Princess of Liang (VIII)

Meng Shizhuang began the time in his life when he could truly be called "learning".

In the past, when he was at Sujian Mountain, he would walk around the mountain with a sword in his arms. In fact, he would always hear the hall masters scolding their disciples. No matter how long and high-sounding the speeches were, they were actually all the same few words - neither good at literature nor good at martial arts.

And at Meng Shizhuang's age, using these six words is a bit of a compliment.

——These words came from the mouth of a teacher who was specially hired by the Prince of Liang's Mansion to teach the children in the mansion. It was his first lesson to Meng Shizhuang. Mr. Liu, who had been disappointed with Bian Hongqiu and felt that he had lost his father's style and was as weak as a bone when holding a paper or a pen, now felt a longing for Bian Hongqiu.

After all, His Highness, whose surname is "Bian", has the elegant demeanor of the old King Liang in his blood. He also respects his teachers and learns whatever they teach.

But the prince surnamed "Meng" had no idea what a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were. He explained for a long time but couldn't understand why they were called the "Four Treasures of the Study." His words, while not vulgar, were so thick with vulgarity that the teacher couldn't bear to listen. Throughout the entire lesson, young Liu Lang only dozed off when the sun shifted. The prince, in his prime, tossed and turned through several poses, then, untutored, began to draw a small portrait of the teacher on rice paper with his left hand.

"How can this be possible!"

Mr. Liu really wanted to resign with Song Jingyan.

He has been in Prince Liang's Mansion for many years, and everyone has treated him with courtesy. He has never seen the dangers of the world, but now he meets a thorn in his side at such an old age!

Song Jingyan held her forehead in silence.

She was also among the audience and could clearly see that Meng Shizhuang's eyes were empty and her mind was wandering.

Liu Lang got close to Meng Shizhuang in the tense atmosphere.

Meng Shizhuang didn't feel sorry at first, but with dozens of eyes staring at him, he couldn't help but lower his head. He had too many questions, and he asked this and that. Even after the teacher answered them for him, he still didn't understand.

At this moment, he finally understood why the opportunity to study in Qianji Hall on Sujian Mountain was so rare, and why there were always disciples skipping classes.

Song Jingyan sighed, "He started learning too late. I'm afraid it's too difficult for him to concentrate on studying now. Mr. Liu can tell him about Dayu, the Prince of Liang's Mansion, and the old prince. Don't worry about him learning too much."

Mr. Liu threw his sleeves in anger and said, "How can this be! The old Prince Liang is a man of both military and civil skills, and is well versed in policy, literature, and history. How could his child, the next owner of the Prince Liang's Mansion, be a, be a..." He really couldn't say the rest of the words.

He watched Meng Shizhuang raise an eyebrow as she listened to him and Song Jingyan arguing. He could almost foresee what kind of reputation the Liang Palace would have if Meng Shizhuang came to Beijing as a "princess".

A bunch of uncouth men, illiterate and extremely vulgar!

Not to mention... Mr. Liu looked at Meng Shizhuang's right hand and was afraid that he couldn't even be called a rough man!

Licheng is right in front of them, and Song Jingyan knows that they are anxious, but everything should be done step by step. Now even if she forces Meng Shizhuang, she can't force out a set of rules.

She looked at the rather lifelike statue in front of Meng Shizhuang and actually laughed bitterly.

Mr. Liu's eyes were about to pop out of their sockets, and she coughed lightly to suppress her smile: "Start with the Thousand Character Classic. At least you should know how to write your own name."

Meng Shizhuang looked at her from the side. He had been on the boat for a long time and still hadn't announced his name. Recalling what Lao Ju had said, he said, "Meng Shizhuang, the 'Meng' in the character 'zishan', the 'shi' in 'shi', and the 'zhuang' in 'hongzhuang'."

He unconsciously showed a hint of expectation in his eyes. Before Song Jingyan and Mr. Liu could react, Liu Lang in his arms tugged at his sleeve and said, "Sister, is this how it should be written?"

Meng Shizhuang lowered her head, and the three words "Meng Shizhuang" on the rice paper pierced her eyes.

The young child's handwriting is not very neat because he holds the pen unsteadily, but the strokes are straight and precise.

Mr. Liu stroked his beard and leaned closer, patting Liu Lang's head in appreciation. He was not stingy with his praise for his students. "At such a young age, you're already quite good."

Liu Lang smiled and waited for Meng Shizhuang to praise him.

Meng Shizhuang pondered for a long time until he concluded that Mr. Liu's reaction was correct.

He stared at the rice paper and carved these three words into his heart.

It turns out that his name consists of these three words.

"What do these two words mean?"

Mr. Liu heard him ask, lifted his robe and sat down: "Why, your parents didn't tell you?"

Meng Shizhuang said frankly: "I don't have any parents, the person who gave me this name..."

A blank look flashed across his eyes.

He wasn't sure if this was the name Lao Ju had given him, but he knew the character "zhuang" (makeup) often meant a girl's attire. If Lao Ju had given him the name, it was probably to accommodate Luo Shun's secret venting of anger. So, he paused, "Perhaps because he wanted me to be a girl."

Mr. Liu knew the true identity of this fake prince and was pleased by his change from his lazy attitude. "Really?"

"My surname is Liu, and my given name is Mengdie. What do these two words mean to you?"

Meng Shizhuang's lack of literary talent made her stomach turn around and said truthfully: "Butterfly, beautiful butterfly."

Mr. Liu nodded. "Yes, and 'Meng' and 'Meng' are homophones. In the past, those idlers who were too full of themselves..." He paused, realizing that he had been misled by Meng Shizhuang's nonsense, but continued, "They say that my name is just like my personality, a playboy who flaunts his beauty."

Mr. Liu is old-fashioned but also arrogant.

Meng Shizhuang suspected that Mr. Liu was unwilling to look at her more than once during his lectures. Perhaps it was because he was shocked by his ignorance and also because he felt his face hurt his eyes.

"Of course, the word 'butterfly' also seems like a name only given to a woman."

"But I've read the sages' books for over a decade, and I'm quite moved by 'Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the Butterfly'. Life is illusory, so enjoy life while you can, and it's even more important to have an open-minded and insightful heart. I used to think this name wasn't good, and now at my age, I still feel like I don't deserve it."

Meng Shizhuang was confused by what he said and only understood one thing - there was nothing wrong with his name.

But if you want to understand it better, you will probably have to read books for decades.

He didn't know where it came from, and suddenly he felt tired of studying. He pushed the rice paper on the table and said, "So that's how it is. Being a woman is just right."

Mr. Liu noticed that his attitude had become lazy again and sneered, "You have no special talents. It's fine if you call yourself a human being, but don't ruin a woman's reputation!"

Meng Shizhuang propped up his head and thought for about an incense stick of time.

Oh, the old man said he was not worthy of being a woman.

He grinned and looked around for the Mulan sword that had been assigned to him.

Mr. Liu knew that this was not a good person who respected teachers, so he left leisurely after making the sarcastic remarks.

On the side, Shao Zheng, who had been waiting for a long time, saw Meng Shizhuang picking up the sword and stood up. "It's just right. Lunch will take a while. I will teach Your Highness a few moves."

Meng Shizhuang was almost half-carried to the deck.

The wind on the river today was neither strong nor weak, like a gentle current. Meng Shizhuang rejected Mr. Zhou's advice, removed the splint from her right hand, and bound the Mulan sword to her palm, causing Mr. Zhou to frown. But Meng Shizhuang felt her hand had been much more relaxed these days, and didn't think anything would happen this short while.

Shao Zheng was wearing casual clothes and did not use any real swords or guns. He just held up a wooden stick and also offered his right hand.

Meng Shizhuang didn't feel slighted. Most of the disciples on Sujian Mountain were unskilled, relying on inferior tactics to fight to the same degree. In his eyes, winning was winning, even if the opponent yielded. After all, the opponent either lacked the heart or the brains to win.

He was a few steps away from Shao Zheng. When he looked at Shao Zheng over a cup of tea, he jumped up and rushed towards Shao Zheng.

Shao Zheng stood steady as a rock, tilting his stick downwards, trying to ward off Meng Shizhuang's relentless thrust of Mulan's sword.

He did look down on Meng Shizhuang.

This stems from the habit he and Bian Hongqiu have had for many years.

Bian Hongqiu was taught by him, step by step, move by move, but since he lived a life of luxury and was treated with sympathy by everyone in the palace, learning martial arts from him was also intended to strengthen his body. His fierce moves had never been shown to Bian Hongqiu, and they were always just fancy moves to kill time.

Meng Shizhuang had wielded a sword upon their first encounter, and later, when he pulled out the Mulan Sword, he never actually flashed the blade, like a frightened child playing with a sword, only trying to frighten others and reassure himself. Furthermore, his frame was significantly smaller than Bian Hongqiu's flamboyant figure. Shao Zheng thought to himself, with that skeleton, a blow from him would probably hurt more than a stab from a knife.

So, when Meng Shizhuang chopped the wooden stick quickly and fiercely, and the silver-gleaming Mulan sword brushed against his nose, he woke up with a start. He realized what Song Jingyan and Meng Shizhuang meant when they said that he could also make a sword.

He originally wanted to swing the stick around Meng Shizhuang, but now he had to step back, slide a few steps to the front of the guard beside him, throw away the stick that was shaved into pieces, draw the sword from the guard's waist with his backhand, and approach Meng Shizhuang without breathing.

Meng Shizhuang wasn't afraid. As the swords clashed, he sensed Shao Zheng's true strength. Bended like a mast, he slipped beneath the blade with a series of delicate steps, slipping behind Shao Zheng. Shao Zheng reacted quickly, slashing with his backhand. Relying on memory, Meng Shizhuang executed a "Canglang Jue" move, piercing through the blade's back. The moment Shao Zheng turned, waves of water rippled across his clothes.

Shao Zheng already felt a slight tingling in his chest.

Meng Shizhuang's right hand is not as strong as before. If it were not injured, he could probably carve patterns on Shao Zheng's bones.

Shao Zheng realized that he could no longer hold back, so he changed his hands and cut directly on Meng Shizhuang's right hand.

Meng Shizhuang didn't dare take the blow head-on, and dodged sideways. Then, with a speed he couldn't predict, Shao Zheng turned the tip of his knife, untied the cloth wrapped around his right hand, and with his other hand, grabbed his waist, immobilizing him.

Shao Zheng didn't say it was good or bad. He let go of the panting Meng Shizhuang and brushed off his torn clothes without feeling embarrassed. He commented, "Your strength is too weak and your reaction is too slow."

How could Meng Shizhuang not know?

He didn't care about what Shao Zheng said. When Shao Zheng let go of him, he fell to the ground, and countless golden stars flashed before his eyes.

Mr. Zhou couldn't help but shout, "You're still recovering from your illness, so of course you can't handle a big fight."

Meng Shizhuang felt that the more medicine she took, the weaker her body became.

Shao Zheng couldn't help but find it funny when he looked at Meng Shizhuang's skinny body.

In the past, Bian Hongqiu was in good health, and he wanted to teach Bian Hongqiu some real skills. But now Meng Shizhuang has both natural talents and a good constitution, but he has to learn some skills to strengthen his body.

Song Jingyan frowned and said to Meng Shizhuang, "That's enough. You're taking your medicine now."

Meng Shizhuang thought of Lao Ju's coughing that had lasted for ten years, and couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that Lao Ju's illness was not caused by himself, but by the medicine he took?

Mr. Zhou stepped forward and helped him up. "You're taking the water medicine now, and you can't eat. Naturally, your strength is getting weaker and thinner. When the boat reaches Licheng, I'll make you some pills, and you'll feel much better."

Meng Shizhuang didn't understand the water medicine pills and was immersed in her own dizziness.

He assumed the identity of "Pink Butterfly" and felt dizzy when studying and practicing martial arts. He was dizzy for two or three months. Before he realized it, he arrived in the capital city where everyone in the Prince Liang's Mansion was treating him as a serious enemy.

On their first day in the capital, they arrived at the Grand Court Meeting. As a commoner, Song Jingyan had no choice but to submit a memorial in the name of the Prince of Liang's Mansion. The court didn't let them off the hook; as soon as their carriages and horses arrived, they took advantage of the situation and ordered the people from the Prince of Liang's Mansion to present their duties to the emperor without delay during the meeting.

Meng Shizhuang heard all the stories from the founding of Dayu to Emperor Wu's self-destruction of the Great Wall, and then to the arrogant and licentious Emperor Ling. His Majesty, who has not yet achieved anything, did not know what it meant to accidentally enter the royal family, and he did not understand how terrible it was that Mr. Liu described the situation in the capital as "dangerous" and the emperor's anger would cause millions of deaths.

He was wearing a dress of no quality or rank and stood in front of Song Jingyan for the first time.

The Taiji Hall looked down upon him, and he belatedly began to panic. On either side, the neatly dressed civil and military officials, their expressions unclear. Black-armored guards stood dutifully, spears in hand. Between the black and white of the hall, golden steps rose up. The Emperor, whose voice was only heard but not seen, sat in the Mingtang. He said in a calm tone, "Stand."