302. V4C302: Great News Is Coming (I)

Minglan still felt tired after taking a nap on the coach. After she went back home, she dealt with a few family affairs. Then she slept for almost an hour after lunch. Only then did she feel herself refreshed. After that, she went to find Shao shi to tell the whole thing.

“… I heard it’s Great Master Xue that’s going to teach the girls. That is a rare chance, so I recommended Xian, too. What do you say, sister-in-law?”

Hearing that, Shao shi fell into a daze first. Meanwhile, Xian who was also there got happy right away with a joyful look on her little face. Seeing the little girl’s expression, Shao shi felt softhearted at once. After Shao shi’s husband had died and the Fourth and the Fifth family had moved away, Xian had no friends except for that wild girl Rong and she spent all her time accompanying Shao shi. A life like this was a bit too lonely and not so healthy for a little girl after all.

Having pondered for a while, Shao shi said hesitantly, “It’s lucky for her to be taught by Great Master Xue. Sister-in-law, thanks for your consideration. It’s just…”

Xian got nervous right away and gazed at Shao shi. The latter continued, “It’s so inconvenient for the Zheng’s family. Xian and Rong are both girls. Every time they leave their mansions, they need lots of bodyguards, coaches, horses, and servants. Also, there will be too many Mama and stewards being assigned to take care of them. I don’t want to be such a nuisance…” Without extra tips, those people would be hard to order about.

Before she finished her words, Minglan already understood what she was thinking and then said with a smile, “Don’t worry, sister-in-law, it’s not like we are expecting the girls to take the imperial exams. The girl’s schools are unlike the formal schools. They only need to go there five out of ten days. By then, we can let Xian go to my place first and go to the school with Rong together. The bodyguards, servants and Mama are all ready to serve. Sister-in-law, you only need to bring two maids or Mama. We won’t raise a rumpus this way and could also save more troubles this way. Doesn’t it sound great?”

Shao shi was still hesitating, “Well…” Xian, with an obvious expectation on her face, said in a low voice, “Mother.”

Shao shi turned around to look at her daughter and then finally agreed, “This is the best. Xian, thank your aunt now!”

With Xian’s wrinkled brows finally unfolded and her face covered with a beaming smile, she gave an obeisance and gave her thanks to Minglan like a cheerful rabbit.

“Sorry for the trouble, sister-in-law.” Shao shi thanked Minglan again.

Minglan waved her hands straightly, “I’m not troubled at all. Rong is difficult to teach. If she could be as obedient as Xian, I won’t find a tutor for her at the outside. Xian, you have to take care of my wild girl Rong.”

Shao shi said with a smile, “Sisters should look out for each other for sure.”

After Minglan and Shao shi talked for a while, they went to the Daylily Garden together. Old Madam Qin and Zhu shi seemed to be discussing something in a high spirits. Seeing that Minglan and Shao shi coming, they stopped chatting right away. Then, Minglan’s heart missed a beat.

After Minglan gave her obeisance to Old Madam Qin, she asked leisurely with a smile, “Mother, I wonder what you and my sister-in-law were talking about just now? You two seemed quite happy.”

“Nothing, today is a fine day. Your sister-in-law tells me a joke to amuse me.” Old Madam Qin answered that with a joyful look. Zhu shi, the pregnant woman, chuckled and didn’t say anything. Then Minglan could only stop asking.

Old Madam Qin asked gently, “You two seem in a good mood too. Do you have any great news?”

Shao shi was very cheerful right now, so she told Old Madam Qin what had happened straight away. With Old Madam Qin’s eyebrows knitted slightly, she glanced at Minglan without giving any comments. Seeing that, Shao shi wasn’t that joyful anymore and lowered her head lightly. Zhu shi never aired any opinion with a smile on her face the whole time.

Old Madam Qin closed her enamel snuff-box gently and said in a flat tone, “Tingye’s wife, you are truly capable. You haven’t married into our family for long, but you are already able to persuade General Zheng’s wife.”

Minglan pretended that she didn’t understand any word of that speech and only smiled softly, “Mother, I am flattered. It’s all because of our family’s influence.”

“However…” Old Madam Qin frowned. She had already got used to Minglan playing dumb, so she had to speak more bluntly, “That’s Marquis Zhongjing’s family school after all. It’s not appropriate for any outsiders like us to go there after all.”

“Old Madam, there’s something you don’t know,” Minglan explained smilingly, “There are four girls from the Zheng family, three or four girls from the Zheng’s relatives’ families and two girls from our family. First Madam Zheng said that that should be the exact-right number of students. I don’t expect our girls to learn too much knowledge but letting them get to know some nobles young ladies is also a good thing. These ladies are all from decent families. Those girls will also be good friends when they grow up.”

Old Madam Qin only felt a needle sticking her heart right now. Then she said, “I’m afraid that those girls wouldn’t behave well. We can forgive anything they do at home, but what it they bring humiliation to our family at the outside?” When she uttered the word ‘humiliation’, Shao shi held the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

Minglan glanced that with her sharp eyes, and then turned around to speak with a smile, “I don’t know my girl, but I can guarantee that Xian has the best character as her aunt. She will only bring glory to our family, as for Rong…” Minglan covered her mouth and chuckled, “She is still too young. As long as she could be taught well, she’ll be fine. However…”

Shao shi’s wrinkled eyebrows were unfolded.

As Minglan was saying that, she suddenly decided to play a trick on her mother-in-law by continuing, “Old Madam, if you still find this inappropriate, I’ll reject the Zheng family right now.” After saying this, she stared at Old Madam Qin, waiting for the latter’s answer with a playful mind…

Old Madam Qin knitted her eyebrows even more tightly. Minglan, as a legal mother and an aunt, had gone to the trouble of finding a school for her illegal daughter and her niece, so it would really hurt Old Madam Qin’s reputation if she stopped the two girls from studying. Thinking of that, she could only say, “All right, just let the girls go since you’ve already fixed this.”

Minglan smiled. She wasn’t trying to ask for Old Madam Qin’s permission after all. If Shao shi hadn’t come, Minglan could make decisions for Rong all by herself. Now that this thing had come to a result, Zhu shi then stood up and gave congratulations to her two sisters-in-law, “… Second Sister-in-law is so warm-hearted and capable, mother, you should be happy for this.”

Her words seemed to have another meaning. Hearing that, Old Madam Qin suddenly put on a smile, seeming to be genuinely happy. Minglan’s heart suddenly beat fast, because she didn’t like this feeling.

After that, the women all went back to their own places. As Shao shi walked into her room with wrinkled brows, a maid who was around thirty walked over to her right away. While the maid helped Shao shi sit on the brick bed and take off her shoes, she said, “… Our lady is really happy. She already prepared her paper, ink and pen and now is practicing writing.” Saying this, she saw the gloomy look on Shao shi’s face. Then she asked in a low voice, “Madam, what happened?”

Shao shi said tenderly, “Tell Xian that she couldn’t take care of herself only and that she should also look after Rong.”