Taking on apprentices

The next day.

Xie Sili had just finished practicing Tai Chi when Green Bamboo told him that Zhuge Zhao had woken up and was now sitting in the courtyard chatting with Du Kang and the Sage of Medicine.

When Xie Sili walked into the garden, she saw the group of people sitting there, each with congee and side dishes in front of them.

As Wang Yuelian walked over and sat down in front of them, Lüzhu quickly placed a bowl of congee and side dishes in front of her.

“Li girl, we heard about your situation on the way here.” Zhuge Zhao spoke first. “Chang’an is definitely not as comfortable as Yuzhou City.”

"Yuzhou City is getting better and better because of you all." Xie Sili sipped his congee and looked at the people opposite him. "Don't always say that Yuzhou City is getting better and better because of me. If Yuzhou City didn't have people like you building it, how could it be where it is today?"

She paused for a moment, then continued, "You all think too highly of me. I'm just an ordinary person." As she spoke, she took a bite of the side dish in front of her.

“Li girl, after things are settled in Chang’an, you should go back to Yuzhou City.” Zhuge Zhao spoke again, “He’s still buried there. Isn’t the reason you’ve been raising A-Che and Yan-Yan like this precisely because…”

“I respect their decision.” Xie Sili interrupted Zhuge Zhao. “No matter what choice they make, I will respect them.” As she spoke, she asked Green Bamboo to add another bowl of porridge to her bowl. “Mr. Zhuge, I promised my brother and sister-in-law that I would protect them and ensure their lifelong peace and happiness. I, Xie Sili, will absolutely keep my word.”

Zhuge Zhao turned his gaze to Xie Sili, knowing that she was a very decisive person. Seeing her like this, he stopped trying to persuade her and took another sip of the congee in front of him.

"This congee tastes exactly the same as the one in Yuzhou City. You can tell at a glance that it was made by that kid Yun Jian." The Medical Sage said, asking for another bowl of congee.

The Sage of Medicine took the second bowl of congee and turned his gaze to Xie Sili. "Junior Sister, I'm setting off today to say goodbye and head back. I should be able to make it back in time for the Spring Festival."

Xie Sili knew that the Sage of Medicine was worried about the situation in Qihuang Valley, so he nodded in agreement, "Then you should be careful when you go back, Senior Brother."

“You are the one.” The Sage of Medicine said, ruffling her head. “Then I’ll go straight back to Yuzhou City after the New Year, and I can travel around and enjoy the scenery along the way.”

Xie Sili nodded again, pursing her lips. "Okay."

After the Sage of Medicine left, the Sage of Poetry, the Sage of Music, the Sage of Chess, the Sage of Painting, and the Sage of Military Strategy, who had also woken up, bid her farewell. They wanted to travel together to other places and then return to Yuzhou City later.

Du Kang and Zhuge Zhao chose to stay in Chang'an.

“Li girl, we’ve watched you grow up since you were little. Don’t keep things to yourself, okay?” The poet said, patting her head. “Although we can’t be of much help in the court, we can still kill people occasionally.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Sili laughed.

Xie Sili personally rode his horse to escort them to Chang'an City, watching their departing figures along the ancient road.

"After things are settled in Chang'an, let's go sightseeing and also check on how the old man is doing."

"If you wish to go, then go. I will stay by your side forever."

Hearing the voice in his ear, Xie Sili subconsciously curled the corners of his lips.

On her way back to Siyuan, Xie Sili went to Jiuzhangji again, where Cheng Yingxue stood in front of the embroiderers and carefully taught them how to embroider beautiful double-sided embroidery.

Everyone studied very diligently, and their gazes toward Cheng Yingxue were filled with admiration.

That's the kind of intimacy that only exists between girls.

Xie Sili stood at the door for a while, and just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard Cheng Yingxue's voice, "Miss, what brings you here?"

She turned to look at Cheng Yingxue, smiled, and said, "I've come to see how Yingxue is doing at Jiuzhangji."

"Don't worry, young lady, these children are all very smart and learn very quickly." Cheng Yingxue reported to her one by one, her eyes full of smiles.

Suddenly, the scene of her first meeting with Cheng Yingxue flashed into her mind again. At that time, Cheng Yingxue's face did not have such a radiant expression.

"Young lady, what are you thinking about?"

Hearing Cheng Yingxue's voice, Xie Sili looked at her. "I was thinking about the scene when I first met Yingxue. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Yingxue has finally come out of the past."

As soon as she finished speaking, Cheng Yingxue pulled her into her arms. "I owe all these changes to you, Miss. If it weren't for you, how could I have such a future?"

Xie Sili reached out and patted her on the back. "Acheng and I have discussed it and will arrange for you and Zhao Yi to go to court when the time comes."

“Girl, you’ve been busy with other things lately, so you probably don’t know about Zhao Yi, do you?” Cheng Yingxue looked at her and whispered, “Zhao Yi has had his legs broken and his manhood crippled by Li’s father, and then he was thrown outside.”

Hearing Cheng Yingxue's words, Xie Sili frowned. "I didn't even know that happened?"

After hearing what Cheng Yingxue said, Xie Sili left Jiu Zhangji and returned to Siyuan. He had already learned the cause and course of events from Yingyi.

It turned out that Zhao Yi wanted to frame Li Shi, but somehow Li Shi's father's father found out. Her father immediately ordered his men to break Zhao Yi's legs, cripple his manhood, and even throw him outside.

He deserved what he got.

After dealing with Zhao Yi's matter, Li's father requested to retire and planned to return to his hometown with his wife and daughter to live out their retirement. However, he was killed by someone lying in wait as soon as he left Chang'an.

It goes without saying who killed them.

“Because this matter is not important, I did not intend to bother you, Miss.” Si Ze looked at her calmly. “Besides, you were having other worries before.”

Xie Sili turned her gaze to Si Ze, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at him, "Aze, what would I do without you?"

Si Ze blushed, turned his head and whispered in response, "Don't worry, Miss, I will never leave you."

Zhao Yi's matter was indeed not worth her attention. The most important thing right now was the Empress's birthday, and Yang Shi's desire to go to Xiangguo Temple to retrieve the Buddha statue that was enshrined in the temple for the Empress.

"Has Second Uncle returned?" Xie Sili's gaze fell on Si Ze.

"Second Master will be arriving at Si Garden soon. Miss, please go to the study and wait for him. When he returns, he can come to find you."

“Let’s go to Grandpa’s yard,” Xie Sili said, standing up. “He’ll be very happy to hear this news.”

Xie Sili went directly to Xie Ling's courtyard.

After the big exam, Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan were able to rest well, but the first thing they did every day when they woke up was to pay their respects to Xie Ling and his wife, and then let them know about their learning.

However, I heard today that the two of them had long been called upon by Zhuge Zhao to study, as were Xie Sinan and Xie Sinian. But Xie Sinian has been studying the classics extensively over the years and has won Zhuge Zhao's favor.

As Xie Sili entered the courtyard where Xie Ling and the others were, he saw Xie Sinian earnestly explaining a problem to them. The soft morning light fell on him, making him look exceptionally gentle.

Perhaps because she knew that Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan were her children, she treated them with extra patience.

Even Xie Sinan sat to the side listening with great interest. Xie Sili could even imagine whether it would have been such a harmonious and loving scene if Xie Sinian hadn't been strangled to death by Xie Zhun at that time.

Perhaps sensing her footsteps, Xie Jingche and Xie Jingyan looked up at the same time and said, "Auntie."

"Grandfather, Grandmother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Mr. Zhuge." Xie Sili watched them bow and greet her.

“Li girl, Lu Ciyuan is very knowledgeable. It’s hard to tell that he learned all of this on his own.” Zhuge Zhao praised him highly. “He is the only person I have ever met who can rival the former Crown Prince.”

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Zhuge. I am unworthy of such praise." Xie Sinian quickly bowed to Zhuge Zhao. "I am just passionate about these things and always hope that one day I can speak up for the people."

Zhuge Zhao stroked his beard as he spoke, "Well said! Well said!" Then he turned his gaze to Xie Sili, "Li girl, I want to take this child as my last disciple. What do you think?"

Xie Sili glanced at Xie Sinian, then turned his gaze to Zhuge Zhao. "Brother, why don't you hurry up and thank Mr. Zhuge?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Sinian immediately knelt down. "Master, please accept my bow! I will certainly live up to your expectations, apply what I have learned, and become a person like you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Zhao reached out and helped Xie Sinian up, saying, "Good boy, good boy! You will surely achieve great things in the future."

Xie Sili glanced at Xie Ling, wondering what he was thinking. Just as she was about to speak, she heard his voice, "Li girl, if only your older brother were still alive. He must be a different person from your father."

Xie Sili sat down next to Xie Ling and looked at him. "Grandfather, don't think about these things anymore. He is no longer your son."

Xie Ling sighed sadly and nodded, "Yes, he chose the Huang family, he is no longer my son. I no longer even expect you to protect them."

Xie Ling turned his gaze to her, took her hand, and said, “Li girl, go do what you want to do. I knew you were in love with Prince Yan when we were in Yuzhou City, but if we really support him to ascend the throne and become emperor,” Xie Ling paused and took a deep breath, “it will be a mess of family and country. He is not fit to be emperor.”

“Grandfather, believe me.” Xie Sili looked at Xie Ling and said calmly, “Jun Qiyu will be a good monarch, and may even become the most outstanding emperor in the history of Jun Kingdom.”

Perhaps Jun Qiyu was indeed the most inconspicuous person in the early stages, and even others had many doubts about him. However, it was this inconspicuous person who created a peaceful and prosperous era during his reign, which is known as the "Zhaoxuan Prosperous Era".

Unable to tell the truth, Xie Sili spoke firmly, "Grandfather, believe me, he will be a qualified monarch, and he will never lose to anyone!"