Chapter 41
Yin Qiu was even happier to set foot on Jingyue Peak again than the first time.
There was still no one else on the summit, and the entire hall was brightly lit with no extra people moving around. After the two arrived, Man Jiangxue called over the guards and gave them instructions on the meal, specifically mentioning many dishes that Yin Qiu liked.
Incense burned in the room, the unique scent of Man Jiangxue. Yin Qiu ran around happily in the hall, and finally jumped into Man Jiangxue's arms, saying, "Uncle, it's too quiet here. Shouldn't it be more lively after I come?"
Man Jiangxue said, "Of course."
"Then I'll come and keep my martial uncle company often, okay?" Yin Qiu said very considerately.
“Of course it would be good,” Man Jiangxue said. “If you want to come here, just tell Zhilan.”
Snow was still falling outside, making it unsuitable for movement, so the two sat down in the hall. Considering that the food would take a while to arrive, Man Jiangxue asked Yin Qiu to demonstrate the sword techniques she had recently learned. Fortunately, the palace was spacious enough and not sparsely furnished, so Yin Qiu asked Man Jiangxue for her Frost Condensation Sword and began to practice it in the hall with great skill.
On the way to Liucang Mountain, Yin Qiu practiced swordsmanship in front of Man Jiangxue many times and received a lot of guidance from her. Unexpectedly, not long after, Yin Qiu has made great progress and is becoming more and more impressive.
Man Jiangxue stood with her hands behind her back, quietly watching Yin Qiu. She felt that the child's figure was becoming more and more agile, and her every move had a unique momentum. At first glance, she really did have a bit of the shadow of Shen Mandong back then.
"Uncle's sword is really good." After finishing a sword dance, Yin Qiu held Ning Shuang with great affection.
"You've made such rapid progress in such a short time," Man Jiangxue said with satisfaction. "It seems you've put in a lot of effort."
With Yin Qiu practicing day and night like this, and with Gongzi Fan's meticulous guidance, even the clumsiest bird should be able to fly. However, being praised by Man Jiangxue like this, Yin Qiu was a little embarrassed and pursed her lips, saying, "If I want to be as good as my martial uncle, of course I have to work hard."
“Your kung fu is quite good,” Man Jiangxue said as she walked to the desk. “Now let’s see how your calligraphy is progressing.”
On the table were brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, everything was ready. Yin Qiu suddenly remembered that she hadn't properly looked at Man Jiangxue's calligraphy yet, so she searched for it and said, "Where is my uncle's calligraphy? I'd like to see yours too."
Man Jiangxue said, "Look at that pile in the corner yourself."
Yin Qiu turned her head and saw several painting tubes placed under the window, containing many letters. She picked out a few to look at with great interest. Although Yin Qiu did not know many characters yet, she could still distinguish the beauty of the handwriting. The ink on the paper was fresh and elegant, vigorous and powerful. Each stroke was strong and penetrating the paper, yet it was still elegant. The horizontal strokes were like the edge of a knife, the vertical strokes like the tip of a sword, the hooks like crescent moons, and the ink dots like water droplets. At a glance, it was truly unrestrained and graceful, like a dragon soaring through the clouds, which was breathtaking.
When Man Jiangxue taught Yin Qiu to read, she had written some pieces herself, but they were all scattered individual works. Now, seeing these continuous works of calligraphy, Yin Qiu was deeply shocked and couldn't help but exclaim, "Uncle's calligraphy is so beautiful! How many years must he have practiced?"
“Practicing calligraphy and swordsmanship are the same principle,” Man Jiangxue said. “Both require years of dedicated study.”
"It's even better than my mother's handwriting," Yin Qiu said enviously. "I used to think my handwriting was decent, and I even received praise from my teacher. But after seeing my uncle's, mine looks like ants crawling on the ground. It's so ugly!"
Man Jiangxue smiled and said, "You have talent. As long as you study hard and practice diligently, you will be able to write very well in time."
Yin Qiu suddenly realized that her future would not be easy. Man Jiangxue was not only good at kung fu and swordsmanship, but also had outstanding calligraphy. If she wanted to be like Man Jiangxue, she would really be busy. She didn't know how many years it would take before she could be half as good as Man Jiangxue.
"Such beautiful calligraphy and painting are just piled up in the corner," Yin Qiu said with a look of heartache. "Why didn't you preserve them properly, Uncle-Master?"
"It was just something I wrote casually, why bother keeping it?" Man Jiangxue said casually.
"Written off the cuff?" Yin Qiu was speechless; these words truly made her feel ashamed of herself.
Seeing her shocked expression, Man Jiangxue couldn't help but chuckle. Just then, the secret guards brought the food over, so Man Jiangxue said, "Put it down first, you can look at it after you've eaten."
The two then ate together. Yin Qiu ate her fill, and afterwards she ate a lot of desserts and fruits, until her stomach was completely round.
Yin Qiu then thought of Fu Xiang again. She seemed to be in low spirits and had probably stayed in her room sleeping without eating. So Yin Qiu asked Man Jiangxue to call the secret guards to prepare another meal later, which she planned to bring to Fu Xiang after returning to the disciples' quarters.
“I heard from Fu Xiang that his father is getting married,” Yin Qiu asked. “Is it true?”
“A letter arrived a few days ago,” Man Jiangxue said. “On the Lantern Festival, my senior sister and I will both have to go to Mingyue Tower to offer our congratulations.”
"Can I come along?" Yin Qiu asked quickly.
"What are you going to do?" Man Jiangxue glanced at her. "The end of the year is just around the corner, and the monthly exams will be coming up soon. You've already missed a few days of classes, so you should catch up as soon as possible."
Thinking of Fu Xiang's dejected appearance earlier, Yin Qiu said, "Fu Xiang isn't very happy. I was thinking of keeping her company. She hasn't spent many days at Mingyue Tower since she was born, and she's not familiar with her family. If I go there, at least she'll have someone to talk to."
Man Jiangxue remained silent for a moment before saying, "In Master Fu's letter, he did not ask Fu Xiang to return."
Yin Qiu was taken aback: "Didn't you tell her to go back? What kind of logic is that?"
The father remarried, but he didn't want his daughter to come home for the wedding banquet?
Yin Qiu frowned: "How could this be..."
·
As dusk fell, the lamps inside the main hall were lit to the brim, making the interior as bright as day compared to the gloom outside.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Yin Qiu sat down at the table and began to practice calligraphy, while Man Jiangxue held a book and leaned against the bench behind Yin Qiu.
Strangely enough, Yin Qiu was always exceptionally focused when practicing calligraphy alone in the disciples' room, but now that she was in the same room with Man Jiangxue, she couldn't concentrate. She couldn't help but turn around to look at Man Jiangxue and call her name from time to time.
Every time she called out "Uncle-Master," Man Jiangxue would respond, but she wouldn't say much to her. After she called her that many times, Man Jiangxue would just smile gently and not find it annoying.
Outside the window, snow was falling heavily and the cold wind was blowing mercilessly. Yin Qiu looked at the scenery outside and listened to the crackling sound of the charcoal fire burning inside the house. She gradually became sleepy, but she didn't want Man Jiangxue to notice and give her away when Man Jiangxue asked her why she couldn't sleep well at night. So she wrote the three big characters "Man Jiangxue" on the Xuan paper with a flourish.
"Uncle-Master, do you think my writing is good?" Yin Qiu held up the paper, facing Man Jiangxue.
"It's acceptable." Man Jiangxue's lips curved slightly when she saw those words.
“My martial uncle’s name is Man Jiangxue,” Yin Qiu said, trying to make conversation. “Do you also have a sister named Man Yuanchun?”
"..."
Man Jiangxue paused in her grip on the book, and without looking up, asked, "Then do you also have a sister named Yin Dong?"
Yin Qiu laughed heartily, finding the conversation quite amusing. She said, "It's a pity my mother only gave birth to me, otherwise she could have completed the cycle of spring, summer, autumn, and winter." Speaking of this, she then asked Man Jiangxue, "I was clearly born in winter, so why is my name Autumn?"
Without hesitation, Man Jiangxue replied, "Senior Sister met Yin Xuan in the autumn. She has always loved autumn. Because the maple trees on Liucang Mountain are at their most vibrant every autumn, she gave you the single name Qiu (Autumn)."
Yin Qiu suddenly realized, and then, recalling her conversation with Gongzi Fan that night, she asked again, "Uncle-Master, I have a question I'd like to ask you."
Man Jiangxue made a "please" gesture.
"You ask when I will return, but there is no set date; the autumn rain in Bashan swells the pond at night." Yin Qiu asked, "What does this line of poetry mean?"
Upon hearing this, Man Jiangxue retorted, "Where did you hear that?"
Yin Qiu choked for a moment, but said without changing her expression, "It was read by the teacher."
Man Jiangxue said, "The teacher only knows how to recite poems, but he didn't teach you what the poems mean."
Yin Qiu avoided eye contact and scratched her head: "I was sleepy in class and didn't pay attention..."
Man Jiangxue said, "You have the nerve to say you're sleepy."
Yin Qiu chuckled twice: "Since you asked about the return date, why did you mention that it rained in Bashan last night? Isn't that a non-answer?"
Man Jiangxue said, "To appreciate a poem, you can't just look at one line. You have to look at the whole poem. There's another line after this: 'When shall we trim the candle by the west window together and talk about the night rain in Bashan?'"
Yin Qiu silently recited it several times, and then heard Man Jiangxue say, "You ask me when I will return, but I do not know. The torrential rain in Bashan has filled the autumn pond, and my return is far away. When will we meet again? I will stand with you by the west window to trim the candle wicks, and I will tell you in detail about the scenery of the night rain in Bashan."
Yin Qiu only understood part of what he was hearing.
“You just need to remember that all descriptions of scenery are expressions of emotion,” Man Jiangxue said. “When the poet talks about the rain in Bashan, he is expressing his longing for the person who sent him a greeting. This poem is simple in words but profound in meaning, subtle and implicit. It contains the longing for a long separation, the loneliness at present, and the expectation and joy of reunion in the future. It is a simple and profound poem.”
Yin Qiu pondered, "So the poet is missing the person he greets? And wants to see him soon?"
Man Jiangxue hummed in agreement.
Yin Qiu asked in surprise, "Then what would it mean if a woman wrote this poem for a man?"
Man Jiangxue said, "That means she was in love with this man, but could not meet him soon, so she expressed her feelings through poetry."
Yin Qiu was slightly taken aback.
This poem was written by Mother for Young Master Fan, but according to Man Jiangxue's analysis just now, it is clearly an act of lovers expressing their feelings to each other. Why would Mother reply to Young Master Fan with such a poem? Furthermore, Young Master Fan clearly stated that Shen Mandong had no feelings for him.
Otherwise, why would she have married her father?
Yin Qiu felt increasingly uneasy, but recalling Gongzi Fan's expression when he spoke, she couldn't believe he was faking it. So Yin Qiu asked again, "Then is this poem only meant for one's beloved?"
Man Jiangxue said, "That's not necessarily true. It depends on when it's used. For example, when children travel far away and miss their parents, they can use this poem to express their feelings to their parents."
So, perhaps Mother wrote this to Gongzi Fan simply out of longing? After all, Gongzi Fan said that he used to be a member of the Ruyi Sect, and he and Mother might have been fellow disciples. It would be reasonable for them to keep in touch.
Yin Qiu was pondering to herself when she suddenly heard Man Jiangxue speak up: "You've asked so many questions, so, did someone write this poem for you?"
Yin Qiu was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Nothing of the sort!"
Man Jiangxue glanced at her, put down her book, and asked, "Has Ding Lianzhen come looking for you again?"
Yin Qiu hurriedly waved her hand again: "No, there isn't any."
"What about the others?"
"Who else is there?"
"How would I know? I'm asking you, aren't I?"
Yin Qiu was both amused and exasperated, covering her face with a piece of Xuan paper: "Nobody else has it either!"
Seeing her blush, Man Jiangxue smiled silently and said, "You're a year older now and have been in the palace for so long. Do you have a senior brother you like?"
Yin Qiu was speechless after being asked that question, and finally whispered, "Didn't I tell you? I'm still young..."
"Have any senior brothers expressed their feelings for you?" Man Jiangxue seemed very interested. "Or any other senior sisters?"
Yin Qiuzhen wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground: "I said no, so there's no problem, Uncle-Master, please don't ask anymore..."
Man Jiangxue chuckled: "What's there to be ashamed of? It's only natural. If you have a crush on someone, just tell me so I can check on them for you. As long as you behave properly and don't pester others like some people, your master won't interfere too much with your friendships."
Yin Qiu said, "No, not at all..." She lowered the Xuan paper in her hand, revealing her eyes as she looked at Man Jiangxue, "But, is Martial Uncle included as well?"
Man Jiangxue raised an eyebrow: "Me?"
Yin Qiu nodded: "I only like my martial uncle."
Man Jiangxue smiled and said, "You're talking nonsense again. How old are you? How old am I?"
Yin Qiu retorted confidently, "So what if you're older than me?"
Man Jiangxue said, "I'm old."
"You call this old?" Yin Qiu's eyes widened. "Then wouldn't the sect leader be..."
Man Jiangxue immediately glanced at her: "Be careful what you say."
Yin Qiu stopped her in time and said, "Even if you get old, I can still like you. You just said you wouldn't interfere with me. How can you say one thing and do another, Uncle?"
Man Jiangxue never expected that Yin Qiu would be so sharp-tongued and quick-witted; she really couldn't win an argument with her.
“You’re lecturing me now,” Man Jiangxue said. “In a few years, you’ll be the one stepping on my head.”
"It's obvious that my uncle is being hypocritical!" Yin Qiu retorted.
"Fine, fine, you decide," Man Jiangxue had no choice but to give in. "You can like whoever you want."
Yin Qiu chuckled, tossed aside the Xuan paper, and threw herself into Man Jiangxue's arms: "I only like you!"
Man Jiangxue hugged Yin Qiu back and said patiently, "Okay, okay..."
·
As they chatted and laughed, the sky grew even darker. Lanterns outside the hall had been lit by the secret guards at some point. Yin Qiu and Man Jiangxue played around for a while, then remembered that there was a curfew at the disciples' quarters, and said, "It's getting late, I should go back."
Man Jiangxue, with one arm around her and the other holding a book, looked up at the window and said, "It's getting dark. Why don't you stay here for the night?"
Yin Qiu was initially delighted, but then she remembered that she still had to practice swordsmanship with Gongzi Fan that night. She had promised Gongzi Fan that she would not break her promise and that she would persevere. So she shook her head and said, "No, can I come to see my master after the monthly exam and when I have my annual leave?"
Man Jiangxue was slightly surprised that Yin Qiu would agree so readily, but she refused. However, she nodded and said, "Then I'll take you back?"
Yin Qiu readily agreed.
As night fell, the snow stopped. The two walked hand in hand through the palaces, their shadows cast by the bright lights.
Man Jiangxue escorted Yin Qiu to the courtyard gate. The disciples guarding the gate bowed to Man Jiangxue and smiled at Yin Qiu. This time, Yin Qiu stopped bothering Man Jiangxue and said sensibly, "I can walk by myself. There's no need for you to see me off, Uncle. Go back as soon as possible."
Man Jiangxue patted Yin Qiu's head, her eyes filled with a smile: "You're becoming more and more obedient. Go on."
Yin Qiu actually wanted to spend more time with her, but she also learned to restrain herself. After standing by the door and watching Man Jiangxue leave, she took the food box and went to Fu Xiang's room.
There were no candles in the room, and visibility was poor. All that could be seen was a dark figure huddled on the bed. When the door was pushed open, the figure seemed to tremble. Yin Qiu couldn't see clearly and was about to blow out a tinderbox to light a lamp when she heard Fu Xiang's muffled voice: "Don't light the lamp, I'm asleep."
Noticing something was off about her voice, Yin Qiu placed the food box on the table and asked, "Fu Xiang, are you alright?" She went to the bedside to check on Fu Xiang, but Fu Xiang hid behind the wall. Yin Qiu could only say, "I brought you some food. Eat a little something before you go to sleep."
Fu Xiang huddled under the covers, not showing her face, and said, "I have no appetite, Xiao Qiu, go back to your room, don't worry about me."
Upon learning of Fu Cen's remarriage, Yin Qiu only informed Fu Xiang but did not ask her to return. Knowing that Fu Xiang must be very upset, Yin Qiu said softly, "It's okay, Fu Xiang. Don't be too sad. No matter what happens, I'll be there for you. Didn't you say we're good friends?"
Fu Xiang hid in the darkness and secretly wiped away her tears. She said in a hoarse voice, "I know you're good, but my father is such a scoundrel. I get so sad whenever I think of him. You really don't need to worry about me. I'm not easily saddened, but once I get hurt, it never ends, especially at night. I can calm down quickly by myself, but if you stay here with me, you won't be able to sleep. I can ramble on and on until dawn."
Yin Qiu laughed: "What does it matter? If you don't want to sleep, you don't have to. I'll stay with you as long as I want."
Fu Xiang paused for a moment, then politely declined, saying, "You should go back. I'll be fine after a good night's sleep. We'll meet again tomorrow. I'll still be the Fu Xiang you remember, so don't worry."
Hearing her say that, Yin Qiu said no more. She offered a few words of concern to Fu Xiang, stayed by Fu Xiang's side for a while, and then went back to her room.
Yin Qiu was awakened by the sound of wind in the middle of the night. After checking the time, she quickly got up, dressed, and left the room.
She had figured out the route in the past few days, so there was no need for Gongzi Fan to pick her up every night. Yin Qiu observed her surroundings and made sure no one was passing by before climbing up the wall using the flower bed. However, just as she climbed over the wall, she saw a figure sneaking up from below, seemingly carrying something in his hands. His behavior was suspicious, and he was also looking around suspiciously.
When Yin Qiu saw this person, she was startled.
Thief!
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