Seeing her nonchalant expression, Zhao Rou said anxiously, "Elder sister, your talent was first-rate when you were in Lingyang City. You were a talented woman admired by everyone. Don't you really want to give this opportunity a try?"
Zhao Yun scoffed lightly, slowly turned around, her eyes filled with indifference and disdain, as if nothing in the world could catch her eye.
"Third sister, although Father has retired from his official post, my status as the legitimate daughter of the former Grand Secretary is unparalleled in nobility. How can I be compared to an ordinary woman?"
Her words carried an undeniable arrogance: "Although Yunxuan Academy has a prestigious reputation, it is ultimately just an academy. The female teachers it recruits are probably a mixed bag, with women of humble origins and shallow knowledge possibly infiltrating its ranks. If I were to set foot there, wouldn't I be lowering myself and associating with those vulgar women?"
At this point, Zhao Yun's brows furrowed with even more disdain. She gently raised her hand, her fingertips lightly tracing the subtle patterns on the rim of the Ge ware vase, and slowly said:
“My talent and wisdom should be used to assist my family and bring glory to our lineage, not to be compared with those women who teach just to make a living.”
Zhao Rou bit her lip, unsure how to persuade her further.
Her eldest sister had always been proud, and although she was now nominally Li Huai'an's divorced wife, she never considered herself inferior. She would always be the noble legitimate daughter.
"Sigh." Zhao Rou sighed almost inaudibly, still unwilling to give up, and continued to persuade her:
"Elder sister, your talent and status are unmatched, and I hold you in the highest esteem." Zhao Rou paused, then continued with a smile, "But everything in this world has its own beauty. Although Yunxuan Academy is not a place where the powerful and wealthy gather, it does bring together students from all over the world who yearn for knowledge and pursue truth. If your wisdom, elder sister, could transform into spring rain, nourishing this sea of learning..."
"Third sister!" Zhao Yun suddenly raised her voice, speaking impatiently, "Don't mention this matter again. I won't go to such places to show my face!"
Zhao Qian burst into tears at the sudden increase in Zhao Yun's voice. Zhao Yun strode over, took her daughter from Zhao Rou's arms, and shooed Zhao Rou away unhappily, "Third sister has been tired all day, go and rest."
"Okay, then big sister should rest early too. I'll go check on Mother; she hasn't come out for dinner yet."
"Then hurry up and go," Zhao Yun urged.
Outside the main house, Baozhu and Nanxing gazed at the starry sky and chatted idly.
"Sister Baozhu, I also really want to become a female teacher at Yunxuan Academy, just like the Third Miss!" Nanxing said with a look of envy.
“Third Miss, you’re going to teach opera? What are you going to teach them? Counting beans? Or wiping tables and doing other servant’s work?” Baozhu teased her with a smile.
"Oh dear, Sister Baozhu, please don't make fun of me!" Nanxing laughed as she felt a shadow appear above her head.
She quickly stopped laughing, looked up, and saw that the person who came was Zhao Rou. She immediately became serious, and together with Baozhu, she bowed to Zhao Rou and said in unison, "Greetings, Third Miss!"
"Baozhu, has Mother rested?" Zhao Rou asked with a smile. "Has she eaten?"
“Reporting to Third Miss, Madam is reading medical books in her room and has instructed that no one is allowed to disturb her,” Baozhu replied respectfully. “Madam has already eaten and drunk her fill, Third Miss, you don’t need to worry,” Nanxing interjected from the side.
Zhao Rou nodded, "That's good, thank you both for your hard work."
After saying that, she turned and left. Baozhu and Nanxing watched her until she was out of sight.
“Sister Baozhu, I feel like the Third Miss is glowing.” After saying this, Nanxing glanced at the west wing and muttered, “Of the three young ladies in our mansion, one is an empress and the other is a female tutor. I wonder what the eldest young lady will be in the future?”
"Shut up! You can keep the Second Miss's identity a secret from the Eldest Miss, no matter what!" Baozhu scolded.
Startled by Baozhu's shout, Nanxing stuck out his tongue, quickly covered his mouth, and nodded to indicate that he understood.
The two continued to stand guard outside the door. As night deepened, the courtyard became quiet, with only the occasional chirping of insects rising and falling, gradually fading away.
When Baozhu woke up in the outer room, she peeked into the inner room and found Zhang Wan still reading medical books. Although the lady had done similar things before, it had been a long time since she had seen her reading medical books all night long like this.
"Madam, are you...are you alright?"
"Ah, okay... I'm fine. I—" Zhang Wan said as she stood up, but suddenly everything went black before her eyes. With a scream from Baozhu, she collapsed to the ground.
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