The Empress’ Livestream

Jiang Pengji found her new “dad” to be not bad at all.

“Your handwriting is much better than your mother’s. It is more like mine.”

Liu She was no different from other parents in the feudal times. He believed that checking his child’s progress was a way to strengthen their bond. But after looking at Jiang Pengji’s writing, he could hardly refrain himself from expressing any negative emotion. At last he said, “Nice drawing.”

“…”

He didn’t need to force himself. Calling it a “drawing” was sarcastic enough.

The method he was using to deepen their relationship was a headache for Jiang Pengji. Just as Jiang Pengji was finding an excuse to end the session, Liu She prepared ink, picked up a brush, and wrote characters. Even she, who was not keen on calligraphy, could tell that his writing was exceptional.

In fact, Liu She was one of the well-known calligraphers in Hejian. His handwriting was considered refreshing, tender, and dignified. He used both the shape of the character and the meaning of the word in his presentation. His calligraphy had become more elegant and discreet after his years in the bureaucracy as he himself became less impulsive.

“Handwriting can show a lot about a person, and is far more eye-catching than a flowery composition.”

Then Liu She wrote “Liu Xi” on a bamboo sheet and placed it next to Jiang Pengji’s “drawing.” She compared the two while analyzing his pose and strength and tried to apply her knowledge.

Liu She said seriously, “After all, girls focus on the handwriting first. Then they concentrate on the meaning in a love letter.”

Jiang Pengji coughed to hide her laugh.

Liu She laughed too. “You may have guessed it. Gu Min used to dislike my handwriting. She said that she would not have read through my ugly characters, no matter how pleasing the content was, if we had not been old acquaintances.”

Dazhuangzu Furen: “Good job, Host’s mom! Hence a modern parent in the feudal world!”

Zhiai Meinan: “I thought he would be punishing the host solemnly. Instead, they are talking about how to writing a good love letter. This is so cute!”

Lancui Yubuzhe: “But the host is a girl… right?”

Toudu Feiqiu: “I must remind you that she can be more charming than most men. Ha-ha!”

Liu She’s joke made the atmosphere more relaxed.

“That is why you improved your handwriting?”

Liu She did not consider the question to be improper. “Yes. No one cared about why I did it. Their only concern was the result.”

Afterwards he asked about her recent reading habits and opinions in order to understand her more.

“I copied The Analects yesterday to learn more words, but I do not like the book much. I find Strategies in War more interesting.”

Liu She agreed. “The Analects is not my cup of tea either. You are still young, and the teachings may make you too timid. While your homework may require you to know about the book, you do not need to read more than you’re required to at this stage. Leave it until you have grown up. By then you will have your own set of values, and you will be able to reflect on your personal experience as you study the book.”

He was an unusual parent, indeed! Liu Lanting’s mother must have changed him a lot.

Confucianism was regarded as the national teaching at that time, and The Analects was the most significant piece of literature. The importance of the book only diminished recently when the former dynasty was overthrown, and other schools began to flourish during the hundred years of war. There were a hundred of these schools in the five kingdoms, and they were all scattered across the territory of the previous Xia dynasty.

As a Dongqing official, Liu She had been born in an environment where Confucianism was highly valued. Yet he did not seem afraid to criticize the teaching with his child. She would have been shocked by such a father if she had grown up in this era.

With Liu Lanting’s mediocre academic performance, Jiang Pengji was unable to answer most of the questions he asked. His questions were much deeper and more complicated than what Feng Jin had asked in the morning.

Lancui Yubuzhe: “He-he! I can foresee the host being punished severely.”

Yet the audience was disappointed.

To act like Liu Lanting, Jiang Pengji pretended to feel shameful and sad. “Sorry, Father.”

But Liu She was in no way angry or disappointed. To him, Lanting’s personal opinion was more important than how many passages she had memorized. Everyone could do the latter, more or less, but not many people could express their own thoughts. His daughter was better at that than most of her peers.

“It does not matter. You are such a clever girl.” He tenderly touched her head. “You will improve later.”

When he was a child, he was not an outstanding pupil either. He found the teachings difficult to remember, and he could never organize his thoughts well enough to express them clearly in front of his master and father.

He hoped his daughter could be happier than he had been as a child.

“Actions speak louder than words. This is especially true when you become an official in charge of a place. Everything you learn is to serve your people. Do not misplace your emphasis on impractical studies.”

It was another modern thought, and it captured the hearts of many viewers.

Dusk fell as their conversation continued. Reluctant to end their time together, Liu She said, “Lanting, time to go to bed. Come with me to the monastery tomorrow morning. We must thank the Buddha for blessing you.”

“To the monastery?” Jiang Pengji asked, “But what about family school?”

“Oh, never mind that! The kids are not all well-tempered, and the conditions are not as good as what I can provide you with. I will teach you myself.” He explained, “After your twin brother passed away, Gu Min was weak, but she went to the monastery to beg for your safety. She asked the Buddha to help you survive a fatal threat that would happen when you were 12. Now that the threat is over, we must thank the Buddha on your mother’s behalf and visit Master Liaochen.”

Jiang Pengji’s heart became cold. “A fatal threat… Do you mean the kidnapping?”

“I suppose so.” His eyes dimmed.

“Father, you know, don’t you?”

She did not expect this, for Liu She had left Liu Lanting when she was only a few years old, and they had not seen each other since. He would not know her as her stepmother did, so how did he spot the difference? Could he really tell because of their blood ties?

But Liu She simply touched her hair again. “Do not worry. I have prepared for this from before you are born.”

“…”

Huh? What was he talking about?