Chapter 39: The Two Exasperating Young Ladies
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Lu Jinrong gave Lu Huixin a sharp tug. “No, Huixin, are you stupid? Can’t you tell she means us no good? That old hag must have been invited here to torment us.”
The two of them had to stand united and deal with Lin Wanqing together.
Unexpectedly, Lu Huixin said with an innocent expression, “Aunt Jinrong, what are you talking about? Mother invited the senior matron to teach us proper conduct for our own good, and for the good of the General’s Residence. Which young lady from a respectable family does not learn proper etiquette? I want to become as elegant and dignified as Mother, so that people will think more highly of me when I go out in the future.”
Lu Jinrong angrily jabbed her finger against Huixin’s forehead. “Are you truly an idiot? Who in Yuzhou City would dare look down on us?”
Lu Jin Xiao was a fourth-rank general, the highest-ranking official in Yuzhou City. Anyone who encountered the women of the General’s Residence treated them with the utmost courtesy.
Lu Huixin said calmly, “Does Aunt Jinrong intend to remain cooped up in Yuzhou City for the rest of her life? Do you not wish to see the capital?”
Lu Jinrong was slightly taken aback. “The capital?”
Lu Huixin nodded. “That’s right. I want to go to the capital. I do not care for any of the young men in Yuzhou City.”
The General’s Residence was already the finest household in Yuzhou City. Surely no one expected her to marry beneath her station?
People said that daughters should marry upward and wives should be chosen from a lower station. She had no intention of marrying beneath herself and letting others look down on her.
She would marry the most outstanding young man in the capital!
Madam Lu’s eyes narrowed with delight. “Good, good! Huixin, you have ambition!”
Lu Huixin proudly lifted her chin.
Lu Jinrong, however, was left somewhat speechless. She had never considered what sort of family she would marry into or what kind of life she wished to lead.
Ever since she was old enough to understand, the matrons around her had told her that she was a young lady of the General’s Residence, the most honored person in all of Yuzhou City. Whichever family she married into would be the fortunate one.
Thus, she had never worried about such matters. She had always assumed that her future would be smooth and effortless.
Now Lu Huixin was telling her that they could marry into even better families, and the revelation left her utterly bewildered.
Lin Wanqing was also rather surprised. It was perfectly normal for a young woman to wish to marry into a good family, but Lu Huixin was only ten years old. For her to say such things at her age clearly meant that someone had been filling her head with ideas she ought not to have heard.
She turned to glance at Huixin’s maidservants and old nurses, but for the moment she could not determine which of them had planted such nonsense in the girl’s mind.
All she could do was say to Lu Huixin, “You are still a young girl. Do not speak so recklessly.”
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Madam Lu, however, said, “What is wrong with that? It is a good thing for Huixin to have high aspirations.”
Lin Wanqing was utterly speechless. “Mother, there is nothing wrong with a young lady having ambition, but Huixin is only ten years old. If those words spread, the General’s Residence will become the laughingstock of Yuzhou City and offend every great clan here.”
Madam Lu was startled. “Is it truly that serious?”
Lin Wanqing nearly sighed. Though she had never met the Old Madam of the Lu family, at that moment she understood her all too well—and felt an even stronger desire to become the Old Madam herself.
“Mother, what Huixin just said belittled every young man in Yuzhou City. If someone said they looked down on Qinian and Qian’an, would you not be angry?”
Madam Lu realized the implications only belatedly and gave an awkward smile. “I... I did not think that far ahead.”
Lin Wanqing had always been skilled at smoothing things over, but even she could find nothing pleasant to say this time. She merely said, “The two young ladies still have a long road ahead of them. I hope you will not be too softhearted in the future. Being softhearted now is only being cruel to them later.”
Madam Lu hurriedly replied, “I understand. Let Matron Zhao teach them as she sees fit. I promise not to interfere recklessly.”
Lin Wanqing did not take the promise particularly seriously.
Lu Jinrong was still making a scene. “I refuse to learn. Whoever wants to learn can do so!”
Madam Lu shouted, “If you refuse to learn, you will never be allowed to leave the residence again!”
“Mother!” Lu Jinrong stamped her foot. “I do not want to marry into the capital. Why should I learn all those ridiculous rules?”
This time Madam Lu was determined. “Someone come and take the eldest young lady back to her courtyard. Until she agrees to learn proper conduct, she is not to set foot outside.”
Lu Jinrong turned and tried to run, but the maids and matrons from Madam Lu’s courtyard blocked her and forcibly escorted her away. Lu Jinrong shrieked furiously and struggled without pause, but there was nothing she could do.
Madam Lu turned and addressed Matron Zhao apologetically. “I am sorry you had to witness that. I spoiled the girl from childhood, so she has become rather willful.”
Matron Zhao did not mince words. “The eldest young lady’s manners are an utter disaster. I fear this servant may not be able to reform her.”
Afraid that Matron Zhao might abandon the task, Madam Lu quickly said, “There is no need to worry, Matron. Teach her as you see fit. If she refuses to obey, strike her when necessary and punish her when necessary.”
In the past, Madam Lu had never thought her own daughter was particularly troublesome. But now that she had Lin Wanqing as a comparison, she finally understood how utterly embarrassing Lu Jinrong was.
It was one thing for Madam Lu herself to have spent her whole life weak and ineffectual. Her daughter, however, could not be allowed to follow the same path.
So even if she could not harden her heart, she would have to.
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Matron Zhao glanced at Lin Wanqing. Lin Wanqing gave her a slight nod, and only then did Matron Zhao say, “In that case, this servant will venture to try. If the eldest young lady truly refuses to cooperate, I will have to ask the Old Madam to find someone more capable.”
Madam Lu hurriedly replied, “Good, good. Do not worry, Matron. That girl has a sharp tongue but a timid heart. Keep her confined for a few days, and she will surely become obedient.”
Lin Wanqing nearly laughed. Truly, no one knew a daughter better than her mother. Lu Jinrong was exactly that sort of coward whose mouth was the only hard thing about her.
Madam Lu turned and instructed Lu Huixin, “From today onward, you are to study proper conduct under Matron Zhao. No more willfulness. Do not say things that ought not to be said. Learn to exercise discretion. Do you understand?”
Lu Huixin obediently bent her knees in a formal curtsey. “Your granddaughter understands.”
And so Lu Huixin left with Matron Zhao.
Madam Lu turned to Lin Wanqing. “Keep a closer eye on those two girls from now on. I spoiled them, and they never take what I say seriously. As far as I can see, you are the only person in this entire residence who can keep them under control.”
Lin Wanqing had no desire to accept such a troublesome burden, but neither could she cast it aside. She could only console herself with the thought that once one had too many fleas, a few more hardly mattered, and once one had too many debts, there was no point worrying about them.
“Do not worry, Mother. So long as you do not lose your nerve, they will certainly learn their manners properly.”
Madam Lu pondered for a while, then suddenly slapped her thigh. “Why do I not simply remove myself from the situation?”
Lin Wanqing was puzzled. “Remove yourself?”
Madam Lu smiled sheepishly. “You must have noticed that I am too easily swayed. I am afraid the two of them will send people to cry to me every day, and I will lose my good sense again. So I was thinking that perhaps I should go stay at a temple for a while and pray for Jin Xiao’s safety.”
Lin Wanqing was secretly delighted. With Madam Lu gone, half the troubles in the residence would disappear.
She could not show it, however, and instead pretended to urge caution. “Mother, summer is nearly here, and life at a temple is austere. Will your health be able to bear it?”
Madam Lu waved her hand. “It is settled, then. Make the arrangements. I will leave first thing tomorrow morning.”
Lin Wanqing put on an expression of reluctance and offered a few more words of persuasion, then promptly set about arranging Madam Lu’s departure.
Early the next morning, Madam Lu left Yuzhou City with her maids and matrons, escorted by household servants in several carriages.
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