Yu Youyao hummed and nodded vigorously. “Since I want it, give it to me. I’ll embroider a fan for you another day. Just treat it as a change of calligraphy. What do you think?”
It didn’t seem to be a loss to exchange a piece of calligraphy for a fan. Zhou Linghuai smiled and said, “I’ll be waiting for you, Cousin. Don’t make me wait too long.”
Yu Youyao was overjoyed. “Cousin, don’t worry. I won’t make you wait too long this time.”
Nanny Xu had asked her to practice needlework for an hour every day, so she treated it as practicing needlework.
Zhou Linghuai took out a small and exquisite sandalwood box from his sleeve. Inside was a thumb-sized seal.
He picked up the seal and let out a light breath. Then, he pressed down hard on the upper left corner of the ‘Ode to the Goddess of Luo’. The words written in cinnabar appeared on the paper. It was his name, ‘Linghuai’.
Yu Youyao was extremely shocked. “This is the first time I have seen a private seal carved on Huangjie stone in Shoushan Field. It’s indeed completely transparent, like cream, and extremely moist.”
Although the Xie Residence in Quan Zhou was wealthy, such tributes were not easy to obtain.
“Do you like it?” Zhou Linghuai asked her as he placed the seal back into the box.
Yu Youyao nodded vigorously. “I do!”
Zhou Linghuai asked casually, “Cousin, do you have a name?”
It was said that there were “20 crowns for men” and “15 crowns for women.” However, many brothers from wealthy families had to enter school and participate in the imperial examination, so they had long obtained scholarly honors. However, the 13th male was named “Biao” by respected elders in the family or in the family. When he reached the age of 20, it was widely known.
Women were not so particular when it came to choosing their names. They were all given their names by the elders in their families. In fact, many women in their families did not even choose their names.
Yu Youyao sounded a little down. “Grandmother said that before she died, Mother had given me her courtesy name—Zhiyao.”
The little girl’s dejected expression made Zhou Linghuai feel stifled in his heart. He said gently, “An orchid by the shore is peerlessly graceful. Her appearance is excellent. Not only is her character as elegant as an orchid, but she also has outstanding qualities.”
Yu Youyao smiled. “Grandmother said that when I reach adulthood, I should use the courtesy name my mother gave me.”
The corners of Zhou Linghuai’s mouth twitched slightly as he changed the topic. “How’s Cousin’s calligraphy progress?”
Only then did Yu Youyao remember that she had been so focused on watching her cousin’s calligraphy that she had forgotten to practice writing. Now that her cousin had asked, she panicked and quickly said, “I did, I did…”
The little girl was quietly practicing her calligraphy, sitting upright and very focused.
There was a vine outside the window, and it poked its branch into the house mischievously. There was a pink and white flower on the branch. It was beautiful and unrestrained, and the faint fragrance of the flower seeped into the air.
All was well with time!
In An Shou Hall, Old Madam Yu was talking to Nanny Liu about the nannies from the Education Department when she received the news that Zhou Linghuai wanted to teach Yu Youyao how to write.
Old Madam Yu couldn’t help but laugh. “Your son’s handwriting is good. With him teaching Yao Yao, I don’t have to worry. In the future, Yao Yao will become a laughing stock because of her ugly handwriting.”
Nanny Liu also smiled. “Isn’t that so? Eldest Miss didn’t even take a nap. She practiced calligraphy for more than an hour until her hands were sore. Only then did she realize that Young Master had already gone to study. It can be seen that Young Master is very good at teaching.”
Old Madam Yu nodded. “As the saying goes, there’s always a weakness to everything. Yao Yao doesn’t like to practice calligraphy, but I couldn’t do anything about it in the past. I didn’t expect her to submit to Cousin’s teachings.”
What was even rarer was that Zhou Linghuai treated Yao Yao very well. In the future, with his guidance, she would be much more at ease.
Nanny Liu agreed wholeheartedly.
Old Madam Yu changed the topic. “Is Boss’s injury better?”
Nanny Liu replied, “Just now, Old Master had a check up. Just as Imperial Physician Li said, he’s fine. He’ll be fine in a few days. Eldest Madam is waiting for him in the front courtyard.”
Old Madam Yu was relieved and asked, “Is Fourth Sister still kneeling in the ancestral hall?”
Nanny Liu nodded. “Master is really angry this time.”
Old Madam Yu’s expression darkened a little. “Just teach her well. Why is he punishing him in the ancestral hall? Eldest Son is getting more and more tactless. He doesn’t know how to plan carefully for his child.”
Of course, Nanny Liu could tell that the Old Madam was saying this openly. Old Master was easily convinced by Madam Yang. He didn’t have much to say and just listened to her.
After this ordeal, the Yu Residence finally calmed down. Yu Youyao went home to study every day and practiced calligraphy with her cousin for two hours at noon.
On the 29th of February, the imperial examination results were finally released.
The capital was in an uproar.
The officials in the government office knocked on the gong and spread the news in the various residences. The candidates all crowded under the Imperial Rankings to watch.
After passing the general examinations, it would be time for the students to become scholars. The scholars would not fail in the palace examination. After the palace examination in April, when the emperor arranged the rankings, they would be able to become official scholars.
In other words, the current results were an intermediate step.
Some of the younger generations in the family were on the list, so it was inevitable that there would be a round of celebration. There was immediately another round of discussion in the capital, and most of them were on the list this time.
Yu Shande had obtained 29th place in this examination. This ranking was quite good. Yu Shanren was not famous in the rankings, and he felt a sense of loss. However, he was still young, so his failure this time could be considered as accumulating experience. Even if he retook the examination three years later, he would still only be in his prime.
In addition, there were three other people in the clan who had also won a place in the rankings, but their rankings were not high.
However, to the Yu Clan, as long as they could pass the examination, their future would be bright.
Yu Shande and the others came over to greet Old Madam Yu.
Old Madam Yu was overjoyed. “Don’t be complacent even if you pass the examination. After the examination, there’s still the second examination before the palace examination. There’s still a long way to go. You should stay in the residence these few days and study hard. Recently, there’s been a lot of commotion in the capital, and people are getting restless. Don’t gather together.”
Yu Shande agreed repeatedly. Before entering the capital, the chief had spoken to them. After they entered the capital, they were to listen to the Third Grandmother’s arrangements.
Old Madam Yu was very satisfied when she saw that Yu Shande was very calm at such a young age. She then looked at the disciples who had not passed the examination and said, “Don’t be disheartened even if you didn’t pass. You’re still young. Take this as an opportunity to accumulate experience. There are many people in this world who have matured late. During this period of time, you can stay in the capital in peace. Even if you can’t take the examination, you can still broaden your horizons. After the imperial examination is over, I’ll send you back to the clan to continue working hard.”
Everyone was originally feeling uneasy, but seeing how kind Old Madam Yu was and how she treated them just like Yu Shande and the others who had passed the examination, their frustration dissipated greatly.