With a smile in his eyes, Grandpa Yang casually picked up a book from the bookshelf beside him: "Oh? Then Great-Grandfather will have to give Lili a good look."
"Come on, bring it on!" Pear stood with her hands on her hips, baring her teeth and brandishing her claws, tilting her slightly proud little face up, shaking her head as if she had memorized all the articles in the world.
Grandpa Yang raised an eyebrow. "If someone suddenly decides to do something, they must have something in mind. Lili's intentions are too obvious."
Shen Jiawen, Gu Ziyi...
He knew a little about Shen Jiawen; he had heard Yang Shi and Sanlang mention him. He was the only one among the Shen family's sons who loved to read.
Shen Jiawen's education was taught by Shen Laosan. Occasionally, Shen Laosan would also teach Shen Jiawen. However, Shen Jiawen was sensible and considerate. Since Shen Laosan had to help Yang Shi with housework and study at home, Shen Jiawen did not want to take up too much of Shen Laosan's time and always read books by herself.
Lili was waiting for Grandpa Yang to give her a question. Seeing the look in Grandpa Yang's eyes that seemed to have some suspicions, she wasn't nervous at all and blinked, "Come on, come on."
Grandpa Yang chuckled, casually turned a page, and pointed to a simple sentence: "Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; believe only one side and you will be misled."
Lili answered fluently: "Only by listening to opinions from all sides can we correctly understand things."
Grandpa Yang nodded and picked up another book: "Everything has a beginning, but few things have an end."
"Everything has a beginning, but few things have an end."
Old Master Yang changed to another book, and this time, he asked a long question:
“He takes diligence for the public good, regards books as sacred, flaunts his abilities and boasts of his reputation, favors minor tasks, encroaches on the duties of other officials, steals the responsibilities of the six offices and hundreds of tasks, listens to the government and court, and neglects the important and far-reaching matters. This is what is meant by not understanding the way.”
Lili scratched her head and exclaimed, "Oh dear, Lili doesn't know! This sentence is too difficult! Third brother, do you know what it means?"
Shen Jiawen hesitated slightly, glancing sideways at Old Master Yang. Seeing that he looked unconcerned, even with a hint of encouraging smile on his lips, he spoke slowly: "Taking being cautious and busy as a priority, considering copying official documents and notebooks as a heavy responsibility, boasting about one's talents, being arrogant and conceited..."
Shen Jiawen finished speaking, word by word. He was a little nervous before answering, but after he finished, he seemed to have found his comfort zone and relaxed completely.
"Wow, Third Brother is really amazing."
Grandpa Yang nodded, seemingly in agreement.
Shen Jiawen breathed a sigh of relief, and only then did she have the mind to examine the shelves full of books.
Grandpa Yang has several times more books than his third uncle, how come he never knew?
Old Master Yang picked up another book, but this time he didn't ask Lili or Shen Jiawen. Instead, he said directly, "Your Highness, I dare to ask if I have the honor of seeking your guidance?"
Gu Ziyi bowed slightly, his head lowered, humble and reserved: "It is not a question to ask for your advice. My knowledge is shallow. It is my good fortune to receive a word from Mr. Yang."
Being cultured really makes a difference; the two of them spoke in such refined, literary language that it gave Lili a headache.
"Alright, alright, Great-Grandfather, Brother Ziyi, you two stop talking and hurry up and ask."
Grandpa Yang slowly scolded her: "Haste makes waste. You're just a bit too impetuous."
Lili stuck out her tongue. She's just a farmer; what does she need hot tofu for? As long as she has something to eat, that's enough for her.
Let's leave the hot tofu and such to the cultured ones like Third Brother and the Little Prince.
However, she couldn't quite understand why she couldn't see through Gu Ziyi's fortune, even though she could see that Shen Jiahao was a general, Shen Jialu was blessed with good fortune, and Shen Jiawen was a literary star.
She was shrouded in a hazy mist, relying entirely on her intuition that Gu Ziyi was a good person, but she couldn't be certain about his future.
Fortunately, Gu Ziyi is a reliable Crown Prince, so things shouldn't be too difficult for him in the future.
Lili was quite relieved. Seeing that Grandpa Yang had already started talking to the two of them, she no longer needed to "fan the flames" from the side. So she pulled Yang Ji and Guo Shi, who were a little out of the loop, to the kitchen.
"Lili misses Grandma's roast chicken so much! Grandma, how about you make some for Lili?"
"Huh? Does Pear want to eat it now?"
"Let the child eat what he wants, but what business is it of his grandfather's?"
"Yes, yes! Grandpa is playing with Lili here."
Lili pulled the two elders away from the main room, leaving the three of them alone.
Hehe, she deliberately brought two people to see Grandpa Yang, just so that Grandpa Yang could see their talents.
Third brother has a talent for studying. If we nurture it well, she's hoping he'll bring her back a top scholar title.
I heard that the top three in the imperial examinations would ride horses through the streets, with the top scholar wearing a big red flower and standing at the very front, receiving the praise of the people. Just thinking about it makes me feel so glamorous!
She's out of her mind, so she's asking her third brother to show her what it's like.
As for Gu Ziyi...
Lili could tell that although Old Master Yang lived in seclusion here, far from the court, he still paid attention to national affairs.
Most importantly, Mr. Yang's love for literature never ceased, as can be seen from the frequently updated handwriting on those books.
Old Master Yang was disillusioned with the royal family, simply because the late emperor's actions had truly broken his heart.
The late emperor was neither benevolent nor righteous; what if there were a benevolent and righteous ruler?
Well, at least she brought the person; the rest is up to the two of them to fight for it.
Lili squatted in the kitchen, staring intently at Guo's roast chicken.
Guo tapped her little nose: "You little glutton, your mother was just like you when she was a child. When I was cooking, I would always squat next to her and wait, looking very hungry."
"That's because Grandma's cooking is delicious! No wonder Mom's cooking is so good, it turns out Grandma taught her!"
Lili's mouth watered as she looked at the chicken wrapped in lotus leaves and brushed with oil.
Guo was overjoyed by the praise, exclaiming, "You're so good at talking!"
Yang Ji added some firewood to the fire and casually asked, "Lili, how's the puppy?"
"Fufu is so round and plump now! He eats several meals a day. But our new house is finished now, and it's not crowded at all for Fufu and Lili to live together."
Yang Ji and Guo Shi were very pleased. The Shen family was getting better and better, which meant that Wan Niang's life would not be bad either.
A reasonable in-law family, an ambitious husband, and caring children—this is something many women long for.
A hint of nostalgia appeared in Guo's eyes, reminding her of the days when the Yang family was still in the capital many years ago.
Thinking of this, Madam Guo's smile vanished, and she asked her, "Lili, Grandma is asking you, how did you meet His Highness the Crown Prince?"
“Huh? Don’t Grandpa and Grandma know?” Lili said calmly. “When Father had the last banquet, something happened, and the Crown Prince who came with the border troops was him.”
A few months ago, the Yang family came to Xinghua Village for a feast, but as soon as the bandits drew their knives, the villagers scattered and fled.
At that time, Yang Ji's leg had just begun to be treated. In the chaos, he fell. Later, when the situation was brought under control, Guo helped Yang Ji slowly back. Just then, the crowd had dispersed, and all that could be seen were soldiers cleaning up the bloodstains in the square.
Worried about Yang Ji's leg, Guo took him back to the village of scholars in a cart, thus missing Gu Ziyi's true appearance.
After the matter was resolved, neither Mr. Yang nor Mrs. Yang ever mentioned it again.
Looking back now, it was quite strange. His Highness the Crown Prince was far away at the border, so how could he suddenly bring the border troops here?
Guo: "I know, I'm just curious. Lili seems to have a very close relationship with this Crown Prince."
Upon closer inspection, one can also detect a hint of worry in Guo's eyes.
Lili smiled and said, "Your Highness is a very good person, Grandma, don't worry."
Guo and Yang Ji exchanged a glance and sighed, "Good, you're a child with your own ideas."
*
Inside the main room, Old Master Yang put down his book, and with a faint smile, began to drink tea without saying a word.
Shen Jiawen and Gu Ziyi sat quietly without saying a word.
Gu Ziyi remained outwardly calm, but his heart was in turmoil.
This Mr. Yang is a man of profound knowledge and learning; he can truly be described as a man of vast learning and exceptional talent.
This person is erudite, quick-witted, and speaks eloquently; he is truly a person of exceptional talent and knowledge.
Although the conversation with him lasted only a short while, the old man's calm and composed demeanor, refined by the passage of time, and his erudite composure were qualities that could not be cultivated overnight.
Who exactly is this person?
Lili brought him here on purpose; it was definitely not just an ordinary conversation.
Gift…….?
Gu Ziyi pondered for a moment, and an outrageous conjecture flashed through his mind.
Shen Jiawen was much simpler. Old Master Yang was indeed a learned man; he knew so much!
Grandpa Yang calmly drank two cups of tea and said to Shen Jiawen, "Jiawen, do you know why your sister brought you here?"
Shen Jiawen frowned slightly, her eyes wide open, filled with confusion and doubt.
"My sister said she wanted to give me a gift."
Old Master Yang laughed twice, sighing inwardly.
Pear always has such a unique way of giving gifts.
Grandpa Yang stopped laughing and asked him again, "What do you think of Lili?"
Although his words carried a questioning tone, they also subtly conveyed a kind of authority that commanded respect.
Under this invisible pressure, Shen Jiawen dared not hide anything and answered truthfully: "Lili is like a little sun. Since Lili came, the house has been filled with laughter all the time. No one dislikes Lili. As her older brother, I naturally spoil her, love her, and protect her. However, Lili is very capable and always encounters some close calls. Also, although she is only three years old, she knows things that thirty-year-olds don't understand. She can make rice grow many times over and potatoes grow very big. I admire her very much!"
As Shen Jiawen spoke, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and he couldn't stop talking about the funny things Lili did at home, his eyes full of affection.
The people around him listened attentively.
After saying that, Shen Jiawen added quite seriously, "Although Lili is young, she knows about human relationships and even the way to govern a country."
"Hmm," Old Master Yang replied in a deep voice, "And what about you, Your Highness?"
Gu Ziyi lowered his brows, a slight smile on his face: "I admire her."
After saying just that, Gu Ziyi said nothing more.
Grandpa Yang stared at him for a moment, but didn't press for details. He simply turned to Shen Jiawen and asked, "Jiawen, do you want to study?"
Shen Jiawen was taken aback, then nodded emphatically: "Yes! Grandma said that once this year's busy season is over and things are more stable at home, she can send us to the academy to begin our studies next year!"
"You shouldn't go."
"ah?"
"Would you be willing to become my disciple? Although I am old and frail and may not live for many more years, I am still confident that I can do my best to impart to you all that I have learned in my life."
Shen Jiawen was completely stunned.
"ah?"
Oh my god, what did he hear?
"What?" Old Master Yang shook his head regretfully. "Is it because I'm too old and you don't think I'm good enough? Or do you think I'm not qualified enough?"
Shen Jiawen was shocked: "How could this be!"
He's neither blind nor stupid. Old Master Yang's knowledge is as vast as the ocean, even surpassing Mr. Liu of Moxiang Academy. How could he have the audacity to say such a thing?
"But, but..." Shen Jiawen lacked confidence, "You are very learned, and I think you are even more capable than Mr. Liu of Moxiang Academy. However, even my third uncle is not considered your disciple, so how can I be qualified?"
Grandpa Yang's brows relaxed: "Guess what gift Lili is going to give you?"
Shen Jiawen was taken aback, and stammered, "Could it be...? But I... I can't..."
Grandpa Yang frowned again, clearly displeased with his lack of confidence: "If you weren't capable, why would Lili have brought you here?"
Shen Jiawen was stunned, realizing that what Old Master Yang said made perfect sense.
Lili must have planned this out before bringing him here; otherwise, given her personality, she would never have done this.
Having figured it out, Shen Jiawen immediately felt confident and no longer had the energy to be reserved. He poured Old Master Yang a full cup of tea, rushed forward, and knelt down in front of him.
When the eldest brother and the fourth brother became apprentices, they were both offered tea as a gesture of respect. Today, it is his turn to offer the same tea!
Shen Jiawen was very perceptive, holding the teacup with both hands as if she were about to take a bath and become a monk.
"Teacher, please have a cup of tea with your student!"
When Madam Yang came out, she saw Shen Jiawen kneeling in the main room serving tea, and Gu Ziyi watching calmly behind him.
Madam Yang: ?
Suddenly, I saw someone kneeling before my old man, with a prince standing nearby watching.
Old Master Yang chuckled as he accepted the tea and drank it all in one gulp: "Hmm, although I haven't taught any students for nearly thirty years, my mind is still sharp, and I can't teach them badly."
Madam Yang then realized that she hadn't misread things. She went over what Old Master Yang had said in her mind and was shocked and surprised.
Ever since one of Mr. Yang's former students betrayed him and joined the faction of his political enemies, Mr. Yang has never taken on any more students.
After leaving Beijing, I never thought about it again.
Now that she's suddenly taken on another student, and it's a child from the Shen family, how could she not be surprised?
However, considering that His Highness the Crown Prince was present, she did not rush to ask on the spot.
Grandpa Yang seemed not to hear him and gestured for Shen Jiawen to sit down.
After Shen Jiawen sat down, suppressing his excitement, Old Master Yang finally opened his eyes and stared intently at Gu Ziyi.
"Where is His Highness? Did His Highness come here because Lili said he wanted to bring a gift?"
Gu Ziyi: "...Mr. Yang really guessed right."
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