History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 10 A Date with Riding Practice
Kong Wenzhong glanced at it briefly and was quite surprised. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Go to the library the day after tomorrow afternoon to pick up your homework."

Wei Yao quickly replied "Yes," and respectfully watched the teacher turn the corner before returning to the schoolhouse.

As Xi Jiao walked out, Wei Yao politely stepped back. Being tall, he naturally glanced at the top of her head and clearly saw her suddenly flushed cheeks.

He really wanted to tell this young woman that if she didn't like a young man, she shouldn't blush and cause misunderstandings. If she did like him, she should be as open and composed as other Xianbei women. Such coyness was a disgrace to the Xianbei people!
Wei Yao didn't look up, unaware of the other person's disgust. Eager to return home, she washed her brush and ink, went back to her lodgings, and packed her bags.

Zhao Zhi had been waiting outside the Cui family school for a long time. When she saw her daughter come out, she carried the book box over first. Wei Yao's back immediately felt much lighter, and she hugged her mother and said coquettishly, "I've missed you so much, Mother, after ten days apart."

Zhao Zhi was overjoyed to be relied upon by her daughter. She took out a bag of peach cakes, which she had bought by queuing at Yongning Temple before dawn.

After Wei Yao opened it, Zhao Zhi turned her face to the side because it was completely broken, and not a single piece could be seen to resemble a peach blossom.

The mother and daughter were returning to the East Lane from the West Lane. It was close to the New Year, and the streets were bustling with traffic and firecrackers. In the lively atmosphere, it felt like anyone would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't buy something.

Finally back home, Wei Yao first put the sesame candy in the kitchen, then put the windmill, small lantern, and honeysuckle vine patterned comb in her own room, and then looked at the extra bamboo slips on her desk with a puzzled expression.

Just then, Zhao Zhi remembered something and said through the door, "Ayao, you have a fellow disciple named Wei San, right? He came to our house and brought some bamboo slips, as well as some fresh vegetables and braised meat. I didn't know how to repay him, so I gave him the new winter shoes that I had sewn too small for your father, since he has big feet."

Wei Yao suppressed a laugh and said, "He is Wei Mao, whom I mentioned before. He is the third child in his family."

Ordinary Xianbei people didn't have many customs and traditions for the New Year. Wei Yao would occasionally help her mother wash dishes and help her father move flowers, but she spent the rest of her time reading the "Classic of Filial Piety".

The Classic of Filial Piety is now only a selective reading in some Han Academy, but Wei Yao knows that the highest institution of learning in Luoyang, the Imperial Academy, has this course. Moreover, her father said that in order to truly understand the meaning of the classics, one must first understand the Analects and the Classic of Filial Piety.

On the twenty-second day of the twelfth lunar month, Wei Yao went alone to the Cui family's academy to retrieve the homework given by Confucius. On her way back, she detoured to Yingju Bookstore and told the shopkeeper, "I am Wei Yao, a fellow student of Young Master Mao. Please tell Young Master Mao..."

"What are you talking to me about?" Wei Mao's voice came from the second floor first, and then he appeared, leaning comfortably against the stair railing, holding a scroll in his hand.

Wei Yao bowed first: "I didn't know that Mao Tong was here. I came to say that the notes you asked for will be given to you after the New Year."

"As you wish. Some poems and silk arrived yesterday from the island barbarians; would you like to see them?"

At that time, the Xianbei nobles often referred to Xiao Qi as "island barbarians," while the Qi state cursed Wei as "barbarian barbarians."

Wei Yao guessed it was probably the "new style poetry" popular during the Xiao Qi period. She wasn't interested and declined, saying, "Not today, I have something to attend to at home. Farewell, Mao Tong." In her previous life, she had read many new style poems written by Xie Tiao, Shen Yue, and Wang Rong. Their ornate style and poignant emotions were indeed admirable, but they also revealed the decadence of the Xiao Qi court.

As soon as Wei Yao came out, Wei Mao had already returned to the second floor. He opened the window and called to her, "The South City Ranch is opening again. Shall we go horseback riding together? I've also made plans with Wei Jing, Zhen, and Wu."

Having a rare opportunity to ride freely, Wei Yao asked the other person cheerfully, "When?"

"Meet at the south gate near Yongning Temple at Chenshi the day after tomorrow."

The southern pasture, adjacent to the Mingtang, was originally the property of Lu Rui, the previous governor, and was previously open to ordinary Xianbei people on special holidays. However, last year, during the handover of the governorship, Lu Rui conspired with Mu Tai, who was taking office, to rebel, and was ultimately executed after being personally investigated by His Majesty.

Therefore, the reopening of the ranch is both a way for the state government to demonstrate that the city is now peaceful and harmonious, and also a way for the new governor, Yuan Zhi, to intimidate the powerful clans and nobles of Hengzhou.

On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, Wei Yao arrived at the meeting point at the city gate early. Wei Mao and his companion Wei Jing were already waiting there, both leading their horses. Usually, when the ranch was open, there were many people like them who only used the ranch and did not occupy the horses.

To her surprise, Qu Rong was standing a few steps away.

Wei Jing was very excited and asked Wei Yao, "I heard that Changsun Wuzhuo was expelled from the Cui family school, is that true?" "I don't know, he and I are not in the same school."

"I understand! It's true."

Wei Mao smiled and gestured to the two that Wei Zhen had arrived.

Soon, Wu Ji arrived with his horse, and the group tacitly avoided mentioning why Qu Rong had also come.

They set off. The two young girls, Wei Yao and Wei Zhen, walked together, while Wu Jiyuan played around with Wei Jing, who liked to pester Wei Mao. Only Qu Rong felt awkward following behind either group.

Many people were heading to the pasture, and the road was filled with laughter and joy. Qu Rong felt even more lonely, but even if he mustered up his courage, he didn't dare to approach Wei Mao. So, when Wei Yao squatted down to tie her boot straps, he followed her up and asked, "Fellow student Yao, are the teachers at the Cui Family Academy really better at teaching than our teachers?"

Wei Yao: "Throughout history, it has always been the Master who evaluates his disciples; how could a disciple presumptuously criticize the Master?"

Wei Zhen's eyes widened in surprise. Just now she was thinking that it must be the teacher from Cui's Academy, Qiang. Luckily, she didn't blurt it out.

Qu Rong said irritably, "I was just asking casually. How did it turn into such a profound discussion!"

The three of them, Wei Mao and Wei Zhen, stopped walking. Wei Yao saw them and pulled Wei Zhen along quickly. Wei Zhen's palms were ticklish, and she laughed as she ran.

The pasture was located southeast of the Mingtang, and across the river, one could see the Jietian field and the medicinal herb garden. For the Xianbei people, the opening of the pasture was more cause for celebration than the New Year. There were herds of horses and camels, more than in previous years. What worried Wei Yao and her companions was that even more people came to ride!
Fortunately, Wei Mao was familiar with the area and knew where children were taken care of. He had Wei Jing and Wu Ji wait at one spot while he led Wei Yao and the others quickly through to a horse pen. Sure enough, only children under ten years old were allowed to ride horses there.

However, only two people can lead one horse.

Wei Mao certainly wouldn't take up a commoner's riding quota for Qu Rong's sake, while Wei Zhen generously said, "Take one horse if you want. I can ride at home normally, but today you two can ride more."

Qu Rong then modestly said, "My family also has horses, so please let my fellow disciple Yao ride more."

Wei Mao looked at Wei Yao: "Since we've already told you to practice more, then you choose a horse."

Wei Yao had already chosen a blue horse. The horses on the ranch were not saddled or equipped with stirrups, just like on the racetrack, only with reins. The stable boy told them that they needed to return the horses before 3 PM and that they should feed and water the horses when passing through the supply area.

The riding training grounds and the horse selection grounds were separate. The four of them walked back and met up with Wei Jing and Wu Ji before heading further east to the riding training grounds.

Upon arrival, Wei Jing immediately engaged in a contest with Wu Ji, and within a few breaths, the two rode far away. Wei Mao let Wei Zhen ride his mount, while he held the reins of the blue horse and had Wei Yao step onto his knees to mount it.

Qu Rong was filled with regret at this moment!

Huangzongxue: A place in the Northern Wei Dynasty specifically for teaching the children of the imperial family.

New-style poetry: refers to the "Yongming style" of poetry, a poetic form that emerged during the Yongming era of Emperor Wu of the Southern Qi Dynasty.

Xie Tiao: Born into the Xie clan of Chenjun, he was a poet of the Southern Qi Dynasty and one of the founders of the "Yongming Poetry" school.

Mingtang: The palace where the Northern Wei Dynasty held court assemblies and sacrifices.

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(End of this chapter)