Nanny Zhang breathed a slight sigh of relief when she heard that the mistress wasn't blaming her. Then she said, "Moreover, she was fine before. Although she was a bit spoiled, she was still tolerable. When she heard the mistress and miss from my words, she was always happy and in high spirits. But today, no one knows why. After meeting the third young master of the Rong family, the miss... seemed to be a different person. She became extremely arrogant..."
Xu Youqing frowned and asked, "Wasn't it said that Rong Sui just passed by and didn't go there on purpose?"
Nanny Zhang nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. The miss was perfectly fine at first. It was only after she heard the name of the third young master of the Rong family that she stepped forward and claimed kinship with him, calling him 'cousin' one after another."
Shi Qingmei tugged at her silk handkerchief and sneered. "So she's just another girl who can't resist men! How shameless."
Nanny Zhang continued to lay a complaint. "I originally took great pains to tell the miss about the Rong family. She used to loathe them extremely. But today... Alas, mistress, it's not that I like to gossip, but I really can't stand it. Today, after the miss met the third young master of the Rong family, her face blushed deeply. She clung to him and wouldn't let go. After the third young master left, the miss even lifted the curtain of the carriage and kept asking the imperial guards about him."
Xu Youqing waved her hand impatiently. "How disgraceful! Since she was so eager to get close to him, as her etiquette nanny, didn't you restrain her?"
Nanny Zhang heaved a long sigh. "Mistress, you don't know. The miss used to respect me. Maybe she got impatient with my advice today. She scolded me severely... and said something like, 'One shouldn't talk to strange men. Then you talked to the bandits today. Shouldn't you commit suicide?'..."
These words made Nanny Zhang burst into tears, while Xu Youqing was so angry that steam was coming out of her ears.
Just then, Nanny Chang added fuel to the fire on the side. "Yes, mistress. You didn't see how arrogant the miss was outside the door today. She didn't show the slightest respect for me. I'm at least an important nanny by your side. Who in the ordinary days doesn't give me some face? Mistress, it's a small matter that I lose face. But the miss's behavior clearly shows that she doesn't put you in her eyes!"
Xu Youqing took a deep breath and said coldly, "She's so brazen. She has really learned all her mother's shameless ways thoroughly. There's plenty of time. Now that I'm the mistress of the Shi Mansion, how could I let her have her way?"
Shi Qingmei also calmed down slowly and regained her dignified and noble appearance.
After a tiring day, Shi Ning'an was also quite exhausted. She told Lu'er to wake her up at the right time. Without even bothering to wash up, she buried her head and fell asleep soundly. She slept so deeply that it was already night when Lu'er called her several times before she woke up.
"What time is it?"
Lu'er replied, "It's mid-afternoon. Are you still tired, miss? I... I originally wanted to ask about the meal, but I was afraid that you still wanted to sleep."
Shi Ning'an shook her head. "No need to sleep anymore. Help me wash and dress up. It's time to go to the main courtyard."
Lu'er hesitated for a moment. "Nanny Zhang came back to convey a message. The mistress said that you were tired from the journey, and the master has a heavy workload today. He may not be back until late at night. So you don't need to go to pay your respects today."
Not go to pay respects? Then sleep until the next day and go. Coincidentally, when her father came back because he left something behind and was in a really bad mood, he saw her for the first time with a scowl on his face and scolded her severely.
This was how they met in the previous life.
Shi Ning'an didn't have the slightest bit of affection for her father, Shi Yongtang. But she understood the principle of "one must bow one's head under the eaves." After all, now she was a daughter of the Shi family, and Shi Yongtang was the head of the family. All she could do was to try her best to make her life in the Shi family more comfortable.
At this moment, in the side hall of the main courtyard, Shi Yongtang frowned and rushed home in a hurry. He took off his outer cloak with the help of his wife and took a big gulp of water before he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Has Ning'an come back?"
Xu Youqing lowered her eyebrows and replied meekly, "She's already back."
Shi Yongtang was in a bad mood. "Look at what you've done. You didn't send enough people. Ning'an almost got into trouble."
Xu Youqing didn't say a word, with a wronged look on her face.
Shi Yongtang paced around restlessly. "Have you asked Ning'an what she thinks of Rong Sui?"
Xu Youqing hesitated for a moment before saying, "Well, for a girl, when something like a hero saving the beauty happens, she's probably quite happy."
Shi Yongtang took a deep breath and sat down at the table helplessly. "I should have arranged for the Wei family to do something like this. Then Hongmiao could have met Ning'an earlier."
Xu Youqing quickly asked, "Master, don't blame me for speaking bluntly. I'm really in a difficult situation... According to Nanny Zhang, Ning'an may have been spoiled by her aunt too much. She used to be more obedient, but after meeting Rong Sui, she..."
Shi Yongtang raised his eyebrows. "What happened after she met Rong Sui?"
Xu Youqing's voice became even softer. "Today, she complained that this place in the house was not good and that place was not suitable. She always insisted on moving to the Rong family."
Shi Yongtang slapped the mahogany table angrily. "She wants to go to the Rong family! Does she still remember that she's a daughter of the Shi family? As soon as she comes back, she causes such trouble. She's really getting out of hand!"
Xu Youqing stepped forward to calm him down, still looking meek. "Master, don't be angry. After all, the child is still young..."
"Still young? She's already of marriageable age! Qingmei is only half a year older than her. Have you ever seen her so frivolous and rude?"
Xu Youqing was secretly delighted. Without showing it on her face, she sighed slightly. "Take it slowly. In my opinion, we'd better choose two etiquette nannies to teach her well tomorrow. Slowly, she'll understand the rules in the capital."
Shi Yongtang thought for a while and found it reasonable. He took another sip of tea and nodded. Then he threw the teacup on the table and said unhappily, "Is this just a matter of etiquette? The arrogance in her bones is inherent. The Rong family has always been like this. My aunt was such a dignified person. If it weren't for my aunt back then, I wouldn't have kept this unlucky girl who had lost both her parents!"
Xu Youqing didn't say a word anymore.
Shi Yongtang picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea. He slowly calmed down and then ordered, "Don't let her go out casually, and try to prevent her from contacting the Rong family."
Xu Youqing nodded. "It will be the birthday of the Duke of Rong in a few days. We can't not go. I originally asked Nanny Zhang to stay by her side and tell her about the 'deeds' of the Rong family. But Nanny Zhang..."
Shi Yongtang didn't wait for her to explain. "It's useless. The root is rotten. No matter what we do, it's useless. She may even think that we're being harsh on her for not letting her get close to the Rong family."
Hearing this, Xu Youqing put on a melancholy look.
Shi Yongtang looked up. "We'd better let her meet Hongmiao as soon as possible. Later, I'll talk to Hongmiao and ask him to coax her according to her temperament. It will surely get better."
Xu Youqing seemed to hesitate for a long time before reluctantly saying, "There's another thing. Maybe it needs the master to take care of it."
"What's it?"
Xu Youqing stammered, "She said that I didn't give birth to her, so I'm not qualified to be her mother."
Shi Yongtang flew into a rage. "How dare she say that? Who gave her the audacity! You're the mistress of the family, and she's a daughter of the Shi family. She must respectfully call you 'mother'."
Just then, Shi Qingmei's voice came from the door. Shi Yongtang barely managed to shut up.
Shi Qingmei was very good at reading people's expressions. Seeing that her father seemed angry, she stepped forward with a smile and presented the painting scroll in her hand. "Father, I painted a picture when I was free. Please give me some advice."
Shi Yongtang's expression softened a little. As a civil official, he was good at painting and calligraphy. His favorite thing was to appreciate the calligraphy and paintings of the younger generation. Although Shi Qingmei wasn't his biological daughter, she had really learned from him. Her painting skills were truly outstanding among the noble girls.
He looked at the painting. It was a painting of a beautiful woman. Overall, it was quite good. Shi Yongtang pointed to the eyebrows. "When did you paint this part?"
Shi Qingmei lowered her eyebrows. "A few days ago, I got together with some little sisters, so I painted this picture of a beautiful woman. But I've been busy with a lot of things these days, so I didn't have enough time to paint calmly. I was a bit impatient today. The part that was supposed to be the finishing touch turned out to be a failure."
Shi Yongtang nodded and smiled. "Your skills have improved a lot. This part is not bad. But you should be able to do better. It's a pity."
He stroked the painting for a while and then looked up at Shi Qingmei. He noticed that there were traces of crying under her eyes, and she looked a bit swollen and haggard. He regarded Qingmei as his own daughter and knew that she was gentle and virtuous. According to what his wife had just said, with Shi Ning'an's behavior towards the mistress, not to mention Qingmei, the eldest miss.
Shi Qingmei lowered her eyebrows and smiled. "Father is right. I'll paint another one later."
Shi Yongtang asked, "Were you wronged today?"
Shi Qingmei shook her head. "Father, what are you talking about? I'm so grateful that I can stay in the Shi family as your daughter. You've been so kind to me. How could I feel wronged? It's just a courtyard. If my younger sister likes it, I'll just give it to her."
Shi Yongtang was slightly stunned. "Courtyard? What courtyard?"
Shi Qingmei looked at her mother in surprise and then looked back at Shi Yongtang. She smiled and said, "It seems that father doesn't know. Actually, it's nothing. The Jingbo Garden is quite famous. Not only does my younger sister like it, but the Princess Roushu also said last time that she wished she could move the Jingbo Garden to the prince's mansion."
Her tone was relaxed, but the more so, the angrier Shi Yongtang became. "The Jingbo Garden? You gave the Jingbo Garden to Shi Ning'an? The name 'Jingbo' means tranquility and detachment. I named it for you to show my approval. How could she be worthy of the name 'Jingbo'?"
Shi Qingmei stepped forward and held Shi Yongtang's arm. "Father, please don't say such hurtful words. If my younger sister hears them, she'll be sad. My younger sister grew up in a rural place like Nanling. It's not easy for her to come back. Of course, I'm willing to give her everything. But this plaque of the Jingbo Garden was inscribed by you. I'm really reluctant to part with it. Later, I'll discuss with my younger sister and ask her to return the plaque to me."
Shi Yongtang lovingly stroked Shi Qingmei's hair. "Qingmei is really the apple of my eye."
Just then, the voice of a nanny came from outside, followed by a charming call from a young girl.
"But the servant outside said that father is already back. Why are you stopping me and not letting me see father?"