But she was just an ordinary person.
She didn’t know how to make gunpowder, glass, or cement—let alone airplanes or cannons.
Over the past few days, she had secretly hoped that perhaps she’d awaken some kind of cheating ability or golden finger.
But there was nothing.
She had come to terms with it.
Trash-tier people who transmigrated were still trash-tier people. Better to quietly live her own little life in peace.
As Madam Xu lectured, she occasionally glanced toward the corridor outside. Seeing Lin Jingchu standing there with her head lowered, she thought to herself:
This Second Young Lady of the Lin family doesn’t seem nearly as outrageous as the rumors claim. At least she knows shame. If she can learn from humiliation and strive forward, there may still be hope for her.
One of Lin Shuyi’s maids repeatedly signaled to her mistress. Naturally, Lin Shuyi noticed the situation outside as well.
After Madam Xu finished speaking, Lin Shuyi said with concern in her voice:
“Madam, my second sister, has only recently recovered from a serious illness. The corridor is cold. Could she come inside to speak instead?”
Madam, Xu glanced at her.
“Very well. I’ve spoken long enough anyway. I shall go have a cup of tea.”
Lin Shuyi curved her lips into a gentle smile and bowed slightly.
“Thank you, Madam.”
Once Madam Xu left, she instructed a maid to deliver the message.
“Greetings, Second Young Lady. Eldest Young Lady invites you inside.”
The maid, Chen Shuang, performed the greeting rather unwillingly.
Lin Jingchu nodded and entered the flower hall with Nurse Zhou.
“Because of my foolishness before, I caused trouble. Yet Elder Sister set aside all past grievances and came to my aid. I am deeply grateful.”
Lin Jingchu sighed inwardly and lightly lifted the hem of her skirt, preparing to kneel.
This had been a matter that could have ruined her entire life. If she had transmigrated only to end up consummating things with a stranger immediately, she would have gone insane on the spot.
Even though she was apologizing for the original owner’s mistakes, her gratitude was sincere.
A pair of warm hands caught her before she could kneel. The scent of roses drifted faintly into her nose.
“You and I are sisters, branches of the same tree. There’s no need to be so distant.”
Lin Jingchu looked up and froze for a moment.
Skin like creamy jade, delicate hands, and a fragrance as soft as orchids. Her eyes sparkled with effortless grace.
Seeing Lin Shuyi up close, Lin Jingchu finally understood what the words “noble daughter of a great house” truly meant.
“Thank you, Elder Sister.”
Lin Shuyi smiled gently.
“Misfortune often hides blessings within it. After this incident, Second Sister has matured greatly. In the future, you and I should support each other and help ease Father and Mother’s burdens.”
Their mother had already explained everything to her.
The scholar’s intentions had been improper from the beginning. He had bribed the household maids to drug Lin Jingchu and lure her to Qianchun House.
That day, Lin Shuyi had happened to be meeting friends there for a meal when a servant reported seeing the Marquis Manor’s carriage nearby. That was how she found Lin Jingchu.
Still, this younger sister had never treated her kindly. To avoid making their mother uncomfortable, Lin Shuyi had repeatedly chosen to tolerate and retreat.
So, for Lin Jingchu to come and thank her now truly was unusual.
Lin Jingchu forcefully suppressed the instinctive displeasure still lingering within the original owner’s body.
So far, this elder sister’s conduct has been impeccable. Since the other party had offered her a way out, she needed to show tact.
“I’m only relieved Elder Sister doesn’t blame me.”
In the original owner’s memories, her mother had abandoned her and entered the Marquis Manor to become another man’s wife and stepmother. Once, the original owner had secretly slipped out and seen her mother chatting and laughing happily with Lin Shuyi.
From that moment onward, she resented Lin Shuyi for stealing her mother’s affection.
But in this dynasty, clans and family hierarchies were paramount. Her biological father had personally changed her surname, binding her fate to the Pingyang Marquis Manor.
If Lin Shuyi had not intervened that day, once rumors spread that an unmarried young lady had secretly met with a man, the reputations of every unmarried daughter in the Marquis Manor would have been ruined.
They were grasshoppers tied to the same rope now—allies, not enemies.
After chatting politely for a while, Madam Xu returned.
“Second Young Lady has fallen far behind in her lessons. Since your health has improved, you should begin attending classes again.”
Lin Jingchu’s eyes lit up.
“Yes!”
She had searched through the original owner’s memories and found very little practical value. Even reading and writing had only been learned because her father forced her to study.
Now she possessed nothing at all.
The only thing she could rely upon was Xia Ning’s lingering affection for her.
Since she had the opportunity, learning more useful skills would become the foundation she needed to survive in this era.
Seeing Lin Jingchu eager to learn, Nurse Zhou wiped her tears again and inwardly cursed the Lu family for ruining such a good child.
Madam Xu’s teaching style was not rigid. She lectured freely, speaking whenever inspiration struck. Since Lin Jingchu understood almost nothing about etiquette, Madam Xu also reviewed many things she had taught previously.
Even Lin Shuyi sometimes only half understood the lessons, so she listened carefully as well during the review.
Lin Jingchu studied with desperate hunger, asking questions whenever she didn’t understand something.
“Madam, among peers one performs the wanfu greeting, while juniors greet elders with clasped hands. But if there are many elders present alongside peers, must I greet every person individually?”
“Our dynasty places great importance on ritual etiquette,” Madam Xu explained with a smile. “Naturally, yes. However, what we discuss today concerns only common ceremonial etiquette. There are also auspicious rites, military rites, mourning rites, and guest rites.”
“The posture, timing, movement, and kneeling directions all differ slightly. Once class is over, you must practice diligently so that you may truly master them.”
Then Madam Xu continued:
“Since the Second Young Lady asked, I shall explain further. Rituals for ancestral sacrifices, hunting expeditions, military ceremonies, funerals, and court audiences are all etiquette that daughters of noble households must understand…”
Lin Jingchu: …
This feels even more complicated than the college entrance exams.
Her brush never stopped moving as she furiously took notes.
Even if she couldn’t fully understand it now, she could at least memorize everything.
Unfortunately, although she had inherited the original owner’s memories, her calligraphy was still crooked and ugly. It was barely legible even to herself.
Madam Xu walked over, glanced at her writing once, then silently shook her head and walked away.
After one lesson, however, Madam Xu concluded that the Second Young Lady of the Lin family truly did seem repentant.
Though she lacked natural talent, her hardworking disposition meant she would not fare too poorly in the future.
After the afternoon lessons ended, a maid arrived with a message.
“Eldest Young Lady, Madam requests your presence in the front hall.”
Lin Shuyi’s cheeks flushed slightly pink.
“Understood”. I’ll come shortly.”
Lin Jingchu was still practicing the etiquette Madam Xu had just taught and paid no attention.
When Lin Shuyi emerged from her room again, she had already changed into a formal outer robe.
She wore a pale violet moonlight skirt adorned with flowing tassels, layered over an ivory inner garment embroidered with pale yellow cloud patterns. Draped around her shoulders was a dark purple sable-fur shawl. In her hair sat a floral hairpin crafted from purple gemstones—beautiful and luxurious.
When Lin Jingchu turned to look, she noticed purple ribbons woven into the back of Lin Shuyi’s hairstyle. As the breeze stirred on them, they floated with ethereal elegance.
When Lin Shuyi returned later, her expression was unusually cold and detached.
Lin Jingchu did not ask questions.
Three months have passed.
Every day, she came to Biyuan Pavilion to study etiquette and attend lessons. Gradually, she also pieced together a fairly complete understanding of the Marquis Manor and finally began to feel more secure.
As for Lin Shuyi—
After three months of matchmaking meetings, not even one had succeeded.
That day, when Lin Shuyi returned, part of her skirt had been torn, and her face powder was smeared unevenly across her cheeks.
Lin Jingchu estimated that this match had likely failed as well.