Old Madam Qi feigned anger, and just as Fu Rong was about to respond, a maid entered the hall to announce that Master Wang had arrived. Old Madam Qi said: “Quickly invite Master Wang in to have a cup of tea offered by the children.”

The maid went down, and soon led in an elderly gentleman with white hair and beard. Shen Xiling secretly observed from behind the crowd, seeing that Master Wang was very thin. Though advanced in years, he remained vigorous and alert, but his cheekbones were prominent, giving him a stern, unsmiling appearance that made her somewhat afraid. She secretly resolved to study diligently from now on and never anger the master.

Master Wang entered the main hall. Old Madam Qi personally rose to welcome him, while all the younger generation respectfully bowed. Old Madam Qi said: “Master has finally arrived – please sit, please sit.”

Master Wang exchanged pleasantries with Old Madam Qi, then they both took their seats.

Yao Shi said to Master Wang: “Master has always taken pains with Jing’an and Jingkang, and now must take on two more female students – such labor truly troubles the Qi family with guilt.”

Wang Qing’s expression remained calm as he answered: “Madam need not be polite. This matter was entrusted by Jingchen, whom I have always valued highly. I can still manage this small request – may I ask where the two young ladies are?”

Upon hearing this, Yao Shi immediately smiled and beckoned to Zhao Yao and Shen Xiling: “Yao’er, Wenwen, come quickly and meet Master.”

Shen Xiling immediately stepped forward from behind the group, joining Zhao Yao in bowing to Wang Qing, then under Yao Shi’s guidance, offered him the tea for acknowledging a teacher.

Taking on female students wasn’t a major matter in aristocratic families. Female students didn’t need to take examinations for official positions – they only needed to read some poetry and literary selections to cultivate their character and avoid being ignorant. Though Wang Qing had high standards for selecting students, he wasn’t so particular about female students, so he easily accepted the tea from Zhao Yao and Shen Xiling, then gave them brief instruction: “Learning and scholarship cannot succeed without dedicated effort. I hope both young ladies will be diligent in study and make much progress in the future.”

Shen Xiling respectfully agreed along with Zhao Yao, then stepped aside.

At this point, Old Madam Qi took Fu Rong’s hand and smiled to Master Wang: “Master, look and see – do you still recognize this girl?”

Wang Qing turned to look at Fu Rong, thought for a long while, then showed sudden understanding: “Could this be young Master Fu’s sister?”

“Exactly so,” Old Madam Qi said. “It’s my fault for becoming more confused with age. When I heard earlier that Jingchen had sought a teacher for Yao’er and Miss Fang, I didn’t think to also make this request for my great-niece – I wonder if Master Wang would grant this old woman a bit more face and also accept my Rong’er as a student?”

Though Zhao Qishi said nothing in the hall below, her heart was filled with various thoughts.

She was a concubine’s daughter of the Qi family, not Old Madam Qi’s own daughter. Her mother had been a concubine who had always lived carefully under Old Madam Qi’s authority. From childhood, she knew this legitimate mother had a strong temperament and was skilled at scheming, but she hadn’t expected that even at her advanced age, she would still calculate so precisely.

Did she think no one could see through her? Bringing Fu Rong into the Qi family, now selling her old face to beg Master Wang to accept Fu Rong as a student – what was she plotting? Nothing more than creating connections between the Fu family and the Qi family! Best if she could marry Jingchen – then wouldn’t the Fu family, with its shaky position, stabilize their position?

What a fine calculation indeed!

Wang Qing hadn’t expected Old Madam Qi to make such a request. He pondered for a moment and said: “This old man has heard that Miss Fu has studied alongside young Master Fu since childhood and has already achieved some success in learning and scholarship. If she were to study together with the other two young ladies, it might not be quite suitable.”

Old Madam Qi continued: “What harm is there in that? Being able to receive Master’s teachings is her tremendous good fortune – even starting from the beginning would be beneficial.”

She looked toward Fu Rong and asked: “Rong’er, what do you say?”

Fu Rong apparently also hadn’t expected Old Madam Qi to suddenly make such a move. For a moment she didn’t know how to respond, but seeing Old Madam Qi give her a rather stern look, she knew the old lady had made up her mind. She could only bow to Wang Qing and say: “If Master doesn’t mind, I’m willing to start from the beginning with Master, and willing to study diligently together with my two younger sisters.”

Teaching female students – teaching two was teaching, teaching three was also teaching. Adding one more Fu Rong really wouldn’t require much extra effort. Seeing Old Madam Qi so insistent and Miss Fu so respectful, Wang Qing had no reason to refuse for the moment, so he nodded.

Old Madam Qi was very pleased and became even more radiant, calling to the maids: “Quickly, bring tea.”

So the maids brought another cup of tea. Fu Rong offered it to Wang Qing, who took a small sip, thus accepting this student.

Seeing the matter settled, Old Madam Qi was very happy and invited Wang Qing to stay for lunch. Wang Qing declined, saying he had some trivial matters at home and would come tomorrow to lecture, but wouldn’t stay for lunch today. Old Madam Qi earnestly tried to keep him, but Wang Qing politely refused, leaving the old lady with no choice but to give up.

Wang Qing then said to the students: “Tomorrow’s lecture will begin with an examination. Jing’an and Jingkang need to prepare well. The young ladies need not be too nervous – just do your best.”

Qi Ning and Qi Le groaned inwardly. Though the girls knew Master Wang was only using this test to assess their foundations and wouldn’t face criticism even if they performed poorly, most people feel uncomfortable upon hearing the word “examination.” So for a moment, regardless of gender, everyone felt their hearts sink.

Master Wang paid no mind to this, leaving this remark with casual indifference before taking leave of Old Madam Qi and Yao Shi. He also declined the Qi family’s kind offer to personally escort him out and left just like that.

Yao Shi smiled: “Now this is wonderful. Old Madam used to talk about Rong’er every day at home, missing you in her heart if she didn’t see you for a day. Now that you’re coming to the mansion to study with your younger siblings, won’t you be able to see each other daily?”

Fu Rong thanked Old Madam Qi and Yao Shi. Old Madam Qi added: “This is excellent news. Tonight you’ll stay at the mansion, and tomorrow you can go to school.”

Fu Rong looked somewhat troubled and said: “This is rather sudden. Rong’er hasn’t yet told my parents. Today I really should return to inform them…”

Old Madam Qi said it wasn’t necessary – she could just send a servant to the Fu family with word. Seeing Fu Rong’s difficulty, Yao Shi smiled and helped her out, saying to Old Madam Qi: “Since Rong’er is coming, she certainly won’t escape. Old Madam, what harm is there in letting her return home tonight? We’ll see her again tomorrow.”

With Yao Shi speaking up for her, Old Madam Qi couldn’t insist further, so she reluctantly nodded. She then asked Yao Shi: “Are Jingyuan and Jingchen at home? It’s been some time since they’ve seen their cousin.”

“Jingyuan went out with his wife, but Jingchen is rarely at home today,” Yao Shi said. “Shall I send someone to call him?”

Old Madam Qi perked up: “Quickly, have him come escort his sister out of the mansion.”

Yao Shi sent a maid to fetch him. Zhao Qishi watched silently, forming her own calculations.

She knew Yao Shi had always liked Yao’er, but couldn’t determine if she had intentions for a marriage alliance. Looking at the current situation, she didn’t seem to reject Fu Rong either. Could it be that she also thought Yao’er was too young and hadn’t considered this possibility?

But Zhao Qishi felt something was off. She saw that Yao Shi seemed very fond of that Fang family girl, different from how she liked Yao’er. Zhao Qishi secretly glanced at Shen Xiling, seeing this little girl still sitting properly with lowered eyes and demure manner, not seeming like someone restless. However, when Old Madam Qi mentioned Jingchen earlier, she hadn’t missed the flash of joy in this girl’s expression.

Zhao Qishi couldn’t help but sneer inwardly: so now every cat and dog wanted to climb up and attach themselves to the Qi family. What sort of place were aristocratic families? How could children’s marriages be child’s play? Especially Jingchen’s marriage – it wasn’t his to decide. No matter how much this orphaned girl pleased Jingchen and Yao Shi, with her background, she absolutely could never enter this family’s door.

As Zhao Qishi pondered, a maid entered to report that Second Young Master had arrived. Old Madam Qi smiled: “Good, quickly let him in.”

Since entering the main hall, unless specifically called by name, Shen Xiling had kept her eyes lowered and behaved properly, not daring to listen, look, speak, or move excessively. But now hearing he had come, her heart inevitably fluttered. She held back again and again, but finally couldn’t resist secretly raising her eyes to look toward the door.

Second Young Master Qi was walking around the screen into the hall. She hadn’t seen him often these past days, and even when she did, they couldn’t speak. Though she had felt they’d grown somewhat closer, just these few days made Shen Xiling feel they’d grown distant again. Especially now with the hall full of distinguished people, she sat only in an inconspicuous corner, making her feel even farther from this person.

Just as she was about to quietly look away again, her gaze met Qi Ying’s. Second Young Master Qi’s beautiful phoenix eyes still had their cool, aloof appearance, but upon entering, he looked nowhere else, only toward Shen Xiling. Just one glance before quickly and imperceptibly looking away, as if only to confirm the young lady was well.

Their gazes touched and separated instantly. Shen Xiling lowered her head.

Qi Ying walked past Shen Xiling and bowed to the elders in the hall. Old Madam Qi was in excellent spirits and asked Fu Rong: “Rong’er, it’s been some time since you’ve seen your second brother, hasn’t it?”

Fu Rong smiled and nodded: “Indeed it has been. During New Year, my brother went to Fenghe Courtyard for drinks, but unfortunately I was ill that day and couldn’t go.”

Old Madam Qi smiled: “It will be fine from now on – you’ll see each other daily.”

Qi Ying raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. Seeing his surprise, Old Madam Qi smiled and told him: “Master Wang came earlier and also accepted Rong’er as a student. I miss her terribly, so I want to ask the Fu family to let her come stay at the mansion for a while. From now on, you can all be by my side where I can see you often.”

Qi Ying hadn’t expected such a development. Remembering how Grandmother had intended to matchmake him with Fu Rong on New Year’s Eve, he naturally understood the twists and turns behind this arrangement, inevitably giving him a headache. He glanced at his mother. Yao Shi understood her son was blaming her for not stopping Old Madam from playing matchmaker, but Old Madam ruled their household absolutely – not only she, but even his father could rarely change Old Madam’s mind. What could she do? So she ignored her son’s gaze and calmly looked at her own fingernails.

Since Old Madam Qi had already spoken, Qi Ying couldn’t very well say nothing. Seeing his mother’s hands-off attitude, Qi Ying could only answer: “That would be very good.”

Old Madam Qi was somewhat dissatisfied that Qi Ying only answered with four words, but she knew her legitimate grandson was naturally taciturn and couldn’t force him further. In any case, he and Rong’er would see each other daily from now on – with Rong’er’s talent and beauty, she wasn’t worried Jingchen wouldn’t be moved.

Having made up her mind, Old Madam Qi said to Qi Ying: “She’s about to return to the Fu family now. Jingchen, go escort her out.”

Shen Xiling sat in the hall below, still with head lowered, hearing Qi Ying answer with a simple “Good.”

Author’s Note: Caring about you, so even in a room full of people, I still find you at first glance. Next chapter preview: Academic (Stuffy) Genius (Sultry) Top (Qi) Scholar (Two) Pre-exam (Half) Tutoring (Night) (Chat) (Flirtation)