The next morning, Minglan carried her calligraphy practice sheets to Old Madam's quarters, intending to finish the remaining portions of the Thousand Character Classic in one go over the next few days so she wouldn't have to pretend to be illiterate anymore. Just as she toddled into the main hall on her short legs, she unexpectedly found Madam Wang had come early to fetch Kong Momo, looking every bit like a famine victim rushing to claim relief grain for fear it would run out.
Seated in the lower seat, Madam Wang listened respectfully as Old Mrs. Sheng spoke: "...Last night I swallowed my pride and begged Kong Momo to exert herself further. While teaching the eldest girl, she could include the other younger girls as well. Though they're still young, listening and observing will help cultivate their refinement..." Madam Wang naturally agreed, having originally felt it would be a waste not to fully utilize such a high-caliber tutor. Thus, Minglan's calligraphy lessons were temporarily suspended, and after breakfast, Cui Mama escorted her to Hualan's residence.
After crossing the Dianxi Bridge and passing through half a small garden, they arrived at Hualan's Weirui Pavilion. At the sight of Hualan, Minglan's eyes lit up. Today, Hualan wore a smoke-willow-colored silver-threaded golden double-phoenix brocade short jacket, paired with a light jade-green willow-patterned high-waisted long skirt. Her hair was styled in a cloud-like Chaoyue bun, adorned only with a gold-wire inlaid gemstone headband. She resembled an unopened magnolia bud—radiant and vibrant to the extreme. Even Kong Momo couldn't help stealing a few extra glances. Minglan thought to herself: That fellow Yuan is quite the lucky man.
Seeing her eldest daughter's striking elegance, Madam Wang swelled with pride. Turning to the other two, she noticed Rulan looking visibly dispirited, standing listlessly to the side, while Molan appeared bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, promptly offering solicitous greetings to Kong Momo. This irritated Madam Wang, who scolded, "Rulan! Why haven't you greeted Kong Momo? Such ill manners—watch your hide!"
Upon hearing this, Rulan immediately pouted and lowered her head in resentment.
After Madam Wang departed, Kong Momo began the lesson. She focused her teaching on Hualan, with the other three serving as supplementary attendees. Rulan, who had been disengaged from the start, essentially slacked off and soon moved aside to play cat's cradle with a young maid. Minglan didn't particularly want to learn either, but she lacked Rulan's bold defiance and intense resentment. Forced studying was routine for Minglan—she had long grown accustomed to it. Compared to the modern exam-oriented education system, Kong Momo's demands were mere child's play. Did Yao Yiyi enjoy trigonometric functions, drawing hyperbolas and calculating them repeatedly? Did she relish the Anglo-Saxon accent, rising early daily to memorize foreign language vocabulary? Did she choose the dull field of law because she loved memorization?—Don't kid yourself; it was all for survival.
Now in a different environment, the same principle applied. For Minglan to establish herself here, she had to start learning all over again.
"In theory, a girl's character and virtue are paramount, while manners and upbringing are merely superficial etiquette. Yet respectable families particularly emphasize these superficialities. Their importance can vary—doing well may not earn praise, but making mistakes will inevitably invite ridicule, openly or covertly. You young ladies are intelligent; you must recognize what truly matters here."Kong Momo earnestly instructed the girls, first clearly explaining the necessity of learning before proceeding with the lessons. Her teaching was excellent—she outlined key points in simple terms, demonstrated corrections, and frequently provided practical examples. When Hualan and Molan struggled, she remained patient, allowing the girls to gradually comprehend through practice.
Molan closely shadowed Hualan, mimicking her every move while holding herself to strict standards. She repeatedly asked, "Momo, is this correct?" and "Momo, what do you think of this?"—almost overshadowing the main students with her eagerness. Hualan bit her lip, struggling to maintain composure and avoid scolding Molan in front of Kong Momo.
Minglan’s learning attitude was neither exceptional nor lacking. She spent the morning practicing curtsies and walking postures but felt increasingly awkward. Having been in this world for just over a year—most of it spent bedridden feigning illness—she lagged behind not only her eldest sister Hualan but also the others in understanding this world’s etiquette. Catching up quickly seemed impossible.
During the noon meal break, she asked Cui Mama to prepare plain paper booklets. After jotting down the morning’s key points from memory, she had Xiaotao pack her small brush, inkstone, inkstick, and booklet into a bamboo handbag for the afternoon class. Instead of rushing to practice, Minglan arranged her writing tools on a pearwood desk carved with pine, bamboo, and plum motifs, rolled up her sleeves, and began taking lecture notes.
Kong Momo, while demonstrating various serving postures to Hualan, glanced discreetly at Minglan.
Note-taking during training sessions was second nature to Minglan, a veteran of exam-oriented education. To her, sitting through a lecture without a pen felt like inviting unwanted attention from the teacher. With writing tools in hand, she immediately fell into her element—years of quality education hadn’t been wasted, as she systematically organized each rule and nuance.
Etiquette was a broad concept encompassing daily conduct: bowing, walking, speaking, smiling, social interactions, even how to hold tea or sip water. Most young ladies absorbed these manners naturally through upbringing, but Kong Momo’s role was to highlight differences between top-tier nobility and mid-level official families like the Shengs—essentially running a crash course.
Though the mentor opened the door, progress depended on individual effort. Among the "Lan" sisters: Minglan compensated for late starts with diligence; Rulan had capability but lacked consistency, practicing sporadically; Molan’s intelligence was hindered by youth and physical immaturity. Unsurprisingly, Hualan excelled—learning swiftly with solid retention.
Within days, results emerged: Hualan shed her arrogance, Molan became less affected, Rulan ceased wild behavior, and Minglan no longer spaced out. The girls suddenly embodied grace—conversing tactfully, moving with willow-like elegance. Sheng Hong watched with immense satisfaction, praising them for days, while even Madam Wang developed genuine respect for Kong Momo."After all, she comes from the palace—truly capable. Without scolding, hitting, or even raising her voice, she's managed to discipline these girls." Madam Wang clicked her tongue repeatedly in admiration.
"It's all thanks to Mother's blessings. I've heard that when Kong Momo was in the capital, even ordinary noble families couldn't secure her services. You mustn't put on airs before her, lest we become a laughingstock for our lack of sophistication."
Sheng Hong was cautious and shrewd by nature, with considerable cunning. Later, under Old Mrs. Sheng's guidance, he developed a broad-minded and far-sighted perspective. He knew that to sustain his official career, he must stay alert and well-informed, understanding both himself and others. These past few days, he had frequently seized opportunities to consult Kong Momo about affairs in the capital. Out of respect for Old Mrs. Sheng, Kong Momo selectively shared some of the intricate and concealed relationships among the powerful officials and nobles in the capital, omitting the more sensitive details. Having spent decades navigating the deep palace courtyards and interacting mostly with top-tier figures in society, Kong Momo possessed remarkable insight. After several conversations, Sheng Hong gained invaluable knowledge, almost regarding her as a family elder and wishing he could keep her permanently. Unfortunately, Kong Momo missed her hometown and firmly declined; Sheng Hong had no choice but to relent.
Kong Momo's training sessions were quite humane. After ten days of diligent study, she announced a day of rest, coinciding with fine weather. Hualan led Rulan and Minglan to play in the garden, while Kong Momo, also on break, went to Longevity and Peace Hall to chat with Old Mrs. Sheng.
"I'm afraid I've underestimated your Liu Guniang," Kong Momo said, seated on the kang opposite Old Mrs. Sheng, separated by a small kang table.
"How so?" The Old Madam was intrigued.
Kong Momo lifted her teacup, examining it carefully as she spoke leisurely, "I initially thought the child was honest and simple-minded, even a bit dull. Never expected I'd misjudged—she's actually one of those 'great wisdom appears like foolishness' types."
"Don't talk nonsense. After just a few days of teaching etiquette, you've turned her into a sage?" Old Mrs. Sheng shook her head with a laugh.
Kong Momo lifted the teacup lid, gently stirring the leaves inside. "Don't dismiss it... Over these days of instruction, your eldest granddaughter is fine—clever and quick to grasp things, though she lacks a bit of patience. As for Fifth Miss, no need to elaborate—she's young and playful, which is understandable. Fourth Miss appears delicate but is actually quite competitive, stubbornly pushing herself to learn. You know well that those tedious rules weren't meant for children. Their bodies aren't fully developed, so many movements are simply beyond them. Fourth Miss insisted on overexerting herself—just yesterday, she broke four teacups and two plates, and even dropped chopsticks while serving food."
Old Mrs. Sheng listened silently, shaking her head. Kong Momo glanced at her, a slight smile curling her lips as she continued teasingly, "Only your precious Liu Guniang, seemingly quiet and unassuming, figured it out by morning. On the first afternoon, she brought ink, brush, paper, and inkstone. Without bothering me with chatter, she simply recorded the key points of what I said, did, and corrected in Hualan and Molan. I stole a glance—hm, quite impressive."
Old Mrs. Sheng still didn't believe it, shaking her head with a smile. "Minglan has only learned a few characters—how could she record all that? You're pulling my leg again."
"If you don't believe me, have someone fetch her notebook for a look," Kong Momo said.Old Mrs. Sheng felt a surge of childlike curiosity and immediately instructed Mama Fang to fetch Minglan's portable writing case. Mama Fang obtained the book basket from Cui Mama and presented it. The old madam promptly opened the square bamboo-woven basket, which indeed contained neatly arranged writing brushes, ink, and an inkstone, along with a small thick booklet of plain white paper. When the old madam opened it, she was greatly astonished.
The booklet clearly recorded the lessons from recent days, with content systematically categorized and summarized under headings like 'Dietary Matters,' 'Rest Periods,' and 'Daily Routines.' Each category was subdivided into items, which were further broken down into specifics, all neatly numbered with 'one, two, three, four.' Every entry and sentence was clear and comprehensible. However, likely due to limited literacy, half the pages were filled with misspelled characters—some missing strokes, others with incorrect components. In some sections, amusing little drawings were sketched. For instance, beside instructions on how to roll up sleeves and by how many inches when serving dishes to elders, Minglan—apparently unable to articulate it clearly—had simply drawn a short, chubby arm with slightly rolled-up sleeves, annotated with detailed explanations using arrows.
After flipping through a few pages, Old Mrs. Sheng found herself both amused and exasperated. Further in, as the content grew more extensive, Minglan had used thin red threads to mark important sections with careful notations. Mama Fang leaned in for a look and chuckled, "So that's why Danju asked me for vermilion the other day—it was for Liu Guniang's use here. This method is clever; with all the densely packed black characters looking dizzying, these red markings stand out clearly. Our Liu Guniang has come up with a wonderful idea."
Noticing several peculiar symbols, the old madam pointed and asked Kong Momo, "What are these? They don't look like characters."
Kong Momo set down her teacup and smiled, "I asked Liu Guniang about them too. She said that for characters she couldn't write, she'd jot down a symbol as a placeholder to look up later in the 'Character Glossary' and 'Orthographic Guide' before filling them in... Don't think she's scribbling randomly. I examined them closely—these crooked symbols follow a consistent logic and her own system, without a single error."
The old madam was dumbfounded and turned to Kong Momo, who shook her head with a sigh, "When I was learning from the old palace matron, I also took notes, but never this well-organized and meticulous. It shows her mind is clear and orderly, suggesting she'll handle affairs deftly in the future. And with her gentle, amiable nature... ah, what a pity she wasn't born to the lady of the house..."
Old Mrs. Sheng fell silent for a long moment before saying, "A good life isn't measured by wealth or status. If she can grasp that, she'll surely find contentment in the days to come."
Kong Momo nodded slowly, "I believe this child is clear-headed and will understand your devoted efforts."
...
As the training sessions continued, the sisters' conflicts rose in direct opposition to their academic progress. The later it went, the more Molan struggled to keep up with Hualan's pace—a natural outcome, given the differing comprehension levels of a elementary student versus a middle schooler. Yet Molan, seemingly delicate but fiercely competitive, persistently squeezed next to Hualan, pestering Kong Momo with endless questions. Sometimes, even when Hualan was ready to advance, Kong Momo had to slow the pace for Molan's sake.Hualan had endured and endured, having complained to Madam Wang countless times upon returning. Madam Wang was helpless, and after speaking to Sheng Hong, all she received were empty words like "Mo'er is merely studious, sisters ought to be harmonious." As the saying goes, one either erupts in silence or becomes twisted in silence. Since there were no mental hospitals in ancient times, Sister Hualan chose to erupt.
One afternoon, the weather was dry and cold. Kong Momo had just finished a lesson and felt her throat parched and breath short, so she had the girls practice paying respects to their elders while she went to her inner room to soothe her lungs with a few spoonfuls of poria cocos paste. Watching Mo’lan panting softly as she sat on the brocade stool to rest, Hualan felt waves of stifled anger and couldn’t help sneering, "Fourth Sister is truly putting in great effort. It’s not as if there are many occasions requiring such elaborate etiquette and rules. For you to be so diligent today, it’s as if you’re certain you’ll need them in the future."
Mo’lan’s face flushed, and she said softly, "Kong Momo said that even if these are mere formalities, it’s better to learn them and not use them than to be laughed at for not knowing them. I’m foolish and afraid of embarrassing the family in the future, so I might as well put in more effort."
Hualan, being the eldest sister, after venting a little, didn’t wish to stoop to a child’s level and sat alone by the window to gaze at the scenery. But Rulan was different. These days, she had been listening to Madam Wang’s grumblings and was seething with anger. She immediately jumped in, taking up the baton of the argument, and said coldly, "Since Fourth Sister knows she’s foolish, she ought to be more self-aware and not pester Kong Momo all day, holding Big Sister back."
Mo’lan looked flustered and argued, "How have I been pestering Kong Momo? Father instructed me to learn well from her and said he would test me on everything later. I dare not disobey, and if there’s something I don’t understand, I naturally have to ask for clarification."
Rulan snorted through her nostrils and looked at Mo’lan disdainfully, "Don’t use Father to intimidate me. Kong Momo was specially invited by Old Madam for Big Sister. Big Sister is her proper student; teaching us is just an afterthought. You’re always rushing ahead of Big Sister, hindering her from properly consulting Kong Momo. How can that be justified?! Hmph, I don’t know who taught you such lowly tricks—seeing something good and always trying to snatch it from others!"
Mo’lan’s face flushed crimson, tears welling up in her eyes as she trembled and said, "What are you talking about, Fifth Sister? I don’t understand at all. What lowly tricks? What snatching from others? We’re all born of the same father, but you’re just bullying me because I’m a concubine’s daughter! Fine, fine, I’m nothing but superfluous. Why should I remain in this world obstructing others’ view? I might as well die and be done with it!" With that, she buried her face in her arms and wept bitterly.
Rulan grew frantic, rushing to Mo’lan’s side and shouting, "You’re crying again! You’re crying again! Every time something happens, you shed golden tears to put on a show. When Kong Momo sees it, she’ll say I bullied you, and then Father will punish me! You, you, you…" She was both angry and anxious, stamping her feet but unable to finish. Seeing that she couldn’t stand by any longer, Hualan came over and said coolly, "Fourth Sister, stop crying. We dare not provoke you anymore. At the slightest thing, you cry as if your own mother had died. We’re terrified of you."Upon hearing this, Molan cried even more bitterly, her sobs growing increasingly violent until she was nearly gasping for breath, her body trembling with each convulsive shudder. Rulan stamped her foot in frustration, Hualan sneered coldly, and Minglan, who had been organizing her notes, watched the lively drama unfold beside her with a headache. Yet if she remained aloof now, she would face trouble later. Sighing inwardly, she scratched her head, hopped off the round stool, and approached Molan, whispering gently, "Fourth Sister, stop crying. It wouldn’t be good if Kong Momo sees this—she might think we Sheng daughters lack upbringing."
Molan ignored her and continued weeping, her cries growing hoarse and desperate, as if determined to escalate the situation. Minglan, who had studied law rather than psychology, felt a bleak sigh in her heart but pressed on. She tugged at Molan’s sleeve and added, "Fourth Sister, let me ask you this: How long will Kong Momo stay with our family?"
Though sobbing loudly, Molan’s hearing was unimpaired. Hearing Minglan’s seemingly random question, she gradually eased her cries and glanced at her. Minglan shook her head and continued, "I heard from Old Madam that once spring arrives, the weather warms, and the ice and snow melt for easier travel, Kong Momo will leave. That’s not much time left. Fourth Sister, I ask you: In the remaining days, is it better for Kong Momo to teach us more or less?"
Molan, still sniffling, stared at Minglan with red, swollen eyes, too choked with emotion to speak. Seeing her finally look up, Minglan hurriedly advised, "I know you want Kong Momo to give more guidance, but if she teaches according to your pace, not only will Eldest Sister be held back, but Kong Momo won’t be able to cover much. Why not bear with it for now, hastily jot down what Kong Momo teaches, and ponder it carefully later when you have time? That way, you won’t harm sisterly harmony and can still learn more—isn’t that better?"
After speaking, Minglan felt immensely proud. With her eloquence, being a court clerk was a waste—she ought to have been a lawyer.
Hearing Minglan’s words, Molan gradually stopped crying. Just as the situation seemed under control, Rulan unexpectedly interjected, "Why go to all this trouble? Eldest Sister is marrying into a marquis’ household—it’s not like we’ll all have such fortune! I say, Fourth Sister, some things are better not deluded over!"
Adding fuel to the fire!
Molan sprang to her feet, pointing at Rulan and Minglan, trembling with rage as she hissed, "Fine! You all look down on me for being born of a concubine, hurling insults left and right, treating me as less than human! Why should I even remain in this world?!" With that, she collapsed onto the table, weeping as if her heart would break.
Minglan sighed deeply to the heavens—she was also born of a concubine, so why include her in this?
Just then, the sound of a curtain rustling came from behind. Kong Momo had returned, supported by her maid. Taking in the scene before her, her face was frosty with displeasure.
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