The next day, early in the morning, joyful sounds of reading echoed through Lanxi Garden amid the crisp calls of birds.
The servants cleaning the yard looked at Brother Zheng reading aloud and couldn't help but show smiles on their faces. With the young master's arrival, the gloomy atmosphere in the yard dissipated. Lanxi Garden, which had been immersed in gloom for half a year, finally burst into vibrant life.
After Yueyao had washed up, she went to the study to look for a copybook. Her skills in Willow-body calligraphy style had peaked; she needed no further practice with it, so she decided to learn another style. She wasn't aiming to write as well as she did in Willow-body calligraphy style; she merely wanted something usable for daily needs. However, after searching for a long time, she couldn't find any copybook. Yueyao thought it might be time to buy one.
Seeing Yueyao flipping through books, Hua Lei asked, "Miss, what are you looking for?"
Upon hearing about Yueyao's search for a copybook, Hua Lei thought for a moment and said, "Miss, I remember Madam once gave you a copybook. Let me look for it." As she spoke, she suddenly realized her mistake. Every time she mentioned Old Master and Madam, Miss would be heartbroken.
Although Yueyao was saddened, her grief was not as deep as before. Listening to Hua Lei's words, she remembered her mother's elegant plum blossom calligraphy style. Often, she had watched her mother writing in plum blossom calligraphy style, which from a distance looked like seal script dancing and from close up resembled blossoming plum flowers, exquisitely beautiful and graceful.
Noticing Yueyao lost in thought, Hua Lei called out, "Miss, Miss."
Yueyao snapped back to reality, sighing slightly. After more than twenty years, even the best memories had faded, "You find it then!" Learning Plum Blossom Seal Script would indeed be wonderful. Inside the boudoir, which lady didn't wish to write in an enviable and beautiful plum blossom calligraphy style? But such a style was incredibly difficult to master.
Yueyao's desire to learn Plum Blossom Seal Script wasn't for admiration; she thought that if she could master this beautiful script, even if she didn't sell paintings, selling calligraphy could provide a substantial income. She had heard that a well-written set of plum blossom calligraphy could fetch as much as ten Silver in the markets of small towns! In the Capital City, it would likely fetch even more.
Yueyao realized it was time to pay respects to her grandmother. Although her grandmother had said it was not necessary to visit, Yueyao never took those words to heart. When elders excuse you from visiting, it's out of pity; to go on your own shows filial piety. Yueyao had planned to take Brother Zheng with her, but upon seeing him, she abandoned the idea. It wasn't because her grandmother disliked Brother Zheng but rather because he still had wounds on his feet. Walking a few steps in the yard might be fine, but a longer journey worried Yueyao that his wounds might reopen, which could be troublesome.
As Yueyao stepped out of the house, she saw Nanny Gu gazing intently at her. Yueyao knew what Nanny Gu was thinking and said indifferently, "Nanny, come with me!"
Nanny Gu was surprised. She didn't understand why Yueyao had suddenly become so distant these past few days. But now that Yueyao was willing to be close again, not as indifferent as before, Nanny Gu was naturally more than happy.
Brother Zheng clung to Yueyao's clothes, not letting her leave. Yueyao knew Tingzheng was afraid that she wouldn't return, so she crouched down, touched Brother Zheng's head gently, and said, "Brother Zheng, your sister is going to pay respects to Grandmother. I'll be back in at most a half-hour. When I return, I'll check, and if you've been lazy, your sister will have to punish you."
Upon hearing Yueyao say she'd be back soon, Brother Zheng's expression eased considerably. He obediently nodded, "Sister, don't worry, I won't be lazy."
Moving from Lanxi Garden to the Old Madam's Upper Chamber was quite a distance, requiring a half-hour's walk. Yueyao thought this distance seemed far in the past, but now she considered the walk a good opportunity to get some exercise, considering her body had been raised too delicately and frailly, which was not ideal.
Yueyao recalled what the Great Grandmaster once said: childhood is the time to lay the foundation of one's health. If you establish a strong foundation in your youth, you will seldom have health issues when you're older. Thus, Yueyao decided not only to exercise but also not to skimp on nourishing supplements. She planned to consume these supplements with Brother Zheng; a dual approach to solidify their physical foundations.
As Yueyao walked slowly along the road, being able to breathe freely the fresh air felt wonderful. Accompanied by the sweet singing of birds and the enjoyable atmosphere, it was a delightful experience.
As she neared the main house, she heard laughter and chatter from inside. During her previous visits, because she arrived late, Yueyao had not encountered anyone. Today, arriving earlier, she met the three cousins who were also there to pay respects.