Time Is Slow - Chapter 47

The moment the guest monk walked up to Old Madam Jiang, all eyes inside and outside the room turned to her. She suddenly felt a light, intoxicating sensation. Because of this, when her gaze fell on the scripture the monk held in his hands, she didn’t react at first.

Then, as she awakened from that brief moment of euphoria and clearly saw the handwriting on the scripture, her heart sank sharply.

This handwriting was neither that of the eldest girl, Li Jiao, nor of Jiaojiao.

According to previous years’ custom, the handwritten scriptures from the ladies of the Western Residence were all delivered in a single box. Recently, her right eye had become nearly blind, and she could only see with her left. She didn’t have the patience to examine them one by one. She had carefully reviewed the eldest girl’s copy, then briefly glanced at the one beneath it, assuming from experience that it belonged to the fourth girl.

Old Madam Jiang’s thoughts spun rapidly. The handwritten scripture came from the Li family. She had carefully read Eldest and Second Miss’ work, flipped through Fifth Miss’, and skimmed Fourth Miss’. That left only the Third and Sixth Miss.

The Sixth Miss was far too young. There’s no way she could have written such beautiful scripture. In fact, who in the entire capital could write like this?

This was clearly the reincarnation of Master Qiao himself!

Old Madam Jiang quickly darted a glance at Old Madam Deng, who sat beside her, and caught the faint smile at the corner of her lips. Her heart clenched.

So her old sister-in-law already knew the truth. That left only one possibility, no matter how unbelievable: it was the third girl!

The guest monk grew puzzled by Old Madam Jiang’s silence.

“Old Madam?”

Jiang Laofuren snapped back to her senses and smiled calmly.

“It’s from our Second Miss.”

Old Madam Deng began to cough violently, barely able to suppress her shock as she stared at Old Madam Jiang.

She hadn’t expected that this normally principled and etiquette-conscious Old Madam Jiang would openly swap one thing for another right in front of her.

Earlier, she had deliberately placed the third girl’s scripture at the very bottom of the stack before sending it to the Eastern Residence, fearing Old Madam Jiang might get ideas upon seeing it. The old woman’s eyesight was poor, and aside from the eldest girl, whose abilities rivaled the second’s, she had no patience for the others.

But she never imagined Old Madam Jiang would blatantly steal the third girl’s glory and credit it to the second girl!

Old Madam Deng was so furious she nearly coughed up blood. Just as she was about to speak up, she caught a warning glare from Old Madam Jiang.

Then Old Madam Jiang called out again, “Jiaojiao, come here.”

Li Jiaoo walked gracefully to Old Madam Jiang’s side, basking in the admiring and congratulatory gazes. She felt both elated and as though this was only natural—until she happened to glance at the scripture being carefully held by the guest monk.

Her smile froze.

No—this wasn’t her writing at all!

Li Jiaoo lowered her head slightly, her shock hidden from the others. Someone was already praising her.

“Old Madam Jiang, your second girl is so calm and composed—truly a product of your excellent upbringing.”

Hearing this was like sipping a chilled plum drink in the sweltering summer for Old Madam  Jiang, utterly refreshing. All her earlier hesitation was now completely gone.

She had poured her heart and soul into raising the second girl, and this was the reward she had long waited for.

Worried that Li Jiaoo might show an expression that might betray her, Old Madam Jiang discreetly pinched her.

Startled, Li Jiaoo snapped back to reality. Though her heart was full of confusion, she kept her expression composed.

“Please follow me, benefactress,” the monk said. “Abbess Wumei of Shuying Nunnery wishes to see you.”

A chorus of gasps erupted inside, and hurried footsteps sounded outside.

At that moment, Li Jiaoo was so overwhelmed she nearly fainted.

Abbess Wumei was none other than the Grand Princess herself, who had lived in seclusion for years and never received outsiders. Each year, the greatest honor a young lady could hope for was just a few words of praise from her. Yet today, she wanted to meet Li Jiaoo in person!

By now, Li Jiaoo had entirely forgotten whose scripture it truly was. With her head high and chest out, she followed the guest monk out the door toward Shuying Nunnery, basking in countless envious and admiring gazes.

Back in Mingxin Hall, the room erupted into chaos as other madams from nearby halls rushed over, packing the space tightly.

Old Madam Jiang, surrounded by admiration and praise, felt absolutely radiant.

In stark contrast, Old Madam Deng sat stone-faced and silent.

Seizing the moment while Jiang Laofuren stepped away to wash her hands, Old Madam Deng followed and quietly approached her.

“Xiangjun, that scripture. It wasn’t covered by second girl, was it?”

Old Madam Jiang immediately looked around to ensure no one else was nearby. Then, letting out a breath, she said unhurriedly.

“So what if it was? So what if it wasn’t? What, would you like to expose it in front of everyone?”

Old Madam Deng’s hands trembled with rage.

So this was what they called nobility and royalty? Strip away that layer of elegance, and what remained was sheer ugliness!

Now that things had reached this point, how could she possibly expose the truth? Doing so would ruin the entire reputation of the Li family.

Old Madam Jiang noticed Old Madam Deng’s expression and smiled knowingly.

She had expected this which is why she struck first. By doing so, Old Madam Deng would have no choice but to accept it.

Thinking of how they would inevitably see each other often in the future, Old Madam Jiang sighed.

“Sister-in-law, think about it. Third Girl’s reputation is already ruined. Even if she stood out on the Buddha’s birthday, what good would it do?”

“So you think it’s right to let someone else steal the glory that rightfully belongs to Third Girl?”

Old Madam Jiang chuckled.

“How is it ‘someone else’? They’re all girls of the Li family. If Second Girl shines, the other sisters benefit as well. Take Eldest Girl, for example. After her engagement was broken off, it hasn’t been easy to find a suitable match. But after today, who wouldn’t say the Li family raises their daughters well? The young master of the Earl of Changchun’s household is a scoundrel anyway. Now things will go much smoother when Eldest Girl seeks another match.”

Old Madam Deng was dumbfounded.

“So by that logic, I should be thanking you?”

Such shamelessness—she had truly witnessed it today.

“There’s only one ‘Li’ character in our name, Sister-in-law. Surely you understand what that means.” At this, Old Madam Jiang’s tone carried a warning.

Old Madam Deng sneered coldly and turned away without another word.

The two women returned to the hall one after the other. Old Madam Jiang was immediately surrounded by a crowd of madams showering her with praise. Even Old Madam Deng received a few compliments—which, to her ears, sounded utterly sarcastic.

Outside the main hall, the veranda was crowded with young ladies.

Du Feixue tugged at Li Jiao’s sleeve and whispered, “Cousin Jiao, is your Second Sister’s calligraphy really that good?”

She turned her hand to point discreetly at Zhu Yan. “Even better than Cousin Yan’s?”

Li Jiaoo, from Marquis Taining’s household, was someone not to offend. But it also wouldn’t do to disparage her own sister in front of outsiders, so she answered tactfully, “That… I couldn’t say. From what I’ve seen, Second Sister’s writing isn’t much different from mine. Perhaps she’s been hiding her talents all along.”

Hiding her talents? Hmph. Li Jiaoo, who always flaunted her skills even when she only had five parts of talent, would hide anything? Please.

Today’s events were so bizarre that she truly couldn’t make sense of them.

Meanwhile, at Dafu Temple, news that the Second Miss of the Li family had impressed Abbess Wumei with her handwritten scripture had spread to every corner.

In previous years, this was the time when people would begin to leave. But now that Abbess Wumei—who never met outsiders—had broken precedent to summon someone, everyone’s curiosity was piqued. The madams had their tea refilled again and again, and not a single one mentioned the word “leave.”

With Dafu Temple’s main area losing its bustle, the path to Shuying Nunnery was quiet and serene. As Li Jiaoo followed the guest monk forward, she suddenly began to feel nervous.