Transmigration: The Evil Mother-In-Law Is Actually Innocent! Chapter 1476: 1476: Becoming a Disciple

Chapter 1476: Chapter 1476: Becoming a Disciple

Zhulan saw Lady Qi signaling with her eyes, motioning Qing Xue and the others to leave, “Speak.”

Even after the maids left the room, Lady Qi still spoke softly, “A few days ago, I went to the palace to see Consort Ran. She asked to bring you a ssage when I had the chance: Princess Aerola has inquired about your granddaughter.”

Zhulan fiddled with her handkerchief, “Thank you.”

“There’s no need for formality between our two families. Speaking of which, the Grassland Tribe now only has the Marquis left, but that title is hollow, without any real power. Their thoughts are skewed now.”

Lady Qi didn’t elaborate further; she knew Zhulan understood that several Grassland Marquises were trying to establish themselves in the capital and avoid being consud. Marriage alliances seed the best course for them.

Zhulan said, “Instead of entertaining crooked ideas, they’d be better off spending their ti hiring good tutors to educate their descendants. In the future, their path will have to rely on literature, not martial arts.”

She laughed as she spoke, “Look at talking nonsense. Tutors with standing wouldn’t bother teaching their offspring.”

Lady Qi, “…..”

Zhulan had made her point, her tone rich with sarcasm, yet it was strangely pleasant to hear.

Zhulan wasn’t exaggerating. Any scholar with integrity would certainly refuse their invitation. If those Grassland Marquises hoped their descendants could pursue literature, they might have to ask the Emperor to help them secure admission to an Academy.

Guests began arriving one after another. Lady Tao asked, “Now that everyone’s here, don’t hide the paintings anymore. Hurry and bring them out for us to see.”

Zhulan signaled to Qing Xue to fetch the paintings, “Both paintings were created by my eldest son-in-law. One is a snow scene; the other is titled ‘Bitterness.'”

Lady Tao grew even more curious, “Why is it titled ‘Bitterness’?”

“You’ll understand once you see it.”

Zhulan spoke while glancing out of the corner of her eye at Lady Liu. The wife of Master Yu had delicate features, and her smile was accented by dimples that added charm. Her amiable smile made her seem like soone who loved to laugh.

Qing Xue brought the paintings over. Two maidservants carefully placed them on the prepared long table. They first examined the snow scene. These two paintings were gifts from her son-in-law upon the family’s elevation to marquisate.

Among the ladies present, so were devout followers of Buddhism. Lady Tao comnted, “This painting must have been done at Huguo Temple, that mountain is Maple Ridge.”

Zhulan nodded, “Yes, my eldest daughter went to pray at the temple, and my eldest son-in-law created this painting while waiting.”

Lady Tao couldn’t put the painting down, “If I could persuade you to part with it, would you consider?”

“Don’t dream about it. This was a gift from my son-in-law to mark our elevation to Marquis.”

Lady Tao genuinely loved it. She frequented the temple for prayers, and having stared at the painting long enough, she could feel her mind calming. “Your son-in-law is showing promise; he’s bound to beco a master soday.”

Zhulan replied modestly, “He’s still lacking in many ways.”

In her heart, however, she fully agreed with Lady Tao. Jiang Sheng was destined to leave his mark on history.

Lady Liu, born into a noble family in Dingzhou Province, had been tutored in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting since childhood. She’d heard of Marquis Zhou’s eldest son-in-law’s impressive artistry, but seeing it today exceeded her expectations. So had artistic skill but lacked spirit in their works; this painting undoubtedly possessed spirit, though there were still areas needing refinent.

The second painting was brought forth, and everyone imdiately understood why it was titled “Bitterness.” The painting depicted a small girl digging through a stack of straw, discovering a few grains of rice. Her expression was anything but jubilant; instead, her brow furrowed tightly, one hand clutching her stomach.

Every ti Zhulan looked at the painting, she gained new insights. Based on the sunlight in the painting, the village should be bustling with smoke from cooking fires, yet the backdrop showed no such smoke. During winter, villages usually had children playing outside, but in the painting, not a single child was visible.

Lady Qi felt deeply unsettled. From birth, she’d lived a life of luxury. Even during tis of war, she had never gone hungry. She had only heard from her husband about this year’s food shortages, how the common folk suffered, and how famine had claid lives in so provinces.

Lady Tao asked, “Is this real?”

Zhulan replied, “Yes, Jiang Sheng only paints what he sees. This is true.”

And this was a village near the capital. This year’s harvest had been poor, and even the villagers near the capital were struggling to make ends et, let alone those in impoverished provinces. Her eldest granddaughter had written ho, and her letters were heavy with concern.

Lady Tao opened her mouth as if to say sothing but ultimately remained silent.

Lady Liu suddenly remarked, “Last year, while I was out shopping, I saw people abandoning children outside shop doors. I wonder how those children are faring now.”

Zhulan replied, “Those children are in East City. The Imperial court has arranged for older won to care for them.”

These caretakers weren’t ordinary won. Palace maids who reached a certain age were often sent out of the palace. For many, life outside the palace was uncertain; so didn’t wish to marry, preferring lifelong service in the palace, while others ca from hos akin to dens of wolves. Aside from the few who ascended the ranks of power, most faced bleak elder years.

These won were now being utilized to care for abandoned children. To prevent others from deliberately abandoning children just to gain free sustenance, this effort had not been publicized.

Lady Song thought for a mont and said, “Our household has plenty of old garnts and so grain; we can donate them.”

Zhulan responded, “Lady Ning is truly charitable.”

Due to the lack of publicity, everything depended on the Imperial court’s support. Zhou Shuren’s vigilance ensured there was no embezzlent, but with more children arriving each day, tis were hard.

A single painting ended up garnering quite a bit of charity.

Zhulan seized the opportunity to chat with Lady Liu, “At the lantern riddle competition, I was there. Second Young Master Yu is better than my bunch of rascals.”

Lady Liu quickly replied, “That was rely luck. If the young n of the Zhou family had participated, my son would have stood no chance.”

Lady Liu was pragmatic. Her husband had stated that the Zhou family’s young n refrained not out of fear of embarrassnt but to avoid drawing attention, even though their clash with the Wen family had forced them into an unavoidable spotlight.

Zhulan smiled, “You’re far too modest.”

“It’s no modesty. I know my son well. Perhaps people treat him as a child and indulge him because of his youthful appearance!”

Zhulan gestured for Lady Liu to have so snacks and then asked, “I heard in the Yu family, marriages happen late. Second Young Master Yu is already sixteen, has he been matched with anyone yet?”

Lady Liu pondered the question’s intention for a mont but saw that Marquis Zhou’s wife seed to be conversing casually, which eased her concerns. “Not yet.”

Had Lady Liu been permitted to disclose that the Yu family had no intention of marrying into the Royal family, she would’ve explained that sentint imdiately. Neither the Yu family nor the Royal family appeared interested.

Lady Qi listened attentively, feeling regretful. She believed the Yu family was a good match; however, her daughter said the Emperor indicated that the princess was still too young. Being “too young” ant the Emperor wasn’t considering marriage alliances for her yet.

By the afternoon, the guests had gradually departed, taking with them so of the Zhou family’s fad snacks, the pride of Lady Li.

In the evening, Zhulan ntioned to Zhou Shuren the matter of donating grain and old clothes. Stroking his beard, Zhou Shuren reflected, “The precursor to orphanages, eh?”

“Yes, also including so war orphans. Last year, quite a few families lost their breadwinners. When won remarry, they often leave their children behind. These children can be cared for collectively. If this heralds a small ice age, adults won’t even be able to sustain themselves, let alone children. But children are the future.”

After a pause, Zhulan added, “And collective upbringing aims at nurturing talent. Educating these children and teaching them literacy will pass on knowledge generation by generation. The more literate people beco, the more their minds will open.”

Is there any faster way to influence thought than instilling children with the importance of knowledge? Without explicitly indoctrinating anything else, fostering a deep-rooted belief in the value of education will ensure that they educate their own children in the future.

Zhou Shuren said, “I need to think deeply about this.”

“Hmm.”

The next day, Chang Yi encountered Marquis Ogodei’s son at the Ministry of Rites and, suspecting he misheard, confird aloud, “You want to beco an apprentice?”