Chapter 24 Going to School
Madam Xiao didn't ask any further questions, and the matter was dropped.
The news brought by her uncle made the entire Lanting Pavilion very lively. The maids were overjoyed to learn that their young lady was going to the girls' school and prepared all the necessary items for her there overnight.
Bihui and Hongzhu were in a side room, laying out and checking the things they would need for tomorrow.
"These are gifts from the Madam and her sons: a book box, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones... wait, why did the eldest son also send a copy of the Thousand Character Classic?"
"What is this?" Bi Sui asked, unable to read.
Hongzhu was somewhat angry, her voice turning cold:
"This is a children's primer for learning to read. Even though Miss Mingming copied Buddhist scriptures and sent them over, and explained it to Madam, why does the eldest young master still not believe it?"
She had already heard from the other maids in the courtyard that she had copied the Buddhist scriptures.
The poor girl copied the text diligently and meticulously, word by word, only to be accused of having someone else do it. Hongzhu was furious and took her own writing out to show them, but the maids couldn't understand it. They just laughed and joked for a while before dispersing. What right did these servant maids have to question what their mistress had decided?
That wasn't all. She also found out that the person whose writing in the Buddhist scriptures resembled hers was none other than the Fourth Sister!
Hongzhu immediately understood that this was another scheme by the Fourth Miss, intended to make the Master, Madam, and several young masters think that the young lady was cunning and deceitful, and thus dislike her.
"I only regret that I can't tear Xiao Yuyao's face off with my own hands. Where did she come from... umm..."
Bihui, trembling with fear, covered her mouth and whispered in terror:
"Hongzhu, are you crazy? That's the Fourth Miss! If word gets out that you're insulting her like that, do you even want your life?"
Hongzhu snorted coldly, her voice icy:
"I've always been a person of strong likes and dislikes. If you treat me well, I will definitely repay you, but Fourth Miss..."
Bihui dared not let her continue, fearing she might hear something even more outrageous, and quickly interrupted her:
"Alright, alright, I know you're the kind of girl who holds grudges. Let's get ready quickly and get some rest."
Inside the bedroom, Xiao Yuxuan opened the red silk bag given to her by Lin Kuangzheng, revealing a roll full of silver notes.
Knowing that she couldn't manage the shop's land deeds well, she exchanged them all for real gold and silver, totaling two thousand taels.
In her previous life, Xiao Yuxuan received this money, but Madam Xiao took it away on the grounds that she was too young to manage money properly. It was never returned to her until she got married. This time, she will not tell anyone.
It was a rare sunny day. Xiao Yuxuan and Xiao Yuyao arrived at the carriage one after the other. Madam Xiao personally tidied Xiao Yuyao's hair and said:
"That's good. Now you two sisters can go to school together. Remember to take care of and support each other in the girls' school. Your sister Yuxuan has never been to a place like this before, so take good care of her. If there's anything she doesn't understand, teach her."
Xiao Yuyao held Madam Xiao's hand and shook it, saying coquettishly:
"Don't worry, Mother, I'll take care of everything."
"My mother didn't give me this many instructions on my first day of school. She's so biased!"
She laughed innocently, her tone lively and cheerful. If Hongzhu hadn't told her early in the morning that Baozhen Courtyard had secretly sent out a lot of broken porcelain pieces, Xiao Yuxuan would have believed it.
"Back then, your father personally educated you. Before you went to the girls' school, you were already familiar with the poems and books you were to learn. And the girls you went to school with were all girls you knew well. How can it be the same?"
Xiao Yuyao snuggled affectionately in Madam Xiao's arms, but her gaze was fixed on Xiao Yuxuan, secretly showing off with pride.
When she returned last night, she was furious to learn that Lin Kuangzheng had actually secured a spot for Xiao Yuxuan at the girls' school, allowing her to be admitted without taking the entrance exam.
It was her personal maid who reminded her that being able to enroll did not guarantee a successful graduation. In this dynasty, girls who could enter the girls' school were either rich or noble, but only those who graduated with excellence would have priority in the subsequent imperial concubine selection.
She figured it out: her goal was to become the fourth prince's wife, the future princess. In any case, with Xiao Yuxuan's qualifications, she would never become the crown princess, so she could never catch up with her in this lifetime.
Thinking that most of the girls in the school were her peers who were friends with her, Xiao Yuyao was in a good mood. Today, she was going to make Xiao Yuxuan realize her own worth.
"Mother, Yuyao, it's getting late, let's hurry up and go."
Xiao Jin peeked out from outside the door and, upon seeing Xiao Yuxuan on the other side, her expression suddenly became somewhat unnatural:
"I forgot that my fifth sister went today too. Are you all ready? It's time to go."
Xiao Jin was the fourth prince's study companion. He had to go to the palace early every morning. The girls' school was quite a distance from the palace, so in the past, he would take Xiao Yuyao to the girls' school every day before he went to the palace.
He didn't know why, but ever since he overheard his two younger sisters arguing that day, and saw his usually stubborn fifth sister looking unusually weak, a different emotion began to stir in his heart.
Yuyao was naturally well received by him, but Fifth Sister didn't seem to be the unreasonable person she used to be.
Perhaps, perhaps there is some misunderstanding between the two of them. Since he is the older brother, he cannot be so short-sighted as before and hurt his two younger sisters' feelings.
Having made up his mind, he had been trying to find some time to talk to his fifth sister, but he had been busy with other things and hadn't found the opportunity. This morning, he finally had the chance to send his two sisters to school, but for some reason, he subconsciously forgot about his fifth sister.
Xiao Yuxuan wore a light sky-blue dress, with only two pearl hairpins in her hair. Her eyebrows were gentle and her lips were smiling. She just stood there quietly, but she made people feel that the sunlight was warm and that they were at ease and comfortable.
Behind her was only a ten-year-old maidservant dressed in the same simple attire, carrying very little. Xiao Jin frowned. It was her first time going to the girls' school, yet she only brought such a young girl, and probably hadn't brought everything. She was truly a worry.
"Is this all you brought?"
He strode up to Xiao Yuxuan, looked at what she had brought, and then looked at the large and small bags that Xiao Yuyao was carrying in another carriage.
Unlike boys, girls go to school with the necessary writing implements, books, and other essentials. They also bring clothes, hairpins, cosmetics, snacks, and other refreshments. Some girls even bring their own cushions, paperweights, and spring water for grinding ink.
He naturally assumed that the things the maids had prepared for her were incomplete, and he became somewhat angry.
"Third brother, you're overthinking it. Mother and all my brothers sent a lot of things yesterday, and the maids have also prepared everything carefully. But I'm going to study, so I'll only bring the necessary things."
Xiao Jin's anger, which hadn't even started, immediately died down.
During this time, Fifth Sister seemed like a different person; her voice had softened considerably. He then thought of the tear stains and medicine on her face that day, and the words that were on the tip of his tongue became:
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