Chapter 287: Chapter 268, Change_1
Li Zixuan and Li Zixin followed Daohua to her courtyard, and even though it was nighttime, they were captivated by the flowers and plants in the yard.
Surrounded by the faint fragrance in the air, both of them couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
“Cousin, your courtyard is really lovely,” Li Zixuan exclaimed sincerely.
Daohua smiled and said, “If you like it, you both can stay for some more days.” With that, she led them into the main house.
Li Zixuan and Li Zixin followed her inside and their first impression was of spaciousness and elegance, with not too many furnishings, yet each one exquisite.
At this point, Daohua turned to Guyu and Lixia to ask, “Is the Nuan Pavilion ready?”
Guyu responded with a smile, “It has been ready since morning, and all of the young mistresses’ belongings have been moved there.”
Daohua nodded, then pulled Li Zixuan and Li Zixin to sit on the couch. She personally brewed tea for them, and as she handed them the tea, she said with a smile, “My home is not very big, so I hope my dear cousins won’t mind sharing the Nuan Pavilion.”
Li Zixuan took the tea and laughed, “Cousin, don’t talk like that. What inconvenience? I think it’s quite nice.”
Li Zixin added, “Exactly, we just hope our visit won’t be a bother to you, cousin.”
Daohua playfully scolded, “Bother? I can hardly wait for you to come. While you’re here, just make yourselves at home, and please don’t stand on ceremony with me. When I visited your place, I made myself quite comfortable. It’d be a shame if you don’t enjoy yourselves when you come back.”
Hearing Daohua speak like this, Li Zixuan and Li Zixin both laughed and felt relieved at the same time.
Since the cousin wasn’t standing on ceremony, they could be more at ease as well.
It was then that Wang Manman came in with a smile, “Miss, the bathwater is ready.”
Daohua nodded and said to Li Zixuan and her sister, “You’ve been on a boat for most of the day, you must be tired, right? After washing up, you can rest.”
Li Zixuan nodded and followed the maid with Li Zixin to the side room to wash up.
After the two of them had finished, Daohua took her bath.
By the time she was done, Li Zixuan and Li Zixin were already lying down in the beds of Nuan Pavilion.
Dressed in a water-blue cardigan and a pale blue long skirt, with her waist-length hair draped over her shoulders, Daohua walked in and asked with a smile, “Is there anything missing?”
Li Zixuan quickly sat up, “Nothing’s missing, everything’s perfect.”
Daohua looked around the Nuan Pavilion and saw that all the necessary items were there, then nodded in satisfaction.
Li Zixin, burrowed in the covers, laughed and said, “Cousin, you needn’t worry about us. Go back to sleep.”
Li Zixuan continued, “Yes, it’s almost October. The weather is getting colder every day. You’ve just taken a bath and you’re wearing so little, be careful not to catch a cold.”
“Alright, alright, I’m going to sleep now. You too should rest early,” Daohua replied with a smile and left the room.
After Daohua left, Li Zixuan snuggled back into the covers.
From outside they heard an old servant’s voice: “Miss Manman, it’s time to lock up.”
Wang Manman: “Did everyone in the courtyard return?”
Old servant: “Everyone has returned.”
“Then close the courtyard gates!”
Once the voices faded away, Li Zixin turned to Li Zixuan and asked, “Sister, what are they doing?”
Li Zixuan: “This is the routine of a big household. At night, each courtyard is locked to prevent the servants from running around and causing trouble.”
Li Zixin sighed, “Aunt’s family rules are really strict.”
Li Zixuan nodded, “Aunt’s family only became stricter with the rules after moving to Xingzhou City.”
Li Zixin craned her neck to look outside the warm room, and seeing that no one was around, she whispered, “After we came today, we didn’t even see that favored concubine of uncle’s from before.”
“Back when we visited aunt’s house, that concubine dared to come out and meet us, brazenly sitting without leaving, truly annoying.”
“This time, I thought we were going to see her again.”
Li Zixuan smiled, “Didn’t you hear what my mother and great aunt said? The higher the official position uncle holds, the more he will regard the rules, and naturally, he won’t let a mere concubine come out to meet guests.”
“Besides, cousin Yiyi is not to be trifled with. I don’t think she would allow that concubine to hop around unchecked.”
Li Zixin nodded, “True, during this visit to aunt’s house, I feel like a lot has changed.”
“Aunt’s family used to live quite frugally, even depending on our family for support. But now, look at cousin’s room, any single piece of furnishings could fetch a good amount of silver.”
“Moreover, the products cousin uses are much better than what we buy outside. The rouge, face powder, and skin creams she prepared for us, they’re all different from what we usually use.”
Li Zixuan thought about what she had seen and heard today at the Yan Residence and fell silent for a moment, “Aunt’s household has really changed, becoming more and more dignified.”
Li Zixin exhaled, “Our family is wealthy, yes, but compared to aunt’s family, we indeed lack something. Sister, what do you think we are lacking?”
Li Zixuan thought for a moment before saying, “Perhaps lacking a bit of scholarly atmosphere? Just now after bathing, while waiting for you, I glanced into the eastern wing room. The maidservant attending there told me that it was cousin’s study.”
“Even for a female, cousin faces such strict demands from aunt and uncle, not to mention cousin Wenxiu and the others.”
“Our family does have a teacher, but it’s only so we can recognize a few characters, hardly comparable to cousin and the rest.”
Li Zixin showed regret, “It’s a pity that our brothers at home don’t have much talent in their studies.”
Li Zixuan: “Luckily aunt married uncle, and our family has a reliance. Otherwise, we might be like those merchants who are oppressed by powerful families, yet still have to apologize and make reparations.”
“Isn’t that the truth? Merchants really have no status.”
“…”
Meanwhile, Daohua went to bed and fell asleep in no time. The next morning, before it was even light, she brought Wang Manman to the open ground in front of Chuihua Gate.
Qin Wu looked at the neatly dressed Daohua and smiled, “I thought you might not come today!”
Daohua: “How could I not come? I’ve almost wasted three months. If I don’t practice, my martial skills will surely regress.”
Qin Wu’s face showed admiration, “Enduring hardship is a good thing. Come on, let me see if you have progressed or regressed during this time.”
Afterward, Daohua resumed her usual morning whip practice.
…
After practicing with the whip, Daohua quickly washed up and then took Li Zixuan and her sister to the main courtyard to greet Madam Li. Then, they all went to the old lady’s courtyard for breakfast.
After breakfast, Madam Li said to Li Zixuan and her sister, “I’ve already spoken to Master Shen, and during your days at the Yan Residence, you will join Daohua and the others in class.”
“Master Shen is excellent, be it in scholarship, etiquette, or even needlework for women. You must study diligently.”
Li Zixuan and Li Zixin both nodded seriously.
Before coming, the Fan Family and the Jian Family had instructed them to follow cousin and learn well, which would be a great help for their future marriages.
Not to mention other aspects, just boasting of the somewhat famous Master Shen from Zhongzhou Province as their instructor would elevate their status in the eyes of others.