bookcurios Chapter 167 Master Li Jing
Chapter 167 Master Li Jing
A few days later, the news that Ruiyue was bullied by her stepmother during the royal meal reached the head of Ziling Mountain, her master Ziyun Zhenren Li Jing.
On this day, clouds rose and the sky fell, and a family of naughty colorful birds circled back and forth in the sky. The fifth bird flew to her shoulder to take a rest. Ruiyue touched its head feathers, and its feathers were as silky as jade. The fifth bird affectionately rubbed her with its red beak.
It was Ruiyue's turn to learn astronomy from her senior brother Zhongshuo. Just as she was about to go out, the doorman came to tell her that the master wanted to summon her immediately. Ruiyue came to the master's residence with a nervous mood.
He was taken to the Ziyun Library. As soon as he entered, he saw his master, dressed in a white robe embroidered with auspicious clouds. His hair was white and his face was plain, with a bun on his head. He sat at the main seat, looking seriously at an account book. Ruiyue, wearing the same clothes, hurried forward, knelt down and saluted, her voice trembling slightly as she said, "Master, your disciple is here."
Gently placing the account book on the table, Li Jing looked at her sharply and said, "Rui Yue, I heard that your stepmother had given you trouble at the royal banquet. Is that true?"
Ruiyue lowered her head and replied softly, "Master, it's not that I'm being difficult, it's just that my uncle wants to watch the fun."
Li Jing snorted coldly, "The Royal Kitchen is an important place. Their status is very noble, and they will not tolerate others wantonly bullying our disciples of Ziling Mountain."
Ruiyue felt warm in her heart, but also a little worried, and said quickly: "Master, I don't want to cause trouble for the sect."
Li Jing stood up, walked to her, helped her up and said, "Silly disciple, this is not a problem. You have been wronged outside, how can your master sit idly by and watch."
"Also, the little paper figurine is to serve you, not others, and certainly not to be used to please insignificant people."
She looked up, her eyes welling with tears, at Master Li Jing, her heart filled with both emotion and guilt. She was touched by his caring and thoughtfulness, yet also felt guilty for having carelessly disposed of the treasure he had given her, out of a moment of playfulness. "Master, I know I was wrong," she said sincerely, her voice tinged with tears.
Li Jing patted her shoulder gently and said soothingly, "Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue. Don't act so rashly in the future."
Little Ruiyue's eyes were filled with tears, and she said aggrievedly, "Master, I really don't know why my stepmother is targeting me like this."
"In the dispute over the legitimate daughter, as the eldest daughter of the Dongfang Huang family and the only daughter of Princess Xinyue Fang Xuanyi, you are the direct heir. It is inevitable that people will think that you are an eyesore and blocking their path to promotion and wealth."
Li Jing stroked his beard and comforted him, "Don't be sad, disciple. I will definitely seek justice for you."
As he spoke, a colorful bird suddenly flew to Li Jing's shoulder, chirping non-stop. Li Jing's face changed slightly when he heard this. "Disciple, the bird just sent a message. Your stepmother and others have set a trap in the imperial kitchen at the next gathering, intending to harm you again." Rui Yue clenched her fists, a firm look in her eyes. "Master, I will not allow myself to be bullied again."
Master Li Jing nodded in appreciation and pulled out a piece of paper from a drawer. "Xiao Ba, things haven't happened yet. There's still hope. Solve these questions first. Then, at nine o'clock, study astrology with Senior Brother. I'll be waiting for you here at three quarters past noon. I have something important to tell you."
Ruiyue took the paper and nodded seriously: "Yes, Master, I will solve the problem right away."
She found a corner and sat down. The questions were more complex arithmetic, a bit difficult, and there were ten of them in total. She concentrated on the questions. The colorful bird Laowu circled above her head, as if cheering her on.
After finally solving the problem, Ruiyue hurried to the senior brother's place. The Stargazing Hall is located in the east, covers an area of about 100 square meters, and usually teaches one-on-one.
There are currently only eight disciples in the sect, and Ruiyue is the only girl. Due to her noble status, Li Jing only arranges for the eldest disciple Zhong Shuo and the seventh disciple Lei Yide to take care of her daily life and studies. The other disciples can only look on with envy. The sixth disciple, who is the same age as Ruiyue, happens to meet her by chance.
When Jong Suk saw her come in, he, always a good man, smiled gently and said, "Eighth Junior Sister, you've come just in time. Let's get started." He took Ruiyue to the observatory and patiently taught her how to identify the stars. Although Ruiyue was concerned about what Master Shangwu was going to say, she still tried hard to learn from her senior brother.
Because it was daytime and I was a junior student, I started by looking at the astronomical chart manuscript. I learned what shape the white clouds would take when it was drizzling, what natural disasters moderate rain would cause, what special images would appear after the roar of the earth dragon, and I also learned some five-element supporting tools, such as the compass, scales, and ruler.
Jong Suk is no scoundrel! He's sincere, with a scholarly air and a clear, pure spirit. Legend has it that he was a prince from a certain kingdom in distress, held hostage at the age of eighteen to study in Ziling Valley. Master Ziyun, Li Jing, valued his talent and offered his guidance, treating him like a stranger. Only ten people knew his true identity.
Ruiyue was a little absent-minded, and Zhongshuo noticed it. Since it was almost time for dinner, he decided to end the get out of class early. His slender fingers touched her orchid hairpin that was about to fall off, and skillfully helped her put it back in. "Xiaoba, are you worried about something today?"
Today, she wore her hair in twin buns, her bangs cascading down to her eyebrows, and simply accessorized it with two orchid-shaped waving branches. She paired it with her black auspicious cloud-colored school uniform, even tucking her gold locket into the lining. This simple attire only made her appear ethereal, like a fairy from the otherworldly realm.
She belatedly touched her hairpin and clasped her hands together before saying awkwardly, "No, I'm just a little hungry."
Zhong Shuo smiled awkwardly, he had actually forgotten this reason. Although Eighth Junior Sister was tall, she was neither fat nor thin, just the right size. After all, she still had a child's mind and naturally wanted to eat when she was hungry. "Little Eight, then you wait here, I'll find you something delicious." He turned around and went to the second floor, and when he came back, he had a gift box in his hand.
Jong Suk raised an eyebrow and looked at her expectantly: "Open it and take a look. This should suit your taste."
"Thank you, Senior Brother." After washing her hands, Xiao Ruiyue curiously opened the gift box and saw five pink lotus cakes inside. She picked up one and took a bite. It was salty and had a faint lotus fragrance, which showed the craftsman's great care.
"How's it going? Is it delicious?"
Little Ruiyue's eyes lit up and she nodded repeatedly: "Delicious, very delicious, Big Brother, where did you buy this cake?"
Seeing that she liked it, Jong Suk raised the corners of his mouth with a hint of pride: "I made this myself, thinking you might like it."
Ruiyue was a little surprised. She had never thought that her senior brother, who usually only focused on his studies, had such a skill. She took another bite of the pastry and said vaguely, "Senior brother, you are amazing. It tastes better than anything sold outside."
Zhong Shuo watched her eat happily, and his heart was filled with joy: "Eat slowly and don't choke. Wait, I'll get you some water."
"Brother, don't be so busy. Eat one piece first."
"Xiao Ba, eat by yourself. Senior Brother is not hungry. Dinner will be served soon."
At three o'clock, Ruiyue hurried back to her master's residence. Li Jing looked at her, his eyes serious yet full of expectation. "Xiao Ba, I've already thought of a plan for you. At the next gathering, just go, and I'll secretly help you. Remember, don't be afraid of those people anymore. Show the aura of a disciple from Ziling Mountain."