After being criticized by his young daughter, Nan Guang lowered his head and remained silent.
After a long time, his eyes teared in shame, "Xiaomeng should not have hidden her indenture… Jiaojiao, you are right, you are a sensible child."
The sensible Nan Baoyi returned to Chaowen Yard and slept quite peacefully.
However, in the morning, He Ye suddenly woke her up with a sad face, "Miss, something happened…"
Nan Baoyi sat up with a headache, expecting her father to create more trouble again.
"I heard that Nan Yan went to look for Niu San to redeem her mother yesterday and Niu San demanded thirty thousand gold. Nan Yan didn't have that much money so she went back to Qingqiao alley and sold off all the clothing and jewelry in the house, just enough to gather thirty thousand gold and redeemed Madam Liu."
Nan Baoyi washed her face and rinsed her mouth under the care of her maids, "This is expected."
He Ye continued, "Yesterday at midnight, she went to the front yard and kowtowed, saying she is begging for forgiveness on behalf of Madam Liu. Master had always loved her dearly. Furthermore, she made a scene and was determined to prove her identity and Madam Liu's innocence by testing her blood, Master was even more heartbroken. After testing, Nan Yan fainted and Master was very anxious. All the doctors in Jinguan City were called out to the residence, the entire night was chaotic!"
[Translation note: Testing blood refers to taking two person's blood and dripping it into a bowl of water. If the two blood drops can be merged, this means these two people are related, eg. father and daughter.]
Nan Yan brushed her teeth with a willow branch that was dipped in salt.
Her tender fair face was too calm.
She knew Nan Yan was manipulative, but she never expected her to think of using her blood to prove her identity.
She rinsed her mouth, "And then?"
"And then Master went to Songhe Yard and made a scene, saying he still wanted to marry Madam Liu. Old Madam scolded him fiercely and chased Nan Yan out of the residence again."
He Ye wrung a warm handkerchief that was soaked in rose water.
She earnestly laid out the handkerchief on Nan Baoyi's face, "You know that Master is soft-hearted. He could not bear to see his mistress's daughter going through such grievance and so he angrily packed his bags and ran away from home. From what the servant in the front yard was saying, Master rented a small house outside and announced he was going to establish another family and make it on his own."
Nan Baoyi bent her head backward.
The rose water smelled sweet and refreshing.
Yesterday her father praised her for being sensible, but he was the one being the most insensible.
He was already at such an age and still did such a foolish thing by running away for love. Even saying he wanted to make it on his own and yet he does not know how to work or do anything, such foolishness!
After washing up, He Ye combed her hair, "Miss, do you want to see Master?"
"No, seeing him is upsetting. I will go over to Songhe Yard to greet Grandmother. Father already made a scene so early in the morning, Grandmother must be very angry and upset."
Nan Baoyi reached Songhe Yard and bumped into Nan Baozhu who also came over to pay respects.
In the flower yard, Old Madam was drinking her almond tea with a darkened face. After seeing her two lovely granddaughters, the anger that she felt eased a little.
She said, "Jiaojiao'er, sooner or later I will be infuriated to death by your father. A forty-year-old man who's neither good in literary nor martial arts and does not even know how to do business, what would people want with him if it's not for his family's wealth? He really thought Madam Liu liked him for him as a person?!"
Nan Baoyi felt guilty, "Granddaughter apologizes on behalf of Father for all the trouble."
"You are different from him, he is an imbecile!"
"Pfft!"
Nan Baozhu, who was eating some stolen desserts, laughed out.
Nan Baoyi blushed, "Grandmother, Father does not have much money, he will come back soon. It would be good for him to experience some hardship, you need not to worry about him. Granddaughter came over today because I need your permission on something."
Little girl's voice was gentle and sweet, Old Madam felt comfortable after hearing her voice.
She smiled lovingly, "Do you need money? Just go to the accounts room, your Second Uncle and Big Brother are both earning money out there for you to spend. I heard there are many new arrivals in the jewelry and clothing shop in Furong Street. If you are free, go there with your Fourth Sister and buy whatever you like, bring more carriages with you to carry back your shopping goods."
Nan Baozhu's eyes lit up and looked at Nan Baoyi eagerly.
She had not been shopping for many days and her hands were starting to itch.
Nan Baoyi looked serious, "Grandmother, Granddaughter does not want to go shopping. Granddaughter wants to study in the academy."
The flower yard was silent.
Nan Baozhu touched her forehead with great surprise, "Jiaojiao, are you having a fever? Study? You want to go to the academy to study?!"
Nan Jiaojiao in the past used to have a headache for a long time just by looking at a book cover!
Even Grandmother was surprised, "Jiaojiao, besides your Fourth Brother, that special case, no one else in the residence likes to study. Those complicated and dense strokes in calligraphy are like ants fighting against each other, how tiring it is to read! A little girl like you should just dress up nicely and go shopping. Why do you want to study, don't scare Grandmother!"
"Grandmother, Fourth sister, studying is a decision I made after careful consideration."
Nan Baoyi stretched out her finger, "Number one, studying can increase our knowledge. Number two, studying can change our image, let everyone in Shu County know that our Nan family is not just a businessperson that smelled of money. Number three, I want to understand the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, so that I can participate in the examination in the Spring Flower Festival."
"Jiaojiao, are you mad, you want to participate in the Spring Flower Festival examination?!" Nan Baozhu's eyes grew wide, "That's very difficult, all of the dignitaries in the Jinguan City will be coming and you have to perform in the four arts in public. If you do not perform well, it will be very embarrassing!"
[Translation note: The four arts refer to music, chess, poetry, and drawing.]
Old Madam persuaded as well, "Yes Jiaojiao'er, you have never learned any of the four arts before, how are you going to compete? Why don't we try something else and have a talent contest in the residence? With your Fourth Sister at the bottom, you may have a chance to win…"
Nan Baoyi was confident, "Grandmother, I've already made my decision, I will enroll myself in the academy tomorrow. Don't you worry, on the day of the Spring Flower Festival, I will help the Nan family to get a great reputation, let everyone know that the girls in Nan family are all excellent!"
The little girl's eyebrows curved and her eyes were shining brightly, smiling so wide that it warmed people's hearts.
Old Madam loved her. Seeing that she insisted to do so, she did not stop her anymore.
She said kindly, "It's a very good thing to have ambition. Jiaojiao'er need not to worry about anything and just do what you want. Whether or not you can get first place, in Grandmother's eyes, you are still the most excellent little girl. During the Spring Flower Festival, Grandmother will bring the whole family there to support you!"
Having such support from her family, Nan Baoyi was so touched she teared up.
Old Madam continued, "Zhu'er, you should also be ambitious like Jiaojiao'er. Go back and get ready, follow your sister tomorrow and study together!"
Nan Baozhu choked on a piece of cake and felt like crying, "Grandmother, can I refuse?"
...
Nan Baoyi liked to appear beautiful.
She wanted to dress up beautifully even if she were to go study in the academy.
Back in Chaowen Yard, she chose a few new dresses and happily ran to the study to show Xiao Yi.
"Second Brother, I'm going to study tomorrow, which dress do you think I would look good in?"
Xiao Yi was practicing his calligraphy and did not look up even after she said that.
Nan Baoyi said coyly, "Second Brother, raise your head and take a look!"
Xiao Yi raised his brush, licked the tip, and said in a cold voice, "Are you going to study or enter a beauty contest?"