Chapter 141
Chapter 141: Thousand Character Text
Looking at the rosy-cheeked little bundle blowing bubbles, Yun Rui suddenly asked a question, lifting his head with bright eyes to look at Yun Wan Ye.
Yun Wan Ye paused, glancing from the baby in his arms, Yun Wan Ning, to the others. Yun Wan Chen and Yun Wan Yao were clearly just as startled as he was.
Right, their little sister had been born for quite a while now, yet they had always called her “Little Sister” or “Little Fourth” without ever knowing her actual name.
“Father, Mother, what is Little Sister’s name?”
Yun Rui blinked in confusion: even Second Brother didn’t know?
[Second Brother, are you serious? You don’t even know my name?]
[Don’t tell me Father and Mother haven’t given me one yet?]
[No way, no way… could it be I really don’t have a name in this life?]
All this time, it had never crossed Yun Wan Ning’s mind. If the boy hadn’t asked today, she might have gone on ignoring it indefinitely.
[What was my name in the plot again… let me think.]
[Oh, right, I don’t think my name was ever mentioned in the story at all. Father, Mother, and Seventh Uncle always called me Little Fourth, my brothers and sisters called me Little Sister, and outsiders called me Fourth Young Miss.]
“I remember when Mother was pregnant, she told Father that if the baby was a boy, he would be named Yun Wan Yi, and if it was a girl, Yun Wan Ning. Is that right, Mother?”
A flash of memory crossed Yun Wan Yao’s mind. She turned her head toward Madam Yun, seeking confirmation.
Madam Yun smiled, but before she could speak, the little bundle’s delighted inner voice rang out:
[Wow, really?]
[Mother gave me a name that sounds exactly the same as in my past life?]
[Is this coincidence, or fate?]
Everyone paused at that—so, in her past life, she had also been Yun Wan Ning?
Madam Yun was the one most affected. The name’s pronunciation was indeed exactly what she had chosen. Back then, she and her husband had listed many possibilities, but her favorite was this one, and in the end, it had been decided. It seemed Little Fourth was destined to be their child.
She came back to herself and nodded with a smile: “Yes, Little Fourth’s name is Yun Wan Ning. Ning as in the character for wood ‘?,’ not the ‘?’ for peace.”
The latter character meant tranquility and was a fine meaning on its own, but when paired with the word for “late,” the overall implication was less favorable—so she had chosen a homophone instead.
[Ahhh, that’s it! It really is the wood.]
[Even the character is the same. Mother truly is my destined mother. Love you, Mother, mua~]
Overjoyed, Yun Wan Ning’s lips curled high, her little face alight with a smile obvious to all.
Yun Wan Ye grinned at her, teasing: “Oh? Little Sister’s so happy all of a sudden—did you understand we were talking about your name?”
[…]
[Isn’t that obvious?]
She rolled her eyes inwardly, mouth twitching faintly. Forget it—Second Brother didn’t know she had reincarnated with her memories, so she wouldn’t hold it against him.
[Oh, wait! I almost forgot something important.]
Everyone pricked up their ears, curious what she’d remembered.
[Father and Mother adopted this little fellow… doesn’t that make him the fourth now? Does that mean everyone will have to call me Little Fifth?]
[Being forced to change my ranking all of a sudden feels… a bit weird.]
Everyone: …
This little bundle’s mind really did leap all over the place.
After that, apart from the absent Yun Zhan, every member of the Yun family gave Yun Rui a welcome gift.
Yun Zheng sent him an enlightenment tutor, Madam Yun a longevity lock, Yun Wan Chen a book collection, Yun Wan Ye a sword cache, and Yun Wan Yao a puppy…
Even Yin Shuang joined in. Upon hearing the Yun couple had adopted a boy, she had gone to the market and carefully chosen a spirited young thousand-li horse for him.
As for Yun Wan Ning, she inwardly shouted that she wanted to give him her gold pendant. But since no one wanted to reveal they could hear her inner voice, they pretended they didn’t know, and her gift remained undelivered for now.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Yun Rui was already quite familiar with the Yun family. He didn’t talk much, nor did he smile often, but he was well-mannered. He never went where he shouldn’t or touched what he shouldn’t, nothing like a wild child with no parents or guidance. This made Madam Yun all the more curious about his origins. But curiosity aside, she didn’t ask.
At midday, sunlight poured in warmly.
On the soft couch by the window, Yun Rui held a book in hand, sitting beside Yun Wan Ning, his dark eyes studying her intently.
“Little Sister, today I learned the Thousand Character Text. Master says it’s an essential rhymed work for beginners and my very first lesson. Shall I recite it for you?”
Sons of noble houses all learned the six gentlemanly arts: rites, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics.
Although adopted, since the Yun couple had said they would treat him as their own, Yun Rui was no exception. Archery, charioteering, and music would be taught by Yun Wan Chen and Yun Wan Ye; the rest by a tutor, though those lessons hadn’t yet begun.
Yun Wan Ning, who had been dozing in the sun, perked right up at his words.
[Sure, let’s hear it. I’ll see how well you’ve learned.]
[With your memory, a mere Thousand Character Text should be a piece of cake.]
Yun Rui cleared his throat and began: “Heaven and earth mysterious and yellow, the universe vast and wild. The sun and moon wax and wane, the stars spread across the sky. Cold comes, heat departs; autumn harvest, winter store. The leap month completes the year, the pitch-pipes harmonize the yang. Clouds rise to bring rain, dew forms into frost. Gold is born in the River Li, jade comes from Kunlun’s heights…”
It took him the time of a tea’s steeping to recite all thousand characters, his pronunciation unhurried and precise. Yun Wan Ning applauded him inwardly.
[Wow, that memory is amazing.]
[Back in the 21st century, kindergarteners learned this bit by bit—one section would take ages.]
[This little fellow mastered it in a single day and speaks it so clearly. Impressive.]
[His tutor must have noticed that extraordinary memory to dare teach him so much at once. I wonder if the tutor feels like he’s found a treasure. I know I do.]
Madam Yun, watching them from time to time, smiled faintly. Compared to the rest of them, Yun Rui seemed to like the little bundle best. For the past two days, whenever he was free, he would be by her side, talking with her.
Strange—since Ye’er was the one who had brought him home, shouldn’t he like Ye’er most of all?