Helan Pei returned to the room.
Seeing that it wasn't an official class, Helan Chang and Helan Rong, who had been hovering by the window, slipped into the room to see how Lu Shuo would study with their sister.
But the first thing they saw was the black ink on white paper on the desk. Helan Rong grabbed it and exclaimed, "Lu Shuo, did you write this?"
The characters were crooked, some thick and some thin, like earthworms fighting. He didn't know how to write small, only big. It was so ugly that it was practically flaunting itself.
Helan Chang couldn't help clicking his tongue. "This... needs a lot of practice."
Lu Shuo hadn't expected them to come watch. He felt humiliated and didn't dare snatch the paper from their hands. His face flushed red, and he clenched his fists, silently praying that the two young masters would quickly let him off the hook and stop shaming him.
Just then, Helan Pei came in from outside. As she passed by, she instinctively glanced at the paper.
Lu Shuo clearly saw a trace of a smile suddenly appear on the Fourth Miss's usually expressionless face. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift, and even a short puff of air escaped from her nose.
She had already walked past, but she even turned her head to look again before suppressing the smile at the corners of her mouth and lowering her head to return to her desk.
Was she... laughing at him too?
Her reaction made it seem as though the good-night gesture she had made last night was all in his imagination.
Lu Shuo sat rigidly in place, feeling even more embarrassed. He wanted to stand up and shout: What are you laughing at? What's so funny? I've never gone to school; it's good enough that you can tell what I wrote! There are plenty of people in the village who are worse than me!
If he were still in the countryside, he might have actually dared to yell that.
But now he didn't dare at all. They surrounded him, smiling mockingly at his handwriting, and he couldn't show even a hint of grievance.
"Alright, don't you two young masters have anything else to do?" Jiang Siji snatched the paper from Helan Rong's hand. "The Imperial Academy waits for no one. You've taken two days off—aren't you afraid you'll fall behind when you go back?"
"It's not that exaggerated..." Helan Rong muttered. "It's only two days."
Helan Chang changed the subject. "Siji, if you teach both Lu Shuo and Pei'er, won't it get confusing? Why not have one in the morning and one in the afternoon?"
Jiang Siji thought to herself, if that were the case, what would be the point of keeping Lu Shuo in the Duke Mansion for lessons? They might as well just send him to an outside school. The master and madam had him study with Fourth Miss precisely so he could serve as a study companion.
"Because I have other matters at home and can't stay at the mansion all day," Jiang Siji said perfunctorily. "Since you two have no intention of catching up on your missed classes at the Imperial Academy, why not go do what you should be doing during the holiday instead of wasting time here?"
Helan Chang and Helan Rong exchanged a glance.
That was true. When they had requested two days off, it was so they could spend more time with their father and listen to his thrilling war stories.
So the two immediately decided to leave and instead go bother their father, who was recovering at home on imperial orders.
Helan Zhen didn't leave with them. Instead, he called Tianqing aside.
Tianqing felt a surge of joy. The Eldest Young Master still remembered him!
"Did Lu Shuo get along well at home last night?" Helan Zhen asked. "You're his personal servant now. Even if he doesn't say anything, you need to pay attention to certain things."
"It seems... fine? Young Master Lu is quite easygoing; he hasn't made any requests," Tianqing said. Then he recalled something. "But he cried yesterday, and Fourth Miss saw him."
He then recounted the whole story.
Helan Zhen sighed softly. "It's only natural for him to miss his parents. But if he's often seen crying in the mansion, it won't leave a good impression. See if you can persuade him to go out and take a stroll. There are plenty of delicious foods and interesting things in the Capital City to take his mind off things."
Tianqing quickly replied, "The Eldest Young Master is right. This servant will urge Young Master Lu more."
Having given his instructions, Helan Zhen didn't stay long and left the Eastern Corridor.
Inside the side room, Jiang Siji taught Lu Shuo a simple enlightenment poem. He had to recognize new characters on the spot and memorize them, stumbling through the recitation. Jiang Siji stroked her chin, having a basic idea in mind.
This child wasn't the naturally gifted type, but that was fine. He wasn't stupid, and he had a relatively serious attitude toward learning. For a student like this, Jiang Siji decided to focus on encouragement.
She said, "You're not bad, child. If you keep studying diligently, you might achieve something in the future."
She picked up a brush, bent over, and swiftly wrote down a few book titles on the paper. She called Tianqing over from outside and said, "Go buy these books for your young master. Some are elementary texts, some are picture books—all for children. My grandnephew reads these. Also, buy a few tracing copybooks that break down strokes and practice brush control. Don't buy ready-made stele rubbings."
Tianqing acknowledged.
Jiang Siji asked Lu Shuo, "Do you know why I also bought picture books for you?"
Lu Shuo shook his head.
Jiang Siji said, "These aren't just simple picture books. Each picture has a short story attached, just the kind you kids like. You already know some simple characters. Reading these stories, combined with the illustrations, you can guess the gist even if you don't know every word. It will also help you learn new characters."
Lu Shuo understood immediately.
Back in the village, there had been a kid who got a worn-out picture book from a distant relative, depicting stories of filial sons. All the other kids envied him and often begged him to bring it out for everyone to see. Lu Shuo had also seen it many times. Although he had already memorized the pictures, whenever that kid showed off the book, Lu Shuo would still eagerly crowd around to look. Because of that precious item, that kid had become a leader among the children.
Later, some other kids accidentally tore a few pages of the picture book. The owner cried with anger and never shared the book again. Lu Shuo had felt sorry about it for a long time.
And now, he could have his own picture book to read.
But now, picture books were ordinary things, and only he needed one. No one else would be eager to have it, and there would be no more crowds of children huddled together, chattering over the same book.
"Alright, that's enough for today. I've got a sense of your foundation. I'll go back and prepare, and we'll officially start class tomorrow," Jiang Siji said. "If you have time this afternoon, memorize the enlightenment poem I just taught you. This poem has strict rhythm, which will help you when you write essays in the future."
Lu Shuo quickly stood up to see her off.
Helan Pei heard this and also stood up.
Jiang Siji waved her hand. "Don't bother with me. I'll go talk to the Madam about today's situation, and then I'll leave on my own."
She hadn't brought anything with her. With her hands behind her back, she strode out.
Now that Jiang Siji was gone, there was no reason for the others to stay. Tianqing helped Lu Shuo pack the school supplies and books back into the book chest. He glanced at the paper with Lu Shuo's name on it, paused for a moment, then casually placed it inside a book and put it away.
Lu Shuo saw this and pressed his lips together tightly.
From behind the curio cabinet, Helan Pei watched the master and servant. A hint of hesitation flickered across her face.
In truth, she wanted to say that this was a study room used specifically for lessons, and no one else usually came here. So he could leave his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone here instead of carrying them back and forth. After all, everyone certainly had more than one set.
If he needed to bring something, he only had to take a few books that he would read in his room at night. There was really no need to pack them in a special book chest.
But she couldn't speak. If she deliberately wrote a note to tell him that, it might seem too formal.
Moreover, this room had originally been used by her and Jiang Siji alone, and the decorations were arranged by the two of them. Now that another person had joined, she still felt a bit uncomfortable. She also didn't want his things to occupy the space that had originally belonged to them.
Just as she was hesitating, Tianqing had already packed up.
Lu Shuo looked at Helan Pei, bit his lip, and bowed. "Then I'll take my leave now, Fourth Miss."
Helan Pei neither agreed nor disagreed, just lowered her head and closed her own book.
Seeing that she didn't respond, Lu Shuo thought she still despised him. His expression darkened, and he lowered his head to leave with Tianqing.
Zisu came in from outside and asked Helan Pei, "Miss, how was it? This servant heard him reciting outside, and it made my head buzz. He's twelve years old, and he couldn't memorize a poem that you could recite at six even after several times..."
Helan Pei suddenly lifted her eyes.
Zisu realized her slip of the tongue, quickly slapped her own mouth, and gave an awkward smile, changing the subject. "Everyone has left. Miss, let's go back too. This servant heard that the kitchen made sweet fruit syrup today. I'll bring a cup back for you later."
Helan Pei nodded.
Seeing that the miss wasn't angry, Zisu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She was really careless; how could she have said that without thinking? It was true that the miss could recite that poem at six, but the 'reciting' at that time was something the miss could no longer do now!
In her heart, she grew more disapproving of the master and madam's decision. That young master Lu was just starting his basic education; he would inevitably have to read aloud and recite every day, babbling on and on as if showing off his voice. Wasn't that just deliberately upsetting the miss?
But since the miss herself had no objections, she dared not comment.
The Author has something to say: None.