About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 54 A Young Woman's Shyness at the Beginning of Her Visit

The copper lamps in the courtyard lit up one by one, illuminating the blue bricks in front of the steps as if they had been washed clean.

The incense table was neatly set up in the open space in front of the main hall.

The sacrificial offerings of three animals were placed in a vermilion lacquered plate, with carved dragon candlesticks standing on either side.

The incense burning in the bronze censer dispersed into wisps of smoke in the wind.

Liu Fang sat in the main seat, with Jian Shuo and Xu Feng serving on either side.

Xu Shao, Yin Duan, and Zhang Ji each held a letter in the center.

Zhu Jun and Li Kui were in lower positions.

Nine boys stood in order in front of the incense table.

……

A sound came from under the corridor, and Feng Xu, dressed in a blue robe, walked over with a hunched back.

Behind him, Zuo Feng held a tray with six items on it:
Celery, lotus seeds, red beans, red dates, longan, and dried meat wrapped in blue cloth.

Feng Xu stopped and slowly began to speak:
"The time has come."

"The beginning of propriety lies in proper conduct and respect for elders..."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jun and Li Kui stood up one after the other and straightened the clothes of the children.

"Wash your hands and face to purify your mind and clarify your will!"

The servants in the hall came forward one by one, holding earthenware bowls for everyone to wash their hands and faces.

"Pay homage to our revered teacher and perform three kowtows!"

……

"All students, rise and present your apprenticeship certificates!"

Xu Shao, Yin Duan, and Zhang Ji walked up to the group of sons and each raised their hands in a gesture of respect.

Feng Xu also bowed to Liu Fang, then turned and glanced at his sons:

"The so-called tuition fee is not about its value or preciousness, but merely a token of sincerity. It is a gift from all the students!"

After speaking, Zuo Feng held the tray high and walked past everyone in turn.

Liu Dai stepped forward:
"Disciple Liu Dai respectfully presents the six gifts of tuition, wishing to learn the Way from the Master."

Liu Yao followed closely behind:

"Disciple Liu Yao also presents the six gifts of tuition, hoping that Master will not hesitate to teach me."

Xun Yu, holding a scroll of bamboo slips filled with annotations, bowed with his eyes lowered:
“Your disciple Xun Yu wishes to study the ways of governing the world.”

Qiao Zhu was tugged at the hem of her dress by Xun Yu before she hurriedly stepped forward and looked up at him:

"Father, I, Qiaozhu, pay my respects!"

Huangfu Yan flicked his sleeve, took off the jade pendant from his waist, which bore the two characters "Huangfu" inscribed on it:
"Disciple Huangfu Yan, following the instructions of his father and grandfather, wishes to learn strategies for governing the country."

Yan Liang took out a cloth bag from his bosom and rolled out two eggs:

"This is all I have, disciple Yan Liang... Thank you, sir!"

Wen Chou tossed his wild, flowing braid and removed a blade of grass from his temple:

"Ugly...life belongs to you, sir!"

Gao Lan knelt on one knee, took out a foot of plain silk and placed it under the dried meat, through which Xiu Juan's handwriting could be seen:
“These are my mother’s belongings, to show her true feelings…”

The last Shia took out a few wild fruits from his pocket.

Feeling something was amiss, he scratched his head and grinned:
"From now on, Shi'a will fetch water for his master to wash his feet every day!"

Zuo Feng suppressed a laugh as he neatly arranged the items on the tray, when he suddenly heard Liu Fang laugh:
"Ziyuan is truly blessed..."

As he spoke, Liu Fang walked to the incense table:

"Celery represents diligence... Lotus represents compassion..."

"Red beans symbolize good fortune, red dates symbolize success, and longans symbolize fulfillment..."

Finally, he stroked the dried meat and the offerings presented by his sons:

"Dried meat is a gift; though it is meager, it shows sincerity."

After speaking, Liu Fang turned around and walked to the group of sons, nodding to indicate that the appointment was to be made.

Feng Xu stepped back five paces and shouted the order:

"Disciple shall perform three kneelings and nine kowtows!"

"I bow once to Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, and Teacher!"

"A second kowtow to uphold the dignity of the teacher!"

"I bow three times to express my gratitude for the legacy I have received!"

……

"The ceremony is complete; now it is time to serve tea!"

All the sons stood up, took the covered teacups handed to them by the servants, and raised them to eyebrow level with both hands.

After Liu Fang tapped his fingers on the tea lid one by one, Feng Xu lightly waved his sleeve:
"Issue the rules!"

Liu Fang stood with his hands behind his back before the incense table, gazing at his nine disciples:

"Now that you have entered this sect, you must remember these eight characters..."

"Loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, courage, trustworthiness, and strictness."

The sons bowed deeply and said, "We will obey our master's instructions."

Xu Shao stroked his beard and stood beside Feng Xu, saying loudly:

"As a disciple, one must always be respectful in one's conduct and upright in one's posture!"

"A disciple should treat his teacher with the same respect as he would his father!"

"If a disciple does not follow his teacher's instructions, then we should beat the drums and attack him!"

"The auspicious, guest, and celebratory ceremonies have been completed. Teacher, please return the receipt!"

After saying that, Liu Fang took another tray from Xu Shao, on which were nine wooden slips.

After each of his sons had taken one, Xu Shao lightly shook his long beard:
"Three zhang of silk, two dou of wine, five jin of dried meat..."

"All students, please take your seats. Let us feast and formalize our friendship!"

Upon hearing this, the servants in the corridor quickly brought out a vermilion-lacquered food table.

The three-foot-long white silk unfurled in the wind, and the aroma of rice wafted from the opened wine jar as it was poured into the bronze vessel.

Liu Yao, unable to contain himself any longer, reached out to grab the venison from the food table, but Liu Dai slapped his hand away.

"What's the rush! Can't you see Father hasn't even touched his chopsticks yet?"

Liu Fang smiled, picked up the wine cup, and glanced at the nine men below the steps:
"It's alright, let's eat and drink!"

After three rounds of drinks, the ceremony concluded with three toasts...

In his drunken stupor, Shi A used his hidden sword to carve the four characters "Shi A is here" on a pillar.

Seeing this, Xu Feng slapped him on the back of the head, about to get angry...

Liu Fang looked at the crooked carvings on the pillar, then clapped his hands and laughed:
"Excellent! This pillar shall be the 'Nine Sons Pillar'. When the work is completed, we will carve new marks on it!"

……

As the morning mist gradually dissipated, the names of the nine sons were already written on the three-foot-long white silk.

The first rays of morning sun shone into the hall, illuminating the figures of the children sitting together with exceptional clarity.

At the same time, a fair-skinned figure gently draped an outer garment over Liu Fang's shoulders.

Liu Fang felt a soft, warm touch on his shoulder; his eyelashes trembled slightly, but he did not open his eyes.

In the sunlight, the woman with the most beautiful face squinted slightly, quietly got up, and hung the white silk under the eaves.

When she looked back, she saw that Liu Fang had already woken up and was leaning against the door, his robe half loose.

"Lan'er, the dew is heavy..."

"Liu Lang is awake?"

How could a woman possess such captivating charm?
Her face flushed slightly, her complexion glowing like jade.

Liu Fang walked up to her, lifted her slightly cool wrist, draped his coat over her shoulders, and tied the belt loosely around her waist.

Just then, footsteps sounded in the distance...

Xu Feng rushed over, but stopped abruptly when he saw the two people under the corridor.

"Um... sir... dinner's ready..."

When is a woman most deserving of pity?
Her lips were slightly pursed, and a blush rose to her earlobes.

"Let's go."

Seeing this, Liu Fang chuckled and turned around. The hem of his robe brushed against Qiao Lan's skirt, and the dragon-patterned jade pendant gently bumped against her waist.

Qiao Lan hummed in agreement and followed Nuonuo behind Liu Fang.

What makes a woman so captivating?
She hesitated to speak, her temples flushed with the glow of dawn.

……

As dawn breaks, east of Luoyang City.

Yuan Shao leaned against the desk, raising an eyebrow at the luxurious brocade box that Xu You had brought.

Bathed in sunlight, the gilded shimmered so brightly it made one's eyes dazzle.

"Ziyuan, how could you bear to bring such a generous gift today?"

Xu You placed the brocade box on the table, smiling without saying a word:
"Benchu, why don't you open it and take a look..."

Yuan Shao's eyebrows twitched, and he instantly became interested:

"Although I am not fond of such frivolous things, after hearing what Ziyuan said, I really want to take a look."

As he spoke, Yuan Shao lifted the lid of the box...

Inside, it was lined with sable fur and held a palm-sized compass.

"What...what does this mean?"

"Could it be that you, Xu Ziyuan, have changed your ways and now want to advise me on self-cultivation and family management?"

Xu You flicked his sleeves and sat down next to Yuan Shao:

"No, this was a gift from Xu Zijiang, but it kept me up all night..."

"Xu Shao?"

Just as Yuan Shao was stunned, Zhang Miao staggered in, bursting through the door, panting heavily:
"Primordial! Something terrible has happened!"

When Yuan Shao saw that his face was deathly pale, his heart sank:
What could have made Meng Zhuo so panicked?

Zhang Miao leaned against the doorframe, his throat tightening with emotion:
“Boqiu…Boqiu is dead…”

(End of this chapter)