A Chat

After chatting for a while, Peng Guoan noticed a servant peeking in from outside, and realized that his second daughter-in-law was probably thinking about her younger sister and had sent someone to inquire.

He called the servant in and asked him, "What is it?"

"Master," the servant bowed, "The young mistress heard that Fifth Miss Zhao has arrived and wanted to wait until you've finished your business here so she can come over for a chat."

Peng Guoan then said to Zhao Ruxi, "Your sister is thinking of you. There's nothing much going on here, so why don't you go and have a chat with her? Just come over at 9:00 AM on your day off, and I'll have someone waiting for you at the gatehouse."

Zhao Ruxi stood up and answered "Yes," but did not move, her eyes fixed on Kang Shilin.

Kang Shilin waved his hand dismissively, saying, "I'm going to talk to Lord Peng. You just go ahead. I'll leave soon. You can go back after you've finished your conversation."

Zhao Ruxi was relieved and went out, following the old woman sent by Zhao Ruyu to her courtyard.

When she returned to the Earl of Suiping's Residence, Zhao Ruyu had already married. In those days, unless there was something very important to do at her parents' home, a woman could not return there casually. Therefore, she and Zhao Ruyu had only met a few times, and even when they did meet, they barely exchanged a few words. The two were not close.

However, as Zhao Ruyu's younger sister, since she had come to the Peng Residence, it was only right and proper for Zhao Ruyu to invite her to have a chat, and she should also visit her sister; otherwise, people would gossip.

The Peng Family had a rule that a man could only take a concubine if he was forty years old without a son; in addition, the family had a clean and upright tradition. So, although they had not separated their households and lived together as a large family, there were not many messy things going on.

Along the way, the servants they encountered would stop by the roadside and bow to Zhao Ruxi. They would only continue walking or doing their own things after Zhao Ruxi and her entourage had passed.

On the way, Zhao Ruxi encountered a woman in her thirties, who was a daughter-in-law of the eldest branch of the Peng Family family. She stopped, smiled, and exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhao Ruxi before continuing on her way.

Zhao Ruxi had a very good impression of the entire Peng Family.

Zhao Ruyu was already waiting in the courtyard. As soon as the maid announced it, she came out to greet her.

She took Zhao Ruxi's hand and led her into the house, asking with concern, "Did you come here for something? Did my father-in-law agree? If not, I'll have your brother-in-law talk to him."

"Because I'm preparing for the imperial examinations, and the preliminary examination is over, I plan to participate in the autumn examinations in August. My master wanted Lord Peng to review my essays, so he brought me here to visit him. Lord Peng has agreed. He'll let me come every morning on my day off so he can give me some pointers," Zhao Ruxi said.

"Big sister, if you need anything or anything to bring back, I come over every ten days and can help you carry things or pass on messages."

Zhao Ruyu laughed, "If I have something to say or convey, I can just send someone. Why would I wait for you?"

Although they couldn't freely return to their parents' home, they could still send servants to relay messages or deliver things if needed.

Zhao Ruxi then remembered this, scratching her cheek sheepishly, "Oh, I hadn't even thought of that."

Zhao Ruyu burst out laughing.

Although she didn't visit her parents' home often, she cared a lot about their affairs. She knew about the changes in the Earl of Suiping's Residence, and she knew it was all because of her younger sister who had been switched at birth.

When she first learned about Zhao Ruxi's background, she felt great pity for her younger sister. However, because she was living with the Peng Family and couldn't go back, she personally made two sets of clothes for Zhao Ruxi and bought two pieces of jewelry, which she then had a servant take back with her.

Later, she learned that her younger sister was very capable. She had taken Kang Shilin as her teacher and become a great painter whom even her father-in-law praised repeatedly. Now, she had passed the imperial examination and become a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the lowest level of the imperial examinations). She was genuinely Gao Xing for her sister.

Not to mention that because of Zhao Ruxi, the family received a sum of money and added several new shops and estates, and the father even became an official in the Court of Judicial Review.

Her mother had told her all of this.

Of course, Lady Zhu didn't tell Zhao Ruyu exactly how much silver she received or how many shops and estates she bought.

"Sister, are you doing well here?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

"It's fine," Zhao Ruyu said with a smile. "You don't need to worry about me."

Although it's essential to pay respects to one's mother-in-law every morning and evening, it's also necessary to establish proper etiquette in front of one's mother-in-law. With a large family, there are bound to be some conflicts between the sisters-in-law.

But Zhao Ruyu was raised to be a model lady and was extremely well-mannered herself. She didn't think there was anything wrong with this; on the contrary, she felt it was only natural.

The Peng Family has strict rules, so even if there are some dissatisfactions, no major conflicts can be caused, and everyone maintains a superficial peace.

"How is Grandmother's health? How are Father and Mother? I heard that Young Master Tai went to study at the clan school. How is he doing there? Is he doing well in his studies?"

Although the two sisters weren't close, they could chat about everyday things.

Zhao Ruyu had prepared snacks and tea in advance. The two chatted and ate snacks for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before Zhao Ruxi took her leave.

"Your master has already gone back. Why don't you sit a while longer?" Zhao Ruyu said, inviting her guest to stay.

She had already sent her maid to inquire at the main courtyard and learned that Kang Shilin had only sat for a short while before leaving.

"No, I need to go back and study," Zhao Ruxi said with a smile. "I'll be coming over every ten days or so; there will be plenty of opportunities to talk to you, sister."

Zhao Ruyu then stopped trying to keep her, personally escorted her to the gate, watched her get into the carriage and leave, and only then returned to her own courtyard.

After leaving the Peng Residence, Kang Shilin sent someone to deliver a message to Xiao Ge. However, Xiao Ge wanted to do a favor, so the next day he mentioned it to Peng Guoan, asking him to tutor Zhao Ruxi properly.

Peng Guoan cherished Zhao Ruxi's talent, and with the added influence of Kang Shilin, he was already very concerned about Zhao Ruxi's studies.

But he usually had to manage the Imperial Academy, and aside from his days off, he had no time to spare. He wanted to be more attentive, but there was no way to do so—he couldn't very well have Zhao Ruxi come to him after dark, could he?

But given the Emperor's attitude, if he doesn't show more respect, it's as if he doesn't take the Emperor seriously.

He had originally planned to tutor Zhao Ruxi for a while to see where she was weaker, and then have the teachers at the Imperial Academy give her some pointers. But now he had to bring this up himself, and properly greeted the several Confucian scholars, saying that it was the Emperor's order.

These great scholars at the Imperial Academy weren't as busy as Peng Guoan. Just like Kang Shilin at the Beining Women's Academy, they attended classes when there were classes, and rested at home when there weren't. They had much more free time than Peng Guoan.

Zhao Ruxi went to the Peng Family's house for lessons because Zhao Ruyu was there. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to go to another teacher's house.

The exhibition courtyard in front of the Imperial Academy was usually locked when not in use. Peng Guoan simply had a room prepared so that Zhao Ruxi could attend classes there every day. He also arranged a schedule for the great scholars to go to the exhibition courtyard after their classes at the Imperial Academy College to tutor Zhao Ruxi.