Chapter 33 Virtuous Words and Deeds

  "No, Fifth Sister, Second Sister is not that kind of person. It's just that Yao'er can't compare to Second Sister, and Second Sister never forbids Yao'er from asking questions." Gu Qingyao immediately stood up to defend Qingjin upon hearing Gu Qingxia's words.

  Gu Qingxia heard Gu Qingyao say this, she was trying to help with good intentions, but didn't expect Gu Qingyao not only didn't appreciate it, but also sided with Gu Qingquan. Looking at the two of them and then at Gu Qingqi who was nodding in agreement behind them, Gu Qingxia snorted and turned her head away, no longer speaking.

  Gu Qingyao saw Gu Qingxia like this, and looked at Qingjin with some confusion.

  Qing Jin heard Qing Yao speaking for her, and after glancing at Gu Qing Xia who was unable to get down from the awkward situation, she rarely spoke up with a good heart, "Fourth sister don't worry, Qing Xia sister is just joking with second sister me!"

  Upon hearing Qing Jin's words, Qing Xia turned around and glared at her fiercely. Gu Qing Yao, who was standing beside them, looked over with some concern, "Second sister, fifth sister, you..."

  Qing Jin smiled reassuringly at Qing Yao, "Fourth sister, don't worry, thank you for speaking up for second sister just now."

  "Second sister..." Hearing Qing Jin's words of gratitude, Qing Yao smiled and showed her sweet and lovely face. Qing Jin was slightly stunned, even if she had been rejecting Qing Yao, she couldn't deny that at this moment, the little loli with a sweet smile and snow-white tender skin was really too cute.

  Qing Yao looked at her second sister who was staring blankly at her, her eyes curved like a crescent moon, and sweetly opened her mouth, "Second sister, what's wrong with you?" The hand that reached out grasped Qing Jin's hand.

  That delicate touch, sweet and soft voice, Qing Jin couldn't help but admit that although the current Gu Qingyao didn't have the gentle elegance of her later years, the young and beautiful Gu Qingyao in front of him was already lovely like a porcelain doll, making people unable to bear refusing her.

  But thinking of the last bath fire in her previous life, the warm and soft temperature on her hand was like a snake that had wrapped around it, the pain of the flame burning at her fingertips made Qing Jin suddenly throw off Gu Qingyao's hand.

  "Second sister..." Gu Qingyao looked at Qingjin with a wronged expression, her eyes gathering mist.

  "Oh, I remembered that the few flowers I planted yesterday haven't been watered yet. I'll go first." Qingjin turned around and left.

  "Strange and weird, Fourth Sister, it's not me saying this, but you'd better keep a distance from her..." The voice of Gu Qingxia came from behind, Gu Qingjing didn't turn back and left directly.

  Gu Qingyao looked at her second sister who was leaving, her eyes fell on the letter that Mr. had given to her second sister, and her sweet smile could no longer hide her lost emotions.

  In the following days, Qingjin went to school every day with enthusiasm, answered the teacher's questions, and discussed some views and ideas with the teacher. The teacher was more satisfied with Qingjin, knowing that this student was excellent but not hardworking enough before. Now, seeing Qingjin being proactive and diligent in class, the teacher showed a satisfied expression, generously praising Gu Qingjin for being talented and having a strong desire to improve.

  On the contrary, however, was Gu Qingyao's increasingly disheartened and embarrassed expression. Qingjin looked at Gu Qingyao's face, from the first day when she could still give herself a sweet smile to now every day's dullness. After school, Qingjin looked at Gu Qingyao who was staring blankly across an empty seat, wondering how many more days she could hold on?

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  Madam Su had been busy sorting out the things she brought back from outside for several days. On this day, after finally dealing with all the things she brought back, she came to her daughter Qingyao's room with her personal wet nurse and maid.

  When she heard that the maid, Green Tea, said that her daughter had returned a few days ago and didn't eat dinner, locking herself in the study, Madam Su was both angry and anxious. She scolded Green Tea for not taking good care of her daughter, but it was Madam Su's wet nurse who calmed her down. After calming down, she carefully asked about her daughter's situation over the past two days and gained a general understanding. She then ordered the maid to watch Green Tea kneel in the courtyard for half an hour before getting up and bringing the wet nurse to her daughter's study.

  Watching her daughter writing seriously at the desk, Su walked quietly over, Qingyao felt Su's arrival, put down the pen in her hand, and gave a sweet smile to Su, "Mother." But on her face, she couldn't hide the fatigue and exhaustion.

  Su sat beside her daughter, picked up the paper on which her daughter was obviously tracing, looked at it gently and asked: "Did your second sister write this?"

  "Yes, sir, let Yāo'er imitate Second Sister's calligraphy." Qīng Yāo lowered her head, "Yāo'er copied for several days, but what she wrote was still not as good as Second Sister's. Yāo'er said that day that she wanted to make Mother proud, but Yāo'er couldn't catch up with Second Sister and disappointed Mother."

  Su took the paper, looked at it twice, and his eyebrows gradually furrowed. The poem was a rare good poem, with smooth and elegant words, clear and lively, and even more rare was the style of the words, extremely free and easy.

  "Mother, don't you think that Second Sister's writing is good? In the future, won't Mr. like only Second Sister?" Qingyao snuggled into Su Shi's arms and buried her face in Su Shi's chest.

  Su patted her daughter's back and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Mom only likes her own Yeo."

  "Really?"

  Qing Yao raised her head, her eyes misty and wet, Su Shi's heart ached as she whispered: "Only Yao'er is Mother's biological daughter."

  Qing Yao buried her head deep in Su Shi's bosom.

  "Your second sister, even if she writes well and composes poetry nicely, doesn't necessarily excel in everything. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. One should recognize others' advantages and understand one's own shortcomings, making the most of one's strengths while avoiding weaknesses. Effort is needed to catch up, without giving up or being self-pitying. In this regard, Yaoke has done very well. As the legitimate daughters of Duke Anguo, you and your second sister hold the highest status. You shouldn't compare yourselves with those illegitimate daughters. As long as Mother's Yaoke is willing to work hard, she will eventually surpass your second sister."

  Qing Yao's eyes flashed with self-doubt and confusion, she raised her head and said: "Will it? Mother told me about virtue, words, and deeds, Second Sister would smile in class and ask if I had any questions, according to the teacher, having sisterly love and good morals is good, Fourth Sister's stories and jokes are pleasant and novel, the teacher likes them, Grandmother also likes them, Second Sister is bright and charming, her speech and behavior are all better than mine, finally, women's work..."

  "Yao'er can't compare, Second Sister was a prodigy at the age of seven, and everyone praised her. Although Yao'er has never seen Second Sister write poetry, but Master likes Second Sister very much." Qingyao's eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Su Shi, dejectedly saying: "Mother, no matter how hard I think about it, I'm not better than Second Sister in any way."

  "What a silly girl! If virtue and talent were as simple as that, then all women in the world would be good."

  Mrs. Su hugged her daughter and said, "Women's virtues are not just about sisterly love, but also about being filial to parents, respectful to in-laws, humble, courteous, guarding one's chastity, and being faithful to one's husband. I'll tell you more about this later, Yeo. You just need to understand that sisterly love is actually the easiest part. The requirements for women's speech are also very high, it's not just about knowing how to talk, but also about having a dignified demeanor, speaking properly, and following certain rules in one's behavior and appearance..."