Doing good deeds is a good thing that accumulates merit and reputation.
Su Wanwan knew that Madam Yu was helping her carry the sedan chair; otherwise, who else could she ask for help?
However, she still laid it all out beforehand, saying with difficulty, "I've already donated all my dowry..."
Mrs. Yu patted her hand reassuringly:
"You don't need to spend any money, just contribute your efforts, and we'll work together to get this done. What do you think? I'll take responsibility for anything that happens, so you don't need to worry about anything."
With the wife of the Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary endorsing it, there was naturally no problem with the matter.
Su Wanwan readily agreed.
As they were talking, Madam Yu's maid came to report: "Master has arrived, and he has brought guests with him."
Su Wanwan looked up at the door of the private room, her eyes narrowing slightly.
A middle-aged man with an exceptionally refined demeanor walked into the private room.
He wore a blue robe with a landscape pattern, had a lean face, and deep eyes that revealed wisdom and experience.
It was Madam Yu's husband, Yang Ting.
Madam Yu went up to greet her with a smile and said, "My lord, this is Miss Su whom I told you about before."
Yang Tingchong nodded to Su Wanwan, "Miss Su, how have you been?"
Su Wanwan paused slightly, then quickly curtsied, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.
"Lord Yang, you flatter me. I am deeply grateful for your past teachings, and I should treat you with the respect due to a teacher."
Previously, when Yang Ting served as the Left Vice Minister of the Left Spring Palace, he taught Crown Prince Lu Xingjian for many years.
Su Wanwan also attended his classes on the orders of Empress Dowager Zhou.
Because of her status as a woman, no formal apprenticeship ceremony was performed at the time.
Yang Ting waved his hand and smiled: "Miss Su is intelligent and studious, and is an outstanding woman."
Women who are well-versed in poetry and literature often aspire to gain a reputation for their poetry in order to marry into a good family.
Su Wanwan, however, went to study dry history books, which left a deep impression on him.
She wasn't the only woman who came to listen in at the time, but she was the only one who managed to stay in the audience.
Madam Yu clapped her hands and laughed awkwardly: "What should we do?"
"I just became sworn sisters with Wanwan, and now things are all messed up."
Yang Ting stroked his beard and laughed, his demeanor composed and exuding a gentle and refined air.
"It's alright, we can each do our own thing."
With Yang Ting's words, Su Wanwan didn't hesitate and used the tea served by the maid to perform the apprenticeship ceremony:
"Teacher, please accept my bow."
Yang Ting drank the tea and then asked his servant to fetch an ancient book, saying it was a gift for his teacher.
Su Wanwan felt a little embarrassed, as she hadn't yet given the apprenticeship gift.
Before long, the servant returned, followed by another person, Yang Zhen, whom he had just seen at the door.
Yang Zhen bowed and said, "Father."
Yang Ting introduced her with a pleasant expression: "This is my new student, she's like your junior sister, you should come and meet her."
Yang Zhen was a little surprised.
His father served as a lecturer in the Eastern Palace for many years and was the first teacher of Crown Prince Lu Xingjian.
They don't readily accept students.
Today was an exception; I accepted a female student.
He glanced indifferently at Su Wanwan.
Su Wanwan was bowing to him.
Yang Zhen generously returned the greeting: "My mother has already introduced Miss Su, but I never expected that she would become my father's student."
Yang Ting stroked his beard but didn't explain much.
The affairs within the palace are always fraught with danger, and he never reveals a single detail.
Su Wanwan was somewhat surprised by Yang Ting's gift: "A Tang Dynasty copy of 'Essential Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold for Emergency Use'?!"
Yang Ting smiled and nodded: "This book is of little use to me, so it would be better if you could carry it forward."
Su Wanwan gently stroked the book cover, her eyes resolute: "Students will not let their teachers down."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a clear voice came from outside the door: "Student Lu Zhao requests an audience with his teacher."
Everyone in the private room looked towards the door.
Lu Xingjian stood at the door, his expression gentle and refined.
"Having heard that you are having a banquet here, I have come to pay my respects."
Yang Ting's eyelids twitched, but he remained calm and personally led the person in, introducing them as follows:
"Wanwan, this is your senior brother, Lu Zhao."
Su Wanwan was speechless and exchanged pleasantries with the others.
Why would a perfectly good emperor go on an anonymous, incognito trip?
There were only a few people in the room, and only Madam Yu and Yang Zhen did not know his identity.
Lu Xingjian's gaze, however, fell on Su Wanwan and Yang Zhen, who were standing side by side.
A barely perceptible hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.
He recalled Chief Steward Li's report: "Yang Zhen is the son of Grand Secretary Yang. He is a young prodigy who just participated in the autumn examination this August and was the top scorer in the Sichuan provincial examination. His talent is comparable to that of Su Shi."
Lu Xingjian's mind was filled with the look Yang Zhen gave Su Wanwan when they were at the entrance of Danyan Tower.
That's the way a man looks at a woman.
He's a man, so he naturally knows what it means.
We cannot allow the situation to develop unchecked.
Yang Zhen looked back at Lu Xingjian, his expression calm and composed, exuding the air of a true scholar who is naturally elegant.
"Yongxiu greets Brother Lu."
The surname Lu is the surname of the imperial family of this dynasty, and he was also a student of his father.
Judging from his age and overall demeanor, he could roughly guess the visitor's identity.
Lu Xingjian's expression remained indifferent, revealing no emotion. He simply said, "It's our first meeting, so I've prepared a small gift."
The gift given to Yang Zhen was a ream of Chengxintang paper, while the gift given to Su Wanwan was an ancient book.
Madam Yu also received a gift, a very valuable and exquisite headdress.
Su Wanwan took the ancient book and sensed something inside. She glanced at it briefly and her heart skipped a beat.
It was a stack of silver notes.
Does he think I'm short of money?
Just then, the waiter came over to ask if we wanted the dishes served now.
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