After Ya Qiuying fell asleep, Su Rong ordered for writing tools to be brought in and began to write down from memory the chronicle of Zhang Wu and Wang Cheng’s strategems.
These two texts, that were constantly on Zhou Gu’s mind, were of course exquisite and profound. Especially the chronicle of Zhang Wu, in which there were strategies for governing the country and plans for military matters in such sparse phrases denotes that Zhang Wu was not only a minister renowned throughout generations, but was also very familiar with military laws and proficient in their use.
Su Rong spent half the day writing, musing while doing so, feeling not at all weary but rather benefitting greatly the more she contemplated and read into it.
By noon, Ya Qiuying had woken up. Opening her eyes, she saw Su Rong standing at the table writing something. The manuscripts were already piled up high in front of her. She got out of bed, walked over to her, and without interfering, tilted her head to watch.
Hearing her movements, Su Rong cast a glance in her direction. "Did you wake up?"
Ya Qiuying nodded, "Sister Su Qi, what are you writing?"
"The chronicle of Zhang Wu."
Ya Qiuying asked: "Is it the famous minister Zhang Wu?"
"Yes."
Ya Qiuying expressed surprise, looked at her, then down at the huge stack of manuscripts in front of her. "Sister Su Qi, you’re amazing! To be able to write down Zhang Wu’s chronicle extemporaneously."
Su Rong said: "This ability is innate."
Ya Qiuying blinked her eyes, seeing Su Rong’s uninterrupted writing, her strokes deft yet fluid. After so long, her wrist was still going strong. She was once again impressed by her calligraphy. "Sister Su Qi, your calligraphy is wonderful, as good as my uncle’s."
Su Rong chuckled, "To be compared to your uncle and complimented must mean that it’s passable."
Ya Qiuying nodded affirmatively, "Especially good."
Su Rong had been drilled by Xie Yuan and Su Xingze until her calligraphy was up to scratch. If it was not good enough, they would not allow her out of the Residence to play. For the sake of being able to go out and play, she naturally put in a lot of effort.
While preparing the prescription for Zhou Gu, she wrote in a free-flowing style. When faced with Zhang Wu’s chronicle, she naturally could not disrespect it and instead wrote in formal script, strong and vigorous, strength seeped through the paper. This calligraphy could indeed live up to the content of the chronicle.
There was still some she had not yet written. Turning to Ya Qiuying she asked, "Are you hungry?"
Ya Qiuying shook her head, "I’m not hungry, Sister Su Qi, you keep writing. I won’t interrupt you, just watching you write."
Su Rong took a glance at the sky then nodded, "Alright, then let’s eat lunch after I’m done writing."
Ya Qiuying agreed, did not disturb her, and took one of the copied manuscripts to read. Her large eyes were serious.
Half an hour later, Su Rong put down her brush, rubbed her wrists, then massaged her shoulders, and commanded to the outside, "Prepare the meal!"
A servant immediately responded and hurried off.
With her little hands, Ya Qiuying neatly stacked all of Su Rong’s manuscripts and asked, "Sister Su Qi, are you planning to give these papers to someone?"
After all, a person who can memorize and write down the content does not need these manuscripts at hand to read.
Su Rong nodded her head and did not hide it from her, "This will be given to Zhou Gu, he likes them."
Ya Qiuying finally understood, "Since the Zhou’s young master is well-versed in both literature and military tactics, and considering that Zhang Wu’s chronicle contains strategies for governing the country as well as military tactics, he would definitely like Zhang Wu’s chronicle."
Su Rong looked at her nodding like an adult and chuckled, "You understand quite well."
In a crisp voice, Ya Qiuying replied, "My uncle told me about Zhang Wu’s chronicle, saying he was both a warrior and scholar, a famous minister throughout generations. Being able to read his chronicles would be a great honor."
Looking at her, Su Rong offered, "Then, how about you copy a scroll to give to your uncle? He would probably be very pleased to receive it."
Ya Qiuying’s eyes widened, "Sister Su Qi, could I copy it? This chronicle is valuable..."
Su Rong gently tapped her nose, "Good things should be shared with the world, they’re meant to benefit people. Your uncle also likes this, so make a copy for him. In my view, no matter how precious an item is, if it’s hoarded and stored away without being used, it’s completely meaningless."
Ya Qiuying’s eyes sparkled, "Okay, thank you, Sister Su Qi, I will start copying after lunch. I will be quick."
Su Rong nodded, "Alright."
Lunch was sent from the kitchen. Apart from several dishes Su Rong liked, they also took into account Ya Qiuying’s preferences, making a few dishes that she loved.
Ya Qiuying was touched, she whispered to Su Rong, "Sister Su Qi, the people of the Eastern Palace are so nice."
"You are an honoured guest of the Eastern Palace, this is the treatment you should receive. So, if you have any needs in the future, just speak up, there’s no need to worry. Your uncle might not be comfortable with having someone stay with you in the Eastern Palace, but I can assign two people to keep you company instead."
Ya Qiuying looked at Su Rong, "Sister Su Qi, I can take care of myself, there’s no need for anyone else."
"No problem, I have people to spare, it’s not an issue to leave two of them with you," Su Rong waved it off, "Let’s eat!"
Ya Qiuying nodded.
After lunch, Ya Qiuying, full of enthusiasm, started to copy Zhang Wu’s chronicle for Ye Guixue. Being a child, her writing was slow, every stroke needed time. It took a while to write one page. But she didn’t complain about feeling tired and was very dedicated.
Su Rong, having had an hour’s rest, woke up to see Ya Qiuying still writing and called out to her, "Do you want to take a rest? Maybe snack on some melon seeds?"
Ya Qiuying shook her head, "Sister Su Qi, I’m not tired."
"Alright then!" Su Rong then grabbed a handful of melon seeds, sat to one side munching on them while watching her write. Soon, she noticed the child’s talent. She was actually imitating her handwriting. In such a short time, her imitation was somewhat similar.
Su Rong broke into a laugh, "You like my handwriting?"
"Mmm." Ya Qiuying looked bashful, "Sister Su Qi, I think your handwriting is especially beautiful."
"I like it when you compliment me." Su Rong spat out a seed shell and said to her, "After a while, I will make a few practice sheets for you!"
Ya Qiuying was ecstatic and repeatedly nodded her head.
After having a handful of melon seeds, Su Rong originally planned to be idle for half the day, but seeing Ya Qiuying’s serious little face, she felt if she continued to slack off it wouldn’t feel right. She quietly picked up a brush and began to write down Wang Cheng’s strategems.
Ya Qiuying raised her eyes and looked at her, "Sister Su Qi, what are you writing now?"
"Wang Cheng’s strategems." Su Rong answered her, "This is another one Zhou Gu likes."
Ya Qiuying uttered an "oh".
"Does your uncle like it too?" Su Rong asked, "Do you want to copy one for him?"
Ya Qiuying shook her head and then nodded, "My uncle already has a copy of Wang Cheng’s strategems, it’s a handwritten copy too, I don’t know where he got it."
Su Rong said, "In that case, it’s perfect. It will save you from exhausting yourself."
After exchanging a few words, the two women began to dedicate themselves to writing again.
When Yan Huisheng returned to the Eastern Palace in the evening, he heard that Ya Qiuying had been shut in her room for the whole day with Su Rong. He laughed and asked, "Why haven’t you left your room the whole day? Is it because it’s too cold or the snow is too heavy?"
Massaging her shoulder, Su Rong shook her head unhappily, "No, I wrote down Zhang Wu’s chronicle and Wang Cheng’s strategems."
Yan Huisheng had a moment of realization.
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