Chapter 66: Chapter 30: Each with Their Own Calculations
The four sisters chatted for quite a while.
Yuebing felt bored and looking outside, she said, “It’s getting late; I should be going back. Third younger sister, come and visit my courtyard when you have the time.”
Yueyao smiled and nodded, “Alright,” and personally saw the three off the courtyard. It wasn’t until they turned the corner and were out of sight that Yueyao returned to the courtyard.
Nanny Deng always felt there was something fishy about the trio’s visit: “Miss, I always feel that the three young ladies’ visit to Lanxi Courtyard had ulterior motives.” The so-called ulterior motives certainly implied they came to probe or inspect something.
Yueyao thought about Yuebing’s words and Tingzheng being sent to the Lian Family Clan School, guessing it must be Lady Mo’s idea. Sending someone to the Clan School would also depend on whether she would agree or not.
The Lian Family Clan School had not been founded long, and with few people from the two branches, it was mostly children of relatives and friends who studied there. The mixture of good and bad could be seen from how Tingchao became even more unsuitable after going to the Clan School.
After pondering for a moment, Yueyao said, “Nanny Deng, send a letter to my uncle in private. I want to visit my uncle’s home.” Once out of the Lian Mansion, many things would be easier to handle.
Yuebing returned to the main room and told Lady Mo about the recent events. Lady Mo didn’t ask much, just chatted with her daughter for a while and let Yuebing return to her courtyard. Yuebing’s personal maid, Ru Ju, stayed behind. Compared to her daughter, Lady Mo trusted the maid’s words more.
Ru Ju said, “Madam, the Third Young Lady has changed a lot. The tea served today to the three young ladies was each their preferred choice.” From these subtle changes, one could discern the changes in a person’s state of mind. The Third Young Lady has made significant progress in her social interactions.
Lady Mo listened closely as Ru Ju recounted what happened earlier in Lanxi Courtyard. When Lady Mo heard that her daughter Yuebing wanted her eldest son to teach Brother Zheng, the corner of her mouth twitched. How could such a lowly creature be fit to instruct her son? And it would also distract her son from his studies: “Other than realizing the Third Young Lady is knowledgeable, did you notice any other changes in her?”
Ru Ju thought carefully before answering, “Lanxi Garden has become more orderly than before.” The maids were all well-behaved, each doing their assigned tasks, with not a single one stepping out of line.
Lady Mo kept silent, deep in thought. She had originally assumed that with two steward mothers in Lanxi Courtyard, there would be some friction. In any case, Nanny Hao was given by the Old Madam, and Nanny Deng had Yueyao’s support, each with their own strengths. Yet, she didn’t expect Yueyao to delegate the courtyard’s management to Nanny Hao, with Nanny Deng serving her personally and not dealing with the courtyard’s affairs. With the steward mothers ranking second, their relationship turned out to be harmonious.
In a low voice, Nanny Lau asked, “How did the Fourth Miss behave?”
Ru Ju pondered for a moment before replying, “The Fourth Miss didn’t say much, only her gaze towards the Third Young Lady was a bit strange. Oh, and, Madam, the Third Young Lady said she’s not a talented lady. It’s just a baseless rumor.” This was quite odd. For others, this would be modesty, but the Third Young Lady was famously proud and aloof, to actually deny being a talented lady was incredibly strange.
Lady Mo’s brows furrowed.
Seeing the situation, Nanny Lau sent Ru Ju away and said, “Madam, ever since the Fourth Miss lost her memory, she has become livelier.”
Lady Mo nodded her head, although the fourth girl had always been quiet, unchanged at first glance. But those eyes, always swiftly moving about. It was hard to tell whether she still remembered the last incident.
It wasn’t long after Yuehuan returned to Hibiscus Courtyard that Lady Mo sent her rewards. Maternal Aunt Su respectfully thanked her and slipped a small pouch to Bi Se, Lady Mo’s chief maid.
When only Yuehuan remained in the room, she looked at the piece of water-pink silk satin and a set of silver jewelry headdress sent to her.
Yuehuan found the gifted items strange, “Maternal Auntie, why has Madam sent these gifts for no reason?”
Maternal Aunt Su smiled and didn’t answer, just said, “Miss, once the silk brocade is embroidered with a beautiful pattern, it will look very nice on you.”
Yuehuan had maintained her silence recently, not speaking much, but she was observing. In the process of observing, she learned quite a bit. Comparing the silk satin sent by the Eldest Madam to the Sky-water Blue Gold Shimmering Green Double-ring Pattern Silk given to the Second Young Lady, it was even inferior to the teal-colored silk brocade that the Old Madam casually rewarded the Eldest Miss with. Therefore, these two items weren’t particularly impressive: “Maternal Auntie, you haven’t told me, why did Madam send these gifts for no reason?” Offering courtesy for no apparent reason often meant an ulterior motive.
Maternal Aunt Su glanced at her daughter, realizing some things were difficult to say, and shifted the topic: “Fourth Miss, tell me, what happened when you went to Lanxi Garden today?”