Today, Helan Pei wore a jade-white embroidered jacket, with a peach-red skirt hem that gently brushed the tops of her shoes. When the wind blew, it rippled like layers of water waves.
Lu Shuo wondered why she had agreed to let him study with her. Was it due to pressure from her parents? Out of kindness? Or perhaps she simply didn’t care—to her, Lu Shuo, Wang Shuo, or Li Shuo were all the same?
She and Jiang Siji had been teacher and student for years. Today wasn’t a class day, yet she had still come early to see Jiang Siji. Was it for studying? Or to talk about him? If it was the latter, what image did this sudden outsider who had joined the Duke Mansion and was about to share her classroom hold in her heart?
Unconsciously, Lu Shuo picked at his sleeve.
“Yes, this is Lu Shuo. You already know his situation,” Zhang Yizhu said to Jiang Siji with a smile. “This child hasn’t had many opportunities to study before, but he’s hardworking, obedient, and willing to start learning now.”
Jiang Siji nodded. “As long as he wants to learn, that’s the best.”
Zhang Yizhu gently patted Lu Shuo on the back. “Lu Shuo, greet Jiang Siji properly. From now on, she will be your teacher.”
“Greetings, Jiang Siji,” Lu Shuo said respectfully.
“All good, all good,” Jiang Siji replied. “Let’s go inside and talk slowly. No need to stand outside. Little Pei’er is here too, so it’s a chance to get acquainted.”
Zhang Yizhu peeked into the room and saw a book and some papers laid out on the table. She raised an eyebrow. “I thought she came early to play with you, but she actually brought her books?”
“Of course!” Jiang Siji said. “Little Pei’er told me that the book’s interpretation of an ancient story is slightly different from what I taught her. She went to ask the Eldest Young Master yesterday, but he had yet another interpretation. She was confused, so she came to ask me again.”
Zhang Yizhu asked, “So which one is correct?”
Jiang Siji laughed heartily. “Everyone has a point. No one is wrong. It’s like ‘a ridge from the side, a peak from the front.’ People with different perspectives can explain the same thing in different ways. I told Little Pei’er that when she grows up and has more experience, she might come up with an even newer interpretation.”
Zhang Yizhu looked at her daughter’s darting eyes and smiled, reaching out to tap her forehead. “Always thinking about so many things. Be careful not to get yourself tangled up! Studying all day can make you dull. You need to go out and experience new things more often!”
Jiang Siji said, “We only talked about the book up to that point. Then I recalled an amusing incident from long ago and told it to Little Pei’er. Just as I finished, Madam, you arrived with Little Lu.”
Zhang Yizhu said, “Then I’ll leave both children to you, Siji. See how best to arrange the lessons. I won’t interfere. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Rest assured, Madam!” Jiang Siji agreed readily. “I have nothing else to do now. I enjoy being around children!”
Zhang Yizhu smiled and said to Lu Shuo, “It’s all right. Take your time learning. We have plenty of time.”
Lu Shuo replied, “...Yes.”
Zhang Yizhu left. Tianqing still hadn’t arrived, so Lu Shuo was forced to face Jiang Siji and Helan Pei alone.
Having seen all kinds of people in the palace, Jiang Siji had developed sharp eyes. Although the messenger from the Duke Mansion had emphasized that Lu Shuo was from the countryside and had little education, she felt more relaxed dealing with children from such simple, honest backgrounds.
“Come in,” Jiang Siji said with a smile to Lu Shuo.
Lu Shuo followed Jiang Siji and Helan Pei into the side room.
Perhaps because this room had been used solely for Helan Pei’s lessons for years, many corners bore clear traces of her use.
For example, on the windowsill sat a vase of arranged flowers, and beneath it was a small stove for brewing tea. Beside the stove were two rush cushions covered with apricot-pink cotton pads, with auspicious knots tied at the four corners—likely where teacher and student rested during breaks.
Another example was a market-scene painting hanging on the wall, probably depicting a lantern festival with lively streets, wandering crowds, various vendors, and colorful lanterns—very vivid and bustling.
But Lu Shuo had never seen such a painting hung indoors. In his village, wealthier families bought portraits of Guanyin or the God of Longevity for good luck. Why did Fourth Miss hang this painting? He didn’t dare ask, perhaps because he was ignorant.
Then there was the curio cabinet nearby, holding a few old books, an incense box, some delicate jade ornaments, and some cheap trinkets that didn’t match the jade—things that looked like they were picked up from a street market: clay figurines, ceramic pigs and dogs, bamboo dragonflies, dried pinecones, withered lotus seedpods, mountain walnuts, and so on.
The cabinet divided the room into left and right. On the left side, two desks faced each other; if someone sat behind them, they’d be facing each other. On the right side stood a single desk of similar size but slightly different color. Lu Shuo guessed that the two inner desks were Jiang Siji and Fourth Miss’s regular ones, while the new outer desk was for him.
Sure enough, he saw Helan Pei walk past the cabinet, enter the inner area, and sit down at the desk with books and writing materials.
Jiang Siji didn’t go over. She stood beside Lu Shuo, pointed to the single desk in front of him, and said kindly, “Little Lu, you’ll have your lessons here from now on.”
Lu Shuo responded with a “Yes” and sat down stiffly at the desk.
Tianqing hadn’t brought the supplies yet, so the desk was empty and clean enough to reflect his own shadow.
Jiang Siji didn’t start by asking what characters he knew. Instead, she asked about his hometown—which prefecture, county, and village he lived in, what crops grew there, and how his family made a living.
Lu Shuo answered one by one. Jiang Siji had never been to such a distant place, nor had she farmed, so she only partially understood what he said. But she chatted as if they were old friends, smilingly asking about the shapes and colors of the things she didn’t understand. Seeing that she seemed genuinely curious, Lu Shuo couldn’t help but talk more and more, going into greater detail.
By the end, he was a bit confused—had he been doing all the talking? Who was teaching whom?
He swallowed, his throat a little dry. Jiang Siji noticed and walked to the windowsill, poured a cup of tea, and came back to hand it to Lu Shuo.
Flattered, Lu Shuo stood up and accepted it. “I’m sorry, how could I let the teacher pour tea for the student?”
Jiang Siji waved her sleeve. “Don’t bother with those empty formalities. It’s not my tea anyway, it’s the Duke Mansion’s tea!”
Hearing this, Lu Shuo instinctively glanced at Helan Pei.
From his angle, her figure was partially blocked by the cabinet, and he could only see her profile and half her back. But at some point, the young lady who had been bent over her book had stopped moving. She slightly turned her head, using her peripheral vision to glance at him from behind.
When she noticed his gaze, she quickly straightened up, but perhaps feeling that was too obvious, she turned her face back and gave him a slight nod.
Author's note: They keep catching each other sneaking glances.