Even though Song Chuyi appeared steady and mature beyond her years, everyone still found it somewhat hard to accept seeing two youths of the same age as master and disciple.
Song Chuyi clearly understood this as well, so she said to Longgu Buwang, “You go back to the study hall first. I will be there shortly.”
Longgu Buwang cupped his hands toward Song Chuyi and then rose to leave.
Ji Mian immediately leaned over and asked curiously, “Huaijin, what did you whisper in his ear just now? Why did that unruly brat change his attitude at once?”
Everyone in this room had never been Longgu Buwang’s teacher, but they had been in the manor for quite some time. Longgu Qing had also asked them to recommend learned scholars, yet none of them taught for more than a few days before all tendering their resignations.
But seeing Longgu Buwang’s attitude toward Song Chuyi suddenly change so drastically, they were all very curious about what she had actually said to him.
“I said…” Song Chuyi looked at Ji Mian with a smile, “that I am the best at having fun, and from now on I will teach him how to play.”
Almost no one believed this. Although Longgu Buwang was unruly and defiant, he was also an extremely clever child. He often despised teachers for lacking true learning, so how could he be greedy for play?
“I really did say that,” Song Chuyi said with a completely sincere face.
“Forget it, forget it, I won’t ask anymore.” Ji Mian leaned close to her ear and said softly, “I got a jar of fine wine today. Huaijin, how about coming to my courtyard tonight to drink a little and play chess?”
“Ha.” Song Chuyi suddenly wiped the smile off her face and said expressionlessly, “Don’t even think about it. I never tell the truth after drinking, so you may as well give up that hope. If it were not for your terrible drinking manners, I would actually quite enjoy good wine.”
Having been seen through, Ji Mian was not embarrassed or annoyed. He chuckled and said, “That is indeed one of my motives, and secondly, I truly do want to drink freely with you.”
Song Chuyi drew close to him and stared into his eyes from mere inches away.
Ji Mian saw only a pair of clear, luminous eyes reflecting his face distinctly. Seen up close, although that face’s skin could not be called especially fair, its texture was delicate as warm jade. At such a close distance, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
“Mhm, still fairly sincere.” Song Chuyi nodded, then said, “But I have matters in the evening. Thank you for the invitation, Brother Wumei. Another day, when I obtain fine wine, I will certainly not forget you.”
Song Chuyi rose and returned to the study hall.
At first, Song Chuyi had not intended to truly take Longgu Buwang as a disciple. After all, judging by their outward ages, it seemed far too absurd. The half-month agreement with him was merely because she did not want to invite trouble for no reason. She feared that in a few days she would be sent on a mission to Qin, and by then any agreement would have to be set aside.
“That kid turned out to be so unsteady,” Song Chuyi murmured to herself as she walked.
When she returned to the study hall, Yi Shikui was standing beneath the corridor. Seeing Song Chuyi return, he smiled and said, “I indeed did not misjudge.”
Song Chuyi sighed helplessly, “Elder, you have taken up matters on my behalf.”
“Buwang is a fierce horse, and whenever there is a fierce horse, it is without exception a magnificent steed. Huaijin, you have gained an advantage and are still acting coy with me,” Yi Shikui said.
Song Chuyi laughed heartily, cupped her hands, and said, “What you say is right. Another day I will treat you to wine.”
“Then I shall wait patiently.” Yi Shikui said, raising a hand to gesture her forward. Longgu Buwang was waiting in the study. With Song Chuyi’s temperament, perhaps she was the only one who could serve as Longgu Buwang’s teacher. Yi Shikui did not dare hand his other students over to her to be tossed about.
Inside the study, Longgu Buwang seemed to have only just come to his senses. He could not understand why he had just been so respectful to someone the same age as himself, and he felt rather annoyed at his own spineless behavior. Yet when he recalled Song Chuyi’s words, he still could not suppress the surging passion in his blood. The “play” she spoke of had struck precisely at the longing deep in his heart. He wanted to live that freely and joyfully, no matter the outcome.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw Song Chuyi walk in, and unexpectedly felt somewhat excited, eager to know what she would teach him.
Forget it, Longgu Buwang sighed inwardly. A true man can take things up and put them down. Since he had met a teacher who suited him, if he cared only about face, he would likely regret it in the end. After all, she had previously said she did not think much of him.
“I was previously disrespectful to you. I beg your forgiveness first.” Longgu Buwang made a deep bow, bending all the way down. He planned to apologize briefly first. If after half a month he felt she was truly talented and learned, he would certainly offer a formal apology.
Song Chuyi knelt down and sat opposite him, but she did not carry herself with the air of a teacher. She leaned toward the small table and looked at him, saying casually, “Mhm, quite strategic.”
With one sentence, she had seen through his thoughts. Longgu Buwang was startled and could not help raising his head, only to see Song Chuyi smiling at him.
“Get up. I know that having someone my age as your teacher is hard for you to accept for the moment. During these fifteen days, you must judge whether I am qualified to be your teacher, and I also must see whether I want to take you as a disciple. Our purposes are very clear, so these formalities can be set aside for now.” As she spoke, Song Chuyi simply leaned directly against the table. “What books have you read before?”
Song Chuyi was fairly satisfied with Longgu Buwang’s behavior. Although he was rather impulsive and willful, he knew his mistakes and could correct them, could bend and stretch, and was also intelligent. He was indeed a piece of uncarved fine jade. If she could take him as a disciple, it would be a good thing.
“I have read the Odes, the Analects, Guiguzi, Sun Bin’s Art of War, Han Feizi, Laozi, Mozi…” Longgu Buwang listed more than ten volumes in one breath.
Song Chuyi propped up her head and said, “You have read quite a lot. But have you gained anything from it?”
“I have gained nothing,” Longgu Buwang said, hanging his head.
What Longgu Buwang had read were not elementary primers, but the doctrines and thoughts of the various schools. Even if one read broadly and swallowed everything whole without digesting it, at least it could broaden one’s knowledge. But for a youth to try to understand the essence of the various schools merely by reading their doctrines would probably be very difficult, especially for someone like Longgu Buwang, who was greedy for quantity.
“Mhm.” Song Chuyi nodded and said, “Before choosing one school to study in depth, looking at many is also a good thing.”
Longgu Buwang felt a faint ache in his heart. Though he had always been stubborn and tough by nature, at this moment his eyes unexpectedly grew warm. “But previous teachers all said that greed for quantity prevents proper digestion.”
Song Chuyi pondered, then said seriously, “There is reason in what they say, because after all, not everyone can understand geniuses like us.”
Longgu Buwang was stunned for a moment, then immediately burst out laughing. “You are truly amusing.”
Song Chuyi smiled slightly. Jokes were to be made, but serious matters were also to be done. “You have read the doctrines of the various schools. Which one do you like best?”
Longgu Buwang also slightly composed his expression and answered, “The School of Military Strategy. When I was young, I once left home to seek out Guiguzi, but though I searched everywhere I could not find him, and I was caught and brought back by my grandfather.”
The School of Military Strategy mostly discussed the art of using troops. To say it was difficult was not entirely true, for even by reading only its doctrines, one could understand the general idea. As the legitimate grandson of Longgu Qing, Longgu Buwang had certainly been steeped in military matters since childhood. Combined with that, discussing war on paper should not have been a problem. Yet he said he had gained nothing, which showed how high his standards for himself were. But to say it was easy was also extremely difficult, for military affairs were ever-changing. Even if you understood all the doctrines, in actual battle you might not be able to devise strategies and win.
Longgu Buwang also felt some regret. Why was it that when he had finally met an interesting teacher, she studied the Daoist School rather than the School of Military Strategy?
He remembered that Song Chuyi had once said, “I study the Daoist School, but what I understand best is not Daoism.” So he clung to a thread of hope and asked, “Master, do you understand the School of Military Strategy?”
“Guess.” Song Chuyi slightly raised an eyebrow.
