Good, good. You are such a good girl. Here is a red envelope." Old詹 handed over the red envelope without hesitation. The others, fearing they might fall behind, quickly pulled out their own red envelopes for Zhu Yanyi.
Zhu Yanyi smiled, thanked them, and accepted the envelopes gracefully. She showed no greed, nor did she shrink back in fear. Her attitude was simple: if you give it, I take it. That was Zhu Yanyi’s way of thinking.
"Old Xie, is this the granddaughter you mentioned?" Old詹 asked. He had met many girls, including those from noble families. Usually, children’s minds were easy to read.
Xie Zhong nodded. "Yes, this is my granddaughter." He gave a mysterious smile and said to Zhu Yanyi, "Ani, please perform a set of Tai Chi."
Zhu Yanyi did not know why Xie Zhong asked her to do this, but she knew she had a purpose. So, she did not ask questions. She walked into the courtyard and began to perform the movements. Thanks to her training in the Ruyi Space, Zhu Yanyi’s Tai Chi was now very skilled. Her moves flowed smoothly from one to the next. After finishing the routine, she lowered her fists and walked back to Xie Zhong.
Xie Zhong continued, "Recite the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon."
Zhu Yanyi began immediately: "In ancient times, the Yellow Emperor was born with divine spirit. As a child, she could speak. As a youth, she was quick and wise. As she grew, she was honest and diligent. When she became an adult, she ascended to heaven. She asked the Heavenly Master: 'I have heard that people in ancient times lived to be a hundred years old, yet their movements did not weaken. But people today weaken before they are fifty. Is it because the times have changed, or because people have lost their way?'"
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon consists of two volumes: Suwen and Lingshu. Zhu Yanyi recited it effortlessly. After reciting three sections of the Suwen chapter, Xie Zhong made a gesture. "Stop here, Ani. Go over there and play a piece of 'Pure Heart Mantra' on the guqin."
Zhu Yanyi nodded and walked over. She calmed her mind, closing her eyes to shift away from her medical thoughts. She placed her hands on the strings. She had no great ambition; her only wish was for people in the world to be free from illness and pain. Her heart was pure. The melody of the 'Pure Heart Mantra' brought peace to everyone present.
After finishing the song, Xie Zhong said, "Who wants to play a game of chess with her?"
"I will," Old Yao said. He had a strong foundation in this area.
Zhu Yanyi played chess calmly. She did not care about winning or losing. To her, chess was a way to cultivate one’s character. The game lasted about half an hour. Zhu Yanyi lost by three pieces, but the elderly men present were amazed. Old Yao’s chess skills were renowned across the country.
"Old Xie, why did you come here?" Old詹 asked. Seeing Zhu Yanyi’s performance, she knew Xie Zhong had a purpose and had already guessed part of it.
Xie Zhong sighed. "This child has great talent and good fortune. You have seen her talent. All these skills—Tai Chi, medicine, music, chess, and calligraphy—she started learning last November. In just a few months, she has such a strong foundation. Most importantly, she also started learning to read characters last November."
The faces of the elderly men changed slightly. They had admired her talent before, but now they were shocked. In only four months, she had achieved this level of ability. It was terrifying.
"Now, she is self-studying middle school courses. In these four months, she learned the basics of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, medicine, and Tai Chi from me, while also self-studying elementary school courses. Honestly, I do not know how she finds the time," Xie Zhong sighed. "The only explanation I have is that she carries a heavenly destiny.