Grace hesitated to say she didn't know. But she truly couldn't recall such an event. "I've forgotten."
"It was Concubine Ning!" Hua Xiangrong couldn't contain herself and blurted out: "When Mr. Yun first arrived, she led you in reading and writing daily, even setting rules for you. But when you complained about the hard work, Concubine Ning forbade Mr. Yun from teaching you. For years, haven't you been idling away in the inner residence, hiding it from the marquis?"
Concubine Ning!
Grace turned her gaze to Yun Xiangyi, who coughed awkwardly. "Let's not talk about such distant matters. Even without formal lessons, haven't we enjoyed each other's company these past days? I've recently finished compiling 'The Twelve Young Masters of Yanjing' with illustrations, and I'll dedicate the first copy to you for your enjoyment!"
Grace remembered now. Although the original owner was foolish, she had a heart of a fangirl! It seemed her "mentor" contributed significantly to that.
But aside from Yun Xiangyi, what about Concubine Ning?
Why had she forbidden Yun Xiangyi from teaching the original owner properly? Was Lord Qingyun oblivious, or did he simply not care?
She asked, "Who pays your monthly stipend?"
"Of course, the marquis does. But he doesn't have the time to manage the inner residence."
"Does he not care that I've been taught this way?"
Yun Xiangyi cleared her throat and glanced at Xiaolan and Xiaojv.
The maids exchanged looks and hesitated before speaking: "When you were young, you hit your head hard, which was the marquis's fault. He's always felt guilty, so he couldn't bring himself to be harsh on you. Even the matter of remarrying, he's been considerate of your feelings. You mustn't be ungrateful."
So the original owner did suffer a head injury!
But because of guilt, neglecting education is also a form of love?
Grace then thought about her brother Zhao Yu, who had been sent on a mission recently: "What about my brother? Why doesn't he take care of me?"
"Please don't mention the young master!" Hua Xiangrong exclaimed. "Don't you remember when you started acting recklessly? Since he joined the military, how often has he had the time to see you, let alone discipline you?"
Grace had nothing to say.
Looking at the people around her—two maidservants who acted like housekeepers, a bodyguard who spoke faster than she thought, a mentor immersed in storybooks and handsome men, and an aunt who "protected" her from all angles—it was a wonder the original owner didn't turn out worse!
She glanced at the sky, silently seeking strength, and then asked Hua Xiangrong, "How did you become a guard?"
Hua Xiangrong, a sixteen-year-old with a slim build, delicate features, and hair tied up in a warrior's knot, looked quite heroic except for a hint of naivety in her eyes. She replied, "The marquis mentioned to my uncle that he wanted a guard, so I came."
Right, Hua Xiangrong's uncle was a lieutenant under Lord Qingyun.
Grace couldn't help but ask, "You come from a good family. Why become a servant?"
Hua Xiangrong's face fell: "Do you look down on me? Being a guard isn't servitude! I work honestly and earn my keep. How does that make me a servant?"
Grace was taken aback: "Not a servant, then a worker?"
"A worker?" Hua Xiangrong thought for a moment. "If you mean hired help, then yes, I suppose so."
Curiosity piqued, she asked, "Is Da Liang really that open-minded?"
Yun Xiangyi, perhaps seeing Grace discuss a serious topic for the first time, showed her scholarly side: "Compared to the previous dynasty, Da Liang is much more progressive. Women from ordinary families can work, and it's not uncommon for noblewomen to go out.
"Not just our guard; even the palace has female guards now. Mixed dining between men and women isn't scandalous, and widows remarrying is common. However, beyond that, not much has changed. Polygamy is still prevalent, households still follow the patriarchal order, and women are not allowed in politics. Noblewomen still adhere to traditional virtues.
"Overall, compared to the past, the restrictions on women have loosened slightly. In the marquis's household, all servants have signed indenture contracts, and their lives are in your hands.
"Although Hua has freedom of movement, she still has to kneel before you, maintaining the social hierarchy."
Grace felt Yun Xiangyi's explanation was clear, but she still found it unbelievable. "How long has Da Liang been established?"
No matter how prepared Yun Xiangyi was for her ignorance, she couldn't help but cast a pitying glance at Grace's "pitiful intelligence": "Twenty-three years. The late emperor reigned for twenty-one years, and the current emperor ascended two years ago. You even attended the ceremony."
Grace remembered the year the late emperor founded the kingdom; Empress Dowager Lu was eighteen. That would make her forty-one now! Grace had thought she was in her thirties. Wealth certainly preserves youth.
She thought for a moment: "Is the openness of Da Liang due to the Empress Dowager's decree to hold the Huayue Festival?"
Yun Xiangyi sighed with relief: "It seems you aren't completely muddled."
Grace was puzzled: "Could a festival like the Huayue Festival have such a significant impact?"
"If it were only the initial festival, it wouldn't have much influence. But in the third year of the kingdom's founding, the then-empress asked the late emperor to decree that the festival be held nationwide every year. Provincial offices above the county level were required to host it during the Flower Festival, so it's not just in the capital; it's nationwide. Every year, the Flower Festival is a day for women of Da Liang!
"Many impoverished women have gained respect and no longer live humbly relying on men. They rightfully shine, and the Huayue Festival has saved many women in distress."
Grace was stunned. She knew Empress Dowager Lu, being a time-traveler, had made some progressive moves, but she hadn't realized the Huayue Festival had become so widespread. This was almost like an imperial examination for women!
"How many awards are given at each festival?"
"Like in the capital, there are competitions in literature, martial arts, and medicine. The top winner in each category receives a Huayue Medal, which comes with many privileges, though the stipend is slightly less than in the capital."
Yun Xiangyi then asked, "Are you interested in the next festival?"
"No, no, I just heard about the recent trouble with the Vice Minister of Rites, so I'm curious."
Grace made up an excuse.