Early in the morning, the sycamore leaves in the western courtyard of the prince's mansion were weighed down heavily by the morning dew. But Kang's voice was even lower than the mist, with a hint of sticky coldness.
"Keep a close eye on the affairs in the mansion..."
According to the agreement with Pei Yanqi yesterday, Kang was supposed to set off for Guiyuan Temple today. And Pei Yanqi would come to give lessons tomorrow.
Nanny Chen quickly bowed and replied, "Don't worry, madam. Everything is in this old servant's hands. I will surely not let that young mistress from the eldest branch turn the world upside down."
At this point, she paused and hesitated, "Speaking of which, although that Imperial Scholar Pei was invited back by her, this old servant noticed that they don't seem to be very familiar with each other. They hardly exchanged a few words yesterday..."
Kang sneered, "Since ancient times, those who have achieved great success have always been most afraid of others mentioning their humble past."
She glanced at the gradually brightening sky outside the window, picked up a string of tourmaline beads engraved with the swastika pattern from the dressing table, and slowly put it on her wrist.
"Li Wanming thinks she's smart. Relying on the fact that she once sponsored Imperial Scholar Pei, she thinks she has done him a great favor. But she doesn't know that once a poor man gains power, the first thing he wants to erase is his past embarrassment."
Kang's tone was contemptuous, and a sneer curled up at the corner of her mouth. "Because he couldn't afford to eat, he once received a hundred taels of silver as alms. Which top scholar would be willing to mention such a thing? It would be so embarrassing to say it out!"
"No wonder!" Nanny Chen clapped her hands, her face full of a flattering smile. "This old servant was just wondering why Imperial Scholar Pei was so cold to her yesterday. Madam is really perceptive! If that's the case, it won't be difficult for us to win over Imperial Scholar Pei..."
Kang stroked the tourmaline beads on her wrist and said softly, "He comes from a poor family, so he must be short of money. But scholars value their dignity most. The word 'integrity' is more important than the sky to them. If we directly offer him money, it might backfire. Instead, we can take this opportunity of inviting him to teach Jingbai and try to win him over."
Nanny Chen took a half step forward and said proudly, "This old servant specially asked the kitchen to prepare the best Junshan Silver Needle tea this morning. Even the side room where Mr. Pei will rest has been furnished with a rosewood penholder."
Kang nodded thoughtfully and then asked, "What about the 'Chunhua Ge Tie' by Laojunshanren that I asked you to get before?"
"I took it out long ago." Nanny Chen helped her put on the gold-embroidered cloak with sparrow feathers. "There's also the pine soot ink and Chengxintang paper. This old servant has already prepared everything according to madam's instructions."
Kang smiled slightly. "Scholars love elegance the most. He might not necessarily accept the silver we give him, but these writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, antiques, and calligraphy and paintings... he will surely not refuse."
"Madam is right." Nanny Chen nodded with a smile and helped her out of the door.
Under the vermilion-painted gate of the prince's mansion, Li Wanming and Xiao Yingchu had already been waiting there.
"I'll have to trouble you during these few days when I'm away." Kang held Li Wanming's hand, looking loving, as if a kind and considerate elder was earnestly exhorting the younger generation in the family.
Li Wanming also maintained a proper smile and said softly, "Auntie is going to pray for the Ning Prince's Mansion. You're the one who will really be tired. Take good care of yourself on the way. You must pay attention to your health."
"You're such a sensible child." Kang returned an even more proper smile. Then she pulled Xiao Jingbai over and exhorted him in detail.
"This time, mother has really invited a top scholar to be your teacher. You must respect your teacher and study hard. In the future, get a top scholar title for mother to see!"
"Got it, got it!"
Xiao Jingbai impatiently curled his lips. But in his heart, he disdainfully thought: Top scholar? Hmph, what a lousy top scholar! If this young master doesn't torture him to death this time, it's a loss!
Looking at her son's fair and thin face, Kang felt more and more fond of him.
She hugged Xiao Jingbai tightly in her arms and rubbed him for a long time. It was not until he impatiently struggled out like an angry monkey that Kang reluctantly got on the carriage.
As soon as the carriage wheels turned the corner of the alley, the atmosphere under the ice-eave gate suddenly changed.
The originally warm and harmonious atmosphere of seeing off instantly became a bit tense.
Li Wanming casually turned her head and happened to meet Xiao Jingbai with his hands on his hips, glaring with a sneer on his face.
The hair on top of the little devil's head was sticking up, as if it was the great banner raised during a battle before the army, fluttering in the morning wind.
Li Wanming was not to be outdone and stared back coldly.
The two pairs of gazes silently met in the air, as if metal colliding with stone, making a series of thunderous noises like lightning.
One thought: Just wait and see. With my mother away, I'll take revenge!
The other thought: Just wait and see. With your mother away, I'll teach you a good lesson!
The two snorted and turned around at the same time, flicking their sleeves. The shawl on Li Wanming's shoulder and the tassel of the jade pendant on Xiao Jingbai's waist drew sharp arcs in the air, just like two fighting cocks showing their feathers in high spirits.
...
The next day, just as the sky on the horizon was turning pale, the morning light gently shrouded the ridge of the Ning Prince's Mansion like a veil. Pei Yanqi stepped into the mansion, treading on the wet moss.
"Your Highness, Mr. Pei has already arrived at the second gate." The young servant rushed over to report.
"What's the hurry!" Xiao Jingbai shouted. But his hands moved faster. He carefully added the scented tea mixed with sunflower moss into the gold-inlaid incense burner on the table and then quickly lit it.
Sunflower moss produces no smoke and has no strong smell, but in fact, it is extremely pungent and very irritating to the eyes. This was a treasure he had finally found in a warehouse in the city.
The gold-inlaid incense burner was placed on Pei Yanqi's desk. By the time he sat down here, in no time, he would surely be choked into tears and run out crying!
Xiao Jingbai was secretly proud. He quickly returned to his own desk and sat down, posing as a well-behaved student sitting upright.
Pei Yanqi entered the courtyard at three quarters past the Mao hour. The stone-blue robe on him was slightly puffed up by the wind.
Xiao Jingbai's eyes involuntarily glanced over. Through the wide-open redwood carved gate, he saw the man in the distance walking towards them calmly and unhurriedly.
His figure was as straight as a pine, and his clothes fluttered slightly. There was no jade pendant on his waist. Instead, there was a three-foot-long ebony ruler, glowing a dark red color in the morning mist, looking abrupt and eye-catching.
Xiao Jingbai's spine tightened involuntarily. Suddenly, he seemed to hear the whistling sound of the ruler swinging in his ears.
He steadied himself and secretly comforted himself: It's okay. No matter how capable he is, he's just a seventh-rank imperial scholar. Would he really dare to beat him?
Those teachers his mother had invited for him before were all very famous. In the end, weren't they all driven away by his little tricks?
Don't be afraid.
He was the second young master of the Ning Prince's Mansion and would inherit the title in the future. No one would really dare to touch him... Well, except for that lawless evil woman!