Time Travel: The Noble Family

Chapter 121: Chapter 53: Embroideress

Yueyao studied very hard and with great diligence. Yuehuan also began to study earnestly and practice intensively. Yuebing became equally immersed in intensive learning.

However, Yuebing was forced into it, unlike Yuehuan and Yueyao who were willing participants. Lady Mo, in order to get Yuebing to straighten out her ways, had asked Old Madam and then let Nanny Wang give Yuebing special tutoring. Nanny Wang continued to instruct Yuebing in the evening. Of course, all these required additional fees.

Yuebing was tormented by Nanny Wang for the entire evening. It was almost midnight when Nanny Wang finally said, “Second Young Lady, you must continue to practice hard in the future.” Indulging the Legitimate Daughter too much is harmful rather than loving for them. Second Young Lady may not have the Third Young Lady’s talent and brilliance, but with proper guidance, she might actually make a very good Lady of the house because not only does she have a good foundation, but she also has good fortune.

Old Madam, upon hearing that Yueyao hadn’t practiced writing in Willow-body calligraphy style nor in plum blossom calligraphy style but had practiced the “Quick Snowfall and Sunny Day Post”, muttered to herself, “What is this girl planning to do?” It could be said that she has already mastered the Willow-body calligraphy style since she has given it up. But the plum blossom style is also something she has only just started to learn. Even a prodigy could not possibly master it in such a short period of time, not to mention the fact that the plum blossom calligraphy style is difficult and challenging to learn. And now, this girl is practicing another style altogether; Old Madam couldn’t quite grasp Yueyao’s plans anymore.

Though Nanny Zheng didn’t recognize characters, she knew one principle, that biting off more than you can chew is unwise: “Old Madam, should we remind the Third Young Lady?” If she hammers away at everything without focus, she’ll only have a superficial understanding of each, and that would be embarrassing.

Old Madam shook her head and said, “Yueyao isn’t an indiscriminate child; she must have her own plans for doing this. Let her be!” The young lady doesn’t have to take the imperial examinations; there’s no need to force her to learn any particular style of calligraphy. If she’s happy, that’s good enough.

Actually, Old Madam was very worried. Based on what Nanny Wang relayed, she felt Yueyao might be growing away from the Lian family. Sometimes she even wondered what the Second Son’s Wife might have said to Yueyao in a dream that changed her so much, to such an extent that it was beginning to unsettle her. Alas, worrying about a heedless child, and worrying about a sly one, being an elder means there’s never an end to concerns about the younger generations.

Yueyao returned to Lanxi Courtyard and started teaching Brother Zheng calligraphy again until dinner. After dinner, Yueyao asked Hua Lei to search for the Jade Collar Step. The so-called Jade Collar Step consists of pieces of jade ornament threaded together, usually worn at the waist. When walking, if the Jade Collar Step doesn’t make any noise, it proves that the rules have been mastered, and the person is ready to graduate.

Hua Lei checked the records and found that there was nothing like the Jade Collar Step Yueyao mentioned, and she said softly, “Perhaps it was lost.” It would be normal to lose one or two small trinkets over such a long time.

Yueyao’s expression darkened; that object was something she had thought of on a whim that day, and now it was lost. Losing one item was not worrisome, but it would be frightening if many items were lost without notice.

Hua Lei guessed what Yueyao was thinking and reassured her: “Don’t worry, Madam. When we organized the storeroom, we listed and recorded everything inside, so nothing else will be lost.”

Yueyao didn’t say anything further: “I’ll practice writing again.” Yueyao hadn’t practiced the Mei Style calligraphy for very long, only for half an hour before Nanny Deng coaxed her to bed.

Nanny Deng saw how Yueyao busied herself during the day and even at night, to the point of confusion. The young lady had been pampered in the palm of her hand before, with everything arranged by the Old Master and Madam. Now, however, the young lady seemed to be studying desperately. In Nanny Deng’s view, Yueyao was trying to escape from something.

Lady Mo was surprised why Yueyao suddenly switched to a different style of calligraphy: “That maid was writing in Willow-body beautifully, then began to practice Mei Style, why change the script again?”

Bi Se didn’t know why: “This servant thinks there might be other reasons.” Mr. Yun couldn’t figure it out, and neither could others.

When Maternal Aunt Su heard this, she was somewhat alarmed: “Not only has the Third Young Lady practiced Willow-body and Mei Style, but now she wants to learn another style. What exactly is the Third Young Lady thinking?” Maternal Aunt Su didn’t believe Yueyao was acting on a whim; to her, the current Yueyao was a person who was very hard to fathom. The young lady’s great change was so profound that it scared her, and she wondered if the Madam was aware of the consequences of this change.

Maternal Aunt Su hesitated over whether to alert the Madam. But in the end, as she watched Tinglun sleeping soundly, she let go of the thought. If Old Madam found out that she was sowing discord between the Madam and the Third Young Lady, she certainly wouldn’t get off easily. Endure it, endure. If the Madam is enduring, she must endure even more.

The next day, as soon as it got light, Yueyao got out of bed. Nowadays, all the dresses in her wardrobe were of plain colors, at most with a few colorfully patterned small flowers added to the clothing.