All Hail Cousin Brother

240 Imperial Zither

The Daoist Canon was not a book that women should read. If women learned the Daoist Canon, they would be seen as deviant.

Yu Youyao couldn’t stop laughing. As she laughed, she said, “Cousin, I don’t want to learn the Daoist Canon. It’s already very difficult for you to teach me the Four Books and Five Classics now. I can’t tire you out.”

Zhou Linghuai tapped her forehead lightly. “I’m afraid you’re just too lazy to learn.”

She even said that she didn’t want him to tire himself out.

Yu Youyao chuckled mischievously. “Cousin knows me best.”

She had already learned much more than many young ladies. She needed to spend more time learning these things, and it would already be infinitely beneficial.

Zhou Linghuai smiled.

Yu Youyao tilted her head and smiled. “Second Sister saw the copy of Spring and Autumn that Cousin gave me previously. She wanted to borrow it back to copy, but I was worried that she would damage it, so I didn’t agree and asked her to come to the Jade Courtyard to copy it herself. Now, Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister often come to the Jade Courtyard to copy books. Recently, they have also kept up with their studies in school. Not only that, but even Eldest Brother and Second Brother often borrow the transcripts they copy. They’re so envious of me!”

Thinking of how Yu Shuangbai curled her lips as she copied the books, she said, “We’re all siblings, but why are we so different? It’s really infuriating to compare ourselves to others!”

Zhou Linghuai also knew a little about this matter. He nodded. “As long as you’re happy.”

As she spoke, Yu Youyao thought of something serious and quickly took the scroll. “Cousin, I have something for you too. Look.”

Zhou Linghuai raised his hand to take it, but he was in no hurry to open it. Instead, he took a few careful glances at the scroll and said, “It must be Cousin’s own brush and ink.”

Yu Youyao’s eyes widened. “Cousin, how did you know?”

“It’s new paper.” Zhou Linghuai raised the scroll to his nose and sniffed it. He smiled and said, “It’s slightly moist. It’s a smell that only new ink has. It was used less than two hours ago.”

Yu Youyao was shocked. “Cousin, you’re really amazing. You can even tell this.”

Zhou Linghuai was a little embarrassed. Even anyone who was proficient in literature and calligraphy could tell that. He carefully opened the scroll and first saw the words on it. They were written in large characters and looked very emotional. She had actually improved greatly.

A smile appeared on his lips. “The reason why people like to praise Wang Xi’s calligraphy with Cao Zhi’s ‘Ode to the Goddess of Luo’s’ is because Wang Xi learned many things, and is especially good at learning from others. In the early days, her handwriting was quite tactful as she was influenced by Madam Wei’s small handwriting. Although Cousin hasn’t been learning calligraphy for long, she’s a natural. She already has some attainments of being as graceful as a dragon, as glorious as autumn chrysanthemums, and as beautiful as the wind.”

Yu Youyao was overjoyed, but she deliberately pouted. “With my attainments, I’ll be showing off in front of you. I won’t dare to embarrass myself in front of you. Cousin, look behind you.”

The little girl’s smug expression could not be concealed. Even her humble words revealed a little pride. Zhou Linghuai smiled when he heard this. He skimmed through the calligraphy and saw the title. “Born in Troubles and Die in Peace by Mencius.”

The seal on it was his gift from yesterday.

He looked at the small seal and it seemed to be huge. The bottom of the seal, which was a little thicker than a thumb, was carved with the image of the old tree beside the rock garden lake of the Precious Peace Temple that day. In order to create the scenery, he had even used a small carving technique and spent a lot of effort to complete it. Now, it seemed that it was all worth it.

Yu Youyao moved closer to her cousin and pointed at the seal. “The first time I wrote calligraphy with a seal, I gave it to you. You have to keep it carefully. Don’t break it.”

Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “Alright! When it’s smoked, I’ll put it in a wooden box to store.”

“That’s great.” Yu Youyao was very happy. She looked at the patterns on it. “By the way, Cousin, why didn’t you tell me that you carved a double fish pattern, or that you…” As if she felt that she shouldn’t have mentioned this, she quickly stopped and blinked at her cousin. “I didn’t notice it before.”

There were all kinds of strange carving techniques. If one did not use the seal, one would not be able to see what was carved.

The little girl looked secretive and playful, making Zhou Linghuai laugh. “Do you like it?”

“I like it.” Yu Youyao’s voice was clear, and even the smile on her lips became brighter. “I like it too much. I like the embroidered fish patterns the most!”

She had come to look for her cousin because she liked it too much.

Zhou Linghuai smiled brightly.

Yu Youyao brought over a rosewood box and handed it to her cousin. “Cousin, this is a birthday gift from Third Cousin. It’s a pity to leave it here. Take it and play with it!”

As a girl, she could just carve a seal using it but she did not want to waste such a rare good material.

On the other hand, as a man, his cousin had many uses for it. There were also various seals for different purposes, so this raw material was just right.

Zhou Linghuai reached out to take it and opened the box. “This light pagodite is quite rare. Coincidentally, I still lack a graphic seal. I’ll use it to communicate with others in the future.”

The golden steatite stone was a five-sided seal. Each side had a different print, and each print had a different purpose and meaning. It was an extremely private seal. He usually didn’t show it to others, but he didn’t deliberately hide it from the little girl.

Her cousin had also given her a graphic seal. Yu Youyao smiled. “Cousin, what kind of seal are you planning to carve?”

The sudden question really stumped Zhou Linghuai. “What do you think, Cousin?”

This time, Yu Youyao was stunned by her cousin’s question again. She pursed her lips and really rested her chin on her hand. She pinched her little nose and thought seriously, “The common graphic seal has an animal from the twelve zodiac signs. Cousin, the zodiac sign is a snake, so you can carve a snake-shaped seal.” As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly shook her head. “No, no. Just thinking about the snake-shaped seal makes me feel strange. It doesn’t match Cousin.”

Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but laugh when he heard the little girl complain about deer, horses, bears, and birds.

After thinking about it, Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t you carve a zither? It’s good to have a zither. I just hope that you’ll have a zither by your side in the future.”

There were many types of seals. The more common ones were animals and birds. Some scholars liked Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. Drums, bells and zithers were relatively rare.

Zhou Linghuai suddenly thought of the “Green Parasol Zither Painting” hanging in the little girl’s courtyard. He had already thought of the pattern that he wanted to carve. Parasol leaves, parasol flowers, and a zither. The scene should be extremely beautiful.

Seeing that her cousin was silent, Yu Youyao tugged at his sleeve. “Don’t you like the zither?”

Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “If you like it, we’ll do as you say.”

Yu Youyao was overjoyed.