Chapter 15: Enlightenment (Part 1)

Mo returned to her own courtyard. The maidservant by her side pulled up the water-red door curtain. In the room, ice-filled blue and white porcelain basins were placed in each corner. Another maidservant hurried over to fan Mo as she entered the room, and she immediately felt the coolness.

After Mo sat down, the maidservant brought a fan to cool her. After a while, Mo waved her hand to dismiss the maidservant and puzzledly asked, "Mom, do you think this girl is guarding against me?"

Madam Liu nodded, "It seems like Third Miss is guarding against the lady. But the lady has always treated her like her own daughter, so why has she suddenly changed? Madam, Ge Mama said that it seems like she hasn't been the same since that nightmare that night. Madam, do you think it's because the old lady said something?"

Mo found Yueyao's sudden change difficult to handle. She had thought she was easy to coax, but it turned out that the girl had indeed changed. She couldn't understand why she had different thoughts now. But Mo shook her head at Madam Liu's words, "No, although the old lady doesn't like me, she wouldn't say such things to the child. What did the old lady say? How much family wealth does that girl have? Did the Second Master really hand over most of the family property to that girl?"

Mo was very clear that even when Yueyao was in Jiangnan, she was always studying music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and she didn't touch any household affairs, let alone care about money.

Gu Mama said that Yueyao locked the money given to her by Dongbo directly in a box and never touched it. As for how much, the old lady wasn't very clear. In any case, this kind of privacy couldn't be asked casually. Otherwise, it would attract the girl's attention.

Madam Liu said confidently, "The old lady said that Third Miss has quite a bit of family wealth. It's estimated to be at least tens of thousands! After all, the Second Master has held lucrative positions for these years. Not to mention other things, just the annual gifts and respect from the subordinates during festivals bring in a substantial income. In addition, Ma's dowry was also worth tens of thousands of taels of silver." It wasn't that the Second Master was corrupt, but he held lucrative positions. Receiving tens of thousands of taels of silver each year was definitely an easy task. If there were other sources of income, he could easily make tens of thousands in a year.

Mo felt suffocated when she heard Madam Liu's words about the money. In previous years, when the Second Master brought back festival gifts, they were all dry and worthless specialties. She had never seen a single tael of silver.

Both the Second Master and his wife were dead, and with his many years of service, the family wealth must be substantial. But all he brought back were some bulky and worthless items, and there were only a few thousand taels of silver.

She didn't believe that the Second Mistress could have so little family wealth. It was impossible that she only had this much. She must have hidden it, and the most likely place was with the Third Miss. Through investigation, it was as she expected, the money was all with the Third Miss.

She couldn't see or touch so much money. Mo's heart felt like a worm crawling. If she could get her hands on this money, the household's expenses wouldn't be so tight. With the money, the Master's career could also be smoother, and the marriages of her sons and daughter could be arranged more splendidly. But the old lady held everything in her hands. She couldn't touch anything. On the surface, she managed the household, but in reality, she had to listen to the old lady for everything. She had been married for sixteen years and had never had a comfortable year.

Madam Liu cautiously said, "Madam, it seems like Third Miss has changed. She doesn't get close to the lady anymore. Madam, I always feel like the old lady said something?" Besides this reason, Madam Liu really couldn't think of any other reasons.

Mo shook her head, "No, the old lady wouldn't say anything to the Third Miss. If she had, she would have said it earlier, not now. Besides, I'm thinking of the child. The Third Miss, at such a young age, holding such a large sum of money, is not safe." The old lady had held the household expenses for years, and she had suffered many losses, both openly and secretly. But the old lady had a good face and would never say anything negative about her in front of her juniors. Mo was sure of this.

Madam Liu shook her head, "Madam, Third Miss's temperament has changed. We can't use the same methods as before." Madam Liu meant that they should use other methods.

Mo clenched her fists, "No, everything must remain the same. Although Doctor Tang is very strict, I can see that the old lady doesn't have many days left. It's only a matter of one or two years. I've endured for more than ten years, and I can endure for a few more. It's better than being caught by her and suffering when the Master gets angry." If she hadn't been careful and attentive, maintaining relationships in the backyard, the family wouldn't be as it was now. But the old lady had always been extremely cautious and had never trusted her. Fortunately, she had given birth to two sons, and her sons were capable. Otherwise, the family would have been lost long ago.

Madam Liu nodded.

Yueyao and her elder brother had lunch together. Today's lunch was quite sumptuous, with braised lion's head (made with vegetarian ingredients, as they were in mourning and couldn't eat meat), fresh tofu with flowers, shredded cabbage with sesame sauce, and milk-flavored asparagus soup.

Yueyao couldn't eat as little as before. She now forced herself to eat at least one bowl of rice at every meal, and if she could, she would eat a little more. Not eating rice and only consuming supplements would be very damaging to her health. After eating, she had to walk around slowly for a while, which would aid digestion.

This is also the insight gained in the temple back then. The venerable nun was very skilled in medicine. She often treated some ladies, which was also an important source of income for the temple. After she arrived at the temple, she fell ill a few times. Seeing her weak condition, the venerable nun taught her the Five Animal Frolics. Over time, her health gradually improved, and she basically didn't get sick anymore. So, she was planning to practice the Five Animal Frolics now. However, the Five Animal Frolics are not elegant. If she starts practicing without sufficient reason, it will definitely raise suspicions.

Zhengge finished a bowl of rice and put down his chopsticks. Yueyao smiled and asked, "Are you full? If not, let Hualai add more for you. How much you eat, she will add."

Zhengge hesitated for a moment and said, "I'm full."

Yueyao felt a sourness in her heart. If he was truly full, he shouldn't have hesitated. Nevertheless, Yueyao gently touched Zhengge's forehead and said, "Hualai, add a little more rice for him. He doesn't look full." After instructing, she said to Zhengge, "You are growing up. You need to eat more to grow fast and tall. Sister is still waiting for Zhengge to grow up and protect her, right?"

Hualai picked up a sweet white bowl and added rice for Zhengge.

Zhengge hesitated for a moment. He felt both happy and worried, "Can I really protect sister?" He also wanted to protect his sister; this was not a dream.

Yueyao picked up a lion's head and put it in Zhengge's bowl, "Of course it's true. When our Zhengge grows into a man, he will be able to protect his sister. So, eat more and grow up quickly."

Zhengge looked at Hualai and Muqiu, and both nodded. Zhengge became happy and took the bowl from Hualai's hand, eating happily. After finishing, he asked for more.

Yueyao saw that Zhengge's appetite was almost at its limit and stopped him from having more. She asked Hualai to serve him a bowl of soup.

Hualai was very happy in her heart. The young lady had truly relaxed. She would no longer be immersed in the shadow of the passing of the second master and the second mistress. With the young master by her side in the future, she believed the young lady would get better and better.

After finishing lunch, Yueyao took Zhengge's hand and walked in the courtyard. Her Orchid Creek Courtyard was very spacious, and there were many flowers planted in the courtyard.

A gust of wind blew, and the fresh air was filled with a strong, pure fragrance. It was intoxicating.

Yueyao pointed to a thriving area of orchids on the edge of the courtyard, "Zhengge, these are orchids that father planted. They are blooming now."

Zhengge was familiar with the term "father" but unfamiliar with the concept of a father as a person. After hearing Yueyao's words, he murmured, "Father?"

Yueyao then told Zhengge about how their father had studied hard here and eventually achieved great success in the imperial examinations.

Zhengge listened very attentively. His little face was full of seriousness, and he finally looked at Yueyao. He earnestly asked, "Sister, can I become a person like father?"

Yueyao felt relieved to hear this. Regardless of whether he could or not, as long as Zhengge had this aspiration and ambition, it would be enough. Yueyao nodded and affirmed, "Of course you can. As long as Zhengge is willing to work hard, he will definitely become a person respected and admired like father."

After hearing this, Zhengge's eyes lit up, but then they dimmed. He fidgeted with his sleeves, showing his uneasiness. Indeed, after a while, Zhengge hesitantly said, "Sister, Aunt said I'm a fool, and Mother also said I'm so stupid that I'm going to die. I'm not as smart as father, and I can't be as good as father. Sister, will you not want me then?"

Listening to Zhengge's cautious words and seeing his anxious look as if she could abandon him at any moment, Yueyao couldn't help but hold Zhengge and tears fell from her eyes. She didn't want to cry, but thinking about those tragic past events, she couldn't help it.

Hualai held Muqiu back and shook her head, "Don't go." She wanted the young lady and the young master to get along well and strengthen their bond.

Using his small hands, Zhengge helped Yueyao wipe away her tears, "Sister, don't cry. I will listen to sister. As long as sister doesn't despise my foolishness." Being called foolish so many times, even Zhengge himself believed he was foolish.

After wiping away her tears, Yueyao felt a deep resentment towards Aunt You and the maid who took care of Zhengge. What had they turned Zhengge into? "No, my Zhengge is not foolish. Those who call Zhengge foolish are the foolish ones. Zhengge, the most important thing in learning to read and write is not intelligence, but diligence. As long as Zhengge is not afraid of hardship, he will definitely achieve something."

Zhengge was about to swear, "Sister, I'm not afraid of hardship."

Yueyao stood up and said, "Good, since Zhengge is not afraid of hardship, then from today, sister will start teaching you to read and write. If you are afraid of hardship, sister will spank your hands." In this aspect, she had to be strict.

Yueyao led Zhengge to the front yard, preparing to teach him to read and write in his father's study.

Yueyao and Zhengge entered the study. The first thing Zhengge saw was the four yellow pear wood carved silk screens on the main hall wall, depicting a spring outing scene painted by Master Lian Dong.

In front of the screen was a black nanmu wood inlaid with luo xiu marble incense burner on a table, with two matching armchairs on the sides, covered with green cushions. Due to the mourning period, the furnishings were also very simple, and colorful items were put away.

Yueyao led Zhengge into the study. Near the window was a large bookcase. It was filled with books, several thousand of them. Under the south-facing window, there was also a pear wood couch with a table next to it, holding a blue porcelain gu with several orchids inside. The entire room was simple, delicate, elegant, and pleasant.

Yueyao looked at the table and chairs where tea was served, and the chess pieces on the side table were scattered, as if the game had not been finished and was waiting for the owner to return and continue.

Yueyao thought about her father's youth, studying and playing chess here. Unfortunately, she would never see her father's figure again.

Zhen Ge pulled on Yueyao's skirt. Yueyao came to her senses and realized that the desk was too high for Zhen Ge to write comfortably. Normally, the desk should be replaced. However, Yueyao was reluctant to do so because changing the desk would disrupt the layout of the study. After looking around, Yueyao finally decided to teach Zhen Ge to read and recognize characters on the tea table.

Yueyao planned to start by teaching Zhen Ge to recognize characters, making sure he could recite the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Thousand Character Classic. Then she would teach him Tang and Song poetry. After he had mastered all of these, she would send him to school.

Unfortunately, Yueyao couldn't find the books she wanted after searching for a long time. In the end, she wrote out the Hundred Family Surnames herself. It would have to do for now, until she had the chance to go out and buy the books, or until she could ask someone to bring them back.

Yueyao picked up a brush and looked at the dried inkstone. It had been a long time since she had been in the study, and she had forgotten many things. However, when Hualai wanted to use the inkstone, Yueyao couldn't bear to let her. She asked Hualai to find another ordinary inkstone to use. This was something her father had used, and Yueyao wanted to preserve it. Even though it felt a bit silly, she just wanted to keep it.

Hualai's nose felt a bit sour.