Chapter 23 Your Second Aunt’s Niece
When Du Heng stepped onto the corridor, he saw from afar a person led by a little girl with an umbrella coming out of the west courtyard and heading towards the east courtyard.
He couldn't see the person's face clearly, he only saw that she was wearing a plain cloak, accompanied by a maid, and she moved in a calm and composed manner, with a certain calm demeanor.
If he hadn't known it was still early, he would have almost thought it was Wanyi who came to look for him. However, Wanyi always liked gorgeous things, and that plain outfit really didn't suit her style.
After Chun Nuan sent Xue Yuan away, she went back to work on her sleeves. Just as she was cutting a piece of material from her old undergarment, she heard a message from the maid outside: "The young master is back!"
She had no choice but to put down the work in her hands and hurried out of the ear room.
"Why are you back now, sir?"
When she entered the house, Du Heng had already taken off his light fur coat. He did not respond to Chun Nuan's question, but instead asked, "Who came just now?"
Chun Nuan took the light fur coat handed to her by the young master. When she heard the question, her hand paused for a moment. After a breath, she responded, "Sister Xue Yuan is here. She brought you some red dates and white fungus soup. I'll have someone serve you a bowl right away."
Unexpectedly, Du Heng raised his hand and said, "Didn't you just make red date cake?"
If her mother had asked Xue Yuan to bring the soup, she would have mentioned it on her own initiative. Moreover, it was still unknown whether her mother would get up or not. It seemed that Xue Yuan had acted on her own initiative.
Thinking back to the little girl holding an umbrella for him to block the snow, and thinking of Su Ying going out alone in the snow holding the plum branch, Du Heng couldn't help but snort in his heart.
Seeing that the young master looked unhappy, Chunnuan didn't dare to say much. She just asked the little girl to quickly get the red date cake, and she went to pour tea for the young master. While walking, she couldn't help but glance outside the house, wondering where Qingquan was at this time.
Xue Yuan, worthy of Cheng's affection, had long since learned her routine. Having just returned to the East Courtyard, she heard the maid come in to announce that the mistress had woken up. She quickly took off her cloak, handed it to the maid, and went back inside, warming her hands.
"Why don't you get some more sleep, ma'am?"
Cheng sat on the couch, still half awake. After a light yawn, she said, "It's so stuffy in the snow, I can't sleep well."
Xue Yuan handed over a warm handkerchief and replied, "It's very cold in the snow, and the heating is very hot. Tonight, I'll have someone put out some more basins of water to see if I can feel more comfortable."
Cheng put the handkerchief on her face and felt refreshed. When she took it off, she nodded gently and said, "Well, you can do whatever you want."
Xue Yuan agreed, and then helped Cheng rinse her mouth and change clothes. By the time they finished breakfast, it was almost noon.
Cheng was sitting in the main hall, listening to the maids' responses one by one, when she suddenly heard someone say that the old lady had sent someone to deliver a message.
"The old lady said that after seven days, when the scriptures are copied, you can inform the female teacher in advance. After seven days, the class will be held every other day. My cousin will also be with you. If the teacher can't make time, he can also teach every three days."
The old lady has always been in charge of the homework, but when it comes to tuition fees and general course adjustments, they always have to go through Cheng.
She naturally still remembered the last time her mother-in-law said she wanted to promote Su Ying, and she nodded. However, she didn't expect that just a few days later, Su Ying was going to attend the lecture together with Wanyi.
That day, the mother-in-law spoke quite bluntly, and Cheng knew that she shouldn't dwell on the matter any further, so she asked Xue Yuan to tell the accountant to pass the message on to the female teacher as soon as possible.
It was a coincidence that Qingquan arrived right after the old lady's people left.
When Cheng heard that it was Qingquan, she hurriedly asked the maid to stop reporting and called the person to her side.
When she learned that her son would be having lunch with her today, her initial frustration over Su Ying's decision to attend a lecture with Wanyi was immediately washed away by joy. The corners of her lips lifted, and she immediately instructed Xue Yuan, "Tell the kitchen to make an extra dish of tangerine peel duck. It's good for soothing the dryness in the snow."
Today I will not write a new article, but only review the old papers. Du Heng read and wrote, paused on and off, and felt that the time was very long.
After asking Qingquan several times, he finally decided to go to the East Courtyard early.
Cheng had just dismissed the maids when she heard Du Heng coming. She thought it was her son who was working hard preparing for the exam, so she hurriedly asked someone to invite him in.
Seeing her son, standing tall and straight with a calm expression, Cheng couldn't help but smile and said, "Why did you think of coming to dine with me today?"
Du Heng replied respectfully, "I dined with my grandmother yesterday, and today, of course, I want to dine with my mother as well."
Upon hearing this, Cheng was speechless. Her son was undoubtedly a first-rate scholar, but his ability to coax people was ultimately lacking. While his words were harsh, he ultimately placed his grandmother on the same level as herself. Filial piety was certainly filial, but it was also measured.
Xue Yuan knew that the young master had arrived, so she dismissed the little maid and served tea to Du Heng herself.
After receiving the tea, Du Heng simply placed the teacup on the side table without even glancing at Xue Yuan.
Seeing Xue Yuan, Cheng seemed to recall something and asked, "Xue Yuan said you went to the garden early this morning to enjoy the snow. Snow water is too cold after all. I don't understand the taste of scholars and literati, but you should also take care of yourself."
Du Heng nodded: "Don't worry, mother. I've made a note of it."
As he was speaking, the accountant came in to report.
"Madam, the female teacher has replied that the class can be held the next day, but the time needs to be changed from Chen to Si. I wonder if Madam agrees?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng raised her eyebrows and said with a hint of impatience, "As long as the master agrees, whatever time she says will be the time. Why are you asking me now? Go and tell the master!"
When Du Heng heard this, he suddenly remembered what Wan Yi had done to her grandmother that day, and his heart was moved.
I remember that my grandmother hadn't agreed at the time, but now she'd already arranged for my mother to teach the class with the teacher. He had come with some curiosity in mind, so he feigned confusion and asked, "Wanyi doesn't attend classes every seven days? Why did it change?"
Cheng replied casually, "Your grandmother was thinking that Wanyi would be coming of age next year, so she should put in more effort now. If she could tell others that she learned from this lady, she would at least look respectable when she met other people."
At this point, he paused, sighed, and said, "Also, your grandmother is now devoted to promoting Su Ying. Not only does she have to attend this class, but she also wants her to copy the Bodhi Temple scriptures with Wanyi."
"Praise?" Du Heng repeated in a low voice.
Seeing his puzzled expression, Cheng Shi didn't hide her feelings and simply said directly, "Your second aunt's niece was brought to live temporarily in the mansion by your second aunt because her stepmother arranged a marriage for her. Your second aunt planned to wait until you passed the Spring Imperial Examination and then slowly start looking for a man for her."
Du Heng was stunned. He never expected that Su Ying would come for such a reason.
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