside. As for herself, she also had her own things to do.
Parting is for a better reunion, she always believes in this sentence.
Today the old man and the old lady had dinner together. The two young masters Shujing and Shuyi also came over. Lishu was at the same table with the sisters. Everyone was very happy for their father.
"My father's official reputation is so good. I want to come and go to Shandong, but I don't know how many people I have to help." Lishu always felt that being an official must be responsible. Otherwise, it is better not to be an official, lest morality is not matched and the people suffer.
Liwan agreed: "That's true. Didn't dad help a lot of people in Jiujiang last time?"
Of course there is darkness in officialdom, and even when you are in it, sometimes you can't help it, but there are always people who have ideals. Just like in her previous life, when she failed to marry Zheng Hao, she was a little frustrated and told Liu Chengxu that she wanted to be a female crown prince, but she was quiet.
Her father said that he would definitely find a down-to-earth and reliable man for her, and also persuaded her that even if she really didn't want to marry, she could just join the palace and become a female official. Being a female official wouldn't be a bad idea. That was the time her father talked to her the most, and after that, there was no more talk.
After dinner, everyone dispersed, and Mrs. Fu seemed a little worried. Of course Lijia understood the reason, and she comforted: "Mom, my daughter sees that your face is much rosier, don't worry."
"Mom, you're not worried," Mrs. Fu said.
But she was still stunned when she returned to the room. Liusu brought a bowl of rock sugar pear: "Madam, when I saw you had a dry throat, I stewed rock sugar pear in the kitchen. You can drink it first while it's still warm."
Mrs. Fu smiled and said: "Put it there. I drank a lot of sweet soup at the banquet today, and my throat is still blocked. I can't drink it anymore."
Of course Liusu knows why? It must be because the second master didn't come back and the second wife was sad. In fact, when she was serving the second wife, she really had never found such a kind and benevolent person.
Among the people she had served, the lady was very dignified. The servants only dared to join in the fun, but did not dare to fight. But the madam treated her slaves as real slaves.
As for the fourth girl, she pretends to be a pig and eats the tiger. She looks kind to others, but in fact she has a strong control over her slaves. What she needs is to be completely unbiased.
On the other hand, the third girl has clear rewards and punishments. Although she has not served, she has dealt with him. But this kind of master is not easy to mess with at a young age. Although she seems to be loose and careless on weekdays, everything is in her own mind.
Only Mrs. Fu is truly benevolent. She teaches herself how to read and is very generous. Instead, he lied to her, which was really inappropriate.
But she also knew that she could only take revenge by following the Fu family, because she could become a big girl in the Fu family very quickly.
Dusk enveloped the earth, and the morning light faded. Li Shu and others went to Zeng's house to study under the bright light. Li Zhen and Li Rou wanted to accompany the old lady to live in Zhuangzi for a while. Lishu originally wanted to go, but she still wanted to focus on studying, so she declined. But she was also a little embarrassed. In any case, filial piety to the elderly was the first priority, and she was a little selfish after all.
Mrs. Xu was telling Li Rou: "You have to listen to the old lady and be obedient. You are not allowed to bully Li Rou. Do you know?"
"I know." Li Zhen said happily. She didn't know if it would be fun to go to Zhuangzi, but she finally didn't have to study anymore. Especially listening to Mr. Gong's lectures was like reading from heaven, and her homework was written until midnight every day. From 1 to 4:08, other people still had sewing work for the elders, so she had to find someone to borrow it.
People who have a good relationship with her, like Lirou, will give her a few without saying a word. Lishu, who has a bad relationship, is hard to talk to and won't borrow anything. She still borrowed a few from her eldest sister before replenishing them.
Being able to get out is like a bird in a cage and a fish in water. It is finally free of restraints.
After changing her clothes, she felt that she was overjoyed and couldn't help but said: "Mom, do you think the third girl is stupid? Why did she ruin the book and even refused to accompany her grandmother? Grandma must not like her. ”
Mrs. Xu didn’t think so: “Your grandmother, no, it should be said that everyone in the world admires the strong. But strangely enough, everyone sympathizes with the weak and envies the strong. When the two conflict, they will listen to the strong. of."
Li Zhen didn't understand this sentence. She only thought that it would be better if her grandmother liked her, and it would be best if her grandmother didn't like Li Shu.
And my grandmother was very generous. Lishu and Lirou got a lot of things from her. Of course she, Lizhen, lacked nothing, but it would be better if her grandmother could give it to her.
Not long after Lishu's carriage left, the old man rode in front, and the old lady took the two little granddaughters behind and rode the carriage to Zhuangzi.
Mrs. Liu usually didn't think much of her granddaughters, but now that they were out together, she felt that there was still a huge gap between them.
Especially after leaving Beijing, she asked Mother Wei: "Where are you now?"
"We're almost at Fangshan, don't worry."
"Our village is not big, but there is a hot spring. You two sisters should take a good bath when the time comes. It will be good for your health."
Lirou said obediently: "Yes."
Lizhen was usually a little afraid of Mrs. Liu, so she remained silent. Mrs. Liu actually wanted to chat with them: "It just so happens that the hot springs haven't been named yet? What do you think we should name the hot spring courtyard?"
Li Rou knew that Li Zhen always liked the limelight, so she kept silent. Li Zhen said something casually first.
"What's the point here, fifth girl? You said that taking a bath is too straightforward." Mrs. Liu was dissatisfied and looked at Lirou again.
Lirou was a little better. She smiled and said, "My granddaughter heard that there is a Huaqing Pool in Chang'an. Why don't we call it Qingjing Spring."
Mrs. Liu frowned: "It's not good. Yesterday Lishu told me a name, Shuiyunjian. I think it sounds good."
Li Zhen was still not convinced: "It's obviously a hot spring courtyard. It's so grand. What do you call a room?"
Mrs. Liu usually didn't know the status of their sisters' studies. She probably knew that Li Shu was a little smarter, but she didn't expect Li Zhen to be so miserable. Li Rou also raised her head after hearing this. She could tell that Mr. Gong spoke too fast. They were not like those piano students who stopped to teach. He gave homework after he talked. Not to mention Li Zhen, even she was a little bit Can't keep up.
Mr. Liu, who was riding a horse outside, couldn't help but interject: "You girl, this water and clouds is from Zhu Dunru's "Partridge Sky". Bamboo powder blows fragrant apricot pills. Try new gauze hats and gauze clothes. The days are long and the music is quiet. The gulls and herons are leisurely in the remote pond. They are sweating and listening to the murmuring. The indifferent heart is among the water and clouds. No one drinks pine yellow wine together, and sometimes flying immortals come and go secretly. Among the water and clouds, there are otherworldly beauty such as emptiness, elegance and elegance. .”
You must know that Mr. Liu was also a martial arts scholar. He was also a son of a famous minister, a very famous collector, and had a very high literary quality.
Seeing what her grandfather said, Li Zhen shut up obediently and was obviously not convinced. When Mrs. Liu wasn't paying attention, she even bit her ear with Li Rou.
"Lishu is so good at writing, and the name she chose is so sour."
Lirou has never participated in their kind of struggle. At the same time, she is also avoiding the disaster that is about to happen to the Zeng family. She had always had a good relationship with Yingdan, but she knew that the third son of the second wife of the Zeng family seemed to have an affair with Zhong Yunran, which even caused discord between Mrs. Zeng's second wife and Mrs. Zeng's third wife. The terrible thing is that the next generation of the Zeng family and the Liu family will definitely marry. Mrs. Zeng likes her very much and is not very interested in Lishu and Liwan. The eldest sister does not dare to reach out, so she quickly escapes. , so as not to get burned.
Of course, I also heard that the eldest sister and the second sister are also going to Fu's house. If they are really planning to go to Fu's house, then the third sister will be alone at Zeng's house. Li Rou thinks that Mrs. Zeng will not look down on the fake fake news anyway. Jealousy, the third sister likes to dance and write, so that's fine.
She didn't expect that Li Shu was trying to achieve the blessing of her own fame. Because Li Rou and Li Zhen were gone, Li Jia took the opportunity to go to her grandfather's house to cool off. Li Wan followed Li Jia in a hurry. They all came alone, and the husband basically taught her and Zeng Yingxiu, making progress faster than before.
"Mr. Shen, I heard that good music can attract hundreds of birds to circle around, just like Yu Boya's "Mountains and Flowing Waters" and Jin Jikang's "Guangling San"."
Mr. Shen nodded: "Indeed, Gui girl, you want to learn "Mountains and Flowing Water", right? If you want to learn, I will teach you, but you can go back and practice for half an hour every day from now on."
Li Shu said happily: "Disciple, I obey."
If she can attract hundreds of birds to circle around, even if she is no longer at Zeng's house, she can naturally ask her family to hire a guqin master for her. That would be great.
Of course, even if she is not attracted by the sound of her piano, she will still make herself attracted by the sound of her piano.
Now she had to play "Mountains and Flowing Water" very well. As for the nonsense that happened in the Zeng family, she didn't care.
Therefore, Li Shu practiced hard for several days and finally decided to try her skills in the Zeng family. The Zeng family's peony garden drove the birds out because they were afraid of peonies, so she had to sit in the pavilion in the middle of the lake and exchange poems with Zeng Yingxiu. , while starting to give Si Yu a look.
Si Yuyou had scattered a lot of bird food around, which could attract at least two birds. Li Shu asked Zeng Yingxiu in advance and knew that there were green trees here, so there were many birds.
The most important thing about this guqin is the mind. When Lishu was immersed in it, she no longer thought about it, but the human and the guqin became one. The "Music Book" said that the music of clouds is the harmony of heaven and earth.
Li Shu's original intention was to attract ten birds, and she didn't have high hopes. But she didn't expect that when she played the first verse, only one bird jumped curiously on the top of the pavilion. Follow the rush.
But he didn't expect that at this time, all kinds of lark and small birds would circle and dance to her music.
Mrs. Zeng's second wife and Mrs. Zeng's third wife happened to be passing by and saw Lishu sitting in the pavilion, burning incense and playing the piano. The sound of birdsong seemed to be accompaniment to her. She was wearing a long embroidered dress with a green skirt that touched the floor, elegant. Refined from the vulgarity, the little girl actually has a sense of sacredness.
Mrs. Zeng suddenly felt that she felt the beauty of the sound of the piano. It was so beautiful that everyone in the Zeng family could not help but say: "The third girl of the Liu family must be a fairy or a god."
"Yes, if it weren't for a fairy daughter, how could she have caused all the birds to sing in unison? It's like listening to fairy music."
Not to mention Mrs. Zeng’s second wife, even Mrs. Zeng’s third wife felt that this scene was like an ink landscape painting.
Li Shu doesn't care about this. Her parents are not around now. If she asks Little Fu to help her again, it may take more than half a year. In this case, it is better to find a way on her own.
Therefore, she didn't find anyone praising her at all, because she cheated today, not counting bird food, mainly in places where birds hang out, but does she have such a place at home? She has to go back and take a look today.
Everyone saw that she was so otherworldly. When she walked down the pavilion, her clothes fluttered and her figure was graceful. She looked back with a smile and asked Siyu to see if Bird Seed had left any evidence, but they were stunned.
So on the day Mrs. Liu returned home, she did not prepare bird food this time. She just found a place with a slightly more bird population and practiced the "Mountains and Flowing Waters" and "Flowing Springs on the Rocks" that she had learned day and night.
"Girl, Uncle Yu was chasing birds yesterday. You said that birds are the spiritual energy inherent in all things. You told him not to chase them away, but he didn't move."
"Yeah, if it weren't for the perfect location, there would be more birds in that quiet place in our garden."
Last time, everyone in the Zeng family saw it. This time, when Lishu danced with her fingers, a magical scene suddenly appeared. The birds were circling, which was simply a spectacle.
Li Shu looked at the maids around her with satisfaction. They all wore long skirts with wide sleeves from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and they looked ethereal.
This scene was not seen by the grandparents first, but was seen by Fu Minglun who sent Fu and Lijia back. He was a straightforward person and couldn't help admiring it: "Aunt, I heard that during the Spring and Autumn Period, the piano master played the piano It can attract hundreds of birds to sing and all beasts to congratulate. I didn’t expect that such a wonder was actually created by my third cousin. It’s really... like being in a fairyland."
Mrs. Fu was okay. She only knew that the third girl had been practicing the piano every day recently. She didn't expect that this child would reach such an extent. Next to her, Li Jia's face suddenly darkened, and she held the handkerchief tightly. Li Wan also smiled when she saw this.
Of course, this scene was also seen by Mrs. Liu. Lishu quickly stopped her guqin and stepped forward to bow to her: "Grandfather, grandmother, and granddaughter will play a song called "High Mountains and Flowing Waters" especially for you two. It is recorded in "Lunheng": 'It's about to rain, and the strings of the piano are easing.' My strings are easing, and my grandparents are coming home, so it couldn't be better."
Mrs. Liu smiled and said: "Why do you, a little person, do this?"
"It's not that I couldn't spend time with my grandparents, my granddaughter feels extremely guilty," Li Shu said.
Old Mrs. Liu remained silent, but he was a commander of the Jinyi Guards. He looked around and found no bird food. It seemed that he was really capable, so he nodded secretly.
These compliments were nothing more than that. Li Rou never expected that Mrs. Zeng Er, who always disliked those talented women the most, would be so kind to Li Shu. This really overturned her opinion.
Lirou looked at Lishu, what on earth was she going to do? :,,
