The Daily Life of a Concubine's Daughter After Transmigrating

Li Anxiu nodded: "What does Second Sister like to do on weekdays?"

"It's nothing more than reading, writing, playing chess, painting, embroidery, dancing, and so on. There's nothing special about it."

Li Anxiu laughed and said, "Qin'er is nothing like you. The personalities of the two of you are completely the opposite of when you were children."

Li Anqi smiled but didn't say anything.

"When I have free time, I also enjoy reading and writing poetry, and occasionally fishing," Li Anxiu continued. "Second sister rarely leaves the manor, so you may not know the pleasures of leisurely life outside. How about we go fishing together next time?"

"I would be delighted," Li Anqi said with a smile.

……

After school that day, Master Jiang left Li Anqi alone in the classroom.

"What are your instructions, Master?" Li Anqi asked.

Master Jiang stroked his beard and said, "I have a question I'd like to ask the Second Miss."

"Please speak, Master."

"As the ancients said, 'Only when things are investigated can knowledge be extended; only when knowledge is extended can the will be sincere; only when the will is sincere can the heart be rectified; only when the heart is rectified can the person be cultivated; only when the person is cultivated can the family be regulated; only when the family is regulated can the state be governed; only when the state is governed can the world be at peace.' Second Miss, what is your opinion on these four words, 'investigating things to extend knowledge'?"

Li Anqi calmly and slowly said, "Regarding the investigation of things and the extension of knowledge, there is Zheng Xuan's theory of spiritual connection, Cheng Yi's theory of exhaustive investigation, and Wang Yangming's theory of rectifying the mind. In my opinion, I would prefer to recommend the one that 'exhausts the principles to extend knowledge'."

"Oh? Why?" Master Jiang asked.

"Investigating things, extending knowledge, making one's will sincere, rectifying one's mind, cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world—this is a progression. If one does not study widely among learned scholars and does not understand the principles of all things in the world, then everything that follows will not hold true."

"Hahahaha!" Master Jiang burst into laughter. "Very well, very well, Miss Second, I can no longer teach you anything."

Li Anqi blushed and slightly raised his head: "Master..."

"The Second Miss is the most intelligent and hardworking person I have ever seen! In just over a year, she has surpassed the skills that others have acquired in several years! It's just a pity that the Second Miss... is a young lady."

At this point, Mr. Jiang's tone was filled with helplessness and regret.

"But it's alright. As a woman, the Second Miss's knowledge already surpasses that of many people, which is more than enough."

"Master, let's play chess..."

Li Anqi wanted to say something more, but suddenly stopped.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master."

After saying this, Li Anqi stood up and knelt before Master Jiang.

With tears in his eyes, Master Jiang helped her up and said earnestly, "I have already asked the Duke of Jingguo for my resignation. After this lesson, I will also retire and return to my hometown."

"Master, are you leaving?" Li Anqi's eyes were full of reluctance.

Master Jiang nodded: "In last month's letter home, I learned that a new grandson had been born. Now that my mission is complete, I can go home and enjoy the joys of family life! As for the affairs of the family school, they will be taken over by Master Qi."

A thin layer of tears welled up in Li Anqi's eyes as he nodded and smiled, "Anqi will come to see the Master off then."

After seeing Mr. Jiang off, the old lady's birthday banquet was fast approaching.

The entire Jingguo Mansion was extremely busy, not only preparing for the old lady's sixtieth birthday but also for Li Anxiu's betrothal gifts.

All sorts of important events fell on Madam Zhao's shoulders. After half a month, Madam Zhao felt like her head was splitting open and she was so exhausted that she felt like she was going to peel off a layer of skin.

The birthday banquet was held in the main hall of the old lady's Fushou Hall, where more than a dozen large round tables were set up. In the center of the hall, there was an open space for singers, dancers and acrobats to perform.

Those who came to the banquet included senior members of the clan, as well as officials and friends who were on good terms with the Jingguo Mansion.

People presented birthday gifts and offered congratulations, laughter filled the air, and everyone was overjoyed, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.

At the birthday banquet, many faces were unfamiliar to Li Anqi.

But that one face, the young man staring intently at him, was impossible for Li Anqi to ignore.

The two were in the east hall and the west hall, separated by a troupe of acrobats performing.

The moment Li Anqi's eyes met his, the boy seemed even more excited.

Li Anqi turned around slightly embarrassed and drank a small cup of wine.

She turned slightly to the side, covering her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and asked Zhilan about the person's identity.

Zhilan glanced at the boy and whispered in her ear.

“Miss, that is Zuo Sinian, the second son of the Left Prime Minister’s mansion. When he was a child, he came to the Jingguo Mansion with the Left Prime Minister along with Miss Zuo. The eldest son’s marriage was arranged at that time.”

"..."

Li Anqi racked his brains and finally found a fragment about Zuo Sinian in the original owner's memories.

The original owner was five years old that year, and her birth mother had just passed away not long ago.

Seven or eight-year-old Zuo Sinian suddenly appeared out of nowhere, holding pebbles in his hand and throwing them at her head for amusement.

The original owner was covered in bumps from being hit, and cried while covering his head, unable to find anyone to help him.

She had no choice but to steal dried fruit from Zuo Sinian's table during the banquet and sprinkle some lime into his soup.

But the lime bubbled and gurgled when it met water, and Zuo Sinian saw through her trick at a glance.

Zuo Sinian immediately untied his belt and tied her hands together, saying he wanted to take her home as a concubine, which frightened the original owner so much that she cried loudly.

Li Anqi gently rubbed her temples and stopped looking in his direction.

However, Zuo Sinian's gaze was so intense that it made one feel like sitting on pins and needles.

"Shu'er, I'm going out to sober up. If anyone asks, just say I went to change my clothes," Li Anqi said to Li Anshu.

"Yes, Sister, go ahead without worry," Li Anshu nodded.

Liu Yun helped Li Anqi leave Fushou Hall through a side path.

When Li Anqi came out of the changing room, he found that Liuyun had disappeared.

"Flowing Clouds, Flowing Clouds?"

Li Anqi called out twice, but seeing that no one was around, he felt inexplicably uneasy.

"I sent your little maid away! I told her the Old Madam was looking for her, and she ran off like a little puppy!"

Zuo Sinian appeared out of nowhere, a wicked grin on his face.