Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 583 - 231 Scholar

Yueyao, since making a mistake that one time, would ask clearly and thoroughly before doing anything. She was afraid of being misled into making another such blunder.

Life was not easy for Yueyao. Neither was it for Loo Ying or Ma Linlin. The two of them got up before dawn, and both the teacher and nurturing nanny were very strict,

Ma Linlin only recognized a few characters, and even those she wrote poorly. The teacher had been driven away by her before, and it was only after Zhuang Ruolan doubled the salary that he was persuaded to return. Entrusted by Zhuang Ruolan, the teacher was very strict with Ma Linlin. She had to write twenty large characters every day, not one less, and if the writing was not up to standard, she had to rewrite it a hundred times. If Ma Linlin dared to speak insolently again, the teacher would not hesitate to discipline her palms with a ruler for discipline.

As for the nurturing nanny, she was even worse. The one Zhuang Ruolan hired was known for her severity in Capital City. Zhuang Ruolan had specifically spent a large sum of money to hire this nurturing nanny to instruct Ma Linlin. This time, she was indeed put to great use.

The nurturing nanny didn’t beat the palms or enforce kneeling as punishment; if a mistake was made, she made Ma Linlin balance a basin of water on her head. Let alone an entire day, even a half-hour was unbearable for Ma Linlin.

Only in sewing and the Six Arts did Zhuang Ruolan take a more laissez-faire approach.

Ma Linlin and Ma Chengteng complained bitterly, but they met with rebukes. Ma Linlin feigned illness, only to have the teacher confirm she was fine, and Ma Chengteng even locked her in the ancestral hall for a day and a night. This eradicated the last of Ma Linlin’s wild hopes, and she eventually studied obediently with the teacher and nanny.

Compared to Ma Linlin, Loo Ying applied herself diligently to her studies. Loo Ying had not had the opportunity to learn before. Zhuang Ruolan was kind to Loo Ying, but she did not spend too much effort on her; therefore, Loo Ying seized this rare opportunity wholeheartedly. Not to say she excelled, but at least her attitude was affirmed by both the nanny and the teacher. Of course, no matter how much the teacher and nanny liked her, she would still be punished if her work was unsatisfactory.

Cai Yi said with a smile, "If Miss Yao could join them in their studies, perhaps Eldest Miss would do even better."

Zhuang Ruolan laughed.

Cai Yun shook her head, "If Miss Yao joined their lessons, the current results wouldn’t be achieved. Miss Yao’s standards are too high; studying with her would only discourage their enthusiasm."

Upon reflection, Cai Yi also found this reasoning sound.

Cai Yi and Cai Yun were just chatting casually, unaware that Ma Linlin indeed made such a request, suggesting that Yueyao join them in their studies. Ma Linlin did not want Yueyao to remain so carefree; she wanted Yueyao to also frequently experience the ordeal of disciplining palms and balancing basins.

Ma Linlin rarely displayed such sisterly affection, but Yueyao curtly refused without any regard for her feelings, "Cousin, I’ve spent a year learning the rules with the nanny; there’s no need for me to learn them again."

Ma Linlin managed to apply her current learnings immediately, "The sea of learning is endless; how can you stop studying after just one year? Cousin, the nanny and teacher are very good; come with us!"

Yueyao knew what Ma Linlin was up to and, after a moment of contemplation, nodded her head. The next day, she arrived at Lansi Academy at the appointed Shichen Chinese Time.

Upon seeing Yueyao, the teacher took an immediate liking to her and asked, "What have you studied, Miss?"

Yueyao responded, "I’ve studied both the Four Books and the Five Classics."

The teacher was surprised; it was no wonder he found this unusual, given how poorly Ma Linlin and Loo Ying fared as students. He asked, "What are the Four Books and Five Classics?"

Yueyao replied, "The Four Books refer to the ’Analects’, ’Mencius’, ’Great Learning’ and ’Doctrine of the Mean’; the Five Classics refer to the ’Book of Songs’, ’Chief of Staff’, ’Book of Rites’, ’Book of Changes’, and ’Spring and Autumn Annals’, which are also simply known as ’Poetry, Book, Rites, Changes, Spring and Autumn Annals’."

Fearing Yueyao might be bragging, the teacher tested her, "Duke Ai asked about government, and Confucius said..." The teacher paused here, signaling for Yueyao to continue.

Yueyao continued, "Duke Ai asked about government, and Confucius said, ’The policies of war and peace are fully elaborated in the documents. If the right people are present, the policies will be put into practice; if the right people are gone, the policies will come to an end. In governance, being responsive is valued, as in agriculture one values prompt planting. Governance is like building a thatched hut. Thus, in governance, the people come first; select the people as you refine yourself, refine yourself through the Way, and refine the Way through benevolence. The benevolent are considered people, and cherishing one’s kin is supreme. Righteousness pertains to what is proper, and valuing the wise is supreme...’"

The teacher nodded repeatedly, and once Yueyao had finished reciting, he asked, "Have you practiced writing?"

Yueyao nodded, "Yes, I began tracing characters at the age of three, practiced writing at four. I’m currently practicing plum blossom calligraphy style." Yueyao then took a brush and wrote on a blank sheet the passage from "Doctrine of the Mean" she had just recited.

After seeing Yueyao’s writing, the teacher praised her with a smile, "Very good, very good. Have you also studied other texts?" With Ma Linlin and Loo Ying setting a low bar, Yueyao was like a precious gem in the teacher’s eyes.

Yueyao listed the names of the texts taught by the teacher.