Fei Lan

Chapter 5

There is a happy atmosphere in the air, as always the city is bustling with merchant selling their goods, people busily buying. The crowds are doing their business. Restaurants and stores are busy with customers.

News of Cheng Duchess being pregnant is now spreading widely. The emperor sends a gifts and hoping to have a nephew. Nobles and Officials are making haste to prepare their gifts. They are excited. The Cheng Duke is the favorite sibling of the emperor. They have to curry for favors.

While others are busily currying favors,  the house of Bai is also busy preparing gifts for their pregnant daughter. They are happy that the duke couple is expecting a child. They just hope that their daughter will have a safe pregnancy. They prepare a nourishing herbs for mother and the child. And also silks and other things to make the duchess comfortable.

Sooo ..they are busy. I am also busy, ok? In this ancient era where daughters need to be talented to have more prospect, I need to of course prop myself up so I request father to have a teacher who will teach me the four arts. 

So yeah, I'm busy alright. While in my old life I am a good student diligently studying ..here, in this era I just can't.

Why I can't be a good calligrapher?? Or an artist whose good in painting or a chess master?? Just what is this melody I am making? The makers of guqin and ghuzeng are not so happy right now 😏

Ha so four arts are not my cup of tea. Duh! Sorry for not being competent. And prospect? I just want my family to be proud of me. Who wants to have more prospect?? Right?

And I am sooo done in a relationship alright? In my past life, my relationships are sooo not cool that's why I am sooo not looking forward of that prospect. I will just accept whoever my father or mother betroth me to. This is me being an obedient daughter okay? 

So, on to the story ..

I am in my own courtyard with my teacher teaching me of course. Just like that, she is so diligent in teaching me that I am so ashamed I am not up to par 😞😞 holy cow! This is really humiliating. I need to like step up on my game so ..

"Teacher, my father ask you to teach me the four arts but .."my face is sad, I sigh. Again. How many sighs I did today? TMTC.

My face contorts in embarassment and sadness. How can I mixed a sad and embarassed face? That I don't know ..maybe that's one of my talent?

So it's like my whole face is red even my neck is red, my lower lip is a little bit swollen because of me biting it. My eyes, tearing. I sniff a little ..

"Teacher is there any other art that I can study? I seem to be bad at this." I ask my teacher, I currently 'playing' the guqin.

My teacher, her name is Ying Li is known to be a talented woman. Her four arts are superb and her intelligence can be counted as number one. In her time she was famous and many men are asking for her hand. She married her husband and they are together for three years but unfortunate things happen and her husband died young. They didn't have a child but her family took her again in their care and she lives a good life. She is now one of the sought after teacher and I have a good fortune to be one of her student. But yeah, I am really fortunate that this teacher is willing to teach me even though I am not good in studying.

She gives me a small smile and said, "You don't have to be embarass I can teach you other skills you can be proud of. Just don't be too anxious. I am just assessing you first because you start late but everything will be fine after a while. After assessing you, I will know how to teach you so that you can improve." Wow! Just how understanding she is??

I am so greatful at her that she is so patient at me and very thankful, really. If any other teacher it's possible that they already scold at me or worst they already give up on me. It's so refreshing.

I thought that in this era, teachers are not so understanding and they will only teach the best for their reputation but I was wrong. And I am soo thankful about it. My teacher is the best! She is now my favorite teacher🤫

I perform a whole bow at her and thank her for her understanding.

"Teacher Ying, I will do my very best and work hard so that you will be proud of me. I am sorry for the trouble and thank you for your hard work." I bow to her very earnestly.

Ying Li just smile at me and receive my bow. She pats my head and said that she will be looking forward at what I can be in the future.

Teacher Ying also give me books to read amd study to further my knowledge. She told me that I should memorize them and she will question me when the time comes.

I gear myself up and prepare to burn the candle. Student life, welcome back. Lovely. 😒😒