From Joy of Life, the Tian Gang is reversed

Chapter 207 Digging and digging, they unearthed a huge bridal chamber.
Yu Youwei's real name was Yu Xuanji, the orphan of a former official of Western Chu.

Okay, they're not orphans yet.

Her father was a scholar at the Shangyin Academy, and her mother was the head of the three thousand sword servants in the Western Chu imperial palace. After Western Chu was destroyed by the Northern Liang cavalry, her mother died in the war in Shenhuang City, and her father was depressed because of the destruction of his country and the loss of his family, and did not die for the time being.

That is, the sickly-looking man in front of me.

He was quite a talented person; he wrote a poem called "Looking at the City Wall," which was hailed as the best lament of his time.

After the man's death, Yu Youwei left Shangyin Academy and went to Lingzhou, where she learned the most authentic Fengzhou dialect. Then she became a courtesan and rose to become the most beautiful courtesan, all for the purpose of assassinating Xu Fengnian, the heir of Beiliang!

You've lost your mind!
This is the result of lacking a good education from childhood!
Yu Xuanji is so smart. If she were properly taught, she wouldn't do such a brainless thing. Besides, what does the hatred of the destruction of a country have to do with a little girl like her? It's clearly that the person in front of her is useless. He's good at writing poems to curse people, but he doesn't even think about whether he is one of the 180,000 soldiers who laid down their arms in the poem.

A scholar is utterly useless!

He was clearly useless, yet he was full of complaints, and in the end, he angered himself to death!
Isn't that the right thing to do?

As the great man said, too much complaining can break your heart; one should take a long-term view of things!

With the medical and toxicological skills that Zhao Xun inherited from Li Chengqian, he was naturally able to see the root of the man's illness, and he could also tell from the smell of the medicine that Yu Xuanji had brewed that it was not the right medicine for the symptoms. He also knew how to treat the man and even how to cure him.

But, like I said, it's none of his business!

Put aside your desire to help others and respect their fate!
How can he take in his daughter if he doesn't die?
So, he simply expressed his condolences along with Bian Jiang, and then made an unreasonable request.

"Ahem, ahem—the young master wants to live in the valley?" Senior Brother Yu looked completely bewildered.

“I see that this valley is quite large, and I’d like to build a dwelling on the other side of the stream that will not disturb you and your daughter,”

Given the great reputation of Shangyin Academy, its students are all discerning individuals. Wuxiang Mountain is vast, and generally speaking, once a Shangyin scholar with a family has occupied a place to build a house, unless they have an extremely close relationship with the scholar or are invited by him, others who may also be interested in the place will voluntarily give it up.

For no other reason than it's too embarrassing!
If it were someone else, they certainly wouldn't have said something that put the host in such a difficult position.

But Zhao Xun...

He's still a child!
Besides, although the valley is not large, it is still spacious enough for three or four households to live in.

Now that it's just the father and daughter, it does seem a bit deserted. Besides, this place belongs to the Shangyin Academy, not the Yu family's. So, looking into Zhao Xun's clear yet foolish eyes, how could Senior Brother Yu refuse?

Bian Jiang was somewhat embarrassed, completely unprepared for Zhao Xun to make such a rather impolite request. He coughed twice and said, "Young Master, Senior Brother Yu is not in good health, and his Xuanji skill is still limited. If we were to undertake large-scale construction in the valley, it would affect his recuperation."

As the heir of the Prince of Jing'an, Zhao Xun was so young that it was impossible for him to come to Shangyin Academy alone. In fact, the Prince of Jing'an's mansion had already bought a large house at the foot of Wuxiang Mountain and arranged for more than a hundred maids and servants to come, including many experts, both openly and secretly.

This is only the first batch; the second batch of people and goods are still on their way. All of this is for Zhao Xun's expenses while he studies here.

After Zhao Xun became a student of Shangyin Academy, he had the right to choose a residence in Wuxiang Mountain. The construction personnel and materials had already been prepared, and construction was just waiting to begin after the chosen location was selected. That is why Bian Jiang made this statement.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xun shook his head and said, "Teacher, don't worry, I won't be building anything here. I came to the academy to learn, not to enjoy myself. Besides, I recently have some ideas about improving my painting skills, but these ideas are a bit too far-fetched, so I want to put them into practice myself." "Practice them yourself?"

"Yes, teacher, you see, my original intention in drawing sketches was to strive for realism, but now this realism is only superficial. I have some skills in using light and shadow, but I always feel that something is missing, but I still can't figure out exactly what it is."

"What does this have to do with your residence?"

“In my view, everything can be painted, and vice versa. Painting can also incorporate everything, but how to do so requires practice,” Zhao Xun said with a smile. “This is my way of painting. I hope you will forgive my ignorance, teacher.”

"Everything can be painted, and paintings can blend into everything. Good, good, good!"

Zhao Xun's answer made Bian Jiang's eyes light up. Even the seemingly dejected Senior Brother Yu was somewhat surprised and moved. He coughed twice and said, "This valley is not my exclusive property. As a student of the academy, the young master naturally has the right to build a residence here. If you need any help, please feel free to ask. I would also like to see the young master's painting skills."

His condition worsened daily, and he hadn't left the valley for a long time. He was also very isolated from news, so naturally he didn't know that the Prince of Jing'an in front of him was now the rising star of the Li Yang Dynasty and the Shang Yin Academy.

Zhao Xun smiled inwardly at Senior Brother Yu's words; wasn't that exactly what he meant?
Sketching is a perfect match for portraits of the deceased; it's a perfect fit for their profession!

He immediately agreed.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Bian Jiang took his leave with Zhao Xun. Once they were out of the valley, Bian Jiang couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, are you really going to live in this valley? Don't you find it lonely?"

“That place is very nice,” Zhao Xun said with a smile. “However, there is still something I need to trouble you with, teacher.”

"What's the matter?"

"I would like to ask the teacher to show his authority as a master and help me get rid of the old steward. As you know, this old steward is my mother's attendant and pays close attention to every little thing about me. It's too much trouble. I came to Shangyin Academy to study, not to be a young master."

"This……"

"It's alright, teacher. As long as we use righteousness to rebuke the old steward, everything will be fine. Similar things have happened before at Shangyin Academy, don't you think?"

“Alright, what you said makes sense.” Bian Jiang nodded. After all, he was Zhao Xun’s nominal teacher, so he still had that much authority.

Three days later, after a sparring session between Bian Jiang and the old steward, Zhao Xun finally shook off the people from the Prince's mansion. Of course, this was only on the surface; in secret, there were still experts from the Prince's mansion protecting him, but that didn't matter.

What are you digging for?

On this day, Yu Xuanji looked at Zhao Xun, who was holding a shovel and digging in front of a small hill, and asked him curiously.

After visiting the valley that day, Zhao Xun sent people into the valley with various tools the next day. Just when she felt that Zhao Xun was not keeping his word and was going to carry out a large-scale construction in the valley, Zhao Xun immediately dismissed his servants and picked up a shovel. He then chose a small hillside opposite the stream in front of her house and started digging continuously for several days.

Today, she finally couldn't resist running over and looking at Zhao Xun, who was bending over with his butt sticking out and sweating profusely, with a puzzled expression.

"I'm digging a bridal chamber!" Zhao Xun said without turning his head. "I'm going to dig a really big bridal chamber!"

(End of this chapter)