CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: PRAYING FOR THE CROWN PRINCE’S BLESSING

Ha!

Tang Xiaobai let out a cold laugh.

Just by looking at those few characters, it’s clear that this boy is hiding his abilities.

Fallen into slavery but can still write beautifully; how could he not find ways to study?

With such foundational skills, having him blend into the beginners’ group is a waste. I need to find a way to have Little Qin skip a grade!

"No more homework here today. You all take your paper and pens back and practice on your own!" Tang Xiaobai waved his hand, giving the order, and glanced at Ah Xiao, who was also packing up his brush and ink, "Ah Xiao, stay behind, I have something to ask you!"

Under the envious or jealous gazes of the other three, Ah Xiao obediently paused his actions, standing quietly, appearing well-behaved and soft.

Tang Xiaobai rested his chin on one hand, looking up at his face, half-smiling, "Didn’t understand a bit?"

Although Mr. Zhang was insane enough to start the lecture with Mencius, he actually did a great job, referencing widely and explaining simply yet deeply. Even she managed to understand some of it; she couldn’t believe Little Qin didn’t get any of it.

The young man lowered his eyes, looking at her for a moment, without answering, but his lips curled into a small arc.

Little pride, slightly mischievous.

Tang Xiaobai chuckled, unable to resist pulling his hand: "Should I get you a copy of Mencius? It’s always inconvenient without a book."

Li Mu’s fingers, grasped by her, slightly moved. Her hand was soft, like cotton, wrapping his, making his heart feel soft as well, momentarily reluctant to let go.

Hearing her question, he nodded without thinking.

After nodding, a tinge of bitterness crossed his mind. He glanced at her and asked, "Does Ah Yuan have one too?"

Tang Xiaobai was momentarily stunned, then collapsed onto the table laughing.

Li Mu instinctively supported her shaking body due to laughter, then remembered why she was laughing, turned red, and forcefully withdrew his hand, caught under her.

Miss Tang, as though having a beloved item taken away, lunged and hugged his arm, looking up with crescent-shaped, smiling eyes: "He doesn’t! Only Ah Xiao has one!"

Li Mu’s face wouldn’t stop blushing, stubbornly explaining, "I was just asking casually."

Miss Tang nodded with understanding, dimpling as she laughed: "Ah Yuan doesn’t need that, he can’t understand it, and neither can I. Only Ah Xiao is the smartest!"

Li Mu cleared his throat lightly, saying, "I also... don’t really understand..."

Miss Tang shook his hand, whispering, "What other book do you want? I’ll get it for you!"

...

An hour later, Second Miss Tang appeared at the Vermilion Pavilion, boldly declaring: "Sister! I want these three books: Er Ya, Shuo Wen, and Mencius!"

Tang Jiaojiao put down the scroll in her hand, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "These past three days, have you been going to school or to the heavens?"

Tang Xiaobai, accustomed to the eldest sister’s sarcastic remarks, directly spoke her mind: "Didn’t you say last time that if I could name them, you’d find them for me?"

"When was last time?" Tang Jiaojiao casually asked, reaching for another scroll in front of her.

"Anyway, find them for me!"

Tang Jiaojiao sneered and threw the scroll she had just grabbed at her: "If you can read two lines of this without mistakes, I’ll find those three books for you!"

Tang Xiaobai curiously opened it, furrowing her brow, "What is this?"

Just like the one the eldest sister gave her last time, she could barely understand a word.

"Buddha of Medicine’s Original Vow."

Tang Xiaobai quickly tossed the scroll back, a bit angry: "Was that one last time a Buddhist scripture too?"

Tang Jiaojiao laughed heartily: "Last time was Gao Yao Mo!"

So obscure, no wonder she couldn’t understand it!

And here she thought she was illiterate, even though she had no trouble with her classmates’ Thousand Character Classic!

Realizing she had been tricked, Second Miss Tang wore a cold face.

Tang Jiaojiao laughed even more, going over to pinch her sister’s cheek, asking, "Heard you’ve been diligently practicing your writing lately?"

With this question, Tang Xiaobai realized that the eldest sister hadn’t been keeping an eye on her these past few days, giving her a sidelong glance: "What have you been busy with all day, sister? You don’t even care about your only sister!"

Tang Jiaojiao, both amused and annoyed, tapped her on the head: "You think everyone is like you, only playing around all day? I have a lot on my plate!"

Tang Xiaobai, having been tapped, lowered her head, noticing the five exquisite scrolls on the table.

One was the Buddha of Medicine Sutra thrown at her earlier, and the other four were also Buddhist scriptures.

"What is this for?" Tang Xiaobai felt the exquisitely packaged scrolls.

Tang Jiaojiao scoffed, saying, "Your Majesty said the Crown Prince was startled by an assassin and his health has worsened. So, officials and their families of the Fifth Rank and above should each copy a scripture for the Crown Prince to offer at Xianfu Temple during the Dragon Boat Festival, to pray for his well-being."

Tang Xiaobai furrowed her brow.

How hypocritical!

If you’re hypocritical, fine, but why drag so many people into it?

"Choose one for yourself!" Tang Jiaojiao pointed at the five Buddhist scrolls.

"I have to copy one too?" Tang Xiaobai was surprised.

"Yes! Didn’t I say, everyone has to?" Tang Jiaojiao was also irritated, "We have to help with Father and Brother’s copies too!"

"But I just learned to write—"

"Just learned is still knowing. Just copy it when you’re told!"

...

When Li Mu was brought to Bright Moon Building, he saw Second Miss Tang slumped over the desk, frowning and writing.

"Still not finished?" Li Mu was a bit surprised.

He had finished his two assignments, but Second Miss hadn’t finished a few characters?

"Not really—"

Miss Tang sighed, paused her writing, and furtively handed him a package.

Li Mu felt it; it was a book.

After giving him the book, Miss Tang uncharacteristically hurried him away: "Go read it at home, I’m busy!"

Li Mu glanced at the words on the scroll in front of her, frowned, and asked, "Why are you suddenly copying scriptures?"

Miss Tang sighed again, continuing while copying, "It’s to pray for the Crown Prince’s well-being—"

Li Mu’s brow twitched.

"...The Crown Prince at such a young age—about as old as you?—with such poor health... Well, you’re not in good health either, quite unfortu—oh, I can’t say that about the Crown Prince, I mean it’s kind of the thing... I don’t mind copying scriptures to pray for him, but, ah, the eldest lady said it needs to be neat, can’t have any stains or—"

Tang Xiaobai froze for a moment, silently lifting up the topmost sheet of badly written paper.

Li Mu hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, "How about... I help Second Miss copy it?"

Tang Xiaobai looked at him in surprise, shaking her head: "Your Majesty said it must be done by hand, unless you’re like my father and brother, not in the Capital City, then family members can do it for you."

Li Mu said softly, "I can mimic Second Miss’s handwriting."

Tang Xiaobai was startled: "You can even do that?"

Li Mu nodded, stepping up to take her brush and writing two characters on the paper.

Tang Xiaobai compared them; they really weren’t much different, and she was astounded: "How many more hidden talents do you have?!"

Li Mu, puzzled, looked at her and said, "Second Miss is just beginning to learn, lacking technique, so it isn’t hard to mimic."

Tang Xiaobai was silent.

Isn’t that just saying, as long as you write badly enough, it looks like what she wrote?