Twinkling little stars, like gems, densely scattered across the vast, boundless night sky. The milky white galaxy stretches from the northwest horizon, diagonally spilling towards the earth.
Kexin practiced in the Zither Room for an hour, then stepped out to look at the scenery outside, smiling as she said: "It’s a pity Madam is not ho; otherwise, I could enjoy the view with her." Yueyao was out gathering inspiration again and had not returned ho for more than two months.
Her maid Ah Cha smiled and said: "Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here; Madam should be returning in the next few days." Ah Cha felt her young lady was exceptionally capable. She started learning steward duties at nine, and by ten, she took over the Internal Affairs of the Earl’s Mansion, busy for more than half the day every day, spending the rest of her ti practicing the zither.
Kexin did not inherit Yueyao’s talent for painting and showed little interest in calligraphy. Later, Yueyao discovered she learned the zither quickly and had so talent in it, so she focused Kexin on mastering the zither. After five years, Kexin’s zither skills were now quite excellent.
Kexin nodded with a smile: "Yes, Madam should indeed co back in the next few days."
At the entrance of Kexin’s room was a richly decorated rosewood twelve-panel screen. The painting on this screen was done by Yueyao, taking more than a month to complete. The screen depicts peonies, magnolias, crabapple flowers, green bamboo, embellished with lake stones, birds, and flowers among trees. Yueyao’s artistry needs no further ntion; as her fa grew, her circulated paintings beca even rarer. Nowadays, besides occasionally gifting them, she no longer sells her artworks.
Of course, these restrictions did not apply to Kexin. If she liked a work, any painting in Yueyao’s studio she could pick freely, no matter how valuable, and Yueyao would offer it without hesitation.
All of Kexin’s belongings were of the finest quality. As the only girl in the Earl’s Mansion, the best of everything was reserved for Kexin.
Kexin sat at her dressing table. She glanced at a new box of rouge, still untouched, on the table.
Ah Cha laughed and said: "The Second Young Master bought it and had it sent over."
Kexin chuckled: "If Father finds out he went buying rouge, he’ll have much to say again." Brother Xu especially liked buying combs, makeup powder, rouge for Kexin, and he liked gifting them to cousin sisters as well. An Zhichen was quite annoyed at Brother Xu’s hobby; unfortunately, he couldn’t correct it. As for Yueyao, she found it harmless; since the items were given through proper channels, she didn’t concern herself.
Three days later, Kexin was handling dostic affairs when she heard a maid say: "Eldest Miss, Madam is back."
Kexin quickly went to the Main Courtyard, finding Yueyao speaking with Xiang Wei. Kexin walked over and greeted Yueyao: "Madam."
Yueyao smiled and said: "Hm, you’ve grown taller again." Kexin was now in her fifteenth year, still growing.
Looking at Yueyao, Kexin said: "Madam, you’ve tanned a lot. Have you been basking outside all day again?"
Yueyao, in good spirits, replied: "No, I’ve been staying at the manor!"
Kexin didn’t believe her mother at all; if she saw sothing beautiful or captured her interest, she wouldn’t worry about the sun or anything.
Seeing her reaction, Yueyao didn’t pursue the topic further: "How is your father? Is he doing well?" An Zhichen strongly opposed Yueyao going to the manor, but his opposition was futile; he didn’t oversee Yueyao every hour of the day.
Kexin nodded upon hearing: "Father is quite well, eating two large bowls of rice every day and having so supper at night. But Madam, you’ve been away for so long, Father is a bit upset."
Yueyao didn’t mind: "That’s alright." This ti, An Zhichen had provoked her; if not, she wouldn’t feel incapable of returning ho.
Listening to Yueyao’s mumbling, Kexin lowered her head, smiling while sharing events from the past two months with her.
Brother Yangyang heard Yueyao was back and was also very happy, coming over after his lessons. Brother Yangyang was just five years old and didn’t yet understand what subtlety ant: "Madam, why did you get so tanned? Madam, were you not doing well outside? Madam, it’s all my fault; if I had allowed Brother Zhengzheng, you and Father wouldn’t have argued." If they hadn’t argued, Madam wouldn’t have been agitated enough to leave ho.
Yueyao laughed: "Who told you all this nonsense? When did I argue with your father? Madam rely went to the manor to escape the heat for a while." Her youngest son was sowhat gentle; kindly put, he was mild-mannered, but to put it bluntly, he was like a little girl. Yueyao had no idea whom he took after. Initially, she thought Brother Yangyang’s gentle nature would not appeal to An Zhichen, but unexpectedly, An Zhichen doted on this young boy very much.
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