Concubine Lin, born into the pleasure quarters, possessed a mind far superior to ordinary people. She had clearly seen the events of the past few days. The eldest young lady was clearly playing the part of a pig to devour a tiger, and it was hateful that even she had been deceived, believing her to be truly foolish. Those who believed her to be foolish were the true fools. However, at this moment, the one who couldn't sleep was not her, but the Madam!
After all, the Madam had a daughter, and she was the legitimate one. If the eldest young lady was too outstanding, her own daughter would be overshadowed!
To make her daughter shine, Yan Shi had instructed Xiao Ling in etiquette and rules personally taught by the wife of the Minister of Rites. Furthermore, she had suggested inviting Madam Sheng to teach the eldest young lady. This was not to fulfill the eldest young lady's wishes but to suppress her. Who would have thought it would backfire, likely making her so angry she'd spit blood.
Concubine Lin was pleased. Her daughter was the youngest, and by the time she came of age, the three elder young ladies would have married. Then, there would be no need to worry about her being compared to others.
For Yan Shi to want her daughter to marry well and surpass the eldest young lady, unless the Emperor himself intervened, it was impossible!
Yan Shi's mood was extremely complex. Originally, she had proposed inviting Madam Sheng to be the governess to discipline Xiao Man. However, she hadn't managed to discipline Xiao Man; instead, she had inadvertently helped her. The feeling of frustration made her very uncomfortable.
"Madam, it is time to rest."
"How is the third young lady?"
"The Minister's wife sent word that the third young lady is very intelligent and studies diligently. She will be able to return to the mansion in a few days and will surely shine brightly then."
The wet nurse comforted Yan Shi. Xiao Man's recent excellent performance was understandably making the Madam uneasy.
"Wet nurse, what do you think is going on with the eldest young lady? These past two days, her behavior has been quite unexpected," Yan Shi said in a low voice. "I feel a great sense of unease."
"The eldest young lady is merely taking advantage of opportune moments," the wet nurse reassured her. "It is certainly possible to practice a single piece of music until one masters it, but she cannot fool us with her chess skills."
Yan Shi's heart remained worried. "It is also no wonder that Bai Shi is incompetent. I have already paved the way for her, yet she still hasn't accomplished anything!"
The wet nurse frowned. "Madam, you are the mistress of this General's mansion. Even the eldest young lady must respectfully call you Mother. You know that the General dotes on her. Some things can be done but not said, lest there be ears listening through the walls."
"I trust my own courtyard," Yan Shi said slowly. "Tell me, who do you think poisoned the fourth young lady?"
"Why do you suddenly think of this matter?"
"I am just curious. Concubine Lin would certainly not bear to harm her own daughter, and the Old Madam dotes on the fourth young lady, so she wouldn't harm her either. The eldest young lady is innocent. Could it be the third concubine? She lacks the intelligence for that, and she cannot even reach into the Old Madam's courtyard..." Yan Shi spoke until here, and after much thought, she realized she was the most suspicious person. Yet, the Old Madam forbade an investigation into this matter, leaving her to swallow her pride and resentment. "Investigate thoroughly. I want to see who is secretly plotting against this Madam!"
Xiao Man's recent behavior had been exceptionally good, but the Old Madam felt something was amiss no matter how she thought about it.
She knew Xiao Man's true nature clearly. Her sudden change to such docility made her suspect she had been replaced. Thus, she pretended to bring pastries and went to Shui Yue Xiao Zhu to visit.
Madam Sheng was teaching the young ladies chess.
The second young lady and the fourth young lady were playing against each other, while Madam Sheng personally accompanied the eldest young lady. In the first two games, she defeated the eldest young lady. However, with each subsequent game, she felt a thrill of fear because the eldest young lady's progress was astonishingly rapid. After several rounds, she was actually playing to a draw!
Madam Sheng looked up at Xiao Man, who was sitting upright. The confusion in her eyes deepened. Could this eldest young lady truly not play chess?
Yet, her initial clumsiness was not feigned, and then she became more proficient. She had no doubt that if they played another game, she would lose to Xiao Man.
"The Old Madam has arrived," Qiu Tong announced, entering.
Madam Sheng immediately asked the young ladies to rest for a moment and turned to bow to the Old Madam.
"Madam Sheng, I have brought some food," the Old Madam said with a benevolent smile. "You have worked hard these past few days, Madam Sheng. My eldest daughter hasn't caused you any trouble, has she?"
Madam Sheng glanced at Xiao Man, who was sitting quietly by the chessboard, flipping through a book while tentatively making moves. She seemed to be studying their previous games, meticulously analyzing how to make a comeback.
"The eldest young lady is extremely well-behaved."
The Old Madam looked perplexed. "You say the eldest young lady is well-behaved?"
"Yes, the eldest young lady is very intelligent and learns quickly. Although I don't know how the reputation of her being arrogant, unruly, and unlearned came about, I suppose she simply hadn't met the right person," Madam Sheng chose her words carefully. "The eldest young lady is naturally bright. Such a girl should be easy to teach. Many things, I only need to demonstrate once, and the eldest young lady learns them, whereas ordinary people would need three, four, or even ten repetitions." Su Dan Novel Network
The Old Madam stared at Xiao Man suspiciously for a long time, wondering if Madam Sheng was talking about the same Xiao Man.
She only remembered Xiao Man as incorrigible, disobedient, and prone to causing trouble. But recently, she had truly changed, becoming so well-behaved that she didn't seem like the Xiao Man she knew.
"She is that smart?"
"Naturally. When playing against me, she clearly didn't know how to play. However, after ten games, she grasped the fundamentals and played to a draw with me," Madam Sheng said with a smile. "Such talent is rarely seen in a lifetime."
The Old Madam still felt a sense of disbelief even after returning to the upper courtyard. Had Xiao Man truly mended her ways?
No matter how she thought about it, it seemed impossible!
"Madam Xu, do you think the eldest young lady has truly repented?"
It wasn't that the Old Madam didn't believe it; it was because Xiao Man had a long history of misdeeds. Previously, she had injured someone by riding her horse, and later, she had beaten a matchmaker. The scholars in the capital, upon hearing that they were to teach the eldest young lady of the Protector General's mansion, would all shake their heads like wind chimes, demonstrating how unruly, foolish, and unpopular she was.
Yet, Madam Sheng actually praised her as naturally intelligent and rarely seen!
"Perhaps Madam Sheng's methods are so effective that the eldest young lady has no choice but to obey," Madam Xu ventured tentatively.
"Obey? Who has she ever obeyed?" the Old Madam said irritably. "I've only seen her lean on walls!"
Madam Xu was momentarily stunned. This incident stemmed from a time when Xiao Man returned drunk, and the Old Madam wanted to punish her, but the General intervened and had her supported back. However, Xiao Man had said she would not lean on anyone but the wall, and thus she stumbled back to Shui Yue Xiao Zhu, leaning on the wall. Unexpectedly, the Old Madam remembered this incident.
"Perhaps the eldest young lady has grown up and become sensible."
"I always feel like this girl is brewing some great scheme. The more well-behaved she is, the more uneasy I become. Tell me, is she perhaps planning to provoke the Prince of Qin?"