Chapter 1511: 1018 Different (Vote for Monthly Tickets!)
Dongying Imperial Palace.
Study.
The little princess Ya Yi is practicing calligraphy. Despite her young age, she is focused and meticulous, holding the brush with precision.
Perhaps it's because her elder brother, Prince Wataru Tetsuya, is watching?
The study is quiet, with only the sound of the brush moving.
I often recall the dusk at the pavilion by the stream, lost in intoxication, not knowing my way back. After a delightful evening, I returned by boat, inadvertently entering the depths of the lotus flowers.
Standard Chinese characters.
The elegance cannot hide the childlike innocence.
After all, she is still young.
"Did you like the gift your brother gave you last time?"
Perhaps startled, the brush in Princess Ya Yi's hand trembled, causing a blot of ink to spill on the rice paper. Instead of panicking, she cleverly turned the blot into a comma and continued to finish writing the poem, "As Dreams." Only then did she look up.
"Ya Yi likes it very much. Thank you, brother."
"As long as you like it."
Wataru Tetsuya smiled, looking at the ancient Shenzhou poem on the rice paper, "Ya Yi's writing is getting more and more beautiful."
"It's all thanks to Teacher Xiang Tian's excellent guidance."
Ya Yi blurted out, but she immediately realized her mistake. In front of her brother, she should mention Teacher Xiang Tian's name less frequently.
"In our country, there aren't many people as proficient in Shenzhou culture as Teacher Xiang Tian, so Ya Yi is very fortunate and must be humble in learning from him."
Indeed, Wataru Tetsuya is a kind and gentle elder brother.
"Rest assured, brother, Ya Yi definitely will."
It seems that Teacher Xiang Tian doesn't rely solely on telling stories to muddle through.
"Brush."
Suddenly, as if on a whim, Wataru Tetsuya raised his hand.
Ya Yi was stunned, then promptly handed over the brush, and sensibly gave up her seat.
Wataru Tetsuya walked over, laid out the paper anew, then held the brush to write, adopting a very proper posture.
When autumn comes on the ninth of September, all flowers perish after my blooms.
Fragrances ascend to Chang'an, the city covered in golden armor.
Wataru Tetsuya put down the brush.
The ink on the paper was intense, each stroke powerful. Compared to the previous "As Dreams," this poem "Composing on Chrysanthemums after Failing the Exam" was undoubtedly written with much more vigor.
Wataru Tetsuya set the brush down.
"Have you learned this?"
Ya Yi quickly shook her head, saying admiringly, "Brother, you're amazing."
Wataru Tetsuya chuckled.
It seems that learning Shenzhou culture isn't just a personal hobby of Princess Ya Yi but a common interest within the Japanese Imperial Family.
Indeed.
For a long period in history, Shenzhou was Dongying's suzerain state. At that time, Dongying regarded everything about the Heavenly Dynasty with reverence, similar to some people's current admiration for Western cultures, as if the very air was sweet.
"You're still young now, but when you grow up, you'll know even more than your brother."
"Ya Yi will never surpass brother."
The little princess lowered her head, polite and respectful, without relying on the favor she receives from the public and the elders to become arrogant, adhering to the hierarchy between the young and the old.
"A major event has happened recently. Has Ya Yi heard about it?"
Wataru Tetsuya mentioned it casually.
Ya Yi looked confused.
"A severe nuclear leakage incident occurred in Fukushima."
Ya Yi looked shocked, "Nuclear leakage? Brother, is it true?"
Wataru Tetsuya nodded, "The whole world is criticizing us, and the people of Fukushima, driven to desperation, can only take to the streets to protest. Even outside the Imperial Palace, crowds have gathered to protest."
"How come Ya Yi hasn't heard about this..."
The little princess murmured, though her status was noble, living deep within the palace, she was like a bird in a cage. Perhaps she wasn't even as free as a butterfly.
The terror of nuclear leakage is something even children are aware of.
"Discharging nuclear wastewater into the sea, the extent of the harm will increase day by day, and it is irreversible. Yet the responsible enterprises are not taking remedial actions, allowing the situation to continue to escalate."
Wataru Tetsuya continued, his voice calm, not hurried or slow.
"How can that be?"
Ya Yi exclaimed, "Nuclear pollution is irreversible and will harm countless people..."
Wataru Tetsuya remained silent.
"Ya Yi will go find grandfather."
After saying this, Ya Yi quickly turned to leave.
"Screech."
The door to the study opened.
Ya Yi immediately stopped and looked at the newcomer, quickly regaining her composed, small-adult demeanor, calling out respectfully, "Uncle."
"Our Ya Yi seems to have grown taller again, and has become more beautiful."
Judging from Ya Yi's address, the entrant is also a member of the Imperial Family.
The son of the current Emperor.
Like Wataru Tetsuya, he is also a prince.
Maruyama Tadashi.
Due to his seniority, he is naturally ahead of Wataru Tetsuya in the line of succession.
"Uncle."
Wataru Tetsuya bowed his head, greeting respectfully as well.
"You're here too, huh."
Maruyama Tadashi nodded. This royal uncle indeed showed a difference in attitude towards the two younger generations, which was understandable.
After all, Wataru Tetsuya is already an adult, while Ya Yi is just a child.
Children are often doted on more.
"Practicing calligraphy?"
Maruyama Tadashi noticed the ink-wet calligraphy on the desk and walked over.
"Ya Yi, did you write this?"
"No, my brother wrote it."
Ya Yi immediately explained.
"I see."
Maruyama Tadashi kindly said, "How do you read it? Can you read it for uncle?"
Although he knew some Chinese, he wasn't proficient, and he surely couldn't recognize all the characters on the calligraphy.
"When autumn comes on the ninth of September, my flowers bloom and all others die.
Fragrances ascend to Chang'an, the city clad in golden armor."
Ya Yi read it in standard Chinese.
Maruyama Tadashi nodded approvingly, "Good, what does this poem mean? Can Ya Yi explain it to uncle?"
"Uncle, Ya Yi can't either."
The little princess lowered her head apologetically.
Maruyama Tadashi then looked at Wataru Tetsuya.
"This poem is about a scholar's optimistic spirit and broad mind after failing the imperial exam."