Yao Niang appeared in front of everyone again with a new look. Everyone was surprised and whispered in private that this was the real old lady's biological daughter.

Yao Niangsi did not feel proud of such remarks. Instead, she felt that most people in this world judge people by their appearance. When she said this to Yu, Luo Zhi was taking a nap on the couch.

Yu smiled and said, "Yes, everyone loves beauty, and this is normal. You see, when the emperor selects the top scholar, he always chooses the most handsome one. However, not everyone with a good appearance can become the top scholar."

This is a novel statement, and Yao Niang also deeply agrees with it. Only when you reach a certain level can the so-called appearance be the icing on the cake, otherwise everything will be in vain.

Just like Yu, if she was not the daughter of an official, but just a village girl or a girl from a small family, it would be difficult for her to catch the eyes of the Luo family.

Yao Niang celebrated her seventh birthday on the way and was not shy about showing off her wisdom. She nodded and said, "Mother, that's right. So, does my daughter have to study when she goes back this time?"

When Yu was about to speak, Luo Zhizheng said calmly: "Poetry and literature are passed down in our Luo family. Although we don't allow you to become talented women, you should at least know a few words. Your sisters have already achieved academic success, especially your third sister, whose talent is well-known in the capital. When she was nine years old, she wrote a short poem that was praised by many people. You should also take her as a role model."

Yes, Luo Jingrou is indeed very talented, and Shi Yu is also good. She also loved reading in her previous life, but since she became addicted to storybooks, she often feels drowsy during the day. Every time she decides to quit reading storybooks, Luo Jingrou would quietly come to her room and talk about the latest storybooks. She couldn't resist the temptation and had to do her homework while reading storybooks.

But even so, she remembered that she wrote good poetry. However, when she won the first prize in a poetry competition, no one was happy for her. Instead, everyone was discussing how to raise cats because Shi Fang had rescued a wild cat.

She was puzzled and asked Luo Jingrou about this question. Luo Jingrou could only say awkwardly, "Fifth sister, so I always want you to be thinner because it's for your own good."

Only then did she realize that everyone was so close to Shi Fangsheng because she was cute and adorable, but she was insignificant.

She doesn't feel anything about it now, but it was a big blow to her at the time. She even felt that such poetry clubs were just for show. She never went there again and was too lazy to spend time on them. The more Luo Zhizheng said that she was uneducated and not presentable, the more she felt that they were biased.

Otherwise, why did no one say anything when Shifang was not good at studying? At that time, I remember Luo Jingrou mentioned that her father regretted swapping his daughter back, and asked her to be more obedient in the future and not to make things difficult for Yu Shi, who loved her, and also gave her a set of headgear as a reward.

Now that I think about it, if Luo Jingrou didn't have good talent, why would she use that to gain fame?

"Daddy is right. I will definitely learn well." Yao Niang pursed her lips and smiled.

Luo Jingrou heard about this from somewhere, and specially sent a copy of the Thousand Character Classic with annotations. She first said, "Fifth sister, since you want to go to school, this is the best one for you."

Yu said beside her, "Fifth Lady, you still haven't thanked your Third Sister."

Yao Niang still had to do the superficial work. Later, Luo Jingrou taught her how to tie the knot. Yao Niang was very happy and even sent Yu away: "Mother, let my third sister and I play puppets, and you go take care of my brother."

Yu thought that the sisters wanted to play and it would be inconvenient for her to stay there, so she got up and left first.

Luo Jingrou thought to herself, now that her stepmother is gone, she will have more time to display her talents.

Yao Niang certainly knew what kind of person Luo Jingrou was. She always spoke according to the situation, mixing one lie with nine truths. You couldn't say she was wrong, and even if you spread her words out, you would think there was nothing wrong with it.

For example, now, she said: "Fifth sister, you are still young, you should rest more on weekdays. Look, you have been out of the sun less, and your skin is much whiter, even whiter than mine."

Yao Niang shook her head: "How dare I compare with my third sister?"

"Why can't you compare with me? We are sisters, and we are all the same. Now that you are back, just consider yourself a member of the Luo family and forget about those unpleasant things in the past." Luo Jingrou said sincerely, as if she was really standing on Yao Niang's side and thinking for her.

If it were in the past, Yao Niang would definitely think that she was a good person, but now she just wanted to laugh. She wanted to see which of Luo Jingrou's "nine true and one false" statements she made this time would be true or false.

Therefore, Yao Niang pretended to be grateful and said, "Thank you for your comfort, Third Sister. Daddy said that you are the best student and asked me to learn more from you."

Luo Jingrou said modestly, "Sister, what are you talking about? You are still young, but you have learned Mandarin so quickly. You will definitely be ten times better than me in studying in the future. However, if you don't understand something, just ask me."

After the two of them complimented each other for a few more sentences, Luo Jingrou looked out the window and couldn't help saying, "In less than half a month, we will be going to the capital. Sister, look at this boat. Speaking of which, when we were carrying the coffin back to Gaoping, it was Xin'er and I who took the boat back together. Xin'er is a very annoying person. She made Daddy take her to the deck every day to enjoy the fresh air. You don't know that I heard that Daddy's hands were shaking every time he held her."

"Xin'er?"

"Oh, sorry, I was wrong. This Xin'er is the daughter of the Zhong family, but we didn't know it at that time. We really thought she was my sister. Please don't mind it." Luo Jingrou looked embarrassed.

Yao Niang deliberately looked at herself and said with pity: "Daddy never held me in his arms."

When Luo Jingrou heard this, she knew she had been fooled, and she pretended to persuade him, "You just came back, and Daddy is not familiar with you yet. You are usually sweet-mouthed, and you learn to act coquettishly when you are around, just like Xin'er, so of course Daddy likes you."

"Okay, what Third Sister said is really good advice." Yao Niang looked grateful.

…

At lunch time, Yu invited Luo Jingrou to join them, and the three of them finished the meal in a lively and noisy atmosphere.

Yu thought to herself that it seemed that she had thought too much that day. Jingrou had grown up under her watch and had always been a good child. She was very respectful to her stepmother, and even if she was only on the surface with Yao Niang, that was good enough.

They are not from the same mother and have not been together for many years, so they just need to consider each other's face.

How could Yao Niang not tell Yu Shi about this, especially after she knew that Yu Shi was not what she seemed on the surface, she hugged Yu Shi and said, "Mother, today my third sister mentioned Xin'er to me. She said that Daddy likes Xin'er very much, right?"

"This..." Yu originally thought that Shi Xin was her own daughter, so she naturally doted on her. Luo Zhizheng also really loved her, because she was his own daughter!

But she comforted Yao Niang: "I'm sorry, at that time I didn't know that you were suffering in the Zhong family."

"It's okay, it's okay. My sister also said that daddy's hands are sore from holding Xin'er every day, and he likes Xin'er to act coquettishly and sweetly. Mom, but I don't like to act coquettishly..." After saying this, Yao Niang looked at Yu's face.

Yu felt something was wrong when she heard the last part. She frowned and said, "Maybe your third sister didn't understand. She went back to her hometown to attend the funeral, so she didn't have time to carry the child to the deck to enjoy the fresh air. Besides, there were many wet nurses, maids and servants at home, so she didn't hear about this. Also, Yao Niang, your father really hates people being coquettish and saying double words. Xin'er once said double words and was scolded by your father."

"Mother, why did my third sister say that to me? Actually, no one wants to know that Miss Zhong and I were swapped, but it's obvious that she did this on purpose to make me embarrass father. What if father hates me in the future?" Yao Niang deliberately showed fear on her face.

Because she knew very well that if she didn't speak more seriously, no one would find out that there was something wrong with Luo Jingrou.