Chapter 37 Is it intentional or accidental?

At Li Mingda's instruction, the palace servants presented writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone.

"Come sit here, elephant."

Li Mingda took Li Xiang's hand and asked him to sit on the stool.

"Pick up your pen."

Li Xiang picked up the pen obediently.

In fact, he has some experience in hard pen calligraphy, but calligraphy with a fountain pen and calligraphy with a brush are two different things after all.

"Hmm~ You should hold the pen like this."

Li Mingda also grabbed a pen and demonstrated to him.

Then he stretched out his hand and bent Li Xiang's fingers twice, and finally nodded with satisfaction: "That's it. When learning calligraphy, you should learn from the best. Hold the pen with a single hook, focus on the center and use the side. The strength and weakness of the fingers and wrists should be changed according to the situation. When holding the pen, you must concentrate and calm your mind, and follow the eight methods."

"As for official script, I trace back to the Han Dynasty, and then to the Jin Dynasty. Recently, I have learned from the wise men of my time. Most of the predecessors praised Da Ling, and the sacred intentions belonged to You Jun. Entering from this door, it can be said that I have learned from the best."

Li Xiang was confused by what he heard. Such professional terms made him feel overwhelmed.

He did understand that Da Ling was Wang Xianzhi, and the following sentence roughly meant that Li Shimin liked Wang Xizhi.

"Here, write two words for Auntie to see."

Li Xiang obediently wrote down a sentence: The way of the university is to manifest the bright virtue.

After a long while without hearing Li Mingda's reply, Li Xiang said angrily: "Laugh if you want to!"

"Xiang'er is a beginner, how could I laugh at you?"

Li Mingda rubbed Li Xiang's head with his hand and said gently, "You just don't know the right method now. Learning calligraphy requires practice. How can you achieve success overnight?"

"Hmm..." Li Xiang responded in a muffled voice.

Li Mingda leaned over, held Li Xiang's shoulders with one hand, held his hand with the other hand, dipped the inkstone into ink, and then controlled his hand to write on the paper stroke by stroke.

"Don't be distracted, just feel the direction and strength of my brushstrokes."

Li Mingda's voice rang in Li Xiang's ears.

At this moment, Li Shimin, who had been strolling outside for a few laps, also returned to the Lizheng Hall.

"Where's the elephant?"

He subconsciously asked the palace maid.

The palace maid replied respectfully: "My dear everyone, the emperor's grandson is learning calligraphy from Princess Jinyang."

"Oh?"

Li Shimin stroked his beard and walked towards the side hall with a smile.

Standing at the door, he happened to see this heartwarming scene.

Li Mingda stood behind Li Xiang, gently holding his hand and teaching him calligraphy on paper.

In a trance, he seemed to see when Li Mingda was a child, he sat in the same position with his daughter and taught her to use the pen in the same way.

"Sizi, feel the strength and direction of Aye's brushstrokes. Hmm... that's it. The idea comes before the brush, and the energy and movement are continuous."

"Second brother, Sizi is still a beginner, how can he learn Feibai?"

Empress Changsun sat on the bed, holding a volume of "Rules for Women" in her hand, and spoke with a tone of reproach.

Li Shimin, who was standing at the door, subconsciously stretched out a hand.

That quiet figure, as if traveling through time, smiled gently at him.

"Guanyin Maid..."

Li Shimin murmured.

I don't know when, but tears were already streaming down my face.

The two children in the room did not notice Li Shimin's arrival at all. One of them was teaching attentively, while the other was learning attentively.

Li Shimin did not disturb them, but stood quietly at the door, watching the two of them studying.

It was not until they finished writing a long section of "The Great Learning" that the two noticed Li Shimin's arrival.

"Aye."

Li Mingda greeted Li Shimin sweetly.

"Aweng."

Li Xiang looked at Li Shimin suspiciously, which made Li Shimin feel guilty for no reason. "Why was Grandpa crying at the door just now?"

"No."

Old Li retorted.

Li Xiang looked at Li Shimin's face and asked, "Are there any traces of tears on your face?"

Li Shimin raised his sleeves and wiped his eyes.

"Haha... the strong wind blinded me just now."

"Oh, so that's how it is." Li Xiang looked at Li Shimin with a cute face: "I thought Grandpa was crying again."

Li Shimin took a deep breath...

You little bastard! What do you mean again?!

"Have you finished your studies? If you have, go back to the East Palace! I haven't prepared any food for you!"

Old Li began to order them to leave.

tsk...

Li Xiang clicked his tongue, said goodbye to Li Mingda who was smiling with his hands covering his mouth, and then slipped back to the East Palace with his long legs.

There is no doubt that the jealousy of his daughter has struck again.

When Li Chengqian returned to the East Palace, he had just seen off Hegan Chengji and the other two. As soon as he entered the East Palace, he was stopped by the eunuchs.

"Oh my goodness, you're finally back!"

"What's wrong?" Li Xiang asked.

"Mr. Sun is here and is waiting for you in the East Palace." the eunuch replied.

When Li Xiang heard that Sun Simiao had come, he ran away.

When he ran into the Mingde Hall, Sun Simiao was taking Li Chengqian's pulse.

"It's okay, Prince, this is a disease of affluence."

When Sun Simiao saw Li Xiang coming in, he stroked his beard and said with a smile: "You don't need to take any medicine. Just eat a light diet and avoid meat and fish, and you will be cured."

After hearing Sun Simiao's diagnosis, Li Chengqian was skeptical.

No medicine... just controlling diet can cure it?

If this was what another imperial physician had said, Li Chengqian would have ordered the person to be beaten out with sticks long ago.

But the person who said this happened to be Sun Simiao, so he couldn't help but believe it.

Seeing Li Chengqian's doubts, Sun Simiao smiled and stroked his beard and said, "When I was traveling as a doctor, I met a rich man with a similar disease to the prince, except that he had wind stones on both feet."

"Later, the family fell into poverty. When I saw him again, his illness had already healed."

"In that case, I will just eat simpler meals from now on." Li Chengqian nodded.

Li Xiang rolled his eyes and thought to himself, "Dad, how dare you do that? I feel bad if I don't eat some mutton stewed with spinach and tofu for a meal..."

Li Chengqian waved at Li Xiang, and when he came to his side, he introduced him, "I'd like to let you know, this is my useless son, Li Xiang."

"Is this the prince in person?" Sun Simiao stood up immediately.

Li Xiang's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He knew very well why Old Sun reacted like that.

"I am Li Xiang, and I am here to meet Master Sun." Li Xiang bowed respectfully to Sun Simiao.

"Xiang'er, please entertain Master Sun on my behalf. Your father still has some things to do, so I won't accompany you for long." Li Chengqian said to Li Xiang with a smile.

Li Xiang certainly knew what it meant, and he said to Sun Simiao, "Master, please."

After the two men walked out of Mingde Hall, Li Xiang just raised his head and met Sun Simiao's eyes.

"What's wrong with the master?" Li Xiang asked with a cute face.

Sun Simiao laughed in his heart. This young prince is also a master at pretending to be confused!

"The prince is asking me a question?" Sun Simiao flicked his whisk and asked, "I'm afraid a few pages of the manuscript left by the prince are missing, right?"

“Ah…hahahaha…” Li Xiang scratched his head: “If the real person hadn’t told me, I would have forgotten about it.”

Old Sun looked at him with a unfriendly look, which clearly meant "was it intentional or an accident?"

(End of this chapter)