Chapter 85: Qun Ying Academy
The communication between the front hall and the palace did not last long. The carriage guards outside the door quickly moved. When Xiao Qi went out to return home, she found that no one was waiting outside the door, and she felt much better.
The study in the Xiao Mansion was very close to the martial arts arena that Xiao Qi used alone. Xiao Qi went home to practice a set of boxing and happened to pass by her mother's study. She remembered the matter of Si Li's coming-of-age ceremony that she had talked about in the afternoon, and her heart was slightly moved. She knew Si Li's situation, especially when she compared her friend Xiao Si with the sick beauty Miss Si, Xiao Qi realized that Si Li had never invited a suitable elder with both virtue and talent in the past.
She turned and went into the study. "Mother? You are still reading so late. Be careful not to damage your eyes!"
Although he had become somewhat distant from his mother due to the aftermath of the shocking incident, Xiao Qi's words still revealed an unconcealed intimacy with her. Minister Xiao put down the file in his hand and looked at her, saying gently, "It's so late, read some books and then go to bed, is there anything going on?"
"Look at what you said. If there is nothing wrong, then you can't come?" Xiao Qi was encouraged by this gentleness. She took two steps forward and hugged her mother's arm and acted coquettishly. "But, there is something I really need your help with. Did you know Xiao Si's identity before? The Si mansion is a mess. I thought that the guest of honor for Xiao Si's coming of age ceremony must be an elder with both moral integrity and talent, so I came to ask you."
Xiao Qian looked down at her innocent daughter. It was really frustrating to see her being deceived for so long and still thinking only of good for others. "Is this her intention or yours?"
"Her father sent a letter asking her to go home and prepare for her coming-of-age ceremony, but she only mentioned it when the conversation got to that point. But it's still early, so I came to you to get some information in advance. If you agree, I will definitely let her come to my house, right?"
"You're a jerk." Xiao Qian smiled and said, "Forget it, I'm not suitable."
"You are my mother. Who doesn't know the iron-faced and impartial Minister Xiao? If you are not suitable, I think there is no one suitable!" It seems that she was not angry with her friend. Xiao Qi didn't understand why her mother refused.
"Someone will go." Xiao Qian touched her daughter's hair and sent Xiao Qi out. When she was left alone, she pressed the table and laughed at herself, "He is both virtuous and talented, haha."
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After expressing her unwillingness to go home, Si Li really got half a day of peace. Wang Ting came back from the girls' school with a handwritten letter from Master Di, which stated the time to pick her up at noon the next day.
Si Li had put a lot of effort into her first appearance as Miss Si. Si Tang wore apricot color for 300 days a year, and she intentionally harmed the original owner because she was prettier than her, so Si Li naturally had to satisfy her desire for comparison.
Si Li had wanted to return the wooden boxes in the backyard to the Jian family, but they persuaded her to accept them. Although she did not intend to accept the fate of the original owner, it was better not to hurt the family relationship, so Si Li did not refuse. After careful selection, she found an apricot-colored flower brocade dress. The thick brocade cloth was skillfully woven with hidden flowers, and there was a faint fragrance of flowers floating in the air, which was low-key yet luxurious.
The next morning, after business hours, Si Li closed the door and thanked the customers. When Di Leyu's carriage arrived, he took Xiao Que and the prepared condensed milk and taro balls into the carriage, but was surprised, "Why is Master Di here?"
Di Leyu looked at Si Li's bare face with a smile, "Miss Si, you look radiant, does something happy happen? The famous teacher that the storekeeper Si invited for me today will naturally come to pick you up."
"Master, you are joking. Today I am teaching you how to make a kind of milk tea. I took the initiative to cook more ingredients for everyone to share. I wonder -"
Before Si Li could finish, she was stopped by Di Leyu, "I think I am the winner after all. Today, the storekeeper Si is the lecturer, and I am just a guest, so of course I have to listen to you." Every word she said sounded like a merchant rather than a teacher in the academy, but her attitude was very clear. Si Li also relaxed a little and chatted with her about her experiences in the academy.
The carriage swayed slightly, and soon arrived at the gate of the Qun Ying Academy. Si Li was still a little dazed when Di Leyu led her off the carriage. She stepped over the threshold of the academy that the original owner had never set foot on, and what she saw in front of her was a huge book with smooth stone carvings. It might be the work of a great master.
Si Li is very familiar with this kind of sculpture, which is common in modern schools, and most of them are engraved with famous sayings. However, this book has no words on it, and there is a line of small words engraved on the support under the spine, "Congratulations to all the heroes for the completion, and a gift to Yunqi Jushi."
"Mr. Yunqi?" Si Li read out.
Di Leyu, who had been observing her since she entered the door, chuckled and said, "The Qiyun Tower next to Miss Si's shop was also owned by Yunqi Jushi a few years ago." Si Li tilted her head to look at her, and Di Leyu slowly told the story of the sculpture in front of the academy in a reverent tone.
"Yunqi Lay Buddhist founded the Qunying Academy. Some people criticized it at the time, but some people said it was a great achievement for generations and wanted to erect a saint statue for her. Based on what she had done, she was worthy of the title of saint, but she refused in a stern manner. Later, at her request, a scroll of wordless book was erected in front of her door. She said that this book is both with words and without words. The pursuit of knowledge does not distinguish between men and women, young and old, and the pursuit of knowledge is not divided by gender, age, or order. As long as you have a sincere heart, you can find it in the book."
Si Li was originally admiring the Queen's ability to stir up trouble along with Di Leyu, but when she heard the stern refusal, she almost laughed out loud. She deeply suspected that the Queen was worried that she would laugh when she saw her own statue.
"The reputation of Yunqi hermit will be passed down through the generations." Si Li nodded. It was a pity that he was involved in the royal family and died young.
Following Di Leyu's steps, Si Li took a brief tour of the Qun Ying Academy. When they entered, there were only some servants in the academy, and the sound of reading was everywhere. As they walked forward, after a bell rang, a group of girls in different clothes came out of the two learning rooms outside the bamboo forest, and saluted Di Leyu from a distance, "Master Di!"
Di Leyu was obviously popular in the academy, and kept smiling and nodding. Because Si Li's clothes did not look like a servant or a culinary lecturer that Di Leyu often invited, a lively girl walked over quickly, looked at Si Li curiously, and asked, "What is Master Di talking about today? Who is this...?"
"Your lecturer today is the shopkeeper of Wanglaiju." Di Leyu briefly introduced him. The girl took a deep breath and said in disbelief, "Young shopkeeper Si?!"
Si Li immediately recognized this as a customer who had bought ice jelly before. She was very impressed by the customer because he always brought someone with him to "reasonably" bypass the rules and buy an extra portion. Si Li smiled and said, "Ms. Pei."
"Well, now that we're at the academy, you should change your address." Di Leyu gestured to Miss Pei to make way, "You can't be so casual. If you have nothing to do, come along."
The catering department has a special area that looks like a kitchen and a hall for the master to give lectures. It must be said that the scene of more than 50 pots lined up in a row looks quite spectacular, and Si Li was stunned at first sight. Miss Pei followed the two of them and saw Si Li in a daze, so she joked, "Little Shopkeeper Si, oh no, Master Si, are you considering opening a store for us?"
Si Li shook his head and said seriously, "I have to keep the stove burning all the time, but I can't keep up with the two pots. I was thinking, why not teach you my cooking skills, and invite you to share the joy of cooking with me."
Di Leyu laughed out loud, and Si Li turned around to check the teaching materials that the academy had prepared for her. The tea and milk were all top quality, and I don't know where Di Leyu found the suppliers from. Even the jasmine flowers that were not in season seemed to have just been picked from the branches. It can be said that she put a lot of effort into it. Seeing that she was staring at the jasmine for a long time, Di Leyu, who was chatting with the students, walked over and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
"No, I just want to ask you where you bought this jasmine? It's of excellent quality."
Without Si Li's further explanation, Di Leyu already understood what he meant. "There are very few fine products. It just so happens that there is a flower house in Princess Le'an's mansion, so I asked for some. If you want to buy them for daily trade, I'm afraid it's not worth it."
I'm afraid that she will have to use the greenhouse flowers that I raise for her to look after to cook.
The break time after each class at Qun Ying Academy is about 25 minutes. Si Li has enough time to get familiar with the environment and build some tacit understanding with Master Di. Laughter can be heard from time to time in the hall. In contrast to the harmonious atmosphere in the hall, several female students who followed in after the bell rang just now stood outside the door and did not come in. They looked inside with suspicion and schadenfreude on their faces.
"He looks so much like Si Tang, is he really not one of her distant relatives?"
"That's hard to say. Maybe she doesn't know yet."
"If you ask me, the title of the most beautiful woman in the capital will be taken by someone else today."
There is only one legal wife in Prime Minister Si's mansion, and the story of their loving relationship was also one of Si Tang's pride in the past. The speculation that Si Li was Lord Si's illegitimate daughter had already spread widely among the students before the catering department started.
Less than half an hour before class started, Miss Pei, who was sitting at the front, finished the last bite of the cooked taro balls and was called by Di Leyu to open the door of the hall, "Come in and find a place to sit."
A group of people filed in. Just as they sat down, five or six more people rushed in from outside. They were all dressed in Hu clothing and sweating profusely.
Xiao Qi, who was leading the group, saw Si Li's eyes light up and waved her hand, looking very happy. Si Tang, who was following at the end and trying to maintain his demeanor, turned his running to class into a race, but his face turned pale and beads of sweat rolled down.
Who is this?!
She vaguely knew the answer, but didn't dare to confirm it.
After all the students were seated, the bell outside the door rang again. Di Leyu walked to the front of the stage and introduced, "Recently, everyone's favorite shop in Beijing has milk tea, French fries, ice jelly, and what else?"
The students below were answering questions one after another, and there were many opinions. This was not the same as the ancient classroom that Si Li had imagined, but it was somewhat similar to modern fun teaching.
"It seems that everyone likes Wanglaiju very much. You all know it without me saying anything." Di Leyu smiled. "The person I invited today is the shopkeeper Si of Wanglaiju. The shopkeeper Si promised to explain to everyone the most famous milk tea of Wanglaiju, Jasmine Milk Tea. Mr. Si, please come and say hello to everyone?"
In modern times, Di Leyu would be a natural host.
Si Li stepped forward and said with a smile, "Thank you, Master Domendi. You should have heard of my family's past. I will not say any more and let's get started as soon as possible."
"I don't dare to call you Master Di. My surname is Si, and I was born in the Xingling Si family. I am the eldest in the family. My nickname is Yingzhou. You can call me Si Da or Yingzhou." In fact, there is only one lineage in Xingling Si, Si Shoufu. When this is mentioned, everyone knows which family you are talking about.
Si Li curled her lips, and when the others heard that the Xingling Si family all looked at the pale Si Tang, she gave them the answer they wanted to know, "I was sick and stayed at home for a long time in the past few years. After I recovered from my illness, I found some things to do and was favored by you all. It shouldn't be too late for me to meet you today, right?"
In one sentence, she mentioned that she was the eldest daughter of the Si family but was engaged in business, and also confirmed her identity to everyone in the hall. For a moment, the students in the hall had different expressions, and it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Si Tang stared straight at Si Li who was smiling at the stage, and his anger at being fooled grew stronger and stronger.
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The author has something to say:
Lili: Stinky sister, are you surprised? Are you surprised?
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Happy May Day holiday! There are so many people at the station... My little cuties out there, please be safe.
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Actually the ranking should be Meng, Zhong, Shu and Ji, but the name Meng Si is too rare nowadays, so I'll just call it Si Da Si Er, just as Susu's personal setting qwq