340: 340 340: 340 The principle is not to impose on others what you do not desire for yourself, thus she went around the matter, enlightening Xiao Linzi with righteousness, making him feel that morizing poetry was indeed necessary, and getting him to willingly accept it without resistance.
Of course, she could have commanded Xiao Linzi to morize, but as a good master, she was fully aware of the pain of rote learning and thus wanted to dispel his aversion.
If he did not resist, or better yet liked it, perhaps morizing would beco a bit easier.
Having settled the matter, Lian Hua felt refreshed.
When she turned around, she saw several pairs of eyes staring at her, their expressions a mixture of amusent and curiosity.
Nanny Qi looked amused, her eyes seeming to see right through the situation.
Pang Ya was sowhat confused, although morizing an entire Book of Poetry did seem a bit much…
Xiao Jizi was left speechless, his expression one of not bearing to look directly, as if to say, what a waste of the master’s talents, just to cajole Xiao Linzi—an overqualification indeed…
Xiao Qing, who had just learned to read, knew all too well the difficulty of morizing.
She hesitated and said, “Master…
”
Before she could finish, Xiao Jizi pulled her aside and interjected, “Master is wise!”
To that blockhead, it should be no big deal.
The master was projecting her own perspective…
“Haha, just average, not that wise…” Lian Hua chuckled awkwardly, feeling sowhat embarrassed after having swindled soone, and coughed uneasily, saying dryly, “Ahem, well, reading more does indeed have its benefits.”
“What the master says is very true…” Everyone agreed, for who could disagree after the master had even involved His Majesty in her argunt?
Lian Hua chuckled sheepishly again, feeling guilty, as morizing an entire Book of Poetry seed overly demanding.
So, she said to Xiao Qing, “Xiao Qing, take this plate of cakes to Xiao Linzi, let him nourish himself more.”
“Yes.” Xiao Qing went over, picked up the plate of cakes, and prepared to leave.
Lian Hua called her back again, saying, “If…
if it’s too difficult, then forget it.” She would think of another thod.
Xiao Qing acknowledged with an “Okay” and walked out, just about to exit the door.
Lian Hua suddenly rembered sothing, “Oh my, that collection of poetry was a gift from His Majesty, make sure Xiao Linzi doesn’t dirty or damage it.”
That was close, she almost forgot to ntion it.
If it were damaged, she would be heartbroken.
After giving several such instructions back and forth, Lian Hua finally felt at ease.
And so the matter was settled.
Lian Hua had already decided that if Xiao Linzi could not do it, she would not force him.
If worse ca to worst, she would simply find another solution, and her slight guilt imdiately dissipated.
She ran off cheerfully to act coquettishly with Nanny Qi.
After being reminded of her duties, she started working on her needlecraft with a heavy heart…
After the afternoon rest, Lian Hua sat on the embroidery stool, focusing intently on sewing clothes.
Nanny Qi said that at her pace, she would be finished in a few days.
She decided that once she was done, she would learn from Nanny Qi and sew a simple little lotus, her unique mark, onto the undershirt intended for His Majesty.
Just thinking about His Majesty wearing the clothes she made filled her with sweetness; she could hardly wait.
With this belief, she worked with great diligence, this ti without any distractions, arousing Nanny Qi’s surprise and silent praise.
When the young miss set her mind to it, her needlework was quite admirable, showing the traces of a skilled teacher’s guidance.
Lian Hua, so engrossed in her work, did not even notice when Xiao Linzi sauntered in.
The speed she achieved while serious was many tis faster than before, reassuring Nanny Qi that the young miss’s needlework still had hope.
Worried about her tiring from working too long, Nanny Qi had the afternoon tea brought in, reminding her it was ti to rest.
Lian Hua finally stopped, ah, it had been so long since she had sewn so smoothly; the feeling was truly delightful.
She laid down her needlework, stood up, and stretched contentedly—how comfortable!
Smiling, she walked toward the table, wondering what the midday refreshnt would be today as she moved.
The red bean soup she had previously was exceptionally delicious, though the process was quite tedious: first, she had to boil the red beans for a shichen, then she fished out the beans, mashed them, used a sieve to remove the skins, leaving behind the bean pulp, which had to be finely ground, then mixed with glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water, and cooked again.
Throughout cooking, she had to constantly stir to prevent it from burning.
This red bean soup, when finished, was soft and silky, rich and delectable, truly leaving her with an insatiable craving; one bowl left her fully satisfied.
She sat down at the table and, from the corner of her eye, suddenly spotted soone who should not be there at this ti.
She turned her head in surprise and said, “Xiao Linzi?!
Eh, aren’t you supposed to be morizing poetry?
What are you doing standing here?”
Lian Hua was astonished; this young eunuch usually obeyed, so why was he being disobedient today?
Could it be that she hadn’t made herself clear?
Xiao Linzi gave a bashful smile, “This servant has morized it all.”
Lian Hua widened her almond-shaped eyes, “You’ve morized the first poem just like that?”
Xiao Linzi nodded.
“You rember it all?”
Xiao Linzi nodded again.
“Then recite it for ,” Lian Hua said, not quite believing him.
Just like that, no questions asked, no clarifications sought—how could he have morized it all?
The student in the eyes of the teacher was incomprehensible; it took her much effort to morize a single poem, starting with learning the unfamiliar words.
While reciting, she had to ask for their anings; in short, it wasn’t so smooth.
“Yes,” answered Xiao Linzi, and began reciting “Guān Jù” from the Book of Poetry, “Guan guan go the ospreys, on the island in the river…”
Lian Hua felt that Xiao Linzi’s recitation was quite proper, so she nodded and swayed her head to the rhythm, mumbling and following along in a low voice until he finished.
Hmm, eighty words in total, not one wrong, quite similar to how she recited it.
Ah, this young eunuch had a talent for reciting poetry.
Lian Hua’s eyes brightened.
Very good, a promising start, unexpectedly smooth—most satisfactory.
She was very pleased, and couldn’t help but complint him a few tis, making Xiao Linzi flash a smile that revealed his canines.
Xiao Qing looked on admiringly at Xiao Linzi; she had quietly asked him earlier, and he truly was impressive.
Xiao Jizi smiled from the side, his smile deepening as he listened; his mistress seed to have misunderstood sothing.
If she found out later, she would probably drop her jaw in surprise; he found the anticipation quite entertaining.
He nudged Xiao Linzi and pointed at the copy of the Book of Poetry that Xiao Linzi had been holding all along.
Xiao Linzi rembered; he had co to return the book of poems.
Holding the Book of Poetry in both hands, he said, “Master, here is yours.
This servant didn’t damage or dirty it.
Brother Xiao Ji earlier told not to disturb you, so I am returning it now.”
Lian Hua took the book, flipped through it, indeed it was neither dirty nor damaged, but she said, “Why are you giving it back to ?
Continue reciting it.
Don’t be complacent.
morizing the first poem is not enough; you have to morize the subsequent ones too.”
Otherwise, reciting the sa one over and over will raise His Majesty’s suspicions.
She handed the book back to Xiao Linzi, but Xiao Linzi waved his hands, refusing to take it, and said, “Master, this servant has morized it all; there’s no need for it anymore.”
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