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》1, 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,2 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 ‘cla.s.s 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 sp.a.w.n. 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 w.a.n.g shi. Sheng Hong at first declined but then relented and sat down with w.a.n.g 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 w.a.n.g 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 w.a.n.g shi who merely wore a simple beaded jade hairpin.

Governess Kong seeing everyone settling down waved her hands and the four maids by her side moved orderly as if they had repeated this a thousand times. Two of them went to distance the maids outside out of earshot of the room, the other two closed all the windows in the room. Only a few personal maids remained in the room.  

Once everything was tidied, Governess Kong smiled towards Sheng Hong and warmly said “I apologise for disturbing everyone today. Originally this matter need not be alerted to so many people but the Old Madame has entrusted them to me, so I dare not disappoint and that is the reason I have alerted Master and Madame. Moreover, Young Lady Mo is raised under Concubine Lin’s roof thus I have also disturbed Concubine Lin.”

Sheng Hong immediately cupped his hands4 and said “If there are any words Governess has to speak, please speak them unreservedly. Surely these evil creatures have caused trouble and angered Governess.” Having said that he glared at his daughters, making the four girls shrink to the corner and not daring to utter a word.

Governess Kong warmly shook her head and softly said “It cannot be said that I am angry, it’s merely that the young ladies are now all older and ought to be able to distinguish right from wrong. Yan’er, come over and give a clear account of what happened this afternoon.” Having said that, a young maid emerged from behind Governess Kong, she walked to the middle of the room, greeted and clearly repeated the whole quarrelling incident. Although the maid was young but was eloquent and her voice rang clear and loud. She repeated every word the four girls spoke per verbatim when they were quarrelling. Not a single word omitted and not a single word added. When the four Lans heard the recount, they turned red from shame and were silent.

Listening, w.a.n.g shi felt that they were making a fuss over nothing. It was merely a quarrel between sisters but the more Sheng Hong listened, the more furious he got. After he heard the whole tale, he slammed down on the table with great force and shouted in fury “You evil creatures! Still unrepentant! Still unwilling to kneel down!”

The girls were so scared that they knelt immediately but were stopped by Governess Kong “The weather is cold and the ground hard, it’s not right to freeze the knees of the young ladies.” Who knew Governess Kong in all her compa.s.sion instructed the maids to withdraw four thick brocaded praying mats and placed them on the floor. After she merely lowered her jaw, indicating that they could now kneel. The girls knelt in a row. For Minglan in the n.o.ble skill of kneeling was a rank amateur, swaying unsteadily from side to side but Governess Kong was kind enough to help correct her posture.

The slam Sheng Hong gave the table practically shook the roof with its reverberations. Pointing at the kneeling girls “Evil creatures! Evil creatures! Being uncultured to this extent and squawking nonsense. What difference is there between you and vulgar country b.u.mpkins. What face do you have to keep calling yourself the descendants of the Sheng family. The only saving grace is that all of you are girls, if you were sons, it will be inevitable that you guys will rob the household of its wealth and properties. Would it not give birth to a calamitous inner strife? Fine! Fine! Fine! Why don’t I just beat you all to death right now!”

Having said that he told them he was going to evoke the family law. Minglan had not seen the family law in action, Rulan was ignorant therefore was fearless. However Hualan and Molan were terrified into tears. w.a.n.g shi had originally wanted to plead for mercy but seeing Sheng Hong in extreme fury, bit her handkerchief and dared not open her mouth. Using her eyes she pleaded silently to Governess Kong. Governess Kong smiled and waved her hands “Master need not anger yourself, punishing blindly is also not appropriate. We have to inform them where they have wronged. I have brought shame to my position as the little girls’ governess. If I may be so bold, I am also considered to be half their master. Why not let me ask them?”

1. Empress Zhangsun, wife of Emperor Taizong was said to be frugal and virtuous. When she died, her writings were then submitted to Taizong where it is then published.
2. Looks brown, withered, old and long.
3. 孽障 (Nie Zhang): It is usually said by parents to their children as it has the idea of them being the medium of their retribution
4. This cupping is one that shows submission, with the person’s hands raised slightly to eye level and with a little bow.

Translated: alpenglowpaled
Edited: Eers

Compared to Sheng Hong who is screaming his head off, I think I am more fearful of Governess Kong. She is exactly the type of teacher that makes me so scared that I will cry. Next up, Governess Kong questions Molan and Rulan!

Sorry everyone, I obviously have not learned my lesson yet from last week. Maybe I should stop editing on the wordpress draft mode.