Chapter 6: The Art of War
"You've read almost all the books in your second brother's study. You especially like reading travelogues and geography books."
Later, when there were no more books to read, he would hide in his room and read the storybooks outside.
Am I right?
Xie Yunyu looked at Grandpa Xie with a disgruntled expression and said, "Grandfather has a discerning eye; I, your granddaughter, have been showing off my limited skills before an expert."
When Grandpa Xie saw that Xie Yunyu had been exposed by him and had actually admitted it so openly, he couldn't help but think more highly of her.
"What are your thoughts on your marriage?" Old Master Xie asked with a smile.
Xie Yunyu looked at her grandfather with piercing eyes.
"My granddaughter wants to discuss marriage in two years."
"In two years you'll be seventeen or eighteen. Some wealthy families will be picky when you get older," Old Master Xie said thoughtfully.
Xie Yunyu, however, confidently declared, "Good food is worth the wait."
When my second brother achieves the highest honors in the imperial examinations, the people who come to visit will at least be better than they are now.
If someone looked down on me because of my age back then, it could only be said that they were unlucky.
In this world, there are only men who can't find wives, not women who can't get married.
Upon hearing the last sentence, Grandpa Xie burst into laughter.
"Hahaha... That's right, it's really true. There are no women who can't get married, only men who can't find wives."
After laughing for a while, Grandpa Xie said, "Master Tianyi said your marriage is ordained by heaven, so what does it matter if it's a couple of years later?"
"Alright, your grandfather has made the decision for you. Don't worry about your parents."
Hearing this, Xie Yunyu became happy and went to make a bowl of noodles for the old man with a big smile.
In the evening, I prepared another table of Huaiyang dishes, which were white in color and green in hue, and the old man enjoyed the meal very much.
Early the next morning.
The emperor had just finished court when he saw the Grand Princess of Jinyang waiting for him in the imperial study. Upon seeing her, tears streamed down her face.
"Your Majesty, Ling'er went back to Wan'an Mountain last night. He... he's determined to become a monk..."
The emperor looked at the crown prince behind him and said, "You spent the whole day yesterday trying to persuade him. How did it go?"
The Crown Prince immediately bowed respectfully and said, "Father, please forgive me. Ling'er was unwell yesterday, so I gave him medicine and let him rest."
By the time I finished my official duties and wanted to go and persuade him, he was already gone.
At this point, the crown prince looked extremely embarrassed.
Princess Jinyang was about to cry again when the Emperor quickly said:
"Alright, you must go to Xiyun Temple and persuade him to come back. Go now."
The crown prince bowed his head in acknowledgment, respectfully bowed, and took his leave.
At 9:00 AM, when the fog on the mountain had completely dissipated, the prince went up the mountain.
After searching for a long time, they finally found Xiao Ling at the viewing pavilion by the Bitan Lake. He was painting in the pavilion.
Actually, Xiao Ling was waiting for Xie Yunyu here.
"Cousin, what are you doing hiding here? I've been looking for you everywhere."
The prince's voice was filled with excitement.
After saying that, he opened the folding fan in his hand and waved it gracefully in front of his chest.
Xiao Ling ignored him and continued to scribble and revise the painting in front of her.
The crown prince stepped forward, looked at the painting, and nodded: "Hmm, your painting skills have improved quite a bit since then."
Xiao Ling spoke, his voice cold and clear: "How many days do you plan to stay this time?"
"Until I can win you back," the prince said, stretching.
"Then you should stay a few more days to show my determination to become a monk."
The prince laughed and said, "That's great! It'll be perfect for me to relax a bit."
"But brother, what do you want to achieve this time?"
Xiao Ling's hands didn't stop; with a few strokes on the left, he sketched a lifelike kingfisher, and replied:
"When you get back, tell them that you went to great lengths to persuade me not to become a nun, but that I can decide my own marriage."
Even if I wanted to marry a maidservant through proper channels, they wouldn't be able to stop me.
Furthermore, His Majesty must personally issue an edict, and my mother cannot go back on her word.
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince closed his folding fan and asked in surprise, "You don't mean to have taken a fancy to one of the maids in your household, do you?"
Xiao Ling turned to look at the Crown Prince and said, "Don't worry about that. Just go back and relay what I said."
The prince's curiosity was clearly not about that, but about the maidservants.
“Brother, not that I’m being nosy, but you should at least marry a daughter of an official. No matter how low her family background is, we can still get promoted.”
If you take a fancy to a maid, even if your father and aunt agree, it's not a good thing for that maid.
"The spittle of people in the capital can kill."
Xiao Ling dipped his brush in light blue ink and applied it to the painting.
"The Art of War says: When you are capable, pretend you are incapable; when you are active, pretend you are not active; when you are far away, pretend you are near; when you are near, pretend you are far; when you are real, make it seem unreal; when you are unreal, make it seem real."
The prince fanned himself twice, stood at the edge of the pavilion, and felt refreshed and happy looking at the beautiful scenery in front of him.
But he said, "You've been reading Buddhist scriptures all your life, how come you've started reading military strategy too?"
Besides, you didn't use your military strategy on the battlefield; you used it all against your aunt.
Be careful, she might get upset if she finds out.
Xiao Ling turned his head and looked coldly at the Crown Prince: "If she knows, then it's what you said."
The crown prince was astonished: "How did it become my opinion?"
"Because I won't say it, only you would be so bored." Xiao Ling snorted coldly.
"I'm your brother, and the Crown Prince at that. Don't you trust my character at all?"
"Character? You have none." Xiao Ling said bluntly.
The Crown Prince was not angry at Xiao Ling's words; instead, he said:
"Don't worry, I was just kidding. From childhood to adulthood, I've always been on your side when it comes to important matters."
This matter concerns your life's most important thing, I'll definitely take care of it for you.
After saying that, he looked at Xiao Ling with a grin and nudged him with his elbow:
"Tell me then, which maidservant have you taken a fancy to?"
If she were a palace maid, I could find a way to give her a suitable identity.
If it's someone from your household, then it requires my aunt's approval; otherwise, I can't help you."
But no matter how the Crown Prince asked, Xiao Ling remained silent.
The more Xiao Ling acted this way, the more the Crown Prince believed that Xiao Ling had taken a fancy to a beautiful young maid.
The Crown Prince pestered Xiao Ling to accompany him for a stroll.
Xiao Ling did not wait for Xie Yunyu that day.
The next day, the Xie family patriarch received a letter saying that his good friend was dying and wanted to see him one last time.
Mr. Xie's good friend, Mr. Zhang Shinan, was his fellow townsman; both were from Wu County in Jiangnan.
The two were not only from the same hometown, but also passed the imperial examination in the same year and served as officials in the court for many years.
Zhang Shinan had retired from his position as Minister of Personnel, and the two men admired each other.
Now that Old Master Zhang is dying, Old Master Xie has remained silent after receiving the letter.
I was sullen during lunch.
Seeing this, Xie Yunyu asked the old man, "Grandfather, is something the matter?"
"Hmm... Your grandfather, Zhang, is seriously ill and wrote to me wanting to see me one last time."
Xie Yunyu felt quite sad upon hearing this. She remembered that old man Zhang, who was witty and humorous, and had a good relationship with her grandfather.
At dinner time, Xie Yunyu made braised lion's head meatballs, which the old man loved, but he was still sullen.
Xie Yunyu's idea, which she had been thinking about all afternoon, finally came in handy.
“Grandfather, this is what your granddaughter is thinking. You haven’t been back to your hometown of Wu County for many years, so this time you can treat it as a trip back home for a while.”
We should also go and visit Grandpa Zhang, as a way of seeing him one last time. What do you think?
Grandpa Xie nodded and said, "That's what I was thinking too. It's just that you've had a long and tiring journey with me."
Xie Yunyu was overjoyed to see that the old man had chosen her even before she had offered to accompany him, but she didn't show it on her face.
"Taking care of my grandfather is my duty as a granddaughter," Xie Yunyu said politely.
He then laughed and said, "Besides, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. My granddaughter has been staying in the capital for so many years and has almost forgotten what Wu County looks like."
I only remember going back there when I was a child. The mountains there were always shrouded in mist and clouds, with white walls and gray tiles, and the scenery was elegant, like a traditional Chinese ink painting.
When Xie Yunyu mentioned his hometown in Wu County, Grandpa Xie's expression finally became a little more lively.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com