Having confirmed that her granddaughter could write beautiful calligraphy, Old Madam Deng was in an excellent mood and felt even more certain that the inkstone hadn’t been given wrongly: “Zhaozhao, your Buddhist scriptures are copied extremely well. Tomorrow, Grandmother will take them to Dafu Temple, and surely Buddha will sense your sincerity.”

After Old Madam Deng left, Binglu frowned: “Miss, why does this servant feel that the Old Madam’s meaning is that tomorrow you’ll be left behind?”

Master, please say I misunderstood!

Qiao Zhao sat on a small stool that A’Zhu had brought over, basking in the sun. Hearing this, she said indifferently: “You didn’t feel wrong.”

Binglu’s shoulders drooped.

Every Buddha’s Birthday, the female family members of wealthy households in the capital would go to Dafu Temple for the ceremony, and the young ladies who accompanied the madams could play around in the temple – it was such an interesting affair. What a pity that Miss couldn’t go.

“Miss, you couldn’t go last year because you were ill, and this year you can’t go again. What a shame.”

Qiao Zhao held her head half-raised, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the pomegranate leaves and falling on her translucent white face, warm and peaceful.

Her gaze fell on the courtyard wall, then lifted slightly to look into the distance, saying leisurely: “I will go.”

Binglu looked confused.

Seeing their mistress’s calm expression, A’Zhu couldn’t help but explain: “Miss’s handwriting is excellent, so the Buddhist scriptures she copied will surely catch the eyes of the high monks. When the high monks send Miss’s copied scriptures to Shuying Nunnery, perhaps that Master will want to meet our Miss.”

Upon hearing this, Binglu snorted lightly: “Don’t think you know everything just because you’ve heard a few idle words! Let me tell you that the Master at Shuying Nunnery hasn’t seen outsiders for many years. At most, when some young lady’s Buddhist scriptures are copied well, a few words of praise might spread.”

“She will meet me.”

“How is that possible— Ah, Miss!” Binglu looked embarrassed and quite flustered.

Qiao Zhao smiled unconcernedly and said with certainty: “She will meet me.”

Even if someone could write better than her, as long as that Grand Princess saw the Buddhist scriptures she had copied, she would only want to meet her.

Little maid Binglu had two principles: First, whatever Miss said was right. Second, if she felt Miss was wrong, it must be because she didn’t understand properly!

So the little maid began to daydream: “That’s wonderful! Then all those madams and young ladies will look at Miss with new respect. Oh my, Miss, do you think this servant should wear that scallion-green jacket to accompany you out, or that peach-pink vest embroidered with spring flowers?”

Seeing the little maid’s animated expression, Qiao Zhao actually thought seriously and suggested: “Your skin is fair, that scallion-green jacket would look quite good on you.”

Binglu couldn’t help but cover her face with her hands.

Miss said she was fair! Oh my, Miss had never praised her so directly before!

A’Zhu silently turned her face away, unable to bear watching.

Binglu suddenly became worried again, kicking at fallen leaves on the ground: “But Miss can’t sign her name on the copied scriptures. When the time comes, all the scriptures copied by the young ladies in our residence will be put in one box and sent over – ah, what if someone steals Miss’s credit?”

First Miss was gentle but calculating, Second Miss couldn’t stand others being better than her, and the other young ladies weren’t necessarily good people either!

The more Binglu thought about it, the more worried she became.

“Steal credit?” Qiao Zhao was slightly stunned, clearly not having thought that such outrageous (shameless) things could happen with elders present.

Binglu nodded vigorously: “Yes! Tomorrow, Miss won’t be going along, so what if someone bullies Miss for not being there and impersonates her?”

Following Binglu’s train of thought, Qiao Zhao smiled charmingly: “Go find your scallion-green jacket. Others can’t steal what’s mine.”

Some people just don’t understand – there are things in this world that cannot be stolen. If someone tries to forcibly take them, they’re bound for misfortune.

Hearing her mistress say this, Binglu immediately felt relieved, crisply responded “Yes,” and turned to go find her pretty clothes.

Only Qiao Zhao and A’Zhu remained in the courtyard. Qiao Zhao smiled: “A’Zhu, massage my forehead.”

“Yes.” A’Zhu stepped forward, her movements gentle and skilled, no longer showing the awkwardness and panic of when she first learned.

“So you see, skills learned by oneself are the most reliable, aren’t they?” Qiao Zhao suddenly opened her eyes, smiling as she looked at A’Zhu above her.

A’Zhu was slightly stunned, then smiled respectfully: “Yes.”

So she needn’t worry randomly for Miss either. If Miss said it couldn’t be stolen, then it definitely couldn’t be stolen.

The branches and leaves of the pomegranate tree swayed gently in the wind, the sunlight seeming even warmer. Qiao Zhao closed her eyes, breathing deeply and steadily, while A’Zhu silently made her movements even gentler.

Early the next morning, before dawn had fully broken, the entire Li residence was in a state of lively excitement.

“Sister-in-law, Zhaozhao still doesn’t need to come pay respects today? The Old Madam dotes on her. Unlike Yan’er and Chan’er, whom I dragged up before daybreak – their eyes still can’t open properly.”

Meeting Second Madam Liu on the way to pay respects at Qingsong Hall, Madam He nearly died of anger upon hearing her speak.

Did she think she was a fool who couldn’t hear the mockery? She was just laughing at her daughter being punished with confinement and unable to leave!

Madam He’s gaze fell on Fourth Miss Li Yan and Sixth Miss Li Chan beside Liu, and she smiled: “Yan’er and Chan’er really can sleep, just like the cat I kept before marriage. Sister-in-law, you haven’t seen it – that cat slept from morning till night and got so fat!”

Fourth Miss Li Yan and Sixth Miss Li Chan, innocently caught in the crossfire: “…”

Fourth Miss Li Yan thought to herself: I’ve warned Mother many times not to argue with that blockhead of a sister-in-law.

Sixth Miss Li Chan directly pouted and stamped her foot: “Mother—”

The group entered the main hall to pay respects to Old Madam Deng.

Madam He immediately spotted First Miss Li Jiǎo sitting beside Old Madam Deng and couldn’t help rolling her eyes, thinking: That dead girl came early indeed!

Old Madam Deng looked around and saw that Liu and her daughters were properly dressed, while Madam He was still in casual home attire. She couldn’t help frowning: “Madam He, why haven’t you changed clothes yet?”

“Old Madam, since Zhaozhao isn’t going this year, this daughter-in-law will stay to keep her company.” Madam He explained.

Liu couldn’t help but speak up: “Sister-in-law, it was understandable that you didn’t go last year because Zhaozhao was ill, but why aren’t you going this year either? Sigh, Zhaozhao is being punished and can’t leave the house – the Old Madam feels bad about it too.”

So is it appropriate for you to so openly blame the Old Madam and stubbornly refuse to go?

Unexpectedly, Old Madam Deng nodded, showing an expression of deep agreement.

With Third Girl writing such beautiful calligraphy, not being able to bring her along to show off was truly regrettable.

Liu: “…” Did the old lady get possessed today?

Seeing that it was getting late, Old Madam Deng spoke: “Since that’s the case, you may stay. It’s good to have someone in charge at home.”

After Old Madam Deng finished speaking, she paused and corrected herself: “You don’t need to worry about anything, just keep Zhaozhao good company. She’s suffered these past few days.”

If she let Madam He take charge, she’d be on edge all day.

Old Madam Deng led the West Residence group to meet with Old Madam Jiang and others from the East Residence at the entrance of Xingzi Alley, then each boarded carriages heading to Dafu Temple.