Chapter 193

Chapter 193

Paying respects to the Empress was a significant matter. Fortunately, Tong Sui was no longer nervous about appearing before the Empress and could handle it with composure. Lin Ningfang was even more reliable. As for Madam He, she just needed to practice her etiquette and memorize the palace rules.

In the late afternoon, the servant dispatched to gather information about the tutors returned.

Lin Ningfang had given him the addresses of six tutors, one male and five female.

The male tutor, Mr. Cen, was in his forties and had been a student of Prime Minister Lin. He was highly knowledgeable and had achieved the highest ranks in the imperial examinations. At the height of his career, he offended the royal family and was forced to kneel and apologize, which he found deeply humiliating. Believing that a scholar would rather die than be disgraced, Mr. Cen resigned from his official post and vowed never to serve the imperial court again.

Later, when Prime Minister Lin learned that his student was living in poverty, he brought Mr. Cen into his home to teach his grandchildren. Mr. Cen was an excellent teacher, and under his guidance, four of Lin’s grandsons attained the jinshi degree, and one granddaughter became as knowledgeable as any man. After Prime Minister Lin passed away, and since there were no young children in the Lin family who needed basic education, Mr. Cen resigned from his position and stayed home to teach his own grandchildren. No matter how high the offer, he refused to leave his home to teach elsewhere.

As for the five female tutors, one had passed away, and the remaining four lived in seclusion, subsisting on the savings from their previous tutoring work.

Lin Ningfang said, “When we had to move, we had no choice but to stop hiring these tutors. We didn’t expect that after three years, they still hadn’t taken on any new students.”

The servant boy added, “I heard the Dou family tried to hire them, but they declined. Some reputable families also tried to hire them, but soon after, those families were demoted and sent to work in other regions, and no one dared to hire them after that.”

Xiao Yuchan said angrily, “The wicked Imperial Uncle Dou, unable to hire good tutors himself, targeted those who did!”

Tong Sui remarked, “Many officials dare not offend Imperial Uncle Dou and prefer to endure humiliation to remain in office. The fact that these four female tutors dared to refuse the Dou family demonstrates their noble character. Indeed, those who associate with the virtuous become virtuous themselves.”

Prime Minister Lin, as the leader of the scholarly elite, would have chosen tutors for his grandchildren who were of outstanding moral character.

Lin Ningfang asked Liu Chu, “Big Sister-in-law, what do you think of these four tutors?”

Liu Chu replied, “Judging by how wonderful you are, Little Sister-in-law, if we can get these tutors to teach Mianmian, it would be a great blessing for her.”

Lin Ningfang then said to Tong Sui, “The four tutors live in different neighborhoods, quite far apart. Tomorrow, I will visit two of them alone. How about Second Sister-in-law takes Big Sister-in-law to visit the other two?”

Both Tong Sui and Liu Chu nodded. Xiao Yuchan had an idea and joined Lin Ningfang, saying, “I’ll accompany you, Third Sister-in-law, so we can have some company on the way.”

Lin Ningfang knew she just wanted to go out and said, “Only if you promise to listen to me the whole time will I take you.”

Xiao Yuchan said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be more obedient than my mother.”

The female tutors would be invited by the sisters-in-law, but Mr. Cen would need Xiao Zhen to make the visit, as Mr. Cen would primarily be teaching Tong Shan and Mianmian. Qi Yao had just turned six and was only beginning his education with simple books.

Tong Sui suggested that Xiao Zhen come back early the next day and visit Mr. Cen before it got too dark.

Xiao Zhen changed into casual clothes and glanced out the window, saying, “There’s still an hour before curfew; I can make it there on horseback.”

Tong Sui stopped him, “Don’t rush. You’ve been busy all day; go have dinner first.”

Xiao Zhen smiled, “What’s more important, a meal or Xiaoshan taking the jinshi exam?”

Tong Sui, feeling embarrassed on her brother’s behalf, said, “He hasn’t even taken the tongsheng exam yet; the jinshi is still far off.”

Xiao Zhen said, “If he’s half as smart as you, passing the jinshi exam won’t be a problem.”

Tong Sui: “……”

Xiao Zhen kissed her on the cheek, then swiftly left.

Tong Sui had to go and have dinner with Xiao Ye and Liu Chu.

Xiao Ye said, “Luckily, I’m already twenty-five. If I were ten years younger, Second Brother would make me take the jinshi exam too.”

Tong Sui: "... Twenty-five years old, this year we must settle your marriage no matter what. Fourth Brother, tell us first, what kind of girl do you like?"

Xiao Zhen got married at twenty-six, and now that things are peaceful, we can't let Xiao Ye wait any longer.

Liu Chu smiled and said, "It's time for him to marry. Having a wife to look after him will save us sisters-in-law from worrying about him."

Xiao Ye glanced at his two sisters-in-law and said, "If I marry, you have to pick a good girl for me. She must be as gentle as Eldest Brother’s wife and as clever as Second Brother’s wife. Of course, she must be beautiful too."

Mianmian blinked and asked, "Does that mean my mother isn't smart enough, and Second Aunt isn't gentle enough?"

Xiao Ye: "..."

Tong Sui glared at him, while Liu Chu smiled and lowered her eyes.

Just before the curfew, Xiao Zhen returned.

Tong Sui met him in the courtyard and eagerly asked, "Did Mr. Cen agree?"

Xiao Zhen: "With Third Brother’s letter of recommendation, he naturally agreed. We’ve arranged for him to move in and start classes on the eighth. Tomorrow, prepare a guest room for Mr. Cen and arrange a courtyard for the study. Also, inform your parents that Xiaoshan will stay here for convenience, so the three children can be taught together. When I have time, I'll teach Xiaoshan to ride a horse, so it will be convenient for him to visit his parents on his days off."

Tong Sui: "Those are things for the future. I don't want to think about them now. Have you eaten? The kitchen has kept your meal warm."

Xiao Zhen: "Bring it out then."

The dinner was chicken porridge with two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes.

Tong Sui sat beside him, watching Xiao Zhen quickly finish a plate of food, knowing he was famished. Being tall, he naturally had a bigger appetite, especially after a long day’s work.

Tong Sui relayed Xiao Ye’s criteria for a wife to him.

Xiao Zhen: "He's so indiscreet. If he dares to say that in front of me, I'll kick him out."

His face turned cold, and Tong Sui quickly spoke up for Xiao Ye: "That's just his personality. Second Brother and I are used to it by now. Besides, there were no maids around at the time; if there had been, Fourth Brother wouldn’t have spoken so rashly."

Xiao Zhen didn't respond, planning to scold his younger brother in private later.

Tong Sui then shared Mianmian's witty remarks with him.

Xiao Zhen glanced at her while eating and smiled.

Tong Sui gritted her teeth and asked, "What are you smiling at?"

Xiao Zhen: "Eldest Brother’s wife isn’t always very smart."

Tong Sui: "What about me?"

Xiao Zhen: "You? Now it’s fine, but when you first married into the family, you treated me worse than a mule."

Tong Sui: "..."

—

On the eighth, Tong Sui was busy preparing the guest room and the study. She also informed her parents about the matter.

Tong Youyu: "It’s a coincidence. Yesterday, Mr. Song came over and tested Xiaoshan’s knowledge. He reminded us to hire a tutor for him soon."

The Song family lives in Shangshan Fang, just three miles from Gongan Fang.

Tong Sui: "Mr. Song is now the Prime Minister, so we should refer to him as Prime Minister instead of using his old title."

Tong Youyu: "That's what I call him, but he insists I use the old form of address. Besides, though Mr. Song dresses more lavishly now, he is still as courteous to us as before."

Zhou Qing: "That's because you have a good daughter and a good son-in-law. If you were still living in a mountain valley, do you think he would have time for you?"

She respected Song Lan's talents, but she always remembered that Song Lan looked down on her daughter. Why did he look down on her? Snobbery!

People like him, no matter how humble they appear, are arrogant at their core.

Zhou Qing turned to her son and said, "Remember this, our family came from the mountains, just like ordinary people outside. If you act like a dandy because of your sister and brother-in-law, or if you look down on those without the chance to study because you've read more books, I’ll break your legs."

Tong Shan: "You’re overthinking it. I’m not that kind of person."

Zhou Qing: "Anyway, don't learn from Mr. Song. If you're going to learn, learn from the Third Madam."

Tong Shan: "The Third Madam told me to learn from my sister."

Tong Youyu: "Learn your sister's sharpshooting? You’re not cut out for that."

Talent is rare and cannot be forced. Several generations of hunters in our family only produced one sharpshooter, and although my two nephews are good at martial arts, they haven’t trained to be the kind of archers that my daughter is.

Tong Shan: "Forget it, you wouldn’t get it anyway."

Zhou Qing poked her son in the forehead with her finger.

Tong Sui smiled: "There are capable people in Luoyang. No matter who it is, we should learn from their strengths and avoid their weaknesses."

——

The next day, on the ninth, Tong Sui prepared early in the morning, donning her super first-rank lady's ceremonial robe as Lady Anguo.

The color was bright red, with auspicious cloud and mystical bird patterns embroidered with gold threads, taking a long time to layer the intricate garments inside and out.

Xiao Zhen sat on the edge of the bed, watching two maids wrap his young wife in this set of elaborate ceremonial attire.

After the maids retreated, Xiao Zhen wanted to hug Tong Sui, but she turned away to avoid him: "Don't mess around. If you wrinkle this, I won't have a second set of ceremonial robes."

Xiao Zhen: "Do you think I'm someone without manners?"

Tong Sui: "Anyway, I don't allow you to hug me."

Xiao Zhen helplessly kept his distance and said: "I was just going to say, you look more like a bride today than on your wedding day in this outfit."

Tong Sui glanced at the mirror, seeing her reflection in bright red, wearing a diadem, so magnificent that she hardly recognized herself.

Suddenly, someone appeared beside her and leaned in to whisper in her ear: "Wear this again tonight."

Tong Sui’s face flushed, and she pushed away this inappropriate behavior.

Next door, Madam He and Lin Ningfang were also ready. Madam He could enter the palace because she was the wife of the heir to the dukedom, while Lin Ningfang’s title of 'grandson’s wife' was an informal term. Moreover, there were numerous third-rank military officials in Luoyang, but their wives were not invited this time. Lin Ningfang attended because of her status as the daughter of the former prime minister’s noble family, due to Lin Xiang's virtuous reputation.

Tong Sui sat in a carriage alone, while Lin Ningfang accompanied Madam He, guarding against her becoming too anxious.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, they found two other groups of women already there: Madam Feng and her daughter-in-law, Madam Lu Senior and Madam Lu, and their daughter-in-law.

Before long, Madam Fan Senior, Madam Luo Senior, and Madam Luo also arrived, followed by Madam Qi and her sister-in-law.

These were the women from the newly ennobled marquis and duke families of the Xingping Emperor.

According to rank, as Lady Anguo, Tong Sui should be at the front, but Feng Ji, Lu Gong, Fan Zhao, and Luo Xiao were all old retainers of the Xingping Emperor, and their wives were mostly Tong Sui's elders. Tong Sui insisted that these four families walk in pairs ahead, with her own family and the Qi family accompanying them at the back.

Like Madam He, Madam Qi was also from a rural background, but she had a gentle temperament and was more frightened of entering the palace than Madam He.

Seeing someone more timid than herself, Madam He gained some confidence and was able to enter the palace more naturally.

A palace attendant led them, and the women silently and respectfully passed through several corridors, arriving at the Western Palace, where the Empress resided.