History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 96 There are so many coincidences
Wei Yao asked, "Who is it?"

A voice came from the tree: "Ta-da, Little Suo."

Instantly, Wei Yao and her companion felt a chill run down their spines! They looked up at each other, feeling both angry and amused. It turned out that the parrot "Youlai" had somehow gotten up and was standing on a branch, staring at them and repeating incessantly, "Deng deng deng, Xiao Suo'e, Xiao Ao."

Guo Yun put her hands on her hips and threatened it, "Shut up."

“Little lock? Clang, clang?” Wei Yao shook her head, finding it hard to guess what “Youlai” was learning.

Cui Zhi, Cui Shang, and Liu Zhenzhu emerged, exchanging greetings and saying, "It's been a long time." The five then went to the agreed-upon intersection to wait for Cui Ying, who appeared quickly, with Yuan Heng following on the other side of the road.

So it was him. Wei Yao agreed with A Yun; this guy was quite annoying.

It was getting late, so the seven headed towards the Guchang Bird Forest. Yuan Heng snapped off a tree branch and waved it in front of Wei Yao's eyes, asking, "Was the big hunt fun?"

"With Governor Yuan leading the team, the journey was quite fun."

"Hmph, the real hunt is the winter hunt! Your trip is just a picnic, hmph."

Cui Zhi smiled and advised, "Young Master Yuan, don't say these words outside, or you'll offend all the warriors of Hengzhou."

Yuan Heng's anger surged, and he pointed at the other person with a tree branch, saying, "You're talking to me now! When I asked you about your homework, you had a headache on the left side for three days and on the right side for one day."

"Hiss—" Cui Zhishi pointed to his forehead: "It moved again today."

The four young girls behind them gradually distanced themselves from Cui Zhi and the other two.

Liu Zhenzhu said, "I heard from my father that Governor Yuan sent back two letters during his hunting trip. They were addressed to Master Cui and Master Guo of your school, asking them to put in extra effort to teach the princes of the imperial family. The letters also specifically asked Zhi Tongxue to take some time each day to tutor Yuan Heng."

Liu Zhenzhu's father was the same Liu Fuzi who set the "All-Test" questions.

Guo Yun exclaimed in surprise, "My God!" She had only returned to the school this morning and, like Wei Yao, knew nothing of this matter.

Liu Zhenzhu continued, "I suspect that Yuan Heng was also instructed in some way. He's like a different person now. Every afternoon, he carries his book box to find Zhi Tongmen, but Zhi Tongmen has to study the Erya and doesn't have time to teach him."

Cui Ying testified: "He's like a completely different person; he doesn't cause trouble in class anymore."

Guo Yun: "I understand! When these imperial princes first came to our academy, someone said that Governor Yuan wanted Yuan Heng to become Confucius's student, but then... the exam questions happened," she mumbled, omitting the word "steal," "and the matter of becoming a student was no longer mentioned. It seems that Governor Yuan didn't give up; he just wanted to go around in circles and have Yuan Heng study poetry with Confucius's direct disciples. Wouldn't that be equivalent to receiving the true teachings?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yao recalled that in March, Yuan Heng had asked her, "If anyone asks you to teach me poetry, you must firmly refuse."

Oh no! It seems that Governor Yuan's real purpose wasn't to have Senior Brother Cui Zhi teach Yuan Heng, but rather her! Because Senior Brother Cui Zhi is frail and studies two different subjects with Senior Brother Kong Mi, how could he possibly have the time to teach Yuan Heng?

Of her mentor's three direct disciples, only she remained.

Erzhu Rong was not a direct disciple; those hundreds of horses, camels, and grain were exchanged for a place as a formal disciple of the Xunyi Academy.

*Puff puff puff*—A parrot flew over the crowd, which should mean "something is coming."

The seven people entered the Guchang Bird Forest. As they approached the Poetry Society, they heard cheerful laughter coming from outside the courtyard wall.

Cui Shang led the way, explaining the rules of the poetry club to Wei Yao and Guo Yun: "Currently, the servants will learn a few poems first. Students will start registering in June, and will be able to learn two to three poems each month thereafter. However, our students will not be able to come until July."

"Originally, besides Master Cui who managed the poetry society, there was only one female teacher, Ms. Zhang, who taught poetry. A few days ago, Ms. Zhang got into a dispute with the servants, and Master Cui reprimanded both sides. It is said that the poetry society will soon hire another female teacher to teach poetry." Guo Yun asked, "Will they hire her from among the ladies-in-waiting of the old palace?"

Cui Zhi knew more details than Cui Shang and replied, "No. The Pingcheng magistrate recommended a female teacher from Chang'an, also surnamed Zhang, named Zhang Jiniang, who claimed that her ancestor was Zhang Ranming, one of the 'Three Mings of Liangzhou'."

But what even Cui Zhi didn't know was that Zhang Jiniang was originally hired by the household of Hu Wuwu, a servant boy. The agreement was that she would teach Hu Wuwu poetry until he reached Luoyang.

However, Hu Wuwu disliked Zhang Jiniang's teaching, and Hu's father couldn't just dismiss her halfway through. As luck would have it, the Cui Academy's poetry club urgently needed a female teacher, so Hu's father first consulted Zhang Jiniang's wishes, and then brought two cartloads of local specialties to ask the Pingcheng magistrate to facilitate the matter.

"There aren't that many coincidences in the world," Hu Wuwu muttered to himself, staring at the parrot that had just landed on the courtyard wall.

When no one was around the Buddhist hall, she scattered grains that parrots love to eat on the corridor railing. Then she quickly hid in the corner, and the parrots flew over.

The bird pecked at the grains one by one and then flew to a large tree in the yard to wait.

Zhang Wenzhi carried the food box back to the Buddhist hall and closed the door.

Hu Wu made a throwing motion, and the parrot, thinking she was scattering treats again, flew back to the fence. Hmm? Where did she scatter them? There's nothing there.
Zhang Wenzhi had a habit: after bringing back her food, she wouldn't eat immediately, but would first recite a Buddhist scripture while striking a wooden chime. As she recited, the little heads of the parrots outside would sway back and forth.

Hu Wu left satisfied, believing that the parrot, coming and going, must have overheard something and learned to speak.

She walked along, beaming. Some people, if used well, are like parrots—like Xu Jiaoqing and Xin Chun. Gossip only works when it flies out of the courtyard walls; only then can the conflict between Zhang Nushi and her servant be exaggerated to the point where everyone knows.

Sure enough, after only a month, Cui Academy was already in a hurry to hire another female teacher. That mediocre teacher, Zhang Jiniang…

"You can stay in Pingcheng without worry. Once I get to Luoyang, I'll be able to find out about the female students there through you, hee hee."

In the front yard, Wei Yao and her six companions entered the Fish-Viewing Pavilion of the Poetry Society.

During the great hunt, Cui Xueguan bought a group of captive slaves from the islands. Among them were several skilled cooks, and one of them was assigned to the poetry club. So their purpose in coming here today is to taste the cuisine of Xiao Qi.

Cui Shangxing said excitedly, "The crucian carp soup cooked in this kitchen is also exceptional."

The servants had only a simple meal, and some had already finished eating. Hu Wuwu and his companions went to the front yard to watch the birds and fish. They noticed that the stone pavilion was occupied, and the people inside seemed to be students, so they turned a corner and went to the bird-watching pavilion not far away.

Xin Chun pretended to tease the caged birds, but actually she was carefully observing the students in the stone pavilion. She gestured to her companions to look at Wei Yao: "There are two unfamiliar young ladies over there. I've never seen them before. Look at the one feeding the fish, she's dressed worse than my maid."

"Is she also a student?" The servant boy who spoke was surnamed Xing and came from the Xing family of Hejian. He was recommended to the poetry club by the magistrate of Gaoliu County.

Hu Wuwu replied to her, "If I'm not mistaken, she is Wei Yao."

"The poetry champion, Wei Yao?!"

"Keep your voice down." Hu Wuwu subtly steered the conversation once again: "Saying she's the best poet is just a compliment within our elementary school. There are plenty of adult students who understand poetry better than us. So don't overpraise her. It's not easy for our young lady to be so accomplished."

“Wuwu, you have such a kind heart.” Xu Jiaoqing put her arm around her friend.

It's so hot outside, and you're sitting so close to me! Hu Wuwu rolled his eyes.

(End of this chapter)