Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 427 - 152: Luo Mingzhu (Part 3)_2

Chapter 427: Chapter 152: Luo Mingzhu (Part 3)_2

Cai Yi spoke to Yueyao, "Miss, could there be some misunderstanding here?" Initially, she thought that the young lady of the Luo family was just naturally arrogant. Unexpectedly, the lady didn’t think there was anything wrong with her way of speaking, forcing Cai Yi to blatantly lie with her eyes open.

Luo Mingzhu observed Yueyao’s expression and, thinking about how Yueyao had behaved, furrowed her brows and asked, "Is there something wrong with what I said?"

The maid in purple was the first to react, whispering a few words to Luo Mingzhu. Luo Mingzhu was very surprised: "Aren’t you the study companion that my sister-in-law found for me?" This was actually the doing of Miss Bai from the Bai Family. Since there was still a need for a study companion, everyone in the Marquis’ household was looking around. That day, Zhuang Ruolan had come to visit Madam Ping to discuss business, and Miss Bai thought Zhuang Ruolan was also recommending a young lady to Luo Mingzhu.

Miss Bai was not one to sit idly by; she scrutinized the young ladies around Zhuang Ruolan, who were of similar age to Mingzhu, and she identified two candidates—Loo Ying and Yueyao.

Miss Bai believed Yueyao was more likely, so she spoke ill of Yueyao in front of Luo Mingzhu. However, Luo Mingzhu was curious about Yueyao. She herself was not fond of studying or writing, but that did not stop her from admiring a talented lady proficient in Guqin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting, so when her sister-in-law went to the Ma’s Mansion, she naturally followed. This visit was actually aimed at meeting Yueyao. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have started by trying to intimidate Yueyao, having already met several people and grown tired of these pretentious women. However, upon meeting her, she felt that Yueyao was quite different from the other noble ladies she knew. At least, Yueyao was neither pretentious nor sycophantic.

Yueyao was extremely puzzled. A study companion? Where did this come from? Yueyao wondered; she had never heard of such a thing in her past life. Thinking about this, Yueyao helplessly shook her head. In her past life, at this time, she had never left the gates of Lian Mansion, let alone known anything about the outside world. How could she know whether Luo Mingzhu had chosen a study companion? She explained, "Miss Luo, I am just staying at my uncle’s home for a few days and will be returning to Lian Mansion soon." She paused and then added, "Not to mention I wasn’t aware of this, even if I had been, I would not be your study companion. Though both of my parents have passed away, my father was a Third Rank official, and my mother was the legitimate daughter from the Marquis’ household. No matter what, I would not become someone’s maid." Being a study companion was just a nicer way of saying it, in reality, it was only slightly better than being a maid.

Yueyao did not know how this misunderstanding had occurred, but she felt there was something strange about this matter. Even if a Princess or Commandery Princess were to choose a study companion, it would be a matter taken very seriously, certainly not treated as frivolously as Luo Mingzhu had. Moreover, when selecting a study companion, a princess would definitely not choose the legitimate eldest daughter of a prominent family but would usually choose from families with lower-ranking officials or daughters born of a concubine.

Luo Mingzhu was stunned upon hearing this. Throughout her life, countless people had tried to please her, but Yueyao was the first to openly reject her and do so to her face.

The maid in purple clothing beside Luo Mingzhu quickly stepped forward and said, "Miss Lian, our miss misunderstood, please don’t take it to heart."

Yueyao was somewhat surprised. For someone to apologize without waiting for Luo Mingzhu’s signal, not having Luo Mingzhu throw a fit first, this maid’s status was certainly no small matter. Yueyao couldn’t help but size up the maid. She was around twenty, ordinary-looking, and even silent, she bore a hint of a smile. Yueyao shook her head, "Since it’s a misunderstanding, I naturally won’t take it to heart. Xi Yu, serve Miss Luo tea." Luo Mingzhu could afford to be haughty and unreasonable because she had the assets to back it up. Yueyao did not, so she had to maintain proper manners.

After the tea was served, Luo Mingzhu looked at Yueyao curiously. The maid beside Luo Mingzhu smiled and asked, "Miss Lian, why are you using plain boiled water? Could it be that Miss Lian’s place has run out of tea leaves?" She saw that Madam Zhuang treated Yueyao well and couldn’t possibly be so harsh as to withhold tea leaves.

Yueyao smiled and said, "I read in a book that drinking plain boiled water is good for the health, so I always drink plain water and avoid tea." Luo Mingzhu asked, "Have you always just drunk plain water and not tea?"

Yueyao shook her head, "Two years ago, I read in a book that drinking tea wasn’t good. Later, I asked a physician, and the physician said it’s better not to drink tea until you’re grown."

Luo Mingzhu then said, "I won’t drink tea either then," after hearing this.

Yueyao was quite astonished, but before she could ask further, she heard the maid explain, "Miss Lian, our miss has never liked drinking tea; she only drinks water."

Yueyao then understood why Mingzhu had asked such a question; without clarification, Mingzhu would definitely think that Yueyao was trying to ingratiate herself by pretending to like drinking plain water. Yueyao nodded at Xi Yu, who immediately replaced the tea with water.

Mingzhu’s interest sparked with the mention of water, and she stood up and said, "You mentioned that you practice the Five Animal Frolics every morning and evening. I must see how well you perform."

This request wasn’t uttered in a commanding tone. However, Yueyao had no intention of performing for Mingzhu and declined, "I practice the Five Animal Frolics merely as a physical exercise."

Mingzhu didn’t waste words with Yueyao and directly proposed, "Didn’t you say you wanted to learn martial arts but couldn’t find a master? If you can perform a complete set of the Five Animal Frolics, I will arrange for a master to teach you martial arts."

Yueyao asked excitedly, "Really?" She knew that such a haughty person as Mingzhu wouldn’t make empty promises.

Mingzhu pointed to a maid in purple attire beside her and said, "If you can perform a complete set of the Five Animal Frolics, I will have her become your master."

Although Yueyao found this woman unremarkable and couldn’t see what was special about her, she had long sensed that this maid was no ordinary person; explaining her as Mingzhu’s personal guard made sense. Yueyao addressed this maid-disguised woman, "My wrists are weak. Do you have a method to strengthen them? I wish to protect myself, but I also hope for a way to make my hands stronger."

The woman asked, "What would you like to do?"

Yueyao immediately replied, "My hands are weak, so the words I write appear fragile." Normally, women’s writing is delicate and gentle, but Yueyao’s calligraphy was considered superior among women. However, Mr. Yu Shan demanded that Yueyao’s writing be bold and powerful, and he had also said her painting strokes lacked strength. Mr. Yu Shan’s expectations were demanding. But he did not lower his standards just because Yueyao was a woman.

Yueyao knew that Mr. Yu Shan meant well for her. Only by enduring hardships others couldn’t bear could she achieve what others couldn’t reach.

The woman nodded and said, "As long as you do not fear hardship, it is achievable."

Yueyao was very satisfied, "With your words, I’m also reassured." Now that her request was accepted, she naturally would not break her promise.

Yueyao went under the apricot tree in the courtyard and performed a complete session of the Five Animal Frolics.

Mingzhu asked the woman, "How was it?" Actually, seeing the fluid movements, she had already realized Yueyao had spoken the truth.

The maid nodded and said, "Very smooth and truly heartfelt."

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