Chapter 6: Apprenticeship Ceremony

Yan Buji's voluntary transfer of a large amount of property spread quickly, but among the city's ordinary folk, few knew of it. Moreover, Yan Buji had agreed with the merchants not to make a big fuss, so it didn't cause much of a stir.

That day, Yan Buji personally escorted Yan Xirou to the foot of Lingshan Academy, got off the carriage, and watched her worriedly.

"Rou Er, remember what I told you when you go to the academy.... Never mind, how about I take you up first and then we talk?" Yan Buji said, full of worry.

"No need, Father. You've arranged all this for me, plus a maid to accompany my studies—I'll be fine." Yan Xirou, dressed like a scholar, with her hair tied up, looked at Yan Buji and smiled reassuringly.

"Hmm, that's fine. I've also arranged for a porter for you; they're all our own people, so there's nothing to worry about. Go on up."

"Mm! Father, see you tonight."

"Goodbye."

Yan Buji waved his hand, and after seeing off Yan Xirou, he stood in place watching her being carried up the mountain until her figure disappeared.

"Sir, the young lady has already gone up; let's go."

"Mm, let's head home."

"Yes."

Yan Xirou quickly arrived at the gate of Lingshan Academy; seeing the huge gate, her eyes filled with curiosity and astonishment, unable to imagine how much labor and material it must have taken to build such a vast academy on such a towering peak.

Yan Xirou entered the academy with her study-accompanying maid, and following the instructions in the letter, she soon arrived at the annex where the teachers resided.

"Who goes there, and why have you come?" the gatekeeping student attendants asked, looking at Yan Xirou with puzzlement.

Yan Xirou hastily performed the disciple's salute, recalling her father's words, and immediately said, "I am student Yan Xirou; I have come to pay my respects to Master Zhou Hua. Please trouble a few senior students to announce me."

"Are you the female disciple that Master Zhou just took on?" the student attendant asked curiously.

"Yes."

"Alright, follow me."

"Okay."

Yan Xirou followed the student attendant to a courtyard, pushed open the door, and saw an elderly man over fifty sitting at a desk, brush in hand, ink flowing, dressed in white robes and a dark cap, his bearing extraordinary.

The student attendant returned the salute and said, "Greetings, Master Zhou; your disciple Yan Xirou has today come to register."

"Good, good, good. You may withdraw now."

"Yes."

The student attendant left, walked to the courtyard gate, turned back and gave Yan Xirou a strange look, muttering, "Not bad-looking, but too bad she's become the disciple of that lecherous old man; who knows what will happen...."

Recalling the rumors about Master Zhou that had circulated at the academy, the student attendant's face grew even stranger.

Yan Xirou stood at the doorway, nervously watching Master Zhou.

Master Zhou's eyes lit up; he glanced at Yan Xirou and her maid behind her, then chuckled, "Come in."

"Yes, Master."

Yan Xirou stepped inside, stood in the doorway, and looked at him.

Although Master Zhou is old, he is not ugly; because he is well versed in poetry and books, he possesses a wise gaze unique to the elderly, his composure calm and unflappable, unperturbed by affairs. This led Yan Xirou, who did not know his background, to think privately that this master was quite amiable.

Master Zhou nodded: "Yan Xirou, right? I've also read your essay; it contains imaginative ideas with a unique touch. However, it doesn't align with what today's civil-service examiners have in mind, so if you hope to pursue an official career, it will be all the more difficult."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master. I have no intention of entering government service." Yan Xirou shook her head.

She also knew that, as a woman, even if she could achieve the rank of cultivated talent or even recommended person, what would it matter?

For a woman to become an official in the Kun Dao dynasty, lineage, background, and strength are all indispensable.

Often these three factors complement and reinforce each other.

Master Zhou nodded: "Then just study at ease by my side."

"Yes, Master."

Master Zhou rose and took the seat of honor; on the wall hung a portrait of the Supreme Sage and Ancient Teacher, the founder of the Confucian Dao, whom later scholars called a sage, Master Mingyang—the meaning was quite clear.

Yan Xirou froze for a moment, puzzled, and said, "Master, you..."

"Since I have taken you as my disciple, the necessary rites of apprenticeship cannot be omitted. However, I am no old fogey; there's no need to hold a banquet and announce far and wide that I have taken you as my disciple—let's keep it simple. How about it, are you dissatisfied?"

Seeing Master Zhou furrow his brow slightly, Yan Xirou's heart pounded with worry that she had offended him, and she hastily said:

"Yes, Master. I also don't want a grand affair that would trouble you. This simple approach is exactly what I, as a disciple, desire."

"Hehe, first let's offer incense to Master Mingyang."

"Yes."

According to the etiquette of scholars, to take a teacher one must complete the apprenticeship rite in the presence of Master Mingyang; naturally, the first stick of incense is offered to him.

Yan Xirou walked over, picked up the incense from the offering table, lit three sticks, retreated a step respectfully, and said:

"Disciple Yan Xirou pays respects to Master Mingyang. Fortunate to have been noticed and accepted as a disciple by Master Zhou Hua, I will henceforth honor my teacher and cherish the Way, study diligently, and strive for the vast and righteous."

Master Zhou nodded; although these words were mere formalities, it was still commendable that a young woman could understand them.

After offering the incense, Yan Xirou walked to the side, poured a cup of tea, approached respectfully with both hands, and presented it to Master Zhou:

"Disciple Yan Xirou offers tea to Master."

Master Zhou glanced at Yan Xirou's delicate jade-like hand, and his heart skipped a beat.

Though he himself had weathered great storms, why did this young lady, who had just come of age, make him feel an urge to act improperly?

Impelled by some unseen force, Master Zhou stretched out his hands, lightly brushed Yan Xirou's fingers, then immediately picked up the teacup.

Yan Xirou froze for a moment, almost instinctively pulling her hand back, but seeing Master Zhou drink a sip of tea with an expressionless face, she thought it might have been an inadvertent touch just now.

Yan Xirou cast aside her distracting thoughts, clasped her hands, and smiled, "Greetings, Master."

"Hmm.... I haven't taken many disciples in my lifetime; these little trinkets aren't valuable, but I'll give them to you."

Saying this, Master Zhou walked to the desk, picked up a brand-new writing brush, and handed it over.

"Thank you, Master, for the brush!" Yan Xirou held the brush with both hands, examining it curiously.

"This brush was a gift from a deceased friend; although it's not worth much, I cherish it and have never used it. I hope you will also study diligently, increasing your knowledge and experience. I don't seek for you to achieve great fame, only that our Confucian Dao flourish for myriad generations, endless and unceasing."

"May our Confucian Dao endure for myriad generations, endless and unceasing!" Yan Xirou declared solemnly.

Zhou Hua smiled and nodded: "Alright, go to the school and follow your classmates in class."

"Yes, sir!"

Yan Xirou left the room, taking the maid happily to the school.

Seeing her leave, Zhou Hua suddenly took a deep breath, eagerly sniffing the lingering fragrance of the girl in the air, and after savoring it for a long time, he murmured:

"Not right, this girl is neither as pretty as A Chun from the Red Pavilion, nor as fragrant as the peony from the Drunken Spring Tower. Yet she somehow makes my deep Silence heart start to flutter—what's going on?"

"Haven't I seen young girls before?"

"Impossible, I've seen the daughters of wealthy merchants plenty of times, many are prettier than Yan Xirou, but I've never felt this way."

"Could it be that this is..."

"Love at first sight?!"

Zhou Hua widened his eyes, covering his wildly rising mouth corners.