History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 146 Good friends

In the pavilion-shaped courtyard, the servants and two maids carried Wei Yao's luggage into her dormitory. At this time, only Yuan Jingrong got up. Wei Yao went up to greet her and bowed, and Yuan Jingrong returned the greeting.

"I thought you would have come yesterday afternoon."

Wei Yao smiled and replied, "I was away from home for the past two months, so I thought I'd stay as long as I could."

Yuan Jingrong: "If my father and mother were alive, I would definitely want to stay with them as much as possible, and I would not leave them if I could avoid it."

Wei Yao felt guilty and uneasy. She really didn't know that the other person's parents had passed away. She looked at Yuan Jingrong. The way the other person spoke these words was casual and lighthearted. But how well could a ten-year-old girl pretend to be strong?

“Miss Yuan, if you don’t mind, we can eat together and live together in Tingxing Courtyard from now on.”

Yuan Jingrong chuckled: "Your shabby house is damp, cramped, and small; only you wouldn't mind."

Wei Yao playfully pointed to the other person's house: "Then... can your house accommodate me?"

Yuan Jingrong mumbled in response, "Yes, I can."

Just then, before Wei Yao could sort out her belongings from her baggage and book box, and with the maids busy taking care of it, the two young women went hand in hand to talk to Yuan Jingrong. Yuan Jingrong's room wasn't actually very big, but it was certainly much better than that "pavilion-shaped" room built against the corner of the courtyard wall. Moreover, there were several pots of flowers under the window, blooming in a variety of colors, their delicate fragrance refreshing and delightful.

Yuan Jingrong asked, "Let's not sleep on opposite walls tonight. This mat is quite big. How about we put your desk against that wall?"

Wei Yaoxin replied, "That's a good idea, but I study late tonight, will it bother you?"

"will not."

The maid brought in Wei Yao's things, and Wei Yao did all the sorting and organizing herself. Yuan Jingrong couldn't help with anything else, so she helped Wei Yao arrange the many plain bamboo slips she had brought, and then said, "When I'm alone, I also practice calligraphy with bamboo slips."

Not all imperial descendants are wealthy and powerful, nor are all noble children extravagant. Wei Yao did not try to guess which category Yuan Nulang belonged to. Since they had become friends who shared the same house and cooking, it was enough for her to appreciate the other party's goodwill.

Despite the humble surroundings, the two young women still wanted to show their joy at having just met, so they cut off the most delicate and largest flowers and adorned their hair with them.

Yuan Jingrong's bronze mirror reflected people very clearly. The two of them stood at a certain distance so that they could be reflected in the mirror at the same time. Then they struck various poses, some heroic and some shy. Sometimes they would link arms with each other, sometimes they would pout at the same time, and sometimes they would pretend to be angry with their backs to each other.

"Haha, if you keep doing that..."

"Like this."

Unfortunately, time was too tight, and after a brief period of playing around, it was time to go to class.

The two parted ways at the courtyard gate. Wei Yao went to the Xunyi Academy, while Yuan Jingrong studied at the Shanyi Academy, where she would have a large class at the Guchang Qinlin today.

“A-Yao”.

Wei Yao turned around and saw Yuan Jingrong still standing in the same spot.

“Jingrong, just say what you want to say to me.” She took the other’s hand, but the other still hesitated, so Wei Yao took the initiative to ask, “Do you still want to tell me not to get too close to Xi Jiao, who is from the same sect? Don’t worry, I won’t.”

“Last time when we were practicing chanting at the Imperial Uncle Temple, I saw you talking to him alone. I’ve never seen Xi Jiao talking so close to a girl of similar age before.”

It was indeed this matter.

Wei Yao: "I'm only explaining this to you because you're my friend. That time, it was me and several fellow disciples, including Wei Mao, who asked Xi Jiao to investigate the murder of Master Duan..." She briefly recounted the secret investigation into Du Ling's murder of Master Duan.

Yuan Jingrong certainly believed this explanation, and she also stated her reason for worrying about Wei Yao: "Xi Jiao is the son of the Minister of the Divine Realm, and he will only marry a woman from the Siqingwang family in the future. You don't have that intention, which proves you're not confused. I don't want the rumors to come true. Alright, I'm leaving." She left happily, cracking her whip.

Wei Yao was puzzled. What rumor? Never mind, I'll ask again this afternoon or evening.

The two women were talking about Xi Jiao, who was not far from them. He was also walking slowly on his way to the Xunyi Academy. Today, Xi Jiao was wearing a bright red two-piece robe, with a small black silk crown on his head. The jade-inlaid deerskin belt made his clothes look even more luxurious. He walked with a dashing air, while Yuan Heng next to him had two large satchels on his back. He was so tired that he was panting after every few steps, like a donkey carrying sacks.

There was no other way; the two had a football-playing contest last night, and Yuan Heng lost. The bet was that he would carry Xi Jiao's book bag all day. He had urged him several times: "Hurry up! Is your foot sticky with snot today? Why are you walking so slowly!"

"Oh dear, I really am... Fine, I'll call you Brother Xi then, can you hurry up? There will be a lot of people on the road and they'll all see me making a fool of myself."

Xi Jiao took two steps to Yuan Heng, turned around, actually to see if Wei Yao was behind him. To his delight, his heart soared and plummeted as he saw Wei Yao. However, Wei Yao was accompanied by Er Zhu Rong and her attendant Er Zhu Mai Ti.

"Let's go!" This time it was Xi Jiao urging Yuan Heng.

The one who missed Wei Yao the most was Wei Mao.

He arrived at the school earliest, first wiping Master Song's desk. When he passed Wei Yao's desk, he mistook it for her and said angrily, "Go ahead and study, study all you want, no one can learn from you."

After sitting down, he glanced up and saw her desk again, but she definitely wouldn't be sitting in front of him today. Thinking of this, Wei Mao reached out and pinched her back with his thumb and forefinger, emphasizing the slender curve of her waist when she sat in front of him.

If I had known I wouldn't be angry with her today, why did I get so angry yesterday?!

Ugh!
There was a commotion coming from inside the courtyard.

Wei Mao sat down and had just unfolded the poem scroll when Wei Zhen entered, her face streaked with tears, and asked in a tearful voice, "Didn't fellow disciple Yao come?"

"She's supposed to go to Cui's Academy starting today. What happened to you? Did something happen on the way?"

Wei Zhen shook her head twice, sobbed violently, and immediately sat down, burying her face in her hands and crying. Wei Mao came over and slammed his hand on her desk: "Tell me! Who scolded you or who hit you? What's wrong with crying..."

Before he could finish speaking, Wei Zhen raised her tearful face and complained, "My father is forcing me to go to Luoyang. He says he's found a caravan and wants me to go with them tomorrow! I... I... that's not what they originally said. My aunt wanted me to go, and I hadn't even thought about it yet. Why are they suddenly forcing me to leave?"

Wei Mao sighed softly: "Do they know about you and Bu Yanzhen?"

Wei Zhen was even more furious: "I didn't neglect my studies! Besides, I spend more time with my fellow students than with Bu Yanzhen! In short, whatever they've decided is what they believe. They've twisted the truth about me and Bu Yanzhen, and no matter how I explain, it won't make a difference! I should have run away like Wu Ji!"

Wei Mao: "Why are you running? Wu Ji was arrested yesterday afternoon."

He pointed to his right wrist with his left hand and said, "After we caught him, Wu Ji's father used this thick stick to whip Wu Ji's calves like he was whipping a wild boar."

"Pfft—" Wei Zhen snorted out a snot bubble from one of her nostrils, and just as she laughed out loud, she grinned and cried: "You're so annoying! Waaah... But besides being reluctant to part with Bu Yanzhen, I'm also reluctant to part with our shared place of the Book of Songs. That's why I love listening to Master Song's lectures. Waaah... I have to leave now."

She sobbed twice, then calmed herself down a bit and asked, "How is Wu Tongmen? Is Yao Tongmen really not coming today? I don't know how long I'll be gone, and I won't be able to participate in the football match. All my training has been for nothing, ah..."

Her emotions, which had just calmed down, collapsed again. She cried out the reason for her deepest sorrow: "Bu Yanzhen went out of the city to visit relatives and won't be back for several days. Why did he have to leave at this time... Waaah..."

爨 (cuàn): refers to sharing a stove and food, and by extension, to friends who eat together. During the Northern Wei Dynasty, there was a term for friends called "同火人" (tóng huǒ rén), which also referred to someone who shares a stove and food.

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(End of this chapter)