Chapter 197: Chapter 80: Lady Xiao Ma

Yueyao stepped out the door and said to Yueying, “Sister, you go find Sister Lin. I’m going to take Tingzheng to Begonia Garden first.”

Yueying felt a bit troubled, unfortunately, Yueyao was telling her the outcome, not seeking her opinion. After speaking, she took Tingzheng and a few maids to Begonia Garden.

Yuebing watched Yueyao with some confusion in her eyes, “This third younger sister acts so willfully, as if she’s not in someone else’s home.” When not in one’s own home, one should not wander around.

Yuehuan, however, looked at Yueyao’s receding figure thoughtfully and sneered at Yuebing’s words. Yueyao probably had a higher status in the Ma Family than in the Lian Family. After all, Ma Peng’s success in becoming a Palace Graduate and entering Hanlin was all thanks to Yueyao’s efforts. She certainly wasn’t one to walk lightly in the Ma Family.

Ma Linlin, seeing Yueying and the others but not Yueyao, asked, “Where is my cousin?” Hearing that Yueyao had gone to Begonia Garden, she didn’t say anything else. After all, she didn’t want to see Yueyao, who she felt brought bad luck, and had only asked out of courtesy.

Loo Ying, upon hearing this, suddenly followed Yueyao to Begonia Garden. In front of outsiders, Ma Linlin did not bark orders at her, but she couldn’t fit into Ma Linlin’s circle either. Ma Linlin was a tyrant at home, but she could maintain an image in public and had made a few friends. Of course, these friends’ family backgrounds were not as good as the Ma Family’s, and they all uniformly ostracized Loo Ying.

Speaking softly, Loo Ying said, “Linlin, I want to go to Begonia Garden and see Sister Yueyao.”

Ma Linlin looked at Loo Ying suspiciously, “Cousin, because you are in mourning, it’s not appropriate for you to join us in fun. What are you going to do there?” Her mother was right; this mother and daughter were insatiable ingrates, even worse than that girl Yueyao.

Loo Ying wanted to say she wished to accompany Yueyao, but seeing Ma Linlin’s warning gaze, she swallowed her words.

April was the peak season for Begonia Flowers to bloom.

Upon entering the courtyard, Yueyao was captivated by the Begonias there. The Western Begonias planted in the courtyard were in full bloom, the blossoms vibrant shades of pink, ranging from bunches of four to seven flowers reaching upwards like the dawn’s rosy clouds; the unopened buds were bright red like dotted Rouge, pleasing to the eye. The courtyard was also filled with a faint seductive fragrance.

Yueyao stayed in the courtyard admiring the Begonia Flowers for about a half-hour. Afterward, she went into the study and recorded everything she had observed.

Writing down everything she observed had become a habit for Yueyao, for a good memory is not as reliable as a worn pen. This saying was very classic; even the best memory can fail, and as people age, their memory gets progressively worse. This feeling strengthens particularly after one turns twenty. Yueyao had profound feelings about this.

For the midday meal, Yueyao didn’t go out. Granny Liu personally sent the lunch over. The lunch Granny Liu brought was very lavish, eight dishes and one soup, enough to fill a table.

Due to the hardships she had endured, Yueyao had developed frugality at the Nunnery. On regular days at the Lian Mansion, she would instruct the small kitchen to prepare two dishes and one soup. If Brother Zheng was present, then it would be three dishes and a soup.

Yueyao smiled, “Nanny has put in a lot of effort.” Today’s meal was rich in variety, and although Yueyao couldn’t eat meat, the eight vegetarian dishes were all complete in color, aroma, and taste, showing they were prepared with great care.

Yueyao ate a bowl and a half of rice. In other aspects, she was very particular about propriety, but when it came to food, she did not follow Nanny Wang’s teaching—that young ladies should eat less to maintain a slim and delicate figure. What’s the use of being slim and delicate without good health? Yueyao ate three meals a day plus a late-night snack and always chose nutritiously rich foods.

The effects of persisting in this diet were very significant. Her health was better than in her previous life, and she hadn’t been sick at all in the past half-year. Moreover, she was half a head taller than she was at this age in her previous life, and continuing this trend, she was sure to be taller than she had been.

The scriptures say, “A graceful and modest lady is a gentleman’s best companion.” She couldn’t control others, but she was determined to pursue robust health—a good constitution was much better than a graceful figure.

After lunch, Yueyao continued to watch the Begonia Flowers in the courtyard. She now understood a principle—all things are constantly changing.

Nanny Deng was getting anxious, “Miss, it’s too sunny, don’t get sunburned.” The girl’s skin was no longer as delicate and fair as before. It made her anxious—Miss was too negligent of herself.

Yueyao laughed softly, “I’ll practice calligraphy for another half-hour before I go to sleep.” Yueyao was accustomed to taking a nap, a habit developed in Jiangnan. It had been disrupted when she first came to the Capital City to copy scriptures all day, but after returning, she had resumed this habit.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com