Chapter 12: Copying Scriptures
When Rong heard this, she understood a little bit. It was her mother-in-law who was using Cheng to praise Su Ying.
Because it was Wanyi's birthday, Su Ying had held back, unwilling to cross her path, and Rong Shi had no objection. But she couldn't afford to back down again and again. So she sent for Su Ying to be summoned from her room. In front of the maid who had delivered the message, she spoke gently but firmly, admonishing her, "Copy the sutras here just as you did for your grandmother back home. This is a matter of accumulating merit and blessings for yourself, so don't be careless."
Su Ying understood, bowed and replied "yes", then followed the eldest lady's maid to the east courtyard.
At this time, in the garden.
Du Heng had already completed a set of Tai Chi sword techniques. This style was soft yet firm, a harmonious interplay of movement and stillness. He performed it with unwavering grace, leaving only a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. He had done this deliberately, for the day's plan begins in the morning. Morning recitation and swordplay in the garden were all meant to regulate his breathing and nourish his energy, preparing him for a full day of studying at his desk. Using other, more vigorous sword techniques would have required excessive exertion, potentially disrupting his concentration and making it difficult to focus on the exam.
"Sir, your tea."
Qingquan brought the brewed hot tea just as he finished his last sword move.
The Du Mansion's garden wasn't spacious, but several stone tables and benches were specially added to accommodate Du Heng's habit of waiting until after his sword practice each morning to have breakfast. Cheng also commissioned a small pavilion to be built in the garden, complete with a stone stove, designed to withstand wind and rain, and to provide water for tea. Qingquan, after helping Du Heng wash and brush his teeth each day, would head to the garden to light the stove and boil water while he recited.
"Sir, Xiaoju from Madam's room just sent a plate of freshly made cakes. Would you like to try some?"
After hearing Qingquan's words, Du Heng felt a little hungry, so he walked to the stone table. Just as he was about to take something, he suddenly noticed something and turned around to ask, "Why is Xiaoju delivering it this time?"
Whenever there was anything concerning him, his mother always asked Xue Yuan to convey it and never asked anyone else to do it.
Qingquan had been with the young master since childhood and knew he was always attentive. He had anticipated the question. He was pleased with himself, but remained respectful, not daring to sound frivolous. He replied, "I was curious, too, so I asked Xiaoju. She said she was going to the side courtyard to pass on a message, so the mistress asked her to bring some cakes along."
"Side courtyard?" Du Heng frowned slightly. "What message did she go there to deliver?"
Seeing him put down his teacup, Qingquan refilled the teacup while replying, "They said they wanted to invite my cousin to copy scriptures with you."
Every year at this time, families would send sutras copied by unmarried women to the Bodhi Temple for offering. These women would usually sign their own names on their copies. If their copy was fortunate enough to be appreciated by a senior monk within the temple and chosen for enshrinement in the main hall, it would be a matter of pride for them to meet with others in the future.
This was precisely why Grandmother repeatedly urged Wanyi to put her heart into her calligraphy. In previous years, Wanyi's calligraphy was barely worthy of being selected for one or two pieces before she was even able to sign her name. One wondered if Su Ying, who always claimed she was unskilled in poetry and prose, wasn't even proficient in calligraphy.
However, this thought only flashed through his mind, and Du Heng did not take it too seriously. He just asked Qingquan about the time again.
"Sir, it's almost noon."
He nodded, drank the tea in the cup, and left the garden with his sword.
As he stepped onto the corridor leading to the main courtyard, he caught a glimpse of a moon-white skirt turning into his mother's east courtyard. He paused slightly, but his face remained expressionless as he headed straight for his own west courtyard.
After returning to the temple, he set up incense and ink in his study, and after preparing everything, he began his day's review. Today, he came up with a topic: "The scriptures convey truth and educate the heart. The ancients valued this, but is it still possible today?"
Perhaps it was because his mother had asked his sisters to copy the sutras that the topic came to him when he picked up the pen. But perhaps it was because the topic was uncommon, or perhaps because he hadn't yet come to terms with it. Instead of being able to start within an incense stick, he spent half an hour before writing the first paragraph.
He put down his pen and sighed, feeling that his thoughts had come to a standstill. He decided to pause for a moment, go out for a walk, and relax his mind.
Before I knew it, my footsteps had already headed towards the east courtyard.
Meanwhile, in the East Courtyard's flower hall, Su Ying and Du Wanyi were preparing to copy sutras. As the texts were to be offered at the Bodhi Temple, Cheng had them wash their hands and burn incense as a sign of respect. By the time everything was ready, half an hour had passed.
Cheng, overwhelmed by household duties, gave them only a few instructions upon entering the East Courtyard before departing. All other matters were left to Madam Li, Dushun's wife.
Ever since Su Ying first arrived at the Du residence, Nanny Li had harbored a deep hatred for her because of the March allowance. She had been looking for an opportunity to teach her a lesson, but she had unexpectedly placed a flower hairpin on Miss Su's head and, in the old lady's room, in front of all the other masters, confirmed her identity as "cousin." Unable to approach her, Nanny Li retreated.
She was originally worried about having no food to eat, but she didn't expect to find an opportunity so quickly. So, she thought about it and came up with a plan.
A desk was specially placed in the flower hall for Du Wanyi and Su Ying respectively. Nanny Li secretly removed the wooden piece under the feet of Su Ying's desk. The table top seemed stable, but in fact it shook when pressed.
Afterwards, he called a little maid, whispered something to her, and then replaced the four treasures of the study on the desk one by one.
The brush was new, its tip uncut, stiff and difficult to retract. The ink was from a new, unseasoned ingot, unevenly ground, dark and astringent. The paper was half-cooked, easily bleeds and doesn't hold its color, a real nuisance for writing sutras. The inkstone was even worse. Without a damp cloth under the bottom, it slid and moved with the slightest effort. If you weren't careful, the ink would splatter, staining either the paper or your sleeve.
After making all the arrangements, Nanny Li raised her eyebrows and curled her lips, just waiting for Su Ying to fall into the trap.
The young master had only been sitting in his study for half an hour when he put down his pen. Qingquan knew that he was having trouble writing today, so he followed him silently, thinking that he was going to the east courtyard to find the first wife, but he actually took a detour to the side door.
Qingquan suddenly realized that the young master might not want to make it public, so he took the initiative to ask the old woman guarding the side door not to make any sound, so as to avoid letting everyone know.
Du Heng walked in with his hands behind his back, and saw a little girl wandering around aimlessly with a small cloth bag in her pocket.
He looked at Qingquan, who immediately understood and called the little girl to stop.
The little girl was already feeling guilty, and when she suddenly heard someone calling her, she was even more frightened and dared not move.
Not wanting to make it public and also fearing disturbing the young master's peace, Qingquan took the little girl aside and questioned her alone.
Soon, he brought the bundle to report to Du Heng, "The little girl, following Madam Li's orders, removed all the four treasures of the study from a desk in the hall. Madam Li told her to find a place to hide the bundle and then quietly put it back after the two young ladies finished copying the scriptures. The little girl had only been transferred to the East Courtyard not long ago and didn't know where to hide the bundle. She didn't dare go back to ask Madam Li, so she wandered around with the bundle and was caught red-handed."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
