Legend of Concubine’s Daughter Minglan
chapter-15

Governess Kong’s expression turned ugly, merely smiling icily, she swept her eyes over the four girls. Her gaze turned sharp and freezing like a winter’s gale and as her sight swept past them, the four sisters couldn’t help but withdraw themselves, shivering. Unconsciously, they became deathly silent and stood aside well-behaved and respectful but couldn’t help but betray their anxiety.

Currently, only Molan’s soft sobs could be heard echoing through the room, she was gripping a damp handkerchief and crying dainty. She stole a look at Governess Kong, waiting for the Governess to enquire her grievances. Who knew that Governess Kong didn’t spare her a thought. The Governess did not utter a word, strode up and sat on the chair in the center of the room. Governess Kong instructed the young maid to bring four sets of brushes, ink stone and four copies of《Examples for Women》, neatly arranging it before each of the four girls.

The girls were terrified, twisted their handkerchiefs around their thumbs and exchanged fearful looks with one another. Governess Kong’s face was masked like frozen winter, even the trace of the smile dying from her face, she coldly said “Each person will copy this fifty times, if you are unable to finish, then you need not resume your studies under me.”

Rulan indignant, refused to accept it and was just about to voice her complaint but was immediately silenced by Governess Kong’s imposing and domineering glare and she withdrew timidly. Hualan chewed on her lips but picked up the brush and started copying. Minglan sighed silently and followed shortly. Only Molan was in somewhat disbelief and looked at Governess Kong, her tears refused to flow and were frozen in her eyes. Governess Kong did not look at the girls, picked up a roll of scriptures and tended to her own business. Molan had no other choice but to reluctantly start copying as well.

They copied till dusk creeped in and was almost time for dinner. Governess Kong still unmoved, merely asked the maids to light the lamps. She then let the girls resume copying without a word. Minglan copied till she no longer felt her stubby arms, feeling her head woozy, she raised her head to examine her fellow compatriots in suffering. Each one of them looked like the Chinese Goldthread, doubly so for Rulan who would not stop craning her neck to peek outside.

Several maids stationed outside were sent to fetch the young misses to return for dinner. They softly enquired a few times, the girls were all starving and exhausted and raised their heads in hopeful expectation. Who knew Governess Kong ignored everyone and told the young maid to relay a message saying ‘class is not over yet’. The four girls were all dispirited and lowered their heads. Minglan silently cursed endlessly ‘She was innocent! Innocent! I tell you!’

Some time later, Governess Kong glanced at the water-clock and instructed the other maid “Please invite Master and Madame and also invite Concubine Lin over.” The four girls were now terrified, they knew that this incident was about to become huge. The brushes in their hands started trembling, Hualan felt particularly uneasy, Molan secretly glanced at Governess Kong and Rulan was the most afraid of Sheng Hong. Minglan did not stop copying but she also felt inwardly nervous. The scene reminded her of when she was young and was made to stay in detention when she erred. The teacher-in-charge with a demon like face would be waiting for parents to retrieve their spawn. Minglan did not expect that when she was reborn she would have the privilege to enjoy a similar treatment, it had the familiarity of meeting an old friend in a foreign land.

Shortly after, the Sheng Hong couple and Concubine Lin arrived. The four girls all buried their necks when their father’s strict gaze swept past them. Governess Kong rose from the first seat offering Sheng Hong and Wang shi. Sheng Hong at first declined but then relented and sat down with Wang shi. Governess Kong sat upright on the chair with a rattan backrest and proffered Concubine Lin a short stool under the first seat. Concubine Lin bowed in appreciation but did not sit down and merely stood at the side. Since leaving Wang shi’s rooms, Minglan had not seen Concubine Lin. Now she observed her slender physique filled with grace, dressed in a lily green dress with plum blossoms embroidery, looking refined and elegant. A white jade bell hairpin crowned her hair and with every step, the sound of bells softly jingled and was very pleasant to the ear. A drastic contrast to Wang shi who merely wore a simple beaded jade hairpin.