Chapter 49: Lesson

  Xiao Zui thanks Lu Yan Xian Ju for his second reward, thank you. This week will try to update two more chapters, Xiao Zui will work hard.

  As expected by Guwalgiya, Li Ziqing often came to find Shu Yao, and every time she would stay for more than half a day, deliberately showing affection and pretending to like Shu Yao very much. In fact, most of her attention was focused on Guwalgiya. Could Guwalgiya be someone that Li Ziqing could fawn upon? Guwalgiya wouldn't hide her true nature just because of Li Ziqing's arrival. Every day, she would handle matters as usual, rewarding and punishing the servants clearly, treating her children with a strict yet loving attitude, making decisions quickly and reasonably. The more Li Ziqing saw this, the more she admired Guwalgiya. If she were the daughter of Zhìyuǎn couple, she wouldn't have to work so hard to scheme like now.

  Zhiyuan is now a third-grade official, although he is a concubine's son. However, the Duke of Zhongyong has no legitimate sons, and his eldest son from a concubine passed away without leaving any children. Zhiyuan, being the eldest son of the second uncle, is equivalent to the Duke's eldest son. Shuyao can participate in the imperial selection, but Li Qinger does not qualify.

  If she were Zhiyuan's daughter, she would do better than Shuyao and help Zhiyuan seize the Duke of Gong's title. At that time, she would be the true and proper daughter of the Duke of Zhongyong, worthy of being paired with the Fourth Prince, Yinxiang.

  Li Ziqing looked at Shu Yao, who was leaning against the wall and dozing off. Why could she live so leisurely? Li Ziqing didn't doubt that in the future, when it came to selecting a concubine, Shu Yao would rely on Zhiyuan's official position and the loyalty of the Gong Duke Manor from the Upper Three Banners, unless she was taken by Kangxi, otherwise she would definitely be the legitimate wife.

  No one was willing to become a concubine, and Li Ziqing was no exception. However, in order to marry Yongzheng, she could only be a concubine, with no other way out. Especially when she saw Shu Yao's carefree life, Li Ziqing felt an intense pang of envy, hatred, and resentment. Unbeknownst to her, Shu Yao shivered slightly and snuggled deeper into Gua'erjia's arms. Li Ziqing clearly saw the helpless doting in Gua'erjia's eyes as she shifted positions, letting her daughter sleep soundly.

  "Second Aunt, Sixth Sister is sleeping so much, shouldn't we get the imperial physician to take a look? I know an imperial physician..."

  Guar Jia gently stroked Shu Yao's cheek, signaling Li Qi to keep her voice down. She ignored Li Qi's suggestion and picked up her daughter, placing her on the bed. Peach handed over a quilt, which Guar Jia covered Shu Yao with herself. After checking that her daughter was sleeping soundly, she signaled Li Qi to follow her out of the east suite and reseat themselves in the eastern house. Only then did Li Qi notice that the furnishings were different from those in Shu Yao's room earlier - they were more luxurious and spacious. What left a deep impression on Li Qi was the jade bowl placed on the Eight Treasures Pavilion. If her eyes weren't mistaken, it was one of the few genuine Tang Dynasty pieces. Yet, Shu Yao played with it carelessly. When asked, Shu Yao said she thought the jade bowl looked nice and had asked Guar Jia for it.

  Li Ziqing and Guwalgiya sat opposite each other, with a kang table in between. Just as they were about to speak again, Guwalgiya said: "Yao'er doesn't need a doctor, she's still young and sleeping a bit more won't hurt. My niece is sensible, but my Yao'er needs to be spoiled, alas, who made me give birth to her?"

  Guar Jia's complaints were on her lips, but Li Zhiqing could feel the thick maternal love. Whether Shu Yao was excellent or not, Guar Jia had always been doting on her with all her heart, taking care of her food, clothing, and daily life, paving the way for her future. Just in time, the tailor and seamstress delivered the finished cheongsam and other clothes. Guar Jia examined each one carefully, looking at the beautiful garments, Li Zhiqing asked with a smile: "Are these all for Sixth Sister?"

  "Xiang Yaotou is particular, she doesn't even like to wear slightly inferior fabrics." Gua Erjia said casually: "I remember last time I also ordered a few sets of jewelry for Shu Xiang, have they been sent?"

  "Coincidentally, the dowry has just arrived, and it's perfect for the young lady to match with her new clothes." Wang's nanny placed a sandalwood jewelry box on the kang table, and when Gua Erjia opened it, Li Zhiying was dazzled. After calming down for a while, she saw that the box was filled with round and luminous pearls. Li Zhiying was amazed - how wealthy was her second uncle's family? Without mentioning the value of the pearls, just the pearl hairpin in Gua Erjia's hand was extraordinary, even Li Zhiying hadn't seen anything like it in the palace.

  Gua Lijia pinched the hairpin, twisted it twice, and the candlelight flashed. Li Zhiqing narrowed her eyes, "Second Aunt, what's with this pair of hairpins?"

  "It was plated with a secret method, but the craftsmanship of the artisans was still lacking, not as good as... more." Gua Erjia showed a hint of disappointment and dissatisfaction. Li Zhiqing was unusually speechless, wasn't this satisfactory? "Second Aunt is treating Sixth Sister like a princess."

  With a snap, Madame Gualjia closed the jewelry box, her tone revealing a hint of displeasure. "Niece, when will you be able to correct your habit of speaking recklessly? Can Princess Shu Yao do that?"

  "I was just making an analogy." Li Ziqing's back was cold with sweat, and the pressure in front of Guajia Shi was really too great. Is the current Guajia Shi and the doting Shu Yao from before the same person? In modern times, it is often said that she is a princess, "It's my niece who is not careful, Second Aunt, I didn't mean anything else."

  Gua'erjia's face relaxed, "This matter cannot be mentioned again in the future. The princess of the Qing Dynasty? Hmph, hmph, hmph."

  Li Ziqing obviously caught Gua'erjia's disdain, "What?"

  "Hello."

  Li Ziqing felt it necessary to explain to Guwalgiya, "Second Aunt, it's not a marriage alliance, but a Manchu-Mongol intermarriage."

  Guaerjia hesitated to speak, the more she spoke, the angrier she became. Thinking of the princesses of the great Tang Dynasty and looking at the current princesses, Guaerjia waved her hand: "How can Mongolia dare to resist the heavenly court? Marrying a princess should be an honor, but how many princesses and noblewomen who married into Mongolia lived long?"

  Guar Jia took a sip of the cold plum tea to calm her fire, she had many things that she couldn't get used to. Li Ziqing also looked down on the marriage between the Manchu and Mongolians. She felt that Guar Jia was very much in line with her own temperament. Li Ziqing was also oppressed by the feudal Qing dynasty, and it wasn't easy to find someone with a broad vision. Li Ziqing wanted to befriend Guar Jia for two reasons: one was to make a good impression on her, and the other was to let Guar Jia have a deeper understanding of herself. Your daughter is far inferior to Li Ziqing in many ways. Shu Yao doesn't deserve your love and care, with meticulous attention to detail, guidance on how to behave... Sighed: "The Son of Heaven guards the national gate, the king dies for his country..."

  "Li Ziqing, you really aren't afraid of death, are you? The previous emperor's words are also something you can say? Don't implicate the entire ducal mansion."

  "Second Aunt, your vision and heart are not as narrow as those of ordinary inner house women." Li Zhiqing raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Guwaljia, "Did I misjudge you?"

  "Guarjia sneered, 'The Qing dynasty isn't just you being clever, don't treat others as fools. You think highly of yourself and look down on ordinary inner housewives, but do they even look up to you? Do you know how to host banquets? Can you manage household chores? Can you make connections with colleagues' wives for your husband? Do you know how to be filial to your parents-in-law and raise children? You can't do any of these things, what makes you look down on ordinary women?' 'What's with your ginseng and He Shou Wu? You're overestimating yourself, niece. Go back home, I don't have what you want here. Let me advise you, know that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, don't be self-righteous, you're far off the mark.'"

  Guarjia immediately turned away from Li Zhiqing and ordered: "Send off the guest."

  Li Ziqing's expression was dazed, cold and disdainful. She couldn't believe that she, a modern woman, had been lectured by an ancient woman. Although Li Ziqing admired Gua'erjia, her admiration only went as far as thinking that Gua'erjia was clever and eloquent, but never thought that Gua'erjia could keep up with her own train of thought. Her familiarity with history gave Li Ziqing the audacity to look down on anyone.

  After Li Ziqing left, Guwalgiya murmured a sentence: "I don't know what it means."