Chapter 18: Rubbings_2

Old Madam had no dissatisfaction with Lian Dongbo's arrangement. She was old and her health was failing, and if everything was left to her, once she passed away, all these former private assets would be considered part of the public family wealth. Therefore, Old Madam thought it was reasonable for her son to leave some money for Yueyao. It was only Lady Mo's behavior that was truly hateful. It had been just over half a year since Yueyao returned, and Granny Hua had been in contact with Old Granny Guh for half a year as well. This meant that since Yueyao's return, Lady Mo had been probing into the second branch's family wealth.

Lian Dongbo had not told Old Madam that he had entrusted another sum of money to a trusted friend. It was not that he distrusted Old Madam, but that he feared upsetting her. If Old Madam knew that he preferred to entrust this money to a close friend rather than his own elder brother, it would not only hurt his mother's heart but also be bad for his daughter.

Previously, Old Madam had seen Yueyao immersed in copying scriptures and knew that Yueyao would not be able to hold onto her money. Thinking of her own failing health, she did not want to worry further. Worrying more would actually be harmful to Yueyao. For many years, she had suppressed Lady Mo too harshly, and Lady Mo harbored resentment towards her. If she showed excessive favoritism to Yueyao, Lady Mo would definitely take out her anger on Yueyao. Now, Old Madam thought she might have been mistaken.

As Yueyao approached Lanxi Courtyard, she could see Brother Zheng standing at the doorway, craning his neck looking out. When he saw her, he ran over joyfully.

Dong Qing followed behind, "Young Miss, the young master just said you were back. Unexpectedly, as soon as we reached the doorway, we saw you coming." It was somewhat magical, yet it was the truth.

Yueyao smiled and took Brother Zheng's hand, entering the courtyard. Once in the house, she asked the maid to take Brother Zheng to the study, while she went back to change her clothes.

After changing, Yueyao went to the study and saw Brother Zheng meticulously copying characters. Yueyao stood by quietly watching. Though the writing was crooked and ugly, out of ten characters, none were wrong. Yueyao nodded slightly to herself, feeling it was not bad.

Qiao Lan brought in tea with silent steps, careful not to disturb the two of them, quietly setting down the cup. If one did not listen carefully, the sound could not be heard.

Yueyao sensed something and glanced at Qiao Lan.

Qiao Lan panicked inside, "Young Miss, is there anything I have done improperly?" She couldn't recall doing anything wrong.

Yueyao put down the book in her hand, "In the future, whether it is in the study or in the bedroom, unless I call for you, none of you should come in." This applied not just to Qiao Lan but to everyone, including Nanny Deng. Without her summons, no one could enter.

Upon hearing that Yueyao said "you all" and not just "you," Qiao Lan felt relieved. It was good that it wasn't targeted solely at her, "Yes, I will pay attention in the future."

Yueyao nodded and said, "Good. Qiao Lan, I heard from Hua Lei that you came from outside. Where is your family, and who else is in your family?" She needed to be cautious in case Lady Mo had bought over Qiao Lan's family, coercing Qiao Lan into doing something detrimental to her. So, it was better to ask clearly in advance.

Qiao Lan's expression remained calm, "Young Miss, I was sold to the estate at the age of five. It has been nine years now, and I have long forgotten where my home is and who was in my family." Even if she remembered, she couldn't say. It wouldn't be good for her.

Yueyao stared into Qiao Lan's eyes for three seconds, then smiled lightly, "Do you really remember nothing at all?"

Qiao Lan panicked and immediately knelt down, "Young Miss, I dare not deceive you. I was so young then, I truly remember nothing."

Yueyao did not press further, "I hope you remember your own words. I have no other demands of you, only that you serve me loyally and devotedly at my side. I will not mistreat you. Otherwise..." There was no need to state what would happen otherwise. Those who betrayed her would find she did not kill people, because killing was a sin. She wouldn't sin, but she had ways to make life difficult for those who betrayed her.

Qiao Lan's back was covered in a cold sweat. Whoever still says the Third Young Lady knows nothing of worldly affairs, too aloof to pay attention to anything, she was determined to blind that person: "Young Lady can rest assured, your servant harbors no duplicity toward you." A servant who betrays their master has only one path: death.

Yueyao had no desire to quarrel with Qiao Lan, "You may leave!" After she finished speaking, she continued to teach Brother Zheng to recognize characters. In one day, adding the evening, Brother Zheng could recognize twenty characters, a faster progress than before.

After Brother Zheng silently wrote the ten characters from "Xin Xue" he looked up and said, "Sister, I've finished writing." He then stood up, holding the written characters in both hands and presented them to Yueyao.

Yueyao took them and exclaimed, "Hmm, our Brother Zheng is really brilliant, not a single mistake." A small child, after all, needs a lot of praise. Especially Brother Zheng, who needed more accolades to build up his confidence.

Upon hearing this, Brother Zheng showed a radiant smile on his face.

Yueyao knew that Brother Zheng had shadows in his heart, worried that she might not want him, so she generally indulged him. Thinking that at first, Brother Zheng needed to feel no fear, that she would not abandon him. Once he believed that and slowly adapted to this environment, everything would be fine.

During Yueyao's rest, Hua Lei came over and said, "Young Lady, the handwriting manuscript has been found." She had refrained from interrupting earlier because Yueyao was teaching Brother Zheng his characters.

Yueyao wanted to see the handwriting manuscript her mother had left: "Let's have a look." She then told Brother Zheng to continue practicing his writing while she herself returned to the study to look at the manuscript.

Yueyao took the manuscript from Hua Lei's hands with a mix of disappointment and joy. Disappointed because this was not the manuscript her mother had left behind. But joyful because it wasn't a handwriting manuscript at all, but rubbings. And these rubbings used the ink rubbing method. Yueyao's father, Lian Dongbo, was very fond of collecting these hard-to-find rubbings and loved to copy them in his spare time. Having been immersed in her father's hobby, Yueyao also knew quite a bit.

Upon opening the rubbings, Yueyao saw a total of eighteen large characters. As someone who knew quality, the light ink used for the rubbings produced a result that was clear, elegant, and exceedingly detailed.

Seeing Yueyao open the manuscript, Hua Lei couldn't help saying, "Young Lady, these characters are so beautiful. They look like blooming plum blossoms."

Yueyao spoke softly, "Plum Blossom Seal Script Style, from afar they appear as flowers, up close as characters. Within the flowers, you find characters; amidst the characters, flowers are hidden; flowers and characters are integrated as one."

Yueyao, looking at the date of the inscription, realized it was a relic from the Tang dynasty, a rare antique. Such an item was priceless. If she was not mistaken, her mother must have imitated these eighteen characters from the rubbings before she wrote the enviable Plum Blossom Seal.

Hua Lei was amazed, "How exquisite. Young Lady, do you plan to use this manuscript? If you master it, all the characters you write in the future will be just as beautiful." Such beautiful characters, probably only a few could write them. By then, the Young Lady would indeed be unique.

Yueyao laughed softly. Plum Blossom Seal incorporated plum blossoms into the characters, naturally becoming one entity. The Seal style was already difficult for people to read, and with the addition of plum blossoms, it became even more arcane and hard to understand. Imagine, if reading it is so hard, let alone learning it.

Yueyao still remembered a gathering once. A young lady claimed she could write Plum Blossom Seal, and everybody asked her to demonstrate. The young lady did indeed write beautifully, and everyone praised her, but she overheard another young lady mocking that daring to show off one's superficial understanding without grasping the essence was absurd. The girl who wrote the characters was so embarrassed she wanted to hide away.

However, no matter how difficult it might be to learn, Yueyao was determined to learn it, and to master it. Thinking this, Yueyao lowered her head to ponder for a moment. She had made a calculation in her mind.