Chapter 70: Cousin, It Hurts!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Jin Ju hurriedly said, “Miss, don’t worry. At least, just now, Ms. Ye asked Old Madam Su to pass on a message. If you endure it a little longer, perhaps Ms. Ye will forgive you later.”
Yu Qingning did not dare to mention leaving again. She could only endure the pain in her legs and stand outside obediently.
There were a total of three classes in the morning. Yu Qingning endured it until after school in the morning. Only then did she receive Old Madam Su’s permission to enter the classroom.
Yu Jianjia and Yu Shuangbai still had talent classes in the afternoon, so they didn’t go back. Instead, they went to the side room to eat and rest.
Yu Youyao only attended literary classes. As soon as the class ended, she was called by Ms. Ye to go to the side room. She pointed at a stack of books on the table and said, “This is a part of the class you missed. There are notes and explanations by me in it. Find time to learn it yourself.”
Yu Youyao had a photographic memory and could recite well. These should not be difficult for her.
Looking at the stack of books in front of her, there were at least ten of them. Yu Youyao secretly swallowed her saliva. Under Ms. Ye’s calm gaze, she braced herself and nodded. “I-I understand.”
Ms. Ye retracted her gaze. “I didn’t prepare the ‘Lessons for Women’, ‘The Legend of the Fierce Maiden’, and ‘Internal Training’. Learn some from Nanny yourself.” At this point, she was silent for a moment before reminding her, “Daughters are just like men. They have to follow the three principles and five rules as a benchmark for their behavior. They have to be benevolent, righteous, polite, wise, and trustworthy. It’s easy to restrain actions, but not temperament.”
Yu Youyao’s heart skipped a beat. What Ms. Ye meant was that she only needed to learn a little from books like ‘Lessons for Women’. She could restrain her actions, but she couldn’t restrain her temperament. She could use different methods to teach her, but not everything.
She was the same as Nanny Xu!
These were sincere words. Yu Youyao’s eyes were clear. “Thank you for your advice, mentor.”
Seeing that she really understood, Ms. Ye nodded. “Go back!”
Yu Youyao bowed and left the side room. Coincidentally, she bumped into Old Madam Su leading Yu Qingning into the room. The moment their eyes met, Yu Qingning’s eyes widened in anger, while Yu Youyao looked at her indifferently.
Old Madam Su reminded, “Fourth Miss, Mentor is still waiting for you.”
Yu Qingning snorted, then reluctantly turned to the side and gave way.
Yu Youyao walked past her with a stack of books in her arms.
Yu Qingning was furious. She turned around and continued to glare at her, but all she saw was Yu Youyao’s slender and beautiful figure.
She suddenly realized that after learning from Nanny Xu for a while, not only had Yu Youyao become more careful, but her actions had also become more elegant and beautiful. She also felt a strong sense of jealousy.
Yu Youyao brought Chun Xiao and Xia Tao back to the Jade Courtyard.
Dong Mei welcomed her. “Young Master is here. He’s waiting for you in the reception pavilion.”
When Yu Youyao heard this, her eyes lit up. She quickly picked up her skirt and quickened her pace, quickly leaving Chun Xiao and Xia Tao behind.
Zhou Linghuai was reading when he suddenly heard footsteps. His pale lips curved into a faint smile, and he closed the book.
He saw the little girl walk in quickly, her light green dress fluttered in the wind. She looked as delicate as a baby in early spring, and it was a refreshing sight.
“Cousin, why are you here? Didn’t you go to the West Mansion to study today?”
Her delicate voice was crisp and cheerful, like a magpie climbing a branch. Just hearing it made one happy.
A smile appeared in Zhou Linghuai’s dark eyes. “I came over to take a look during my lunch break.”
Although there was only a door wall between the West Mansion and the East Mansion, it was still troublesome to travel between them, especially since her cousin was in a wheelchair.
Her cousin’s studies were very heavy. Usually, after school, he would directly finish his meal at the school and discuss his studies with his brothers or take a nap before returning to The Green House at night.
Yu Youyao squatted in front of her cousin and immediately saw the sachet on his waist. She immediately smiled.
Her cousin didn’t mind that her skills were crude and not presentable at all. He even carried a sachet to school. Wasn’t he afraid that others would laugh at him?
Seeing that the red mark on her face had already disappeared, Zhou Linghuai smirked. “Are you used to learning at home today? Did Mentor make things difficult for you?”
Before Yu Youyao could say anything, Chun Xiao had already entered the room and continued, “Young Miss has been punished by being hit with a ruler ten times. Her palm was swollen, but she didn’t let me apply the medicine.”
Yu Youyao glared at Chun Xiao in embarrassment and anger, blaming her for talking too much. Although she was often punished by her teacher, she didn’t want to be so shameless in front of her cousin.
She blinked her eyes pitifully, and her eyes instantly turned red. She handed her left hand to her cousin and said pitifully, “Cousin, it hurts!”
Seeing that her palm was red and slightly swollen, Zhou Linghuai was in no mood to care about her punishment. He took out a box of Nine Flowers Dew Cream from his sleeve and opened it. Then, he used a small jade spoon to pick out some medicinal cream and gently applied it onto her palm.
This wasn’t his first time, and he was familiar with it. With his previous experience, Zhou Linghuai was much better at helping her apply the medicine, so he did not bother about Tang Buyao’s question.
“She’ll be fine tomorrow after the medicine is applied.”
With a sly look in her eyes, Yu Youyao said sweetly, “Thank you, Cousin.”
How could Zhou Linghuai not know what she was thinking? He only deliberately played along and looked at her with a faint smile. “What did your teacher teach? Is there anything you don’t understand?”
Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up, and there was a different look on her face. “Mentor taught me the Five Classics, the first chapter of the Book of Rites, and even asked me to recite an essay. She praised me for learning it well.”
Then, she briefly explained what had happened in class.
The little girl’s eyes sparkled brightly, catching Zhou Linghuai off guard and almost making him dizzy.
Zhou Linghuai’s lips curled up slightly. “Taking notes!”
“Ah?!” Yu Youyao pouted slightly and hung her head low. There was no longer any trace of the smug expression on her face. “Cousin, you really want to see it!”
She blinked and looked at her cousin with puppy eyes.
Zhou Linghuai asked, “Can’t I see it?”
“No, no, no, it’s just that,” Yu Youyao stammered, her fair face turning red with embarrassment. “Mentor said that my handwriting was a little… bad, and wanted me to practice a little more.”
At this point, her gaze, which had been fixed on her cousin, began to waver. She did not dare to meet her cousin’s gaze.
Zhou Linghuai recalled the day before when he had come to the Yu Residence. The young lady had treated him like a treasure and had given him a gift. Her bright little face had been filled with envy and admiration, saying that his handwriting was good and that Old Madam Yu had teased her by saying her handwriting was like a dog’s. The young lady had stomped her feet in embarrassment.