As Yining returned to her grandmother’s quarters, she sneezed several times.
Grandmother Luo frowned and quickly called her granddaughter to sit beside her. “Are you feeling unwell again? Didn’t you just recover?”
Yining rubbed her nose, feeling a bit dizzy. “I might have caught a chill.”
Noticing Yining’s reddened nose and watery eyes, Grandmother Luo called to Xu Mama, “Tell the kitchen to prepare another bowl of medicine.” Yining’s recent fall into the water had truly weakened her constitution, and now she seemed to have caught a cold before fully recovering.
Xuezhi brought out a quilt and wrapped it around Yining. That evening, Yining stayed bundled up while Grandmother Luo fed her dinner and medicine.
The old lady felt Yining’s forehead, her frown deepening. “You shouldn’t go to school tomorrow.”
However, Yining remembered that Luo Shenyuan was supposed to give her calligraphy copybooks the next day. She didn’t want to keep him waiting. Moreover, she had only attended one day of classes and didn’t want Teacher Gu to criticize her for missing another day. It was just a slight discomfort; surely a good night’s sleep would take care of it. She stubbornly shook her head. “If I’m always absent, the teacher will blame me. I should go.”
Unable to dissuade her, Grandmother Luo could only wrap her granddaughter more tightly. Yining sat on the arhat bed like a silkworm cocoon, awkwardly extending one hand from within to pick at the raisins embedded in the pastries on the plate.
As she ate the raisins, Yining chatted idly with her grandmother. “Grandmother, you always say my mother was learned and reasonable. Tell me more about her.”
Grandmother Luo didn’t mind how Yining was eating the pastries. After some thought, she smiled and said, “Your mother was an exceptional person. When she was ten, your maternal grandmother Liu passed away. It was your aunt who raised her. While sisters-in-law and unmarried sisters often have conflicts, your mother and aunt got along wonderfully. When your mother married, your aunt cried for days. She held my hand and implored me, saying her little sister-in-law had the kindest heart, and asked me to take good care of her…”
Grandmother Luo lowered her voice. “After marrying into our family, your mother lived in harmony with your father and got along well with everyone. At that time, your father hadn’t yet passed the imperial examinations. Later… when your father returned from his post in Yangzhou, he brought Concubine Qiao with him.”
Yining’s hand, which had been picking at raisins, paused. She asked, “Is that the current Concubine Qiao?”
Grandmother Luo nodded. “Yes, it’s her. Your father brought her back from Yangzhou, claiming she was from an official family but without a proper background. We’re not an ordinary family; how could your mother and I agree to let her in? It wasn’t until Concubine Qiao knelt crying at your mother’s door for two whole days that your mother finally relented and allowed her to enter the household. Half a year after her arrival, Concubine Qiao became pregnant and gave birth to your sixth sister Yilian, who is two years older than you—your eldest sister greatly disliked her.” Grandmother Luo suddenly paused.
Yining, unaware of why she had stopped, continued to look at her.
Grandmother Luo stroked Yining’s head and said, “Your mother sympathized with Concubine Qiao, seeing her as delicate and pitiful. She didn’t expect her to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, completely bewitching your father. At that time, your father had two other concubines, yet none were as favored as her.”
“Let’s not talk about that Concubine Qiao anymore.” Grandmother Luo gently pinched Yining’s little nose, observing how her facial features indeed resembled her mother’s.
Grandmother Luo’s tone grew more somber.
“Later, after giving birth to you, your mother’s health gradually declined. Within half a year, she passed away… At that time, she grasped my hand, crying, and said she could let everything go except for the child in swaddling clothes—who would take care of her? Your mother’s love for you was profound; she was extremely reluctant to leave you. I promised her that as long as I lived, I would never let anyone bully you.”
Yining listened quietly, suddenly feeling a lump in her throat.
Her original mother must have been equally reluctant to part with her when she died. The mother died, leaving a helpless baby alone in the world, with no one to care for her, stumbling through life on her own, unaware of the hardships that lay ahead.
Grandmother Luo smiled again. “Grandmother isn’t telling you these things to make you sad.”
Yining snuggled into Grandmother Luo’s embrace, smiling as she said, “Now I have you to dote on me, Grandmother, and my eldest sister too. Mother must be comforted to see this from the afterlife.”
These were her true feelings. Living with Grandmother Luo these days, she had come to regard her as her real grandmother.
She must live well, then. No one would be allowed to harm her easily.
Yining hugged Grandmother Luo’s arm and closed her eyes.
Meanwhile, Concubine Qiao stood at the doorway, watching intently.
After a moment, her maid came running to inform her, “Concubine, the master is coming.”
A smile played on Concubine Qiao’s lips as she quickly had her maid help her back inside. When Luo Chengzhang arrived, he saw only three small dishes on the table. Yilian was putting food into her little brother’s bowl, while the three-year-old Xuanér was being fed by Concubine Qiao.
Seeing Luo Chengzhang arrive, Concubine Qiao immediately went to take his cloak. Noticing the simple fare, Luo Chengzhang asked, “Why such a frugal meal?”
Concubine Qiao sighed softly. “How could I enjoy good food without you here, my lord? I always feel my status is low, still that orphaned girl, and I dare not forget your kindness.”
Indeed, Concubine Qiao’s flattery was because Luo Chengzhang had spent the past two nights at Lin Ruhai’s place.
Looking into her gentle, watery eyes, Luo Chengzhang was moved by her deep affection. He couldn’t help but embrace her shoulders, saying softly, “Yuechan, others may love me for my power and status, but I know your heart is the truest. You need not say it; I won’t neglect you…”
Concubine Qiao beamed with joy as she helped Luo Chengzhang sit down. Seeing his daughter obediently eating and Xuanér calling for his sister from her lap, Luo Chengzhang assumed the role of a doting father and asked Luo Yilian, “How was your first day of school with your sisters? Did you learn well?”
While feeding her young brother, Luo Yilian replied gently, “It went quite well. The Seventh Sister also came today. Teacher Gu is thorough in her teachings and principled. I truly enjoy her lessons. It’s just that Seventh Sister was talking with Fifth Sister today, which slightly displeased Teacher Gu. Of course, it wasn’t a big deal. Seventh Sister is still childish and can’t sit still, which is to be expected…”
At the mention of Luo Yining, Luo Chengzhang’s brow furrowed. This young daughter was truly too undisciplined.
Luo Yilian added anxiously, “Father, please don’t blame Seventh Sister. She is still young after all.”
“Even if young, she’s already seven and should know better!” Luo Chengzhang felt he couldn’t condone this behavior. “When you were seven, you were much more sensible than her. She’s simply absurd.” He put down his chopsticks, feeling he couldn’t eat anymore.
The next morning, Yining felt even more lightheaded and heavy-limbed. She felt her forehead and knew she had a fever.
Xuezhi, worried about her, immediately had a little maid brew hot tea for Yining to drink upon arriving at Tingfeng Pavilion. Yining drank quite a bit of the hot water. Seeing her discomfort, Xuezhi was truly concerned and leaned down to say softly, “Young miss, why don’t I stay inside to look after you?”
During school hours, maids and servants weren’t allowed inside the classroom.
Yining, also worried about her fragile condition, nodded in agreement, allowing Xuezhi to stay while sending Songzhi and the others out.
Throughout the lesson, Teacher Gu kept a close eye on Xuezhi.
Xuezhi, however, was no ordinary maid. Having served by Luo Yihui’s side in her early years, she had seen it all and had been personally trained by Luo Yihui. She was the most capable maid deliberately left to serve her younger sister. She ignored Teacher Gu’s gaze, maintaining a calm and indifferent expression.
Finally, Teacher Gu could no longer contain herself. She put down her book and said, “Seventh Young Miss, could you please ask your maid to step outside? This is a place for learning the teachings of the sages and understanding principles, not for enjoyment. If everyone follows your example, we’ll have people serving tea and massaging legs. How can anyone study in such an environment?”
Yining raised her head to look at Teacher Gu.
To be fair, she admired the teacher. After all, no one else dared to provoke this little ancestor, but Teacher Gu maintained her righteousness. While others feared her, Teacher Gu disapproved of little Yining’s behavior and wasn’t afraid to displease her.
Mustering her strength, Yining responded properly, “Teacher Gu, I’m feeling unwell today, which is why I asked Xuezhi to stay and look after me. Rest assured, Xuezhi is well-behaved and won’t disrupt your class.”
Teacher Gu, however, was unrelenting. She insisted, “Rules are rules. Without rules, there can be no order. If Fifth Young Miss also wants to bring her maid to class in the future—”
Luo Yixiu, who had been lost in thought, was once again caught off guard by being mentioned. Meanwhile, Yilian, who always preferred to observe from the sidelines and rarely spoke unless necessary, watched them while gripping her writing brush tightly.
Teacher Gu continued, “If I allow it once, others will find similar excuses next time. Am I supposed to allow that too?”
Xuezhi curtsied and said, “Teacher Gu, you misunderstand. The young miss is truly unwell. The old madam didn’t want her to come, but she insisted on attending class. I promise this will be the only time, and I’m just here to serve some hot tea and look after her if needed.”
Seeing that they still wouldn’t listen despite all this explanation, Teacher Gu’s tone became harsher. “If Seventh Young Miss is unwell, she needn’t come to class at all. I’ll consider myself unworthy of teaching Seventh Young Miss. Why bother making so many excuses?”
This Teacher Gu was extremely strict about rules and unyielding. It was precisely this quality that Luo Chengzhang appreciated when he invited her to teach. Otherwise, how could an ordinary female teacher control little Yining’s temperament?
But now, her words had sparked some anger in Yining.
“Xuezhi, no need to say more,” Yining said calmly. “Teacher Gu is right. You may leave.”
Xuezhi glanced at Yining, noticing her young mistress looking at her with calm eyes, suddenly resembling the young lady she once was. Feeling somewhat reassured, she complied and withdrew.
“Teacher Gu, please continue with the lesson. There’s no one to disturb you now,” Yining said with a casual gesture.
Teacher Gu had seen this little tyrant being arrogant and willful before, even bullying her half-sisters, but she had never seen her so calm yet with such cold eyes. This resolute demeanor carried a hint of intimidation—Teacher Gu immediately found the thought ridiculous. How could a seven-year-old child be intimidating? She looked at Yining again, seeing her round face like a powder puff, clearly just a child.
“If Seventh Young Miss feels my words are unreasonable and you disagree, I have nothing more to say,” Teacher Gu said, feeling a sense of confrontation and asserting her authority. “Bringing a maid to class is against the rules. Seventh Young Miss will stay behind to copy ‘The Standards for Being a Good Student and Child’ five times as punishment. You may eat only after completing this task.”
“I respectfully comply with Teacher Gu’s instructions,” Yining responded calmly.
Luo Yixiu had dozed off with her chin propped up, while Luo Yilian gently said, “Seventh Sister, even if you’re feeling slightly unwell, you shouldn’t break the rules.”
Yining looked coldly at Luo Yilian, seeing her delicate half-sister give her a fragile smile.
“Sixth Sister is right,” Yining replied evenly.
When class ended, Teacher Gu approached Yining and said, “I won’t supervise you, Seventh Young Miss. If you have your maid copy it for you, I’ll have nothing to say. It depends on whether you keep your word or not.”
Yining remained silent as she rolled up her sleeves and began grinding ink.
As Teacher Gu left with her young maid, Luo Yixiu came over and tugged at Yining’s clothes. “Yining, are you going to copy it? Let’s go eat instead. I can have my little maid help you copy it.”
Yining shook her head, feeling a surge of stubbornness.
Many in the household disapproved of her, not just Teacher Gu. Most simply pretended to be cordial out of respect for her grandmother and eldest sister. Teacher Gu was merely the one who showed it openly. Little Yining had quite a temper. If she grew up with such a reputation, she would face many hardships in the future. It was just copying texts after all, so she might as well do it.