The Willow-body calligraphy has always had the reputation of being "valuable for its lean and tough character that communicates the divine essence." Master Liu's regular script, compared to the Yan Style, was slightly more uniformly lean and tough, hence it was called "Yan Muscle Liu Bone." Therefore, Lian Dongbo liked it very much and always practiced the Willow-body calligraphy. He inherited this habit and mastered the Willow-body calligraphy. Yueyao's Willow-body calligraphy also received much praise from many people. It was sufficient for tutoring Brother Zheng.
While listening to Yueyao explain about the Willow-body calligraphy, Brother Zheng looked up at Yueyao and asked, "Sister, what is Willow-body calligraphy?" In the afternoon's teaching, Yueyao encouraged him to ask if he didn't know. Being embarrassed is nothing, but the real fear should be not knowing yet failing to ask. One should inquire when ignorant or uninformed, as that is the only way to progress.
Brother Zheng was a good child who asked whenever he didn't understand.
Yueyao was delighted to see Brother Zheng seeking explanations and explained to him what Willow-body and Yan Styles were.
After Yueyao had written the characters for Brother Zheng to practice, she found herself with nothing to do. Watching Brother Zheng practice his calligraphy, Yueyao thought that her own Willow-body calligraphy had reached its peak and could no longer be improved; it was time to learn a different style. Yueyao searched the bookshelf for a long time but couldn't find a calligraphy model that suited her taste. Eventually, she picked up a collection of her father's essays to read.
Brother Zheng practiced for an hour and a half throughout the entire evening, just practicing the ten characters he had learned during the day. Yueyao breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully, practicing ten characters in one evening did not bore him.
Yueyao finally discovered Brother Zheng's first strength: sufficient patience.
It was getting late, and Yueyao told Brother Zheng to rest, specifying that he should wake up at the second quarter of the Chen Hour the next day to recite the scriptures (although it was only ten words, he still needed to recite them. It was important to cultivate good habits).
Yueyao resided in the main house, and Brother Zheng was arranged in the eastern chamber. Yueyao had her maids, Xi Yu and Xi Juan, look after Brother Zheng. Having the two siblings live close by made it easier to take care of them.
Yueyao had already decided to have Nanny Deng as the steward for Brother Zheng's affairs; the personal maid wasn't settled yet, but it had to be someone she trusted. The young servant who would serve him closely also needed to be carefully selected.
Yueyao was well aware that in terms of using people and strategizing, she was only at a beginner level and had much to learn.
Thinking about the challenges she faced, Yueyao eagerly hoped that Nanny Deng would come back soon. With Nanny Deng by her side to guide her, she could avoid many detours.
Yueyao sat at the dressing table, taking down her own hairpin. From the bronze mirror, she watched Nanny Gu walk in. These past few days, Yueyao had not shown any displeasure towards Nanny Gu, but they were no longer as close as before. The care was now left to Mu Qiu and Hua Lei, effectively marginalizing Nanny Gu.
Nanny Gu took over from Hua Lei, preparing to do Yueyao's hair. Hua Lei only stepped aside after seeing Yueyao nod at her.
Yueyao coldly watched Nanny Gu fixing her hair with a pleasing demeanor, mocking inwardly. How had her former self not seen through this person? What was the use of having eyes then?
However, Yueyao did not scold her openly. The cold treatment of the past few days was enough; if she scolded her now without reason, it could harm her reputation. Having experienced her past life and her many suicidal attempts, she was no longer very concerned about her reputation, but to let such a person ruin her reputation was not worth it. She would endure a little longer, just for another couple of days.
As Nanny Gu made Yueyao's hair sleek, she carefully said, "Miss, you haven't copied any scriptures today, have you?"
Yueyao responded indifferently, "Supporting Brother Zheng to learn characters and nurturing him to grow up is the greatest filial piety to my parents. Copying scriptures is just leading to pitfalls, of course, I still need to copy them. But now, I will expand the time and not limit it to just scriptures."
Nanny Gu paused in her task and then hurriedly said, "Miss, that cannot be done. Miss, Master Pu An said..." These last few days she had been quiet because she was secretly investigating who had been gossiping before the Miss and what exactly had happened that night.
When asked, Mu Qiu shook her head, saying only that the Miss was startled by lightning that day, and everything else was fine, nothing abnormal.
If Hua Lei had said this, Nanny Gu would not have believed her. But Mu Qiu was famously honest and never lied, forcing Nanny Gu to believe her.
Yueyao would discuss the dreams from her mother with Hua Lei, but she hadn't told Mu Qiu a single word. It wasn't that Yueyao didn't trust Mu Qiu; she was very aware of Mu Qiu's nature—too honest, foolishly honest. Yueyao wasn't afraid of Mu Qiu betraying her, but she couldn't ensure that Mu Qiu wouldn't be tricked into telling the truth.