Time Travel: The Noble Family

Chapter 190: Chapter 78: To Pass the Imperial Examinations at All Three Levels

In the room, only a single candle flickered with light. Beneath the candlelight, a little boy was doing his homework, a girl was practicing her calligraphy, and a woman was sewing clothes, creating a very warm scene.

Yuehuan had practiced calligraphy for one Shichen and began to check Tinglun’s homework, while Maternal Aunt Su, by her side, felt very gratified that Yuehuan was growing increasingly sensible.

After checking Tinglun’s homework, Yuehuan led him to rest. When she returned, she saw that Maternal Aunt Su had extinguished the candle and replaced it with a palm oil lamp.

Candles were expensive, while burning palm oil was cheaper but harmful to the eyes. Yuehuan took the clothing from Maternal Aunt Su’s hands, “Maternal Auntie, from now on, sew clothes during the day; don’t do it at night. It’s very bad for your eyes.” Maternal Auntie was only in her thirties, but her eyes had already suffered; Yuehuan was truly worried that in another decade, Maternal Aunt Su might go blind.

Maternal Aunt Su did not contradict her daughter: “You should go to sleep too; you still have school tomorrow!”

Yuehuan waited until Maternal Aunt Su fell asleep before she returned to her own room. Lying in bed, she did not fall asleep; Yuehuan was mulling over the day’s events.

Yuehuan naturally learned about her cousin Yueyao’s success in becoming a Palace Graduate. Everyone said that Ma Peng was just lucky, but she felt Ma Peng was fortunate, not because of the examination but because he had met Yueyao. If she was not mistaken, Yueyao must have known the exam questions and told Ma Peng, which was why he passed as a Palace Graduate. Otherwise, where in the world would one find such pie-in-the-sky luck?

Thinking of Yueyao’s calm eyes that seemed undisturbed by any event, Yuehuan had carefully observed and realized that Yueyao was indeed very calm—truly calm, quietly attending to her own affairs, not provoking others, and certainly not harming anyone. Yuehuan did not know what had happened to Yueyao before her rebirth, but from Maternal Auntie’s attitude when talking about Yueyao’s return to the capital, Lady Mo’s ruthlessness, and various other matters, she surmised that Yueyao must have had a terrible experience before her rebirth. Yuehuan could not understand how Yueyao could still remain so serene, showing no sign of impropriety.

Yuehuan couldn’t fathom Yueyao’s thoughts, but she could be certain of one thing—the Third Young Lady’s psychological quality and patience were extremely good, far beyond what anyone could imagine.

Yuehuan twisted her shoulders, feeling that living in this era was truly exhausting. Not only did she have to learn a variety of things, but she also had to be wary of the two maids by her side. Maternal Auntie said that buying the loyalty of these two maids would take time; one couldn’t rush it, or there would be trouble. Ah, why did people of this era have such good patience!

While Yuehuan was tossing and turning restlessly, Yueyao had just finished practicing her calligraphy. Compared to painting, the plum blossom calligraphy style practiced by Yueyao was not hidden from others. As a lady of a noble family, there always needed to be a skill she excelled in. In the future, when socializing outside, Yueyao planned to showcase her plum blossom calligraphy to everyone.

Nanny Deng, after seeing the words written by Yueyao, praised sincerely: “Miss, your calligraphy is getting better and better.” Compared to when she first came back, it was indeed a great improvement. Nanny Deng was not familiar with painting, but having watched Madam practicing the plum blossom style stroke by stroke, she could still discern some progress.

Yueyao put down her pen and smiled lightly, “Then tell me, how big is the gap between my mother and me?” Nanny Deng, as Madam’s confidante, would surely have some insight into this.

Nanny Deng said with a smile: “Give it another three or five years, Miss, and you’ll surpass Madam.” With the miss’s rate of improvement, three to five years was actually on the longer side.

Yueyao smiled, tidied up her pen and ink, and went out. On her way out, seeing that the moon was just right, she instructed Hua Lei to fetch a thick coat. Leaving the house, she walked to the courtyard and gazed at the orchids in the flowerbed.

Yueyao squatted down, carefully examining an orchid under the faint moonlight. The orchid’s leaves were sword-shaped and leathery, hanging down slightly with a gentle curl; the flower spike was bearing many bracts. Perhaps because it was nearing midnight, there were beads of water rolling on the leaves.

Yueyao gently blew on them, causing the droplets to roll up and down.

Yueyao, inhaling the light fragrance, said, “The orchids look different at night compared to the daytime. Why is that?”

Nanny Deng looked and looked again but still found them the same.

Hua Lei brought the coat to Yueyao: “Miss, let’s go back to sleep, you have to get up early tomorrow!” The miss always went to bed so late, and she was worried it would be bad for her health.

Yueyao shook her head, indicating that a bit more time wouldn’t hurt, and looked up at the perfectly round moon in the sky, “Tonight’s moon is really full.”

When Nanny Deng and Hua Lei heard Yueyao’s words, they looked up at the sky to see the moon that was missing a large chunk, then glanced at each other and maintained their silence together.