Chapter 87: Opening a women’s concubine?
Empress Lu seemed to realize she had been too impatient and angry. She slowed her voice and said, "This isn't your fault. Who could have imagined that the girl who used to be so obsessed with you would have such a drastic change of temperament after returning from a trip to the mountains? I originally thought that Song Tangning marrying into the Lu family would be a good match, and that I could use the Rong family's connections to pave the way for you, but I didn't expect it to end up like this."
As if she really regretted that the two of them were not destined to be together, Queen Lu lowered her eyes to hide the gloom in her eyes.
"The Sixth Princess' birthday banquet is in three days. His Majesty has granted her special permission to hold a flower-viewing banquet. It's partly to celebrate her birthday and also to help her find a husband. She will invite some young men and women from the capital to the palace for the banquet. As for Song Tangning, I will summon her to the palace that day to have a good talk with her. If this matter can be put behind us, that would be great. If not, we must get her to let it go and not pursue it, so as not to affect Zheng'er and the Lu family."
"After all, you and her have been engaged for many years, and your love for each other is unmatched by others. You should come too. Maybe she will soften her heart when she sees you."
Lu Zhinian's eyes moved slightly when he heard this. Will she be soft-hearted?
He felt a little uncertain, and it was hard for him to imagine whether Song Tangning, who was so cold and indifferent that she allowed people to strip his clothes, would still go back to the past with him, but he could not refuse the Queen's words.
Lu Zhinian lowered his eyes: "Yes."
Seeing that the matter was resolved and Queen Lu did not blame them, Mrs. Lu breathed a sigh of relief.
After calming down and her face becoming rosier than before, she couldn't help but sneer, "That Song Tangning looks docile, but I didn't expect her to be so rebellious. It's her blessing that the Queen and Sanlang like her, but she doesn't know how to appreciate it. Now she's obsessed with breaking off the engagement with Sanlang. I want to see what kind of poor family she can find without Sanlang!"
First, he murdered his elder relatives and destroyed the Duke of Song's mansion, and then he broke off the engagement with great fanfare, completely disregarding the woman's reputation.
Old Madam Lu didn't think that the Lu family had done anything wrong. She just felt that Song Tangning was being unreasonable. The Lu family was in a mess because of her, but how could Song Tangning be any better?
She wondered which family would dare to take the girl that the Lu family didn't want!
…
In Jiyun Lane, Song Tangning was staying in Princess Cheng's room, teaching Song Ru how to write.
Madam Qin sat in the inner room and took the pulse of Princess Cheng. There was a pearl curtain separating the inside and outside of the room. The desk in the outer room was facing the window sill, with a screen next to it. The two people inside could see what was happening outside without disturbing the two people outside when chatting.
Song Tangning's hand had not fully recovered and she could not hold a pen, so she could only ask Hua Wu to take out the post she had used to practice writing for Song Ru to copy.
Song Ru lived in Jiyun Lane for two days. Although she was still very thin, her face had more color and her lips were no longer pale. She was wearing a pink skirt and leaning over the desk, writing with a pen like a child.
"Keep your back straight."
Tang Ning suddenly patted Song Ru lightly, and saw her suddenly jump up and subconsciously straighten her back. She had a serious expression that was different from usual.
"To practice calligraphy, you must first practice your mind. You need to be steady and calm. Keep your feet flat, your shoulders level and your back straight, and your eyes looking directly at the paper. Don't hold the pen too tightly, and don't let your wrist rest on the table. Otherwise, your writing won't be lively enough."
Song Ru changed her posture little by little according to her sister's request, as seriously as a little kid who was just learning.
Princess Cheng sat in the inner room, chewing a sour plum in her hand. She watched Song Tangning teaching Song Ru outside through the beaded curtain and sneered, "This Song family is really a bunch of bastards."
This was a nonsensical statement, but Madam Qin understood it.
The Song family is definitely a bunch of bastards.
In the mansions of officials and dignitaries in the capital, there is always one or two concubine daughters. Even if they are not raised as preciously as legitimate daughters, they must at least be taught to read and understand reason. Otherwise, it will be a loss of face for the family when they get married in the future.
But Song Ru is a good thing. She is obviously the daughter of the Duke's Mansion, but she is not as smart as the girls from small families. Let alone writing, she has never even had the most basic enlightenment.
Fortunately, the Duke of Song's Mansion has collapsed now, otherwise if someone saw Song Ru looking so sickly and illiterate, the entire Song family would be spineless.
Song Ru copied the simplest strokes according to Song Tangning's instructions, and after writing for a while, she began to sweat.
Song Tangning said, "Let's stop here for today. You're still weak, and writing too much will hurt your mind."
"I'm fine."
Song Ru quickly refused, holding the pen. Her back ached from sitting so hard, but her heart was overflowing with joy. No one had ever taught her as patiently as her elder sister. She whispered, "Sister, I can write for a while longer."
"Can you handle it?"
"I can!"
The little girl's eyes were sparkling and much more lively than usual.
Song Tangning had no choice but to follow her lead: "Then write for a while longer. If you feel tired, take a break."
Song Ru nodded quickly: "Okay!"
Seeing the little girl start to work diligently at her desk again, Song Tangning stood up quietly and walked towards the inner room. When Princess Cheng saw her come in, she couldn't help but smile and said, "I didn't realize you had some ability as a teacher before. You teach people very well."
Song Tangning felt a little embarrassed when she heard this. She didn't have any ability to be a teacher. She just learned a lot and knew more.
When her grandfather was alive, she would often stay overnight at the Rong family. Although the old man doted on her at that time, he was extremely strict with her in her studies. Later, after her grandfather passed away, in order to please Lu Zhinian and become the girl who was worthy of the position of the mistress of the Lu family in the eyes of Mrs. Lu, she worked hard to learn everything that Lu Zhinian liked.
Although she is not proficient in all arts, such as music, chess, calligraphy and painting, she is good at them all. She also has some experience in making tea and mixing perfumes, in addition to the books her grandfather taught her and left behind for her to read.
Although she knew nothing about the affairs of the harem and the calculations of human nature, she was no less capable than anyone else in these matters.
Seeing this, Madam Qin smiled and said, "If Madam Song has some free time in the future, you can open a school to teach and educate people."
Song Tangning was stunned when he heard this: "Opening a school?"
"Yes, running a school is not something that only men can do. There are also many young girls who are naturally wise."
Madam Qin said casually, "I've traveled extensively over the years and have taken on several apprentices. I've even met some extremely gifted and intelligent women. Unfortunately, due to their family background, they never learned to read and write, so even if they wanted to study medicine, it would be very difficult."
"In fact, there are women's hospitals in many places, but most of what the students learn are women's discipline and female precepts. If there is a school that can enlighten women and teach them to read and understand, so that they can have the same opportunities as men to make a living, who knows, in a few years, female doctors like me will mushroom like mushrooms after rain. How can it be like now, when outsiders mention me, they think I am a rarity."
There are always many wives of powerful and wealthy people, and some women of noble status do not want their private lives to be known by men. Therefore, every time Lady Qin comes to the capital, she is a hot commodity, and even working around the clock may not be enough to keep up with her.
She had thought about taking in some female apprentices, but to study medicine one must at least be able to read and prescribe. Girls from ordinary families had no chance to learn at all, and some literate ladies from noble families thought that practicing medicine was a lowly profession and refused to get involved. As a result, she had never had any selfish thoughts over the years, but had never received a suitable apprentice. Among those who studied medicine with her, less than half were women.
Princess Cheng lamented, "People are prejudiced against women. How can they allow women to go to school?"
Madam Qin said, "That may not be the case. The rich and powerful may look down on it, but there are still many ordinary people who love their daughters. If there really is such a place, people will definitely come."
The two seemed to be just chatting casually, and Madam Qin was mostly just expressing her feelings, but Song Tangning seemed to be touched by something and was a little distracted.
She lived her life over again, and thought about revenge every day. Now that the Song family was gone, the engagement with the Lu family would definitely be cancelled. But sometimes she felt particularly empty in her dreams at midnight, and she didn't know if her life over again was just for this?
Madam Qin's words just now were like a divine blessing that suddenly dispelled her original confusion and made her mind feel clear.
Tang Ning tilted his head slightly and looked at Song Ru, who was practicing calligraphy at the desk with a serious look on her face. Some small thoughts emerged in his mind, but before he had time to think about them, he heard Nanny Jiang come in.
"Princess, lady, someone is coming from the palace."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com