AMLFS Chapter 120

Chapter 121: The Teacher

Chapter 121: The Teacher

Upon hearing this, Prince Zhao Fangye of the Ning district was not displeased. His thoughts aligned with Song Zigen’s.

From the moment he recognized Song Huaixi, Zhao Fangye had been planning for his future.

Even when they were still in the Ning Wang Mansion, Zhao Fangye had sent him to the academy, but too many things had happened afterward.

The situation was turbulent, and he was worried about Song Huaixi’s safety, so the matter was temporarily put on hold.

Now that Song Huaixi had brought it up himself, Zhao Fangye intended to find a learned teacher to personally instruct him within the palace.

He just didn’t know what Song Huaixi was thinking.

“Huaixi, what do you want to do?” Zhao Fangye gently tucked the stray hairs beside his ear behind his ear, carefully seeking his opinion.

“Hmm…”

Song Huaixi leaned against him, looking quite troubled. Besides reading picture books, he didn’t have any other hobbies.

Beside the soft couch, the picture book that Song Huaixi often read lay open, the illustrations exquisite, with each character’s movements vivid and expressions lifelike.

This picture book depicted well-known stories of talented scholars and beautiful ladies, which Song Huaixi could enjoy even without knowing how to read.

Picture books, after all, allowed one to guess the gist of the story based on the characters’ movements and expressions. Not to mention that his picture books depicted even the scenes in great detail.

His gaze fell on the picture book, and Song Huaixi suddenly had an idea. Before returning to the capital, Zhao Qiongwan had taught him painting, but he hadn’t mastered it yet.

He wanted to paint.

“I want to learn how to paint, Zhao Fangye,” Song Huaixi said, pointing to the picture book. “Like the ones in there.”

He liked reading stories, and if he could learn to paint, he would draw Zhao Fangye, his parents, his brother, and his sister-in-law into the pictures.

“Oh?”

Raising an eyebrow slightly, Zhao Fangye also became interested. Zhao Fangye still kept the drawing that was attached to Song Huaixi’s letter.

He had thought it was just a temporary pastime, but he didn’t expect Song Huaixi’s interest to remain undiminished.

“Since Huaixi wants to learn, then We shall invite the best teacher to teach you, how about that?”

“Okay!” Song Huaixi nodded happily.

But Zhao Fangye then added, “But why does Huaixi want to learn painting?”

“Because I like reading picture books.” Song Huaixi reached out to pick up the picture book from the table and flipped through it. “Look, this page shows the scholar leaving, and the lady is very reluctant.”

“But there are no words on it.”

Zhao Fangye coaxed him gently. He remembered that Song Huaixi was also interested in reading. “We will find another teacher to teach you how to read, okay? That way, even when I’m not around, you can read books yourself. How about it?”

Hearing Zhao Fangye’s suggestion, Song Huaixi was stunned for a moment. He hadn’t thought of that, but Zhao Fangye had hit the nail on the head.

If he could read, he could read storybooks, and then he would definitely be able to read more stories.

Unlike picture books, there were only a few good ones, and he was tired of reading them over and over again.

If he also learned to write, he could write some short stories on his own picture book, like comic strips. That would definitely be very interesting.

“Okay, okay! I want to learn to read too.” Almost immediately, Song Huaixi agreed.

“Good, We will have someone arrange it later.”

When it came to choosing a teacher for Song Huaixi, Zhao Fangye thought of his own mentor, Zhang Wenwen.

In the past, when Song Huaixi was at Yi Cai Academy, he had been taken care of by him. Now that the dynasty was in turmoil, Yi Cai Academy had been closed for a while.

Zhang Wenwen was old and had witnessed the change of dynasties, so he no longer held a position at Yi Cai Academy. He returned to the outskirts of the capital to enjoy his retirement.

Zhao Fangye wrote a letter and had Sun Shu personally deliver it to the old gentleman’s residence.

Zhang’s residence was hidden in the woods on the outskirts of the capital. Many villas of high-ranking officials and nobles were built here. The scenery was pleasant and the environment was quiet, making it a good place.

Arriving at Zhang’s residence, Sun Shu gently knocked on the door, and a young man came out. “My master doesn’t see guests. May I ask who you are?”

Sun Shu showed his waist tag and clasped his fist towards the direction of the capital. “I am here with His Majesty’s decree to meet the teacher. Please inform him.”

Entering Zhang’s residence, Sun Shu followed the young man to a garden, where Zhang Wenwen was painting a verdant bamboo.

The hand holding the brush moved like a dragon and snake, with vigorous strokes. The bamboo under his brush was upright and unyielding, exuding vitality.

Looking up at Sun Shu, Zhang Wenwen confidently drew a small bird standing on a bamboo branch on the paper.

The expression was dynamic and lifelike. The addition of the little bird made the original picture more vivid and full of charm.

Sun Shu waited quietly on the side. Seeing that he had finished a painting, he respectfully said, “Sir, this is a letter from the Emperor, please take a look.”

The young man standing beside them immediately took the envelope from his hand and handed it to Zhang Wenwen.

Unfolding the letter and looking at the contents, Zhang Wenwen’s experienced eyes revealed a gentle smile.

It turned out to be that naive child. He thought he would never see him again after the incident at Yi Cai Academy.

He didn’t expect that this meeting would be to become his teaching teacher.

Stroking his beard, he felt that Song Huaixi was still very interesting. Pure and kind, rare among the people of the world.

In addition, his proud disciple sincerely invited him. Accepting this matter was also not bad.

“I am just an old man, I hope His Majesty doesn’t mind.” Zhang Wenwen looked at Sun Shu with a smile. “Anyway, this old man has nothing to do at home. It is my honor to be able to teach the Empress.”

Seeing that he had agreed, Sun Shu’s face lit up with joy. He quickly said, “The old gentleman has agreed? Then I will return to the palace to report to the Emperor now.”

After saying that, he bid farewell to Zhang Wenwen and hurriedly returned to the palace to report back.

Riding his horse and galloping along the path in the yard, Sun Shu suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the distant fields.

That beautiful face was very eye-catching in the mountains and fields, and his cloth clothes made him look even more naturally unadorned.

Liang Xiuzhu squatted on the ground, pulling out the cabbages from the ground, shaking off the mud, and putting them into the bamboo basket beside him.

His expression was calm and leisurely, and his complexion was also very good.

Sun Shu slowed down his horse’s speed, watching Liang Xiuzhu from afar. The two of them had not met since entering the capital.

He didn’t know where Liang Xiuzhu was, but if he wanted to inquire, he could.

But for some reason, since separating from Liang Xiuzhu, Sun Shu seemed to be competing with himself. He tried to avoid thinking about everything related to Liang Xiuzhu.

But unexpectedly, he ran into him today, and complex emotions filled his heart.

Liang Xiuzhu packed all the vegetables he would eat for lunch today, and carried them towards his house.

He didn’t notice at all that someone in the distance was watching his every move.

Seeing Liang Xiuzhu’s figure entering the courtyard door, Sun Shu’s gaze remained fixed on the small courtyard in the mountains for a long time.

The small courtyard was not big, with gray walls and green tiles, and a big tree planted outside the courtyard door. It was surrounded by bamboo fences.

The sound of chickens crowing and dogs barking came from the mountains. It wasn’t until smoke rose from the small courtyard that Sun Shu reined his horse and hurried back to the palace.

Learning that his teacher was Zhang Wenwen, Song Huaixi widened his eyes in surprise.

He nervously asked Zhao Fangye, “I’m a bit slow, what if I can’t learn what the teacher teaches?”

“It doesn’t matter, Huaixi just needs to do his best.” Zhao Fangye stroked his head. He didn’t need Song Huaixi to be erudite, he only hoped that he could understand etiquette and know right from wrong.

There were a lot of erudite people in the world for him to choose from.

But there was only one Song Huaixi in the world. No matter what he was like, Zhao Fangye would love him.