The sky was full of stars, like a piece of broken gold sprinkled on a dark blue cloth, glittering and shining.
Yuxi rubbed her stomach as she walked, "I'm very full today." Even though she said she was full, she was actually eighty per cent full. She usually ate until she was sixty to seventy per cent full.
Zisu said discontentedly, "I always reminded Miss to control yourself, but you always wouldn't listen. Now, how can you sleep at night after eating so much?"
Yuxi smiled. Although there was no meat today, the cook's cooking was so good that she couldn't help but eat more. "No harm. Wait until we're back. I'll do wuqinxi for a while. I'll assure you by that time, I won't feel too full anymore." Living in the Master Courtyard was like having one's hands being tied and one's legs being bound. Even practising wuqinxi was an inconvenience.
The two of them spoke for a little while, but Zijin kept on being silent. Yuxi was puzzled, "Zijin, what's wrong with you? What's on your mind?"
Zijin looked up at Yuxi and said, "Miss, I want to learn martial arts from Master Yang." She had just heard in the Main Courtyard that Han Jianye had killed over a hundred rebels by himself that night. She just thought that if she were as powerful as the Second Master, her Miss wouldn't have been frightened that night, and it was this thought that sprouted her wish to learn martial arts from Master Yang. [T/N]
Yuxi had such an idea before, but the facts told her that this road was not accessible. "Master Yang does not accept female apprentices." To put it bluntly, men looked down on women and would not accept a female apprentice. Even if Master Yang knew that Zijin was born with great strength, he would only say that it was a pity and still wouldn't want to accept Zijin as an apprentice.
Zijin responded, "Miss, I don't want Master Yang to accept me as an apprentice. I just want him to give me some advice. When I learn martial arts well, no one can bully Miss again." [+]
Yuxi also wanted Zijin to learn martial arts from Master Yang. Unfortunately, Master Yang wouldn't accept it, so there was no other way. "Don't think about learning martial arts from Master Yang. If you feel that your knowledge and skills aren't yet refined, wait for a few days until everything in residence settles, then you can continue learning from Deng Shi."
Zijin lowered her head and didn't say anything.
Yuxi knew that Zijin was sad, but there was nothing she could do about it. Master Yang wasn't Deng Shi, who could be persuaded with a commission.
Originally, Yuxi was in a good mood, but because of Zijin's words, she became depressed. This world was too harsh on women. It was too hard for a woman to do a good job.
When Qiu Shi returned to the courtyard after finishing her work, she saw that the light in Yuxi's room was still on. She didn't go directly there but changed her clothes before going over.
When Qiu Shi saw Yuxi still leaning against the head of the bed reading a book, she walked over to take the book from Yuxi's hand and scolded, "What time is it and you still reading? Hurry up and go to bed."
Yuxi chuckled lightly, "I slept too much during the day, and now I can't sleep. I've got nothing else to do, so I'm just reading to pass the time."
Qiu Shi put down the book in her hand on the bedside table and said, "You, this child, really don't have a moment to spare!" The other young ladies spent their time on clothes and jewellery, but Yuxi studied either pharmacology or embroidery and wouldn't stop all day long.
<
div style="text-align: justify;">Yuxi gathered her quilt and said, "Eldest Aunt, I want to move out in two days. Although the Master Courtyard is good, I have too many maids and old women servants that I don't have any room to put them." When children grew up, they had to move out. First, they could cultivate their independent ability. Second, they had many people serving them, that there was not enough room in the courtyard.
Although Qiu Shi was reluctant, she knew it was impossible to keep Yuxi by her side all the time. After listening to Yuxi's words, she smiled and said, "I have ordered someone to clean the Taoran House, and it should be ready in a couple of days. When the time comes, you will move there."
Yuxi naturally knew which courtyard Taoran House was. Han Jianye lived in Taoran House when he got married in his previous life. "Eldest Aunt, Taoran House is too big. I will rather not accept it. Just pick a smaller courtyard!" Yuxi's Rose Courtyard was just a small courtyard with one entry. Taoran House was a three-entry courtyard, which was also one of the large courtyards in the State Residence.
Qiu Shi didn't listen to Yuxi's whining and said, "I'll let you live there. The only bad thing about Taoran House is that it's a bit far from me." No one currently lived in that courtyard, and Taoran House was one of the best, which was why she chose Taoran House for Yuxi.
Yuxi thought for a moment and said, "If I remember correctly, Taoran House should not be far away from Dage's study, right?" Although Taoran House belonged to the inner chambers and Han Jianming's study was in the front courtyard, it was only half a quarter of an hour from Taoran House to Han Jianming's study, which was very near.
Qiu Shi nodded, "Don't you like to read? Your Dage has quite a collection of books, so if you want to read any books then, just look for your Dage."
The new courtyard was a done deal. Yuxi also felt a lot more relieved. No matter which courtyard she lived in, she didn't feel much about it. The Rose Courtyard was a place she used to live in, and Taoran House was just another place for her to live, which didn't have any special meaning for her.
Later, Yuxi had a good night's sleep.
The next day, when Han Jianye got up and was about to go out, he heard his maid walk past with a strange expression as she said, "Second Master, Fourth Miss's maid, Miss Zijin, came looking for you."
Han Jianye didn't think much about it. He only thought that Yuxi had sent Zijin. However, when he heard Zijin's request, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "My Si Meimei once told me that she wanted you to practice martial arts with my master, but my master refused. Zijin, it's not that I don't want to help you, but that I can't."
Zijin didn't force Han Jianye and only said, "Second Master, can you tell me where Master Yang lives?"
Han Jianye looked warily at Zisu and asked, "What do you want to do? Let me tell you, my master is a very stubborn person, and even if you just go there to beg, it will be useless."
Zijin looked up and said, "Second Master, I have no wish to acknowledge Master Yang as my teacher. Not to mention that I'm a girl, my status is also not qualified. Second Master, I just want to learn martial arts well and protect Miss in the future. Second Master, please help me and tell me the address of Master Yang!"
Under Zijin's pleading, Han Jianye finally couldn't stand it any longer and told her where Master Yang lived. Although he told her the address, he still reminded her, "I will still repeat the same thing; my master is a very stubborn person. I firmly believe that even ten horses won't be able to pull him back. If he says he won't take you as a disciple, he won't take you."
Zijin never thought of acknowledging Master Yang as a teacher. She only hoped to get his guidance. "Second Master, I know. Don't worry. I won't make you feel embarrassed."
Han Jianye wasn't afraid of being embarrassed. He was just very sure that Zijin wouldn't be able to succeed.
Zijin also knows that she couldn't make sense with Han Jianye, and both of them were not on the same wavelength after all. "Second Master, I only hope that Miss won't know about what happened today. I am afraid Miss will be worried when she knows about this."
Han Jianye readily agreed, "Don't worry, I won't let my Si Meimei know about this." It was also Yuxi's good fortune to have such a loyal and devoted subordinate.
When Han Jianye went to work for the Imperial Guards, he saw his future brother-in-law. When Sixth Master Lu saw Han Jianye, he patted him on the shoulder and praised him, "Very good." Sixth Master Lu just got the news yesterday afternoon and told his family with joy when he returned home.
Han Jianye grinned and replied, "It was also because of luck." Running into one of the rebels' leaders and then managed to slaughter him, he truly felt like his luck was off the charts!
Sixth Master Lu smiled, "It's not just luck. It depends on your skill too." Luck was there, but without skill, even with luck, it would only be futile. [+]
Han Jianye wasn't modest anymore, "San Ge, let's go have a drink after the next errand." Men's friendships were built at the wine table.
Sixth Master Lu shook his head and said, "After the next errand, you can come home with me! Father has something to tell you!" After being in contact with him for such a long time, he discovered that Han Jianye was really tactless.
Han Jianye paled and said with difficulty, "Okay." He was terrified of meeting his future father-in-law, and every time he was criticised, it would be from head to toe like he had not even one good point. Of course, it wasn't without its benefits; through the criticism of Second Lord Lu, he had seen many of his shortcomings and was currently working on correcting them.
Han Jianming always wanted Han Jianye to get rid of his bad habits, but he was only two years older than Han Jianye, and he didn't have enough experiences. Thus he didn't know how to correct his shortcomings! Second Lord Lu was different. He had enough experiences, so when he taught Han Jianye, it was simply the same as stretching his hand and grabbing it. This was why Yuxi felt that Han Jianye had matured a lot.
After Sixth Master Lu finished with his errand, he waited at the door. When he saw Han Jianye's expression like he was going to the execution ground, he laughed and said, "My Father is not going to eat you. How can you be scared like this?" This time, Sixth Master Lu seemed to have forgotten that he would also become as good as a kitten every time he was taught by his father.
Han Jianye followed Sixth Master Lu, but as he walked, he felt something was wrong, "Liu Ge, isn't this the way to uncle's study?" He hadn't married Lu Xiu yet; hence he couldn't call Second Lord Lu as his father. That was why he still called him uncle.
Sixth Master Lu showed a sly smile on his face, "Let's go, I won't take you the wrong way."
Although Han Jianye was forthright, he wasn't brainless and inquired, "What the hell is going on? If you don't tell me, I'm going home."
Sixth, Master Lu said with a smile, "Grandfather just took a break today, and Father is waiting for you by Grandfather's side!"
Han Jianye's legs went weak when he heard this. It had been almost two months since he had been betrothed to Lu Xiu, and he hadn't seen Old Lord Lu. He hadn't expected to see Old Lord Lu either, mainly because Old Lord Lu was a very busy man and had many children and grandchildren at his knees, so a future grandson-in-law was nothing. But, no amount of fear would have prevented this.
After another short walk, the two arrived outside a homely-looking courtyard. Seeing that Han Jianye couldn't lift his leg, Sixth Master Lu laughed lightly and said, "Let's go. Grandfather is waiting inside!"
He had to get in anyway. If he died, then he died! Han Jianye had to put forward his spirit of not being afraid to die as he walked in with a brisk stride.
When Sixth Master Lu noticed Han Jianye's manner, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. If he didn't know, he would think that Han Jianye was going to an execution ground! However, when he thought of his stern Grandfather, Sixth Master Lu also cringed.
Noob Translator's Musing
Image Credit | 唯美illustrator
This world was too harsh on women. It was really too hard for a woman to do a good job.
You know how many times I feel fortunate that I was born in today's world. At least I can do so many things that couldn't be done by women back then. I can also choose who and when to marry.
I've read an article Women in Traditional China by Patricia Ebrey at asiasociety.org, and came across this part.
Confucius’s follower Mencius declared that the worst of unfilial acts was a failure to have descendants (Mencius 4A.26)
I was kind of pissed. If you don't have a daughter, how will your future male generations flourish? If he was still alive, I really want to forward him this site WHO Gender and Genetics. -`д´-
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi