The Marquise: I Earn My Own Worship

"The sky has changed!"

Bai stood up suddenly, startling the three people who had just entered the room.

Seeing Bai's frightened look, Ding Meishu felt a little worried and stepped forward to grab her mother's arm and shook it.

"Mom, Mom, what's wrong with you?"

"Someone, go and ask my father to come over."

Bai came to her senses and grabbed Ding Meishu's hand, "Yes, go and ask your father to come over."

Ding Meiting was a little scared. She snuggled up to her sister and called softly, "Mother."

Bai came back to her senses and said to Ding Meishu, "Shu'er, take your brothers and sisters downstairs to play. I have something to talk to your father about."

Ding Meishu was still a little worried. Seeing that her mother was not seriously injured, she took the two children out.

After a while, Ding Haimo arrived. Bai sent the servants away and took Ding Haimo to the inner room.

In the evening, a letter also came from the Bai family.

The next day, Bai refused all banquets and gatherings, citing the sudden drop in temperature and her cold.

There have been heavy rains these days and there has been no sunny days for more than ten days.

During these days, Duan Chengkang was still forced to study for two hours every morning and evening. Every time he went out, he said goodbye to Chu Qinling with tears.

This happened every morning and afternoon, making Chu Qinling think that the study was some kind of monster.

After Duan Chengkang left that day, Chu Qinling felt a little bored and toured the farm all over for the past few days.

Gradually, there was nothing new about it anymore, mainly because it rained all day and I couldn’t go anywhere, which was very boring.

Everyone in the village knew that the young master had brought back a cousin. Chu Qinling was curious about everything outside the palace for the first time. Things outside were completely different from those in the palace.

Whenever Chu Qinling grabbed something, he would always ask what it was used for. For example, now he was pointing at an object that looked like both a cow and a horse and asked, "What is this?"

A farmer knew that this strange young man must be the eldest young man's cousin, so he replied respectfully, "This is called a windmill, and it is mainly used to sift chaff."

The farmer roughly explained to Chu Qinling how it was done. Chu Qinling was filled with amazement, "What a great wisdom!"

The farmers smiled and shook their heads. These rich young men, who had never done housework, were interested in farming.

Chu Qinling stayed for a while and then went to the next place. When he turned through the small door in the corridor, he heard Kang Ge'er's voice of reading in a loud voice.

This was Chu Qinling's first time in the study. He walked over curiously and looked inside cautiously.

When Chu Qinling saw the situation inside, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Duan Chengkang was seen sitting in a horse stance, his face flushed red. He was just reciting the last sentence when his legs began to tremble uncontrollably.

Hearing the sound, the three people in the room looked over at once. Chu Qinling thought he had disturbed the teacher's teaching. Remembering his mother's teaching that he should respect the teacher, his face flushed and he bowed shyly.

"I just stumbled into this place by mistake. I won't disturb you any more. I'll leave right away."

"Your brother!" Duan Chengkang's surprised voice sounded.

Cheng Xi saw a young man at the window from afar, and remembered that Duan Jing'an had told him before that a child had come to Zhuangzi, so he thought this must be the child.

"No need. If you are interested, you can come in and listen."

Cheng Xi's cold voice sounded, and then he ignored it and turned to stare at Duan Chengkang.

"If your mind is not stable, you will be burdened."

Duan Chengkang was in great pain. He shook his legs lightly and then stood in horse stance again.

This time he recited quickly and accurately, and was allowed to return to his seat soon.

Duan Chengkang returned to his seat and started winking at Chu Qinling who was sitting in the corner. Chu Qinling glanced at Duan Chengkang, then looked at the teacher who was looking at him above, and thought to himself: This is bad.

As expected, Cheng Xi spoke slowly, "Why, your Master, do you have another clone? Why did you run to the back?"

Although the words were spoken without any emotion, Duan Chengkang was frightened and shuddered. He quickly turned his head and looked at the book seriously, not daring to make any small movements anymore.

Duan Chengkang sighed in his heart, alas, he was like Sun Wukong meeting the Buddha, there is always someone who can defeat someone else.

The carefree days of the past few years seem like a dream, and now I can only continue studying with great difficulty.

As soon as Chu Qinling came in, he saw a desk in the corner and walked over.

Zhiyu was a little hesitant. Chu Qinling glanced at her and told her not to follow him. Zhiyu had no choice but to let him go in.

Chu Qinling sat upright, feeling a little excited inside. He had never been to the Imperial Religious Institute and had no idea what the study was like.

The spacious and bright study room has various flower and plant ornaments and rows of hollow and open carved windows. It is raining outside, and the flowers, plants and trees wet by the rain are all in sight.

After Cheng Xi finished teaching, he let a few people rest. Duan Chengkang flew to Chu Qinling like a bird out of a cage.

Seeing this, Sister Wei shook her head. Her cousin was always in a hurry here, so she put the books in place before slowly walking over.

"Brother Ling, why are you here?"

Chu Qinling smiled and winked at Duan Chengkang. "I was just taking a stroll, and I didn't expect to see you doing horse stance. What's going on? Is this some new and unusual way of memorizing?"

Duan Chengkang scratched his head a little embarrassedly, turned around and saw the teacher sitting there drinking tea. He turned back with a guilty conscience, and his little hand unconsciously tugged at the belt around his waist.

"Well, no, I didn't memorize the article the teacher assigned me yesterday. The teacher said I was too energetic and not suitable for studying, so he asked me to recite while doing horse stance."

Sister Wei came forward and teased her cousin: "That's right, every time you finish the horse stance, you act like nothing happened, but you always fail to complete your homework. Who can I blame?"

"Then I'd rather do horse stance to refresh my mind."

Duan Chengkang muttered softly.

Chu Qinling felt a little envious when he saw the two of them joking around. He didn't have any brothers or sisters of the same age, so naturally he had never experienced the atmosphere of playing between brothers and sisters.

"You two have such a good relationship. You can even go to school together."

Chu Qinling looked somewhat dejected. Duan Chengkang's eyes lit up as he said directly:

"Then you can come to class with us. You're bored all day anyway. I remember you said before that you wanted to study too. As long as you don't mind being tired, it's fine."

"What's so tiring about studying? It's just... I don't know if the old lady and the others would agree."

Chu Qinling felt a little guilty. He knew that it was not appropriate for him to study here with his identity, but he wanted to be willful.

"That's nothing to be afraid of. You just stay here. I'll tell my grandmother and mother when I get back at noon."

"Yes, yes, I'll say it for you too." Sister Wei echoed.

Chu Qinling smiled shyly, "Then, thank you for your help."

"Master, this way..."

Chu Qinling looked at the teacher sitting upstairs. He seemed very young and should be about the same age as his fourth brother.

Duan Chengkang directly pulled Chu Qinling and ran to Cheng Xi.

"Master, Master"

Cheng Xi raised his eyes slightly, his expression calm.

"What's the matter?"

Duan Chengkang pulled Chu Qinling in front of him, pointed at him and said, "This is my cousin. Can he attend the class with us?"

Cheng Xi then took a closer look at the boy. He looked a little frail, but he exuded an air of nobility.

When he was sitting there just now, it was obvious that the table was not suitable, but he did not bend his body at all for more than half an hour. His etiquette was excellent, which showed that he had a good upbringing.

"Have you ever read a book before?"

Cheng Xi put down the cup in his hand and looked at Chu Qinling.

Chu Qinling was unusually surprised. He had never felt this awkward even when facing his father. Could this be the master's majesty that Kang Ge'er talked about?

"I have read it, but I hired a great... teacher at home."

"So you can recognize all the characters?"

He heaved a sigh of relief after hearing this, and looked at Cheng Xi with a smile. "Now you can read and study history books and classics on your own."

Cheng Xi looked at the young man who was a head shorter than Kang Ge'er and nodded.

"I'll ask the Madam for permission later. If she agrees, you can come along."

Kang Ge'er was so happy that his good brother could finally go to and from school with him. Chu Qinling was also a little happy.

The two of them returned to the table hand in hand. Duan Chengkang had already started planning where Chu Qinling would sit. After Kang Ge'er and Wei Jie'er agreed, Chu Qinling would sit in the middle.

Chu Qinling didn't understand, but he felt that the middle should be the best position and was about to refuse.

Kang Ge'er and Wei Jie'er waved their hands repeatedly: "You are the distinguished guest, so of course you should sit in the best seat. It's okay, we prefer the seats on the side, with a better view."

Seeing this, Chu Qinling no longer refused and thanked him solemnly.

The simple Chu Qinling didn't know that the middle position was the closest to the Master and the place most likely to be noticed by the Master, but even if he knew it, he wouldn't mind.

Cheng Xi, who was sitting upstairs, naturally knew what the two children were planning and smiled and shook his head.