The next day when Chu Jin Yao woke up, the first thing she did was look at Qin Yi.
“Qi Ze. Qi Ze?” Chu Jin Yao called him softly but did not receive a response.
It’s over. He is angry with me! Chu Jin Yao’s heart felt really miserable. She called out a few more times, but Qin Yi made no movements. So when Ding Xiang, Shan Cha, and the rest of the maids came in, she could only hold it down without bringing it up.
After washing up, Chu Jin Yao changed into a light-red jacket with a standing collar and a seven pleated ginger-yellow skirt. She then wore a bright-red cloak before hurrying over to RongNingTang.
She greeted Old Furen who nodded indifferently.
Chu Jin Xian was sitting next to Old Chu Furen and spoke to her, “These days you all have been learning etiquette from the MoMos and this is the most important matter, so be more diligent. Although MoMo has not yet arrived, one must not be lazy and review the calligraphy lessons beforehand.”
Chu Jin Yao bowed to Chu Jin Xian. “Thanking Eldest Sister.” She then hurried over to the class.
Chu Jin Xian had reminded her to practice her calligraphy earlier… Chu Jin Yao’s head hurt upon hearing it. It seemed that after yesterday’s break, they could not take things easy from today onward. Other than learning etiquette, practicing needlework and calligraphy were required.
Chu Jin Yao had lived in a poor family for the first thirteen years. When food and clothing were a problem, how could one talk about embroidery and calligraphy, that was enjoyed by the wealthy? However, as the saying goes, when it rains it pours, the few young ladies seemed to have allied today. After sitting down for a while, Seventh Young Lady, the Di-daughter of the Second Household said, “MoMo, Fifth Young Lady’s etiquette yesterday was the best, we sisters can see only the other’s dust and have no hope of catching up. One does not know how her needlework and four scholarly arts are like. Why not have Fifth Older Sister casually make a few strokes and allow our eyes to be opened?”
Before Chu Jin Yao could speak, Chu Jin Miao quickly said, “Yes. Yesterday MoMo had especially praised Fifth Young Lady, so one thinks Fifth Young Lady did not reveal her depth and still has many abilities that will surprise us. Fifth Young Lady must not be humble!”
The other girls also helped add on. Seeing it was so, MoMo said, “Since this is the case then Fifth Young Lady can just write a few words casually.”
Seventh Young Lady revealed a triumphant smile while Chu Jin Miao lowered her head to smile softly. During the current times, literacy was a privilege of the few. For generations, farmers had had their backs to the sun and even though they could speak, they were unable to recognise a single word. What’s more, many of the merchants in the cities were still illiterate, and there were even fewer females in the Inner Courtyard that were literate. Chu Jin Yao used to do farm work in her previous place and for a female to grow up in such a family, not to mention writing, even recognizing words would be a problem, right?
This was the common consensus of the young ladies. Eldest Young Lady had a respectable status and would soon be married off thus did not participate in the selection. Second Young Lady was the Shu-daughter of the Second Household and was fifteen this year. She was too old and was trained by Madam Yan to be agreeable to everything, and thus already out of the game. Chu Jin Chan, Third Young Lady of the Marquis Residence, was Shu-born and fourteen. Her age was just right but her Shu identity was already inferior to that of her Di-born sisters.
The Fourth Young Lady was Chu Jin Miao. She was very talented and raised by Madam Zhao’s money. If she were not mistakenly carried back, the position of study companion would already be in her pocket, but things were in such a coincidence. Chu Jin Miao was a daughter of the farmer, Su family, and not a young lady of the Residence of Marquis Chang Xing. If it were not for the elder’s compassion, she could no longer live in the Marquis Residence. As it was to select a playmate for the County Princess, it was best if it were a daughter from a Marquis lineage. It would be normal were a daughter of a lower-ranked official chosen but excessive for a farmer’s daughter!
This was why Chu Jin Miao’s competitiveness had greatly reduced.
The next suitably aged young lady was Chu Jin Yao, Fifth Young Lady. Even though she was the Di-daughter, she had not been raised in the Marquis Residence for the first thirteen years. The Prince and Prince Consort could be picky about this. Then came Sixth Young Lady, Third Master’s Di-daughter. She was talented, her status and age were appropriate but her father was born from a YiNiang. Those years ago, when the Old Marquis was alive, he was muddle-headed and had favoured Third Master’s birth mother, Madam Yang, greatly that she became very arrogant and dared not to give face to the official wife. Old Chu Furen tolerated it all along, waiting until the Old Marquis passed on before immediately selling Madam Yang away. Thereon, she had rarely treated the Third Household well. Even though Sixth Young Lady was suitable in all aspects, she was a Shu-Di-born. One feared that she would not be able to pass Old Chu Furen at all.
Below Sixth Young Lady, was Seventh Young Lady. She was the Di-daughter of Second Furen, Madam Yan, and had an arrogant personality. Allowing this type of person to be a study companion for the County Princess… Sixth Young Lady and Chu Jin Miao thought it was not possible.
Seventh Young Lady was twelve and considered somewhat young. Next was Eighth Young Lady, who was obviously out of the selection as she was only six years old. So, in the end, those who could compete were Third Young Lady, the Shu-daughter of the First Household, Chu Jin Miao, Chu Jin Yao, Sixth Young Lady, the Di-daughter of the Third Household. Seventh Young Lady had been secretly struck off by many people. The four had their strengths, and also some small flaws that offset things, making everyone evenly matched. No one won nor lost.
This was also saying Chu Jin Miao, Third Young Lady, Sixth Young Lady, and the rest had reached a consensus that they were not fearful of Seventh Young Lady and should work together to expel one out so the three of them could later fight for that two positions. As such, no outsider would be able to take advantage. A Chu Jin Yao of the highest status and best appearance but without connections for she had only just returned, was the best target.
The few young ladies allied together to push Chu Jin Yao out. They knew all about her. It did not matter that she could do needlework or greetings. She could not recognize words or write, so how could someone like her be a study companion? Hua MoMo and Deng MoMo were from the Prince Residence and in some sense, they were the eyes of the Prince Consort. As long as one destroyed Chu Jin Yao’s image in the hearts of these two MoMos, the matter would be half successful.
Thus today, Chu Jin Miao was determined to force Chu Jin Yao to write before everyone, so that she would completely sweep her reputation away and have no chance of recovery. The other young ladies also helped enthusiastically.
Deng MoMo knew that she had praised Chu Jin Yao yesterday, so for her not to let Chu Jin Yao do anything today, one feared that she would not be able to convince everyone. Thus, Deng MoMo smiled and looked at Chu Jin Yao and said, “Fifth Young Lady, just casually write some words.”
Chu Jin Yao was absolutely solemn as she stood up and bowed to Deng MoMo, “MoMo, without hiding from you, I was carried away by mistake when I was just born and in a freak combination of factors, Fourth Young Lady was carried back to the Marquis Residence while I was left in the farmer family and was only brought back by Father in January. I was poor since young and cannot compare to the sisters who have lived luxuriously. I have many shortcomings in calligraphy and needlework and hope that MoMo would forgive me.”
Chu Jin Miao was quick to retort, “Fifth Young Lady’s trick of diverting the disaster to the East is used well but it is not I that harmed you. Don’t blame everything on me. Even if you want to sell yourself as pitiful, you have to be aware that both MoMos are here to select the study companion for the County Princess and not a storyteller. No matter how many grievances you have, you cannot just use it to get through things, right?”
Seventh Young Lady also chimed in, “Yes. She told you to write then just write. Why do you talk so much?”
Hua MoMo, the one who was teaching etiquette yesterday, was also present. She only knew that Fifth Young Lady had just returned to the residence but never expected that there were so many factors around it. Now, she did not like Chu Jin Miao. She had occupied the other person’s identity and status but still spoke nonsense like ‘It is not me that harmed you. Don’t blame everything on me’. It could be seen that she had a cold nature. However, no matter how much heartache Hua MoMo felt for this hardworking and sensible Fifth Young Lady, she could not be biased towards her after this. Hua MoMo was from the Prince Residence and had to consider the interest of the Prince Residence first. Even though Fifth Young Lady has a rough life and was in distress, the matter of the County Princess, in the end, was more important. A Young Lady, illiterate and unable to write, could not be the County Princess’s study companion.
Hua MoMo was planning to speak for Chu Jin Yao to relieve her of her predicament. But once she spoke, it meant that she had admitted Chu Jin Yao’s ignorance and eliminated her even though she had helped resolve the embarrassment. Her words were almost at her lips when Chu Jin Yao spoke.
“I am only asking MoMos to forgive my bad handwriting. Have I said that I cannot do it?”
Chu Jin Yao then picked up the brush, dipped it into the ink, and wrote a string of words on the paper.
Hua MoMo and Deng MoMo were stunned by Chu Jin Yao’s unassuming aura and immediately went up to take a look. Taken aback, the rest of the young ladies looked at one another before going up for a look. All they saw were the words ‘distance tests a horse’s strength’ (judge people after a period of time) written in an upright manner.
Although her writing was immature, it could be seen that she was still rather unfamiliar with using the brush, her words were correct and the strokes thorough. It could be seen that she had practiced it. Even though it was not good, it could be taken out to show others.
This was indeed a turn of events and the willow trees made shade with the flowers emitting light (a glimmer of hope appearing in one’s darkest hour). Even Hua MoMo had believed that Chu Jin Yao was illiterate and thus her expectations were very low. Upon seeing the girl write the words proficiently, the writing had greatly exceeded her expectations, she was overjoyed. She was even more excited than when seeing the small delicate words on a hairpin.
Moreover, the words ‘distance tests a horse’s strength’, held double meaning and was just perfect.
From Deng MoMo and Hua MoMo’s expressions, Chu Jin Yao knew she had passed the test. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and put the brush down before smiling at Chu Jin Miao. “I have never been angry with Fourth Young Lady and did not think that you are the dove occupying the magpie’s nest and harmed me. On the contrary, it is Fourth Young Lady who seems to be brooding over and often thinks about the matter. Now, in front of all the sisters and both MoMos, I might as well speak directly. I do not mind your existence, so Fourth Young Lady does not need to keep on fighting with me.”
Chu Jin Miao’s face became extremely ugly. She could not strike but instead got bitten by Chu Jin Yao. When the secretly allied Third Young Lady and Sixth Young Lady witnessed this scene, they immediately abandoned Chu Jin Yao and extricated themselves from the picture.
Chu Jin Yao looked at Chu Jin Miao’s expression and secretly said she deserves it. However, she maintained an upright and open expression and continued talking. “As to how Fourth Young Lady thinks of me, I cannot manage it. Today, you specially mentioned me out of all the sisters and instructed me to come out to write. I am a stupid person and could not understand why Fourth Older Sister would do such a thing. Perhaps it is to let me reveal myself to MoMo. I will thank you in advance!”
Saying so, Chu Jin Yao turned and bowed towards MoMo. “MoMo, my writings cannot be shown outside but it is Fourth Young Lady, who has been reading poetry and books since childhood. She is then the genuine talented young lady. You must not misunderstand the Residence of Marquis Chang Xing because of my writings. Our family’s Fourth Young Lady’s calligraphy is the model among the young ladies of the Residence of Marquis Chang Xing!”
The other young ladies said in their hearts that she was not at all dull. First, she sold her misery, then placed others on a pedestal. Wasn’t this done proficiently? Fortunately, Chu Jin Yao was only targeting Chu Jin Miao. Had she gone to war against everyone who had allied, all the young ladies would have definitely joined hands to deal with her. However, Chu Jin Yao only targeted Chu Jin Miao and when the rest of the young ladies saw that the flames of war did not burn them, they instead abandoned the alliance and sat back to watch the show.
Chu Jin Yao felt in her heart that this was what Qin Yi had meant. The stratagem of sowing dissension, to besiege Wei and rescue Zhao (relieving a besieged ally by attacking the home base of the besiegers). It was impossible for one to just fight back angrily when being besieged by everyone. So, only by focusing on one of them, could one separate the opponent. Then one could defeat them individually and finally turn defeat into victory.
Chu Jin Yao silently sighed. Qin Yi was indeed a talent. It would be a shame to put him in the Inner Courtyard to fight and scheme.
Chu Jin Yao’s countermeasures were very useful and the person to be isolated immediately became Chu Jin Miao. She had never expected that Chu Jin Yao could write and judging from her posture, she was a veteran at it. She was so annoyed that she believed Chu Jin Yao had deliberated pretended to be a pig to eat a tiger (pretending to be weak, dumb, or ignorant to take advantage of others) so that she would be embarrassed instead. And had fallen for her scheme and pushed her out to the MoMos. It would have been alright if Chu Jin Yao were pushed out. But now, not only was she perfectly fine but also used her writings and won the admiration of both MoMos. Chu Jin Miao and the others had become provocative at fault finding. Chu Jin Miao was secretly anxious. She had suffered a double loss today. She could not push Chu Jin Yao away and even left a bad impression on the MoMos. She had to find a way to make up for it.
Thus, Chu Jin Miao bowed and said to the MoMos, “One has shown one’s incompetence.”
Then, picking up the brush she used all her power to write down part of the Women Doctrine carefully. She did her best to bring out her highest level of skill. However, because she had made things difficult for Chu Jin Yao initially, and that Chu Jin Yao had later praised her to heaven, unknowingly, the expectations of both the MoMos were much higher. When they subsequently saw Chu Jin Miao’s writings, even though it was much better than Chu Jin Yao’s, they felt that it was ordinary since their expectations were too high.
Deng MoMo only lightly said, “Good.” Then instructed Chu Jin Miao to sit down.
Chu Jin Miao’s face suddenly turned blue and then red, making it extremely ugly.
After studying, Chu Jin Yao happened to encounter Chu Jin Miao when she was leaving. She stopped and deliberately spoke, “Fourth Older Sister, why don’t you leave first?”
Chu Jin Yao’s voice was not soft, so the surrounding maids and servants looked over in this direction. Chu Jin Yao had said to Chu Jin Miao ‘I do not mind your existence so you do not need to keep on fighting with me’. If she were to really make things difficult for Chu Jin Yao, wasn’t she just solidifying the saying that she was making trouble for Chu Jin Yao? Chu Jin Miao was so angry that she trembled slightly, she could easily glimpse the smile in the other’s eyes.
She did it on purpose! Chu Jin Miao gritted her teeth as she thought about it. It seemed that she had underestimated Chu Jin Yao.
Chu Jin Miao smiled stiffly as she spoke, “We are all sisters. I have always treated Fifth Younger Sister as my real younger sister to dote. How would I be calculative with these things? Fifth Young Lady should leave first.”
Chu Jin Yao pursed her lips and smiled sweetly at Chu Jin Miao before leaving with her maids.
After walking far away, Chu Jin Yao moved away from the maids and spoke quietly to Qin Yi. “You are really amazing! You indeed guess everything correctly.”
Qin Yi replied with a soft “En”. He thought in his heart that he was the Di-son of Empress Yuan and had seen those concubines fighting in the Palace since young. All the little fights in the Inner Courtyard could not even match the little finger of a consort in the Palace. With him watching, how could Chu Jin Yao be schemed by these nasty girls?
Wasn’t that totally looking down on a Crown Prince like him?
