Chapter 196: Do you have a younger sister at home?
After waiting for the master and disciple to calm down, Yang Gong spoke softly, with a subtle sourness in his tone.
"Today is my birthday, how long are you going to cry?"
As soon as Yang Gong finished speaking, the master and disciple separated. Yao Chongchun straightened his clothes and turned to bow deeply to him: "Yang Gong, your kindness is great. Chongchun will never forget it."
If Yang Gong had not risked his life to save him, he would probably never see his disciple again in this life.
Xiao Ji finally came to his senses. It was his grandfather who saved his teacher! Although he knew the family rules set by his grandfather, he felt a little disappointed in his heart for watching them stand by and watch. But the maternal family is the maternal family, and they actually quietly did such an important thing for him!
In Xiao Ji's mind, saving the teacher was much more important than pleading for him in front of the emperor.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ji immediately picked up his robe and knelt solemnly in front of his grandfather.
"Your Highness!"
"Xue Nu?"
Two exclamations rang out simultaneously. Xiao Ji, however, had already kowtowed to Yang Gong in a proper manner: "Grandfather, I thank you for rescuing my teacher."
Seeing this, Yao Chongchun's throat choked, and tears welled up in his eyes. He reached out a trembling hand, wanting to help, wishing he could help Yang Gong lift Xiao Ji up. This child's innocent heart made him, as a teacher, both happy and distressed.
Yang Gong curled his lips, his gray beard twitching. "That's too polite. I'm your grandfather. If I don't help you, who else can I help? You're talking like everyone else."
Seeing Yao Chongchun's distressed look, Yang Gong muttered sourly: "You are a teacher who is more honorable than my grandfather..."
"Brother Yang, you're joking." Yao Chongchun burst into laughter and bowed to Mr. Yang again, "Your Highness, this is..."
This took a long time to explain, but Yang Gong did not pursue it. Upon closer inspection, it was found that his grandfather rarely accompanied Xiao Ji. After Xiao Ji grew up, he only saw him a few times a year and deliberately kept a distance from him. It was no match for Yao Chongchun's daily companionship.
It was precisely because of the guilt in his heart that Yang Gong took action. Although his Yang family could not get too close to the prince, they could not do nothing, otherwise there would be resentment in the future.
"Alright, alright," Yang Gong interrupted impatiently, pointing to the bamboo benches beneath the bamboo forest. "Everyone, sit down and talk. Today is my birthday, and yet you all look so sad." He glared at Xiao Ji, "Especially you. Isn't this a good thing? Aren't you happy?"
Xiao Ji burst into laughter and said, "I'm happy, of course I'm happy."
He helped the teacher sit down slowly. The four of them sat in a circle, not knowing where to begin. The courtyard was silent for a few breaths before Xiao Ji said, "Teacher, please wait for me. I will restore your reputation."
Being wrongfully imprisoned and then sentenced to exile, what a blow was this to a great scholar?
Yao Chongchun waved his hand, "I'm lucky to be alive now. Please don't take risks for me. It's not easy for you either."
After he was rescued by Yang Gong, he reflected on himself every day. He was too obedient to the emperor. He had been studying all his life and was not as scheming as others. He knew a little, but he did not dare to teach it to his students, so that his students had a hard time moving forward in the struggle for power.
Thinking of this, Yao Chongchun couldn't help but burst into tears. He held Xiao Ji's hand and said guiltily: "It's the teacher's fault. The teacher didn't teach you well enough. It's the teacher who dragged you down..."
All the other prince's teachers devoted themselves to their students, but he was the only one who taught his students to be so innocent out of fear of the imperial power. He knew that he was surrounded by tigers and wolves, and was even ambushed by someone, so he couldn't help his students at all.
Xiao Ji knew what the teacher meant, but how could he blame the teacher? Just like Qing Wu, after knowing that her grandmother was the eldest princess, she never blamed her grandmother for not taking her back to the capital to be the princess's jewel in the crown. All they cared about was the companionship and affection that nothing else could replace.
The young man grasped his teacher's withered hand and shook his head gently. "Teacher, you taught me poetry, literature, etiquette, and morality, and taught me to distinguish right from wrong. These are the foundations of a student's life." His voice was gentle but firm. "As for the rest, it's not your fault."
The shadows of bamboo danced, falling on the clasped hands of master and student. Yao Chongchun looked at his student, now a grown-up man who had weathered setbacks, and vaguely saw the little figure in his study, nodding his head and reciting the Analects.
"But..." Yao Chongchun wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Yang Gong.
"Old Yao," Yang Gong put his hand on his shoulder, "as parents and elders, we don't expect our children to be very successful. As long as they have good character and can distinguish right from wrong, that's enough. You don't have to blame yourself. If you teach my grandson a mind full of conspiracies and tricks, I will be very angry."
He said this sincerely. His own son was only appointed as Lantai, and his two grandsons were sent out to be county magistrates and prefects. With the Yang family's background, they could have stayed in Beijing to be officials, but Mr. Yang did not want them to struggle in the center of power.
Even though his grandson was the queen's legitimate son and was destined to be the crown prince in a struggle, Lord Yang's requirements for his descendants remained unchanged.
Xiao Ji glanced at his grandfather gratefully and continued, "I now work in the Ministry of Chancellery and learn new things every day. Your teachings back then have been put into practice, and every word is precious."
Seeing both the grandfather and grandson say this, Yao Chongchun finally felt relieved. He patted the back of Xiao Ji's hand and said, "Good boy...good boy..."
Just a moment ago, a smile appeared on Old Yao's face, but the next moment, his eyes fell on Xiao Ji's legs and the smile disappeared again.
"This leg...does it still hurt on weekdays?"
The heartache in his eyes was as real as a substance, but he heard Yang Gong beside him suddenly say: "Xue Nu, tell me the truth, what happened to your leg?"
Yao Chongchun looked up in surprise, bewildered, at Yang Gong. Then he heard Uncle Yang, who had been watching from the sidelines, say, "Yes, I saw you jogging into the yard just now, just like an ordinary person. But can your leg be completely healed?"
Yang Xuchuan didn't think too much about it, thinking that Xiao Ji was so excited to see his teacher that he forgot the pain. But Yang Gong didn't think so. He glanced at the table and stared at Xiao Ji.
"to be honest."
Meeting his grandfather's vigilant gaze, Xiao Ji knew that he could no longer hide the truth, but it was time to let them rest assured.
"Yes...my leg is almost healed..."
*
Since there were no other female relatives in the family, Qingwu could only follow Aunt Yang and three cousins. The sunlight was not strong today and it had rained in the morning, so the temperature was not hot, so it was a good time for the three of them to stroll around the Yang Mansion.
"Oh, by the way, Princess, the reason we're not having a feast right now is because we're waiting for my aunt and her family. They're far away, and even though we've communicated in advance, there are bound to be unexpected events."
Qing Wu nodded. Xiao Ji had also told her that Empress Yang had a younger sister who was two years younger than her, named Yang Lingqian.
"Aunt, just call me Qingqing, Qing means green. I wonder which members of my aunt's family are coming back?"
Aunt Yang looked at Qingwu with a smile, "Your nickname is quite affectionate." However, when she talked about her aunt's family, her smile faded. "My aunt has a daughter and a son. The daughter should be fifteen years old, and the son is twelve years old."
Qing Wu wanted to ask more, but Aunt Yang changed the subject, "Let's talk about that after the people arrive. Now, tell me how you are doing in the palace..."
She asked in detail about every detail of Qingwu and Xiaoji's stay in the palace, and Qingwu told her everything, his true feelings inadvertently revealing in his words.
The beautiful girl smiled as she told the story, and her tone was filled with gentle nostalgia for those low years, as if that was not a place of exile, but a rare period of quiet and good time.
Aunt Yang was surprised to hear this. She couldn't help but hold Qingwu's hand and sighed: "Good boy, you are able to live such a happy life in adversity. It's rare to find someone like you. Ji'er is so lucky to have you by her side."
She looked at the beautiful and strong girl in front of her, and sighed in her heart: How many people blame others when they are down and out, but this child can still maintain such calmness and composure when she falls to the bottom, and live a lively life in her poor life. It is really a rare good character.
Aunt Yang was so happy that she couldn't help but say, "I still have a younger sister at home, and my third son is old enough to look up to her." If Qingwu hadn't become a princess, she would not have let her go.
Qingwu didn't expect Aunt Yang to bring up this topic. His third cousin Yang, who had been following behind him, suddenly looked up and said, "Mom, I'm still young. I haven't passed the imperial examination yet..."
However, these words were ignored by his mother. Aunt Yang stared at Qingwu, waiting for her reply.
After hesitating for a moment, Qing Wu nodded and said, "I have a younger sister at home, she's only thirteen years old, she's lively and straightforward..."
She remembered Qingmian's kindness to her. But it was also an indisputable fact that she was a concubine's daughter. Qingwu was afraid that others would mind her background, but she was also unwilling to miss this good marriage opportunity because of herself.
Although she didn't know what kind of person her third cousin Yang was, in this era of blind marriages, she had seen this third cousin Yang in person after all. He came from a good family, was handsome, was the youngest son in the family, and had a relationship with Xiao Ji, which provided an extra layer of assurance.
But before she could reveal her status as a commoner in the Qing Dynasty, Aunt Yang said, "Thirteen is a good age. It's just enough time for Shuo'er to take the imperial examinations and gain a good reputation."
Seeing Aunt Yang's eagerness, Qing Wu felt both delighted and anxious. She pursed her red lips and spoke carefully, "Aunt, you are so kind, but...my little sister..."
Yang San's cousin rubbed his hands anxiously: "Mom, you are too impatient, our son is still young..."
"Shut up." Aunt Yang interrupted her son without even turning her head, her eyes still looking at Qingwu eagerly, "Qingqing, you can talk as much as you want."
Qingwu paused and said frankly: "My younger sister is a concubine's daughter in the family, but she has a kind personality and is very considerate..." She tried her best to highlight Qingmian's advantages to prevent Aunt Yang from looking down on Qingmian, but she didn't expect Aunt Yang to wave her hand disapprovingly.
"So what if she's a concubine? She's from your Xi family, and our Yang family looks at character and upbringing when choosing a wife. The princess has such good character, and she praises your sister so much, so she must be good."
With these words, Qingwu felt relieved, but this matter could not be settled just like that. Firstly, his sister was still young, and secondly, he had not asked for her and his father's opinions.
But before she could say anything, Aunt Yang said, "It's still early days. Princess, don't worry. Just let me know there's such a good person. I'll keep him in mind."
This was the truth but it also concealed a hidden thought. When it came to matters like her children's marriage, Aunt Yang would naturally not just listen to Qingwu's words. She would definitely inquire and think about it herself, and there was no way to tell what would happen in the end.
The two of them tacitly agreed not to mention the matter again, but Yang Sanlang alone kept it firmly in his mind...
The group walked a few steps forward, and a little maid caught up with them and reported: "My aunt and her family are here."
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