Chapter 23 : Fake Storm (1)

Yuxi went to Magnolia Courtyard and found out that she was the last person to arrive. She didn’t care either. It wasn’t like she was actually late. She set up her four treasures of study and the , then took some times to review the book.

Yujing sneered and said, “Teacher is coming soon. It’s far too late for you to learn now.”

Yuxi ignored her and studied carefully.

When Yujing saw that Yuxi was ignoring her, she became angrier. “You ignoring me when I was talking to you?”

Yuxi looked at Yujing and sneered, “How do you want me to answer you? Do you still want to hear me saying that I am not at all offended by your sarcasm?” After a paused, she chuckled, “Second Sister, I wonder, how can you have the nerve to ridicule me? I’m only four years old. You’re eight years old. Aren’t you supposed to be better than me?”

Yujing suddenly changed her face, “When did I ever ridiculed you?”

Yuxi sneered, “Speaking of which, I am a bit puzzled. Third Sister and I have lost a lot of weight during this period. Second Sister, you are not only not getting thinner but also still in good spirits. Can you tell us how you did it?” She indirectly implicated that Yujing had cheated.

On hearing this, Yuchen looked up at Yujing and saw what Yuxi just said. Not only did Yujing not lose any weight, she seemed to have gained a lot of flesh. Yuchen had learned everything that Teacher Song had taught till now, so she had lost a lot of weight during this period of time. Meanwhile, Yujing who may not have any foundation, had better body condition than her, making her feeling doubtful at Yujing.

“What do you mean?” cried a flustered and exasperated Yujing.

Yuxi shrugged and said, “I’m just asking if Second Sister have any good learning methods. I didn’t slander you.” Her words were obviously saying that Yujing had no 300 silver taels hidden here (Chinese idiom : to reveal what one intends to hide).

Yujing hated her till it made her teeth itched (Chinese idiom : To greatly irritate or annoy someone, especially to the point of affecting their nerves), but she was also afraid of saying something wrong much more. She simply stared at Yuxi and kept the account in her heart, waiting for it to be counted later on.

When sisters having a dispute, naturally would be known by the servant girl waiting outside the classroom. She immediately told the matter to old woman Ding. Old woman Ding originally suspected that Yujing was cheating, but there was no evidence to proof it. Now she was more sure of her guess after hearing what Yuxi said, and immediately told Teacher Song about it.

The reason why Teacher Song did not suspected Yujing at all was not because she was too stupid to notice, but she had never encountered anything like this in her ten years of teaching. Those girls who couldn’t stand her harsh teaching methods, would only quit by using illness or others as reasons. Yet they never thought of cheating, rather the price for doing so was huge for them to bear. Once discovered, they would have a bad reputation and subsequently ruined for a lifetime. No one dared to gamble with their whole life.

Old woman Ding said, “Ma’am, I don’t think Second Miss is doing anything good. I was reminded about this after I heard what Fourth Miss said today.”

Teacher Song was silent for a moment, “Bring over all Second Miss’ homeworks.” Learning and analyzing the text by heart were personally examined by her so Yujing couldn’t cheat there. If she wanted to cheat, she could only do it in her schoolwork.

Old woman Ding quickly took out all Yujing’s schoolwork and piled them up.

After carefully checking Yujing’s schoolwork, Teacher Song’s face was filled with anger. How could old woman Ding found out, not herself, when the words written looked so similar? Precisely because, she didn’t checked it carefully before that it was unlikely for her to notice the differences. “Good, very good!“ For Yujing to even dare to use this cheap mean to cheat, how could she not be angry.

Old woman Ding was also very angry when she learned that Yujing had hired someone else to do her homework. To use this kind of dirty mean to cheat her and her Master was such a disgusting thing, “I doesn’t expected that Second Miss could be this bold. Ma’am, I’ll drive her out now.”

Teacher Song belonged to a more rational type compared to old woman Ding, “No, this matter should not be disclosed.” If she pushed Yujing out now, it would not only spoil Yujing’s reputation, but also the reputation of the other Young Misses of the residence. She shouldn’t implicate others for a dirty rat.

Old woman Ding was really annoyed, “Ma’am, how could you just forget about this?”

Naturally, Teacher Song won’t forget it easily, “I’ll keep the score in my heart.”

When it was time for class, Teacher Song restrained her mood and continued the class as usual.

At noon, old woman Ding looked at Teacher Song and asked, “Ma’am, it is about time for us to tell Old Madam Han about this.“

Teacher Song shook her head and said, “We tell her after a few days.”

Old woman Ding was puzzled, “Why need to wait till a few days?” Wasn’t it right to inform Old Madam Han immediately, afterwards, blocked Second Miss from coming to Magnolia Courtyard? Old woman Did didn’t understand what Teacher Song was thinking.

Teacher Song didn’t explained any further. However, old woman Ding knew her well, she quickly asked, “Ma’am, are you afraid this incident will affect the Fourth Miss?”

Teacher Song shook her head and said, “Not at all.” She had some scruples. Yuxi discovered the problem, but she, as a teacher, did not find it. This was a serious dereliction of duty.

It was not long after Yuxi returned to the Rose Courtyard that a doctor came over. It was Doctor Bai. He was not originally the person who treated her smallpox. He was one of her relatives on her mother’s side.

After examining her pulse, Doctor Bai said, “Miss’ health does not have any huge problem. She is merely exhausted. She needs to have a good rest.”

Yuxi gave a wry smile. When would she has time to have a good rest?

Doctor Bai was familiar with the affairs of the state residence and knew why Yuxi was being overworked.

Yuxi just nodded her head.

Yuxi’s words during the day stuck in Yuchen’s mind. She looked at the Old Madam and told her about it.

Yuchen’s meaning was to check on it. If Yujing was really cheating, it should be stopped in time. Otherwise, the Duke’s official residence reputation would seriously turn bad. She was also afraid that this matter would also offend Teacher Song. Once Teacher Song resigned from the schoolroom in a fit, even if Yuchen cried her heart out, she would never find someone like her anymore.

Old Madam Han frowned, “You took Fourth Girl’s nonsense words too seriously.” Since when did the little girl whom she brought up by herself being led by the Fourth Girl?

Yuchen shook her head, “No, Grandmother, Second Sister’s recent performance is really unusual.” Everyone had learnt the book of enlightenment and yet, Yujing still behaved badly. With Teacher Song currently taught them became more profound, somehow Yujing performed much better than before, how couldn’t this matter looked strange?

Old Madam Han was silent for a moment and then said, “I’ll have someone to look it up, so you don’t need to mind this anymore.“ She still thought this was just the Fourth Girl talking nonsense.

She then planted a person in Pleasant Courtyard and got the news the next day. “Old Madam, I have asked about her. Second Miss works very hard these days. Everyday, she will do her homework till late at night and gets up very early in the morning.”

The Old Madam asked, “Did she saw anything unusual?”

Mama Luo shook her head and said, “No, everything is fine in Pleasant Courtyard. There’s nothing unusual.”

Hearing this, the Old Madam was dissatisfied with Yuxi. Did that girl not know the consequences if it really happened the way she said so?

Mama Luo spoke well for Yuxi, “Old Madam, in fact, you can’t also blame the Fourth Miss. I have inquired about it. The Second Miss has been making trouble for the Fourth Miss lately. Yesterday, the Fourth Miss got really annoyed that she said the words without thinking, when no actual cheating had really happened.” Just a four-year-old child, where could she have this much cleverness.

When the Old Madam thought about Yuxi’s performance during this period, she said nothing more on that matter, “Just tell Mama Shen to guide the girl well.”

When Yuchen heard that Yujing did not do anything unusual, she frowned, but she did not raise any objection to the Old Madam because of filial piety.

However, Yuxi was unlike Yuchen. She didn’t believe a thing from the result of this investigation, but she couldn’t openly refute it. She just smiled and said, “I didn’t say that my Second Sister cheated. I just wanted to know if she had any good learning methods. If I learned it, I would not have to work so hard.”

Mama Shen’s eyebrow jumped. She thought Yuxi would question the decision, but she didn’t think Yuxi would also not also accept this was her doing. Lately, she found out that she couldn’t see through Fourth Miss anymore.

Yuxi ignored Mama Shen and did her homework with a bitter face. Now there was a layer of cocoon on her hand, which made it stop having blisters any more. It would not hurt so much for her to hold a pen now.

A few days passed in an instant.

A maid reported back to the Old Madam that Teacher Song had come. She heard that some unexpected matters had happened. Except for the first day of her arrival, Teacher Song had never been to the main house for the past half a month.

Mama Luo personally welcomed Teacher Song into the house.

When Teacher Song sat down, she immediately told Old Madam Han without beating around the bushes, “Old Madam, I came here this time to tell the Old Madam something.”

When Old Madam Han looked at Teacher Song, she knew it wasn’t a good thing, “Please continue, Teacher Song.”

Teacher Song told her that Yujing’s schoolwork were not done by Yujing herself, “Old Madam, please forgive me, I will not teach such a child.”

Old Madam Han’s face changed, “Teacher Song, you must have been mistaken.” If it was like Yuru, she had no objection because she knew that Yuru couldn’t bear such a large amount of schoolwork and used the method of sick leave to naturally quit. However, Yujing’s shameful behavior would damage the reputation of all the Young Misses in the residence.

Teacher Song said with a stern face, “Old Madam, I would not play with the reputation of a student without sufficient evidence. Old Madam, I don’t want to make a fuss about it before I tell you.” As long as Yujing did not come to Magnolia Courtyard anymore, how Old Madam Han handled Yujing was beyond her control. Of course, Yujing’s reputation could surely be preserved when this was handed over to Old Madam Han.

Old Madam Han had experienced strong winds and heavy rain. Although they embarrassed her, they did not cause her to lose her sense of propriety. After sending off Teacher Song, she ordered Feicui, “Go fetch Concubine Rong and Second Girl.” Concubine Rong must have known that Yujing had been doing this.

When Concubine Rong heard that the Old Madam summoned her to the front courtyard, she knew it was not something good, mainly because she suddenly felt guilty. Therefore, she was somewhat worried when the Old Madam inexplicably summoned her.

She asked her own maid to send a word to the front courtyard. It wasn’t that she was being too careful, but the Old Madam’s staff were to ferocious, which made her having some scruples.