Chapter 249 Sun Qiao (Part 2)
Sima Jun looked at him: "Just yesterday?"
"That's right." Sun Qiao caught Sima Jun's eye and said hurriedly, "Mother and I both think Father's actions are inappropriate and that he's let Master Yu down. But Father says Master Yu isn't really trying to help us. He's only doing this because he promised Grandfather what he promised, and to protect his reputation, he can't break his promise. He's sending us to Liyang so we can get rid of this burden. Today, Father is moving Mother and me out of Master Yu's house and back to the Sun family."
Sima Jun pondered for a moment and said, "What does Master Yu say?"
"Master Yu didn't say anything, only that since Father had made the decision, he would follow Father's will," Sun Qiao said. "I thought that after bidding farewell to the Crown Prince today, I would go to Master Yu's house and apologize to him."
"Master Yu is not a narrow-minded person. Since this matter was your father's decision, it has nothing to do with you," Sima Jun said. "Just now you said that your father had some prejudice against Master Yu. Are these all your own thoughts and ideas?"
"Every time Master Yu visited, he advised Father not to cling to Jiankang, which is why Father had such a prejudice," Sun Qiao said. "But I think Master Yu's words are indeed reasonable. Father is unfamiliar with Jiankang, and even if he were offered a position, it would be difficult for him to make a name for himself. For the long term, it is the right thing to do to follow Master Yu's advice. Besides, my grandfather was always a good judge of character. Master Yu, who was praised so highly by him, must not be the kind of person who despises the poor and loves the rich. Otherwise, when he heard about our family's situation, he would have simply pretended to be ignorant. Why would he have gone to the trouble of personally bringing us in and settling us down?"
Sima Jun looked him over and asked, "You are so knowledgeable and polite despite your young age. Your grandfather would surely be pleased if he were still in heaven."
Sun Qiao felt rather embarrassed and scratched his head, "Your Excellency, I am so kind."
Sima Jun took a sip of tea and asked, "Are you the only son in your family?"
Sun Qiao said quickly, "No, I have another sister."
Sima Jun raised his eyes.
"Sister?"
"That's right," Sun Qiao replied. "My sister's name is Sun Wei, and she just turned eighteen this year."
"Sun Wei?" Sima Jun slowly pronounced the name, "Is it the Wei in Caiwei?"
"It's the 'wei' that means to see the big picture from the small details." Sun Qiao said with considerable pride, "This name was given to her by my grandfather."
"A subtle clue?" Sima Jun smiled, clutching his teacup. "I guess she looks like you."
Sun Qiao thought for a moment and said, "I can't tell. But the neighbors in my hometown all say that my eyes are very similar to my sister's, and I inherited them from my grandfather."
"Oh," Sima Jun nodded, "you haven't mentioned your sister before. I guess she hasn't been to Jiankang?"
"Indeed, I haven't." Sun Qiao said, looking somewhat dejected. "My sister has become a nun."
"Become a monk?"
Sun Qiao said, "It was around March of last year. My sister was playing at the beach when she was swept into the sea by the waves. Although she was rescued, she remained unconscious. Fortunately, a female Taoist from Qingcheng Mountain passed by and performed a ritual that revived my sister. However, the Taoist told my father that my sister was destined to suffer from bad luck and that only by becoming a nun with her for a few years could the bad luck be overcome. So, under her persuasion, my father agreed to let my sister travel with the Taoist, saying that she would return in five years. Since then, I haven't seen my sister in almost two years."
"So that's the reason," Sima Jun pondered. "I remember An Ning was by the sea. Your sister grew up by the sea, how could she not know how to swim?"
"No. My sister doesn't like the sticky sea breeze, so she doesn't go to the beach often. She takes after my grandfather. He once said that my sister wasn't born to live in An Ning. Although it was a joke, my sister is indeed quite ambitious, and her words and actions are completely different from those of other girls her age."
Sima Jun then asked, "Do you know where your sister is traveling now?"
Sun Qiao shook his head. "I don't know. That Taoist woman has no fixed place to stay and has long since disappeared. However, my sister sends letters home every six months. She always says she's doing well and tells me not to worry."
"So your parents really aren't worried anymore?"
"At first, my father was so worried he couldn't sleep, but as time went on, he got used to it. But my mother kept complaining about my sister being 18 and still not married, and she wondered what she would do in the future."
"What about you?" Sima Jun looked at him with a smile.
"Of course I'm worried," Sun Qiao said, "but my sister is so smart and capable. No matter what happens, she will be able to turn danger into safety. When she comes back, it doesn't matter if she can't get married. I will take care of her in her old age!"
"My lord, I will support you in your old age. I will devote all my family knowledge to ensuring that you have a smooth life. How do you do that?"
Suddenly, Sima Jun remembered these words again.
"I remember you said you were only twelve years old." Sima Jun said.
Sun Qiao was stunned for a moment, then immediately said, "Although I'm only twelve, I will work hard. When my sister comes back, I'll be an adult!"
Sima Jun smiled and said, "Just because you're an adult, does that mean you're capable?"
Sun Qiao bit his lip, then suddenly looked towards him and said, "That's why I'm asking how I can become a disciple of the Crown Prince."
Seeing the serious look, Sima Jun had no choice but to put away his joking expression.
"You are so kind to your sister. Your sister must be an outstanding person."
Sun Qiao said, "That's right. My sister has been intelligent since she was young. She's read all of my grandfather's books and understands all the principles of the world. Aside from being a bit strict with me and not liking my chatter, she has no other flaws."
Sima Jun nodded and asked again, "Do you miss her?"
"I do." Sun Qiao paused, then continued, "But when I think about my sister becoming a nun to avert disaster, I no longer want to think about it. I hope my sister lives a long, long life."
"You just said she'd be gone for five years?"
"Exactly. Counting it all, it's been a year and seven months now."
"What if she doesn't come back?"
"No!" Sun Qiao said flatly, "My sister hates people who don't keep their promises. She always says, 'Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you.' She always keeps her word and will never break her promise to me."
Sima Jun pondered and remained silent.
Sun Qiao suddenly felt something was amiss and asked, "Why is the prince asking about my sister?"
Sima Jun came back to his senses and said calmly, "It's just that when Master Yu mentioned Mr. Sun before, he seemed to have mentioned that he had a granddaughter, so I asked."
Sun Qiao understood and said, "Master Yu often asks me about my sister."
"Oh?" Sima Jun became interested. "I rarely hear Yu Yi inquire about women. What did he ask?"
"I asked Sister what she liked to do and what books she read before she left home, but she only gave me trivial questions. I never expected that after all these years, Master Yu still hasn't forgotten her." Sun Qiao said this with a hint of regret. "It's a pity that I can't send a letter to Sister. If Sister knew that our family had reunited with Master Yu, I wonder how happy she would be. Perhaps she would be eager to come to Jiankang right away."
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