Chapter 1557: Chapter 1564: Liu Xi Learning Art (3)
Cai Wei told her about the things she should do after marrying into the Xianbei Empire, such as promoting friendly development between Xianbei and the Great Jin Nation, advising Helan Qi to pay more attention to the suffering of the common people and to understand the people’s livelihood. Of course, she also mentioned the cruel customs of the Xianbei Empire, but after all, those are long-standing traditions of a nation and an ethnic group. She did not expect Zhao Gui to have the ability to change them, merely bringing it up casually. If they could be changed, it would be for the best; if not, at least she tried.
Zhao Gui listened intently to every word Cai Wei said, and after hearing her out, she stood up and expressed her gratitude: “Thank you, Your Grace, for your teachings. Your words of wisdom are like treasures. I will remember them all and will do my utmost to act according to Your Grace’s guidance, ensuring I do not bring disgrace to Your Grace’s reputation.”
From beginning to end, Zhao Gui maintained a highly humble attitude, being respectful and deferential to Cai Wei, fearing even the slightest offense. Yet Cai Wei remained distant with her, no longer speaking and interacting as closely and casually as she once did.
Zhao Gui’s bridal gifts were all arranged by the Internal Affairs Department, and Cai Wei did not participate. It is said that there were seventy-two extravagant boxes of bridal gifts prepared, along with palace maids, old palace maids, eunuchs, and imperial physicians—more than a hundred people accompanying as her dowry.
The next day, Zhao Gui bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, the Retired Emperor, the Empress, and the Emperor inside the Zhenyang Palace. Accompanied by five hundred guards from the Ministry of War and carrying dozens of carts of bridal gifts and over a hundred dowry people, she departed with the envoys of the Xianbei Empire, heading grandly toward Xianbei.
After sending Zhao Gui off, Liu Xi, who hadn’t been seen for days, arrived.
This fellow had rarely been inside the palace lately. As the person in charge of the Women’s College, he had been busy outside managing the affairs of the Women’s College.
Under his leadership, the Women’s College now had hundreds of students, and the learning atmosphere within the academy was thriving. Not only had he introduced calculus courses at the Women’s College, but he also offered lessons on poetry and verse, zither, chess, calligraphy and painting, cooking and embroidery, striving to cultivate these young ladies into independent thinkers and well-rounded, knowledgeable women.
During his spare time, he even started a down product processing workshop, using goose feathers and duck feathers that had been collected to mass-produce down jackets, down pants, and down quilts, holding onto these items to sell for a good price during the winter!
The Women’s College pays him commission based on the number of enrolled students, and the down product processing workshop is his private business. As a result, this fellow has become quite wealthy. It is said that he is planning another new venture—opening a bicycle factory to produce bicycles for sales. With the current momentum, he should soon find himself among the Great Jin Nation’s list of affluent elites.
However, this man, who should be riding high on success, appeared before Cai Wei with furrowed brows and a gloomy expression.
“Yo, what’s this? Frostbitten?” Cai Wei teased, inviting him to sit down. A palace maid promptly served tea.
Liu Xi took the tea, held it in his hands, drooped his head in thought for a long time, and then raised his head and said, “Can you help me find a martial arts master? I want to learn martial arts!”
Cai Wei laughed and said, “What’s this sudden idea of learning martial arts? What, have you been bullied?”
“Ugh, don’t ask. Just tell me if you can help me find an expert or not?” Liu Xi interrupted her, visibly impatient.
“Alright then. What kind of techniques are you looking to learn? Tell me, and I’ll help you find someone suitable.”
“I don’t even know what kind of techniques suit me. Why don’t you decide for me?”
Upon hearing this, Cai Wei thought for a moment and said, “How about you practice the Sunflower Treasured Book? You do seem to have certain physical conditions that others don’t possess.”
“Pop—”