After Old Madam spoke, Matron Li gave her face and said nothing more.
Zhuang Hui and Zhao Jingzhi finished their breakfast peacefully and, without going elsewhere, stayed in Fushou Hall to learn etiquette from Matron Li.
At this point, even Old Madam could not say anything more. In fact, fearing that Matron Li might feel uncomfortable, she did not dare to stay nearby. Instead, she ordered Mama Qiao to keep watch while she went for a stroll in the courtyard to aid digestion.
Fortunately, although Matron Li was stern, she was not narrow-minded or vindictive. Her teaching began with explanations, followed by personal demonstrations, and then she had Zhuang Hui and Zhao Jingzhi follow along. Zhuang Hui learned well and even earned a rare compliment from her: “The young lady did quite well.”
However, Zhuang Hui was not mistaken. Matron Li’s earlier nitpicking was actually a veiled criticism, as Zhao Jingzhi was the legitimate daughter of the marquis’ household. Not daring to criticize Zhao Jingzhi too harshly, she targeted Zhuang Hui instead.
But after Zhao Jingzhi’s outburst and Old Madam’s intervention, even when Zhao Jingzhi performed poorly in her lessons, Matron Li only frowned in dissatisfaction and asked her to repeat the exercise, rather than resorting to veiled criticism.
The morning lessons lasted from around 7:45 a.m. until 9:45 a.m.
Then came a break, lunch, and a midday rest.
In the afternoon, from around 1:45 p.m., they continued learning until 3:45 p.m.
Four hours of lessons a day might not sound like much—certainly far less than the hours spent in modern schooling or work—but with a stern-faced Matron Li who never smiled and the tedious, dull nature of what they were learning, by the end of the day, not only was Zhao Jingzhi complaining bitterly, but even Zhuang Hui felt like crying.
Life before had been too blissful. In comparison, their current existence felt almost unbearable!
Zhuang Hui couldn’t help but think that even if Zhao Changting didn’t confine her as he did in the book, the mere fact of being forced to endure such lessons made her want to marry quickly and escape his clutches.
So, after returning to her Lanyuan, she pulled Yingtáo and Grape together, picked out all her beautiful dresses, and tried them on one by one for their opinion.
Not just clothes—the three of them also discussed hairstyles and makeup. She thought about her meeting with Pei Zizhao the next day and resolved to dress herself beautifully, ensuring there was no chance Pei Zizhao would look down on her.
…
Jingyuan.
Zhao Changting returned from social engagements late in the evening that day. Although he had drunk some wine, his tolerance was always good, so he remained clear-headed. He thus summoned Matron Li for a conversation.
Naturally, he was concerned about Zhao Jingzhi’s attitude and progress on her first day of etiquette lessons.
Matron Li had an excellent reputation among the noble households of Jingcheng, largely because she taught diligently. The young ladies she trained, even the illegitimate daughters of high-ranking families, always had impeccable etiquette and manners.
Thus, she was never one to lie. She spoke truthfully: “The young lady is perhaps still too young and finds it hard to sit still, so her learning is only average. She may need more time.”
Reading between the lines, Zhao Changting understood that Matron Li meant Zhao Jingzhi not only had a poor attitude but also learned poorly, and even with more time, she might not improve much!
This was certainly not the result he wanted. Immediately, he frowned deeply, worrying about his sister’s future.
My sister is a motherless daughter, and her stepmother comes from a merchant background. In matters of marriage, she will already be scrutinized. Yet she has been overly pampered, and this is her attitude toward learning etiquette and manners. How will she fare when it comes time to arrange a marriage?
Have her marry beneath her station?
He doesn’t mind whether she marries up or down, but if she truly marries beneath her, even if he can protect her for a lifetime, a man without ambition or ability will still force her to live a life of subservience.
Now she is a noble young lady of the marquisate, able to hold her head high wherever she goes. In the future, could she lower her head?
Could she bear the disparity of being looked down upon, disregarded, and ignored?
Even if she has children in the future, they would be born with limited resources from the start.
No matter how much he cares, he is only her uncle. Moreover, he will marry and have children of his own someday, and he cannot take care of everything.
Seeing Zhao Changting’s displeased expression and prolonged silence, Matron Li offered some good news: “As for the eldest young lady, perhaps because she is older and more composed, she is learning quite well.”
Zhuang Hui?
Zhao Changting was already feeling irritable, and upon hearing this, his expression darkened further: “She is unimportant.”
She is merely the daughter his stepmother brought from her previous marriage. What does it matter to him whether she learns well or not?
Eldest young lady.
Hah, he only tolerates her for A Zhi’s sake and to give his stepmother some face.
Matron Li fell silent. It seemed the heir of Marquis Changping only cared about his own sister.
However, the Old Madam was quite fond of that step-granddaughter.
In truth, after a day of teaching, Matron Li had grown fond of her too. Not only was she exceptionally beautiful, but she also had better understanding and a better attitude than the second young lady. Such a girl would be hard not to like.
After inquiring about Zhao Jingzhi’s progress on the first day, Zhao Changting was dissatisfied and instructed Matron Li: “Please teach her well. I will speak to Grandmother. If she does not apply herself, feel free to punish her as needed. No one will stop you or blame you for it.”
Matron Li finally showed a hint of a smile: “Rest assured, Young Master, I will teach the young lady well.”
After having a maid escort Matron Li out, Zhao Changting, still restless, could not stay indoors and went out to the courtyard.
But even the courtyard felt stifling, so he left and wandered aimlessly outside.
First, he unconsciously walked to Songtao Courtyard, but the thought of his sister gave him a headache, so he did not enter.
A few steps away was Fushou Hall. Thinking it was late and not wanting to disturb the Old Madam’s appetite—and since he would pay his respects in the morning anyway—he decided to save his words for then and did not enter either.
Having left these two courtyards, he found himself walking toward Yi’an Hall.
Yi’an Hall was the main residence of the Marquis of Changping and his wife. When his mother was alive, she had lived there.
But now, it was where his father and Zhuang Mingxiang resided.
Even without entering, he knew that the twelve years of memories he had of that place were gone.
However, upon returning this time, he learned that before Zhuang Mingxiang moved in, all his mother’s belongings—her bed, wardrobe, tables, chairs, and everything else—had been carefully moved out.
They were placed in an empty courtyard next to his Jingyuan, arranged exactly as they had been before.
Though not as spotless as his Jingyuan, they were kept clean and well-preserved.
He asked the servants and found out it was not his father’s doing but Zhuang Mingxiang’s.
Walking to a small hexagonal pavilion, Zhao Changting entered and sat down, letting out a soft sigh.
In his stepmother Zhuang Mingxiang, he truly could find no reason for resentment, so even if he was unwilling, he had to accept it and show superficial respect.
He persuaded himself to do it for A Zhi’s sake.
A Zhi practically regarded Zhuang Mingxiang as her own mother; if he did not accept her, A Zhi would be in a difficult position.
Zhao Changting raised his eyes and looked into the distance. The home was still the same home, yet it was no longer the home he knew. His gaze drifted and settled on a tightly closed courtyard gate, unsure of what place that was.
But it didn’t matter. At least he had grown up, achieved military merits, and been promoted. He could live well anywhere.
Since this home was no longer the one he desired, once A Zhi married and his grandmother passed away, he would leave.
Zhao Changting let his mind wander, allowing himself to think about the future.
Suddenly, the tightly closed courtyard gate swung open.
First, a maid in a bluish-green dress emerged, followed by Zhuang Hui, who wore a rosy half-sleeved garment. Against the maid’s bluish-green dress, her face seemed as radiant as a flower, beaming with a bright smile.
For a moment, Zhao Changting’s gaze grew distant, and he was reminded of Miss Wang from Mobei.
He was not blind; he knew Miss Wang from Mobei was beautiful, but he had never paid close attention to a woman’s appearance and had thus never been truly captivated.
But now, looking at Zhuang Hui, even if only for a brief moment, he was indeed captivated.
Though their faces were identical, at this moment, he found it difficult to recall Miss Wang’s features.
Instead, the impression of this eldest daughter of the Zhao family, who had transformed from a radiant smile to wide-eyed terror in an instant, slowly deepened in his mind.
But why did she look at him like that?
Was he really that terrifying?
He wasn’t some man-eating beast!
Little did he know that in Zhuang Hui’s eyes, he was even more terrifying than a man-eating beast.
After all, a man-eating beast wouldn’t suddenly appear at her doorstep, but Zhao Changting, who would confine her, would!
Having dressed to her satisfaction and joyfully prepared to go to Yi’an Hall to have dinner with her mother and younger brother, she opened the courtyard gate only to see Zhao Changting. Who could understand such a shock? In that instant, Zhuang Hui’s heart stopped.
“Miss, it’s the heir…” Yingtáo also saw Zhao Changting. Originally a maid from the Zhuang family, she knew Zhao Changting disliked his stepmother and was thus very afraid of him.
“I-I see…” Zhuang Hui’s teeth chattered.
That scoundrel Zhao Changting was actually sitting at the entrance of her courtyard!
Was he waiting for her?
Even if he wasn’t waiting for her to come out, he was definitely watching her. Otherwise, why would he come to her courtyard gate for no reason?
How perverse! She had been avoiding him and had hardly any contact with him!
Yingtáo: “Shouldn’t we go over and greet him? Would pretending not to see him be inappropriate?”
Pretending not to see him would indeed be inappropriate, but Zhuang Hui really wanted to pretend not to see him!
Seeing that her mistress neither responded nor moved, Yingtáo couldn’t help but mutter again, “Miss, why do you think the heir is here?” In her heart, Zhuang Hui thought, Of course, because he’s a pervert!
But out loud, she said, “This is his home. Perhaps he came here to enjoy the scenery.”
Yingtáo agreed, “That’s true. The scenery around our Lanyuan is indeed beautiful!”
Zhuang Hui: “…”
Zhuang Hui finally made a decision: “Men and women should maintain proper boundaries. I’d better not go greet him. Let’s hurry and leave.”
Men and women should maintain proper boundaries?
Between siblings, greeting each other in public is nothing to be so cautious about, right?
Yingtáo didn’t understand, but since her mistress had said so, as a maid, she should listen to her.
But just before she was about to follow, she couldn’t help glancing toward the pavilion again. Then she tugged at Zhuang Hui and pointed toward the pavilion, saying, “Miss, the heir is waving at us.”
Zhuang Hui resolutely refused to look in that direction. “No, he isn’t! You must be mistaken. Let’s hurry, we mustn’t keep Mother waiting.”
Wasn’t he?
But he clearly was!
As Yingtáo was being dragged away, she looked back again, only to see that the heir had indeed stopped waving.
Just as she was beginning to doubt herself, she heard the heir call out directly, “Come here.”
At first, she wasn’t sure who he was calling, but then he added, “Little sister.”
Oh, so he was calling for her mistress.
Yingtáo stopped walking and tugged firmly at Zhuang Hui. “Miss, the heir is calling for you.”
She looked at Zhuang Hui and let out a surprised “Huh?” The makeup Zhuang Hui had worn before leaving had been wiped off, so Yingtáo could clearly see that her mistress’s face had turned deathly pale.
Yingtáo was utterly bewildered. What was wrong with her mistress?
Was she feeling unwell?