Chapter 264 Dictation

Su Zhizhi started writing early, wrote quickly, and finished his works in one go.

After thinking for a while, Murong Zhen also started writing.

Ning An began to think with a frown, but then he glanced at the poem written by Su Zhizhi, and an idea suddenly came to his mind, and he also started writing with a smile.

Murong Zhen wrote: "The lake light and the autumn moon are in harmony, the pond surface is calm and the mirror is unpolished."①

Ning An wrote: "The spring water is bluer than the sky, and I sleep on a painted boat listening to the rain."

Su Zhizhi wrote:

"A little boy paddles a small boat, stealing white lotuses back home. Unable to hide his tracks, he lets the duckweed bloom in a row."

After Murong Zhen put down his pen, he saw the poem written by Ning An and said:

"There is no word 'lake' in the poem my sister memorized."

Ning An raised an eyebrow. "Master Zhang said the title should be 'Lake', but it doesn't have to have the word 'Lake' in it. Master Zhang, is that right?"

Zhang Taifu nodded.

Murong Zhen added, "My sister's handwriting remains the same as always."

Ning An's handwriting can actually be said to be well-structured, but when she writes, there is always no distinction between light and heavy strokes, and no pen strokes.

It looks like a house made of a few pieces of wood.

Ning An glared at Murong Zhen: "Your handwriting isn't that good either, Zhizhi writes better than you!"

Murong Zhen was displeased when he heard this, so he walked around Ning An and went to see what Su Zhizhi had written.

After taking a look, he was stunned.

The brushwork is smooth, without any sense of stagnation.

The vertical strokes are upright, the left and right strokes are stretched, and there is even some of the style of Master Zhang's calligraphy.

Many scholars in Chang'an tried their best to learn the calligraphy of Master Zhang, so it was not uncommon to see people with calligraphy like Master Zhang in Chang'an.

What Murong Zhen didn't expect was that Su Zhizhi, a girl from Lingnan, could actually do it?

Before Murong Zhen could ask the question in his mind, Grand Tutor Zhang spoke first:

"Where did Miss Su learn her calligraphy?"

Tutor Zhang noticed this when Su Zhizhi first started writing.

Su Zhizhi's handwriting is somewhat similar to his, and even more similar to——

Master Zhang didn't dare to think further.

"I learned calligraphy from my father. He said he spent a lot of money to buy Master Zhang's calligraphy copybook." Su Zhizhi explained, "We practiced by following the copybook."

Su Zhizhi probably expected that Master Zhang would ask this question, after all, Xue Che had said it several times before.

She also knew that Tutor Zhang had once taught her father.

But Dad said that the identities of their family must be kept secret and not be known to people in the capital.

Tutor Zhang's eyes were complicated, a mixture of loneliness and surprise.

I feel lonely because I think of the students I taught back then.

The surprise was that the little girl in front of me could actually practice calligraphy so well just by following the copybook.

He knew that his calligraphy was worth a fortune and people were vying for it, but not everyone who imitated his calligraphy could write well.

He taught the prince hand-in-hand for several years, explaining every detail almost stroke by stroke, and the prince's calligraphy could only be practiced to the level it is today.

"Miss Su is very intelligent and has good handwriting. Why doesn't she go to academy to study and take the exam for a female official in the future? Instead, she goes to a martial arts academy?" There was a hint of regret in Taifu Zhang's tone.

It's like asking someone who should be holding a pen why he should be holding a sword?

Su Zhizhi: "Master Zhang, my father originally wanted to send me to academy. But I like martial arts and not calligraphy. My parents want me to do what I like."

The shimmering lake light reflected in Su Zhizhi's eyes, sparkling.

Ning An held Su Zhizhi's hand and said, "Master Zhang, you haven't seen Zhizhi's kung fu. Zhizhi can even beat a tiger. Her kung fu is even better than calligraphy."

Ning An looked proud of it.

Seeing the two little girls laughing brightly, Zhang Taifu also stroked his beard and smiled:

"It seems that Miss Su is proficient in both literature and martial arts. If Miss Su is interested in learning literature, I would like to accept her as my student."

Murong Zhen's face grew darker as he listened.

The daughters of small families do not need to take on important responsibilities and will not be able to marry into a wealthy family and become the mistress of the house in the future. Naturally, they can learn whatever they want.

She just wrote better, but Master Zhang actually wanted to take her in as his disciple.

What Master Zhang said was tantamount to agreeing with Ning An, and felt that his writing was not as good as Su Zhizhi's.

Murong Zhen pursed his lips. "Father has summoned Miss Su to stay in the palace for a few days, right? Miss Su, do you miss home?"

Su Zhizhi: "I miss home, but I'm not sad. In the palace, Concubine Hui and Princess Ning'an are very kind to me."

Murong Zhen said nothing more to Su Zhizhi, and turned to Master Zhang:

"Master Zhang, I'm a little tired. Can we go back to the East Palace?"

"Return to the East Palace?"

Master Zhang thought it would be nice to take a walk outside in such nice weather, which would help him clear his mind.

But considering that the Crown Prince had just recovered from his illness, he couldn't refuse, so he said, "Since the Crown Prince is unwell, then return to the East Palace."

The group left.

Ning An and Su Zhizhi happily continued to play in Chenxiang Pavilion.

Murong Zhen doesn't like being outside, but they love playing outside.

The two of them were feeding the fish and chatting in whispers.

Ning An: "He just suddenly asked you if you missed home. There must be something wrong."

Su Zhizhi: "He probably doesn't want to see me and wants me to leave the palace."

Ning An: "It must be! Maybe he will talk nonsense in front of the emperor again."

Ning An felt reluctant to let Su Zhizhi leave the palace.

Su Zhizhi pinched her chin: "I said last time that if I see him, I will help you vent your anger."

Ning An: "What do you want to do?"

Su Zhizhi held the slingshot in her arms and said, "Let's go bird hunting."

…

Murong Zhen finished a day's homework in the East Palace and walked towards the Fushou Palace.

The Queen Mother sent someone to the Eastern Palace and asked the Crown Prince to go there when he was free, saying that she wanted to check on his condition.

Murong Zhen is really well again.

After Master Mingdeng came, he felt much better the next day, and he felt even more refreshed in the past two days than before.

The only discomfort is that I still feel a little restless.

He was irritable before and thought it was all because of the headache.

But now my headache is gone, but I still feel irritated when things don’t go my way, as if I’ve gotten used to it.

He was not very happy about what happened at the lake today.

These people seemed to be unaware that he was the crown prince.

Ning An was disrespectful to him, Su Zhizhi showed no awe on her face, and even Master Zhang ignored his dignity.

Murong Zhen's face became more and more tense.

Bang!

It felt like something exploded above my head.

Murong Zhen looked up and saw a few birds flying away from the tree in fright. The flowers and leaves above his head fell on his face, seemingly mixed with some dust.

A-choo——!

Murong Zhen felt an itchy nose and throat and sneezed several times.

"Who? How dare you disturb His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" the palace servant beside him asked angrily.

"This princess!" Ning An and Su Zhizhi came out from the corner, each holding a slingshot in their hands.

Ning An: "Isn't this the prince? What a coincidence! Zhizhi and I were hunting birds, why are you here?"

Murong Zhen: "You——"

"What's wrong with me?" Ning An interrupted, "Don't accuse me of hitting you, everyone is watching."

Murong Zhen wanted to reprimand Ning An and Su Zhizhi for violating the palace rules, but a smile appeared on his originally tense face:

"Ha ha ha ha……"

The palace maids around him:?

Su Zhizhi: "What is the prince laughing at?"

Murong Zhen wanted to say that he didn't want to laugh at all, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his throat and chest felt itchy, and he couldn't help but burst out laughing:

"I'm not...hahahahaha..."

Murong Zhen: ...

Ning An: "Prince, please take your time to smile. Zhizhi and I are still busy."

After saying that, Ning An and Su Zhizhi left.

Su Zhizhi turned around with a smile on her face.

Her cheeks were also rosy against the backdrop of the red wall.

The medicine powder Sister Hua gave me is really useful.