Chu Lian always felt that time was scarce, so after experiencing six or seven days of travel, she returned to the mansion and arranged for Yu Meng and Lan Jing's accommodations. She then took her maid and went to pay respects to Wang Ye, but was informed that Wang Ye was not in the mansion.
After a short rest for a day, Chu Lian met with Wang Ye and told him that she had brought back an aunt to teach her etiquette and musical instruments, and that she was very interested in these things. Wang Ye naturally did not have any other opinions, because he always treated this concubine as a mere decoration, as long as she didn't cause trouble for him. He treated this concubine with courtesy, firstly because she was not annoying, and secondly because refusing people with ulterior motives from entering the mansion had a legitimate reason now.
Everything was arranged, and Chulian began her training days. You Meng would teach her how to enhance her appearance in the afternoons, including how to dress up, take care of her skin, and maintain a good figure. In the afternoons, she would teach her some inner qualities, such as etiquette, eye contact, and smiling expressions. However, she wouldn't directly tell Chulian what to do, which would be too restrictive, but instead let her think repeatedly about how to make herself look good and suitable, then practice repeatedly, and finally have You Meng evaluate and guide her.
Chu Lian Ruo absorbed and learned these skills with all her might, every day except for four hours of rest and necessary meals, she persisted in practicing diligently.
On this day, Chu Lianruo was practicing her steps when she was invited by You Meng to sit down on the corridor behind the hall. Chu Lianruo couldn't help but feel a little distracted, "Master, what's going on? I just found some inspiration for that step..."
"Lotus Ruo, this is the tea Master Yu brewed, try some."
Lan Jing brought over a teapot and several small ceramic cups, and You Mengzi elegantly poured her a cup and handed it to her. She looked at the cup, took it and drank it all in one gulp.
"You Yu smiled slightly and asked, 'How's the taste?'"
Chu Lian was preoccupied with something else just now, and the tea water all went into her stomach without tasting anything, so she could only remain silent.
Youmeng smiled gently and put the teacup into Lianjing's tray, letting her go. Only then did she slowly say, "My disciple is diligent and hardworking, as a master I am naturally overjoyed. However, if because of these things, you miss out on many wonderful experiences, wouldn't that be a loss?" Youmeng looked at Chulian's dazed expression and continued to speak, "Some things, once they are stuck in a corner, will fall into a bottleneck. Taking a broader view of other things may help you find what you want."
"You should know that if you don't cherish yourself, how can you let others cherish you?" After finishing speaking, You Meng tidied up her clothes and stood up to leave.
Chu Lian sat leaning on the chair in the corridor, with a gentle breeze brushing against her face. She looked at the clear water and seemed to see her mother teaching her needlework again, with warm and gentle words that seemed to echo in her ears. Her father, as the great general of Da Huai country, was strong and unyielding, but in front of them, he was warm and kind, never cold-faced.
However, this scene easily shattered and turned into Xū Róng's figure. He stood beside the dragon throne, wearing a high-ranking dark dragon robe, looking down at her from above. In a moment, it was Shī Yùyīn's charming yet slightly disdainful smile.
Chu Lian smiled lightly and pulled out a jade hairpin from her hair bun, throwing it into the lake. The sparkling waves shattered it.
She was once the proud daughter of heaven, but later married Xiurong and devoted herself to her husband, thinking only for him. She also treated Shi Yuyin, a fallen sister-in-law, with kindness, but unfortunately, one harmed her whole family and the other harmed her child. This grudge cannot be shared under the same sky.
