We need a driver
Jiang Yunshu felt a chill run down her spine just looking at Baili Chuan's face.
"But did Mr. Li cause Miss Jiang any trouble at the Jiang family's home?"
"Still from that day?"
“In that case, I will apologize to Miss Jiang first. My words that day were not malicious. I genuinely believe that Miss Jiang is a person of good character.”
"Even if ordinary women are deeply troubled in the inner quarters, they will still choose to endure it. There are very few who can leave decisively like Miss Jiang."
She suddenly found it laughable. In her previous life, she was a resentful woman confined to the inner quarters. If she hadn't seen A Yao's tragic end, she would still have chosen to endure it.
"A person of strong emotions?"
She scoffed, "If all men in the world could recognize their own worth and treat their wives and daughters well, why would they need you to praise me as a man of character?"
"Besides, I don't need to let people know my temperament through divorce."
Baili Chuan stared at her intently, his expression complex, seemingly confused.
"I won't keep Young Master Li from studying any longer. I also know a few characters, so let's call it a day."
She looked at Baili Chuan, but she really had no patience to talk to him.
This person is cunning and scheming; who knows what kind of ideas he might instill in A-Yao if he's with her.
Just then, Ayao tugged at her sleeve.
"Mom, Uncle Li is a very nice person, and Grandpa likes him very much too."
Her heart skipped a beat; just what she feared had come to pass.
Looking down at Ayao, his big eyes were full of admiration and reluctance.
“Mother, Ayao also likes Uncle Li very much. He is much better than the previous teacher, and he doesn’t scold Ayao.”
She pursed her lips, unable to speak. The tutor in the Marquis's mansion, seeing that she was not favored, treated A Yao and the eldest young lady completely differently.
She went to check on her several times, and Ah Yao was either being punished or being scolded.
Baili Chuan glanced at her almost imperceptibly, then smiled at A Yao: "Thank you for your kind words, but Uncle is a bit busy. If I have time next time, Uncle will come and teach you again!"
Ayao glanced at him reluctantly and nodded vigorously.
Even after the person had walked quite a distance away, Ayao still didn't raise her head to look at her.
She didn't know how to talk to Ayao for a moment, so they remained silent.
"Mother, are you worried about Ayao?"
"Don't worry about me, I'm very happy here. My grandparents are very good to me, and Uncle Li is also very good to me."
"I love it here, Mom. I'm happy as long as I'm with you. And now that I'm all grown up, I'll protect myself and you too."
Ayao blinked her big eyes at her, without a trace of resentment, only composure.
Her heart suddenly collapsed into a puddle of soft mud.
Ayao is too sensible. Even though she is still at the age where she can be spoiled and willful, she has already begun to think about her.
Life in the Marquis's mansion these past few years has made A Yao feel depressed. Unlike other children, she doesn't know how to act spoiled or throw tantrums, and she doesn't work hard to get what she wants.
She habitually suppresses herself, constantly makes herself consider others, and then rationalizes the harm others have done to her.
Jiang Yunshu felt somewhat guilty; she had unknowingly become the one who hurt Ayao.
"Ayao, there are many things I can't tell you, but if you're angry, you can blame your mother."
Ayao smiled and shook her head: "I know Mother did it for my own good, Ayao won't blame Mother."
She sighed deeply, pulled Ayao into her arms, feeling both relieved and somewhat sad.
"How about Mother finds a very good teacher for A-Yao?"
"...Then Uncle Li?"
“Ayao,” she said, cradling Ayao’s head, “Uncle Li is a stranger. We need to observe whether he is a good person first. We can’t just look at whether he is nice to you or not. What if he has ulterior motives? What will Ayao do then?”
Ayao's big eyes were full of doubt, and she frowned and thought for a long time: "Mother is right. Just like my second brother, he is always very nice to me before he bullies me..."
She felt a pang in her heart; it was such a shame she hadn't had a chance to torment Chen Er properly before leaving!
"Mother, Ayao won't do it again. Ayao will observe others first before playing with them."
She nodded, but felt no relief or joy whatsoever.
——
The matter of the Master was finally put on the agenda.
Her father and mother hired more than ten tutors to come to their house. She was sitting in the courtyard talking with the tutors when Ling Jingchu arrived at some point.
She listened attentively until the teacher in front of her bowed respectfully behind her.
"Master Ling."
"There's no need for that."
Ling Jingchu's voice was low and soft, brushing gently past her ear like a cool breeze.
The person in front of him smiled again, arms crossed, and looked at Jiang Yunshu: "Miss Jiang, since Master Ling is here, why do we need to wait?"
She raised an eyebrow. This person is so humble?
"Why should you be so humble, Master?"
After saying that, she turned to look at Ling Jingchu, "Ling Jingchu spends all his time at the county school. How can we merchants associate with those young masters and ladies?"
She was being modest; in reality, the county school would never let Ayao in.
"In that case, I cannot teach him."
Ling Jingchu's voice was indifferent, his expression cold, and his eyes deep and unsettling.
"Jiang Yunshu, do you think I'm unworthy of the title of teacher?"
His voice was deep and resonant, and his gaze was fixed intently on her.
Seeing this made her feel a chill run down her spine for no reason.
"I didn't say that, you said it yourself." She retorted, raising her head. "How are you going to teach Ayao at the county school?"
Ling Jingchu narrowed his eyes, his expression growing even colder.
"After school, I have a lot of free time on weekdays."
Hmm... exactly how many times?
If she remembered correctly, the two of them lived under the same roof, and the last time they met was seven or eight days ago.
Looking at Ling Jingchu, she suddenly felt that he was judging her because he couldn't save face.
Ling Jingchu herself is the teacher, yet she still wants to find other people outside.
Having figured this out, she felt relieved about Ling Jingchu's sinister gaze and gave him a push.
"Alright, alright, Teacher Ling also needs to prepare lesson plans, so please go ahead and get busy."
"I'm just worried about your health. If you collapse from exhaustion, how will you take the imperial examination next year? Our Jiang family is still waiting for you to bring glory to our family!"
After saying that, she pushed the person all the way to the gate of the courtyard and smiled at him.
But Ling Jingchu didn't leave. He just stood there, his face somber, his eyes fixed on her, lost in thought.
She originally intended to have them leave immediately, but now it seems that her words probably upset Ling Jingchu again.
She turned around deftly, tossed her hair, and went back into the courtyard.
She was happy to see Ling Jingchu like this since she was little, because he always had that cold face, looking aloof and distant.
It's precisely these kinds of people who are the most hilarious when they get angry.
She turned around and saw that Ling Jingchu was indeed still standing at the gate of the courtyard, his brows furrowed and his gaze fixed on something else.
She smiled slightly, and several teachers in the courtyard gathered around her.
"Miss Jiang, what do you think...?"
Actually, all these people are quite nice. She knows that in the Jiang family, Ayao will not encounter such a materialistic teacher as before.
She never expected that among the people her father had found, there would be a female tutor.
She was also very knowledgeable. She lowered her eyes for a moment and then pointed to that person.
Seeing that she already had someone she loved, everyone took their leave.
"Miss Jiang, will the lessons begin tomorrow?"
What's your name?
"Lin Yuliu, Miss Jiang, you can just call me Yuliu."
Lin Yuliu stood in front of her with her eyes lowered and her arms crossed, her voice gentle and mild. She felt that Ayao would also like this kind of teacher.
"Yu Liu, I'm entrusting A Yao to you from now on."
"Yes, Miss Jiang."
Lin Yuliu bowed to her again.
This person is just like Ling Jingchu. She looks like a young girl, but when she speaks, she sounds just like those old scholars.
"Your accent doesn't sound like a local?"
Lin Yu didn't even raise her eyebrows, and replied softly, "I was originally from Yuncheng, but my family suffered a disaster and I was the only one who survived. So I fled to Jiangnan."
Yuncheng?
It's quite far.
Lin Yuliu remained expressionless, speaking of the matter as if it were someone else's affair.
She just wanted to offer comfort, but didn't know where to begin.
The two of them paused again, remaining silent.
"Miss Jiang, then I, Lin, will take my leave now."
She nodded repeatedly, and Lin Yuliu turned and walked out of the courtyard.
"Miss, why did you choose Miss Lin?"
Qing Shuang asked in confusion, "It's not like she's teaching needlework; few people would choose a female teacher."
Jiang Yunshu herself was not sure, but when Lin Yuliu stood outside the crowd, she seemed to see her in the Marquis's mansion.
"Perhaps Ayao likes it too, let's leave it at that."
As she finished speaking, Qing Shuang handed her a glass of iced tea. She looked up and saw that Qing Shuang seemed to have something to say.
"What's wrong?"
Qing Shuang glanced at her, her lips slightly parted, then she lowered her eyes and looked away, keeping her lips tightly closed.
"What exactly happened?"
She asked again, and Qing Shuang sighed and said in a low voice, "The other day, Young Master Yun Zheng and Young Master Ling were drinking at Xiangyun Pavilion. Later, Li Chuan also went there. The three of them drank and made merry, and did not return until late at night."
After saying that, Qing Shuang pursed her lips, lowered her head, and stole a glance at her.
She was indeed very angry.
Ling Jingchu and Baili Chuan drank and chatted happily, but he didn't tell her what they talked about!
"When Young Master Ling returned that night, he seemed to have encountered someone. His carriage broke down, and now he rides a donkey cart to the county school every day."
She snorted coldly, "It's better this way."
Ideally, there shouldn't even be a donkey cart available, and you should just walk there yourself!
As she was thinking, she inexplicably laughed at herself.
"Young Master Yun Zheng has been staying at the family restaurant lately, and hasn't been going to Zuiyue Tower much."
"Are you here today too?"
Qing Shuang nodded, stood up and took a step: "Let's go, it's been a long time since I've been to a restaurant."
He had just reached the courtyard gate when Su Ye blocked his way.
“Miss Jiang, my young master has some urgent business to attend to, but the merchants have taken back the donkey cart today. He doesn’t have enough money, so he came to ask Miss Jiang if we could borrow a carriage.”
Su Ye wrung her hands anxiously, but she just smiled lazily.
What goes around comes around.
"Is Ling Jingchu in a hurry?"
Su Ye nodded hurriedly, looking at her pleadingly.
“I’m also about to go out. The driver must be tired after a long day, so let him rest.” She looked at Qing Shuang.
After saying that, he turned to look at Su Ye.
"Men and women should not touch each other, let alone ride in the same carriage."
"However, I happen to be short of a driver."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
