Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 502 - 187 Red Gold Jewelry

Marquis Jingning’s Residence sent an invitation to Yueyao.

Upon receiving the invitation, Yueyao visited the next day. The first person she paid a visit to was Madam Ping, the Heir’s Wife. Madam Ping received Yueyao with great enthusiasm.

Since her return, Mingzhu had changed significantly, at least no longer losing her temper as she used to, and had been diligent in her studies every day—everyone in Marquis Jingning’s Residence had noticed. Consequently, the Heir of Marquis Jingning had told Madam Ping that Yueyao was no ordinary girl. So many teachers had been hired, and not even the nurturing nanny could accomplish with Mingzhu what a ten-year-old girl had achieved. Could such a thing be done by an ordinary person?

When Yueyao heard Madam Ping express her gratitude, she smiled and said, "I haven’t really done much, it’s mainly that Sister Mingzhu is quite good herself. It’s just that nobody pointed out her flaws before, so she didn’t realize her own mistakes. Now that Sister Mingzhu recognizes that what she did was wrong, she naturally corrected herself." Yueyao felt that everyone in Marquis Jingning’s Residence was simply too indulgent with Mingzhu. The elders were reluctant to criticize her, her peers didn’t feel it was their place, and those below wouldn’t dare to confront her aside from trying to flatter her, and that was what had led to Mingzhu’s spoiled and arrogant character.

Madam Ping said with a smile, "You’re really too modest, my child." She had long recognized the young girl’s temperament, but with the Empress Dowager and her in-laws above her, it was not her place as a sister-in-law to educate Mingzhu. Besides, even had she brought it up, she wasn’t confident she could have done as well as Yueyao had.

Yueyao shook her head and replied, "Heir’s Wife, I’m telling the truth."

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside. A maid came in and reported, "Third Young Lady has arrived." Upon hearing the voice, Yueyao knew it was Mingzhu.

The moment Luo Mingzhu saw Yueyao, she happily grabbed Yueyao’s arm and said, "You’ve gotten a lot fairer these past few days!" Nanny Hao and Hua Lei had been working hard to lighten Yueyao’s skin, and since returning to Lian Mansion, Yueyao hadn’t been out in the sun, so indeed she had become much fairer.

Madam Ping reproved, "Mingzhu, watch how you speak."

Mingzhu turned her head and said, "Sister-in-law, you should have seen her in the villa; she went hiking every day and got so tanned by the sun that she looked like a piece of charcoal, but now that she’s been back in the Capital City for a few days, she’s become fairer again."

Yueyao didn’t pick up on Mingzhu’s comment but asked with a smile, "Have you been practicing your calligraphy every day these past few days?" As for practicing music, Yueyao hadn’t paid much attention; persevering was good, but it didn’t matter if Mingzhu wasn’t consistent, as it was just a hobby.

Seeing Yueyao’s disposition, Madam Ping couldn’t help but keep smiling; Yueyao didn’t come across as a peer but more like a teacher.

Mingzhu said unhappily, "You’re always looking down on people. I’ve been practicing diligently every day for a Shichen, and haven’t missed a single day. Both my father and brother have praised me and rewarded me with lots of nice things. Yueyao, you should pick out a couple of items later too."

Yueyao had no interest in Mingzhu’s items; as long as she continued practicing her calligraphy, that was enough. Mingzhu had an impulsive temperament, and practicing calligraphy could cultivate her character. Steady practice might alleviate some of her impulsiveness.

Yueyao never expected Mingzhu to become someone shrewd and calculating. With her family’s protection, Mingzhu didn’t need to become that sort of person. Yueyao felt that it would be enough if Mingzhu could control her temper and her emotions a little better. Some people were just so blessed, and that was something to be envied rather than attained.

Mingzhu, holding onto Yueyao’s arm, left Madam Ping’s courtyard and boasted, "I have been following the master and practicing hard every day. You’ll have to listen and comment on whether I have improved or not." The music master had noted Mingzhu’s significant progress, but Mingzhu wanted Yueyao’s feedback; she could only be at ease if Yueyao said it was good.

After thinking for a moment, Yueyao said, "To play a tune, we’d need a good spot. Let’s go to the Water Pavilion!" Yueyao was particularly fond of the pavilion on the lake at the Marquis’ household.

Excitedly leading Yueyao to the Water Pavilion, Mingzhu showed her the pond where the lotus flowers had almost all withered, leaving behind clusters of large lotus pods.

Yueyao addressed Bai Yi, "Pick a few lotus pods; eating lotus seeds while enjoying the beautiful scenery and listening to your lady’s music would be quite a treat."

Mingzhu clapped her hands and said, "If you like, later they can make lotus seed porridge and stew lotus root with pork ribs." Mingzhu herself wasn’t fond of lotus seeds, considering their taste too bland, but she was willing to accommodate Yueyao’s preferences.

Gazing at the vast lake covered with lotus leaves, Yueyao suggested with a smile, "Why not add a Beggar’s Chicken to the feast?" A chicken wrapped in lotus leaves and roasted in fire was very delicious.

Hearing Yueyao mention Beggar’s Chicken, Mingzhu was quite surprised, "Aren’t you a vegetarian?" Mingzhu was a hearty meat eater, nearly demanding meat in every meal. Yueyao, on the other hand, preferred a plain diet; back in the mountains, she ate mostly vegetarian dishes and rarely meat, which had led Mingzhu to assume in private that Yueyao was vegetarian.

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