Time Is Slow - Chapter 38

“What happened today was indeed your eldest sister’s fault.”

“Grandmother!”

Facing her only cherished grandson, Old Madam Deng put on a rare, stern face as she asked, “Hui’er, did you go to your third sister to demand an explanation?”

Li Hui pursed his lips, clearly unhappy, but said nothing

.

Old Madam Deng shook her head. 

“Hui’er, did you get the full story before you acted?”

“What is there not to understand? Eldest sister’s forehead is bruised purple—”

“That’s just the result. And the cause? Did you ask? Just based on your assumptions and past experiences, you ran off to confront your third sister and even came to me demanding justice?”

Li Hui clenched his fists.

“Hui’er, you’re not a child anymore. You can’t keep losing your temper like this. Our Western Residence only has you as the sole heir, we’re counting on you to support this family in the future.”

Li Hui calmed down. 

“Grandmother, I understand. What actually happened today?”

What happened at Yahe Garden involved the reputations of two young ladies, which was quite a disgrace. As an elder, Old Madam Deng normally wouldn’t want to go into detail, but seeing how impulsive her grandson was, she didn’t hold back. She dismissed the maids and old servants in the room and explained everything in detail.

When she finished, she asked Li Hui, “I said you were too rash, was I wrong?”

Li Hui’s face turned red, and he lowered his head. 

“Grandmother’s right in scolding me. I was indeed reckless today. But please don’t blame eldest sister. She actually tried to stop me and said it was her fault. I just didn’t listen—”

“Your eldest sister was in a bad mood. Grandmother understands. Let’s just let this matter go.” Old Madam Deng raised her hand to gently pat his head, full of affection.

“Go and apologize to your third sister. She was a bit spoiled when she was younger, but since she’s come back, I’ve observed her—she’s become much more sensible. You’re her older brother, you should be more generous.”

He didn’t want to be that annoying girl’s older brother!

That was what Li Hui thought. However, he still replied respectfully.

“Yes, Grandson will go apologize to Third Sister.”

Right and wrong are two separate matters. If he knew that he was wrong, he would admit it. 

Old Madam Deng was deeply gratified.

She called out, “Qingyun, have you packed everything up? Go with the young master to deliver it.”

Li Hui looked puzzled.

Old Madam Deng explained with a smile, “Your third sister was wronged today. I gave her the ‘Koi Playing Among Lotus’ inkstone, the one that belonged to your grandfather. You can deliver it to her.”

“Grandfather’s inkstone?” Li Hui exclaimed.

“Mm.”

Li Hui stumbled out with Qingyun, still in a daze. Halfway there, he thought to himself.

‘Grandmother gave that inkstone to Li Zhao. Does Father know?’

Qiao Zhao had just seen He Shi off when a maid reported that the third young master had arrived together with Qingyun from Qingsong Hall.

He didn’t barge in this time. It seems like the old lady made everything clear to him.

“Let them in.”

A moment later, Li Hui entered and met Qiao Zhao’s calm gaze, feeling rather awkward.

His eyes darted around before settling on the side, and he blushed as he said, “Third Sister… I was wrong today. I misunderstood you, and I… apologize…”

Qiao Zhao poured a cup of tea and handed it to him with a faint smile.

“If Third Brother is sincerely apologizing, then I’ll accept it.”

With her delicate hand holding the celadon-glazed teacup with an icy pattern, Li Hui felt his scalp tingle.

Could she have put laxatives in the tea?

Meeting Qiao Zhao’s dark, grape-like eyes, he gritted his teeth, took the teacup, and drained it in one gulp.

After apologizing, Li Hui still felt uneasy, so he quickly put down the cup and left.

Outside, Qingyun handed the inkstone over to Qiao Zhao before departing.

Qiao Zhao let out a long breath.

Finally, some peace and quiet.

She unwrapped the soft cloth around the inkstone, revealing a smooth, gentle piece of stone.

Her pale fingers brushed across its surface as she nodded.

It really was a fine inkstone. Clearly, the old lady was sincerely trying to make amends for her mistreatment.

Thinking of He Shi, and then of Old Madam Deng, Qiao Zhao smiled.

Life in the Li residence didn’t seem so bad after all.

Faced with a fine inkstone, she became interested. She tilted her head and lightly tapped it, listening to the sound it made.

“Miss, the Master is here,” Binglu reported

As she spoke, Li Guangwen stepped in with one foot already across the threshold.

The young girl was tilting her head playfully, tapping the inkstone. Li Guangwen was shocked. 

“Stop that immediately!”

He rushed forward in a flash, meeting Qiao Zhao’s startled gaze. He barely restrained himself from snatching the inkstone away. Instead, he scolded her with a stern face.

“This inkstone that Old Madam gifted you is a rare treasure. How can you treat it so carelessly?”

Qiao Zhao blinked.

How was she being careless? She was being quite attentive.

She gently set the inkstone down.

“Careful! Gently!” Li Guangwen stared at her hands without blinking. Only after seeing her set it down properly did he finally exhale in relief. He continued to scold her.

“How can you just knock on it like that?”

Qiao Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Father, I was testing the sound to judge the quality.”

“Testing the sound?” Li Guangwen clearly didn’t believe his previously ignorant and idle daughter would know something like that.

“Yes. The best Duan inkstones have a sound like wood, lesser ones sound like ceramic, and the worst sound metallic. The one Grandmother gave me is definitely a good one.”

Li Guangwen looked at her with some surprise, suddenly finding his daughter more pleasing to the eye. 

“Of course it’s a fine inkstone. It used to belong to your grandfather. Back in the day—”

Back then he had begged for it for ages, but his mother never gave it to him. And now she had actually given it to his daughter…

Li Guangwen’s feelings were complicated. He looked at the inkstone again and again.

What if he wanted it too?

The longing in Father’s eyes was a bit too obvious. Qiao Zhao pushed the inkstone toward him. 

“If Father likes it, I’ll give it to you.”

“No, no.” Li Guangwen waved his hands quickly, righteously refusing. “This was a gift from your grandmother. You mustn’t give it away. Zhao Zhao, you must practice your calligraphy diligently so as not to let her expectations go to waste.”

“I see. Then I’ll make the most of it.”

Li Guangwen nodded in satisfaction but kept gazing longingly at the inkstone.

Qiao Zhao smiled sweetly. 

“How about this? If Father tells me an interesting story, I’ll lend you the inkstone to admire for a few days. Treat it as a small gesture of filial piety.”

Li Guangwen’s eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed.

“Ahem, how would I know how to tell stories?”

He was such a serious and upright person! How could he possibly read those silly novels young people liked?

Qiao Zhao nodded inwardly.

Just as expected. She knew he’d say that.

Then she finally got to her real intention. 

“Then Father can just tell me about something interesting that happened outside.”

It would take time for Ah Zhu to blend in and gather news from the servants, but right now, she was desperate to know what was going on in the outside world. And who better to ask than Lord Li, who served in court?

She had originally considered asking him for a game of chess too.

“Interesting things outside?” Li Guangwen frowned and thought for a moment, then sighed. “Not so much interesting, but there is a tragedy.”

“What tragedy?” Qiao Zhao’s expression was full of curiosity, but her heart clenched.

“You know Mr. Qiao, right? I remember your mother once bought his copybooks for you to practice with.” Mr. Qiao was renowned for both his calligraphy and paintin, his work was even published and sold as practice books.

“Yes.”

“Mr. Qiao’s family was caught in a terrible fire. Only his son and daughter survived. They’re currently staying at Minister Kou’s residence.”

Qiao Zhao’s eyes welled up with tears in an instant.

After days of worry, she had finally heard the first shred of news about her family!