"Mother, Aunt." Zhou Yuqing finished her greetings and then looked at Ye Xiangwen excitedly.
Song Xia introduced with a smile: "This is your aunt's older brother, Master Ye."
Zhou Yuqing clasped his hands in a respectful bow once more: "Master Ye!"
Ye Xiangwen took a liking to him immediately: "Why be so formal? I've seen your paintings. From now on, just call me Master."
Ye Wanrou said irritably, "You've not formally become my apprentice, yet you're making Yuqing call you 'Master.' Anyone who didn't know better would think that Yuqing was forced upon you because of our family ties!"
Ye Xiangwen waved her hand dismissively: "Why should I care about what others think?"
Indeed, he may have been a free and unrestrained person all his life. Despite being born into a prestigious family, he never cared about worldly "rules". He should have been abandoned by his family, but he became famous and admired by the world. People with his strength change the rules, rather than being bound by them.
Zhou Yongli must be envious and jealous, otherwise he wouldn't be so resentful towards himself lately, yet powerless to resist.
Zhou Yuqing was very excited. Was Master Ye really going to take him as his disciple?
"Master!" he exclaimed excitedly. Since his master didn't care, why should he?
"Yes!" Ye Xiangwen responded loudly. This disciple was exactly what he wanted. Not only was he talented in painting, but he was also good-looking. His disciples should be as handsome and dashing as him. Otherwise, how could he take them out in public?
When Zhou Yongli arrived after hearing the news, this was the scene he saw, and his brows furrowed deeply.
How come he didn't know Zhou Yuqing had become an apprentice? And the apprentice was actually Ye Xiangwen? What use is it to someone who only knows how to paint and doesn't do anything else?
But seeing Song Xia's expression and Ye Wanrou's presence, he couldn't bring himself to lash out.
Forget it, indulging in frivolous pursuits is a waste of time. He never intended to take it seriously anyway, so he just let Song Xia do as she pleased.
Seeing his grumpy appearance, Song Xia knew that Zhou Yongli was probably thinking all sorts of things. Indeed, he probably thought that only studying and taking the imperial examinations was the proper way to succeed.
Don't they look at Ye Xiangwen's current status in the art world? He's someone even His Majesty has invited three or four times. Although it's a bit vulgar to measure Ye Xiangwen's paintings with money, it's the most direct way to measure them. Now, the market price of one of his paintings has already exceeded a thousand gold pieces. Is this just a case of neglecting one's proper profession?
You look down on others, but they look down on you in return. They have already achieved fame and fortune, and if they wanted to become officials, it would be an easy thing for them. What about you?
So what if he's a third-place scholar? Ye Xiangwen was the top scholar in both the provincial and metropolitan examinations back then. If he hadn't missed the final palace examination, he would have been the top scholar. His cultural knowledge is no less than yours; he just doesn't like officialdom.
Seeing his forced smile and perfunctory greeting, Ye Xiangwen returned the greeting in a nonchalant manner. Fortunately, his disciple's affairs were not up to his father to decide.
At this age, Ye Xiangwen had long seen through things. He wouldn't normally be so good-tempered; he was only being kind because of his disciple.
Seeing that Ye Xiangwen didn't want to stay any longer after seeing Zhou Yongli, Song Xia got up to see him off: "Brother Ye, in that case, I will bring Yuqing to visit you another day."
"Excellent."
Before leaving, Ye Xiangwen took away many of Zhou Yuqing's recent paintings and praised them repeatedly on the spot.
Zhou Yongli frowned in confusion. How come he didn't know that Zhou Yuqing also had a talent for painting?
Ha, could it be that they did this on purpose because of the Prince Cheng's mansion? How shameful! They can't compare to Shuqing, yet they still have to pull this stunt.
Song Xia immediately understood Zhou Yongli's thoughts. There was no need to explain to someone with such deeply ingrained bias, because it would be useless to explain anyway.
After seeing Ye Xiangwen and Ye Wanrou off, Song Xia happened to run into Zhou Shuqing returning home. She narrowed her eyes, thinking that there was going to be a good show. She wondered how shocked and resentful Zhou Shuqing would be when he saw Yu Qing.
"Your son greets his father and mother."
Upon seeing him return, Zhou Yongli's cold attitude vanished, replaced by a broad smile: "Brother Shu, how come you got here so quickly?"
"Since Mother is personally sending someone to pick us up, I think it will be as quick as possible."
"It's so kind of you to be so sensible. Are you tired? You've lost weight and grown taller." Zhou Yongli looked you over carefully, his face full of concern and pride.
Zhou Yuqing watched from the side, his eyes initially filled with a sense of melancholy, but he quickly came to terms with it. Just as his mother had said, since his father didn't care about him, why bother taking it to heart and ruining his health? He now had not only his mother's love but also his master's guidance, so his father didn't seem so important anymore.
Although he and his master had only met for the first time today, his master's affection and encouragement truly moved him.
It can only be said that relationships require interaction and responsiveness; after experiencing warmth, one will naturally reject coldness.
“I have been away from home for half a year and have not been able to fulfill my filial duties. I have caused my father so much worry. It is my fault.”
"You're studying away from home, so why bring up these things? Your father understands everything."
Seeing the loving father and filial son, Song Xia suddenly sneered, making the two of them look over awkwardly.
"This is... my elder brother?" Zhou Shuqing stared at Zhou Yuqing in disbelief.
My brother's health has improved so much? Even better than my sister described in her letter!
He clenched his fists. How did his once frail older brother become like this?
Liu Fangniang and Zhou Ying often saw him in the mansion and didn't notice, but Zhou Shuqing had been gone for half a year since his last return, which greatly shocked him.
In his memory, Zhou Yuqing was not only skin and bones, but also as pale as a dead person, and her whole body was filled with an aura of death.
Unlike now, although he is still thin, the eldest brother, wearing a white fox fur cloak, is almost as tall as me. With a faint smile, he stands there like a proud bamboo in the snow, graceful and elegant.
Zhou Shuqing had never felt such a sense of crisis as she did today. If her elder brother's health gradually improved, then what was she?
Is it possible that the Zhou family will be inherited by my eldest brother in the future? Is studying for the imperial examinations really the only path left for me?
A profound sense of loss washed over Zhou Shuqing. He had once thought that the entire Zhou family mansion would...
But why? When he left, his older brother was already on the verge of death. How could such a big change have occurred in just half a year, with only this one absence?
How exactly did they manage to raise my older brother so well?
No wonder my sister said in her letter that Mother started to regulate the rules of the household, all to pave the way for my eldest brother. She saw that my eldest brother was doing well, so she didn't want him to be on good terms with my sister and aunt.
Zhou Shuqing clenched her fists. How could it be so close? How come her older brother is so lucky?
Is this some kind of joke that fate is playing on him?
Zhou Shuqing was only twelve years old after all, and her expression wasn't very well hidden, so Song Xia saw through it at a glance. Disappointed? That's right, you'll slowly become desperate in the future, and the more you covet things you shouldn't have, the heavier the blows will be.
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