Spring in the Hall of Paintings

For two continuous months of training, although Yang governess focused her attention on Yun Xin, who was about to participate in the selection, she did not neglect the other girls, especially Yun Lan. She constantly had Yun Lan practice the same movement over and over again. At first, Yun Lan endured it, but as the repetitions grew, her patience wore thin. She began to wonder secretly if Yang governess was intentionally making things difficult for her. According to the etiquette of the time, Yun Lan had not made any mistakes.

With a loud crash, the copper basin of clean water fell to the ground in front of Yun Lan. She stared at Yang governess, who was gently instructing Yun Xin, and asked, “How many more times do you want me to wash before you’re satisfied? My hands are about to be worn raw.”

Yang governess first gestured for Yun Xin to wait, glanced at the copper basin on the floor, and then turned to the maid who had been holding the basin beside Yun Lan. She said, “You didn’t attend to Fourth Miss properly, so you should be punished.”

“Forget about her, it was me who knocked over the copper basin,” Yun Lan said, feeling quite upset. Yang governess smiled kindly and replied calmly, “It was the maid’s mistake. Fourth Miss, you are the master of the Tong family; you must remember that.”

“The servant deserves to die, the servant deserves to die,” the maid, Xiao Hong, knelt and pleaded for forgiveness. Yun Lan intended to help her up, but Yang governess gave a cold glance, and Yun Lan stopped, her patience worn thin by Yang governess’s relentless pressure. She asked, “You say I’m the master of the Tong family—so is this how you’re going to treat me?”

“Fourth Miss, don’t be impatient. Everything requires practice to become skillful,” Yang governess responded as if trying to comfort Yun Lan, but then turned to Xiao Hong and ordered in a stern voice, “Go and fetch another basin, and serve Fourth Miss properly. The copper basin must be steady.”

“I didn’t say…” Yun Lan had never been treated with such disregard. Her grievances seemed to dissipate into thin air, with nowhere to vent. “What did I do wrong? Explain it to me clearly.”

“Sixth Miss, please stand up and demonstrate for Fourth Miss,” Yang governess instructed.

Yun Wei’s lashes fluttered twice; she was reluctant to demonstrate. Yun Lan moved fluidly, but her long-standing habits were difficult to change. Yun Wei didn’t think the issue was significant, so she didn’t offer any reminder.

“Sixth Sister doesn’t seem very willing,” Jing Yi softly said. “Yang governess, why not let me demonstrate instead?”

Yang governess, who had been observing Yun Wei, shook her head and replied, “You are not suitable. Among all the young ladies present, only Sixth Miss is fit for the task.”

“How could a younger sister demonstrate for an elder sister?” Jing Yi refused to give up. She, too, noticed Yun Lan’s small flaw, but Yun Lan was the only one unaware of it.

“Don’t you know that there are proper sequences in learning, and each field has its expert? In this regard, Fourth Miss excels, as per the old lady’s instructions. I’m entrusted with teaching Fourth Miss properly, and I will not be negligent.”

“Fourth Sister, you just need to lower your arm a little, and don’t let your shoulder sink too much. Then it will be fine.”

Yun Wei didn’t demonstrate herself but directly pointed out Yun Lan’s flaw, then looked at Yang governess and asked, “Is this what you meant?”

Yang governess smiled and nodded. Yun Wei had scored full marks again on this task. Among the young ladies who could demonstrate for Yun Lan, only the legitimate daughters were eligible, and since Jing Yi was a daughter of a collateral branch, she wasn’t suitable. Therefore, Yun Wei was the only one capable of doing it. However, if Yun Wei were to demonstrate, it would be hard to avoid making Yun Lan feel dissatisfied. Yang governess also considered that Yun Lan might be broad-minded enough to not take offense.

In this situation, Yun Wei pointed out the problem without hurting Yun Lan’s pride. It was the best approach. Yun Lan furrowed her brow and asked, “Is it like that?”

“Actually, Fourth Sister, if you pay attention to Yang governess’s movements, you’ll understand,” Yun Wei gently explained. “I only just thought of it and didn’t have time to inform Fourth Sister.”

Yun Wei spoke softly, her dark eyes gleaming as she said sweetly, “Yang governess’s movements—I can’t see them clearly either. Would Yang governess be willing to explain it to me?”

Yun Wei’s soft request was difficult for anyone to refuse. For just a moment, Yang governess was distracted, and before she knew it, Yun Wei was standing right in front of her, smiling sweetly. She threw her questions at Yang governess, which were quite detailed and involved many aspects, all of which could be helpful to Yun Xin, who was about to participate in the selection.

Yun Xin listened attentively, her ears perked up. Yun Lan occasionally interrupted to ask about gossip from the palace, while Yang governess appeared to be growing increasingly less composed. Soon, she started sweating. The young ladies worked together, taking turns asking her questions, until Yang governess’s lips felt dry and her throat became hoarse. Yun Wei, with her innocent eyes full of gratitude, personally handed her a tea cup, softly saying, “Thank you, Yang governess. You’ve worked hard.”

Yang governess, helpless, took the tea cup, coughed a couple of times, and said, “Thank you, Sixth Miss, for passing me the tea. This cup of tea was hard-earned.”

Yun Wei smiled gently, and Yang governess was momentarily taken aback. She had seen many beautiful women, but her resistance to Yun Wei was significantly weaker. Setting aside Yun Wei’s delicate features, there was an indescribable charm about her that drew others in. If she were a little older, how captivating would she be?

Moreover, Yun Wei wasn’t easily manipulated. She had managed to turn the tables on Yang governess in an instant, and without a single flaw to point out. Anyone trying to scheme against her would have to proceed with more caution, and Yang governess appreciated this aspect of Yun Wei.

After the study session ended, Yun Lan pulled Yun Wei aside and whispered with a smile, “So, Sixth Sister, you’re actually quite cunning. Little one, who did you learn this from?”

“Cunning? What’s that?” Yun Wei didn’t understand, looking confused. “Is this another new word from the Western monks? Fourth Sister, I advise you, don’t trust foreigners. They can’t compare to the prosperity of the Qing. We are a land of etiquette, and I think the Western monks have many faults in their manners.”

“Sixth Sister, you don’t understand. In the future… perhaps I will… open the seas… and truly bring all nations to tribute,” Yun Lan blinked her eyes. She was determined to change history, to prevent the humiliation of modern times from ever happening again. Who said women didn’t love their country? To achieve this, she had to tightly hold onto Yinzhen and bear the most outstanding heirs for him. She was determined to leave her mark in history, earn Yinzhen’s love, and rewrite the history of modern humiliation. This was Yun Lan’s greatest wish and goal at that moment.

Yun Wei was stunned by Yun Lan’s words. She hesitated, unsure of what to say next. She wasn’t a transmigrated woman who knew the course of history, but she understood one thing: men ruled outside, and women ruled inside. This had been the unchanging order since ancient times.

“Fourth Sister, take care.” Yun Wei said these words, quickly bidding farewell to Yun Lan. When she returned to her room, her heart was still racing. Could it be that Fourth Sister wants to become an empress? No, with the Qing’s system and Confucian teachings, there would never be another Empress Wu. But then, what would the future look like…?

Suddenly, Yun Wei jumped up. As she thought more about it, she remembered the hints Yun Lan had dropped before. Yun Wei always believed that Yun Lan had strong predictive abilities. Many major events she hinted at had come true. Could it be… Fourth Prince? Yun Wei felt confused. That wouldn’t be it, there was still the Crown Prince. The current emperor doted on the Crown Prince the most.

Yun Wei had read many books, which allowed her to see more than other young ladies. While many preferred strange stories and gossip, Yun Wei favored history books. She had studied from the Xia and Shang dynasties to the Qing, and she loved analyzing major events of those times. Furthermore, the study had many folk tales, which greatly enriched her perspective.

“Miss, this is a gift from the Fucha family. Madam asked me to deliver it to you.”

Nanny Qi personally carried a box, and Yun Wei, noticing her unusual smile, immediately understood that it was a gift from her cousin, Fucha Zheng. She occasionally corresponded with Fucha Zheng, mostly to discuss plum blossom symbolism or insights from various books.

Yun Wei opened the box, her eyes gleaming with surprise. She had only casually mentioned it, but Fucha Zheng had actually found a rare edition?

Yun Wei was delighted. The Fucha matriarch, standing in front of two delicate and expensive gift boxes, was puzzled. One had been brought back by Ce Ling, and the other was sent under the name of the Concubine of the Gongqi mansion. The gifts, however, were clearly meant for Wei, with the Fucha matriarch feeling a little proud yet also troubled.