Chapter 19 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion
Chapter 19:
Denounce
“What is it?”
Old Madam Lu was puzzled as she looked at the sheets of paper handed over by Ge Bao'er.
“These are Qing Ge'er's assignments from the past few days.”
“What?”
Old Madam Lu was shocked. She exclaimed, “Has Qing Ge'er been learning only this for such a long time?”
Ge Bao'er herself was confused, and how could she answer Old Madam Lu's question?
Holding the sheets of paper, the Old Madam looked at them for a long time, her eyes becoming blurry. She showed them to Yan Mama, saying, “Do you think this is a proper way of teaching?”
Yan Mama, looking at the full lines on the paper, hesitated, “Well…”
She continued, “Old Madam Lu, you know I'm also ignorant, recognizing only a few characters.”
This method of teaching writing was unheard of for her.
Ge Bao'er said, “Old Madam, let's not wrongly accuse the Young Madam. It's better to find someone knowledgeable to take a look.”
That made sense.
Old Madam Lu herself is from a family of military generals and is not adept at literary arts; she can only manage account books and household affairs. She has never seen this method of teaching writing before. The stewards in the front yard have some knowledge of literacy, and they should know more than her. Madam Lu ordered a servant outside the screen, "Go and call the chief steward from the front yard."
"Yes." The servant scurried away. A few minutes later the servant returned with an old steward.
"I respectfully greet the venerable lady."
The chief steward arrived at the Hall and replied from outside the screen.
Madam Lu gestured, and Yan Mama took a few sheets of paper over, explaining the situation.
"Allow this servant to take a look." The chief steward examined the sheets of paper several times, his brows furrowing deeper.
"This... This, I have never seen such a method of practicing calligraphy."
On the other side of the screen, not a single sound could be heard, and the chief steward had beads of cold sweat on his forehead. Although Yan Mama didn't mention who drew the horizontal lines on the paper, he felt that something was amiss. Afraid of ruining matters with his response, he quickly knelt down.
"Old Madam Lu, perhaps it's some clever and unique method. This servant has limited knowledge and hasn't heard of it before."
Old Madam Lu tightly closed her eyes and said, "You may leave."
The chief steward departed nervously, puzzled by the situation.
Yan Mama took the paper and walked around the screen, placing everything back in front of Old Madam Lu.
Old Madam Lu's complexion was already unpleasant, and she dared not say anything more.
"Fetch her here! I'll personally inquire."
Old Madam Lu clutched her prayer beads, her expression chillingly stern.
Since the morning, Lian Yunwan had been teaching Lu Chang Gong. With a gentle breeze in the air, she finished explaining some key points about calligraphy and the content of the "Thousand Character Classic," then asked him to prepare to practice.
"Ping Ye, grind the ink."
In these small matters, Linyun Wan delegated them to the maids to avoid disrupting Lu Changgong's studies.
Lu Changgong, well aware of gratitude, would say "thank you" even to the maids around his stepmother. Despite being young and reserved, his voice was soft.
Each time he thanked them, Ping Ye had to suppress her laughter.
Lu Chang Gong, unaware of the reason for her laughter, often lowered his head, pursed his lips, and a faint blush appeared on his cheeks.
This childish side endeared him even more to the people in the Linsitang.
As the ink stick was ground into wet ink, Lu Chang Gong was about to start writing when Lin Yunwan said, "Today, you don't need to practice horizontal lines."
Though he paused for a moment, he quickly put away his pen without asking for the reason.
Whatever the way his mother taught, he followed without questioning. Lin Yunwan continued, "Today, I'll teach you to write complete characters."
Lu Chang Gong raised his head in surprise, saying, "Mother, but what about my younger brother..."
Lin Yunwan calmly stated, "You have already waited long enough for him."
Qing Ge'er had mediocre talent and was adept at slacking off, which delayed the progress. Otherwise, Lu Chang Gong would have started learning new things long ago.
Despite not liking Qing Ge'er, she never intended to target a child who hasn't grown up yet.
However, if this child couldn't endure the hardships of studying and chose to feign illness to skip classes, she wouldn't let it affect Lu Chang Gong's lessons.
"Let's begin. Suspended wrist, one-finger technique."
As soon as the words fell, Lu Chang Gong immediately sat upright, holding the pen with a suspended wrist as instructed by Lin Yunwan.
After personally guiding him for almost half an hour, several sheets of rice paper displayed beautiful characters. Lin Yunwan nodded approvingly as she looked at each one.
Lu Chang Gong wrote while sneakily glancing at his stepmother, fearing her notice. He quickly averted his gaze and focused on writing.
"You write very well."
Lu Changgong's ears turned red, and he modestly said, "Thank you, Mother."
Approaching his desk, Lin Yunwan looked down at him and said, "However..."
"Is there anything, anything lacking from my son?"
Lu Chang Gong nervously gripped the brush.
"Pay attention to a balance between work and rest. You're still young, in the midst of growing, completing the assignments I give you every day is enough. Spend the rest of your time running around the garden, playing, eating, and drinking."
This child's diligence far exceeded her expectations.
According to the servants from the front yard, he wrote until dark every day, and in the morning, before coming to greet her and attend classes, he wrote for half an hour.
How can he grow well like this?
Unlike Qing Ge'er, for this type of student, she needed to encourage him to play more.
Lu Chang Gong stared at Lin Yunwan and said, "This son understands."
His birth mother passed away early, and his father was often ill. No one had ever cared for him like this. Moreover, his mother was smiling, a truly gentle smile.
He always wanted a Mother just like this!
"Madam, something is not right... there are people from Yu Shou Tang here."
Suddenly, Ping Ye rushed in anxiously.
Lin Yunwan glanced at her.
Ping Ye whispered a few words in her ear. The newcomers were not wearing friendly expressions, and someone warned them to prepare early. This time, when the old madam invited her over, it was likely to cause trouble.
Lin Yunwan remained indifferent, telling Lu Chang Gong, "Continue practicing your calligraphy."
However, Yan Mama barged in, saying, "Madam, forgive my boldness, but you are ordered to bring Young Master Chang Gong's homework as well."
She glanced at the rice paper on Lu Chang Gong's desk, the writing was truly neat.
Could it be that Madam was truly treating them differently?
Madam is really confused! Qing Ge'er is the legitimate blood of the Lu family!
"Yan Mama, what do you mean by this!"
Ping Ye stepped forward to block, expressing discontent, "Young Master Qing Ge'er claimed he was sick and missed today's class. Eldest Young Master Chang Gong began serious calligraphy for the first time today. Are you planning to take Young Master Chang Gong's work to complain to the Old Madam?"
Yan Mama sneered, "Miss, what you said is far-fetched. Everything will be decided by the old madam. What say do I have?"
Tao Ye tidied up the rice paper and handed it over, smiling, "Here, take it."
Yan Mama genuinely smiled at this, "Indeed, Miss Tao Ye is reasonable." Then, she looked at Lin Yunwan.
"It seems I have to go along as well?"
Yan Mama nodded, "Yes, the old lady ordered it. Madam, it's hard on you."
"Let's go."
Lin Yunwan casually brushed off the dust on her sleeve, not even bothering to clean the ink stains on her palm.
Ping Ye was furious, her eyes turning red. As they left, she cried out, "Causing trouble for Young Madam every few days! Why should our Young Madam endure this! Have they forgotten how they begged our Young Madam to join the Marquis of Wu Ding's residence in the first place?"
Tao Ye waited for her to calm down before soothingly saying, "Alright, stop your crying. Young Madam anticipated this situation early in the morning."
"What?"
Ping Ye wiped her tears haphazardly.
Tao Ye whispered, "Why do you think Young Madam secretly kept copies of Qing Ge'er's homework?" And also Young Master Chang Gong's homework.
Ping Ye couldn't fathom it, staring blankly, "Why didn't Young Madam tell me anything?"
Tao Ye sighed, Young Madam didn't tell her either.
"First, wash your face! Young Madam will still need us later."
Lu Chang Gong called out to them, "Sisters."
Ping Ye and Tao Ye turned around simultaneously, looking at Lu Chang Gong. He made a salute to them, his gaze firm and calm, "I want to go too."
Lu Chang Gong straightened his back, saying, "I want to help Mother as well."
The two maids looked at him in astonishment.
Even though he was just eight years old, he was indeed a filial and good child!
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
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