The noble girl is beautiful.

In the mansion, several young ladies and young masters were busy moving to their new courtyards, and even the servants and maids below were bustling about, causing numerous incidents.
Shen Yourong wasn’t troubled by matters concerning Prince Duan Ji Zhuo’s side, but rather by the people in these courtyards who kept bothering her.
She decided to keep Shen Qinghan and Shen Qingyan by her side, instructing them to manage their respective courtyards.
While they couldn’t handle everything perfectly, it did reduce many trivial matters.
On that day, she was teaching Shen Qingyan and Shen Qinghan to review the account books when a maid hurried over, saying that the school regulations for attending classes had been released, and she handed them to her to review.
The sisters gathered around to take a look, and it was clearly written that classes would be held at the school every day from the hour of the dragon (7-9 am) to the hour of the snake (9-11 am), studying classics such as “The Book of Songs” and “The Analects”. In the afternoon, the young masters would learn archery, so the young ladies didn’t need to attend.
Shen Qingyan said, “I want to learn archery too.”
Shen Qinghan retorted, “What’s there to learn? It’s tiring and hot.”
Shen Qingyan replied, “I want to ride horses. In the future, when I have free time, I can go horseback riding in the countryside.”
“It’s not just a matter of fun if you fall off,” Shen Qinghan remarked. “If you end up with scars, it will be a big deal.”
Shen Qingyan pursed her lips and looked at Shen Yourong. “Elder sister, what do you think?”
Putting down her teacup, Shen Yourong said, “It’s tiring to learn. I studied for half a month, and my legs were so sore that I couldn’t walk properly. After falling off the horse, my elder brother dared not let me learn anymore.
Now I can only sit on the horse and have someone lead me around.”
Shen Qingyan hesitated. She wanted to ride horses, feeling it was cool, but after hearing their words, she also felt it would be inconvenient in many ways.
Just then, a young servant, also in charge of the household affairs, entered. She approached Shen Yourong and reported that the funds allocated for the young masters and young ladies to attend school had been received.
The stewardess accepted the money, confirming it, and the young servant left.
Shen Qinghan, holding the tea, asked, “Are you also in charge of the funds allocated for schooling?”
Shen Yourong replied while flipping through the account book, “Since schooling also takes place in the courtyard, I decided to manage it together.”
Shen Qingyan asked, “What funds for schooling? Does Prince Duan still want us to pay for tuition?”
Shen Yourong smiled and said, “No, it’s the daily expenses at the school, such as tea, snacks, which are two taels per person per month, and books, paper, pens, which are also two taels per person per month.
For the summer and winter seasons, there’s also an additional three taels per person per month for ice and charcoal. Qingfeng and the others also want to learn archery, so there’s an additional five taels per person per month for expenses.”
Shen Qingyan calculated, “Altogether, it’s more than our monthly allowance.”
Shen Yourong said, “Since you’re all here now, each of you take your share and go.” With that, She sent a servant girl to deliver the money to the other young masters and young ladies.
After sitting with her for a while, Shen Qinghan stood up and left. Just as she entered the main courtyard, she saw a maid coming out and saying that the mistress was feeling unwell and asked her to play in the back for a while before coming over.
She asked, “What’s wrong?”
The maid pointed inside and said, “She quietly took charge of the funds for that area today, and the mistress is upset.”
Shen Qinghan shook her fan and said, “I saw it over there. She received the money and immediately had it distributed, without any concealment.”
“She’s acting like a Bodhisattva, contrasting sharply with our mistress, who is seen as a harsh demon,” the maid said disdainfully.
Shen Qinghan stopped talking. Lady Yang had been raised by her aunt, and her dowry was not generous, so she was not highly regarded by the Old Madam. Therefore, she valued money and held onto it tightly, often causing complaints among the servants.
She didn’t enter the house but sat in the corridor for a while before going to her new courtyard.
Once all the big and small matters in the courtyard were arranged properly, it was time to start attending school.
The school was located in the Fu Yao Pavilion, a dignified and elegant pavilion with windows on all four sides, surrounded by strange rocks and green vines intertwining. In the spacious main hall, men and women sat on separate sides, separated by a silk screen. Shen Qinghan and Shen Qingyan arrived early and joked with the twins from the second courtyard across the screen.
Suddenly, there was a commotion outside. Shen Qingyan looked over and saw the beautiful maid Jiao Tong escorting the Fourth Prince in, who then sat down at the desk in the front. Through the screen, Shen Qingyan couldn’t see Ji Chengyao’s face clearly, but she saw him suddenly turn around, facing her direction.
She hesitated, turned her body, and started talking to Shen Qinghan, leaving only a back view to this side.
Shen Qinghan was just sitting properly, impatient to chat with Shen Qingyan. Shen Qingyan wasn’t really talking to her either; she seemed to be daydreaming.
Just as Shen Qinghan was about to ask her, suddenly Shen Yourong walked in. She was wearing a turquoise-green casual jacket, scattered floral skirt, and a pair of jade earrings by her ears. She looked as refreshing as if she had emerged from the lake, making her feel comfortable even in the June weather.
Ji Chengyao watched Shen Yourong come in, thinking that this outfit was more comfortable than the green dress she wore in the palace.
She sat down at the desk, arriving exactly at the appointed time for class. Shen Qingyan looked at her and said, “Elder sister looks so good in turquoise. In the future, you don’t need to look at others, just admire yourself in the mirror.”
Shen Yourong laughed, about to scold Shen Qingyan for being petty, but then she saw Prince Duan enter, and she forgot what she was about to say.
He was dressed in a dark floral cloud robe, with a jade-colored gauze outer robe, and the tinkling of jade ornaments as he walked. He looked as noble as a jade tree in the wind, truly a gentleman of jade.
Ji Zhuo stepped gracefully and sat down at the desk in the front.
Shen Qingyan glanced at him, then bumped into Shen Yourong, “elder sister, still looking?”
Shen Yourong immediately lowered her head, nudged her, and said, “Stop it!”
Shen Qingyan covered her mouth and sat back in her seat.
The people in the hall all stood up and performed the disciple’s salute. Ji Zhuo returned the salute and said, “In the school, there is no distinction of status, only the relationship between teachers and students.
I hope everyone will be diligent and thrifty and make progress in their studies.”
Shen Yourong stood up and said, “We will not disappoint the teacher’s instructions.”
So everyone took their seats and class officially began. They were going to study the “Book of Songs”.
Ji Zhuo first talked about the dates of the “Book of Songs” and pre-Qin customs and culture, and then he discussed the first poem, “Guan Yu”.
His voice was steady, and the passionate poetry became particularly solemn when spoken by him.
Among these people, even young ones like Shen Sihui had studied “Guan Yu”.
Shen Yourong propped up her head and looked at his tall and straight figure, with his fingers adorned with a white jade ring against his cheek.
She thought to herself that it seemed so simple; she could teach it too.
Ji Chengyao couldn’t sit still at first. He rolled up a small piece of paper and threw it to Shen Qingyan from under the screen.
Shen Qingyan discreetly pulled her skirt to cover it and picked it up when Ji Zhuo wasn’t paying attention.
“Your handkerchief, don’t you want it?”
She didn’t reply, pretending she hadn’t received anything.
After a while, Ji Chengyao threw another paper ball over, this time containing a gold leaf.
She raised an eyebrow and wrote back on the paper, “What’s the meaning of this? Looking down on me?”
Another paper ball followed, still containing a gold leaf. “Miss is noble, every word is precious,” was written on it.
She covered her mouth with her handkerchief, unable to contain her laughter.
“Chengyao,” Ji Zhuo suddenly addressed him, “Can you answer, what does ‘Guan Yu’ talk about?”
Ji Chengyao replied, “It talks about men and women being in love, and how gentlemen pursue and long for virtuous ladies.”
His words were straightforward, making Shen Qinghan and others feel embarrassed. Shen Qingyan and Shen Yourong, however, didn’t mind much.
Ji Zhuo glanced at the quite pleased Ji Chengyao and asked, “What are ‘ju jiu’? [Note: referring to the poem being discussed]”
Ji Chengyao was momentarily stunned and couldn’t answer.
Ji Zhuo continued, “What are ‘qin se, and what are ‘zhong gu?”
Ji Chengyao pursed his lips, and the classroom fell silent, all eyes on him.
“The sage plays the ‘tao’, ‘gu’, ‘jiang’, ‘jie’, ‘xun’, and ‘chi’; these six are sounds of virtue. Then using ‘zhong’ and ‘qing’, ‘yu’ and ‘qin’ to harmonize them, they offer sacrifices to the ancestral temples, showing the order of reverence and humility among later generations.”
Ji Zhuo explained, “these are not instruments for ordinary people; they are the music of nobility. ‘Ju jiu’ refers to the osprey, not an ordinary bird, thus in this poem, the ‘gentlemen’ are not ordinary men but kings and nobles. This poem isn’t about romantic love between men and women; it’s a warning to the king to harmonize with his chosen consort, using the metaphor of music, and implying the Confucian principles of self-cultivation, family harmony, governance, and universal peace.”
Not even Shen Qingyan had heard such an interpretation before. She read the poem again but still couldn’t fully agree with this explanation, thinking that interpretations could vary greatly depending on one’s perspective.
Ji Chengyao failed to answer and was subtly lectured by Ji Zhuo. He looked embarrassed and stopped playing around with Shen Qingyan.
After Ji Zhuo finished, he instructed everyone to copy the poem. Shen Yourong pulled out a piece of translucent paper and copied it neatly.
Ji Chengyao collected everyone’s work and handed it to him.
He checked each one and announced a short break before continuing. Then he got up and went to the small room behind the screen to rest.
The atmosphere in the classroom immediately lightened up. Servants entered to change ink and serve tea to the young masters and misses.
Shen Qingyan asked Shen Yourong if the interpretation of “Guan Yu” just now was correct. Shen Yourong didn’t fully agree internally but nodded in agreement nonetheless.
Meanwhile, Shen Qinghan hesitated several times before finally deciding to approach Ji Zhuo for guidance on her poem.
Ji Zhuo was quite approachable and a good teacher. He carefully went through several poems with her.
While Shen Yourong peeled lychees and chatted with Shen Qingyan, she noticed Shen Qinghan approaching with a troubled expression, clutching her poem tightly.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
Shen Qingyan lowered her head. “Duan Ji Zhuo said my poem is too feminine, lacking substance and too decorative.”
Shen Yourong exchanged a glance with Shen Qingyan and comforted her, “I think it’s fine. Melancholic poetry reflects the thoughts and feelings of the poet, and what you wrote is genuine.
Must good poetry always be melancholic? I even find the poems of others outside too rough and melancholic.”
Shen Qinghan didn’t say anything. Shen Qingyan gestured to Shen Yourong, who turned around to see Ji Zhuo standing next to Ji Chengyao behind the screen. She covered her mouth with her handkerchief, feeling a bit guilty.
After Ji Zhuo finished speaking to Ji Chengyao, he returned to his seat behind the screen and casually said, “Miss, please come forward.”
Shen Yourong adjusted her clothes and stood up, thinking she shouldn’t be reprimanded for this.
Behind the screen was spacious, with a desk and chair by the window and a small couch on the side.
He sat in the chair, and she stood beside him, explaining, “I don’t disagree with Master Ji’s words, but my younger sister is sensitive, and harsh words may trouble her for some time. She’s not someone who can’t take criticism; it’s just that it needs to be conveyed more tactfully.”
His expression remained calm. “It’s alright. The eldest miss’s insights are also unique.”
She said, “I dare not show off in front of you.”
He took out a sheet of paper from the stack on the table and asked, “Is the eldest miss also meticulous?”
She hurriedly said, “If you have anything to say, please speak directly.”
He then placed the sheet of paper Shen Yourong had written in front of her. “Your handwriting, although neat, lacks spirit.
It’s too rigid,” He said calmly. “It doesn’t resemble the handwriting of a noble lady; it’s more like that of a child just learning to write.”
She returned to her seat with her paper, pondering what handwriting style would befit a noble lady.
Ji Zhuo emerged from behind the screen and continued teaching “Shijing.” There was another break, during which Shen Yourong planned to fetch some copybooks.
However, Hua Mei entered with Prince Duan’s lunch menu for her to review.
The lunch consisted of sixteen dishes, including various meats, vegetables, soups, and desserts.
She found nothing objectionable and instructed Hua Mei to proceed with the arrangements.
After the morning class ended, with the sun blazing outside, Shen Yourong said goodbye to Shen Qingyan and the others and returned to her courtyard, fanning herself.
The room was cooled by a jade cooling device, and after finishing her meal, she instructed Hua Mei to request some copybooks from the eldest young master’s courtyard.
After about two quarters of an hour of sleep, she woke up sweating and feeling somewhat languid. A maid brought water, and Du Juan helped her wash her face.
Since it was a hot afternoon and no one was around, she didn’t bother with makeup, simply tying her hair with a jade hairpin and sitting down at the desk to prepare for calligraphy practice.
Shen Shuo, the eldest son of the Shen family, was an esteemed figure known for his excellent clerical script. However, he mainly used regular script for social interactions, which appeared neat.
Shen Yourong had learned regular script when she was young, but she didn’t like calligraphy and didn’t intend to use it for self-cultivation.
Therefore, she learned only the most commonly used regular script, lacking in style but easy to read.
She practiced two pages of regular script effortlessly but found it lacked sincerity.
Her handwriting was mainly used for household accounting, and on occasions such as poetry gatherings where writing was required, it was usually Shen Qinghan who took charge. She used to think that her handwriting, though not excellent, was decent enough to be presentable. However, after Ji Zhuo’s comment, she felt ashamed.
But this shame only lasted as long as an incense stick burns. She finished writing, threw down her pen, and lay back in the recliner, reading a book of stories.
The stories were about scholars and young ladies, and amidst the ambiguous tales, a scholar recited “Guan Yu,” triggering a pause in her reading. She replaced the book with another, feeling a bit out of sorts.
What bad luck!
As she rested in her room, Du Juan sat nearby doing needlework. Suddenly, they heard someone outside—Hua Mei, along with Bai Yan and Bai Yue. As soon as they entered, they greeted her respectfully, mentioning that they had been busy cleaning up the garden lately and hadn’t had time to visit other courtyards.
With some free time today, they came over to chat.
Du Juan brought stools for the guests, and Shen Yourong sat on the couch, studying the two sisters. They were older than her, with Bai Yan being slender and fair, while Bai Yue was more plain in appearance but exuded a virtuous aura.
Their demeanor and conversation were composed and refined, perhaps even surpassing some young ladies from official families.
After Bai Yan and Bai Yue sat down, Hua Mei brought tea to them. They engaged in idle chatter, noticing a pot of pomegranate flowers on the windowsill. They remarked on its novelty but also noted the oppressive heat.
Shen Yourong chuckled. “I’m not sure how, but the pomegranate trees in the courtyard have been shedding flowers everywhere. The maids laid out cloth under the trees, and by noon, they filled a large box.
They picked the prettiest ones to display in dishes and threaded the rest onto strings to wear.”
“What a thoughtful idea,” they agreed.
Just as they were chatting, Shen Qingyan entered, lifting the curtain. “It’s cooler here, elder sister.”
As soon as she entered and saw Bai Yan and Bai Yue, she paused. “Elder sister, do we have guests here?”
Bai Yan and Bai Yue stood up to greet her, and Shen Yourong introduced them. “These are from Prince Duan’s courtyard, Miss Bai Yan and Miss Bai Yue.”
Shen Qingyan walked to the inner room, smiling. “I thought it was girls from another family. I was wondering why I hadn’t seen them before.”
She paid her respects to the two sisters and sat down on the other side of the long couch.
“Is the courtyard all tidied up? How come you have the leisure to come here?” Shen Yourong smiled.
Shen Qingyan lazily fanned herself. “Why should I bother with the courtyard?.”
Shen Yourong glanced at her but said nothing.
Shen Qingyan had originally been in her own courtyard. She thought that in her previous life, she had lived for twenty or thirty years and had never earned her own place before dying young.
Now that the houses and courtyards had been distributed, it was a pity that her aunt, Lady Wu, had to interfere.
When she returned from school today, Lady Wu was punishing the servants in her courtyard.
Shen Qingyan asked and found out that the servants had committed minor offenses, but Lady Wu had caught them and insisted on making an example out of them to show her authority, so as not to bully Shen Qingyan in the future.”
Shen Qingyan was not a naive twelve or thirteen-year-old girl; she had lived for twenty or thirty years in her previous life and wouldn’t easily allow herself to be bullied.
With nothing else to say, Shen Qingyan was about to drink some tea when Madame Wu asked for money again.
There’s no more money; didn’t I give you this month’s allowance already?”
“I heard that the school received additional funding, which combined with the monthly allowance is even more than before,” Lady Wu said.
“You don’t spend much money as a child, so it’s better for me to hold onto it, to prevent the servants from deceiving you.”
Helpless, Shen Qingyan had to give Lady Wu a few more taels of silver and said, “You are my biological mother, so giving you money is unquestionable.
Even if you spend it all, it’s better than waiting to receive it from me every month.”
Lady Wu went on to say that she hadn’t spent any of the money and was saving it for Shen Qingyan’s dowry. Annoyed by her chatter, Shen Qingyan left.
Seeing Shen Qingyan looking unhappy, Shen Yourong didn’t inquire further and instead made some jokes.
After chatting for a while, Bai Yan and Bai Yue were about to leave when Shen Yourong suddenly remembered something. She asked Hua Mei to open the dressing table drawer and take out a small box.
“These are the sapphire hair pins that were delivered a few days ago. There are twelve different styles in total. If you don’t mind, please choose two to wear.”
Bai Yan and Bai Yue couldn’t refuse and each chose two.
Shen Qingyan picked one up and said, “The styles are beautiful, and the carvings are exquisite.”
“This box was originally intended for you, but they came first, so I gave it to them,” Shen Yourong said. “If you like them, feel free to choose a few more. Just don’t think that I’m giving you hand-me-downs from the maids.”
“I’m not a servant girl,” Shen Qingyan said, picking up a hairpin shaped like a magnolia. After Shen Yourong tidied her hair, Shen Qingyan left to play.
During the past few days of classes, Ji Zhuo would discuss poems and texts, then explain their meanings, analyzing different interpretations from various periods. Even if Shen Yourong disagreed with some points, she couldn’t deny his wide-ranging knowledge. Afterwards, he would have them copy the poems.
Shen Yourong copied diligently, but Ji Zhuo felt that her work was getting worse each time.
The last time she handed in her copy, he stopped her and asked, “Have you been practicing your handwriting lately?”
She replied, “Yes, I’ve been practicing regular script every day.”
He asked, “Do you have any copybooks? Bring them to me to see.”
She hesitated before replying, “I don’t have them with me; I’ll bring them for you to see tomorrow.”