When Yu Shu first took An Bekui in, she learned from her that she was extraordinary, so she imagined that there might be someone in this world like her, who came from five hundred years in the future.
This thought made her feel both excited and worried. She was excited because as a "foreigner", she could meet a "fellow countryman". It really made her feel an indescribable excitement. She was worried because if the other person was not the same as her, then it was very likely that he would become a potential threat to her in this world.
She had been secretly conflicted about this. Until now, when she confirmed the existence of such a person through An Bekui's special ability, she actually let out a sigh of relief.
There was no other reason than that this "fellow countryman" was a servant she had bought from the Provider's Institute.
With such an identity, no matter what, he would not be able to make waves under her hands. This dispelled her unnecessary worry. The rest was purely the excitement of finding a fellow countryman.
An Bekui secretly looked at the shocked and happy expression on Yu Shu's face. She was very nervous and called out, "Master."
"Hmm?" Yu Shu came back to her senses and realized that she had been holding onto this child. She quickly let go of her hand and gently rubbed her shoulder. She said with a smile,
"Well done, Bekui. You should be rewarded. If there is anything you want, just say it."
Only then did An Bekui relax. Hearing Yu Shu's praise, she smiled shyly and knelt at Yu Shu's feet. She shook her head and said sincerely, "This servant doesn't want anything, as long as you are happy."
If someone else said this, it would be hypocritical, but Yu Shu knew that it was difficult for An Bekui to maintain a pure heart. She said that she didn't want a reward because she had never wanted to take credit for it. She just wanted to please her.
"How can that be? I have always been clear about rewards and punishments." Yu Shu patted her little head. After thinking for a moment, she touched the lanyard on her neck and took it off. It was a goose carved from white crystal. It was only the size of an almond and had the effect of helping people sleep. She had worn it for many days.
An Beikui watched as Yu Shu took off her undergarments and put them on her neck. She was flattered and hurriedly refused, "This servant doesn't dare."
Yu Shu ignored her and smiled as she put the white crystal on her head. She said, "You have a pair of eyes more than anyone else in this world. You have to go through hardships that others can't even imagine. Wandering in a foreign land, alone in the dead of night, I'm afraid you will be sad and lonely. You won't know your future. This crystal goose was personally raised by me. I hope it will let you have a good dream and sleep well so that you won't be troubled by the past."
These words were directed at An Bekui, but they also seemed like her monologue.
The warm crystal pendant was pressed against her chest. In an instant, An Bekui's eyes welled up with tears. She had been hiding her deep fears for the past few days, but Yu Shu's words had exposed them. She felt endless sorrow.
In an instant, she recalled many dark memories. Those unrecognizable corpses, those cruel training, and the days that made her so miserable that she wanted to die were gone forever.
"Master, thank you, master." She choked with sobs and crawled at the feet of Yu Shu. Her gratitude was overflowing from her chest.
Yu Shu let An Bekui hold the corner of her clothes and wiped her tears. There was a rare pity, but there was no impatience. Fortunately, An Bekui didn't dwell on it for too long. She stopped crying and looked up, waiting for her instructions.
Yu Shu coughed and pulled the corner of her clothes out of her hands. She said, "Tell me, what did Bai Ran teach you today?"
An Bekui said, "He taught me to read the Three Character Classic. He explained the meaning and recognized more than a dozen new words. He also said that I should copy the first few sentences ten times and show it to him tomorrow. At that time, he asked me to write it down from memory."
Yu Shu nodded. Since she found Bai Ran suspicious, she first had to confirm whether he came from the same place as her.
"The Three Character Classic?" Yu Shu thought for a while and came up with an idea. She naturally wouldn't come forward to discuss his "origin" with Bai Ran, but she could let An Bekui test him first.
"What did he teach you?"
"At the beginning of man, his nature is good. His nature is similar, but his habits are different …" She had just learned a few sentences not long ago. She recited them without any difficulty.
Yu Shu nodded, "Well, Bekui, I will give you a task. From tomorrow onwards, you will go to Bai Ran's place to study. Pay more attention to his words and actions. Later, when you go to see him tomorrow, he will ask you to write down your homework. Don't write it according to what he taught you. Come here, I will write it for you."
After saying that, she got up and put on her shoes. She walked to the small window. She had a pen, ink, and paper in her bedroom, so that she could write down some essays.
Yu Shu took An Bekui to the table and asked her to grind the ink and paper. She wrote down the passages of Three Character Classic she had just memorized, but she used simplified characters that were commonly used 500 years later.
"Copy it and write it down when you go back at night."
An Bekui didn't ask for the reason, nor was she curious why Yu Shu's writing looked different from what she had learned. She just copied it honestly. Yu Shu guided her to make sure that she didn't make any mistakes.
Then, Yu Shu burned the simplified characters she had written first into ashes. She opened the window to let in some fresh air and looked at the confused Abe Kui with a smile.
"I don't need you to serve me here. Go and rest."
An Bekui obediently retreated. Yu Shu walked around the room alone. She couldn't help but feel restless. It took her a while to calm down. She put on her coat and turned to the study.
She was worried. She needed to burn incense to make a divination. She wanted to know whether Bai Ran, the variable, was good or bad for her.
.....
When Liu Tan returned to the wang fu in the evening, he heard that Yu Shu would stay until the afternoon before leaving. Looking at Xia Jiangmin's good mood, he felt that his arrangement was not wrong. Not only could he make his lovely wife happy, he could also let Yu Shu maintain a close relationship with Jing wang fu.
Xia Jiangmin was like a butterfly circling around Liu Tan. One moment she talked about how beautiful the chrysanthemums in the garden were, the next moment she talked about the jokes Yu Shu told her today. As for what Yu Shu had warned her not to mention in front of Liu Tan, she didn't say a single word.
Liu Tan tasted the tea that she had personally brewed and casually asked: "I see that you and lotus fang guniang get along so well, but I've never heard you say when did you meet?"
Xia Jiangmin instantly paused. Her eyes flashed twice and she pursed her lips as she sat next to him. She smiled and said: "Long ago, I came to Jing to visit my si jie. At that time, lotus fang was still an examinee. She set up a stall on the south street of the city to tell people's fortunes. I met her by chance. Because there weren't many friends or relatives in Jing, we kept in touch. After a while, we became familiar."
The fact that she had run away from home was purposely concealed by the Xia Jiang family. This matter could not be known by Liu Tan. Luckily, there were only a few people who knew. Yu Shu had already helped her secretly pass a message to Jing Chen. They wouldn't leak anything.
"So that's how it is. You two are fated."
Liu Tan didn't seem to suspect anything. After accompanying her for a while, he went to the study in the outer yard to see his guests.
.....
After Liu Tan opened his fu, he recruited many knowledgeable people at the Shuang Yang Conference. A considerable portion of them didn't enter officialdom and became his guests. They were kept in another courtyard and provided food and drink. Every day, they came to the outer yard to see him, discuss politics, and give him advice.
When Emperor Zhao Qing rewarded him, he bestowed a thousand taels of gold and countless treasures. Imperial Consort Xue also secretly gave him a few properties that she had previously sent people to manage in Jing. Other than that, there was also the assistance of the large and influential Xue family. Just the copper coins that Xue Lingnan sent into Jing Wang Fu were loaded with more than a dozen carts.
This didn't even include the ten li of red dowry that the Xia Jiang family carried into Jing Wang Fu.
Therefore, when Liu Tan, an imperial prince who had cultivated outside for many years, returned to Jing, he didn't lack money to spend. Therefore, it didn't take any effort to raise such a large group of idlers.
Today's topic was on the topic of 'What benefit does the flourishing of the Dao bring to the flourishing of the country'. Liu Tan was in high spirits until the end of the topic. He was still unsatisfied. He sent away a group of hangers-on, turned around, and went to the South Striding Courtyard to look for his most trusted advisor, Helan Chou.
When all was said and done, Liu Tan was only seventeen years old. He was still young and always had some worries that he didn't have anyone to confide in. In the past, he had lived on Mount Longhu and didn't have many people to enlighten him. After returning to Jing, even though there were a few elders of virtue and prestige, he had to be cautious in his words and actions. Only He Lanchou, who was old enough and had experienced many hardships in life, had become Liu Tan's confidant.
"In the ten years I spent on the mountain, everything I learned and saw was related to the Dao. At first, I thought it would be of no benefit to the affairs of the country. But after thinking about it, all things in this world are related to the word 'reason'. There is a Dao in governing a country and a Dao in being a person. Often, a sentence of Dao hides a great mystery that only needs to be unraveled. For example, in the 'Zhengyi', there is a saying: 'Upholding the Dao is benevolent and virtuous, Quanzhen is restored to Taihe, Utmost sincerity is declared in the Jade Code, Loyalty and righteousness are performed in the Golden Section.'
Liu Tan vented his frustrations, and Helanchou listened attentively from beginning to end. His eyes were filled with hope. He believed that this young prince, who was bold and decisive, already had the embryonic form of a wise ruler.
After venting, Liu Tan finally felt carefree and relaxed. He calmed down and listened to He Lanchou's words of consolation. Finally, he suggested:
"Ever since Your Highness returned to the capital, you have been buried in official business all day. You are too diligent, and this has tortured your mind. If you have time, why don't you invite a few friends and relatives to go out and play? If you don't want to go too far, there are many good places in Jing."
Hearing this, Liu Tan was interested and asked: "Teacher, please tell me about it."
"The Lookout Pavilion on Jade Lion Lake, the Concubine Courtyard at the head of Xisi Bridge, and the Ginger House in Apricot Rain Lane."
Liu Tan frowned slightly: "I have been to the Lookout Pavilion and the Ginger House. Isn't the Concubine Courtyard a place to deal with criminals? What is there to go to?"
He Lanchou only smiled. Seeing that Liu Tan did not think much of it, he did not go into detail: "There is a wonderful person hidden in there."
Liu Tan noted down his words, then he changed the topic and said, "We can go to the Heng Wu Mansion to relax. I haven't seen my cousin brother Xue Rui in private for a while, so I'll look for him first."
Helanchou secretly thought that Liu Tan's handling of matters was still lacking in slyness. His intelligence was sufficient, but he lacked vision and methods. The Eldest Young Master of the Xue family was like a dragon in the clouds. If Liu Tan wanted to use him, it would not be so easy.
As a result, He Lanchou suggested: "Why don't we invite Daozi to accompany us? The three of us will go together. Wouldn't that be perfect?"
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