Time Travel: The Noble Family

Chapter 112: Chapter 50: Nanny, Sir_2

Old Madam had also received the news only yesterday and was somewhat surprised by it. For the nurturing nanny was hired by Old Madam, but the female teacher was requested by Lian Dongfang. Lian Dongfang’s intention was that the four young ladies in the family had grown up and needed not only a nurturing nanny but also a female teacher to properly instruct them.

Upon hearing this, Old Madam agreed immediately. They were to learn not only etiquette but other things as well. Owning a skill that could be showcased would lead to a good reputation. And only with a good reputation could one speak of advantageous marriage alliances. A good marital connection was beneficial for the Lian family. All these matters were interconnected.

Old Madam said with a smile, “You are all quite grown-up now, having invited the teacher, you should study earnestly with the teacher. Thus, when you go out to socialize in the future, you will not tarnish the reputation of our Lian Mansion.”

Yueyao knelt on the ground and said, “Grandmother, I will only study with the nurturing nanny, nothing else.” She had not yet completed her mourning period; how could she go on to learn entertainment such as Guqin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting? Spreading such news would look improper. It might even make her previous transcriptions of Buddhist scriptures seem pretentious.

Old Madam nodded as studying these during the mourning period indeed wasn’t good for Yueyao. After thinking it over, Old Madam said, “You may skip Guqin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, but you cannot neglect your needlework.” The ladies of the Lian family didn’t rely on needlework for a living, but it was still an essential skill to learn. Otherwise, when married to a husband’s family, even producing clothes and socks for future elders would depend on maids, which would reflect poorly on the Lian family if such talks spread. Thus, needlework should absolutely not be neglected.

Upon hearing this, tears appeared in Yueyao’s eyes. Initially, Lady Mo had always praised her Guqin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting skills and, while laughing, said that her poor needlework was unobstructed, even stating that the Shen family did not lack embroideresses. She had taken her words for truth—which led to her inadequacy in needlework.

However, Yuebing shook her head at the side and said, “Guqin, Chess, and Painting are indeed for entertainment, but calligraphy is a matter of face. Third younger sister, being a lady of our Lian family, if you write out an atrocious hand in the future, the face lost will belong to our Lian family.” Yuebing completely overlooked the excellent Liwu characters Yueyao wrote.

Old Madam looked displeased but remained silent, just observing Yueyao. This matter was brought up by her eldest son, and when he had told her, the people had already been selected. Although Old Madam could not grasp what exactly her eldest son intended to do, a mother knows her son best, and he must have his schemes. As for what those schemes were, Old Madam preferred not to overthink it.

Yueyao was taken aback, then looking at the complex expression that flashed in Old Madam’s eyes, her heart trembled. However, she quickly smiled and said, “Second sister is correct, practicing calligraphy is beneficial for cultivating one’s temperament and nurturing one’s character, and it does not belong to entertainment. I will study calligraphy with the female teacher and learn embroidery with the Embroideress.” In truth, Yueyao was really not keen on learning calligraphy. Knowing two styles was already enough; she did not need to learn a third style, as she didn’t have that much time. But considering the complex look in Old Madam’s eyes, she decided to go through with it.

Upon hearing this, Yuebing’s expression paused. Indeed, Guqin, Chess, and Painting belonged to the realm of entertainment, but calligraphy was used daily by everyone. It was harmless for Yueyao to learn calligraphy even during the mourning period. Yuebing glanced at Yueyao, her eyes analyzing, but she quickly restrained herself.

Seeing Yuebing like this, Yueyao could not help but start to reflect. Whether Yuebing had always been a simple person. If Yuebing was really as brainless and simple as she appeared, she wouldn’t have successfully married into Marquis Luyang’s residence. Even if her marriage was orchestrated by Lady Mo’s strategies and accomplishments, Yuebing quickly gained a stable position there, and even subtly brought about the death of Marquis Luyang’s eldest legitimate son, which was beyond what Lady Mo could achieve.

Yueyao tried hard to recall when Yuebing had started to change. It seemed to have started after the nurturing nanny arrived.

As for whether it was growth that came later or if Yuebing had been hiding her true self from the beginning, Yueyao had no time to investigate because it was meaningless. She only knew that Yuebing was a person to be wary of.

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Old Madam nodded contentedly, “Good,” being stuck in one’s ways isn’t always best. It’s a good thing that Third Girl knows how to adapt and isn’t rigidly sticking to the rules.

After a moment, Qiao Hui called from outside, “Old Madam, the nanny and teacher have arrived.”

Nanny Wang, whose surname means watery Wang, entered the palace to become a palace maid at the age of eight. Later, she served in the Etiquette Department. Now of age, she was released from service. Unwilling to live off the charity of her brother and sister-in-law by staying with them, she decided instead to become a nurturing nanny for daughters of prominent households. Over the years, she had saved a considerable amount of money and planned to retire in another two years.

There were also two female teachers, one surnamed Qi and the other Yun. Mr. Qi was born into a noble family and was once a well-known talented lady in the Capital City. However, her family got dragged into a struggle for succession. The side she followed was defeated, leading to her family’s decline. After marrying into her husband’s family, who saw that she bore no achievements in five years and had no family support, they started to openly make life difficult for her. Unable to endure the oppression from her husband’s family, she divorced her husband. Using her talents, she taught the women of wealthy families the arts of the Guqin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, alongside Poetry and Songs. Though previously, the Master of the house specified that she should only teach the Guqin and incidentally teach Poetry and Songs. Even as a talented lady, in the aspects of calligraphy and painting, she was still inferior to Mr. Yun.

Mr. Yun also came from a family of scholars, but was unlucky, having passed away before she could marry. She observed three years of mourning for her fiancé, which aged her. If she were to marry again, it would either be as a secondary wife or to a man of lower social standing. Mr. Yun chose neither option and instead styled her hair as a widow. Because she excelled in calligraphy and painting, she earned a high reputation among the wealthy households and fared very well over the years. Later, she adopted a foster daughter who was very filial to her. The son-in-law she chose was also a decent man. Both hoped she would retire and stop running about, enjoying a peaceful life at home. However, when it came time for her to rest, she felt uneasy. Therefore, she still insisted on continuing her work and clearly stated she would only rest when she was no longer able to work.

Yueyao, looking at Nanny Wang dressed in a rosewood stiff clothing, with a stern face and an air of seriousness all around her, was momentarily stunned. So much time had passed, and many things had been forgotten, but now seeing her in person, everything became clear again. The nurturing nanny from back then was now Nanny Wang, who had later become Yuebing’s personal nanny.

Yueyao’s hand twitched slightly, her eyes involuntarily shifting back to Yuebing; it seemed that Yuebing’s later abilities were likely learned from Nanny Wang.

Yueyao quickly concealed her unusual emotions. Regardless, Nanny Wang was brought in by her grandmother, and while her grandmother was still here, Nanny Wang would not conceal any secrets in her teachings. Yueyao would learn well from her; as for the future, that would be planned later.

Looking again at the two female teachers, Mr. Qi was wearing a fragrant-colored Hangzhou silk Confucian-style skirt, her hair styled in a round hairbun, with a Silver butterfly-winged beaded pearls step-shake inserted in her hair, along with a blue five-petaled beaded chrysanthemum pinned in as well. Her attire was not outstanding but was very comfortable to look at.

Mr. Yun was dressed in a lotus root pink color outer garment and a snow satin hundred-pleated skirt, with lotus root pink embroidered shoes. She wore a household-made silk flower in her hair, without any pearls or jade. Her attire was also appropriate, and her expression was neither sad nor happy, very calm. However, compared to Mr. Qi, Mr. Yun appeared somewhat gentler.

Old Madam nodded slightly, “Yueying, Yuebing, Yueyao, Yuehuan, the four of you come here and greet the nanny and the teachers.”

The four of them lined up and paid their respects to the three people in turn. This was proper etiquette, and the three individuals graciously accepted the salutations from the four.