Please add to your collection: The Story of Baochai from Dream of the Red Chamber, Part 4, and the Quick Transmigration Journey of Yuan Ning to the Scumbag Men...
A few days later, news came from Madam Wang Ziteng that a suitable tutor had been found for Baochai, and Aunt Xue hurriedly sent her capable steward with gifts to pick her up.
The headmistress, surnamed Gu, was about forty years old. She wore a dark blue satin jacket and skirt, without any patterns or decorations, and her hair was neatly combed.
Although dressed simply, she possessed an extraordinary air about her. Her steps were steady, her eyes never strayed, and her gestures of greeting were fluid and natural, without the slightest hesitation. It was clear at a glance that she was an old nanny with excellent manners, trained in the palace.
Aunt Xue was quite pleased with Granny Gu and said politely, "My daughter is still young, so if she does anything improper, I hope Granny Gu will be lenient with her. While she should learn manners, there's no need to be too restrictive..."
Granny Gu's voice was calm and steady: "Madam is too kind. Since I have been entrusted by Madam Wang, I will do my best to teach Miss. Rules and etiquette are meant to make people behave properly, not to restrict their nature."
Granny Gu thought she had landed a wonderful job, after all, the Xue and Wang families were both wealthy. But before she even started teaching, they were already making demands.
Her first impression of Aunt Xue was that she was protective of her children and had a motherly heart, after all, this Xue family girl looked quite old.
When Aunt Xue heard Gu Mama say that she would do her best, she couldn't help but have some doubts.
She was afraid that Granny Gu would be too strict and cause Baochai to suffer, but she was also embarrassed to tell Granny Gu that her daughter was exempt from the selection and only needed to learn the basics.
For several days in a row, she was restless and tossing and turning.
From that day on, Granny Gu stayed at the Xue family's residence.
The courtyard next to Baochai's had been cleaned up long ago. Every time after breakfast, Baochai would go to the courtyard next door to learn manners from Granny Gu.
At first, they learned basic skills such as standing posture, walking, and bowing. Granny Gu was extremely strict; even the angle of a kneel in a curtsy or the range of a turn required repeated practice until it was perfect.
She often made Baochai practice walking with a book on her head, and if the book fell, she had to start all over again.
Luckily, she had taken some energy-boosting pills and body-strengthening pills; otherwise, she really wouldn't have been able to endure it.
Fortunately, Baochai was naturally intelligent and had a strong memory. Often, after Gu Mama demonstrated it once, she could learn it almost perfectly.
Sometimes, seeing that she was learning quickly, Granny Gu would tell her more about the rules and interesting stories of the palace, such as the etiquette of arranging various kinds of pastries, the clothing and makeup for different occasions, and even the elegant matters of tea tasting and incense burning.
Aunt Xue doted on her daughter and often came to visit under the pretext of bringing snacks. Seeing Baochai studying so diligently, she felt both gratified and heartbroken.
Privately, he held Baochai's hand and instructed her: Bao'er, we just need to learn these rules and avoid making mistakes.
Since you're exempt from the entrance exam anyway, there's no need to study too in-depth; it would only restrict your personality.
Baochai knew that Aunt Xue was worried about her, so she always smiled and agreed, and continued to study diligently.
Learning more things is not a bad thing for her. What Granny Gu taught her will be useful when managing the household in the future.
Granny Gu was very fond of Baochai, her intelligent student, and often praised her to Aunt Xue, saying that Baochai was the smartest and most diligent of all the young ladies she had taught, and that she understood things very quickly.
Aunt Xue was delighted to hear this. She rewarded Granny Gu handsomely and had a generous gift prepared to be sent to the Wang family to thank her sister-in-law for finding such a good tutor.
Although the selection process was for palace maids, it wasn't open to just anyone.
First, one must be a bondservant from one of the three upper banners, namely, a bondservant from the Bordered Yellow, Plain Yellow, and Plain White banners.
The Xue family belonged to the Plain White Banner and were nominally imperial merchants sent by the Imperial Household Department to Jiangnan to help the palace procure items.
In reality, he also had the duty of keeping an eye on the officialdom in Jiangnan for the emperor, and could write secret reports to the emperor directly on any slight movement.
They were undoubtedly the emperor's confidants, which is why the Xue family, a royal merchant family, could be so closely connected with the Shi, Wang, and Jia families.
The title "Baoyi" sounds like "servant" and suggests a lower status, but they were the emperor's own servants and enjoyed his greatest trust.
As the saying goes, even a seventh-rank official is above the prime minister's gate, not to mention the servants around the emperor.
Although they couldn't shake off the shadow of slavery at heart, the wealth and power they enjoyed were unmatched by ordinary officials.
People from bondservant families could work in the Imperial Household Department, holding lucrative positions such as imperial merchants, textile manufacturers, and salt commissioners. If their families were well-off, their children could also study properly, take the imperial examinations, and pursue official careers.
Girls from bondservant families, once they reach a certain age and meet the requirements, must participate in a preliminary selection; there's no way to avoid it.
No marriage proposals were allowed before the talent show. However, rules are rules, but people are flexible. If someone really didn't want to participate, it was common for them to spend some money to bribe their way through the process.
If you are selected, you will first have to learn the rules and various tasks, and then be assigned to different palaces to serve your master.
If you're lucky enough to catch the emperor's eye, you can become a palace maid and rise through the ranks, even becoming a concubine.
Some of the selected young ladies would be assigned to princes, dukes, or princes and grandsons of the emperor as concubines or princesses, and those who were even luckier could become secondary consorts.
Therefore, for bondservant families, this minor selection was a golden opportunity to change their social standing. Take the Uya clan, for example; because of the Tongjia, not only did their own fate change, but their entire family also rose to prominence.
Her younger sister was married to the son of Ebilun, one of the four regents, and the only son of Aling'a, the younger brother of Empress Xiaozhaoren. Her daughter was chosen by Emperor Kangxi to marry the seventeenth prince, Yinli, as his primary consort.
However, for most girls, entering the palace meant serving others year after year, and whether they could rise through the ranks depended on their own fate.
That afternoon, Baochai took some time to visit her family's newly opened shop.
For convenience, she changed into moon-white men's clothing, tied her long black hair into a long braid at the back of her head, and wore a hat. At first glance, she looked like a handsome young gentleman.
Xue Pan was worried about her going out alone, so he volunteered to go with her.
When the old steward led people to the capital, he arranged for several shops and farms in the suburbs to be acquired according to her wishes.
Today, there are Linglongfang, which sells jewelry; Wanxiangju, which sells novel Western items; and Qinxiangzhai, which specializes in selling rouge, face powder, spices, essential oils, soaps, and beauty creams.
It wasn't that she didn't want to open more shops, but the Xue family was now in decline. Even with Wang Ziteng's support, being too high-profile in the capital, where everyone was a high-ranking official, would only attract covetous eyes.
As soon as he stepped through the gates of Wanxiangju, the manager greeted him with a worried expression: "Young Master, you've finally arrived..."
Before the shopkeeper could finish speaking, a young man rushed up to Baochai and excitedly grabbed her sleeve: "You're the owner of Wanxiangju? Can you tell me how this telescope works? Why can yours see farther than others?"
Baochai frowned: "Let go!"
At this moment, Xue Pan also entered. Upon seeing the situation, he flew into a rage and rushed forward, throwing two powerful punches: "You lecherous scoundrel! Let go of my sister!"
Yongshu covered his eyes and stammered an apology: "I...I didn't mean to, I didn't know, I'm so sorry, young lady, I was being presumptuous..."
Baochai quickly stopped Xue Pan, who was about to continue his attack. Just now, she suddenly noticed that the young man was wearing an apricot-yellow belt around his waist, a color that only members of the imperial family could wear.
“Brother, calm down,” Baochai said softly, then turned to the young man and softened her tone: “Young master, I’m so sorry, my brother was just worried and confused. I hope you will be magnanimous and not hold it against him.”
The young man then raised his head, revealing a handsome face, and appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old.
Upon seeing Baochai's radiant beauty, he blushed crimson, waving his hands repeatedly, "No, no, it's all my fault for being so rash. I hope you will forgive me, young lady."
I noticed your telescopes were quite unique, and I was intrigued. I'd like to ask you about them.
Seeing his sincere attitude, Baochai invited him to a private room on the second floor for a detailed discussion. Xue Pan, still uneasy, followed him up and sat down menacingly to the side.
The young man called himself Yongshu, a descendant of Prince Li. He spoke eloquently about telescopes, from the polishing of the lenses to the refraction of light, his eyes shining with excitement.
Baochai's heart stirred slightly. She had the system check Yongshu's information and discovered that this man, obsessed with the study of natural philosophy, was, in her eyes, a perfect marriage prospect.
First of all, he is a member of the royal family. Marrying him would definitely be a step up for the original owner of the body, fulfilling her wish.
Secondly, Yongshu's status was not so unattainable. He was the grandson of Prince Li, Daishan, and the great-great-grandson of Prince Shuncheng Gonghui, Lekedehun, an iron-capped prince.
Zhangtai was the General Who Pacified the Three Feudatories and made outstanding contributions in suppressing the Three Feudatories. He was later granted the title of Prince of Gushan by Emperor Kangxi for his military achievements.
When Zhangtai's title was passed down to this generation, Yongshu's elder brother Yongshou inherited the title of Beile.
Therefore, his status was extremely noble, coming from a hereditary princely family, with his grandfathers having made outstanding contributions and being close to the royal bloodline.
However, at the same time, all the family titles had already been inherited by his uncle and older brother.
As the second son, without special opportunities, he was destined to be ineligible for a high-ranking title and would only be a leisurely member of the royal family enjoying royal privileges.
His family originally hoped that he would learn martial arts and join the army to bring glory to the family, or at least become proficient in Manchu and Han literature and pursue a career as a bodyguard or scribe.
However, Yongshu had no interest in swordsmanship, horsemanship, archery, or the eight-legged essay since childhood, and poured all his wisdom and enthusiasm into the study of things.
He was not good with words and appeared taciturn and even somewhat awkward in social situations. But whenever the topic turned to the study of things, his eyes would light up and he would become eloquent.
He has an extremely skillful pair of hands, capable of drawing detailed blueprints by hand and communicating with craftsmen without any obstacles.
Because he had been immersed in his own world for a long time, he had little desire for power and wealth.
He neither understood nor was adept at the complex power struggles and networking among members of the royal family.
His criteria for appreciating or liking someone are very simple: whether they understand his research or are willing to listen to him explain his invention.
Baochai said that she knew the answer to this question. She could not only understand his research and listen to his inventions, but also modify them slightly and sell them for a high price.
The reason why his status is not so unattainable is because Yongshu's behavior is seen as self-degradation by his family.
Therefore, although he was well-off, he was not valued and was often ridiculed by his brothers and nephews, earning him the nickname "Wooden Prince".
Baochai smiled slightly and told him that the key to her family's telescope being able to see far and clearly lay in the choice of lens material and the lens polishing process.
Yongshu listened with rapt attention, nodding in agreement from time to time, and even taking out his pen and paper to take notes.
The two hit it off as they talked, from telescopes to chiming clocks, and then to the mechanical principles of the West.
Before we knew it, the sun had already begun to set.
Yongshu was surprised to realize how quickly time had passed, and hurriedly got up to take his leave: "Today's conversation with you, young lady, is more valuable than ten years of study. If I have the opportunity another day, I will definitely come to ask for your guidance again."
After seeing Yongshu off, Xue Pan grumbled discontentedly, "Why did my sister waste her breath on such a reckless scoundrel? I should have punched him a few more times."
Baochai scolded, "Brother, do you know you almost caused a huge disaster today? Didn't you see the yellow belt he was wearing around his waist?"
He is a member of the royal family, and the capital city is full of such royal family members. If he gets into a conflict with someone outside in the future, he must think twice before he acts.
It's better to back down than to initiate a fight, lest you bring trouble upon yourself.
Xue Pan was startled: "He's a member of the royal family? Why did you stop me, sister?"
My brother acted impulsively today, but ultimately it's all his fault. Why did he pull your sleeve first?
Baochai stopped him: "Don't tell Mom about today when you get home. Just say you helped me check the accounts and it took a little longer than usual, so she won't worry."
From then on, Yongshu became a frequent visitor to Wanxiangju, and Baochai would run into him every time she went there.
After a few exchanges, the two men, Yongshu and Baochai, both admired and were infatuated with each other.
That day, he finally mustered up the courage to say to Baochai, "Miss Xue... after you return home from the preliminary selection, I would like to ask my elder brother to come and propose marriage. Would you be willing?"
Baochai glanced at him and said, "How do you know I'll definitely be able to go home after the selection? Maybe I'll stay in the palace to serve some concubine."
Yongshu was slightly taken aback: "Then I'll ask my sister-in-law to go to the palace and beg Consort Tongjia to betroth you to me, would that be alright?"
Baochai lowered her eyes: "Although I come from a humble family, I am fortunate to have been loved by my parents and brothers, and I have grown up like a precious jewel."
My brother still needs to take the imperial examination. I cannot become a concubine and let my brother be ridiculed. I'm afraid I would be letting down the young master's kindness..."
Yongshu panicked: "How could I bear to make you a concubine? I want to marry you honorably as my wife. I swear, I will never take a concubine in this lifetime. If I break my promise, may I be struck by lightning..."
Baochai retorted, "Marriage has always been a matter of parental arrangement and matchmaker's words."
"If you, sir, are truly willing to marry me, then please wait until I return home after the preliminary selection, and then have my elders come to propose marriage."
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