ebookland Chapter 51 Zi'an's Journey to Study in the Six Kingdoms of Shandong
Chapter 51 Zi'an's Journey to Study in the Six Kingdoms of Shandong
Zi'an said, "I went to study in a place east of Xiaoshan."
Si Zi asked, "East of Xiaoshan? That sounds very far. What kind of place is that?"
Zi'an replied, "That place is called Shandong, a name that has been used since the Warring States period. At that time, the people of Qin liked to refer to the area east of Xiaoshan and Hangu Pass as 'Shandong'."
Si Zi quickly showed off: "I know that during the Warring States period, the seven powerful states, apart from Qin, were all located east of the Xiaoshan Mountains and Hangu Pass. So sometimes people jokingly refer to them as the 'Six States of Shandong'."
"However, starting from the Eastern Han Dynasty, the name 'Shandong' changed, and it began to refer to the area east of the Taihang Mountains. So, if someone asks you where 'Shandong' is, you should first find out which dynasty's 'Shandong' it refers to!"
Qiu Rongmu was very curious, but sighed and said, "When I was born in Chang'an, I often heard my neighbors talk about the 'Shandong gentry' as dusk fell, as if Shandong was the cradle of nobility. Although I have never set foot in that place, I have not even seen all of Chang'an. The farthest I have been is the ancient town of Qizhen, where I served Ninth Master."
Xiao Si was really fed up with Mu Gege's recent way of speaking... because he always took private lessons at Zi An's place, and now his speech had become so pedantic and sarcastic: "I'm saying, Mu Gege, can you speak normally for once??"
"Haha, I mean, as a commoner in Chang'an, I listen to people bragging about the Shandong gentry every evening. They describe Shandong as if it were a noble club! Unfortunately, I haven't even explored every corner of Chang'an. My only trip, which was also the farthest I've ever been, was to this ancient town called Qizhen, to work for a Virgo man called Ninth Master!"
Zi'an couldn't hold back any longer: "What aristocratic club? And who is this Virgo gentleman?"
The two of them laughed even harder.
Si Zi looked at the somewhat bewildered Zi An and said, "It's your big brother, Ninth Master!! I checked his perpetual calendar, he's a Virgo!"
Zi'an was utterly exasperated. "Sizi, can't you teach yourselves something decent?! Can't you two talk normally for once?"
Sizi:
"Hahaha! Aren't we having a lot of fun? Don't hold back, Ziguo, let's all have a laugh, it'll make us feel younger!"
Zi'an said, "Do we still need to be young for ten years? You've been going through ten years of youth since you came back from the future, and I've been going through ten years of youth again and again. I'm even more so. Ever since I fell into the water, I've been reborn repeatedly. And all of these times are in the Tang Dynasty. If you came back from the future like me, that would be even more amazing."
Zi'an took a sip of wine from the flask and began to recount a bizarre tale:
"Sizi, do we really need to be ten years younger?! You traveled back from the future, and every time you wake up, the world has changed. You come from an era where people lived like immortals. As for me, ever since that time I fell into the water, it's as if I've been cursed. Every time I wake up, I'm in the same dynasty—the Tang Dynasty. I go from an ignorant little boy to a promising young talent, and then I turn back into that little boy, over and over again, as if I can never escape this cycle..."
He took another sip of wine.
Sizi paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes: "Speaking of which, every time I travel back from the future, I have to adapt to a new world, which is really tough!! Zian, on the other hand, although he's always in the Tang Dynasty, at least he's familiar with the environment and the people. At most, it's just that historical events are repeated. You can even know in advance which war will be won and which poet will become famous!"
Zi'an couldn't help but laugh: "That's right. I'll never know that I was once so famous that I was called the leading figure among the 'Four Great Poets of the Early Tang Dynasty.' Even with fame, I couldn't escape the fate of falling into the water. After my rebirth, I wrote so many poems, but none of them became popular. Everyone only recognizes 'Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng.' Now I rarely write poetry anymore. I've become a teacher. When I do write poetry occasionally, it's just to mock the absurdity of fate and my own frustration..."
Si Zi comforted her, saying, "Don't be sad, Zi Guoguo. After all, the skills we've acquired over the past ten years can keep us young forever, but every time we're reborn, we have to relearn those historical events, poems, and songs that we already know by heart. We can also reconnect with old friends and make unexpected friends, like Mu Guoguo."
Qiu Rongmu suddenly stopped smiling, her eyes welling up with tears: "Yes, no matter what, you both have your own superpowers, don't you? Si Zi travels through time and space, and Brother Zi An is reborn and reincarnated. Who else in this world has such an experience? You have already experienced a fantastic journey that others cannot experience in several lifetimes! I am also very fortunate to have met you two. I have nothing more to say."
Qiu Rongmu then downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.
"According to Sizi, Muguo is just an ancient laborer who hasn't even touched the threshold of nobility!"
"Who said that, Brother Mu? I was once Princess Jinyang!! This one was once Brother Wang Bo!! Don't worry, in a few days I'll take you back to Chang'an. Partly to see our parents and sisters, and partly I'll take you to the palace to witness the lavish weddings of my spendthrift descendants, the princesses. We're going to the capital to see the spectacle!!!"
Upon hearing this, Brother Mu was completely bewildered. He had thought he had simply encountered a crazy girl claiming to be a princess in a small field outside Chang'an City, but he never expected that she actually had a real background!
Brother Zian remained calm, as if he was already used to this kind of scene.
“Princess Sizi, Your Highness, you make it sound so easy, but the threshold of Chang’an Imperial City isn’t something just anyone can cross,” Brother Mu cautiously reminded him.
"Oh dear, Brother Mu, you're just too cautious." Sizi waved her hand. "I have a plan, don't worry."
Brother Zi'an couldn't help but interject, "Your Highness, does your plan to return to Chang'an include me? I'd like to see for myself just how extravagant those so-called spendthrift princesses' weddings really are."
"Of course, Brother Zian, you're my honored guest, how could I leave you out! Just ask your Virgo friend for leave." Si Zi smiled like a little fox. "Also, you have to write a few poems for me first, so I can recite them at the banquet and make those princesses green with envy."
Mu Gege listened from the side and shook his head, thinking that this Si Zi was really a clown. But since she had said so, he would continue to go to Chang'an City with her, only this time it wouldn't be Wang Bo.
He secretly made up his mind that this time, reborn, he would definitely protect this cheerful princess, even if it was just for her unconventional spirit!
Hehehe, after some careful planning, the three of us finally got Ninth Master to take pity on us and grant us annual leave!
So they happily embarked on their journey to Chang'an.
Laughter filled the entire way; it was even more lively than watching a spectacle, incredibly joyful! Hehehe~
Princess Sizi has so many ideas, just like her unconventional and multifaceted personality, that she always surprises and baffles people.
What new tricks will the trip to Chang'an bring? How will they respond? We'll just have to wait for time to reveal all the answers. Don't rush, the excitement will come slowly!