The young servant led Yueyao to the Main Courtyard’s north room. Upon entering the courtyard, Yueyao saw that the room’s setup was extrely simple. Before Yueyao could speak, Mr. Yu Shan ca out from inside.
Seeing that Yueyao was a bit restrained, Mr. Yu Shan smiled and said, "You don’t need to be nervous, there aren’t many people coming today."
Yueyao did not know how many people Mr. Yu Shan had invited, but hearing that there weren’t many, she felt a sigh of relief from the bottom of her heart.
As the master and disciple were talking, a voice from outside the young servant reported, "Old Master, Young Master Xi and Young Master Jun have arrived and are waiting outside."
Mr. Yu Shan nodded his head and said to Yueyao, "The ones who have co are your eldest apprentice brother and second apprentice brother. Your eldest brother learned calligraphy from , and your second brother learned painting."
As they were speaking, two n ca in from outside. The man on the left, dressed in purple brocade, was around forty years old, with a broad forehead, a square face, thick eyebrows, piercing eyes, and a sharp aura in his gaze. One could tell at a glance that he was a very shrewd person. The man on the right was dressed in blue cloth garnts, his hair tied with a blue headband, appearing to be around thirty years old. Even when he was silent, his face carried a modest smile, signaling a gentle disposition.
Zhou Xi and Min Jun paid their respects to Mr. Yu Shan. Mr. Yu Shan turned his head to Yueyao and said, "Yueyao, et your eldest and second apprentice brothers."
Yueyao bowed deeply to the two n, "Eldest apprentice brother, second apprentice brother."
Today, Yueyao was dressed in a pink long dress with the hem outlined with silver thread into the shape of auspicious clouds, and the neckline and edges embroidered with blooming Peony flowers. Her hair, as black as Ink Jade, was done up in a fairy-like bun, with several plump and round Pearls casually adorning it, and to the side, she had a Jade Lotus Hairpin. Yueyao already had an exceptional aura, and this outfit was the finishing touch.
Zhou Xi and Min Jun had heard of Yueyao before but hadn’t taken it to heart. They never expected Yueyao to beco their junior sister. Seeing such a young sister, they both felt it odd. After all, not to ntion Zhou Xi, even Min Jun had been a grandfather for a couple of years.
Given the age difference, and because Zhou Xi was relatively stern, he gave Yueyao a eting gift and then said nothing more.
Min Jun was very affable, smiling as he said, "Junior sister, I’ve always heard that you paint Buddha images very well. When there’s a chance, let your brother see them too." Min Jun wasn’t jealous, he simply wanted to see Yueyao’s level. He needed to know what was so outstanding about Yueyao that their teacher made an exception to accept her as a student.
Yueyao looked toward Mr. Yu Shan.
Mr. Yu Shan nodded but added, "Yueyao, you are not allowed to paint Buddha images anymore, nor may you paint portraits for others."
Yueyao naturally would not go against Mr. Yu Shan’s intentions, "Teacher, I have promised two people that I will paint for them next year; after that, I will no longer paint Buddha images or portraits for others."
Mr. Yu Shan nodded his head.
Zhou Xi frowned and asked, "Teacher, hasn’t our junior sister taken a courtesy na?" It wasn’t that Zhou Xi found it inappropriate to call Yueyao by her birth na, but among apprentice brothers and sisters, they customarily addressed each other by courtesy nas.
Mr. Yu Shan was taken aback; indeed, he didn’t know what Yueyao’s courtesy na was and had never asked. From this, it was apparent that Mr. Yu Shan could be quite absent-minded at tis.
Mr. Yu Shan asked, "Yueyao, what is your courtesy na?" Mr. Yu Shan instinctively felt that Yueyao must have one.
Yueyao shook her head, "Teacher, I do not have one." Courtesy nas are usually given by elders, but unfortunately, this question had been overlooked by everyone.
Mr. Yu Shan appeared sowhat embarrassed; he had always assud Yueyao had a courtesy na. Not only because Yueyao’s father was Lian Dongbo, but also because her enlightening teacher was Wen Chengxiang.
Zhou Xi and Min Jun felt the urge to facepalm. When had their teacher ever been this forgetful? Ready to accept as a disciple but not even aware of the disciple lacking a courtesy na.
After pondering for a mont, Mr. Yu Shan declared, "Yueyao, your eldest brother has taken the na Zi Zhong, and your second brother has taken Zi Yu; your courtesy na shall be Zichang." The ’Chang’ Mr. Yu Shan chose was the word for ’long’ from the phrase aning each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Zhou Xi’s eyes flashed with confusion. The proverb ’each has its strengths and weaknesses’ carries not only the implication of being constantly aware of one’s shortcomings but also signifies mastery of one’s skills. With painting as her reputation, Zhou Xi looked toward Mr. Yu Shan; his expectations for Yueyao seed too high.
Min Jun, on the other hand, didn’t think too much of it, smiling and said, "Teacher, junior sister has a courtesy na but no pseudonym. How about my eldest brother and I give junior sister a pseudonym? Junior sister, what do you think?"
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