Chapter 269

Chapter 274: School

Seeing that Chun Ge couldn't recite the passage, Lord Xu's expression darkened, but he didn't say much. He assisted the elder madam to the east chamber.

Chun Ge stood there with his head down, feeling dejected.

Eleven Miss crouched down to his level and asked, "Are you feeling a bit scared?"

Chun Ge nodded, tears welling up in his eyes, "I can recite it."

Eleven Miss said gently, "Then let's find a time to recite it to your father, okay?"

Chun Ge nodded vigorously.

Eleven Miss took his hand, "Let's go and eat first!"

But Chun Ge hesitated, "What if I still can't recite it?" He felt both anxious and confused.

"If we don't do it in front of so many people and just quietly recite it for your father, will you still forget?" Eleven Miss whispered softly.

Chun Ge's head hung even lower, "When the teacher asks me, I... I can't recite it either!"

Eleven Miss was inwardly concerned.

If this was the case, the situation might be quite serious.

But now, it was even more crucial not to discourage the child.

"Can you try reciting it for me?" Eleven Miss asked tentatively.

Chun Ge thought for a moment before reluctantly replying, "Okay."

Eleven Miss recalled how he had recited 'The Primer' in front of everyone during the New Year celebrations...

"Let's go and eat first," she said with a smile, hugging Chun Ge. "Let's not worry about this now. Let's eat well. Otherwise, your father will be upset again if he sees you playing with your food. Since you can't recite the text right now, let's just focus on eating well first!"

"Mm," Chun Ge replied softly, obediently following Eleven Miss to the east chamber.

As she walked ahead, the second madam glanced back.

Perhaps following Eleven Miss's advice, Chun Ge ate his meal properly this time, displaying the poise of a young nobleman. In contrast, Xu Sijie beside him was wolfing down his food. The maid tried to feed him, but he refused, and when he ate by himself, he dropped grains of rice on the table, picking them up and stuffing them into his mouth, looking quite messy.

A flicker of sympathy passed through the elder madam's eyes.

The fifth madam, however, turned away, pretending not to notice.

Lord Xu seemed on the verge of saying something but hesitated. On the way back, he whispered to Eleven Miss, "I think after we move to Lijing Pavilion, we should find an excuse to keep Sijie from eating at the table. Let the stewardesses teach him first."

Children have their own sense of self-respect. Even if they don't fully grasp it yet, parents should help nurture it.

Eleven Miss agreed and brought up Chun Ge's issue with Lord Xu, "I asked him privately. He said he's a bit scared, so he can't recite it..."

"Scared, scared!" Lord Xu's brows furrowed with impatience, "If it's not fear, it's worry, or nervousness. How old is he now? Can he keep going on like this?"

When a problem is raised but can't be solved, it's best not to bring it up again.

Eleven Miss smiled and changed the subject, "Speaking of which, March 3rd is Sijie's birthday, right?"

Lord Xu didn't remember, "Oh," he said, "Then let's take this opportunity to celebrate it for him." He added, "Let me know how much money you need, and I'll have Steward Bai allocate it."

Eleven Miss thought about the attitudes of the fifth master and his wife today... Xu Sijie needed restraint, not ostentation.

She borrowed the second madam's words as an excuse: "The child is still young, and a grand celebration might bring bad luck. I think a simple bowl of longevity noodles will do!"

"It's your call!" Lord Xu looked at Zhenjie leading Xu Sijie ahead, "Since he's part of our family now, we shouldn't let him suffer."

Eleven Miss nodded with a smile, and upon returning to her room, she informed Qin Yi and Lady Wen, who had come to pay their respects, about the move. She also instructed Lv Yun to inform Qiao Lianfang.

Lady Wen had no objections, but Qin Yi hesitated, "Can I check the auspicious date before moving?"

Eleven Miss was puzzled.

Lady Wen explained with a smile, "Qin Yi has a Buddha statue in her room."

Although Eleven Miss didn't believe in such things, she didn't oppose others' beliefs.

"Qin Yi should make a decision soon to avoid delaying the move."

Qin Yi agreed and left, burning yellow paper and praying in the courtyard at midnight.

Lady Wen returned to her room and, along with Qiu Hong, Dong Hong, and Yu'er, sewed waistbands overnight.

"As long as the waistband remains, so does the person. If the waistband is lost, the person is lost too."

"Yes!" Qiu Hong and others thought of the 200,000 taels of silver notes hidden in their waistbands, their hands trembling as they sewed.

Qiao Lianfang was somewhat stunned upon hearing the news, "The marquis... moving to the Water Pavilion, and the two concubines and I moving to the Fragrant Courtyard?"

"Yes, Lady Qiao," Lv Yun said with a smile, "I heard it was the elder madam's idea."

Qiao Lianfang was lost in thought for a while, then had Xiu Yuan reward Lv Yun with two pieces of broken silver before sending her off.

Lv Yun felt a chill run through her and reported back to Eleven Miss, "...She unexpectedly rewarded me with silver!"

"If she gives you a reward, just take it!" Eleven Miss laughed.

You can't keep an umbrella open all the time just because it might rain!

Life had to go on as usual for her.

Lv Yun agreed and made a cup of hot tea for Eleven Miss—she was copying the guest list for the March 3rd event with Amber, following the old customs.

Eleven Miss noticed that Amber's handwriting was improving.

"Keep practicing, and you'll be able to write the invitations," she said with satisfaction.

Amber smiled, thinking of Hong Xiu's words, "...Yanrong heard that the madam likes women who can read and write, so she practices writing for an hour every morning, rain or shine, frost or snow!"

She had her eye on Binju's position!

Amber thought of Binju...

"Madam, is Binju returning home on the ninth day or the twelfth day?"

If it's the ninth day, it's March 3rd; if it's the twelfth day, it's March 6th.

"I'll have her return home after a full month has passed."

Amber was momentarily taken aback.

Eleven Miss smiled and remarked, "I hadn't thought of it at the time either. I just felt that she lived far away, and the round trip would take an entire day. Moreover, by the end of March, when the spring is warm and flowers are blooming, she could also enjoy a stroll in the fresh spring air."

Amber laughed upon hearing this, "Sister Binju is truly fortunate."

But in her heart, she thought, the mistress is so sentimental. It seems I should spend more time with Zhuxiang.

In this mansion, there are countless clever and sharp people...

At this moment, Eleven Miss gazed at the familiar names written on the large red and gold paper, her expression somewhat distant.

Another March third.

The first time she met Lord Xu was also on March third!

Many events unfolded that day.

First, Ten Miss suddenly appeared, then the incident in the small courtyard took place.

March third. For many, it's just an ordinary day for a spring stroll; for many, it's a turning point in life. Eldest Miss, Qiao Lianfang, Ten Miss, Lanting, Cao E, Lin Mingyuan... even Wen Lian, familiar and unfamiliar faces flashed through her mind.

Eleven Miss shook her head fiercely, trying to shake off those memories.

She seldom dwells on the past. Because sadness and regret are futile, time always moves people forward.

She instructed Amber to find her some simple clothes: "Tomorrow morning, we'll go see Chun Ge!"

Amber was quite surprised.

The Xu family's clan school is named Chengxun Academy, located in the north-south corner of the outer courtyard. Though it's called a clan school, currently only Xu Siyu and Chun Ge are studying there, along with seven or eight other students who are children of minor officials or offshoots of noble families in the capital. Though not complicated, there are still outsiders.

"I feel something is amiss with Chun Ge..." Eleven Miss didn't dwell on it too much, she pondered, "Why can't he recite the texts assigned by the teacher... he's afraid of the marquis... could he also be afraid of that teacher?"

"Should we ask the second young master?" Amber suggested, "The second young master and the fourth young master study together, he should know something!"

"After all, it's his own teacher," Eleven Miss gently shook her head, "Even if there's something, the second young master wouldn't say. No need to burden him. Let's quietly go and see for ourselves before making any decisions."

Amber agreed and found a plain lake-colored jacket that Eleven Miss used to wear at her parents' home.

Lord Xu returned—he had just been to the study.

Accompanying him were Lin Bo and Zhao Ying, each holding several paper boxes.

He directed Lin Bo and Zhao Ying to place the paper boxes on the kang table in the inner room.

Eleven Miss stepped forward, curtsied, and smiled, "What has the lord brought?"

Lord Xu beckoned her to come and see, "Little Five made these. They're models of houses. He sent them over at noon today." Then he pointed them out to her, "Here are the windows, this is the door, this is the main hall..." They were exquisitely made, even the window lattices were clearly defined as ice crack or plum blossom patterns.

"Fifth Master is truly amazing!" Eleven Miss sincerely praised.

Lord Xu, however, said, "If only he could put half of this effort into his duties."

Eleven Miss could understand Xu Lingkuan.

After all, whether he does well or poorly, it's the same, so he might as well put his heart into something he enjoys for some fun.

Lord Xu also discussed with her where they planned to plant trees and where to plant flowers.

Eleven Miss's interest was piqued as well.

They talked for a long time, only stopping when they heard the night watch drum.

The next day, Eleven Miss casually put her hair up in a bun and, accompanied by Amber, Lv Yun, and three or four maids, went to the outer courtyard's family school.

Having instructed them to go quietly, the group entered through the backyard. Eleven Miss listened under the window at the back of the house.

The room was silent as the teacher lectured on "The Great Learning," specifically the passage about roots and branches, beginnings and ends.

His voice was firm, his tone strict, and he had a decent grasp of the material. He cited classics and made connections, delivering a comprehensive and well-structured lecture, detailed yet concise. The downside was that the content was rigid and formulaic, not very engaging. During the lecture, he called on several students to answer questions. Some answered well, others poorly. He remained silent for those who answered well but harshly scolded those who answered poorly, his tone sharp and his words severe.

Eleven Miss slipped quietly out of the family school.

After dinner, she sent Chun Ge back to his room and had him recite "The Elementary Learning" for her.

He recited six chapters in one breath without a single pause.

That evening, Eleven Miss asked Lord Xu, "Didn't you say you were going to change the teacher for Yuge and the others? Has it been done?"

Lord Xu shook his head. "Haven't found a suitable one yet. This one, though not outstanding in knowledge, is upright and principled. They're not aiming to be top scholars anyway. Let him teach for now."

Since the teacher's character was valued, Eleven Miss swallowed her words. The next morning, she sent a message to Luo Zhenxing, asking him to make time to come over no matter what.