Chapter 11.
"But now let's make do with what we have." Old Madam Gu said in resignation.
"This rare red pearl was given to me by your biological mother on birthday that year as a gift now I'm giving this to you as a gift.
Take it as a blessing from your Old Grandmother and also as a memory of your late mother and Grandmother.
I've heard it was passed down to three generation, from your mother's grandfather to your mother's mother, then your mother's mother to your mother, now it's given to you take care of your maternal ancestors' treasure for safekeeping." Old Madam Gu said with a look of melancholy as if reminiscing the good past when Madam Lin and her mother were still alive.
"Oh by the what are these other few wooden boxes for?" Old Madam Gu came out of her trance and asked while pointing at the other wooden boxes carried by the servants of manor.
Looking at the wooden boxes, Gu Yanyan's eyes lit up and she turned towards the boxes.
She took out one the boxes and stepped towards his father after giving the rare red pearl to her maid for keeping it protected.
She took the wooden box and went to her father.
"When I was young, I've from a maid in courtyard that when father was young, he used to admire Master Guan Lei's calligraphy very much.
So when my teacher, Miss Ye gave me this calligraphy at fifth birthday, I kept it safe and thought of presenting it to father.
That's why today Yanyan took the liberty to present this calligraphy to father." Gu Yanyan extended her both hands and the calligraphy in front of her father.
After getting his favorite master's calligraphy, second master Gu was also very pleased.
Even though he still kept his strict and cold front, the glint of happiness didn't go unnoticed by anyone present in the hall.
Unfolding the rice paper, his eyes unhurriedly roamed at the surface of the paper.
It was really Master Guan Lei's calligraphy.
After confirming the authenticity, second master Gu's excitement knew no bounds.
He had admired Master Guan Lei's calligraphy since he was young but because of the scarcity of his calligraphy, even though he was already third rank official in court, he couldn't own one and could only admire his calligraphy in the imperial library but he didn't know, his daughter who was only thirteen this year could obtain one and even present him as a gift.
He smiled at his daughter and nodded at her in satisfaction.
"Miss Ye? Who is she?" Second master Gu was still admiring his new found treasure when he heard his his mother asking Gu Yanyan about the person who gifted her this rare treasure, which was even rarer than the red pearl found in the depth of the east sea.
"Yes Yanyan, who is this Miss Ye?" Second master Gu also repeated his mother's question.
"She is my teacher and she taught me when I was young." Gu Yanyan answered in simple and concise manner not dwelling in depth.
But it seemed, others didn't wanted to let it just like that and wanted a real in depth details about this Miss Ye who could give her, Gu Yanyan Master Guan Lei's calligraphy just like that.
"Your teacher? Where this teacher came from? Who found you this teacher and what's her background?" A series of questions were thrown towards her.
Gu Yanyan didn't panicked but smiled elegantly and turned towards her grandmother.
"Grandmother, when I reached manor, only after a month of living their nanny Jin who came with me to take care of me disappeared mysteriously." Gu Yanyan said and old Madam Gu nodded at her.
This incident Madam Yun had told her about but at that they didn't plan to keep any connection with Gu Yanyan so she didn't ask Madam Yun to send another nanny for her.
Seeing Old Madam Gu nodding, Gu Yanyan continued, "After she disappeared, I didn't had anyone by my side to take care of me and to teach me.
When second grand uncle (second old master Lin) got to know about this matter, he arranged a nanny and a teacher too, to take care of me and to teach me what a noble young lady should learn." Gu Yanyan lied through her teeth very effortlessly but Gu family members didn't seem to care about her lies or truth much.
"As for where my miss Ye came from, that I don't know much but one time she had mentioned that her family was some old scholarly family, situated by the Sea and she was the youngest child of her mother who died after giving her birth.... just like my mother. That's why she took a little extra care of me." Gu Yanyan said last two sentence with a solemn expression.
"She taught me only for three years, after my 8th birthday, she said my lessons had been completed and whatever I needed to learn, I had learnt and doesn't need to be taught anymore. So after staying a few weeks more after my birthday, she left to where she came from." After saying this, Gu Yanyan pursed her lips.
Her expression sad, she was really sad.
Thinking about the past when she spent days learning with Miss Ye and when they would plat chess or learn how to compose poetry and recite it and everytime when she would compose a good poetry and recite it in her sweet and childish voice, Miss Ye would reward her with sweet and sour plum candies or sweet hawthorn candies.
They would also play zither under the parasol tree, flower arranging, tea mixing, medicinal cuisine and many more.
In only three years of time Miss Ye had taught her more than a dozen of skills along with the normal literature classes.
After finding her high potential in learning, Miss Ye would often bring new study materials for her, Gu Yanyan to see and if Gu Yanyan showed interest in the materials, she would explaine and teach her more about those study materials.
She never forced anything extra on Gu Yanyan that Yanyan didn't wanted to learn or wasn't interested.
She taught her only those things that Yanyan find interesting and asked miss Ye to teach her more about this certain skill or this certain topic.