Chapter 7: Personnel Change
Qiu Heng had a lot to learn during those ten years, the most arduous of which was martial arts. Standing for an hour was easy for her, but she still had five people to kill, so she really didn't have time to enjoy that ease.
"Sixth Miss, you may begin." Zhu Mama interpreted Qiu Heng's momentary silence as reluctance, and she sneered inwardly.
So what if she's impeccable in every way—standing, walking, sitting, and lying down? When she'll master it is entirely up to her.
"Please tell me, Granny Zhu, what level of learning is required? Is it based on the standards of the older sisters, or are there other requirements?"
Upon hearing this, Granny Zhu's face immediately darkened: "Sixth Miss, just do as I say. I will let you know when it is time."
Qiu Heng shook her head: "Without a clear goal, I won't be able to eat or sleep."
What a ridiculous excuse!
The initial shock at seeing Qiu Heng's every move as graceful as any noblewoman turned into annoyance at being provoked.
"If this is the attitude of the Sixth Miss, please forgive my incompetence. I can only ask the Old Madam to find someone else to teach her."
"Then I'll go ask Grandmother." Qiu Heng lifted her foot and walked out.
Granny Zhu hesitated for a moment before chasing after him.
What's wrong with this sixth young lady? Isn't she afraid of being threatened?
As Qiu Heng stepped out of Lengxiang Residence, she glanced discreetly to her left.
The flower branch swayed slightly, and a servant boy ran off.
"Young master, the sixth young lady has come out and looks like she's heading to Qiansong Hall."
"Great!" Qiu Song clapped his hands, grabbed his slingshot, and ran out.
Granny Zhu caught up with Qiu Heng and warned in a low voice, "The old lady just arranged for the sixth young lady to learn proper manners, and the sixth young lady went to make a scene with the old lady. Aren't you afraid of being punished by the old lady?"
Qiu Heng walked slowly, looking innocent: "I'm going to reason with my grandmother."
Reasoning with her? That uneducated little girl is truly foolish and ridiculous.
"Sixth Miss, have you thought this through? If you displease the Old Madam, I will have no choice but to be even stricter with you."
Qiu Heng tilted her head: "If Granny Zhu doesn't want to disturb the old lady, then we'll go back to Lengxiang Residence. From now on, I'll have an easier time learning, and Granny Zhu will have an easier time teaching."
"I'm just a servant, I have no such intentions," said Granny Zhu expressionlessly, rejecting her suggestion to let the situation slide.
Of the original five daughters of the Earl's Mansion, including the eldest daughter who went to the palace, none of them were as unruly as she was. She wanted to see what good the sixth daughter could get from the old lady. Ignorance is bliss!
“Granny Zhu is so upright and incorruptible, no wonder Grandmother chose you to teach me—” Qiu Heng said, when suddenly her foot slipped.
A whooshing sound came, and something hit Granny Zhu's cheek.
Granny Zhu let out a scream, startling the birds that had landed on the flowers and trees, which then scattered in a flurry. The boy hiding behind the flowers and trees, his smugness still lingering, realized he had attacked the wrong person and ran away in a flash.
Qiu Heng bent down to pick up the object that had hit Granny Zhu and put it into her sleeve: "Is Granny Zhu alright?"
Granny Zhu's cheeks went numb, and she spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. She stared at the bloody saliva for a moment, then her vision went black and she fainted.
One of the maids and servants who rushed over upon hearing the commotion exclaimed, "Oh dear, Granny Zhu faints at the sight of blood!"
After a noisy commotion, Qiu Heng and the unconscious Zhu Mama arrived in front of the old lady.
The old lady's face turned ashen: "What happened?"
"I was talking to Granny Zhu in the garden when something suddenly flew by and hit Granny Zhu in the cheek." Qiu Heng opened her palm. "It was this mud ball that hit Granny Zhu."
The old lady took a closer look and immediately knew who had made the mud ball—Song'er had been misbehaving again.
In the old lady's opinion, it was perfectly normal for her ten-year-old grandson to be a little naughty, so she changed the subject: "Let's wake up Granny Zhu first."
As the maid pinched her philtrum repeatedly, Granny Zhu slowly regained consciousness. Upon seeing the old lady, she immediately knelt down and stammered, "Please, old lady, do justice for me! Just now, when I was walking on the road with Sixth Miss, something hit our faces. It must have been—"
Granny Zhu wanted to say that it must have been arranged by the Sixth Miss, but the old lady interrupted her coldly: "It was just a small accident. Granny Zhu, just take good care of yourself. Chuncao, go and get two taels of silver for Granny Zhu."
What kind of master are you? Do you want her to punish Song'er? It seems there's some truth to the saying that a servant is bullying his master.
Granny Zhu sensed the old lady's coldness and swallowed back all the words she had to say.
What happened during the short time she was unconscious?
Zhu Mama disregarded the distinction between master and servant in front of Qiu Heng, speaking sharply. This was due to her status as a governess. She dared not be so presumptuous in front of the old lady and secretly decided to find out the situation before speaking.
Qiu Heng spoke up at the opportune moment: "That granddaughter's governess—"
The old lady glanced at Zhu Mama, whose cheek was swollen and whose mouth still had traces of blood, and gasped: This tough girl is really a troublemaker. It's best to get rid of her as soon as possible.
"You go back first, the new governess will be there in a little while."
"Granddaughter takes her leave."
When Qiu Heng returned to Lengxiang Residence, Wang Mama greeted her with concern: "Is the young lady alright?"
"It's nothing. Grandmother is going to send me a new governess. Which governess do you think it will be, Mama Wang?"
After thinking for a moment, Wang Mama said, "There are currently three governesses in the manor. Among them, Zhu Mama is the strictest. There is also Yu Mama and Li Mama. I think Yu Mama has the most influence."
"Who is this Granny Yu?"
"Granny Yu has a kind and gentle nature, and speaks very pleasantly..."
Qiu Heng had learned enough, and the new governess had arrived; it was indeed Granny Yu.
Unlike Granny Zhu, who had slightly high cheekbones, Granny Yu had a round face, looked kind, and spoke much more politely: "Everyone's gait is different from birth. Sixth Miss, please take a few steps first so I can see if there is anything that is not suitable. We can then adjust it."
After Qiuheng did as instructed, Granny Yu fell silent.
She knew Zhu Mama's temperament. Seeing that the Sixth Miss was doing well, she would probably be even stricter in order to temper her temper.
Was it really an accident that Granny Zhu was injured and replaced?
"Please give me some pointers, Granny Yu."
"In my opinion, Sixth Miss has done very well. Has she received any instruction before?" Granny Yu asked casually, while pondering what to do.
The old lady clearly meant that she wanted the sixth young lady to stay quietly in Lengxiang Residence, not just to learn the rules and etiquette.
"I want to discuss something with Granny Yu."
"Please speak, Sixth Miss."
"Granny Yu, please sit down. Fangzhou, bring tea and refreshments."
Soon Fangzhou came over and put down a pot of tea and a plate of snacks.
Four square pastries sit on a porcelain white plate. They are plain in appearance, but their white and reddish color suggests a soft and chewy texture.
Granny Yu thought to herself: This snack shouldn't be too bad.
"Grandma Yu, have some tea to soothe your throat and eat a piece of red bean cake first."
Granny Yu hadn't yet decided how to treat this seemingly extraordinary sixth young lady, so she took a sip of tea, picked up a pastry, and put it in her mouth.
Sweet, soft, and chewy, the exquisite taste left Grandma Fish speechless.
How can red bean cake be so delicious!
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