Time flew like an arrow, and just like that, ten years passed.
During this time, Shen Yunshu often displayed her precocious intelligence.
After her first birthday, she tried her best to express herself clearly whenever she could speak, never deliberately pretending to be a childish little girl.
Occasionally, she would follow her older brothers while they studied, reciting texts alongside them, or practicing writing and painting.
Seeing this, the King Who Stabilized the North and the Princess Consort decided to hire a tutor early to give her a proper education.
Shen Yunshu learned exceptionally quickly.
Although the material she had to study differed greatly from her previous life, her understanding as an adult allowed her to avoid the unnecessary detours typical of a child.
All the servants in the King’s residence knew that Yunshu, the County Mistress, was exceptionally gifted.
Even the tutors brought in to teach different subjects praised her for her talent and diligence, and soon word of her abilities spread among the noblewomen of the Yang capital.
Among the aristocracy, it was said that Yunshu had shown remarkable talent in poetry and music from the age of three, possessed a solid literary foundation by six, and could master literature from ancient to contemporary works, speaking fluently and elegantly, by the age of eight.
When the servants reported such rumors to Shen Yunshu, she merely smiled. After all, while there was some truth to them, they were heavily exaggerated.
There were many talented people in the world—why was she singled out for praise? Simply because her father was the King Who Stabilized the North!
“Oh? Yunshu actually said this?”
Shen Zhen put down his book on military strategy, his eyes lighting up with delight as he looked at Qingyang.
“Yes, Your Highness. The County Mistress said: ‘The so-called talents of young scholars come merely from diligent practice. How could they deserve the title of “talented girl”? Most likely, the children in their families are not very diligent, which is why they call me “the other family’s child.”’”
Qingyang repeated Shen Yunshu’s exact words, his own eyes filled with admiration.
He was a family retainer of the King Who Stabilized the North, once Shen Zhen’s personal guard.
Later, he had followed Shen Zhen into battle. Seeing that Qingyang was more suited for the military, Shen Zhen had removed his slave status and allowed him to join the army. Now he commanded a small unit that was entirely part of the Shen family army.
His loyalty to the Shen family was unquestionable. As someone who had watched Shen Yunshu grow up, nothing delighted him more than seeing the young mistress excel.
“Calm in both praise and criticism… truly the daughter of Shen Zhen!”
Shen Zhen beamed with pride.
He had two sons and a daughter, but the two boys had already been sent to the palace at Yunshu’s age to serve as companions for the crown prince.
Now, his only daily joy was his youngest daughter, and all his paternal affection was poured onto her.
Whenever anyone praised Shen Yunshu in his presence, he would swell with pride.
..
Elsewhere, after her midday rest, Shen Yunshu had a simple wash with the help of a young maid and then went to the Old Madam’s Crane Residence Hall.
“Grandmother! Mother!”
“Oh, Shu’er, come quickly! Grandma’s precious Shu’er, today the kitchen made almond corn cakes. Come try them!” Shen the Old Madam was talking to Ji Shuyao when she saw Shen Yunshu running in and could hardly contain her delight.
Shen Yunshu gave a small bow and leaned against the Old Madam, while Ji Shuyao wiped her hands and handed her a piece of almond corn cake.
“Shu’er, you’re ten now, grown enough to choose two personal attendants properly. Have you thought about who you’d like?”
In the Yang Dynasty, high-ranking noble girls rarely had fewer than eight attendants: two first-class personal maids, two second-class cleaning maids, two general handmaids, and two wet nurses—this counted only those attending to the young lady’s daily life, not guards or other staff.
As a County Mistress, Yunshu could have twice as many attendants if needed. Her mother, Ji Shuyao, was now formally arranging two personal maids for her based on her age, so that no one could spread gossip or overstep. In the coming years, as she attended more banquets, she could add two more attendants. After all, she was a County Mistress; appearances mattered. Be too low-profile, and others might take advantage.
Shen Yunshu nibbled on her almond corn cake, thinking about the children who had been sent to her side at age six to play with her—so that she could later select two as her personal maids.
“Doukou’s mother makes the best osmanthus chestnut cakes. Doukou memorized the recipe, so she should stay by my side to make them for me. And Qingtai is excellent too; her braiding is perfect, and she even recently learned to embroider pouches! Plus, they’re the prettiest. I want these two.”
Using her ten-year-old reasoning, Shen Yunshu expressed her preference clearly: Doukou and Qingtai matched her temperament perfectly.
Ji Shuyao wasn’t surprised.
Shen Yunshu had already shown a clear fondness for these two. They were also the most beautiful of her maids, and her daughter’s love of aesthetics had been apparent.
Ji Shuyao gave a subtle glance to Qiangwei, one of the senior maids. “Bring the two girls over.”
Because she had anticipated her daughter’s preferences, Ji Shuyao had already arranged for Fu Rong and Qiangwei to privately teach the two young maids the proper etiquette for attending the young mistress.
So when Qiangwei brought the girls forward, they were nervous but knew the necessary rules.
“The County Mistress has chosen you as her personal maids. From now on, you are first-class senior maids in the mansion. Even if you are young, you must show authority and not allow anyone to bully you. You represent the County Mistress’s honor. Understand?”
Ji Shuyao assumed the formal demeanor of the Princess Consort, her face stern, as she spoke to the eleven- or twelve-year-old girls.
The girls only nodded instinctively. Ji Shuyao wasn’t trying to scare them; in a household like this, with Shen Yunshu as the only legitimate daughter, they needed to understand their responsibilities. Mistakes could be serious.
Being born into the household, these girls had already been raised to be loyal to the Shen family, so Ji Shuyao did not need to say much more.