Xuexue put down her chopsticks and patiently said, "Grandmother, these are all made from simple ingredients. The colors in the tofu are all from ground vegetables, which is very healthy and beneficial for the body. Grandmother, please eat at ease."
"Is that so? What vegetable is this red tofu made from? The color is so blood-red, it looks quite spine-chilling, but it does have a refreshing taste when eaten." The Old Madam asked, pointing at a piece of blood-red tofu on the plate.
"This is made from a type of wild vegetable that also has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, and it’s beautifying and calming as well. Grandmother, you can eat more of it. It will help you sleep well, and naturally, you will look better."
Upon hearing this, the Old Madam was very happy: "Good, good! Xuexue is truly filial to her grandmother."
Situ Yongjie was also pleased and smiled, saying, "Mother, how is my eldest daughter? Not bad, right?"
"Indeed, not bad. I just came back today and discovered that Xuexue is truly a good child," the Old Madam said with a nod and a smile.
When she had just returned, she specifically made things difficult for Xuexue, but unexpectedly, Xuexue bore no grudges and even risked herself to save her when the plaque fell. With this single incident, the Old Madam’s opinion of her changed a lot.
Xuexue was so pleasing to the Old Madam, which made Situtu Qinger and her sisters quite jealous. However, in front of the Old Madam and Situ Yongjie, they did not dare to act rashly and just quietly ate their meal, with their heads lowered.
There was no helping it—after their mother was demoted to the manor, they, as her children, could only keep their heads down.
Situ Zhi was the overbearing young master of the house, but couldn’t care less. He glared fiercely at Xuexue and said mockingly, "Grandmother, you’re making too much of a fuss. She comes from a peasant background, so of course, she can cook. It’s just preparing a dish, what’s so amazing about that? If she could play music and sing like the second sister, that would be truly surprising."
Upon hearing this, everyone’s movements while eating paused for a moment.
Situ Zhi’s words struck a nerve with Situtu Qinger.
She had always thought her strengths were playing the zither, singing, and sewing. Xuexue, a country girl who only knew how to cut pigweed and carry cow dung, definitely couldn’t compete with her.
However, during the last Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet in the Imperial Palace, Xuexue had amazed her with her performance, a country girl being able to play music, sing, and also read—it was truly astounding.
It was, after all, Moli Country, where men were valued over women. Additionally, the expensive fees for private schooling meant that most families could not afford it, hence most women in Moli Country were illiterate.
But Xuexue could not only read but also play music and sing. Situtu Qinger felt a surge of crisis sweeping in, and after returning to the house, she discussed the matter with her younger sisters.
As Situ Zhi was too young, and also very domineering in front of his older sisters usually, they did not tell him. Now hearing him mention this incident, they all fell silent.
Situ Yongjie laughed: "Zhizhi, you mustn’t say that, your eldest sister can indeed play and sing."
Xuexue had shone brilliantly in the Imperial Palace, and The Emperor himself had praised her several times in front of the civil and military officials at the morning court. Because of this, Situ Yongjie gained much face among his colleagues, and his affection for Xuexue, his Eldest Legitimate Daughter, grew.
"Psh! Don’t try to fool me; I simply don’t believe it!" Situ Zhi said dismissively, his face contorting with disdain.
"How could one fake such a thing? Now, the entire Capital is talking about your eldest sister’s splendid performance in the Imperial Palace!"
Hearing this, the Old Madam was quite surprised: "Yongjie! What exactly happened?"
Situtu Qinger then retold the incident of Xuexue winning the favor of the Empress Dowager and The Emperor in the Imperial Palace in detail.
The Old Madam, knowing that the Empress Dowager thought so highly of Xuexue, joyfully said to Situ Yongjie: "Yongjie, since Xuexue has this talent, why don’t we hire a Teacher to come back and teach her?"