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"Yes, we’re going to learn very well! Cheer up!"

"Cheer up!"

"Cheer up!"

The four sisters, with eight hands and four hearts, were united at this moment—as the saying goes, sisters with one mind can cut through gold, and they were sure to learn well!

However, things never develop as smoothly as one hopes.

The Old Sister whom Princess Anle had summoned was surnamed Chang. It was said that in her youth, she specialized in instructing newly entered concubines in the Palace, and even Consort Shu and Consort Tian, who now held high positions, had been taught by her when they first entered the Palace.

Despite having instructed countless young concubines and ladies in her youth, she herself never married and had no children.

She gave all her life savings to her brother’s son, her nephew.

Initially, she had planned to return to her hometown in her old age and be looked after by her nephew until her death.

However, after she had financed her nephew’s house construction, his wedding, and acquired a substantial amount of land and businesses for him, the nephew’s family started neglecting her.

Devastated, Old Sister Chang was fortunate to have several masters she had previously served who remembered her and brought her back from her hometown to the Capital, where they set her up in a small residence and hired two maids to take care of her, which counted as a blessing in her old age.

Of course, among the masters who had helped her was Princess Anle. Since Old Sister Chang couldn’t stay idle at home, she volunteered to help as soon as she heard the princess needed a Sister Etiquette to instruct Tian Hui.

From then on, the situation spiraled out of control. Many influential families in the Capital, learning of Sister Chang’s background, hoped she could instruct their daughters as well—who knows if she could produce an Imperial Concubine in the future?

Thus, Sister Chang found herself a fitting job again, and the rewards she received were no less than those from her youth. She had more than enough for her old age care and burial.

Speaking of which, one must mention Old Sister Chang’s nephew and his wife. When they heard the news of Sister Chang’s resurgence in the Capital, they rushed from their hometown, tearfully promising to care for her until her death.

Everyone understood their true intentions; they were simply eyeing Sister Chang’s property in the Capital and the savings she had recently started to accumulate.

Everyone was afraid that Sister Chang, bound by familial affection, would be duped by her nephew and wife again. Princess Anle was so angry when she found out that she would have driven the couple out of the Capital if Xia Yuan hadn’t stopped her.

Luckily, Old Sister Chang, though advanced in years, was not muddle-headed. She called the couple into her room, and just as they thought they were about to lay their hands on the money, Sister Chang ordered the maid to bring out a ledger filled with writing.

After they opened the ledger and clearly saw the words written inside, they left without another word, with their tails between their legs, and never returned to the Capital to acknowledge Old Sister Chang again.

What was written in that ledger?

Afterward, Princess Anle inquired about it, and Old Sister Chang let out a wry smile, revealing the truth.

It turned out that she had kept a record of every single money transaction she had given to her nephew and his wife, even the size of their house, and how much silver she had spent on what furniture—she remembered every detail precisely.

What more was there for the nephew and his wife to misunderstand?

Old Sister Chang had not become senile with age.

If she allowed her silver to be swindled by them before, it was only because she let familial bonds override her judgment.

However, not holding grudges didn’t mean she would allow herself to be deceived in the future.

How could the nephew and his wife have the face to stay after things had developed to this point?

It should be said that they did not have the courage to stay. Who would dare to offend such a cunning old lady?

These matters were all things Lin Yuan heard about later on. Had she known earlier that Sister Chang was such a cunning old lady, they certainly wouldn’t have been so eager to claim that learning manners was a trivial matter.

Lady Liu clearly did not know about these past events, and after Sister Chang arrived, she chatted with her enthusiastically. Despite Sister Chang’s cunningness, her appearance showed none of it.

When Lin Yuan and the others carefully peeked inside from the doorway, they saw a slightly overweight old lady. Her round face was like a plate, her cheeks plump, and her skin quite fair. She even had a slight smile at the corners of her mouth when she spoke, which made her seem very amiable.

Xiao Linshuang let out a heavy sigh of relief, patting her chest and saying, "That’s great, that’s great. Just by looking, you can tell this granny isn’t someone fierce. I’m not afraid anymore, not afraid at all."

Lin Wei and Xiao He both nodded in firm agreement, clearly very satisfied with Sister Chang.

But Lin Yuan always felt something was amiss, especially regarding Sister Chang’s eyes, which slightly slanted upwards, the so-called "phoenix eyes." Such people were not easy to contend with.

Indeed, just as she had surmised, when Lin Yuan and the others entered the room, Sister Chang’s formerly smiling eyes instantly changed. Even Xiao Linshuang, who was well-versed in such rapid transformations, felt outclassed.

However, Lady Liu had a very good impression of Sister Chang, introducing her with a smile, "This is Sister Chang, specially invited by the princess. From now on, she will teach you a few the rules and manners. I’ve just had a chat with Sister Chang, so don’t take advantage of her good nature to bully her. Do you understand?"

"Understood." They all replied with pouted lips, but inside they were complaining bitterly. What did she mean by bullying her, what did she mean by a good nature? What kind of eyes did mother have!

Lady Liu spoke a few more words to Sister Chang, then had Mother Zhang take them to the back courtyard.

Previously, Lady Liu had Mother Zhang tidy up a small courtyard in the back for Sister Chang. Living together would make it more convenient for her to teach the youngsters.

Sister Chang’s maid took her clothing to the small courtyard, while Sister Chang made brief pleasantries with the young ladies, set out her rules and teaching schedule, then returned to her own courtyard to rest.

Since it was already afternoon, the systematic learning would start the next day.

Moreover, since the children were not like other well-off young ladies who had nothing to do all day, Sister Chang agreed to Lady Liu’s suggestion of having lessons only in the morning.

The afternoon was left for the children to attend to their own affairs.

After sending Sister Chang off, Xiao Linshuang and the others gathered in Lin Yuan’s courtyard again, and this time, their mood was even more despondent.

"Big sister, this isn’t a Sister Etiquette; this is clearly a Sister who’s come to take our lives!" Xiao Linshuang sprawled on the table, feeling as if all she could see floating before her were Sister Chang’s capricious faces.

"Exactly, I had thought she was a kindly and easy-going person, given her plump appearance. How is she so fierce? She only said one sentence to me, and yet my hand is chillingly cold!"

Lin Wei also morosely laid her head on the table, stretching out her hand into Xiao Linshuang and Xiao He’s hands beside her to let them feel how cold her hand was. But when she reached out her hand, she realized not only her hand was cold, Xiao He’s hand was also cool, even colder than her own.