Chapter 84 Resend: You wouldn't believe it, I have a special skill for admitting my mistakes...

Li Shimin took out a scroll from under his arm and presented it to Changsun Qingjing with both hands: "This is the thing that my mother cherished most when she was alive. She was closest to you when she was dying, so you should keep her most beloved possessions safe."

What's even more remarkable is that Changsun Qingjing had only spent a little over a month with Lady Dou, yet her adherence to principles, her ability to maintain the middle way, her flexibility, and her adaptability were not derived from a deliberate imitation of Lady Dou, but rather were simply part of her innate wisdom.

In short, a voice from the depths of his being told Li Shimin that bringing up his mother might earn him forgiveness.

Changsun Qingjing curiously took the tortoiseshell scroll end, picked up one of the inscriptions, and joked, "You're not subtly implying that I lack virtue as a woman, and indirectly reminding me to read more 'Biographies of Exemplary Women,' are you?"

“I am not that kind of person,” Li Shimin said seriously. “I would not make such an absurd request to the wife I have personally chosen.”

The girls behind the screen were stunned by the words "personally selected" and kept asking A-Cai for details.

After all, it's truly delightful to hear that the young master confesses his feelings to his beloved every now and then without any hesitation!

Ah Cai simply kept silent, chanting the name of Guanyin, ignoring the agitated onlookers. This was the third time today that she had missed the grasshopper girl.

Guoniang was more efficient, more resolute, and most importantly, she had a much broader perspective, able to withstand all sorts of chaotic situations, remaining unmoved by praise or blame. No matter the storms and tempests raging in her household, she remained calm and collected, observing with equanimity and detachment.

With Guoniang not around, Acai was always startled by the actions of the young lady and young man!

"Sister, what exactly happened between the young master and the lady today?" The maids chattered incessantly, determined to find out the truth.

"Why are you suddenly apologizing again?"

"When Madam Liu finds out that the young master came in the middle of the night, she's going to punish us again..."

A-Cai, mimicking Guo Niang's nonchalance and Changsun Qingjing's affected manner, cobbled together what she considered to be profound and unfathomable words: "The wise are not prone to indulgence, but deep affection is short-lived..."

The maids, who only wanted to eavesdrop and gather gossip, had no interest in Ah Cai's literary slang. Some of them complained impatiently, "No more fancy poetry, speak plainly!"

"Everyone should stay in their own jobs and mind their own business!" Ah Cai said quietly, her eyes closed.

The maids whispered and laughed, peeking out from behind the screen.

"This is written in gold ink...it looks like a book from the palace collection. My father did receive a few scrolls of Buddhist scriptures bestowed by the emperor, but they were more luxurious and extravagant than my mother's scroll..." Changsun Qingjing unfurled the scroll, clicking his tongue in amazement. "You must be waiting for me to ask you about the origin of this scroll, right?"

She solemnly put away the first volume of "Biographies of Exemplary Women," carefully holding it in her arms, and met Li Shimin's tacit smile: "Go on, I'm listening."

"Good." Changsun Qingjing stroked the bound silk tapestry, the ivory bookmark, and the tortoiseshell scroll, deeply appreciating the value of the gifts.

It must be admitted that for an emperor known for his frugality, this gift to his adopted daughter was far too extravagant.

Sometimes Changsun Qingjing felt wronged and unable to defend herself. She was only trying to please the emperor for the sake of the family's grand plan, but she was mistakenly given the position of replacing the former mistress. At other times, she found Li Shimin's unreasonable behavior extremely ridiculous. One moment he would severely criticize her for being ambitious, and the next moment he would rush to ask her to forgive and forget.

From the moment the sword was forged in the starry eyes to the moment the flower tribulations were shared, there was no transition; it was abrupt and dramatic, leaving no time to gather one's thoughts.

“You’re really something else. I’ll keep the book for now. Let me think about the rest later,” Changsun Qingjing said, biting her lip.

“It’s all in the past,” Changsun Qingjing interrupted him.

Li Shimin asked anxiously, "Can the rift between us be bridged?"

Changsun Qingjing hugged the scroll tightly, took a step back and said, "Seeing that you are frank and straightforward enough, I feel a little relieved and am willing to observe the results."

"I ask for nothing more, just agree..." Li Shimin clearly took the joke seriously.

Changsun Qingjing was momentarily at a loss for words to deal with his obsession: "I'm writing a reply to my sister-in-law. Our family in Chang'an is very worried about us... I should have replied to her earlier; it was my oversight. Now that I've remembered, I'll finish it tonight..."

Her intention was simply to change the subject, hoping that Li Shimin would not bring up the matter of the mulberry grove again, lest the maids spread rumors behind her back and make it sound very strange. Li Shimin, however, began to think seriously: "Oh, then you can tell me about the thrilling events of the Lantern Festival. You helped your father deal with the emperor's tests, and now your father is firmly in the position of Right Valiant Guard General. Your contribution is immense."

"Actually, it wasn't that thrilling... The day you met the Lord, you were truly blessed with a sudden burst of inspiration. I couldn't be the only one to enjoy it! By the way, Chengzong hasn't received your New Year's Day gift yet, you must send him one."

“Then I’ll have Guoniang try to find a foreign merchant in Tongyuan City to ask around,” Changsun Qingjing said. “I’ll just attach what Jing Nong said to the letter and have my sister-in-law burn it for Mother when she pays respects to her…”

“Remember, you must write extensively about the death and destruction of King Fulin’s kingdom. My mother loves these kinds of legends…” Li Shimin suddenly realized that his slightly commanding tone was inappropriate, so he changed his words, “What I mean is, this is something I should have told my mother myself. It’s kind of you to be so thoughtful; I’m sure your version will be more exciting than my retelling. Don’t worry about the plots my mother likes, just write whatever you like. What you elaborate on will surely be what she likes…”

"Of course," Changsun Qingjing said softly yet confidently.

The light inside the stone lantern flickered suddenly, like the bright and gentle eyes of Lady Dou when she was alive.

Changsun Qingjing suddenly turned her head away and said, "You're not allowed to look at me like that."

"Oh." Although Li Shimin was not sure what had offended her with his gaze, he still said in a pleasant yet solemn tone, "The night is late and the night is long. You should close your book and extinguish the candle early. May you have a sweet dream in the land of dreams." After saying this, he bowed and left.

The maids came forward, chattering and asking about his well-being endlessly.

"It's late, everyone should rest." Changsun Qingjing gently stroked the hair of the youngest maid, Chanyi, and said softly, "Only with good food and a peaceful sleep can you have the strength to follow in the footsteps of the young master."

The maids lowered their heads, covered their sleeves, and chuckled.

Chanyi pouted and said, "Today at the banquet, my wife returned to her villa early, and I didn't even get to sing..."

“Young lady, you’ve been drinking too late. Your father and mother are worried, and so am I,” Changsun Qingjing said, tapping Chanyi’s nose. “I’ll give you a day off on the Shangsi Festival, okay?”

Chanyi nodded upon hearing this, and after helping Changsun Qingjing lie down, she grumbled in annoyance, "Sigh, I can already hear the ladies singing 'Midnight Song' and 'West Island Song'. I love those two songs so much!"

"Nonsense, how could you hear that?" Everyone burst into laughter.

Changsun Qingjing closed his eyes and smiled slightly. Acai extinguished the candle on the lampstand, tucked Chanyi in, and then stayed with Changsun Qingjing until she fell asleep.

The early spring night breeze, though biting, carried a gentle warmth. The carved eaves lanterns trembled slightly in rhythm with the wind, illuminating the plum branches at the eaves. The lingering chill of spring, accumulated on the petals overnight, coalesced into droplets of dew, reflecting the candlelight throughout the garden. As the wind passed, the dew trembled and slid off the petals.

The wind blends the clear, lingering sound of the konghou into the bright, crisp sound of the pipa.

"The south wind knows my heart, blowing my dreams to the Western Continent." Changsun Qingjing turned over and murmured in his dream.

The alert A-Cai thought to herself: "Chan Yi was right after all. The young women are still reveling. They really are just hard of hearing."

There is no curfew in the suburbs of Luoyang. Travelers traveling at night need to find a safe place to stay, diligent farmers work under the stars and moon, and weavers return home from their masters' houses after spinning at night. Therefore, it is understandable to drink all night long, because the countryside is too quiet, dark and even frightening on ordinary days, and such revelry is needed to balance it out.

Zhang Houyin and Changsun Minxing, the old man and the young man, chatted amiably, occasionally clapping and laughing together. The clove drink on the stove had long since boiled down to its bland, watery taste, but they remained oblivious.

The young people's revelry did not diminish despite the frequent changes in the water clock. When the boys and girls got tired of dancing, they split into two groups and sat down on the ground, playing melodious and gentle tunes. The music and singing occasionally drifted into the ears of the two scholars.

Changsun Minxing laughed loudly, took out a folded rattan note from his pocket, and threw it into the campfire without hesitation.

Looking at Zhang Houyin's amused gaze, he confessed, "Master Zhang, I am a coward. I always felt that the world was bound to descend into chaos. Today, I originally planned to hide Master Lu's *Qieyun* along with my suicide note in a hidden compartment in the wall, waiting for a destined descendant to annotate it when the wall is broken open. Then, like a true man from Daibei, I would find a cave and end it all... and everything in this world would be no longer related to me..."

“Child, thankfully you pulled back from the brink…” Zhang Houyin sat on the ground, his eyes filled with pity, understanding and relief.

“But there are always a few wagtails in this world who want to lead their lost companions back to the riverbank.” Changsun Minxing murmured, watching the flames lick the last few lines of foolish instructions clean from the rattan note. “I’m quite reluctant to part with those two, no, three, maybe more wagtails. So this time, I really intend to finish writing the annotations for the Qieyun… Oh, the village elder entrusted so many children to me, how can I just leave?”

"Come here and have a drink with me," Zhang Houyin urged, tapping on the small table.

The two each held a cup.

"This world always needs those who guard the flame." Changsun Minxing raised his glass in a toast.

"The future is as unpredictable as the wind and clouds." Through the groups of friends chatting and laughing, the rows of girls singing and dancing, the families enjoying their meals, and the countless figures of children and young people wrestling, Zhang Houyin saw two figures standing apart from the merriment and slightly tipsy crowd.

Zhang Houyin sat upright facing west, poured wine onto the ground, and called out loudly to the evening breeze: "Fayan, entrust Minxing to me and go in peace. Although you are a heartless and ungrateful man who abandoned your friends and beloved disciple to live alone in this world, we who are still alive cannot bear to see the sounds of bells and chimes you collected be lost to the world. If you have a spirit in heaven, please bless Minxing so that he may return safely from every journey he undertakes..."

Changsun Minxing remained silent, but simply refilled Zhang Houyin's wine cup.

"Minxing, one day, the world will be in harmony with propriety and music, with musical notes in rhythm, virtuous sounds in harmony, and tones perfectly balanced. When we are at our wits' end, let us proceed slowly; perhaps we will eventually see the world change with time." Zhang Houyin drank the new wine in one gulp.

Floating wine and indulging in unrestrained thoughts are mostly illusory, but what if they turn out to be fruitful?

Some people shot Bai Lin, some waited for Bai Lin, some hid Bai Lin, some doubted Bai Lin's existence, and some were clearly Bai Lin but did not know it.

Author's Note: The drinking party is over. Anyway, they're getting back to work after some reflection. The next chapter will cover opening a school, signing land deeds, and purchasing looms.

One more thing:

Ancient people had their own political correctness, and each generation has its own core values.

Books like "Biographies of Exemplary Women" and "Admonitions for Women" were actually intended for empresses and noblewomen. The principle of "rites not extending to commoners" meant that Liu Xiang and Ban Zhao certainly didn't intend to use them to oppress working women.

Two points were clear in ancient China, or rather within the Confucian system: the equal distribution of responsibilities and rights, and the importance of proper conduct and legitimacy. The biographies of virtuous women and the admonitions for women, to a large extent, discuss how to allocate responsibilities and rights and how to establish proper conduct in one's actions.

My impression of Liu Xiang is: Girl, all I need is your attitude...

My impression of Ban Zhao is: Men have become more shrewd, and attitude alone isn't enough. I'll teach you the practical art of strategic retreat...

As educated women in modern society, we should have our own independent judgment and should not be swayed by the opinions expressed on public accounts.

The plight of women in ancient times was not caused by one or two books, but by the backwardness of productive forces.

As for *The Rules for Women*, I'd guess it's essentially a book written in the most "tender" language, expressing the most "powerful" spirit, *Her Power*. Aside from Emperor Taizong himself genuinely appreciating his wife's writing, the royal descendants treated this book like a hot potato. If you wanted to promote your grandmother's virtues, you couldn't publish the entire book; if you did publish it, people would inevitably question how your "white moonlight goddess" could be so arrogant!