Chapter Seven: The Joy of the Father's Return

"Our Zhu Zhu is so obedient and sensible, how could she not understand the heights of heaven and the depths of the earth?" Wei Jun said with a smile

Everyone present understood the old lady's implicit meaning, and Gu's face turned slightly red, prompting her to refrain from speaking further. Meanwhile, Jiang and others also presented birthday gifts to Ge, and several younger ones, including Wei Heng, also made their gestures of acknowledgment

"However, you did not learn at your age; your legs are so short that you can't even reach the stirrups," He retorted.

Since the birthday of the Ge family, the relationship between the two women, the sister-in-law and the sister, seemed to have grown much closer all at once. Ge no longer hesitated or held back, while Wei Heng naturally had matured much more than a real child's disposition, no longer looking down on her sister-in-law.

"Go ahead, indulge her. Spoil her to the point where she no longer knows the heights of heaven or the depths of the earth, and then we'll see how you handle it later" He said angrily

Father, please find me a master of archery and horsemanship

This truly delighted Wei Heng. As soon as she arrived at the manor, she clung to Wei Jun and said, "Father, teach me to ride a horse."

There is no riding ground in the Hou residence for Wei Heng to practice, but unfortunately, she is very fond of it. Now that she happens to not be attending school, she has requested the He family to allow her to stay at the estate with Ge, so that she can practice archery on horseback without neglecting her studies

You may try practicing wrist strength first. Hang a sachet filled with rice on your wrist while practicing calligraphy. Once your wrist strength increases, your writing will surely improve, said Ge.

I have never seen anyone learn horse riding this quickly" Wei Jun praised without reservation

Wei Jun has been carrying Wei Hang from the Chuihua Gate to the Lanyi Courtyard, and He Shi complained, "Zhu Zhu, why aren't you coming down quickly? You're already such a big girl, and you still want your father to carry you."

Upon hearing this, Wei Heng hurriedly stood up, disregarding her calligraphy practice, and said, "Sister-in-law, I will go to Mother’s room first"

On his journey to Jiangnan to investigate the disaster relief case, Wei Jun was most concerned about Wei Heng, whose condition had only just stabilized at that time. His letters were filled with the name of his little daughter. Now that he sees Wei Heng lively and well, how can he not feel happy

However, in this lifetime, Wei Heng's goal is to live freely and joyfully

Returning to Lanyi Courtyard, He Shi served Wei Jun, who changed his clothes and went to the Old Lady's Ruiyun Courtyard to pay his respects, and this matter is left unmentioned.

Wei Jun hesitated for a moment. It is acceptable for a young lady to learn archery and horseback riding, but there are not many like Wei Hang who explicitly request a riding and archery instructor. Moreover, Wei Jun felt that given Wei Hang's talent, it is likely that after just two days of instruction from an ordinary person, there would be little left to teach her.

Father, look at me. Wei Heng firmly planted her feet on the shortened stirrups provided by the groom, gently squeezed the horse's belly, and the pony began to run, gradually picking up speed, causing Mrs. He to feel as if her heart was about to stop.

Wei Heng was extremely satisfied with her father's efficiency; in less than ten days, he had found her a master. The master was an old soldier who had retired from the battlefield, having lost his right eye and with a slight limp in his left leg. However, his skills in horseback riding and archery were exceptional. For someone like him, who found it difficult to make a living nowadays, to come and teach Wei Heng was a matter of utmost importance, and he devoted all his energy and expertise to the task.

In the Zhuangzi, Wei Heng was utterly absorbed in joy, and she learned quickly in areas that did not require much mental effort. It is not Wei Heng boasting; she indeed possesses considerable talent in archery and horsemanship, to the extent that even her master, Li Yong, was greatly impressed.

The father and daughter persuaded her together, and He could not resist these two most important people in her life

After Wei Jun returned and completed his duties, the emperor, considering his hard work and the fact that he had been away from home for several months, specially granted him a ten-day leave. Wei Jun then took his wife and daughter to a villa in the suburbs of the capital to stay for a few days, allowing them to relax and unwind.

Wei Heng knew that reasoning with He Shi was futile, as her mother had always been proud and could not afford to lose. Therefore, she clung to He Shi, twisting and turning like a pretzel, saying, "Mother, just let me learn. Who knows when Father will next have the time?"

Wei Jun nodded. He had a more open-minded perspective than He Shi. Horsemanship was also a skill he excelled in. Although it is traditionally emphasized that a young lady should maintain her modesty, Wei Jun was not a rigid person. What mattered to him was the radiant smile on Wei Hang's face while riding. Moreover, Wei Jun felt that He Shi had indeed been too strict with Wei Hang on a daily basis, and it would be beneficial for her to relax a bit while riding.

"Third Sister-in-law." Wei Heng put down her pen and stood up. Following Ge's gaze, she looked at her own writing, "No matter how I practice this writing, there is no improvement; practicing is in vain."

"Let her learn, Zhu Zhu has been agile since childhood, and besides, I am here, nothing will happen." Wei Jun also advised. Although Wei Jun is a civil official, the marquisate was earned by military merit from his ancestors, so Wei Jun is well-versed in both civil and military affairs.

Wei Jun only entered the door around dinner time, and as soon as Wei Heng saw him, she felt like crying. The father in her memories was gray-haired, but now he suddenly appeared much younger, leaving Wei Heng with a flood of emotions. Wei Heng had always had a good relationship with her father; one could say that the smooth sailing of her previous life was largely due to her father's care.

Wei Jun had not yet spoken when He Shi interjected, "No. You are still very young; be careful not to fall."

However, Wei Heng still had a point to make: "The children of the Northern Hu start learning to ride horses as soon as they are born, which indicates that riding does not depend on age"

In fact, Wei Heng naturally knew how to ride a horse; in her previous life, she loved horseback riding and felt an extraordinary sense of freedom when galloping on horseback. However, that was all after she got married. Although the women's academy advocated for a revival of the six arts, what people valued most in women were still the refined pursuits of propriety, music, and literature.

Wei Jun also protected Wei Heng, saying: "No matter how big the pearl is, she is still my little girl"

Wei Jun first took Wei Heng to the stable, roughly teaching her to recognize the horses, and also showing her how to get close to them. Wei Heng listened with great interest, and in the end, Wei Jun carried her onto the horse.

Ge also got up and followed.

He Shi shot Wei Heng a glance and retorted, "Then are you a Hu person?"

Although Li Yong felt grateful to Lord Wei for finding him this means of livelihood, he could not help but feel a sense of sorrow akin to that of a warrior in his twilight years, having fallen to the position of teaching young girls. It was only when Li Yong truly began to instruct Wei Heng that he realized Lord Wei Jun indeed valued his abilities, which was why he had been invited to teach his daughter.

He Shi was so infuriated by Wei Heng that she nearly fell backward. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Wei Heng continue: "Mother, girls' education requires examination in the six arts: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. This 'charioteering' is something I will have to learn sooner or later."

"Why is Third Sister sighing?" Ge asked as he walked into Wei Heng's room

Wei Heng nodded busily, "Exactly."

You also know that you are "short in some aspects," right? He Shi said to Wei Heng. However, after seeing Wei Heng's talent for horseback riding, she indeed had thoughts in this regard. "Let's find a riding and archery master for Zhu Zhu. She is still young, and even if it's a male master, there won't be any gossip outside.

Is that so? Wei Heng quickly leaned over to take a look. While the average person can discern the quality of characters, it is often difficult for them to articulate what is good or bad about them; only those with a keen eye can immediately identify the key aspects. Upon hearing Ge's remark, Wei Heng also recognized her own shortcomings

Do not worry, Zhu Zhu's posture is excellent, nothing will happen. She is indeed the daughter of our Hou family, carrying the blood of her ancestors

Wei Heng's legs are indeed not long, and she has not yet grown taller, which is commonly referred to as being "a little stick." When girls reach their early teens, they almost overnight transform from little girls into young women, like Wei Xuan now, but Wei Heng is still a child

By the end of an afternoon run, Wei Heng was already able to ride over small obstacles on horseback

Wei Heng embraced Wei Jun's neck, ignoring He's words.

Nowadays, there is a rising trend that suggests if a woman excels in archery and horsemanship, she appears rather coarse, while the four words of grace, elegance, virtue, and propriety are deemed the ideal for women. Consequently, in her previous life as a daughter, Wei Heng did not invest much effort in archery and riding.

In the Shuyuxuan, two tables were set up; one for the masters and another for the young ladies with notable appearances in the outer room. It was lively and bustling, with each of them coming over to toast to the Ge family. Nearby, the female performers played and sang cheerful tunes. Outside, the cold wind howled, but inside, the atmosphere was warm and fragrant, continuing the festivities until the second watch of the night when everyone returned to their rooms

Wei Heng could have pretended not to understand, but she detested Gu's attempts to provoke her as if she were a fool. Therefore, she smiled and said: "Indeed, second sister-in-law, but something smaller would be more suitable for me. If such a large gemstone were placed on my head, I fear I wouldn't even be able to lift my neck."

Mu Er went to prepare a rice bag for Wei Heng to practice calligraphy, but just after stepping out, she turned back. "Miss, the Longquan from the master’s side has returned, saying that the master has gone to the palace gate to present a token for an audience with the emperor, and will be home shortly."

Wei Heng said, "A few days ago, my mother just remarked on how 'grown up' I am, and today she says I am 'still so young.' Truly, you have something to say about everything."

After the lively moments, there is always an especially desolate feeling, particularly as she has to practice calligraphy and memorize texts every day. Wei Heng sighed as she watched the yellow leaves fall in the autumn, and even during her free time, she was confined by the He family to learn needlework in the courtyard. There was simply no time to relax, which was yet another source of suffering for Wei Heng

As the Left Deputy Censor of the Censorate, Wei Jun usually maintained a serious demeanor in public. However, when faced with Wei Heng, his expression could not help but break into a smile. He picked up the rushing Wei Heng and lifted her high, saying, "Zhu Zhu, let your father see if you've grown taller."

A woman of learning, Wei Heng naturally trusts Ge's judgment, "Then I will give it a try"

"Father." Wei Heng ran towards Wei Jun with his short legs

"It is still our Zhu Zhu who is understanding." The old lady called Wei Heng to sit beside her

Wei Heng felt that He's stance was unreasonable, stating, "Although I am not a Hu person, we should learn from the good aspects of others. When Zhao Wuling Wang adopted the Hu attire and practiced cavalry archery, revitalizing the Zhao state, wasn't that a method derived from the Hu people?"

After just two laps, Wei Heng was already able to ride the pony independently, which led Wei Jun to say to He Shi: "Zhu Zhu has a real talent for horseback riding."

"Father, good father," Wei Heng tugged at Wei Jun's sleeve and pleaded, then turned to He Shi and said, "Mother, the entrance examination for the girls' school also requires testing. As the saying goes, 'every measurement has its strengths and weaknesses.' By that time, if my daughter has one or two strengths, perhaps the teachers at the girls' school..."

I will take a look." Ge approached the table, picked up Wei Heng's writing, examined it carefully for a moment, and then said: "Your wrist strength is insufficient, causing the characters to be somewhat unsteady. In fact, you have already grasped the essence of the font and form.

He sighed and said, "What use is the talent above?"