The capital city was covered in misty rain, and the willow trees by the river had begun to turn green.
Li Zhenchun leaned against the window, looking at the soft gray-green rain outside. Wei Nancheng’s courtyard was filled with willow trees. Now that the new leaves had sprouted, even the rain seemed to have been dyed a pale green.
“Young Madam, Madam asks you to come over.”
Li Zhenchun jumped in surprise and quickly turned to Hongxiu.
“Did Madam say what it was about?”
Hongxiu shook her head.
“No, but the Second Young Madam is there too.”
Is Yue Jingque there?
Li Zhenchun immediately stood up and hurriedly smoothed her hair and clothes.
After fixing herself up as best she could, she lifted her skirt and happily skipped toward the door.
The moment she stepped into Chen Runiang’s courtyard, the smile on her face froze.
“I… wasn’t I called here to discuss managing the household accounts?”
she asked carefully.
She looked at Yue Jingque, then at Chen Runiang.
She had thought these two women had finally realized she was timid, lazy, and had no ambition, and were about to remove her from the competition for the household management rights.
Who would have thought that Yue Jingque was nothing like the power-hungry women in storybooks?
She simply did not follow the usual script.
“I heard Aunt is looking for a female teacher for Sister-in-law. I don’t dare claim to be exceptionally talented, but I have studied under several respected teachers. If my sister-in-law doesn’t mind, I would be happy to help answer her questions.”
Li Zhenchun, who wanted nothing more than to avoid studying, blinked.
“Huh…? What?”
She stared blankly at Yue Jingque, completely confused.
Seeing how hopeless she looked, even Chen Runiang felt embarrassed.
She sighed.
“You are already a married woman. Sending you back to school would be inappropriate. Hiring a female teacher openly would also damage your reputation.”
If people learned that a daughter-in-law of the Wei family was so uneducated that she still needed a private teacher, it would become a joke, and Li Zhenchun would lose face among the noble ladies.
“You and Jingque are sisters-in-law. Studying together is the most suitable arrangement.”
She sighed inwardly.
If Wei Nancheng were not so busy with official duties, he would have been the best person to teach Li Zhenchun himself.
Li Zhenchun turned toward Yue Jingque.
What is this girl thinking?
If she was a good person, then she had stolen the husband Li Zhenchun had once admired.
If she was a bad person, why did she send her snacks and even volunteer to teach her?
…
After leaving Chen Runiang’s courtyard, Li Zhenchun hurried after Yue Jingque.
“Miss Yue, please wait!”
Yue Jingque turned around.
“Sister-in-law, there’s no need to be so formal. Just call me Jingque.”
Li Zhenchun looked at her.
“Why did you suddenly decide to teach me?”
“If I stay illiterate and uncultured, then the right to manage the Wei household will definitely belong to you.”
Then she looked horrified.
“Don’t tell me… you don’t want to manage the household either?”
If Yue Jingque didn’t want it either, then Li Zhenchun was doomed.
Madam would definitely supervise her even more strictly and might even make her kneel in the ancestral hall every few days.
She quickly grabbed Yue Jingque’s sleeve.
“You understand, right? The greater the responsibility, the greater the ability.”
“You’re well educated and understand all the rules of managing a noble household—hosting banquets, giving gifts, everything. You know how these things work.”
“I’m hopeless. I don’t understand any of it.”
“I’m really not suitable for such an important responsibility.”
“You have to win the household management rights!”
Yue Jingque looked at her.
She remembered that Miss Li was actually one year younger than Wei Xinian.
The young girl’s face was scrunched up into a pitiful little pout, looking like a tiny bitter melon.
“Aunt is still healthy. Neither you nor I have the authority to decide who manages the household.”
“Sister-in-law only needs to study well and learn the household rules.”
Li Zhenchun paused.
She tilted her head and followed behind Yue Jingque like a little maid.
“So… you’re saying Mother won’t force me to manage the household?”
“Not before you’ve learned all the rules.”
With Yue Jingque’s reassurance, Li Zhenchun finally relaxed.
…
As soon as Li Zhenchun stepped into Yue Jingque and Wei Xinian’s courtyard, she saw people planting bamboo.
Hongxiu explained beside her,
“Second Madam heard that Second Young Madam likes green bamboo, so she ordered all the peach trees in Second Young Master’s courtyard to be dug up and replaced with bamboo.”
Wei Xinian must be furious.
Li Zhenchun quickened her pace.
She could hardly wait to see him suffer.
She happily walked toward the study.
Before she could enter, someone shouted—
“Li Zhenchun!”
Wei Xinian wasn’t inside the study.
He stood on the steps nearby, glaring at her.
Li Zhenchun turned to look at him.
He walked over and looked her up and down.
His expression was hostile… but beneath the hostility was also a hint of caution.
He waved his hand.
“Jiu’an! Qingniao! Throw this merchant girl out!”
Li Zhenchun blinked in confusion.
He’s throwing me out?
She let go of her skirt.
“I haven’t even said anything. What did I do to offend you?”
Wei Xinian circled around her before snorting.
“When this young master studies, I don’t like anyone disturbing me.”
This merchant girl must be here to laugh at me.
“I asked her to come.”
Yue Jingque appeared beneath the covered walkway, dressed in a dark green robe over a plain white inner dress.
She seemed especially fond of this rich shade of green.
Except for her wedding day, every time Li Zhenchun had seen her, she wore white inside and dark green outside.
Before meeting Yue Jingque, Li Zhenchun had always thought the color looked old-fashioned.
But somehow, it suited Yue Jingque perfectly.
It made her fair skin look even brighter, and there was a cool elegance between her brows, like frost resting on bamboo.
Wei Xinian looked at Yue Jingque.
“Why did you bring her here?”
“Because she’s a merchant’s daughter, do you want to show off how much nobler you are than her?”
Li Zhenchun shot him an angry look.
Does this jerk have poison on his tongue?
How can he speak so cruelly?
Yue Jingque didn’t seem bothered by his harsh words at all.
Instead, she looked at Li Zhenchun.
“Sister-in-law, come inside.”
“I had someone prepare a desk for you.”
Li Zhenchun glanced at Wei Xinian with complete disdain.
Like a proud rooster, she stretched her neck, gave a loud snort, then lifted her skirt and proudly walked toward Yue Jingque.
You idiot.
You think you’re still the old Second Young Master?
Telling me to leave?
Look at your situation first. Do you really have the right to order anyone around?
Watching Li Zhenchun swagger away with exaggerated pride, Wei Xinian was so angry he nearly ground his teeth into powder.
“Is she stupid or what?!”
He turned to Jiu’an and Qingniao.
“I was trying to help her!”
The two servants exchanged awkward glances.
Finally, Jiu’an spoke carefully,
“Second Young Master… I don’t think Second Young Madam intends to make fun of First Young Madam.”
“Shut up!”
Wei Xinian hurried after them.
He refused to believe Yue Jingque had invited Li Zhenchun here for no reason.
…
“Study?! Who?!”
Wei Xinian pointed at Li Zhenchun, who was already sitting behind a desk.
“She’s studying with me?!”
“Why?!”
Ignoring his loud protests, Yue Jingque calmly looked at Li Zhenchun.
“Do you like this desk, Sister-in-law?”
“I love it! It’s wonderful!”
Li Zhenchun smiled so brightly that she looked ridiculously easy to please.
She gently touched the smooth redwood desk.
The cool, polished surface surprised her, and she quickly pulled her fingers back, her delight written all over her face.
She looked rather adorable.
She looked at Yue Jingque with genuine happiness.
“I used to study at the dining table.”
“I’ve never had such a beautiful redwood desk before.”
The table she had used at home had one broken leg.
She had to prop it up with a brick.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Yue Jingque replied.
Wei Xinian rolled his eyes at the two women getting along so well and flopped into his own seat.
His gaze landed on Yue Jingque.
This woman must be plotting something.
She couldn’t possibly have invited Li Zhenchun to study with him for no reason.
Then he looked at Li Zhenchun.
This fool…
She’s grinning from ear to ear.
She’ll probably be sold off one day and still happily help count the money for the person who sold her.