Time Is Slow - Chapter 44
Once it was confirmed that her little granddaughter had such beautiful handwriting, Old Madam Deng was in an excellent mood. She became even more convinced she had done the right thing by gifting that inkstone.
“Zhao Zhao, your transcription of the scriptures is excellent. Tomorrow, Grandmother will bring it to Dafu Temple. I believe the Buddha will surely feel your sincerity.”
After Old Madam Deng left, Binglu frowned.
“Miss, why do I feel like the old madam is planning to keep you behind tomorrow?”
Please say I’m wrong!
Qiao Zhao was sitting on the little stool Ahzhu had brought out, enjoying the sun. Hearing that, she responded calmly, “You’re not wrong.”
Binglu’s shoulders slumped.
Every year on the Buddha’s birthday, the noblewomen of the capital would go to Dafu Temple to pay their respects. It was also a chance for the young ladies accompanying them to stroll through the temple grounds. It was a rare and delightful outing. How unfortunate that her mistress couldn’t go again.
“Miss, you didn’t get to go last year because you were sick, and now you’re going to miss it again? Such a shame!”
Qiao Zhao tilted her head slightly, the sunlight filtering through the pomegranate leaves casting a warm, serene glow on her fair face. Her gaze rested on the courtyard wall, drifting upward into the distance. She murmured, “I will go.”
Binglu looked confused.
Ah Zhu, seeing how calm her mistress looked, couldn’t help but explain, “Miss’s calligraphy is so good, the high monks will surely notice it. If they send her scripture to Shuying Nunnery, maybe the abbess will want to meet our miss.”
Binglu snorted lightly.
“Don’t go thinking you know everything just because you heard a bit of gossip. I’m telling you, that abbess at Shuying Nunnery hasn’t seen outsiders in years. At most, she praises a well-copied scripture now and then. That’s all.”
“She will meet me.”
“What nonsense—ah! Miss!” Binglu looked flustered and a little panicked.
Qiao Zhao smiled, unconcerned.
“She will meet me.”
Even if someone’s handwriting surpassed hers, as soon as that imperial princess saw her copied scripture, she would want to see no one else.
Binglu had two core beliefs: First, whatever her mistress said was always right. Second, if it sounded wrong, it only meant she hadn’t understood properly.
So the little maid started dreaming aloud again.
“That’s wonderful! Just imagine how all the other madams and young ladies will look at you differently. Oh, Miss, should I wear the green blouse when we go out, or the peach-pink vest embroidered with wintersweet blossoms?”
Seeing Binglu so animated, Qiao Zhao actually gave it some thought and advised, “You have fair skin, the green blouse looks good on you.”
Binglu immediately cupped her face in delight.
Miss said I’m fair-skinned! She’s never complimented me so openly before!
Ah Zhu silently turned her head away. She couldn’t bear to watch.
Then Binglu suddenly grew worried again.
She kicked a fallen leaf and muttered, “But Miss, you didn’t sign your name on the scriptures. Tomorrow, all the girls’ copied scriptures will be placed together in the same box… What if someone claims yours as theirs?”
The eldest miss hides a dagger in a smile, and the second miss can’t stand being outshone. Who knows what the other girls might try!
The more Binglu thought about it, the more uneasy she felt.
“Steal my work?” Qiao Zhao blinked, clearly surprised that someone would dare pull such a shameless move in front of their elders.
Binglu nodded fiercely.
“Yes! Since you’re not going, what if someone pretends your work is theirs?”
Following her maid’s train of thought, Qiao Zhao chuckled.
“Go pick out that green blouse of yours. No one can steal it.”
Some things in this world simply cannot be taken by force. Whoever tries will only bring misfortune on themselves.
Hearing her mistress say that, Binglu instantly felt reassured. She chirped an obedient “Yes, Miss!” and spun off to dig through her wardrobe.
Left in the courtyard, only Qiao Zhao and Ah Zhu remained.
Qiao Zhao smiled.
“Ahzhu, massage my temples, would you?”
“Yes, Miss.” Ah Zhu stepped forward, her movements gentle and skilled. What used to be a clumsy fumbling has become full of skill.
“That’s why skills you’ve truly mastered are the most reliable, don’t you think?” Qiao Zhao opened her eyes and smiled up at her.
Ah Zhu paused, then gave a respectful smile in return.
“Yes, Miss.”
There was no need to worry needlessly anymore. If her mistress said it couldn’t be taken, then it absolutely couldn’t be.
The pomegranate tree’s leaves swayed lightly in the breeze. The sunlight seemed even warmer now.
Qiao Zhao closed her eyes again, breathing slow and deep, while Ah Zhu silently lightened her touch even more.
—
Early the next morning, just before dawn, the entire Li residence buzzed with excitement.
“Sister-in-law, is Zhao Zhao not coming to greet the old madam this morning? She’s really favored—unlike Yanyan and Chan’er, who I had to drag out of bed before daybreak. Their eyes are still barely open!”
On the way to Qing Song Hall to pay respects, Second Madam Liu’s words nearly made Madam He choke with anger.
Does she think I’m stupid? She’s clearly mocking my daughter for being grounded and unable to go out!
He Shi’s gaze drifted to Second Madam Liu’s daughters, Fourth Miss Li Yan and Sixth Miss Li Chan, and she smiled sweetly.
“Yan’er and Chan’er sure love to sleep. Just like the cat I had before I got married, it slept all day and was fat as a little pig.”
The innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire, Li Yan and Li Chan: “……”
Fourth Miss Li Yan silently grumbled: I already warned Mother not to stoop to the level of that blunt First Madam.
Sixth Miss Li Chan outright pouted and stomped her foot.
“Mother—!”
The group entered the main hall to greet Old Madam Deng.
He Shi immediately spotted Eldest Miss Li Jiao sitting beside the old madam and couldn’t help but roll her eyes. That wretched girl showed up early, didn’t she!
Old Madam Deng glanced around. Seeing that Madam Liu and her daughters were dressed properly while He Shi still wore her casual home clothes, she frowned.
“He Shi, why haven’t you changed yet?”
“Old Madam, since Zhao Zhao isn’t going this year, I thought I’d stay behind to keep her company,” He Shi explained.
Madam Liu couldn’t help chiming in, “Sister-in-law, it was understandable that you didn’t go last year since Zhao Zhao was sick. But why aren’t you going this year? Sigh, Zhao Zhao being grounded and unable to go out, Old Madam doesn’t have the heart to punish her too harshly.”
So you’re just openly blaming the old madam now, refusing to go out of spite? Is that really wise?
To her surprise, Old Madam Deng actually nodded, clearly agreeing.
What a pity that Third Girl, with such beautiful handwriting, can’t be taken along to show off.
Madam Liu: “……”
Has the old madam been possessed today?
Seeing that it was getting late, Old Madam Deng finally spoke.
“Since that’s the case, you can stay. It’s good to have someone remain in charge at home.”
She paused, then corrected herself, “It’s not that there’s anything for you to handle. Just focus on keeping Zhao Zhao company. She’s had a rough time lately.”
Letting He Shi actually manage the household? That would leave me anxious the entire day.
Old Madam Deng then led the group from the Western Residence to the entrance of Apricot Alley, where they met up with Madam Jiang of the Eastern Residence and her party. Each group boarded their carriages and departed for Dafu Temple.