22. What do you think of the Crown Princess?
◎In order of brain development◎
Qin was speechless for a moment, her face turning extremely ugly. She immediately denied it, saying, "Your Excellency is overthinking things. Since Your Excellency has spoken, I will no longer concern myself with the affairs of the Heir Apparent's wife."
Old Marquis Duan did not mean it that way. He closed his eyes, rubbed his forehead, and spoke with a heavy heart, "The Crown Princess lost her mother at a young age, so it is normal for her to be unruly. However, her nature is still acceptable. I am not against the lady disciplining her, but the direction of discipline should be moderate. The Three Obediences and Four Virtues are all nonsense in my opinion. When it comes to war, women can also charge into battle, and male soldiers can also be cowards."
Qin Shi stood to the side with an unreadable expression, but ultimately did not say anything inappropriate. "The Lu State Duke's mansion will celebrate its birthday in five days. Let her learn how to socialize properly in the next few days."
Duan Yuze suddenly remembered someone, "Father, Mother, the Princess's residence once hired a tutor to teach the Princess etiquette. It is said that this person is not an incorrigible person and is very tolerant of the younger generation. Why don't we use him to teach the Princess Consort? We can let the younger sisters listen in together."
Qin's eyes lit up. "That's right. There are countless ladies from prestigious families who have been taught by Mr. Mo, and some of them are quite eccentric. It's worth a try."
To be honest, Lord Duan didn't think much of this person, but his wife and children strongly advised against it, so he couldn't say anything.
*
The Dingbei Marquis's residence acted extremely quickly; Feng Ran met her first tutor the very next day.
The younger women of the Marquis of Dingbei gathered together. There weren't many people; they were Feng Ran, Duan Jingyin, Duan Yutang, Duan Yuxia, and Qin Lianhua, the niece of the Marquis's wife, Madam Qin. They were all waiting to start class.
"Greetings, ladies and gentlemen. I am Moran, you may call me Mr. Moran."
The man appeared to be in his fifties, not very tall, but rather well-off. He had a kind and gentle face, which explained why young ladies from wealthy families would hire him as their governess. However, this governess was of a very high rank and had to be addressed as "Master".
"I'm sure everyone here has had professional teachers who taught you music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Today, I'll mainly talk about how to be a good wife in a distinguished family."
Outside, the treetops were covered in fresh snow. Feng Ran lay there listlessly, unlike the other girls who sat upright, making her stand out.
Mr. Mo noticed this oddball at a glance. Remembering the instructions Lady Hou had given him before he left, he not only frowned but also said in an ambiguous tone, "Even if you have married into a noble family, you must not be lazy. A woman must be strict with herself. There are rules for walking, standing, sitting and lying down. When walking, do not look back. When standing, stand like a bamboo or cypress. When sitting, do not move your knees. When lying down, you must be moderate."
Mr. Mo stared intently at Feng Ran, almost shouting that she was being disrespectful. Several young ladies from the Duan family blushed, seemingly unable to accept that she was someone from their household. Qin Lianhua, lost in thought, lowered her head and smiled faintly, remaining silent.
Feng Ran was the only one unaware that Mr. Mo's words were directed at her. Before coming here, the socially anxious girl had promised that if it snowed, she could eat hot pot. Now she wished she could rush back home, and she was just going through the motions here.
"Ahem, what do you think, Princess Consort?" Seeing that Feng Ran was pretending to be stupid, Mr. Mo directly asked her the question.
"Huh?" Feng Ran turned her head dizzily, her imagined feast vanished in an instant, and a sense of regret lingered in her eyes.
For reasons unknown, Qin Lianhua, who was not very familiar with Feng Ran, spoke up, "Mr. Mo, please don't be offended, but the Crown Princess has not received proper education as a lady of a noble family, so she may not be used to it."
As soon as Qin Lianhua finished speaking, Feng Ran remained expressionless, but Duan Jingyin frowned and gave Qin Lianhua a sidelong glance, clearly annoyed. Qin Lianhua, however, did not show any impropriety but instead smiled in response.
Feng Ran turned her head 90 degrees and only then did she realize that there was someone she didn't recognize there. This person had just greeted her, but what was his name? Her few brain cells couldn't handle the high-efficiency operation, and as soon as she thought about it, she put on a mask of pain and decisively gave up. Anyway, he wasn't from the Dingbei Marquis's mansion, which meant he wasn't a relative of his benefactors and didn't need to be respectful.
Before she could slowly come up with an answer, Mr. Mo said sternly, "Miss Qin, you are mistaken. You are only a cousin of the Marquis's family. No matter whether the Crown Princess is right or wrong, you cannot speak up."
Qin Lianhua, who was still feeling smug, suddenly turned extremely ugly, while Duan Jingyin burst out laughing, and Mr. Mo's criticism immediately turned to her.
"Third Miss, as the only legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Dingbei, you should be even more mindful of the rules and not lose your composure. When I am reprimanding others, you must not interrupt or laugh."
After speaking, his gaze swept over the two sisters, Duan Yutang and Duan Yuxia, who were smiling with their lips pursed. Everyone in the entire hall was subjected to indiscriminate attacks.
“Mr. Mo, what’s the point of being a person if you can’t laugh, swear, or curse as you please? They were just joking around. Although what they said wasn’t pleasant, it didn’t amount to burning, killing, or looting. It didn’t diminish their merits. Is that wrong?”
After reprimanding everyone, Mr. Mo had established his authority, but unexpectedly, the source of the trouble raised a question.
Seeing Feng Ran's serious expression as she worked, seemingly not understanding why she was being scolded, Mr. Mo was speechless. How could there be such an ignorant and incompetent noblewoman? No wonder the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion went to great lengths to invite him.
After calming his expression, he patiently explained to Feng Ran, "The Crown Princess's doubts are not wrong. Talking and laughing does not violate the law, but it does not conform to the world's constraints on women. It is also unacceptable to talk about others behind their backs or to laugh at others. You are of noble status and will surely become wives of noble families in the future. These are the basics of interacting with others."
Feng Ran was puzzled. "But they said it to each other's faces and laughed to each other's faces."
Mr. Mo...
Mr. Mo planned to explain in a different way, "The Crown Princess has the highest status here, so what were your thoughts after hearing them laugh at you?"
Regardless of their own thoughts, the others lowered their heads and covered their eyes upon hearing this, afraid that Feng Ran would confront them.
Feng Ran glanced around casually, not trying to find anyone to challenge her gaze. After looking around, she rested her chin on her hands, tilted her head back, and said indifferently, "Actually, I don't have any thoughts."
Mr. Mo gave Feng Ran an approving look. Such magnanimity was not easy to come by. Many people would smile at you to your face but plot against you behind your back. In Feng Ran's eyes, she did not see any evil emotions. Even though she was unwilling to sit here, she did not utter any bad words.
"The Crown Princess will certainly be going out to socialize in the future, so how does she plan to get along with noble ladies?" However, Mr. Mo did not intend to let Feng Ran off so easily and continued to ask.
The mask of pain is on again. Feng Ran knows she can't get along with middle-aged women. Just look at Qin Shi, the socially anxious mother of the little girl. Even Feng Mama doesn't like her. If she has to socialize with these kinds of people in the future, she really can't do it. She tentatively asks, "Can I stay home?"
Mr. Mo did not answer Feng Ran's question directly, but turned to ask the others, "Ladies, you can speak freely now. This is also a chance for us to get to know each other. Remember to speak from the heart and don't try to play tricks on me."
Faced with Mr. Mo's kind and benevolent face, none of the girls dared to be presumptuous in the slightest. Finally, Duan Jingyin spoke first.
“Mr. Mo, since ancient times, men have been in charge of external affairs and women have been in charge of internal affairs. My mother managed the inner quarters of the Marquis’s mansion and received guests. Naturally, she was familiar with the essentials of interpersonal communication. I have been by my mother’s side since childhood and have been influenced by her. Naturally, I also know how to greet people with a smile and treat them with courtesy.”
Duan Jingyin held her head high, a testament to her pride in her status as the legitimate daughter and her satisfaction with her studies.
Mr. Mo nodded without saying much. The remaining three looked at each other, and finally, Miss Duan Yuxia stepped forward. "Mr. Mo," she said, "in my humble opinion, maintaining good relations within the household is a basic skill for women from noble families. In order to better serve their husbands, they should also be proficient in needlework and other arts. If they cannot help their husbands' families manage the household affairs well, then they may not be able to become the principal wife."
Duan Yuxia was originally a concubine's daughter, so wanting to become the legal wife was something she truly wanted to say.
"Mr. Mo, you flatter me. I am usually playful and active, and my talents are not as good as my eldest sister's, but they are better than my third sister's. However, my aunt has been teaching me about being a wife recently." Duan Yutang did not have as many thoughts as the other two. She believed that her aunt would arrange everything for her.
Qin Lianhua emerged last, her earlier gloomy expression completely gone. She spoke softly yet firmly, "Greetings, Mr. Mo. I was impulsive just now, and I thank you for your guidance. I will never repeat this mistake. My family's background is not as prestigious as the Marquis of Dingbei's, but I am still well-mannered. My mother once said that a woman should be quiet, polite, and gentle in dealing with others. Lianhua always keeps this in mind and dares not make a single wrong step."
Feng Ran watched with great interest, but whether she understood what she was saying was unknown.
"Princess Consort, what are your thoughts after hearing this?" Mr. Mo did not express his opinion, but simply nodded and then turned to ask Feng Ran.
Feng Ran's face immediately scrunched up as if she had just swallowed a bitter pill, and she replied with a forced smile, "It's fine." She gave a polite but awkward smile.
Mr. Mo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, the book in his hands creaking, and spoke with a hint of gritted teeth, "Let's talk about it."
"Mr. Mo, you taught me, can't I do it myself?" Feng Ran persisted, frowning in confusion. She had reason to believe this man was trying to cause her trouble, and she didn't want to be bullied at all.
Mr. Mo's lips curled into a somewhat sinister smile. "Then I'll ask the Crown Princess: what's so special about the order in which these people answered the questions?"
Feng Ran thought about it carefully and tentatively replied, "In order of brain development?"
Duan Jingyin almost slammed her hand on the table and stood up, but she calmed down after seeing Mr. Mo's stern gaze.
Mr. Mo clutched his chest and staggered away from Feng Ran. He didn't speak until he reached the door, his weariness still evident. "The young ladies answered the questions in the order of legitimate and illegitimate children, seniority, and inner circle before outer circle. Princess Consort, this is an unwritten rule."
"Shouldn't the important things be put off, and the important things be thrown away first, and the important things be picked up later?" Feng Ran was really stunned. There was such a profound reasoning behind it.
Feng Ran's nonsensical remarks successfully quelled Duan Jingyin's anger, prompting her to quietly suggest to Feng Ran, "This is just a starting point."
Mr. Mo looked at Feng Ran with the scrutiny of someone examining some rare species, which infuriated her because Feng Ran wasn't joking! What did that mean? It meant she really didn't understand!
"May I ask if the Crown Princess has ever read books or written characters?" Mr. Mo didn't believe that a daughter of a prestigious family could be completely illiterate, so he asked again, unwilling to give up.
Feng Ran shook her head honestly.
This time, not only Mr. Mo, but the other girls were also astonished and gasped. Duan Yutang even forgot to close her mouth for a moment.
Mr. Mo looked at Feng Ran with a complicated expression, "Then I'm afraid I'm not capable of teaching you anything. You need a mentor."
Feng Ran rubbed her slightly empty stomach and muttered casually, "Are you not even as good as my mentor?"
A note from the author:
The following is the synopsis for the upcoming novel. Feel free to add it to your favorites! This is probably a silly and sweet little story. As always, the author loves the unconventional female lead and the male lead who is driven to despair by her and, of course, loves her.
Pre-order synopsis: A master strategist, bring it on if you dare!
This story is also known as "A Life of Unbridled Invention & Everyone Except Me is a Fool & My Ordinary Little Gift".
Rich families are rife with gossip and scandals.
The merchant was very famous in Shanghai, not because his business was so big, but because his heir and the heir of the He family were known as the two prodigies of Shanghai. Everyone who mentioned them praised them as geniuses.
Recent rumors suggest that the merchants' genius is like the raccoon in the "Prince Replaced by a Civet Cat" case.
The seller has some gossip, I'm waiting online, it's urgent.
*
Among the billions of stars, there are countless star lords who diligently maintain the stability of their respective star systems, except for one star.
That is the Misty Star.
Rumor has it that the planet Miaomiao is rich in resources, but its lord does not engage in production and only sleeps all day. Well, karma has come back to haunt him.
A few days ago, the Lord of the Vast Star missed his stop and accidentally stumbled into a cosmic black hole. From then on, the Vast Star ceased to exist amidst billions of stars.
So it wasn't exactly sudden.
Other star lords designated the area where Miaomiao Star fell as a restricted zone, as a form of commemoration.
No star lord believed that the Mysterious Star Lord could still exist, after all, his roots had been destroyed.
*
The original form of the Misty Star Lord, who was the Tree of Life, was indeed blown to pieces in order to protect the remaining life on Misty Star.
She was saving her last bit of primordial power, hoping to drift to the realm of that star lord and be taken in, thinking she could always make a comeback.
But she never expected that plants could actually transform into humans? What is Earth? Who is the Star Lord?
What? She's an heiress to a wealthy family? Why bother striving? Isn't eating, drinking, sleeping, and sunbathing more appealing?
Cheng Miaomiao: "If I don't want to be the heir and just want to live a brilliant life, can you support me?"
Merchant Fake Prince: ...Okay?
This was probably the most regrettable decision Shang Lu had ever made in his life.
Raising a younger sister isn't difficult; she just likes sunrooms and hoarding truckloads of high-quality soil. What's difficult is that she's a younger sister who only loves "scientific" inventions and also likes to give gifts everywhere.
Shang Lu held the "Seven-Colored Auspicious Cloud Duck" in his hand and looked at the "Pink Little Turtle" in He Yunjing's hand with a complicated expression, feeling a calmness he had never experienced before.
Until one day, Cheng Miaomiao was surrounded at her doorstep by a group of people demanding gifts.
Shang Lu: "Is this world a fantasy? When did 'a screaming chicken with red and white punk hair' become a hero? Who's still asleep?"
He Yunjing: "You don't understand, this is science."
Cheng Miaomiao nodded vigorously: "As expected, intelligent beings think alike."
Shang Lu: "My sister's stupidity is contagious. I never thought I could defeat He Yunjing like this. It's really... so satisfying!"
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