Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 885

Chapter 885: The Teacher

“No, Father said I have to grow up and cannot skip school anymore,” He Hao said earnestly, his nose red. “Father will be unhappy if he finds out I skipped school.”

Yue’er pouted, looking troubled, and thought for a moment, “Then wait until I’m a little older, until I’m almost as tall as you, and I will take you to climb trees.”

He Hao tilted his head and thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “Alright! When I was in Jiuyi, there were many trees as thick as houses, and some people even built their homes in trees. It’s a pity there are not such big trees in the capital; otherwise, we could build houses in trees too.”

Yue’er had never seen such big trees before, nor houses in trees, and her eyes lit up as she listened.

The two children quickly started chatting. He Hao, coming from Jiuyi, did not have as many of the customs of the capital. Yue’er, who had never been restrained before, soon found herself talking to He Hao.

Xiao Sui watched the two children chatting happily, then looked at An Zhi.

“Those two are somewhat like Xu Wenjuan and I used to be,” An Zhi said to Xiao Sui.

“You and the Queen are very good,” Xiao Sui said.

“When Xu Wenjuan gave birth to He Hao, I thought it was really good,” An Zhi recalled. “After all, having a son would make things better for her in Jiuyi. Now it seems it would have been better to have a girl.”

With a daughter, she would not have to be sent as a hostage, and at least she would have had the companionship of He Xun, her father.

Xiao Sui understood the implication in An Zhi’s words but did not dare respond. “The Crown Prince is a good one. Once he comes of age, he can return to Jiuyi.”

“That will be more than ten years,” An Zhi sighed. “These ten years will be tough on you. He Xun letting you come to the capital shows he values ​​you highly. He Hao is a good child but a bit naive. You must keep a close eye on him and make sure he’s not deceived.”

There were all sorts of people in the capital. He Hao was still so young, and An Zhi was very worried about him. Moreover, He Hao would be attending the Imperial Academy in the future, surrounded by princes and members of the imperial family. He really needed to be shrewd.

Xiao Sui nodded in agreement. When they came to the capital, his young madam repeatedly warned him that the Crown Prince was naive and easily fooled and that he should be careful.

He Hao played with Yue’er for a while. After dark, An Zhi sent someone to escort He Hao back.

Yue’er reluctantly saw He Hao off at the door. Once he was out of sight, she said wistfully, “Mother, when will I have a brother? So many people have brothers, and I want one to play with, too. Can you give me a brother?”

Chunlan could not help but laugh. “Miss, Madam cannot give you a brother, but you will have younger brothers and sisters later.”

“Why will I not have a brother?” Before anyone could answer, Yue’er said, “Never mind, it’s alright if I do not have a brother. I have other brothers anyway, and having younger brothers and sisters is fine too. Mother, I want more younger brothers and sisters so they can all play with me. Is that alright?”

An Zhi patted Yue’er’s head. “These things are up to fate. Yue’er is still young. Do not say things like that anymore. You will understand when you grow up.”

Yue’er nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite. Her mother forbade her to ask, so she would not. However, she still planned to talk to her father about her younger siblings when he returned.

Night fell, and the moonlight in the capital was beautiful that night.

An Zhi led Yue’er back home. In the following days, whenever He Hao was free, An Zhi would invite him to their home.

Now that Yue’er had a new playmate, she looked forward to He Hao’s visits every day. However, He Hao had to start school and could not come every day.

Bored at home, Yue’er started clamoring to go to school too. It was then that An Zhi remembered the Zhilan Academy.

During the siege of Pei Yu, much of the Zhilan Academy had been destroyed. After such a long period of time, the repairs were mostly complete. An Zhi chose a sunny day and took Yue’er out of the city.

After the academy had been operating for some time, and as more people learned skills there, more and more people started coming. However, no one else enrolled.

When An Zhi arrived at the academy, she saw the newly renovated space and felt a pang of melancholy.

Yue’er, however, was overjoyed. “Mother, is this where I will study from now on? Why are there no other students?”

An Zhi looked at the empty academy and released Yue’er’s hand. “Yes, this is where you will study from now on. After a while, other students will come. But for now, you will be the first student here. Are you happy?”

“Yes, I’m happy! I’m the first one!” Yue’er ran around the academy excitedly.

After three days, An Zhi had tidied up Zhilan Academy and started teaching Yue’er there.

As for the teacher, she herself was naturally the one. The previous female teacher had resigned because there were no students.

After five days of study, Yue’er found it somewhat boring. She was the only student, and her mother was the teacher—it was not unlike being at home.

It was not until Concubine Zhang brought Yue’er’s aunt, An Yun, that things changed. An Yun was three years older than Yue’er and much quieter. They had met before, but one was active and the other reserved, so they rarely played together. However, at the academy, with no one else to play with, Yue’er pulled her aunt along.

Concubine Zhang watched the two girls playing together and said to An Zhi with satisfaction, “Your little sister is usually quite quiet and not very active. I heard you started the academy, so I asked Madam and had her sent here.”

Concubine Zhang herself knew some characters and could teach her daughter bookkeeping, but she was not good at composing poetry. As her daughter grew older, Concubine Zhang thought it would be good for her to learn more through school. Besides, with An Zhi at the academy, she felt at ease.

An Zhi smiled. “Aunt, you trust me.”

“Of course, I trust you,” Concubine Zhang affirmed. “Looking around the capital, there are few women more knowledgeable than you. With you here as a teacher, I have complete peace of mind. It’s the others who lack knowledge and do not understand the importance of a young lady’s education.”

An Zhi was someone Concubine Zhang had watched grow up; she knew An Zhi’s character well. Sending her daughter to the academy would also allow her to benefit from An Zhi’s influence.

After Concubine Zhang sent her daughter, the eldest branch of the Cheng family also sent their two daughters.

An Zhi was quite surprised to see the first wife of the Cheng family arrive with her daughters. Although the Duke and Duchess of Cheng had returned to their hometown, the eldest son of the Cheng family held a second-rank official position and was quite prestigious in the capital. If the Cheng family’s daughters came to the academy, they would be living advertisements.

Madam of Cheng noticed An Zhi’s surprise and smiled, saying, “It was my younger sister who strongly recommended you to my husband, saying your scholarship surpasses that of all the female tutors in the capital. It’s important for girls to have some education; it broadens their horizons. Girls from noble families like ours should also go out and see the world, not confine themselves to their cages.”