Though Zhao Yao’s grandfather had once been Grand Tutor of Great Liang and teacher to the Son of Heaven, she had never studied any books with her elders when she was young, having been raised pampered by her parents. She thought that coming to study was just for show and that she didn’t need to work hard like the men, so last night she hadn’t even attempted any last-minute cramming. Instead, she had only focused on planning how to arrange her clothes and makeup for today. Her test paper just now had barely a few lines written. Seeing the tragic scene of the two Qi brothers being beaten, she couldn’t help but shake like a sieve, fearing the master would beat her hands too.
While she was terrified, she saw Wang Qing give third brother and fourth brother another scolding, punishing them by making them copy books. After sending them back to their seats, he casually picked up another test paper from his desk. Zhao Yao craned her neck and stared wide-eyed, seeing from the reverse side that there were only a few lines of writing, knowing this paper was unfortunately her own. Sure enough, before long she was called forward by the master.
Zhao Yao cried for help in her heart, but naturally no one could save her. She could only steel herself and walk toward the master’s desk. Seeing the master frowning with obvious dissatisfaction, he contemplated for a moment before speaking in a very cold tone: “The Zhao family has been scholarly officials for generations, and your grandfather was even the Son of Heaven’s teacher. Yet your test paper looks like this—don’t you feel you’re disgracing your family name?”
Though the master’s voice wasn’t very loud, speaking like this in front of everyone made Zhao Yao feel unable to lift her head. She shamefully kept her head down, not daring to speak, while hoping in her heart that the master would just scold her and certainly not beat her—she was afraid of pain!
Wang Qing sighed and set Zhao Yao’s test paper aside, saying gravely, “Since you’ve never attended school before, this time I won’t punish you. But from now on you must be diligent in your studies and never again have your brush produce nothing.”
Zhao Yao felt like she’d received a great pardon. Not even bothering to take offense at that phrase about “producing nothing,” she quickly trotted back to shrink into her seat.
Seeing that Wang Qing would scold even a noble young lady of Zhao Yao’s background just like that, Shen Xiling felt admiration for the master’s upright character, but also worried he might scold her even more harshly in a moment.
She saw Master Wang pick up another test paper, and her hands immediately became frighteningly cold. But unexpectedly, that paper turned out to be Fu Rong’s. The master’s tightly knitted brows relaxed considerably after reading the answer, and he even nodded with slight appreciation, commenting: “Nowadays fewer and fewer people focus on philology. For Miss Fu to read the Shuowen to such depth is truly remarkable for someone of this age.”
Hearing Wang Qing’s praise, Fu Rong smiled appropriately, rose to bow and thank the master, and even discussed a few points of philology with Wang Qing. Wang Qing asked why she loved researching this field, and she answered: “An ancient said, ‘Philology is the foundation of national heritage and the beginning of royal education. Above, it serves to examine ancient classics; below, it benefits the people and accommodates customs. It’s not merely about drawing strokes and tracing seal characters or entangling with written words. If one loses the original source, artifice becomes extreme.’ This student’s special love for philology probably accords with this principle.”
Hearing this, Wang Qing nodded even more satisfactorily.
Observing from the side, Shen Xiling saw that this Miss Fu not only had dignified appearance but also refined temperament and true learning, being graceful yet clever—truly admirable. But she herself…
Shen Xiling half-lowered her head and from the corner of her eye saw Master Wang pick up her test paper, which had been left for last. Her heart felt like someone was gripping it, and even breathing became difficult. Zhao Yao, meanwhile, prepared in her heart to watch Shen Xiling’s joke. She thought to herself that even she, a descendant of the Grand Tutor, couldn’t satisfy Master Wang, so how could this Fang Jun, a country bumpkin from Ba Commandery, be anything but completely ignorant? Being unlucky enough to come right after Fu Rong, with such brilliance preceding her, she would naturally appear even more like a worthless stone. She eagerly awaited Master Wang scolding her.
But before Master Wang could open his mouth, they heard maids and servants outside the study greeting Second Young Master. Zhao Yao poked her head toward the door and actually saw her second brother walking in.
No one had expected to see Qi Ying at this time and place. Wang Qing was also very surprised, saying, “Jingchen? How did you come here?”
Second Young Master Qi was still wearing his official robes, seeming to have come straight from court, entering Chouqin Study by lifting the curtain.
Wang Qing had been Qi Ying’s examining master and had greatly admired him back then. Now coming to teach at the Qi family, at least half the reason was for his sake. Wang Qing was very happy to see him and intended to stand up to greet him, but Qi Ying observed propriety—how could he let Wang Qing stand up? He naturally asked him to remain seated. Wang Qing didn’t decline and had a servant add a seat for Qi Ying at the side of the desk.
Qi Ying answered, “It’s been long since I’ve seen Master, and I missed the chance yesterday, so I thought I must come pay my respects today.”
Wang Qing was in high spirits and smiled upon hearing this: “You’re so busy now—paying respects isn’t necessary. You and I are half teacher and student, so why be so formal?”
Qi Ying also showed a smile and was very respectful to Wang Qing, saying, “You are my examining master—this is a student’s duty.”
Wang Qing smiled and waved his hand upon hearing this, then heard Qi Ying continue, “Moreover, this time I asked Master to take on additional students. Yesterday I heard they were having a test today, and I thought I should come see how they’re doing.”
Only then did Wang Qing understand his meaning: what examining master, what student’s duty—it was all nonsense! This Second Young Master Qi was clearly afraid that he, the teacher, would mistreat someone!
Wang Qing snorted inwardly and glanced toward where Shen Xiling sat.
Did he think he couldn’t see through it? When Second Young Master Qi had come asking him to accept female students, he had already felt something wasn’t right. He had always known Qi Ying to be quite aloof and especially disinclined to meddle in others’ affairs. When his two younger brothers had wanted to study under him, it was their father who had made the arrangements—Qi Ying had never interfered. Yet now he was asking him to accept female students—there had to be some ulterior motive.
Though Wang Qing was upright as a teacher, in recent years, perhaps due to his age, he had become increasingly interested in these family matters. He had originally been unenthusiastic about accepting female students, but thinking this matter was probably related to Jingchen’s marriage prospects, he changed his attitude and agreed readily. Yesterday in the main hall, he had spotted Shen Xiling at first glance, seeing that the girl was extremely beautiful, and guessed it was her, though he felt this girl might be a bit too young…
At the time, Wang Qing had considered that Qi Jingchen had always been of upright character and promptly dismissed this thought. But seeing Qi Ying’s stance today of rushing over straight from court to protect his protégé, he couldn’t help but sigh that he had still seen him as too much of a gentleman—men, after all, were all like this!
Wang Qing felt he had seen through everything and stroked his beard with great confidence, saying, “You’ve come at just the right time. I’ve finished grading all the other papers—only Miss Fang’s remains to be evaluated.”
As soon as Qi Ying entered, he had seen his two younger brothers with beaten hands and Yao’er looking dejected. When he looked toward Shen Xiling, he saw the young girl appeared nervous and knew that Master Wang hadn’t yet had time to grade her paper. Now hearing Wang Qing say this, it was indeed so.
Qi Ying withdrew his gaze and said to Wang Qing, “Then Master, please proceed with the grading. Don’t mind me.”
Hearing this, Wang Qing snorted again in his heart: What do you mean don’t mind you! You’re sitting right beside me personally supervising—how could I still beat her hands! He had indeed seen Second Young Master Qi as too much of a gentleman!
Wang Qing was indignant in his heart, but he had always been upright. Even with Second Young Master Qi sitting beside him now, he absolutely wouldn’t open any back doors for that Fang family orphan—he would definitely say what needed to be said.
He looked over Shen Xiling’s answer paper from front to back. His expression was neither good nor bad. Shen Xiling waited nervously below, feeling even more panicked than before. Earlier she had only feared the master scolding her; now she also feared losing face in front of Qi Ying.
She held her breath in concentration, even breaking out in a sweat on her forehead, before finally hearing Wang Qing evaluate: “The reasoning is fairly clear, just lacking in literary flourish… it can be considered middle grade.”
Upon hearing these words, Shen Xiling’s hands, which had been tightly clenched under the desk from nervousness, finally relaxed slightly. Though she hadn’t received praise, she also hadn’t been publicly criticized—it was fortunate indeed.
Shen Xiling was about to rise and thank Master Wang for his guidance when she saw the master raise an eyebrow and tilt her answer paper slightly toward Qi Ying, saying to him, “This calligraphy is good—it resembles yours. Did you teach her?”
Qi Ying was startled upon hearing this. He looked down and indeed saw that Shen Xiling’s handwriting was six or seven parts similar to his own, whether in brush movement or fundamental structure—they followed the same path. He raised an eyebrow, also feeling surprised, and looked up toward Shen Xiling sitting below. But he saw the young girl with her head deeply buried, only able to see a pair of ears so red they seemed ready to drip blood.
…Extremely adorable.
Qi Le crouched in his seat, blowing on his own palm that had been beaten beyond recognition, while whispering in shock to his third brother, “Third Brother, look! Second Brother smiled!”
Qi Ning had been lowering his head to switch to copying with his left hand, but upon hearing Qi Le’s words, he looked up toward the seat above and indeed saw his usually unsmiling second brother show a trace of amusement, though it quickly disappeared. Though this smile was brief, everyone present except for Shen Xiling, who had her head down, saw it. Zhao Yao only felt in her heart that second brother looked so handsome when he smiled, leaving her dizzy with infatuation. Fu Rong, however, showed a slight change in expression upon seeing it, turning her head slightly to look at Shen Xiling sitting behind her, revealing deep thought in her eyes.
“I didn’t teach her,” Qi Ying answered Wang Qing. “Coincidence.”
Hearing this, Wang Qing grumbled even more in his heart: Qi Ying is being hypocritical! With his eye for such things, how could he be mistaken! Just this handwriting—it must have been practiced for at least several years to achieve such similarity, yet he still says it’s coincidence? He had indeed seen him as too much of a gentleman!
Shen Xiling kept her head lowered below, hearing Qi Ying say “I didn’t teach her.” Though she didn’t look up at him, she could imagine the amused expression in his phoenix eyes when he said this, making her feel even more embarrassed. Her original handwriting had only been five or six parts similar to his, but recently she had practiced copying the note he had left for her last time, making it even more similar.
Actually, thinking carefully about this matter, there was nothing improper about it, but Shen Xiling just felt… embarrassed…
After class today, Wang Qing assigned homework to the students and arranged to have tea with Qi Ying. But before having tea, he kept Zhao Yao after class—she had answered the worst among all the students today, and Wang Qing, being a conscientious teacher, had to give her a good talking-to. So everyone else left first, leaving only Zhao Yao detained, lamenting her misfortune.
Qi Ying waited for Master Wang at the stone steps of the square pavilion. As soon as Shen Xiling emerged from the study, she saw him. When their eyes met, running away would seem too abrupt, so she could only steel herself and go up to greet him.
Qi Ying asked, “Did the test go well?”
Shen Xiling pressed her lips together, also feeling a bit happy inside. Last night’s staying up hadn’t been in vain, and she hadn’t been kept after class by the master—these were very good things.
She nodded and thanked Qi Ying. Qi Ying could see that the young girl was quite happy and smiled as well. After a pause, he asked again, “Your handwriting…”
Finally, he had gotten to this topic.
Shen Xiling’s face began heating up again, her fingers fidgeting as she answered, “The handwriting… when I was small learning to write… Father once had me practice copying Young Master’s calligraphy…”
She wasn’t exactly lying. She had indeed practiced his handwriting when she was small. She just didn’t tell him that she had been practicing it again recently—that shouldn’t count as lying… right?
Qi Ying was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Prime Minister Shen would have a girl practice copying his handwriting. Contemporary critics of his calligraphy, though some renowned masters praised its vigor, others criticized it as too sharp-edged. Even when written by men it still seemed too hard, and it was even less suitable for women.
However, when he had seen Shen Xiling’s handwriting just now, though similar to his, the details added some softness, making it look like two complementary twin scripts—quite interesting.
Qi Ying nodded and said, “Well written.”
Hearing his praise, Shen Xiling felt little joy bubble up in her heart again. She was about to thank him when she heard Qi Ning call out “Sister Wenwen” from not far away. She turned around and saw Qi Ning walking toward her together with Qi Le.
The two first greeted their second brother, then Qi Ning smiled and said to Shen Xiling, “Sister Wenwen really keeps her talents hidden. Master Wang is severe—that ‘middle grade’ is already very high praise. You’re really impressive.”
Shen Xiling smiled shyly and answered, “Thank you, Third Brother. That was actually all thanks to Young Master’s guidance—it wasn’t my own ability…”
Qi Ying raised an eyebrow.
“Third Brother?”
Shen Xiling turned to look at Qi Ying and saw him glance at her with a normal expression. Then Master Wang came out of the study after finishing his lecture to Zhao Yao, so Qi Ying walked toward him. The several students bowed to Wang Qing, who nodded, then left together with Qi Ying.
Shen Xiling watched Second Young Master Qi’s retreating figure in the distance, feeling somewhat puzzled: she didn’t know if she was overthinking, but why did she always feel that Qi Ying’s glance at her just now seemed a bit… displeased?
Author’s Note:
His inner thoughts: Fine, you call me Second Young Master, but you call him Third Brother—Shen Wenwen, well done.