by N/A
As soon as Gao Zi Fu left, Ji Liu Xia ran in from outside the classroom, returning to her own seat. "Xiao Li, why didn't you tell me you were coming to school, I would've gone to get you!"
"Third sister, sorry, going to the toilet took rather long. By the time I came out, it was already almost time for class, and Teacher Gao's class doesn't allow for students to be late. Thinking it was his class, I just forgot in the hurry." Du Ke Xin walked from the front to the back of the classroom and said with an apologetic look.
Before Du Xiao Li could respond, someone in the classroom already spoke out.
"Ke Xin, it's not like you did it on purpose, who let Teacher Gao be that strict!"
"That's right, I trust Du third miss won't blame you either. Besides, you're the older sister, how can a younger sister blame their own older sister."
Du Xiao Li looked to those people all energetically talking at once, and also that look of self-blame on Du Ke Xin, and said, "En, second sister indeed just had me lead to the boys' school side by accident, and then let me wait there for an hour only. However, I later ran into Ding Wang, and he had me sent to Elder Fu's place. Afterwards, also troubled Gentleman Mo to send me here."
"You ran into Ding Wang?"
"Ding Wang even sent you to find Elder Fu?"
"Ah, I remember, his Majesty bestowed a marriage for you and Ding Wang!"
"Ding Wang definitely must have saw that it was your first time coming to the academy, and thus helped show you the way."
"That's right, else, with Ding Wang's temper, how could he have bother with you?"
Du Xiao Li looked to those people, somewhat wanting to sigh. These official family's young miss really are women! Three women, one drama, it really is the case!
(T/N: This an idiom meaning that three women are enough for a drama.)
"Alright, we should be going to the next classroom." Just when Du Xiao Li felt a headache coming, a crisp voice saved her.
"Ah---Today's class is Teacher Feng's!"
As soon as Teacher Feng was mentioned, the ones that were gathered around Du Xiao Li just now seemingly all ran away, letting Du Xiao Li see the person that spoke out and saved her from the situation.
"Hello, I'm Meng Jiang Zhuo. I heard my mother mention you before." Meng Jiang Zhuo came up to Du Xiao Li and said with a smile.
Meng Jiang Zhuo wasn't especially beautiful, but she gave off a very refreshing and peaceful feeling. However, she also carried some cleverness, and wasn't the same kind of feeling as Fu Ya Lan's composure.
"Thank you for saving me just now." Du Xiao Li nodded in thanks towards Meng Jiang Zhuo. A child of the Meng family that was able to attend school here, must be Imperial Tutor Meng's daughter.
"That was nothing more than just lifting one's finger. If one has to say thanks, it should be me thanking you instead." Meng Jiang Zhuo said with a smile.
"En? Jiang Zhuo, why are you thanking Xiao Li?" Ji Liu Xia asked in confusion.
"Kehkeh, nothing. Alright, let's quickly go over too." Meng Jiang Zhuo coughed twice and said.
Shortly, everyone all got up and walked out together. Du Xiao Li came to Fu Ya Lan's side and said, "Really thank you for earlier."
"What's there to thank about." Fu Ya Lan lightly smiled.
"Why did everyone all run as soon as they heard it's Teacher Feng's class?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"That's because they're all rushing to sit in the front so that they can be a little closer to Teacher Feng." Ji Liu Xia replied.
"What kind of person is that Teacher Feng? To actually make those young ladies all disregard being reserved?"
Meng Jiang Zhuo laughed and said, "Xiao Li, you just arrived in the capital. Not knowing Teacher Feng is also normal. That Teacher Feng is the head of the four great scholars of the capital, Feng Li Shang. He's only twenty-four this year, and not only is he good looking, his knowledge in music theory is also very rich. Especially his zither skills, truly great!"
(T/N: Random but Feng Li Shang's name is rather particular---the last character in his name 'Shang' is a character I don't see much, it means 'to die in childhood' or 'die at war'; his name 'Li Shang' can translate to 'away from death in childhood', I guess I can understand why his parents might give him that name, but it's still very hehe--)
Du Xiao Li listened to Meng Jiang Zhuo's explanation and thought of those people leaving in a hurry just now, feeling they must have gone to fangirl. Wasn't it said that young ladies of ancient times were all very reserved? Why was her understanding toppled again?
"This Teacher Feng is also very strict in class. However, he teaches very well, and everyone all listen very earnestly, aside from........" Fu Ya Lan said and glanced at Ji Liu Xia, smiling without saying anything.
Du Xiao Li instantly understood her meaning.
"Sigh, I really just can't comprehend. In my ear, those sounds just sound like random noises. Sigh, why can my older brother be skillful in both literature and sword, yet when I see those bookish things my head just hurts!" Ji Liu Xia said very helplessly, "Actually, I normally don't come to class, but I got kicked here by my older brother. However, to be able to encounter Xiao Li is not bad either."
As the four of them talked, they arrived at the music classroom. Before even entering, they already heard a burst of zither playing coming from inside. Hearing this sound, Du Xiao Li's entire body suddenly froze.
"Every time before class, Teacher Feng would always perform a piece for everyone to eliminate the fatigue, letting everyone be able to single-mindedly engross themselves in his class." Fu Ya Lan said.
"How is it, it's very nice right?" Meng Jiang Zhuo asked with a smile.
"En, very nice." Du Xiao Li smiled. She stood outside the window and gazed inside, seeing at the front of the classroom, a white clothed, elegant and handsome man playing the zither. The other students all intoxicated by his playing.
Others perhaps couldn't tell from hearing, but she immediately sensed the power contained in the zither sound. This indeed can eliminate fatigue, because Feng Li Shang was using sound force while playing!
Why did he know sound force? Who is he? Why was he here?
All the way until the piece finished, Du Xiao Li was still staring at Feng Li Shang. Suddenly, Feng Li Shang gazed over towards her, with faint confusion in his eyes.
"Xiao Li, let's go in." Fu Ya Lan gave Du Xiao Li a shove and walked into the classroom.
"This must be the new student that came today?" Feng Li Shang looked to Du Xiao Li and asked.
"Yes, Teacher Feng, I'm Du Xiao Li." Du Xiao Li bowed towards Feng Li Shang as she replied.
"En, you can just randomly find a seat to sit." Feng Li Shang's voice was very pleasant to hear, but his attitude was instead very indifferent.
Although the seating was rather casual, everyone still had a fixed order. For instance, the members of the imperial family naturally sat in the front, and second to them was lined according to official rank. However, Ji Liu Xia dragged Du Xiao Li to sit in the back of the classroom.
"Next, let's begin class. Today, we'll be learning a new piece. This piece's music score has already been passed to your seats. The relatively difficult parts inside have already been specially marked. This piece's finger technique is rather difficult. I will perform it once for everyone first........" Feng Li Shang finished saying, and then began performing.
Ch. 066.2 – What Did This Prince's Wangfei Do Wrong? (2)
What Did This Prince's Wangfei Do Wrong? (2)
This time he didn't pour in the power of the sound force, so Du Xiao Li didn't pay attention to him anymore and picked up the music score on her desk. Just like he said, this piece was indeed rather difficult, but for her, it wasn't all that difficult. After looking at it for a few time, she had the score placed back on her desk and began listening to Feng Li Shang play.
Have to say, this Feng Li Shang's zither skills were indeed very excellent. Those rather difficult parts in the piece were all easily turned around by him. There wasn't the s
lightest trace of unnaturalness in between.
When he finished performing, a round of applause sounded in the classroom.
Feng Li Shang waved his hand, letting the classroom quiet down, "Now, I'll teach everyone how to play those few rather difficult areas......"
Although Feng Li Shang was a feast to the eyes, and his teaching was also not bad, Ji Liu Xia still continuously yawned. Looks like she was sleepy again. Du Xiao Li listened for a while, and then began secretly practicing her inner energy inside the classroom.
This school life was indeed somewhat boring!
When class was about to end, Feng Li Shang let everyone freely practice. Suddenly, Chen Yue loudly spoke up, "Teacher, if we're practicing here, then those who can't even read the music score will really affect our mood too much."
With that said, she even looked towards the back at Du Xiao Li and Ji Liu Xia.
"What's your problem?" Ji Liu Xia instantly got angry.
"Exactly as I said." Chen Yue said.
Ji Liu Xia got up, but was pulled back by Du Xiao Li.
"I actually forgot Du third miss just arrived today. Practicing this hard of a piece is indeed somewhat unsuitable. You all just watch the others practice first." Feng Li Shang said.
"Hmph!" Ji Liu Xia sat back down in her own seat, looking to Du Xiao Li and asking, "Just now, why did you stop me?"
"A dog bit you, and now you're going to bite it back?" Du Xiao Li said.
"Sigh, you're right." The fiery anger in Ji Liu Xia's stomach were cleanly blown away by Du Xiao Li's words. The two then began waiting in the classroom for the class to end.
Du Xiao Li watched those people before her play the zither, discovering that Du Ke Xin's zither skills here were indeed very difficult to compare to. This piece to them was indeed very hard, but after practicing a few times, she still managed to play out the whole piece. Although it was still obviously rather stiff, compared to the others, it was already very excellent.
Aside from Du Ke Xin, Meng Jiang Zhuo's zither skills were also very good, and second to her was Fu Ya Lan. Unexpectedly, Chen Yue's zither skills were also very good. Previously, she'd thought that she was just looks and no brain!
With great difficulty, they finally endured until class ended. Du Xiao Li got dragged by Ji Liu Xia and them to the nearby restaurant for a meal. Only after entering did Du Xiao Li realize it was Feng Xue Lou.
Turns out, Feng Xue Lou wasn't far from the school, only taking a little while by horse carriage, and the students of the academy sometimes would come here to eat lunch.
This time, Fu Wan San similarly came to greet them. However they'd come rather late, and the private rooms were already full. They could only casually order some food in the main hall.
However, what made Du Xiao Li rather happy was that today there was fresh grape wine. It was the Li family winery's newly produced batch for this year. Although this was her territory, seeing Ji Liu Xia and them spending a hundred some taels of silver without even blinking, Du Xiao Li still felt somewhat reluctant inside.
After the meal, it was time for noon break. When the four of them returned, they took Du Xiao Li to her room. Because the ones that came to study were all young misses and young masters of official families or of the imperial family, the living quarters prepared here were all especially high class.
Just, unexpectedly, her room just happened to be next door to Fan Min's, and all afternoon, she listened to the criticism towards her from next door. It was all those young ladies that had followed behind Fan Min that morning.
The afternoon classes as before were culture class and music class, just it wasn't Feng Li Shang teaching, but rather another teacher that taught the xiao flute.
(T/N: Vertical flute generally made from bamboo; it's name 'Dong Xiao' means 'hole flute')
Finally, they lasted until class ended. Du Xiao Li felt she was about to be bored to death. She followed Ji Liu Xia and the others out of the school halls, discovering that Du Ke Xin's horse carriage was already gone.
"This Du Ke Xin really is just too much!" Ji Liu Xia knew that Du Xiao Li came with Du Ke Xin, and that the Du family only sent that one horse carriage to come pick them up. Now that the horse carriage was gone, she angry spoke out.
"Xiao Li, why don't you come with me." Fu Ya Lan said, "Our two houses aren't that far apart. I'll take you back along the way."
"Okay, then I'll just have to trouble you!"
"Then see you all tomorrow!"
Everyone all said their goodbyes and got on their respective horse carriage.
Fu Ya Lan climbed up stepping on a small stepping stool and then turned around to help Du Xiao Li, when they suddenly heard the sound of rushing horse hooves, drawing everyone's attention over.
"Big brother, what are you doing here?" Meng Jiang Zhuo was just preparing to get on the horse carriage, and upon seeing the person speeding over on horseback, she asked in surprise.
Meng Jiang Xin came before everyone and said, "Younger sister, do you know where Du third miss is?"
"What are you looking for Xiao Li for?" Ji Liu Xia asked.
"My father has request to invite." Meng Jiang Xin glanced around. At present, only Fu Ya Lan and the other's horse carriage haven't left yet. He saw Du Xiao Li at a glance. Climbing down from his horse, he came before Du Xiao Li and said, "Is this one Du third miss?"
Du Xiao Li nodded and said, "Is something the matter?"
"Grandfather said he somewhat missed Miss Du and wanted to invite Miss Du to the manor for a chat." Meng Jiang Xin said.
Du Xiao Li saw the anxiety leaking out from his two eyes and figured something must have happened. "Alright, I just happened to also miss grandpa Meng and them. Sister Ya Lan, I'll just go visit Meng Manor first."
"Okay." Although everyone all were somewhat skeptical inside, they still nodded.
Du Xiao Li got on Meng Jiang Zhuo's horse carriage, and Meng Jiang Xin got on his horse. They party hastily left.
"Didn't Xiao Li just arrive at the capital? When did she get acquainted with Imperial Tutor Meng?" Ji Liu Xia puzzlingly said as she watched them leave.
"Alright, let's go too. See you tomorrow." Fu Ya Lan finished saying and entered her horse carriage. The carriage curtains dropped and left first. Soon after, Ji Liu Xia also got on her horse carriage and left.
Du Xiao Li followed the Meng family siblings to the Meng Manor. She didn't even get down from the horse carriage, it just directly entered the manor.
"Brother, just what exactly happened?" Meng Jiang Zhuo waited until the horse carriage steadily stopped and jumped down.
"It's grandmother, she suddenly fainted." Meng Jiang Xin said, and then looked towards Du Xiao Li, who came down from behind, "Grandfather specially let me invite Miss Du over, asking Miss Du to save my grandmother."
"Grandma Meng fell ill?" Du Xiao Li's impression towards Meng Old Madam she'd met at the time was rather good.
"Yes." Meng Jiang Xin said, "My mother said the symptoms are more or less the same as grandfather's at the time. Just now, they'd already invited the imperial physician for a look, but they all say there's no hope. Thus, grandfather finally let me go find you."
"Then let's go see grandma Meng's situation first." Du Xiao Li urged.
Meng Jiang Xin lead Du Xiao Li to Meng Old Madam's courtyard. Meng Jiang Zhuo also followed over.
Ch. 066.3 – What Did This Prince's Wangfei Do Wrong? (3)
What Did This Prince's Wangfei Do Wrong? (3)
T/N: Chapter (4/12) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you for sponsoring!
Meng Bo Wen was currently outside the room pacing back and forth. Upon seeing Du Xiao Li, he quickly went forward and said, "Xiao Li, you're finally here, quickly come save your grandma Meng."
Du Xiao Li patted Meng Bo Wen's hand to comfort him, "Grandpa Meng, don't worry, I'll go examine grandma Meng first."
"En, quickly go." Meng Bo Wen pulled Du Xiao Li inside. They entered the inner room and saw lying on the bed Meng Old Madam.
/> "Xiao Li, you're finally here." Madam Meng was currently by the bedside monitoring Meng Old Madam's condition. Seeing Du Xiao Li come in, she quickly got up.
"Aunty Meng, don't worry, let me see first." Du Xiao Li said and came to Meng Old Madam's bedside, beginning to carefully examine her. After awhile, she finally said, "Grandma Meng's illness is more or less the same as grandpa Meng's last time, but grandma Meng's is rather urgent, thus a little more serious. I need my tools to be able to treat her."
"Is it that kind of needle?" Madam Meng asked.
Du Xiao Li nodded and said, "I'll go back and fetch them immediately."
"No need. After we returned, I had someone forge a set according to those needles of yours, see if they're okay?" Madam Meng said.
Very soon, a servant girl came in carrying a case. Du Xiao Li took the case and saw that the needles were about the same as her own silver needles. Looking them over, she found that the main needles were all there. "Alright, this will do. Prepare a clean basin and cotton cloth, and have strong alcohol poured into the basin."
Very soon, everything that needed to be prepared were all done. Du Xiao Li let Old Master Meng and Meng Jiang Xin all go out, and then let Meng Jiang Zhuo have Meng Old Madam's clothes all stripped. She then immediately began performing acupuncture.
This was Meng Jiang Zhuo's first time seeing Du Xiao Li treat an illness, and also her first time witnessing acupuncture therapy. Watching such long silver needles inserted into her grandmother's body, she felt goosebumps all over her body. Fortunately, she firmly controlled herself, and thus didn't scream out.
Meng Old Madam's body already was pricked full of dense needles, appearing somewhat frightening. From the amount of needles inserted this time, they all could tell her illness this time was much more severe than Meng Bo Wen's last time.