Old Madam Zhou shot Old Grand Tutor Zhou a stern look, her tone growing more serious.
“Jinghua may be your student, but she is also the eldest princess of Dajing. There must be a distinction between ruler and subject.”
“Such words should be spoken less even at home, lest they give others leverage and tarnish your reputation in your old age.”
Old Grand Tutor Zhou waved his hand dismissively. “What a true pity.”
Old Madam Zhou naturally knew how high her husband’s hopes had been for Princess Changle.
The ancient books treasured in the study for years were obscure and difficult to understand, comprehensible only to those dedicated to studying them.
To this day, aside from Old Grand Tutor Zhou himself, only Princess Changle had been able to grasp some of their meaning.
If Princess Changle were to abandon her study of those ancient texts, the collections passed down through generations in the Wen Yuan Pavilion would become mere ornaments.
I fear that in the future, no one would be able to decipher them anymore.
It truly was a pity.
“Alright, since you are so unable to let this go, why not go see Princess Changle and have a proper talk with her?”
Old Grand Tutor Zhou’s eyebrows shot up, his graying beard trembling slightly.
“After speaking so harshly back then, how can I possibly swallow my pride and go see her?”
He mumbled under his breath, turning his face away.
“Besides, what teacher goes to apologize to a student? Impossible! I can decipher those ancient texts myself.”
Old Madam Zhou couldn’t help but roll her eyes, too tired to argue with him, and went off to practice her calligraphy.
The wind whispered outside. It was unclear how much time had passed.
Footsteps sounded from beyond the door, and an elegant woman dressed in a plain brocade butterfly-patterned ruqun stepped inside, bringing with her a roomful of gentle laughter.
“Grandfather, grandmother, look who I’ve brought!”
Shen Zhaoli emerged from behind Zhou Qingyun. Seeing the white hair at the elders’ temples, her heart ached with sorrow.
Stepping into the room, she walked up to Old Grand Tutor Zhou, lifted her skirt, and knelt before him.
“Jinghua pays respects to her teacher. I have failed your years of teaching, and for that, I am at fault.”
Old Grand Tutor Zhou’s expression shifted slightly, his clouded eyes welling with tears. He turned his face away, forcing them back.
Beside him, Old Madam Zhou hurried forward to help Shen Zhaoli up, her face beaming with a smile.
“What are you doing, Jinghua? Get up quickly. Your teacher has been thinking of you all this time.”
Shen Zhaoli glanced at Old Grand Tutor Zhou’s expression and shook her head at Old Madam Zhou.
“Teacher’s wife, please don’t persuade me. I have neglected my studies these past three years. It is only right that my teacher is angry.”
“If kneeling for a while can ease my teacher’s anger, then it is worth it.”
Seeing that she could not be persuaded, Old Madam Zhou could only give her well-behaved granddaughter a meaningful look.
Zhou Qingyun understood and walked over behind Old Grand Tutor Zhou, massaging his shoulders.
“Grandfather, Jinghua truly knows she was wrong. She has resolved not to be troubled by personal matters of the heart anymore. I have seen it with my own eyes; there will be no mistake.”
The old grand tutor glanced sideways at Shen Zhaoli, snorted coldly, and remained unmoved.
“I originally did not accept female disciples. Even when His Majesty spoke, I refused and that was that.”
“It was you who knelt before the gates of the Taifu Mansion, begging me to take you as my disciple, vowing that one day you would become Dajing’s first great female scholar!”
“Ambitious and determined despite your young age—that is why I made an exception and accepted you as my student.”
“But what have you done these past few years? I am truly disappointed in you!”
Old Grand Tutor Zhou’s words left Shen Zhaoli utterly ashamed, filled with self-reproach and guilt.
Old Madam Zhou could no longer bear to watch and glared at the old grand tutor.
“Jinghua has come with such difficulty. Must you drive her away to be happy?”
Old Grand Tutor Zhou’s face darkened as he stood up, avoiding Shen Zhaoli’s kneeling form.
“Who cares if she comes!”
Seeing that Old Grand Tutor Zhou was truly angry, the others dared not persuade him further.
Shen Zhaoli knelt upright, turning toward the old grand tutor, her small face filled with earnestness.
“Before, it was Jinghua who acted foolishly, but now I have come to my senses.”
“To show my determination, I will participate in this year’s Wenyuan Pavilion Academic Grand Ceremony and will certainly not disappoint my teacher.”
Old Grand Tutor Zhou’s expression did not soften; instead, it grew even more furious.
“How can the Academic Grand Ceremony be treated as a game? You have neglected your studies for years and have only just returned, yet you are already aiming too high. If this is your attitude, I shall simply consider you no longer my student!”
Old Grand Tutor Zhou stormed off in a rage, his sleeves flung back.
Shen Zhaoli sighed, feeling somewhat disheartened.
Old Madam Zhou stepped forward to help Shen Zhaoli up, comforting her softly, “Jinghua, your teacher does care for you. He is just stubborn and upset for the moment. Don’t take his words to heart.”
Shen Zhaoli rose, holding the hem of her skirt, and shook her head.
“It’s not my teacher’s fault. It’s my own lack of effort. At this Wenyuan Grand Ceremony, I will show my teacher my sincerity.”
Old Madam Zhou frowned slightly, not quite approving.
“It is good that you have such intentions, but this year is too rushed. It would be better to wait until the next one.”
Shen Zhaoli’s expression turned bitter. Her royal brother, to leave her a way out, had not yet spread the news that she was to be sent to Beiliang for a marriage alliance.
Thus, her teacher and his wife did not know that she would soon be married far away to Beiliang.
If she did not participate this time, she feared there would be no opportunity in the future.
Seeing Shen Zhaoli silent, Old Madam Zhou sighed, “Very well, you stubborn girl, just like your teacher.”
“Since you have decided, go ahead and do it. Even if you don’t do well, it doesn’t matter. Your teacher may have a sharp tongue, but his heart is soft.”
Zhou Qingyun looked at Shen Zhaoli with concern as well.
“Jinghua, this Wenyuan Grand Ceremony is being overseen by my grandfather. If you cannot satisfy him, I fear it may backfire.”
She knew her grandfather’s temperament all too well—how affectionate he was in daily life, yet how strict he became when it came to books.
Most importantly, those ancient texts were truly profound and difficult to understand.
Even after years of following her grandfather and being influenced by him, she only had a slight understanding of those ancient characters, and most of them remained incomprehensible.
Only Jinghua could grasp them at once, even drawing inferences from one example.
But… Jinghua had neglected her studies for years, while her grandfather had been studying ancient texts in the estate all this time, deepening his expertise. She feared Jinghua might not be able to handle it.
Shen Zhaoli’s expression was more serious than ever before.
“Regardless, I will do my utmost and give my all at this Wenyuan Grand Ceremony.”
Seeing Shen Zhaoli’s determination, the two said no more.
As they spoke, a matron came in from outside to deliver a message.
“Eldest Miss, the mistress asks you to come to the front hall. She says the Lu family has sent someone.”
Zhou Qingyun frowned slightly, “The Lu family just came. Why are they here again?”
Shen Zhaoli glanced at Zhou Qingyun, “I’ll go with you.”
…
In the front hall, Jiang Yueshan, the mistress of the Zhou family, sat in the main seat, smiling warmly at Madam Lu.
“Madam Lu, why didn’t you send word before coming? I should have gone to the gate to welcome you.”
Lady Jiang was Zhou Qingyun’s mother, born into a military family. Though not well-versed in poetry and literature, she was bright and graceful, with a straightforward and cheerful disposition.
She had a harmonious relationship with the eldest son of the Zhou family but had only one daughter, Zhou Qingyun, whom she cherished like the apple of her eye.
Madam Qin Yunying of the Lu family was the wife of Marquis Wen’an, known far and wide for her virtue.
The eldest son of the Lu family, who is discussing marriage with Zhou Qingyun, is her son.
Qin Yunying is dignified and gentle, with a particularly approachable smile.
“We will be one family soon enough, there’s no need for such formality.”
“This visit is also for the sake of the children’s marriage.”
Jiang Yueshan, the matriarch of the Zhou family, looked puzzled: “Hasn’t the wedding date already been set? Has something else happened?”