“Mm, as long as you’re obedient. Sixth girl, you’ve just nearly drowned and your body is weak. From now on, you don’t need to come pay your daily respects—just stay in your own courtyard and focus on recovering.”
With a single sentence meant “for her own good,” Madam Cui effectively confined Wang Yutong.
But for Wang Yutong, this was exactly what she wanted. She had been worrying about how to avoid going out, and now Madam Cui had handed her the perfect excuse. What a kind person, she thought, silently giving Madam Cui a “good person” card in her heart.
After all, she wasn’t the original child. If she interacted with others too often, it would be hard to guarantee no one would notice the changes in her.
Now she finally had a reason to stay in her courtyard.
With one worry settled, another matter came to mind.
She needed to write down the martial techniques and medical books from her previous life as soon as possible—she feared that, over time, she might forget them.
As the saying goes, “the faintest ink is better than the best memory.” Writing them down was the best solution. It would also give her an excuse to send Nanny Sun and Lan’er out of the room and have some time alone—and justify her ability to write.
The problem was, the current Wang Yutong didn’t know how to read or write.
“Mother… since I’m recovering in my courtyard and can’t go out, it’s really boring. Could I… perhaps receive some brushes, ink, paper, and copybooks, so I can try learning in my room?” Wang Yutong asked timidly in a small voice.
Her cautious manner made it seem as though she were asking for something outrageous.
Madam Cui, Wang Yuxin, and Wang Yulu all looked at her in surprise.
Wang Yuxin spoke first, unable to hold back. “Sixth sister, you haven’t even started your education yet—you can’t even recognize characters. What do you need brushes and paper for?”
“Exactly,” Wang Yulu added. “Big sister and I only began our education at six, and we didn’t start writing until a month later. You haven’t even started—using writing materials now would just be a waste.”
After they finished, Madam Cui spoke gently, “Sixth girl, if you want brushes and paper, you need a proper reason. Even the cheapest set isn’t inexpensive—ordinary families can’t afford them. This isn’t something for scribbling and playing around.”
Wang Yutong’s heart tightened. Pretending to be uneasy, she said, “Mother, sisters… I’m just so bored in the courtyard. I thought I could use the time to copy from a model book and learn a bit. Is… is that not allowed?”
Her timid demeanor dispelled some of their doubts.
After a moment of silence, Madam Cui nodded.
“Very well. Have Nanny Sun collect a set of writing materials from the storeroom, along with copybooks of the Three Character Classic and the Hundred Family Surnames. You can imitate them—better than letting your mind itch with boredom while recovering.”
Wang Yutong immediately stood up and bowed. “Thank you, Mother, for granting this.”
Having accomplished more than she’d planned today, she couldn’t help but feel pleased.
“Alright. Xin’er, Third girl, you two go to the academy. Sixth girl, you should return as well,” Madam Cui said, dismissing them.
“Yes, Mother. Your daughters take their leave,” the three girls said in unison before exiting Qingfeng Courtyard one after another.
Wang Yuxin and Wang Yulu hurried toward the gate, where a carriage waited daily to take them to and from the academy.
Wang Yutong, however, walked slowly back to her small courtyard.
When she returned, Nanny Sun had already brought back the writing materials.
Looking at the pile, Wang Yutong couldn’t help but want to laugh.
This Madam Cui, just to avoid seeing her, had really spent generously.
Altogether, the brushes, ink, paper, copybooks, and books were worth no less than thirty taels of silver. Quite extravagant.
From then on, Wang Yutong began her life as the “invisible” daughter of the marquis household.
Every morning, she got up and ran around the courtyard. After breakfast, she practiced writing by copying the model texts.
Fortunately, this body was weak, and her wrists lacked strength, so her handwriting came out crooked and uneven.
But that was exactly what a normal five-year-old’s writing should look like.
To reassure Madam Cui, Wang Yutong had Nanny Sun deliver her daily writing for inspection.
“Madam, this is what Sixth Miss wrote today,” Nanny Sun said, handing over several sheets of large, clumsy characters to Madam Cui’s maid, Ziwei.
“Oh? Ziwei, let me take a look,” Madam Cui said with curiosity.
Looking at the bold, crooked characters, she couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“Nanny Sun, has Sixth girl shown any unusual behavior?” Madam Cui asked softly after taking a sip of tea.
Nanny Sun thought carefully before replying, “Madam, I did not serve Sixth Miss before, so I do not know how she used to be. But since I’ve been there, her days have all been about the same.”
“Oh? Then tell me—what does she do every day?” Madam Cui pressed, unsatisfied.
It wasn’t without reason that Madam Cui paid such close attention to Wang Yutong. The current Wang Yutong made her slightly suspicious.
She was too obedient. Too quiet.
When a mischievous child suddenly becomes silent, something is off—that was Madam Cui’s judgment.
If it were the original girl, things would never be like this.
The old Wang Yutong had to stir up trouble every day. Crawling through dog holes, climbing trees, picking flowers—always up to mischief.
The most outrageous time, she had sneaked into the stables and spent the night sleeping beside a foal.
That incident had earned her a severe beating—she was far more mischievous than most boys.
“Reporting to Madam,” Nanny Sun began, “Sixth Miss wakes at dawn to run. Afterward, she washes up and eats breakfast.
Then she practices writing in her room for an hour. Around mid-morning, she goes outside for a short walk, then returns to practice writing again.
After lunch, she rests for half an hour, then practices writing for another hour. After that, she walks around the courtyard and plays a little with Lan’er.
In the evening, after dinner, she runs again, then washes and goes to rest.”
Nanny Sun recounted Wang Yutong’s daily routine in full detail.
After listening, Madam Cui frowned.
This Sixth girl… really did have a problem.
Could a child who once caused constant trouble suddenly become this quiet after nearly drowning? Who would believe there wasn’t something suspicious?
“Nanny Sun, continue observing her closely. If there’s anything unusual, report it immediately,” Madam Cui instructed after some thought.
“Yes, Madam. I will keep a close watch,” Nanny Sun replied.
However, after a full month of observation, Nanny Sun found nothing unusual about Wang Yutong.
Gradually, Madam Cui began to lower her guard.
In time, she stopped having Nanny Sun report back regularly.
This change made Wang Yutong breathe a sigh of relief.
For an adult soul to pretend to be a five-year-old child—it was truly exhausting.