5 Father and daughter

"So what is your purpose, let me first warn you I will not give you a horse"

Hugging his neck Ming Shu started to sell pitiful. She learned that girls who wanted to gain empathy had two strategies that always worked: tears or light contact. If you do both, unless the man you're doing this to is dead inside, it will work every time.

"You are wrong, Father. I came for 3 things. The first one was just to see you. It has been a long time that I didn't see you and I missed you. Because I know you were too busy to visit me when I was in bed I came to see you I've I got better"

The second step of the plan is to gain Father's empathy: Remember him, in a roundabout way, she was sick and he didn't visit. Her aim is to prick his conscience. Of course, if Ming Shu was older this trick would never work since he would have thought she was questioning him, but with her present age, the phrase will seem it's her true feelings.

"Well, is good that you came. Father's sorry"

Ming Peizi patted his daughter's head. Looking at her being well behaved, his eyes softened.

'She is just a kid after all. I should at least visit her once'

"What about the second purpose?"

"I came to apologize to spoil Grandma birthday. But father was not or purpose I swear! I felt someone pushing me towards the lake and I couldn't stop the fall"

Raising his eyebrow, Ming Peizi wondered who was so bold that dare to push his main daughter in his Mother Birthday party.

"Did you see who it was?"

"Not exactly I just saw it was a girl about my age"

"I know"

Nodding his head to Ming Shu, he thought maybe was just a silly child's conflict.

"What about the third?"

"Well, I'll learn the four arts next week. If Father agrees I will come every day to report about my progress. Also, can I come to your study and practise my calligraphy here? I can also grind your ink. I promise not to bother you."

Ming Peizi first wanted to disagree but thinking it was better to have her where he could see than to have her run to learn martial arts, he agreed to her request.

"Well, but you cannot do much noise here. At the end of the day I will correct your work. Go grind the ink"

As she practised calligraphy and made ink for her Father, Ming Shu thought how good would be if these peaceful days lasted forever. But she knew that some people cannot let it be so. For example, Lady Ye. She will probably scheme something after she knows about the tutors.

"Father"

Not even looking at her Ming Peizi answered

"Didn't I tell you to be quiet?"

"It will be quick"

Meng Peizi put his brush down and waited for her to continue.

"Why don't second sister join me in my future classes as my study companion? She's just a year younger. If both of us learn well won't everybody praise our family?"

Hearing the proposal Ming Peizi's eyes lightened. He was troubled since early of how to appease his concubine who would surely nag him to get the same tutors for his second daughter. However, if he abides by her wish he would offend his wife. He spent the evening thinking about how to get out of this impasse. But now that his first daughter suggested herself let her sister join her, his wife wouldn't (and couldn't) oppose and his concubine wouldn't nag. The more he thought about the more pleased he became.

"Let's do as you said. Tell your sister about once you leave here"

"Yes Father"

Seeing his elder daughter so sensible and obedient, Ming Peizi wondered what could have happened to her that she changed so much. Whatever it was he hoped she could stay this way instead of going back to her unruly days.

Actually, he always disliked her behaviour not because was unladylike but because it resembled how a Li daughter was not a Ming. This irked him in more ways the one. Because he married to the general daughter his career developed faster, and many thought he only relied on his connection and had had no talent. Although it's true that his in-laws helped if he didn't work hard to gain this post he would be at maximum a 3rd rank official now.

Even though his wife never put airs because of her family rank higher than his, the comments he had to hear every now made him find her annoying. So he always looks for refuge on Lady Ye courtyard who knew the situation and would always appease him.

This lead to the situation that they are right now, a husband and wife like strangers and his extreme favour to his concubine.

Ming Shu saw her father was absent-minded and thought he had finished his work.

"Father, please correct my work"

Climbing once again at her father's lap she waited for his feedback.

"You should put more strength while holding the brush, and here on the 'shu' character this line should be thinner. Like this see"

Showing her the results he wanted from her, Meng Peizi was actually happy with what he saw. His daughter calligraphy although a bit childish was neat. With enough training, it would become beautiful calligraphy.

"Okay, you can go now. Don't forget to tell your sister about the news"

"I know Father, I will go to her after I leave here. I will see you tomorrow, don't work too much or else you be tired"

Giving her father a kiss on the cheek Ming Shu bid him goodbye

"Goodnight Father"