Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Ms. Ye said calmly, âSince youâre studying at home again, itâs time to change those bad habits of yours. You have to catch up on the lessons that youâve missed in the past. Donât drop out of class so easily in the future.â
Yu Youyao lowered her head and agreed.
Ms. Ye nodded and continued, âYesterday, your father sent someone over to inform me that you were going to learn the rules from Nanny and that you would only be studying in the morning.â At this point, she paused for a moment. âI wonât force you if you donât come to the talent class in the afternoon, but I hope youâll pay more attention to the language class. As the saying goes, itâs good if a woman isnât talented, but itâs bad if she isnât. If sheâs stupid, she wonât be smart. If sheâs not smart, sheâll be blind. She will be like a puppet. As a woman of the governing family, you should understand that a woman who knows how to read and write is virtuous.â
These words were a little heartfelt. Yu Youyao felt something and looked up at Ms. Ye. She said solemnly, âThank you for your guidance.â
Seeing that she seemed to have really taken his advice, Ms. Yeâs expression softened a little. âGo to your seat.â
Ms. Ye took the snacks and the Four Treasures of the Study set into the room at the side.
There were three long rows of tables in the room, with three tables in each row. Yu Youyaoâs seat was in the middle of the first row. Yu Youyao had not been to school for more than a month. On the long table that should have been empty, there was a blue-and-white brush washer, a rosewood room treasure box, and other items. Every item was either carved or printed with exquisite pomegranate patterns.
Chun Xiao said, âIt belongs to Fourth Miss.â Pomegranate flowers were Yu Qingningâs favorite flowers.
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Yu Jianjia and Yu Qingning enter the house with their maidservants. Seeing that Yu Youyao was also there, the two of them were clearly surprised.
âI didnât know that Big Sister was also here. Otherwise, I would have come with her.â Yu Jianjia was also wearing a green dress, but their styles were very different, and she looked more refined.
Yu Youyao glanced at her but said nothing.
Yu Jianjia felt her heart ache at this calm gaze. Thinking of what had happened in the past two days, she turned around and sat down in her seat. She opened the treasure box on the long table and took out pens, ink, paper, inkstone, paperweights, books, and other items.
The long, empty table was full, but not messy at all.
Yu Qingning, who had been forced by Yu Youyao to kowtow to the first wife yesterday and was punished by Old Madam to copy âFemale Virtueâ a hundred times, was wearing a rather gorgeous pomegranate dress. Her expression was not too good. When she saw Yu Youyao, she could not help but glare at her. Then, she snorted coldly and turned to sit down.
However, Chun Xiao stopped her. âFourth Miss, have you forgotten that this is Young Missâs seat?â
Yu Qingningâs expression couldnât help but stiffen. Then, she said angrily, âBig Sister hasnât been to school for a month. I only changed seats because I saw that your seat was empty. I didnât mean to snatch your seat.â
Yu Youyao ignored her and turned to look at Jin Ju, who was following behind Yu Qingning. She instructed, âPack Fourth Missâs things.â
Jin Juâs face turned pale. Ignoring her young missâs pale face, she hurriedly went forward to put away Yu Qingningâs study treasure box, as well as the pen holder, pen holder, and other items.
Yu Qingning gritted her teeth in anger. âYu Youyao, what do you mean?â
Seeing that Jin Ju had quickly packed Yu Qingningâs things and placed them in the middle of the second row, Yu Youyao finally gave Yu Qingning a look.
âWhat belongs to me belongs to me even if Iâm not around. Since youâve privately occupied my position, I wonât hold it against you. After all, Iâm the eldest sister, so I naturally have to tolerate my younger sister. However, Father said that since Iâm the eldest sister of the first wife, I should take on the responsibility of teaching my younger siblings in the family. Therefore, I have to teach you the principle of stealing without asking. I hope that in the future, Fourth Sister, you will be polite and not overstep your boundaries.â
Yu Qingningâs face turned red with anger.
But that wasnât all. Yu Youyao chuckled. âIn the future, you have to remember to call me Big Sister. Thereâs order in seniority. If outsiders hear you calling me by my full name, theyâll say that youâre unruly and ill-mannered, and you wonât want to implicate the reputation of the residence.â
Her gentle and smiling voice revealed the gentleness of a kind heart. However, the faint warning in her words was filled with a mellow and deep aura.
Yu Qingning was filled with anger. It was as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water on her on the spot. All of her fire was wiped out in an instant, leaving only sparks behind. She felt indignant in her heart.
At this moment, Ms. Ye walked out of the side room with a dark expression. He held the ruler that he had just used on Yu Youyao and walked up to Yu Qingning. âGive me your hand.â
Yu Qingningâs face turned pale. âMentor, what did I do wrong?â
Ms. Yeâs expression was serious. âA long time ago, Eldest Miss didnât come to school. If you were in her position, I would have asked you if you had gotten her approval. How did you answer?â
A position could not be changed just like that. It had to be approved by the other party first.
âIâ¦â Yu Qingningâs heart skipped a beat, and she reluctantly reached out her hand.
After the first strike, Yu Qingningâs tears fell and her body trembled like a leaf in the wind.
Ms. Ye did not seem to notice Yu Qingningâs aggrieved tears. The ruler continued to fall heavily, making loud slapping sounds. âYouâre full of lies. Youâre saying that youâre not smart and donât believe me. Youâre secretly snatching someone elseâs seat because youâre rude and heartless. The three principles and five rules are the benchmark for the world. However, youâve violated the four rules of kindness, etiquette, wisdom, and trust. Iâll punish you ten times using the ruler.â
Not only was Yu Qingning beaten up, but she was also taught a lesson by the teacher on the spot. Her tears fell even more fiercely. Halfway through, she retracted her hand.
Yu Qingning had been pampered since she was a young child by her father. Although she was the daughter of a concubine, she was not inferior to Yu Youyao, who was the daughter of the first wife. She was also competitive and liked to compete with others. After school, with Yu Jianjiaâs wisdom, she naturally did not want to fall behind. She worked hard. Not to mention being slapped on the palm of the hand with a ruler in front of all the sisters in the residence, even a slight bump was rare.
Ms. Ye looked at her calmly. âGive me your hand.â
Her palm was burning with pain. Yu Qingning was afraid of being beaten and was unwilling to extend her hand again. Usually, people were willing to learn from and respected Ms. Ye because of her talent.
However, in Yu Qingningâs heart, Ms. Ye was just a divorcee who was living peacefully in the Yu Residence. She was certain that Ms. Ye wouldnât dare to do anything to her.
After all, Yu Youyao had not gone to school for a month. Wouldnât Ms. Ye say something?
Could she be more overboard than Yu Youyao?