Lady Mu felt extremely uncomfortable after hearing what the Old Madam had said. Although she wanted to ask Yueyao what exactly happened, with the Old Madam present, she couldn't voice her many suspicions. In the back courtyard, no one dared to defy the Old Madam's words. So, she could only lead the maids and leave.
The Old Madam asked Yueyao oddly, "Third Girl, what happened just now?" She was curious about the child's earlier expression and why she was frightened by Lady Mu.
Yueyao kept her head down and remained silent. Sometimes, one lie needed ten more lies to cover it up, and her upbringing did not allow her to lie, let alone lie to her beloved grandmother. Yueyao couldn't do it.
Seeing Yueyao like this, the Old Madam sighed softly instead. She would rather have Yueyao confide in her than keep everything suppressed in her heart.
After speaking a few more words with the Old Madam, Yueyao said, "Grandmother, I'm going back to copy the scriptures." She didn't want to face the Old Madam's suspicion.
After Yueyao left, the Old Madam instructed someone, "This child's behavior toward the eldest daughter-in-law is very strange. Go ask around at Lanxi Garden what has happened to her these past few days?"
When Yueyao walked out, the rain had stopped. The post-rain summer air was fresh and cool, bringing total refreshment.
Yueyao returned to Lanxi Courtyard and fell into a daze again.
Mu Qiu and Hua Lei did not dare to disturb her. They ordered the food she would need for lunch. Yueyao's food was usually specially prepared. Having gotten used to the delicate dishes of Jiangnan, she was not accustomed to the cuisine of the Capital City. For this reason, the Old Madam had specifically instructed to take special care of her food and living conditions.
Yueyao now did not want to maintain such pretenses without substantial benefits, only to gain a poor reputation, "Also, there's no need to make separate dishes for lunch. I will eat whatever everyone else is eating." She was not so delicate anymore. Over the years, she had gotten used to the taste of the Capital City's food, and it was not a problem for her.
Mu Qiu and Hua Lei exchanged glances, "Miss, how can this be possible? You are not accustomed to it!" She couldn't possibly not eat!
Yueyao said lightly, "I have to get used to it eventually." It can work for a day or two, but it cannot always be like this!
After receiving a look from Hua Lei, Mu Qiu went out to tell the kitchen staff. Hua Lei looked at her mistress, feeling a bit puzzled herself.
Yueyao ignored everyone's doubts and went to the Small Buddhist Hall to copy scriptures again. Change happens slowly, bit by bit. As long as the overall direction is right, small issues won't matter.
While Yueyao was copying scriptures, no one could enter. Even the maid who ground the ink was unnecessary, everything was done by Yueyao herself.
At lunch, anxiously, "Miss, the Eldest Madam is also your Auntie, and the head of the household. Miss, what's wrong today, how could you toward…"
Yueyao's expression was very cold, "I know what I'm doing, you don't need to instruct me." When Yueyao said this, there was no anger or disgust, only calm. But this calmness implied alienation. Alienation was more fearsome than disgust or anger.
Nanny Gu's face changed abruptly, how could the young lady put her in such a spot? If it was a nightmare last night, now it was clearheaded reproach. The maids by her side all bowed their heads, and Nanny Gu wanted to speak again, but Yueyao had already risen and returned to her room.
Back in her room, looking at the items there, Yueyao gazed at the ink painting hanging on the wall, and for some reason, her thoughts drifted back to her past life. In her previous life, even Teacher Wen had mentioned her talent in painting. All her thoughts were focused on calligraphy and art, and any free time was spent on the Six Arts. Skills like needlework and cooking, stewardship for women were completely neglected.
Lady Mu had intentionally led her to regard Silver Coin as dirt, naturally she wouldn't dedicate much effort in that area. Thus, she was a mess in terms of needlework and cooking, so much so that when she later entered the Nunnery, she couldn't even sew clothing. It was only after suffering and learning from the people in the Nunnery for several years that her skills became passable.
With the experience of her past life, Yueyao was well aware that Guqin, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting, Poetry and Songs were all useless. Poetry and Songs, Guqin, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting can't sustain life; life revolves around the essentials like firewood, rice, oil, and salt. What a daughter needs to learn is needlework, cooking, stewardship, and the like. That is the foundation for establishing oneself in the world.
In her past life, she had gained the reputation of a talented lady, but this reputation only brought her the envy and hatred of others, without any practical benefits. This lifetime, she did not want to suffer the losses of her previous life. She would properly learn the things a woman should learn.
Yueyao thought about it for a bit and then shook her head herself; she should not let go of painting and calligraphy. Perhaps one day she would still have to rely on these skills to make a living.
Mu Qiu and Hua Lei, seeing the young lady nodding and then shaking her head, exchanged glances again, keeping quiet. It was better for the young lady to ponder things than to incessantly copy scriptures every day. Watching the young lady relentlessly copying scriptures every time with no end, they were always on tenterhooks.
The pair was pondering this.
Yueyao had already snapped out of her reverie, and remembering what had happened, she looked at the two maids, "Who told Nanny Gu about what happened just now?" If it wasn't these two maids, Nanny Gu couldn't have possibly gotten the news so quickly. Yueyao guessed it must have been Mu Qiu. Hua Lei wouldn't have heeded Nanny Gu's instructions.
Mu Qiu stepped forward, "Miss, Nanny Gu asked me, and I told her."/p>