Chapter 31 Rumors of being dumped
Among the three, Xiao Jinshan had learned to read from the female teacher in the mansion, and had also read the Four Books for Women, including Women's Virtues and Women's Admonitions. She also had a wide range of knowledge in zither playing, painting, poetry, etc.
Old Madam Xiao naturally knew the details of the grandchildren in the mansion.
But when she looked at Xu Shuyao again, she saw that her calligraphy was also extremely beautiful.
She secretly praised him and asked about his father. Knowing that Xu's father had also passed the imperial examination, he hesitated for a moment before saying, "I've met your brother before. He's a very smart young man. Is his academic performance going well?"
Xu Shuyao paused while writing, then replied calmly, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. My brother is very good and has done well academically. He studied at the Shen Family School for two years, and the teachers there all praised him!"
After hearing this, Old Madam Xiao asked with some confusion: "Why only studied for two years?"
Xu Shuyao looked up at the old woman in front of her. Seeing the genuine concern in her eyes, she calmed down and said, "It is said that the teacher at the clan school is in poor health and can no longer teach the disciples outside the palace."
Knowing that the old lady didn't know about this, Xu Shuyao couldn't help but feel hopeful.
After hearing this, Mrs. Xiao frowned and remained silent for a while. She had no idea that such a thing had happened!
She walked out of the inner room and as soon as she got outside, she asked the maid beside her to inquire.
But after a while, the maid came back.
Knowing that the young master who was staying at the mansion had been studying all these days, Old Lady Xiao was extremely angry.
He opened his mouth to ask someone to call Chen, but after thinking it over, he stopped.
As the old lady of the mansion, Madam Xiao was also aware of what had happened in Jiyunzhai before, otherwise she would not have given the girl from the Xu family a chance.
After a moment's silence, the old lady said, "When Mo'er comes back, let him come to me!"
The maid standing in front of her quickly agreed and retreated.
The third daughter of the Xiao family, who was sitting next to Xu Shuyao at the desk, had a look of complaint on her face when she heard her words. "Cousin, haven't you gone to the clan school recently? Why didn't you tell my mother?"
"My aunt knows." Xu Shuyao replied softly and picked up the pen again.
She knew in her heart that if the old lady knew about this, her aunt would be even more dissatisfied with her.
But she came to Beijing for her brother's future, so why would she delay any longer?
Besides, if my aunt took it to heart, why would she have waited until today?
More importantly, Xu Shuyao felt that this matter might be related to Xiao Mo. The person who tied the bell must be the one to untie it, so that person should have a way, right?
It was inconvenient for her to go find Xiao Mo, but if the old lady knew about it, he would definitely know about it.
An hour passed quickly.
On this day, Songhe Hall did not wait for the prince until very late, but the manager in charge of purchasing came back and said that the news had spread like wildfire outside, and the palace had just announced an imperial decree, saying that the daughter of the Shen family was to be the concubine of the second prince.
Wang was drinking tea at the time. She cried out and stood up immediately, and the teacup in her hand fell to the ground.
The maidservant next to her hurriedly cleaned up.
Wang continued to ask, "Did you hear clearly?"
The steward also looked anxious: "I ran into a servant from the Shen family while I was shopping, and he said that the decree was just announced this morning."
Wang then slowly sat down, wondering in her heart, why did the palace take action as soon as they rejected the Shen family?
Could it be that my son already knew that the Second Prince had a crush on the Shen family girl, and that's why he deliberately avoided her?
Otherwise, how can I explain that he was fine a few years ago, but suddenly changed his mind.
Wang felt quite unhappy and hurriedly sent someone to see if her eldest son had returned.
When he heard that Xiao Mo went to the imperial guards outside the palace today and had not returned yet, he felt even more anxious.
She felt uneasy sitting alone in the room, so she went all the way to Songhe Hall.
After hearing what her eldest grandson had said before, Old Madam Xiao just lowered her eyelids and said, "I understand. Go and get busy!"
Wang couldn't figure out what her mother-in-law meant, so she had to go back in anger.
The prince did not return home until the next morning. He heard that his grandmother had sent someone to invite him yesterday. After changing his clothes in Mingzhe Hall, he went to Songhe Hall.
As soon as he went out, he met his mother who was rushing in. Wang blocked her son on the road and looked him over carefully. He seemed to have not slept well and his face was haggard.
Wang patted Xiao Mo in front of her and said with a look of pity: "My son! Let's find someone better."
Xiao Mo frowned and was about to speak when Wang said, "You're going to see the old lady, right? Then go quickly! I'm afraid they're waiting anxiously over there."
Having said that, he stepped aside.
Xiao Mo shook his head and went straight to Songhe Hall.
At this time in Songhe Hall, three young ladies were carefully copying a Buddhist scripture.
Madam Xiao did not stipulate how much they should copy, she only asked them to calm down and copy.
Xu Shuyao knew that a person's state of mind could be seen through his handwriting. If the heart was calm enough, the words written would be smooth and fluent without any delay. So she was keeping her mind calm at the moment and did not dare to be distracted in the slightest.
After an hour, he put down his pen with satisfaction.
She looked up at the desks of Xiao Jinshan and Liu Qingwan. Her third cousin had only copied a thin page, and Liu Qingwan, who was very serious yesterday, was not much better than Xiao Jinshan.
Xu Shuyao was a little confused when she heard faint voices coming from the main room, as if a man was talking to the old lady.
Xu Shuyao tried to distinguish it carefully for a while, but still couldn't hear the content clearly.
However, after seeing her state, Xiao Jinshan whispered, "I thought you weren't curious!"
She covered her face with one hand while speaking, and said mysteriously, "It's the big brother inside."
Seeing that Xu Shuyao still had no expression, he said angrily, "Forget it, it's pointless to tell you."
Xiao Jinshan naturally heard from Chen what happened outside. Everyone was saying that the second prince had snatched the eldest brother's marriage.
As for the third house, Liu never avoided talking to her niece in private.
So it is not surprising that the two of them only copied one page of paper at this time, probably because their minds were not calm.
After a while, footsteps were heard outside, as if someone was leaving.
Xu Shuyao guessed that this might be the big brother that Xiao Jinshan mentioned.
Seeing that the time had come, the other two were still busy copying, so she stopped paying attention to them and picked up the Buddhist scriptures beside her and started flipping through them.
Old Madam Xiao came in after a while. She glanced at the clepsydra in the corner of the room, reached out and took the rice paper in front of Xu Shuyao, and saw that both the page number and the handwriting were exactly the same, and a look of satisfaction appeared on her face.
He then said to Xiao Jinshan and Liu Qingwan, who were still writing, "Alright, that's it for today!"
Xiao Jinshan was sweating profusely, and Liu Qingwan's face turned slightly pale.
The two put down their pens, and the old lady smiled at Xu Shuyao and said, "Stay here, I have something to tell you."
The third daughter of the Xiao family didn't have any special expression, but Liu Qingwan's already pale face became even paler.
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