“Yes, this servant will certainly convey Miss’s meaning.” Ruyi and Ji Xiang smiled and bowed to Qin Yining. “If Miss has no other instructions, we’ll take our leave.”
“Please, sisters.” Qin Yining nodded with a smile.
Seeing this, Nanny Qin also bowed to Qin Yining: “Miss, this servant also takes her leave.”
“I’ll see you off, Nanny.” Qin Yining gestured with one hand in invitation, very courteously supporting Nanny Qin as she descended the steps.
“Please don’t trouble yourself, Miss.” Though Nanny Qin politely declined, her heart was filled with joy, and her impression of Qin Yining improved considerably.
Despite Nanny Qin’s repeated refusals, Qin Yining still courteously saw her to the courtyard gate. Only after Nanny Qin bowed once more to Qin Yining did she take her leave.
Returning to the courtyard and seeing the items that had nearly formed a small mountain, Qin Yining said: “Register the Old Madam’s gifts in the ledger. For now, arrange Nanny Zhan in the wing room.”
“Yes.” Nanny Zhu directed people to organize everything.
Rui Lan stood beside Qin Yining, speaking in a low voice: “Miss, this matter is strange. Yesterday Nanny Zhan came specifically to teach only you. How did things change overnight? Did First Madam really approve of this?”
“She must have approved. Nanny Zhan came because of the main branch’s connections. Without First Madam’s consent, no matter how much others talked, Nanny Zhan would never have agreed.”
Hearing this, Rui Lan’s face actually flushed red with anger: “This is completely unreasonable! They’re bullying Miss. Whatever you have, they become envious and think of ways to take your things away!”
Qin Yining smiled soothingly: “Don’t be angry. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Where there’s a will, there’s a way?
For a moment, Rui Lan didn’t understand the meaning behind Qin Yining’s words.
Seeing Qin Yining about to return to the main room, Rui Lan followed to attend her.
However, when passing the wing room and seeing Nanny Zhu carefully instructing young maids to clean the wing room and arrange Nanny Zhan’s belongings, Rui Lan suddenly understood.
That Nanny Zhan was willing to move back to Xueli Courtyard to live with Qin Yining immediately after accepting the invitation to teach all the mansion’s young ladies – didn’t this speak volumes?
Upon reflection, she had been so angry just moments ago, but wouldn’t Miss, as the person directly affected, be angry too? Yet while she was nearly jumping with rage, Miss remained calm, with a clear mind that quickly analyzed the situation – truly achieving composure in the face of favor or disgrace.
Her agitated mood immediately settled, and Rui Lan suddenly had a thought: Following Miss in the future, she would surely climb higher step by step!
Time passed extremely quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the fifth day of the tenth month – the day to submit the copied Classic of Filial Piety.
These past two days, Qin Yining had been extremely busy. Mornings were spent learning etiquette with Nanny Zhan alongside her sisters, afternoons studying poetry and literature with the tutor in the outer study, and evenings Nanny Zhan would give her private lessons. In her spare time, she had to copy the Classic of Filial Piety.
Qin Yining loved this kind of life. She was like a dry sponge suddenly plunged into water, tirelessly and rapidly absorbing new knowledge.
She worked earnestly with great perseverance. Having experienced greater hardships, she never felt tired by such learning, no matter how difficult. While other young ladies complained bitterly, she always maintained an attitude of cherishing these opportunities.
She had an intelligent mind with nearly photographic memory, combined with later diligence and graceful deportment. In just two short days, she had earned Nanny Zhan’s further favor, who was almost ready to teach her everything she knew.
These past days, while reading the Dao De Jing, she had come across the line “Misfortune is where fortune depends; fortune is where misfortune hides.” Analyzing her current situation, it truly fit, making Qin Yining smile knowingly despite her busy schedule.
Qin Yining brought Rui Lan and Qiu Lu to Cixiao Garden for evening attendance.
Just entering the courtyard gate, she saw the head maid Ruyi directing young maids on the corridor.
Seeing Qin Yining, Ruyi immediately approached with a smile, curtsying: “Fourth Miss, I hope you are well.”
“Sister Ruyi, how are you? How is the Old Madam’s health today? Did she enjoy her morning meal?”
“The Old Madam is very well. Right now Miss Huining, Third Miss, Sixth Miss, Seventh Miss, and Eighth Miss are all here. Please come in, Fourth Miss.”
As they spoke, they had reached the corridor, and Ruyi personally lifted the warm curtain for Qin Yining.
After entering, Qin Yining handed her newly made bright red cloak trimmed with white rabbit fur to Rui Lan, then turned around the “Joy Upon the Brows” screen into the room.
The young ladies were either standing or sitting in relaxed postures.
Qin Huining was serving the Old Madam tea from an exquisite gold-painted covered bowl.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Qin Yining dressed in an ivory-white jacket. Her pupils involuntarily contracted, but she maintained her smile: “Little Xi has arrived.”
Hearing this, Qin Yining felt quite disgusted.
It seemed she needn’t overestimate Qin Huining’s character. Such a petty-minded person probably only had these kinds of methods. Just a form of address – children in the countryside called Dog Leftovers or Donkey Egg could still grow up fine. What was the point of constantly harping on it?
Qin Yining couldn’t be bothered with Qin Huining, acting as if this person didn’t exist in the room, and properly bowed to greet the Old Madam.
Eighth Miss, however, couldn’t stand Qin Huining and sarcastically said: “It seems Miss Huining’s memory is beyond cure. She can’t even remember Fourth Sister’s name clearly.”
Qin Huining inwardly cursed Eighth Miss as an idiot for daring to be insolent with her in front of the Old Madam.
Her face flushed red with anger, her voice trembling: “Eighth Sister, what do you mean!”
“You don’t understand what I mean? It seems Miss Huining not only has poor memory but poor brains too! Uncle clearly said Fourth Sister’s given name is Yining, yet you insist on clinging to that one address. What a petty, narrow-minded person.”
“You!” Qin Huining’s eyes filled with tears of anger as she looked to the Old Madam for help.
The Old Madam disliked her granddaughters bickering in front of her, so she said sternly: “Bao Jie’er, what are you saying?”
Eighth Miss wanted to continue arguing with the Old Madam, but was restrained by Third Miss and Seventh Miss.
Sixth Miss winked at Qin Huining while glancing sideways at Qin Yining, who was kneeling and bowing.
During their argument, Qin Yining had already finished her bow, but since the Old Madam hadn’t spoken, Qin Yining didn’t rise, thus kneeling unnecessarily longer.
Qin Huining lowered her head so others couldn’t see her expression, secretly smirking with satisfaction, while Sixth Miss’s face openly showed a smile.
Only Eighth Miss felt somewhat remorseful.
The Old Madam had momentarily forgotten and had no intention of making things difficult. After glaring at Eighth Miss, she said: “Yi Jie’er, you may rise.”