Тhе соurtуard was utterlу silеnt. Feng Yue wаited a mоmеnt, thеn hеаrd thе gate сreak open slowlу.
А nannу dressеd with mеtiсulоus neаtnеss stооd bеhind the dоor, her faсе stern аs she lookеd at Feng Yuе. Her gаzе lоwеrеd slightlу, аnd she gavе а slight bow аs а gеsture оf greеting. "Whаt brings you tо mе?"
Hеr face wаs alreadу dееplу lined, her hair strеаkеd with graу, уеt thе high bun аtоp hеr hеad wаs pеrfectlу arrаngеd—nоt a singlе strаnd оut оf placе. She wore a graу-brown ruqun with a crоssed cоllar thаt rеaсhed her waist, exuding an air of rigid formality.
Feng Yue smiled and curtsied in return. "I was told that I must learn etiquette under your guidance, so I have come to trouble you."
In the distance, the three young ladies had already hidden themselves, peeking furtively toward the scene. When they saw Nanny Xun emerge, all three shivered involuntarily.
"How is that old woman still so full of life?" Song Ruo Ci pursed her lips. "Just how old is she?"
"She’s full of life, which means she can torment that brothel girl properly," Meng Chang Jiang waved a hand dismissively. "After all, it’s not us being punished or trained now."
That made sense. The other two nodded and ordered servants to bring three chairs. They sat outside the courtyard, cracking melon seeds.
Since Yi Zhangzhu was with Prince Yin, she certainly wouldn’t pay them any mind. They were just bored and had come to watch the spectacle, curious to see what fate awaited that delicate, beautiful girl.
The courtyard gate opened, and Nanny Xun stepped aside to make way. Feng Yue obediently walked in and closed the door behind her.
"Do you remember what our first lesson was?" Meng Chang Jiang asked, looking sympathetically at Feng Yue’s retreating figure.
Song Ruo Ci nodded as she cracked a melon seed. "How could I forget? The first lesson was posture—not just standing, but balancing a bowl of water on your head. Scalding hot!"
Feng Huai Meng sighed. "We were lucky. We managed to keep it from falling. If it had been someone else, the bowl might have dropped and ruined their face."
Even so, the bowl Nanny Xun provided clearly had a base. Unless someone fell asleep standing up, it generally wouldn’t fall. Song Ruo Ci pursed her lips again, staring at the closed door. "If only we could go in and watch."
"You go ahead," Meng Chang Jiang waved repeatedly. "We’ll just sit here."
Under Nanny Xun’s piercing gaze, they all felt their hearts race. The thought of sitting inside was even more daunting.
Useless! Song Ruo Ci opened her mouth to scold them, but before she could speak, the door that had just closed suddenly creaked open again.
Nanny Xun stepped out and called over a servant. "Bring a set of the household maid’s clothing."
"Yes."
What was going on? Did she need to change clothes before being disciplined? The three young ladies were curious, craning their necks to see. After Feng Yue changed into the maid’s attire, she followed Nanny Xun out of the courtyard.
Was that it? Song Ruo Ci stared wide-eyed, unable to believe it. Without a second thought, she rushed forward and asked, "Nanny, is she already trained?"
Upon seeing her, Nanny Xun first placed her hands together at her waist and bowed in greeting. Behind her, Feng Yue mirrored the gesture perfectly, lowering her head in the same manner."Reporting to the young mistress, this maid has already learned her manners very well. There is no need for this old servant to teach her further." Straightening up, Nanny Xun said, "Her standing, sitting, walking, speech, and conduct are all quite proper, worthy of being a model for the maids of the General's Mansion."
What on earth? Song Ruo Ci was dumbfounded, staring wide-eyed at Feng Yue: "How is she a model? Just now she was talking back to Miss Yi!"
Nanny Xun was taken aback and turned to look at her.
Feng Yue lowered her eyes submissively and said softly, "I wouldn't dare."
In these times, there aren't many girls who are both this beautiful and this composed and steady. Nanny Xun found her more and more pleasing the more she looked, especially her flawless etiquette and movements, which were exactly like her own, reminding her of her own youth in the palace, when she was just like this... Ah, enough.
With a gentle expression, Nanny Xun said, "If a master wants to make a servant suffer, the servant can only endure it. There is no reasoning to be had. Do you understand?"
"This servant understands." Feng Yue obediently bowed her head and said, "This servant will certainly heed Nanny's teachings."
Truth be told, she hadn't taught her much. As soon as she entered the courtyard and saw her taking those delicate lotus steps, Nanny Xun knew this girl understood the rules. She didn't know why she had been sent here. Now, seeing Miss Song's attitude, Nanny Xun understood.
"Then go and report back to the young mistress."
"Yes."
Nanny Xun led Feng Yue away, leaving Song Ruo Ci standing there dumbfounded, watching them go. From behind, even their stride length and walking pace were identical! Their upper bodies were upright and motionless, their steps light and graceful, their clothes hanging as still as iron.
Feng Huai Meng and Meng Chang Jiang ran over, looking at the two figures' backs in shock, and exclaimed, "Is she a lunatic like Nanny Xun?"
Song Ruo Ci frowned, watched for a moment, and nodded: "Indeed she is."
How many young ladies have suffered terribly under this nanny's hands? Yet here she is, becoming a second Nanny Xun as soon as she entered that courtyard. How on earth did she manage that?
Feeling somewhat unwilling, Song Ruo Ci waved to them: "Let's go and take a look."
Yin Gezhi sat in the main room of the guest courtyard, while Yi Zhangzhu beside him had been wearing a stern expression for nearly three sticks of incense.
"Still unhappy?" Yin Gezhi asked.
Yi Zhangzhu shook her head with a dark expression: "No."
Since she said no, what could he say? Yin Gezhi pursed his lips, picked up the tea beside him, and took a sip. Just then, he saw two figures gracefully floating in from outside.
It wouldn't have been a big deal if he hadn't looked, but once he clearly saw their faces, Yin Gezhi couldn't help himself and spat out a mouthful of tea, startling Yi Zhangzhu, who widened her eyes and followed his gaze outside.
Nanny Xun walked without the slightest movement—if you didn't look at her feet, she was exactly like a ghost! Yi Zhangzhu was actually used to this scene, but what was terrifying was that today, there was another one floating beside her.
Even the expression on Feng Yue's face and the seriousness in her eyes were exactly the same as Nanny Xun's beside her! Clasping her hands, tiptoeing, she floated to the front of them and bowed together with Nanny Xun: "Greetings, young mistress, Your Highness."
Even the angle of their bow was the same!
Yi Zhangzhu was astonished, looking from Nanny Xun to Feng Yue and back again. After a long while, she finally asked, "Is this... your daughter?"
Nanny Xun shook her head: "This old servant is not so fortunate. This maid was sent by someone, saying she needed to learn manners, but this old servant believes her manners are already quite good."Isn't this perfect? It's practically carved from the same mold as Nanny Xun! Yi Zhangzhu looked at Feng Yue with great incomprehension and asked, "How could you have learned these rules while in a brothel?"
"Replying to the young lady," Feng Yue said softly, "Brothels often have distinguished guests who must not be slighted. Therefore, the rules are naturally strict."
The three young ladies from the other families followed in behind. Song Ruo Ci immediately rushed to Yi Zhangzhu's side, lowering her head to whisper to her for a good while.
Yi Zhangzhu frowned, glanced at Feng Yue, and then softened her expression, saying, "Since you already know the rules, then assign the tasks. The General's Mansion does not keep idle people."
"It's just the season for cleaning," Feng Yue smiled. "This servant can sweep all the dust in the mansion."
Yin Gezhi pursed his lips and glanced at Yi Zhangzhu. "I only brought one maid with me."
The implication was clear: if you send her off to work, who will serve me?
Anyone would serve you better than she does! Yi Zhangzhu gritted her teeth. Turning her head, she said, "There's no shortage of maids in this mansion. Zhu'er will find another one to serve Brother Yin later. Crown Prince Brother said Miss Feng Yue needs to learn the rules, so let Nanny Xun supervise her while she sweeps the dust in the mansion."
Yin Gezhi looked at Feng Yue, who secretly blinked at him, then curtsied and replied, "Yes."
Lowering his gaze without further objection, Yin Gezhi stood up and said, "The weather is nice today. Since we're here, Zhu'er, why don't you show me around? How about a stroll?"
It was rare for him to want to take a walk with her. For a moment, Yi Zhangzhu forgot her father's instructions before he left and happily agreed.
Feng Yue shook her head gently.
With a daughter like this, Yi Guoru's retribution truly wouldn't be long in coming.
Nanny Xun led her outside. When they reached a secluded spot, she softly asked, "Have you offended someone?"
Feng Yue nodded. "Unfortunately, I offended the young lady."
"And you still dared to come to this General's Mansion?"
Sighing with melancholy, Feng Yue said, "It's not that this servant wanted to come, but that she had no choice."
That damned Yin Gezhi—how could he possibly let her go off and enjoy herself alone?
However, unaware of their relationship, Nanny Xun heard these words and was instantly filled with emotion. "Indeed, we are both wanderers under the same sky. No wonder I always feel a sense of familiarity when I look at you."
Huh? Feng Yue didn't understand for a moment. What did "wanderers under the same sky" mean?
Seeing that the road ahead was still long, she simply chatted with the nanny. "Judging by your dignified bearing, Nanny, you don't seem like someone raised in a mansion. You seem more like a palace instructress."
Slightly taken aback, Nanny Xun glanced at her. "You have a good eye."
So she really was from the palace? Feng Yue blinked and asked, "According to the rules, when a palace nanny leaves the palace, isn't she free? Why must you still serve as a slave in the General's Mansion?"
"Didn't you say the same?" Nanny Xun sighed. "It's not that I wanted to come, but that I had no choice."
What? Feng Yue was a bit stunned but quickly caught on. Lowering her eyes, she smiled and said, "Nanny, you jest. You seem like someone who has served many high-ranking masters. How could the General's Mansion possibly trouble you?"It had been too long since she had someone to talk to, and it was rare to meet a good girl who didn't get along with Miss Yi and the other young ladies. Nanny Xun smiled warmly and said, "It's precisely because the master I served was too important that I couldn't leave."
There's a story here? Feng Yue blinked. She didn't interrupt, just looked at her expectantly.
Handing her the broom, Nanny Xun led her along as they walked and said, "In the past, I served Consort Yi in the palace. When it was time to leave the palace, the General directly brought me to the General's Mansion. General Yi is a cautious man and deeply cares for his sister, so all of us who served the Consort—to prevent wagging tongues from betraying our mistress—are spending our remaining years in the General's Mansion."
This meticulous way of handling things was indeed typical of Yi Guoru. No wonder, over all these years, no one had ever managed to pin anything on him. Even if someone did catch something, they were likely dead before they could speak of it.
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