All Hail Cousin Brother

183 That Glimpse Between Her Eyes

Zhou Linghuai’s eyes darkened.

Back then, after Mr. Xian Yun left the capital, there were rumors in Youzhou that he had solved the precious chess game. “He’s unique and there’s no other in the world!”

Yu Youyao held her cousin’s hand and asked carefully, “Cousin, you don’t like this poem?”

Zhou Linghuai came back to his senses and smiled. “I like it.” Then, he said, “I’ll test you again.”

The questions he had set were from the Four Books and Five Classics, but the questions were tricky. Yu Youyao had learned the basics well. Although she couldn’t answer them fluently, she could still answer them.

After taking more than ten questions, Yu Youyao was so nervous that her back was sweating. She wrinkled her nose. “The questions that Cousin set are so difficult! I feel like I’ve learned them before, but also like I’ve never learned them before…”

Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “There are many similarities in the contents of the Four Books and Five Classics. Once you’ve understood most of them, you’ll be able to learn the next one more easily. For example, the Book of Rites also talks about the Doctrine of the Mean. If you’ve learned the Book of Rites thoroughly, you’ll naturally understand some of the relevant content in the Four Books and Five Classics. I didn’t set the questions based on what you’ve learned, but on your grasp of the subject.”

Yu Youyao pursed her lips.

Zhou Linghuai handed her a cup of tea. “Cousin, you’re doing well in your studies. You can speed up your studies in the future.”

Only then did Yu Youyao feel happy. She had been answering questions for a long time and was really a little thirsty. Now that the tea was in her hand, she quickly took it. “Thank you, Cousin.”

After Yu Youyao drank her tea, Zhou Linghuai explained the question to her.

After Yu Youyao heard this, some of the things she did not understand became clear. She actually felt as if the clouds had parted.

After that, Zhou Linghuai tested her on her zither playing.

After Yu Youyao burned the incense and cleaned her hands, she sat in front of the zither and played the “Ode to the Zither.” So far, she had only learned three songs in total. Among them, the “Ode to the Zither” was the simplest. Due to Ms. Ye’s influence when she played in the rain, the “Ode to the Zither” was also her best song.

However, compared to Ms. Ye’s zither music, which was clear, strange, light, and distant, hers sounded more mellow, revealing a lingering feeling of spring rain.

The little girl sat in front of the zither. She was slender and exquisite, but she was also beautiful. She was elegant and quiet, but the most beautiful thing was the ripple between her eyebrows.

After the song was over, the sound of the zither entered Zhou Linghuai’s ears and lingered in his heart. He was stunned until he heard the little girl’s gentle voice. “Cousin, how am I playing? Does it sound good? I’ve been practicing this ‘Ode to the Zither’ for a long time. I originally planned to play it under the Parasol Tree in two days.”

Zhou Linghuai suddenly came back to his senses and looked at the Parasol Tree outside the window. He thought of the scene of her playing the zither under the Parasol Tree. The zither song was easy to play, but elegant. “The zither sounds meaningful. Cousin, you’re talented.”

Yu Youyao’s eyebrows raised. “I was enlightened by Ms. Ye. Of course, it’s also because Cousin taught me well.”

It was unknown if she was praising him or herself, but Zhou Linghuai chuckled.

After Zhou Ling got pregnant, Yu Youyao couldn’t stay any longer. She hurriedly took the Lingxi Bug’s waste and medicinal liquid and went to the Green House to look for Uncle Sun.

After receiving the medicinal liquid, Uncle Sun was so excited that his long beard trembled. He couldn’t wait to open the small jade bottle and smell it. Then, he took a silver needle, dipped it in the medicinal liquid, and tasted it.

Before Yu Youyao could ask, Uncle Sun danced excitedly like a madman. “That’s right, that’s right. This is it. Haha.” As he laughed, he ran into the pharmacy. His legs, which used to be a little sprained, were now running very fast. Even his slightly hunched waist was straightened.

Yu Youyao wanted to ask about the Essence Protection Pill, so she picked up her skirt and chased after him. Unexpectedly, just as she reached the door of the pharmacy, she heard Uncle Sun say, “I want to make the Essence Protection Pill. Don’t disturb me.”

With that, without waiting for Yu Youyao to speak, she closed the door with a bang. Fortunately, Yu Youyao reacted quickly and quickly took a step back. Otherwise, her little nose would have suffered.

Yu Youyao was a little disappointed that she had returned empty-handed. However, when she thought about how brilliant Uncle Sun’s medical skills were and how he would probably be able to make the Essence Protection Pill soon, she felt happy again and returned to the house to look at the accounts.

After receiving her mother’s dowry ledger from her grandmother, Yu Youyao would take time out every day to look through it. It was not an easy task to figure out the accounts that had been accumulated for many years. Even with Nanny Xu and Dong Mei’s help, it was still very difficult. It was probably not something that could be figured out in a short time.

After a while, Dong Mei came over to report that the gift list for everyone in the residence was ready. Yu Youyao took a rough look and felt that there was no problem. “Send the gifts over!”

Once Dong Mei got the word, she went to make the arrangements.

After receiving the gifts, the residence could not help but praise Eldest Miss for being kind and generous. Yang Shuwan was embarrassed to death. When she thought of the jadeite that she had given out previously, she almost tore her handkerchief apart. This time, she was even more careful when choosing her gift. She gave her a set of pure gold head ornaments. It was neither outstanding nor wrong. This way, it was inevitable that Madam Yao from the second branch would feel inferior and feel unhappy again.

Before she knew it, it was April.

After copying a Buddhist scripture, Old Madam Yu asked Qing Xiu to help her out of the temple hall.

Nanny Liu lifted the curtain and walked in happily. “Old Madam, the Imperial Court has announced that the re-examination will be held on April 10th in the Hall of Peace. On April 26th, the imperial examination will be held in the Hall of Peace. There’s a huge commotion outside, and everyone is discussing this matter.”

When Old Madam Yu heard this, she also smiled. “It’s finally settled. My hanging heart now has a place to rest.”

Nanny Liu smiled. “Isn’t that so? Even people like us in the residence are nervous and frustrated during the examination that happens once every three years, let alone those students who are taking the examination.”

As Old Madam Yu fiddled with her prayer beads, she said, “We can’t be careless in the second round of examinations in front of the palace. After the second round of examinations, the rankings of the candidates will also have to be referenced. Send a nanny who knows the rules to the courtyard arranged by the clan to teach the disciples participating in the second round of examinations the rules of the palace. The rules of the palace are long and strict. Every year, there will be candidates who are disqualified from taking the examination because of a mistake in their etiquette. Our family can’t make such a mistake.”

Nanny Liu agreed and listened to Old Madam’s instructions.

In the Jade Courtyard, the green leaves on the trees were thick and shaded. They were like a huge green umbrella or jade clouds that were held high, covering most of the Jade Courtyard. The lotus lake was filled with green leaves, and the entire Jade Courtyard was beautiful.

Yu Youyao was practicing her calligraphy according to her cousin’s handwriting when she heard Xia Tao report, “Young Miss, Nanny Liu is here.”