Chapter 225: A Little Classroom Audition
Chapter 225: A Little Classroom Audition
Reading and studying?
Suisui never dared to imagine that one day she would have the opportunity to receive an education. Was she worthy of such a privilege? Suisui wasn't sure.
But Lele had assured her that she was.
After all, she was now the cherished daughter of the King and Queen, a young lady of the Qi Manor, and a beloved little sister to her brothers.
So, no matter what kind of wealth and privilege came her way, she deserved it all!
Suisui didn't quite understand what it meant to be a young lady of nobility.
But the knowledge that she was now the King and Queen's daughter brought her immense comfort.
She finally had a family and parents who adored her.
That knowledge alone was enough to satisfy her.
And now, she even had the chance to learn to read and write.
Suisui found this almost too good to be true. She bit her lip and asked softly, "Is it really possible, Mother?"
The little girl's cautious tone and expression tugged at Qiwang's heartstrings.
He thought...
Was it enough to just send Chen Dalang's family to the mines?
That would be letting them off too easily!
No, he had to come up with a way to deal with Jinyang Hou as well!
Killing him was out of the question, but surely giving him a good beating wouldn't be taking things too far?
In just this short moment, Qiwang had already begun searching his mind for a relative in the clan who was unscrupulous and unreasonable. With just a little silver, such a person could be persuaded to do things that Qiwang himself couldn't easily handle.
Moreover, he wouldn't have to worry about Jinyang Hou retaliating afterward.
Because that relative would surely be even more troublesome than Jinyang Hou.
The Qiwangfei also felt for the child. She gently caressed Suisui's little face and said softly, "Of course it's possible. You are the King and Queen's child, and you deserve all the privileges that come with being a part of this royal family. Whether it's education or new clothes, whatever your brothers have, you shall have as well."
Hearing the Qiwangfei's words, Suisui happily nodded her little head. "I understand, Mother. I want to learn to read!"
In truth, Suisui didn't know what the point of studying was.
But then she thought about how many people in the village would live their entire lives without encountering more than a handful of literate individuals.
And then there were the aunties and uncles who told stories every night, their names unknown to Suisui because she couldn't read or write.
That wasn't a situation she wanted to be in.
Suisui made up her mind; she needed to learn to read and write.
The little girl's enthusiastic declaration brought joy to everyone present.
The Qiwangfei smiled as she caressed the child's face, then took her hand and led her toward the small classroom in the manor.
Liu Hemeng and Shen Huatang would temporarily be Suisui's study companions.
However, Suisui had not yet interacted with Shen Huatang, so they would need to take things slowly and give them time to get acquainted.
The manor's classroom was quite spacious, and they even had separate areas for studying during winter and summer.
When the weather was cold, it was best to stay indoors.
But during spring and summer, the outdoor air was more pleasant, so they also had a separate reading colonnade.
The space was ample, and even if several more girls joined Suisui, or even if the number of students multiplied, there would still be more than enough room.
The Qiwangfei was concerned that Suisui might feel uncomfortable during her first day of class.
So, she prepared to accompany her throughout the entire lesson.
Shen Fuzi considered Suisui's health, thinking that after being sick for two days, her body might still be weak, and this could make her emotionally fragile. Thus, he decided to let the Qiwangfei stay.
Seeing that this was acceptable, the Qiwang decided to join them as well.
Shen Fuzi: ...!
Oh well, he wanted to live a few more years, so he'd just pretend he didn't see anything.
Feng Xuanrui and the others never expected their little sister to join them in the classroom, and they were so excited that they could barely focus on the lesson.
When Shen Fuzi introduced Suisui as their new classmate, Feng Xuanrui and the others stood up and cheered excitedly, "Hooray! Our little sister can study with us now!"
"My little sister is the best!"
...
Shen Fuzi looked at the group of young masters, who resembled monkeys that had just escaped their mountain habitat. He cleared his throat gently.
That single cough, however, carried a lot of authority.
The young masters soon settled down and sat properly.
The manor staff had already set up all the necessary tables and chairs.
The young masters and the young ladies were seated on opposite sides of the room, separated by a fluttering azure-blue silk screen.
When they grew older and felt it was inappropriate, the screen could be replaced with a folding screen or another type of partition.
Feng Xuanrui and his brothers originally wanted to sneak glances at their little sister.
However, the silk screen blocked their view entirely.
This displeased the young masters.
Feng Xuanrui quietly gave Feng Xuanbin a look, as if suggesting: Should we do something bold?
With Qi Wang present, Feng Xuanbin hesitated and didn't dare respond to his sixth brother's signal.
Feng Xuanrui: ?
You little rascal, are you chickening out?
Unfortunately, Feng Xuanbin didn't dare look up and missed seeing his sixth brother's angry eyes.
SuSUI was unaware of the silent exchange between her brothers.
She happily took her seat on a clean desk, with a soft cushion placed by Aunt Meng, who had been concerned about her comfort. The cushion made her seat especially cozy, and it even emitted a faint fragrance.
Being the shortest, she sat at the front, with Liu Hemeng behind her and Shen Huatang at the back.
Unable to see her two sisters, SuSUI quietly turned her head back.
She was greeted by Liu Hemeng's wide smile and Shen Huatang's gentle, curving brows.
The smiles of her two sisters put SuSUI at ease, and seeing no movement from her brothers, she became curious.
Qi Wang, the Queen, and Meng Ce Fei stayed to watch, concerned about leaving SuSUI alone. Seeing that no one was speaking, Meng Ce Fei quietly remained as well.
With these three "mountains" present, the pressure on Feng Xuanrui and the others to perform in class suddenly increased.
The Queen observed the layout of the young ladies' desks for a while, then furrowed her brows slightly. She contemplated whether to adjust the arrangement and have the three girls sit in a row so they could see each other and feel more at ease.
...SuSUI still didn't feel completely secure.
At that moment, she kept turning her head to look at her sisters or trying to peek at her brothers.
Qi Wang noticed this as well, and his heart ached for her.
He took the initiative to greet Shen Fuzi and then signaled for someone to move the desks and chairs.
Shen Fuzi: ...
Whether or not we can have class today will depend on fate.
Fortunately, after a bit of fuss, everything finally settled down, and class could proceed as normal.
For now, SuSUI and the others were only there for a trial lesson.
So, a separate class wouldn't be arranged for their initiation into learning.
Once the curriculum was planned, the initiation process would be rearranged accordingly.
Thus, Shen Fuzi taught at the young masters' pace, proceeding slowly.
SuSUI listened for a while but found it incomprehensible.
What they were learning...
was even more complex than what she had heard in her dreams from the uncles and aunties.
Nonetheless, SuSUI sat obediently, listening intently without moving.
Lele had told her that even if she didn't understand, she shouldn't give up.
The more she listened, the more she would comprehend.
Lele had also said that not everything Shen Fuzi taught would be useful.
But if there came a day when she needed what she had learned and could apply it, it would prove that her efforts hadn't been in vain.
SuSUI didn't quite understand these profound principles.
However, with the King and Queen watching, she had to study hard!
With these thoughts in mind, the little girl straightened her back and held her head high like a young female general about to go into battle.
Qi Wang watched her, his heart filled with delight. He couldn't wait to bring a few of his old friends over to take a look: Look, look, this is my daughter! Isn't she lovely? Adorable? Diligent?
She's mine, mine!
Second Watch
(End of Chapter)
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