Old Madam first comforted the two girls: “Alright, alright, cheer up, it’s fine. Your eldest brother just has more free time lately. Once he gets busy again, he won’t have time to keep an eye on you.”
“I’ll also speak to Matron Li and tell her not to be so strict with you.”
Zhao Jingzhi still wailed: “Does that mean we’ll have to wake up very early from now on? Waking up early is painful, Grandmother! I’m still growing!”
Old Madam found this both amusing and heart-wrenching, but since her grandson had already made the decision and she hadn’t objected at the time, it would be pointless and annoying to oppose it now.
So she could only coax: “It won’t be too early. He only arrives at mao hour (5–7 a.m.). It’s fine if you’re a little late. Besides, if you have nothing to do during the day, you can go back to sleep after returning, and you can also take longer naps in the afternoon.”
This meant there was no room for negotiation. Zhao Jingzhi’s face fell like a bitter gourd.
She turned her head, hoping to seek Zhuang Hui’s help in persuading Old Madam, but when she met Zhuang Hui’s deep gaze, she remembered that because she had insisted on clinging to the matter, she had dragged Zhuang Hui into learning etiquette with her.
“Sister Hui…” she called out guiltily in a small voice.
What could be done? Nothing. They could only resign themselves to their fate.
In fact, if Marquis Changping and Zhuang Mingxiang found out about the etiquette lessons, they would probably say it was a good thing and that they should learn!
The real culprit was Zhao Changting, so Zhuang Hui naturally didn’t blame Zhao Jingzhi. She simply said, “Just listen.”
Zhao Jingzhi couldn’t help but pretend to cry, “Wah, wah…”
Fortunately, Matron Li had only arrived that day, and Old Madam had instructed her to settle in first and start the lessons the next day.
So after breakfast, Zhuang Hui went to Yi’an Hall.
Since Zhuang Mingxiang became pregnant, Zhao Jingzhi hadn’t been going to pay her respects every day to avoid disturbing her. Today, feeling down about having to learn etiquette from the Instruction Matron, she didn’t go either.
When Zhuang Hui told Zhuang Mingxiang about the etiquette lessons, Zhuang Mingxiang indeed thought it was a good idea: “You should learn. If you really marry into the Pei family, even though they’re only a count’s household, the rules will definitely be stricter than at home. Actually, not just the Pei family—even if you marry Jiang Shen, since he’ll become an official in the future, you should also learn the rules properly.”
Although Zhuang Mingxiang thought her daughter was absolutely wonderful and no less refined than a noble young lady, she herself came from a merchant background and had only hastily learned the basics of etiquette later on. After marrying into the Zhao family, Old Madam was kind and lenient with the rules, and she had indulged her children somewhat. So she had previously considered hiring an Instruction Matron for Zhuang Hui to study properly for a few months before her marriage.
Now that Zhao Changting had hired one from Gongli, it was even better!
Zhuang Hui: “…Yes, Mother, you’re right!”
What kind of tone was that?
Zhuang Mingxiang looked at Zhuang Hui strangely: “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to learn?”
Zhuang Hui shook her head: “No, it’s just that thinking about having to wake up early every day from now on makes me feel down.”
Zhuang Mingxiang chuckled: “You! Old Madam only asked you and A Zhi to go after mao hour, which is already very considerate. When you get married in the future, you’ll have to wake up even earlier!”
“Do you think being someone else’s daughter-in-law is the same as being a young lady in your own home? Whether in noble households or ordinary families, a daughter-in-law can’t sleep in. There’s a lot to do.”
Zhuang Hui couldn’t help but say: “That’s exactly why it’s better not to marry!”
Then you could sleep as late as you wanted.
Well, except on workdays. On workdays, you have to go to work, so you have to get up on time.
But it was still better than having to follow rules after getting married in ancient times. Zhuang Hui suddenly missed modern society dearly. Without family to fall back on, it was indeed tiring, but it was much freer than ancient times. Girls could choose not to marry if they didn’t want to, and if their families pressured them too much, they could even block contact, cut ties, or run away. After all, big cities were much safer compared to ancient times!
But in this ancient society, not wanting to marry was generally impossible, and if a young girl ran away from home, it would be fraught with danger, with no protection at all.
“Hui Hui…” Zhuang Mingxiang looked at Zhuang Hui with a dangerous glint in her eyes. “You’re not going back on your word, are you? I just had Liu Mama personally deliver the invitation to the Zhongqin Bo Mansion.”
Zhuang Hui shook her head, pulling herself together. “Of course not, I was just saying it casually.”
Zhuang Mingxiang said, “You’d better not be. If the Zhongqin Bo Madam is available, she and Pei Zizhao will come to our house tomorrow as guests. It’s fine if you meet them and don’t like them, but if you don’t even meet them, it would be like I’m making a fool of the Zhongqin Bo Madam, and that would offend people.”
Zhuang Hui quickly replied, “No, no, don’t worry, I’ll definitely meet them!”
Because of the matter of learning the rules, Zhuang Mingxiang thought about household management again.
In the future, when her daughter married, whether it was to a noble family like the Bo Mansion or an ordinary family like the Jiangs, she would need the skills and ability to manage a household. So when dealing with household affairs, Zhuang Mingxiang kept Zhuang Hui by her side to watch and learn.
Zhuang Hui didn’t refuse. After all, leaving household matters to servants was far worse than keeping them in her own hands.
Fortunately, Zhao Changting was out, so she wasn’t in a hurry to return to her own courtyard. It was also a good time to wait for news from the Zhongqin Bo Mansion.
However, when Liu Mama went to deliver the message to the Bo Mansion, she didn’t return until almost noon, but she was smiling. When she saw Zhuang Hui was also there, her smile grew even wider. “…When I arrived at the Pei family, the Zhongqin Bo Madam wasn’t home. The servant by her side said that her niece from her maternal family was getting married tomorrow, and she had rushed back yesterday to help.”
Zhuang Mingxiang asked, “So, she’s not available recently?”
Liu Mama smiled and said, “She is available! The servant by the Bo Madam’s side saw that I had brought the invitation you wrote and immediately sent someone to deliver the message to the Bo Madam. She kept me there waiting for a reply, which is why I returned late.”
“The Bo Madam replied that after sending her niece off tomorrow, she would return home. If it’s convenient for our family, she’ll be free the morning after tomorrow!”
This meant she had been busy for several days and wouldn’t even take a break, showing how much importance she attached to this!
Zhuang Mingxiang was very pleased. “Good, then we’ll invite her over the day after tomorrow. By the way, Liu Mama, give the order to urgently purchase another batch of high-quality chrysanthemums and tidy up the back garden again!”
Liu Mama glanced at Zhuang Hui and nodded happily. “Yes, I’ll go right away!”
After seven years of companionship, Liu Mama and Zhuang Mingxiang had a close master-servant relationship. Having watched Zhuang Hui grow up, she was also happy for her, seeing the Zhongqin Bo Mansion’s attitude.
Zhuang Hui lowered her head, pretending to be shy.
In truth, she should be happy and shy. After all, if the meeting went well, she could get married soon.
But she couldn’t bring herself to feel happy.
Being trapped by Zhao Changting was torture, but wasn’t marrying someone so casually also a form of torment?
Sigh, she could only comfort herself. At least she still had a choice. Compared to other girls of this time, she had the right to choose and the right to refuse. That was already a great fortune!
If Zhuang Mingxiang didn’t love her enough, or didn’t have enough say, and the Marquis Changping or the Old Madam in charge of the household wanted to use her marriage for their own schemes, that would be truly miserable.
Moreover, marrying out was still better than being confined by Zhao Changting. Not only would she have relative freedom, but she also wouldn’t have to worry about the scandal breaking out and causing Zhuang Mingxiang to be criticized or lose face because of her.
This world was just so unfair to women. Clearly, it was Zhao Changting who had done wrong, yet the ones who had to worry, fear, and bear the more terrifying consequences were her and Zhuang Mingxiang.
…
On the tenth day of the ninth month, Ah Hui woke up at six in the morning.
Fortunately, she had gone to bed early the night before, so she wasn’t too sleepy now. But whether it was because she had woken up too early or because the temperature had dropped today, she felt cold regardless. When she went out, she deliberately put on a rosy half-sleeved jacket.
Passing by Songtao Courtyard, she thought for a moment and decided to call for Zhao Jingzhi.
After all, Matron Li was going to teach her and Zhao Jingzhi today, which meant Zhao Changting might be at Fushou Hall again. Rather than attracting attention alone, it was better to bring Zhao Jingzhi along to share the burden.
Zhao Jingzhi was also awake, but the little girl was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open. She was half-carried out of bed by her nanny, supported by two maids on either side, and barely managed to sit up for her morning toilette.
An eleven-year-old girl in modern times would still be in elementary school, waking up at seven in the morning was normal. But here, she had to get up at six sharp—Zhao Changting really wasn’t doing anything decent!
Cursing Zhao Changting silently in her heart, Ah Hui quickly stepped forward to help.
After hastily helping Zhao Jingzhi get ready, Ah Hui hurriedly pulled her along to Fushou Hall.
Upon arriving at Fushou Hall, Ah Hui immediately scanned the room.
Thank heavens, Zhao Changting wasn’t there!
But Matron Li had already arrived. She wore a russet-colored jacket embroidered with plum blossoms, her clothes neat and tidy, her hair meticulously combed. Her face was stern, and there was clear dissatisfaction in her eyes at their tardiness.
However, perhaps because the Old Madam was present and hadn’t said anything, she also refrained from speaking.
With Zhao Changting absent, Ah Hui felt much more at ease. Recalling what Matron Li had taught Zhao Jingzhi about curtsying the day before—keeping the back straight, shoulders as level as possible, and controlling the depth of the curtsy—she respectfully curtsied to the Old Madam first to pay her respects, then turned and curtsied to Matron Li as well.
The Old Madam was pleased. Having an Instruction Matron really made a difference—Ah Hui had remembered after just one lesson yesterday.
But Matron Li frowned and said, “When you curtsy to me, you only need to bend your knees slightly. I am merely your Instruction Matron, far from being your elder. If you curtsy to me the same way, others won’t praise you for knowing etiquette—they’ll only laugh at you for not understanding the distinction between superior and inferior.”
Her words were direct, and her tone was rigid and devoid of warmth, making them sound rather harsh.
Fortunately, Ah Hui was an adult at heart, so she didn’t take it to heart and simply curtsied again.
This time, Matron Li seemed satisfied, as she gave a faint “Mm” of approval.
Next, it was Zhao Jingzhi’s turn. She also remembered what Matron Li had taught the day before and tried her best to do it well. However, being young, she couldn’t immediately control her movements perfectly, and she was still resentful about having to wake up so early. So, while she tried to keep her back straight, her shoulders were uneven, and the depth of her curtsy was off.
Matron Li’s face turned cold, and she was about to begin lecturing.
Old Madam spoke first, “A Zhi’s etiquette today is better than yesterday’s. Alright, let’s have breakfast first. After breakfast, you can learn properly from Matron Li.”
Since they had to learn etiquette after eating, Zhuang Hui naturally stayed for the meal again.
Old Madam also invited Matron Li to join them, but Matron Li said she had already eaten before coming, so she simply sat across from Zhuang Hui and Zhao Jingzhi, waiting to teach them dining etiquette and manners.
Originally, with Zhao Changting absent, Zhuang Hui had a good appetite this morning, but seeing this situation, her appetite diminished somewhat.
Later, when Matron Li criticized her sitting posture and said her spoon shouldn’t clink against the bowl while eating porridge, even as an adult, she couldn’t help feeling a bit irritated. Couldn’t they just let her eat in peace?!
Holding the bowl in one hand and the spoon in the other, she didn’t care that Old Madam was still present, and looked up angrily at Matron Li.
Matron Li, however, remained expressionless as if she didn’t mind at all.
Zhao Jingzhi was the first to lose her temper, saying that her Sister Hui wasn’t doing this or that right, and it would be better to criticize her instead: “Enough! It’s just a meal, with all this talking and talking. Can’t we just eat properly?!”
Matron Li said calmly, “Second Miss, I’m doing this for your and Eldest Miss’s own good. If you can’t even manage such simple etiquette, what will you do when you go to your in-laws’ homes in the future?”
Zhao Jingzhi retorted, “The in-laws aren’t even in sight yet, but there are so many demands! In-laws with so many demands probably aren’t good ones anyway. Why would I want to go to a bad in-laws’ home?”
“…” Matron Li was left speechless by the question.
Zhuang Hui nearly couldn’t hold back her laughter. That was so true—why would anyone want to go to a bad in-laws’ home?
Old Madam, meanwhile, was both amused and annoyed, scolding, “Enough! You’re just a child—no more nonsense!”