13. Chapter 13
Dreams and Reality
Qi You began to learn Latin, and Nan Huairen not only did not despise him, but was very happy. Kangxi studied mathematics and astronomy, but had never really learned their language systematically. Qi You was the first royal family member to truly learn their language.
Even though Nan Huairen was very old, he still tried his best to teach Qi You, wishing to teach him all the knowledge in one go.
With a dedicated teacher and a bright and hardworking student, Qi You's Latin improved rapidly. Besides Latin, Qi You also practiced Mongolian in the Cining Palace's Mongolian corner every day, and his Mongolian skills also improved rapidly.
Qi You did not fall behind in his studies as usual and remained far ahead. Yang Dan often looked at Qi You as if he were a monster, not understanding his efforts at all.
After entering early summer, they were sweating profusely after pulling the bow for a while, so they sat under the eaves to rest.
Yang Dan looked at Qi You sideways and asked in confusion, "Aren't you tired? Every day I just look forward to getting out of school quickly so I can play, eat, and sleep."
Qi You said, "I'm not tired. Reading is my way of playing and resting."
Yang Dan hesitated, put his hands into his sleeves, and said, "Then I can't give it to you."
"What is it?" Qi You asked with sharp eyes, staring at Yang Dan's hand.
"Hey, look." Yang Dan took it out and handed it to Qi You. "This is a bamboo whistle. It makes a very loud sound when blown. I made it myself and gave it to you to play with."
Qi You took the bamboo whistle and examined it in his hand. Unlike Yang Dan's rough appearance, the bamboo whistle made by Banzhu was rare and exquisite. He didn't expect that his hands were so dexterous.
"How is it? Do you think I did well?" Yang Dan asked nervously and expectantly.
Qi You gave Yang Dan a thumbs up and said, "That's great! I definitely can't do it, and even if I do, it won't be as good as you. Thank you, Yang Dan. I like it very much."
Yang Dan's eyes sparkled with excitement, and his face flushed. He wanted to be modest, but he couldn't help but smile until his mouth was split to his ears. "I'm not good at studying, but I just like these things that are not presentable. Oh, things that are not presentable, that's what my father said when he scolded me..."
Qi You solemnly put the bamboo whistle back into his purse and listened attentively to Yang Dan's words. Seeing Yang Dan's downcast expression and his feet kicking the ground, he couldn't help but ask with concern, "What happened?"
Yang Dan shook his head, "No." He quickly glanced around and said seriously, "Seventh Prince, I'm telling you this because I treat you as a friend. Don't tell anyone else, and don't laugh at me."
Qi You was stunned for a moment, then said solemnly: "I will keep it secret and I will not laugh at you."
Yang Dan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I know you're a good person, different from others, and smarter than us. I'll tell you something. Actually, I want to learn to sing opera. My father and mother heard about it and cried. My father made me kneel down as punishment, and when I refused to give in, he beat me several times. My father said that he didn't ask me to bring honor to the family, but he also couldn't bring shame to the family. Singing opera is something that the lowest class does. If Jueluo goes to sing opera, I will trample on the reputation of my entire family."
Qi You was surprised, and after a moment's deliberation, he asked, "What made you want to learn opera? Was it because your family invited an opera troupe to come over for the New Year or other festivals, and you thought it was fun, so you suddenly became interested?"
"Yes!" Yang Dan nodded heavily, gazing at the distant sky filled with drifting clouds, her eyes filled with endless yearning. "I was hooked the first time I saw an opera. The troupe traveled all over the country, and the stories they sang were so interesting, a hundred times more exciting than my life. Then I secretly followed suit, flicking my sleeves, twisting my waist, and casting a glance."
Yang Dan glanced around and made small movements while no one was watching. Qi You was stunned when he saw the sudden change in his eyes.
Yang Dan laughed triumphantly, "Why, did I do well?"
Qi You gave a thumbs up again, "Amazing!"
Yang Dan laughed even more happily, but the smile on his face faded as he laughed. He said dejectedly, "What's the point of being powerful? I can't do anything as usual. Father said that since I was born in the Jueluo family, I must behave like a Jueluo family member. Even if I grow up to be a useless person who only knows how to eat, drink and have fun, it's better than me becoming a low-class actor. Father also talked about you, saying that we are all doing useless things. I have no future as an actor, and your cleverness in studying is also in vain. Seventh Prince, what do you think I should do?"
If Yang Dan had grown up and was able to take responsibility for his own actions, or if his last name was not Jueluo, Qi You would have supported his ideals without hesitation if he had come up with an idea and was able to take care of the aftermath for him.
After careful consideration, Qi You said, "Yang Dan, I think you shouldn't argue with your father. When you grow up and have the ability to make a hole with a spit, and when you can be the head of the family, you can do what you want. You can raise an opera troupe and perform a few shows at home every day. Even if people know about it, they will only praise you for your elegant hobby. Now that you insist on learning to sing opera, you will only get beaten."
Yang Dan's eyes became brighter and brighter, and he said excitedly: "You are really smart. When I can make my own decisions, my father won't be able to stop me from doing anything I want to do."
Qi You smiled faintly, stretched out his left leg, and said, "Your father is wrong. How can hard work be useless? When you grow up, you will have less freedom and even the excuse of being ignorant as a child will be gone. At that time, you will have to rely on what you learned before to make yourself very powerful, so powerful that no one dares to say anything about you. Only then can you let go and do your own thing."
After a pause, Qi You looked at Yang Dan and said sincerely, "Yang Dan, you have a good brain. If you pay more attention in class, you can learn your lessons well. Learning opera is harder than studying. If you are not afraid of the hardship of opera, studying will naturally be no problem. Look at me. If I do well in my studies, it will be very convenient for me."
Yang Dan looked thoughtful as he looked Qi You up and down, then said excitedly, "Yes, my eldest brother is just average at studying. If I became the best student in the family, my father would definitely burn incense and worship me. I've decided. From now on, I'm going to study hard!"
Seeing that Yang Dan was rolled up, Qi You smiled slightly, hiding his merit and fame.
At the same time, there is boundless loneliness.
When he grew up, Yang Dan still couldn't sing an opera. And Qi You himself, although not as useless as Prince Jian said, compared with his brothers, he had to work a hundred times harder than them to gain recognition from others.
He cannot ignore what others think because he needs their support.
Qi You never thought of just being a prince or a leisurely prince.
In the blink of an eye, it is May, the summer cicadas are chirping, and the flowers are blooming.
The Sixth Prince was unable to leave his courtyard and fell into eternal sleep.
Yang Dan accidentally fell ill and took leave to recuperate at home. He never returned to the West Wing of the Palace of Heavenly Purity and died in the sweltering heat of July.
The weather in July is unpredictable. In a blink of an eye, it was covered with dark clouds and raindrops as big as beans poured down.
Qi You sat under the eaves of the training ground, looking at the rain curtain in front of him that almost merged the sky and the earth into one. The whispered conversation with Yang Dan seemed to be still in front of him.
Yang Dan is his only friend in this world.
Qi You took out a bamboo whistle from his purse, put it to his lips and started to blow. The clear sound of the whistle was covered by the wind and rain and disappeared into the sky.
The author has something to say:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution between 2022-09-13 14:22:49 and 2022-09-14 14:54:00~
Thanks to the little angel who cast the mines: 1 phantom cloud;
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: 6 bottles of Pepsi;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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