Marrying The Imperial Elder Chapter 7

However, Zhen Tingyun had ultimately been shaped by over ten years of Old Lady Zhen’s teachings by word and example. Rationally, she knew cutting her losses was the sensible thing to do. But whenever she thought about the silver she had spent renting him a room, hiring a doctor, and buying medicine, not to mention the fright of being strangled that morning, she felt that perhaps Yuanhui next door could still be salvaged.

At the very least, she ought to try recouping her investment first.

Thus, carrying the bowl of hot porridge while enduring Old Lady Zhen’s nonstop muttering behind her, Zhen Tingyun once again went next door.

Yuanhui looked much the same as before: long black hair loose around his shoulders, handsome features, pale complexion. Leaning against the bed with his eyes slightly closed, he seemed lost in thought. Only upon hearing footsteps did he lift his gaze toward the doorway.

Seeing it was Zhen Tingyun, Yuanhui lowered his eyes again and casually asked, “Why have you come again?”

Remembering the earlier incident of having her throat seized, Zhen Tingyun still felt lingering fear and did not dare approach him too closely. She simply placed the bowl of porridge on the table and pushed it toward him, smiling casually as she replied, “I remembered you hadn’t had breakfast yet, so I brought you a bowl of porridge.”

Yuanhui nodded slightly. He accepted the bowl but did not immediately drink from it. Instead, he asked, “Is there something else?”

Zhen Tingyun smiled at him. Seeing him plainly waiting for her to speak, she could only say tactfully, “Your body hasn’t recovered yet, so you probably can’t ride horses to teach me horsemanship. I wanted to ask whether you know how to read and write. Could you perhaps write me a small handbook or something, so I can memorize the basics of horsemanship and study in advance?”

Yuanhui did not answer immediately. Instead, he glanced at Zhen Tingyun and suddenly asked, “This trip to the capital, are you going to take the women’s academy examinations?”

Zhen Tingyun froze, failing to react for a moment.

Yuanhui smiled slightly. “A young girl your age wanting to learn horsemanship is most likely aiming for the women’s academy. In truth, among the Six Arts, the disciplines of archery and charioteering are things even many noble young ladies in the capital are not proficient in. If you can surpass others in these two areas, it may somewhat compensate for your shortcomings elsewhere.”

Having her true thoughts exposed, Zhen Tingyun still refused to admit defeat aloud. She merely retorted, “And how do you know I’m lacking in other areas?”

Yuanhui looked at her and sighed softly. “Only when the granaries are full do people come to understand propriety. Only when common people have enough food can they afford to concern themselves with etiquette and refinement. Judging from your current circumstances, you’ve probably only read a few books at home. Compared to ordinary girls, that’s naturally not bad. But if you wish to go to the capital and sit for the entrance examinations to the Capital Women’s Academy or the Yuhua Women’s Academy, then it’s completely insufficient. You should understand that the daughters of noble and aristocratic families begin their education in childhood, with parents and famous teachers personally instructing them. They also have years of diligent training behind them. Naturally, they far surpass you.”

In other words: their birth was better than hers, their educational resources were better than hers, and they might even work harder than she did, of course they would far exceed her.

Hearing this, though still somewhat unconvinced, Zhen Tingyun nevertheless felt her heart sink. She wanted desperately not to fall behind others, yet the truth was that from the moment her mother, Madam Pei, abandoned her years ago, she had already fallen behind.

Madam Pei came from a distinguished scholarly family and had once studied at Xidu Women’s Academy, one of the top ten women’s academies, earning herself the reputation of a talented lady. Father Zhen, meanwhile, had ranked as tanhua in the palace examinations, a man of exceptional learning. Her elder sister, Zhen Yiyun, had been raised at the side of both Madam Pei and Father Zhen, absorbing their influence daily and naturally benefiting immensely. Moreover, Zhen Yiyun already possessed the wisdom of an extra lifetime. Mature and precocious from a young age, she understood very well how to seek advantage and avoid harm. Long ago, she had deliberately arranged to “chance upon” a famous teacher and thereafter received careful guidance from that master, becoming far more talented and beautiful than girls her age.

At the beginning of this year, Zhen Yiyun had entered the capital with Father Zhen and directly enrolled in Yuhua Women’s Academy. By now, she had already gained considerable fame in the capital and was basking in immense popularity.

Zhen Tingyun, on the other hand, had grown up in the countryside. Though somewhat clever, all she had managed was squeezing some silver from Old Lady Zhen to hire a mediocre female tutor to teach her basic literacy and reading. Occasionally, she bought old books to study by herself, but her learning ultimately remained shallow. Even though she had her own calculations and tried every possible method to improve herself, buying a wooden qin from the old xiucai at the neighboring private school, begging for music scores, learning the qin, her accomplishments were still crude and inelegant, unable to grace refined society.

In the eyes of outsiders, Zhen Yiyun and Zhen Tingyun had long since become as different as clouds and mud.

…

Thinking of this, Zhen Tingyun once again remembered the look Zhen Yiyun had given her in that dream: contemptuous, disdainful, lofty and superior, as though gazing down upon mud beneath her feet.

Watching Zhen Tingyun’s expression shift again and again, Yuanhui remained unmoved. He lowered his head and drank a few mouthfuls of porridge before continuing, “However, if you truly wish to enter a women’s academy, it’s not entirely hopeless.”

Zhen Tingyun suddenly felt that the man before her possessed much the same skill as the blind fortune-teller back in her village. First, they would belittle and criticize you until you became frightened, and only then would they emphasize their own usefulness and sit there posing grandly while waiting for you to beg for help.

Yet even knowing all these tricks, Zhen Tingyun had still been struck squarely in her sore spot. Her heart itched unbearably. She endured it and endured it, but ultimately failed to resist and quietly asked, “You have a way?”

At those words, Yuanhui smiled faintly.

A man like him, even if he had forgotten everything, would never lose his ability to judge and read people. From the moment Zhen Tingyun entered the room, he had already seen through her little schemes. But right now he still remembered nothing, and his body had not fully recovered. For the time being, he needed to keep Zhen Tingyun close, ideally following her into the capital together.

Somewhere vaguely in his memory, he felt that he had originally intended to go to the capital anyway.

That was precisely why he had spoken as he did earlier.

Now, seeing Zhen Tingyun bite the bait exactly as expected, Yuanhui gave a slight nod and instead asked, “Do you have paper and brush?”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Zhen Tingyun had originally wanted Yuanhui to write down horsemanship tips for her anyway, so she had specially brought paper and brush along. The moment he asked, she immediately held them up with both hands and moved to pass them over.

However, Yuanhui shook his head. “Not for me. Write a few characters first and let me see.”

Zhen Tingyun stared at him blankly, unable to understand what he meant.

Rarely patient, Yuanhui explained, “The entrance examinations for women’s academies include calligraphy among the subjects, and the first round requires written responses. Only by writing neatly and attractively can you catch the eye of the instructors. Ever since Wei and Jin times, people have always judged others by appearances, and nowadays many judge character through handwriting as well. If you can produce beautiful calligraphy, perhaps the instructors will favor you and award higher marks. So first, I need to see your writing.”

Zhen Tingyun practiced calligraphy every day and considered herself fairly decent at it. Hearing this, she did not act shy. Picking up the brush, she promptly wrote a line:

“He who loves knows the ugliness within it; he who hates knows the beauty within it.”

Yuanhui glanced at it and shook his head slightly. “You originally studied regular script, but your foundational training was poor. Then you randomly copied several copybooks in different styles. Not only did you fail to build a proper foundation, you instead learned a jumble of everything and turned your writing into something neither fish nor fowl.”

Zhen Tingyun looked at her own characters and could not help muttering, “I think my writing looks quite good.”

The corners of Yuanhui’s thin lips lifted slightly. “Then perhaps you’re blind…”

Zhen Tingyun felt her temples throb violently in anger, gritting her teeth furiously.

Yuanhui ignored her entirely and continued at an unhurried pace. “There are currently two methods. One is to copy Ouyang-style regular script. Ouyang regular script is the most balanced and upright in all directions, every stroke precise and orderly. It is perfect for building your foundations and smoothing away your rough edges. The second is to copy Northern Wei stele script. Although your writing has become a mishmash, you have at least practiced Tang regular script before and possess a slight foundation already. If you turn now to Northern Wei stele script, the results may actually appear faster. Tang regular script is comparatively ‘rule-bound’, its brushwork and structure are nearly fixed and meticulous to the extreme. Northern Wei stele script, however, is varied and lively, full of natural charm, making it better for personal expression. Since you wish to enter a women’s academy, I assume you do not have much time left. I would suggest Northern Wei stele script.”

Zhen Tingyun cautiously said, “But I heard that women are more suited to writing delicate ‘hairpin flower small script’?”

Yuanhui swept a glance over her and replied calmly, “Small script best reveals one’s skill. Those who write it well become like Madam Wei, whose calligraphy people praised as ‘like flower-adorned dancers bowing and rising among lotus blossoms; like beautiful women ascending the stage, celestial maidens casting reflections; like crimson lotuses mirrored upon water, green ripples floating beneath rosy clouds.’ But if written poorly, it becomes exactly as Madam Wei herself said: ‘Those with good brush strength have more bone; those without it have more flesh. More bone and little flesh is called sinewed writing. More flesh and little bone is called ink pig.’”

He paused before continuing coolly, “Next June is the women’s academy entrance examination. If you want to master hairpin flower small script in such a short amount of time, I fear all you’ll end up producing is an ‘ink pig.’”

Hearing someone describe her handwriting as “a fat pig made of ink,” Zhen Tingyun’s face grew even hotter. Fortunately, she knew when to yield, and immediately said, “Then I’ll listen to you and practice Wei steles instead. What copybooks should I buy?”

Yuanhui answered casually, “You can start with Shiping Gong Zaoxiang Ji or Longmen Twenty Inscriptions.”

Zhen Tingyun accepted the advice. For a moment, she felt that Yuanhui was actually somewhat useful after all, and that the money she’d spent on him had not gone to waste. She was a practical person, once she saw someone had value, naturally she would treat them well. Her eyes turned, and she immediately asked eagerly, “Have you finished your porridge? Should I bring you another bowl? Would you like some side dishes too?”

Her earlier arrogance and later attentiveness could clearly be seen.

Though he had expected this already, Yuanhui still sighed inwardly: Sure enough, she really is realistic, when she needs you, she leans forward; when she doesn’t, she tosses you aside.

A sigh was a sigh, but at times like this, he still had to put on some airs.

Since Zhen Tingyun had taken the initiative to curry favor with him, Yuanhui lifted his chin slightly and responded, “Mm, another bowl. And some side dishes too, the taste in my mouth is terribly bland.”

Zhen Tingyun hurried out the door, repeatedly instructing Bazhen to bring hot porridge and side dishes for Yuanhui. Then she turned back to look at him again.

Her cheeks were snowy soft, her cherry lips lightly red, and her apricot eyes resembled little moons dusted with sugar frost. When she looked at someone, her eyes sparkled brightly, making it hard not to soften toward her.

Yuanhui knew exactly what she meant. After thinking for a moment, he spoke again, “For calligraphy, you can start with Wei steles. As for archery and riding, we’ll have to wait until my injuries heal… Right, what have you studied in music?”

Zhen Tingyun did not hide it from him. “Just the guqin. But I never had a proper qin teacher, I only learned a little casually, and I’ve hardly seen any scores. Right now I can only play a few small tunes.”

Though Yuanhui had already expected this, hearing it still made him unable to resist raising a hand to press at his forehead. Inwardly he thought: With your level, you still want to enter the women’s academy? Truly ambitious ideals! You might as well sleep earlier at night and add another blanket, that way your dreams may come true.

Still, Yuanhui had always kept his promises. Since he had already agreed, and Zhen Tingyun genuinely wished to learn, he could only think it over carefully before pursing his lips and saying, “I know some qin myself, and vaguely remember a few scores. If there’s nothing to do at noon, I can teach you a little.”

Zhen Tingyun was overjoyed, almost wishing she could worship this silver-like all-purpose man on an altar.

But after her delight, she grew puzzled again. “Didn’t you say you don’t remember anything? Then how do you still remember qin scores?”

At this, Yuanhui frowned slightly as well. He raised a hand to cover the corner of his forehead and thought carefully for a long while before finally saying, “I’m not entirely sure either. But these sorts of minor details that aren’t especially important probably wouldn’t all be forgotten completely… For example, if you forgot everything, would you also forget how to eat, drink, and speak?”

So to him, qin scores were as simple as eating and drinking?

Zhen Tingyun became even more suspicious inwardly: This man’s horsemanship was superb, and he knew so much, he was probably not an ordinary horse thief at all.

Could it be… he was actually the leader among horse thieves?

For a moment, Zhen Tingyun had already imagined an entire dramatic legend in her mind: a noble young master whose family had fallen into ruin, leaving him no choice but to become an outlaw, only to be caught up in infighting among the horse thieves and fall into misfortune once more. Thinking of it, she sighed emotionally to herself.