After around ten days, the school began.

On the most miserable and heartbreaking day for the kids of modern times, the little girls of the ancient times who had been living a secluded life were quite excited about their new school life. Before the bell rang at 5 o’clock in the morning, the two girls had already arrived in front of House of Auspiciousness in brand new clothes.

One girl wore a cotton-padded jacket embroidered with yellow bamboo and pink buds, a gold lock with cloud patterns and a gold necklace with twelve colored pearls. While the other one wore a dark green brocade jacket with squirrel fur edge and mild silver jewelries. Only the Suet White Jade which was strung on the silver necklace was very expensive and precious, looking crystal clear.

The room was very quiet. The window was half opened, letting some cool morning air with the smell of the flowers into the room. On the table on the east was a little purple jade censor carved with the pattern of two Qilin covering the Ganoderma, from which the smoke curled slowly to the ceiling.

Gong Hongxiao and Qiuniang were standing by the side. Hearing the sound of people using the chopsticks and plates, Qiuniang tried her best to restrain herself from looking over and remained silent with her head lowered. Meanwhile, Gong Hongxiao looked to Minglan and said, “Madam, why don’t you have the breakfast first?”

“I’m fine.” Minglan waved her hand. Seeing the tiredness on her face and hearing her hoarse voice, Gong Hongxiao only felt uncomfortable and lowered her head right away. In the meantime, Qiuniang couldn’t help looking to the side room, looking somewhat very absent-minded.

Right at this moment, Danju brought the two girls into the room. After the girls gave their obeisance, Minglan who was sitting in the middle of the room straightened up and put on a serious look. After she adjusted her breath, she started to talk,

“Don’t think you are still at your home when you go to school. Be careful of everything you say or do, never act randomly. Always be aware that you two represent the Gu family now. You have to behave according to our family rules. Listen more, watch more, say less and do less and see how others behave and act. Do more thinking when you run into anything and study hard from your tutors…”

Hearing her giving instructions in a gentle voice, the two girls nodded seriously. Minglan felt quite glad and even a bit good about herself to see the obedient look on their faces. Actually, she really wasn’t good at instructing because her major was punishing, such as beating others with boards, cutting others’ salary and sending others to jail. As for ideological education, that was the job for the propaganda department which was in the office next to hers on her previous life.

“Mama Cui have taught you all the rules. Don’t be so stubborn at the outside. Listen to everything your tutor say and always talk nicely.” Minglan, with a long face, exhorted Rong. After pondering for a while, she added, “If you are wronged out there, come back and tell me.”

Rong blushed and nodded hard, saying in a low voice, “Mother, don’t worry, I see.”

Minglan got a bit relieved. Then she turned to Xian and said gently, “Good girl, you never make me worried. I have to ask you to take care of Rong, don’t let her act randomly out there.”

Xian gave out a sweet smile, “Aunt, you can trust us. We’ll remember every word you said.”

Her voice sounded chipper and sincere, making Minglan very pleased. However, there was a sudden snort coming through from the side room. Although the sound was very light, Minglan swore that she had sensed the discontent and ridicule in that voice. This morning, under Gu Tingye’s sarcastic gaze, she had fought her drowsiness and got up early only because she had planned to give the last lecture to the two new students.

Minglan assumed that she must have looked quite silly when giving those instructions. With her face turning red, she ignored Gu Tingye’s voice and didn’t even turn around.

“All right. Now off you go. You don’t have to come to my place specifically in the future. Poor girls, you should sleep longer in the morning.” Minglan said those words with sympathy in her eyes, knowing that getting up early to go to school was such a horrible thing.

A clear sound of the porcelain chopsticks hitting the chopstick box. Minglan, teeth gritted, tried her best to restrain herself from turning around. ‘Fine, I want to sleep longer in the morning, OK? the only thing I want is sleep longer, so what?’

Everyone in the room kept silent, only Qiuniang took a few glances to the east side room.

When it was about time for the girls to leave, Danju brought them out. Xian stepped out of the room first, but Rong seemed a bit hesitant while keeping turning her head to look at Minglan with anxious look in her innocent eyes.

Minglan suddenly remembered something, then she called, “Rong.” Rong stopped right away and stared at Minglan.

“Study hard and be polite to others, but don’t let others bully you. Remember, your last name if Gu.” Minglan thought for a second and then added, “In capital, your father has never been bullied by anyone at the outside.” Second Master Gu was always a wild person since his childhood and conquered all the noble masters in the capital with his bare fists. Others could only pray that he wouldn’t bully them.

After Minglan had said that, there was a slight chuckle coming through from the east side room. Someone seemed to be holding back his laughter. Rong flashed a dazed look on her face. Minglan gnashed and told Rong to leave. After that, the little girl, head lowered, walked out of the room.

After all the maids and servants had left, a tall figure slipped out. Gu Tingye stood by the cabinet while rubbing a white handkerchief with his fingers. The red satin costume with dark golden fringe he wore made him look very mature.

Qiuniang got super excited seeing him and couldn’t speak anything with her lips shivering. Gong Hongxiao was smarter than her by saying in a hurry, “Madam, you have been busy for quite a while. Let me serve Master and you to eat.” As saying this, she wanted to walk over to support Minglan.

Gu Tingye frowned and said, “We have someone serving us here. You and Qiuniang can go back now.”

His voice sounded very stern, making no one dare to argue. Gong Hongxiao went stiff for a moment and then dismissed herself with a smile, followed by Qiuniang who seemed quite upset and reluctant to leave.

“I never see any other concubines who are so keen on giving obeisance to the madam like them.” Minglan looked at the two concubines who were sad to leave, and then turned to Gu Tingye with a meaningful look, “Master, why is this?”

Gu Tingye said nothing and only reclined on the cabinet. Minglan then answered her own question, “It must because I, as their madam, am so kind and upright that they couldn’t help but admire and respect me so much.”

“Come have breakfast.” The man put on a light smile as well as an amused look.

…

After seven or eight days, Minglan should express her thanks to First Madam Zheng according to the custom. Therefore, in the afternoon, she went to General Zheng’s mansion with some gifts, in order to thank First Madam Zheng for introducing a good tutor to her. According to Minglan’s experience from her childhood, a solemn person like First Madam Zheng wasn’t fond of the talkative people. The more Minglan talked, the more First Madam Zheng would dislike her. After she thanked First Madam Zheng sincerely, she didn’t know what to say, but it was also inappropriate for her to leave at once. At last, she racked her brain and finally decided to add some examples in her speech to increase her credibility.

“These days I found my Rong truly become more obedient and good-mannered.” When Rong called Minglan mother, she sounded more sincere instead of being reluctant and shy with a mosquito’s voice like before. It was true that sometimes only an outsider was able to give the guidance.

After Minglan pondered for a while, she added, “She finally could work hard on study without other’s monitoring.”

Although First Madam Zheng didn’t talk too much, but her smile seemed very kind and gentle, seeming to like Minglan’s clumsy statement. Little Shen shi chuckled and enlivened the atmosphere, “My niece said that your daughter was a tough girl. The first time Rong didn’t do a good job when the tutor check her study, then the next day she made a great progress right away.”

“Not only that,” Minglan covered her mouth with her handkerchief and chuckled, trying to speak in an earnest tone, “My girl is not a naughty girl anymore and becomes more filial to the elders. I heard from the maids who serve her that she has been practicing needle work these days and prepared to present some gifts for me and Master Gu at the New Year’s Eve. Oh my, I hope the needle work tutor wouldn’t go mad because of my silly girl.”

First Madam Zheng was amused, “It doesn’t matter. The girl will do great needle words as long as she is well guided.” She paused for a while and seemed to remember something, then she held back her laughter and said, “My girl’s fingers were also… clumsy like the sticks.”

It was lovely and nice in the room. Minglan let out a sigh of relief secretly. When she had been with Changbai and Old Madam Sheng, she could still act adorable and play dumb because she had been a little girl. However, it was not like she could pounce on First Madam Zheng and act cute now.