The Crown Prince in the Jade Pendant

Chapter 11: Prince Residence's Luck (Part 2)

Old Chu Furen carried on from Chu Zhu’s words and put on a serious face, “Even though the Prince Consort wants to choose two young ladies from our family, these words are not confirmed. There are so many families in TaiYuan and if there are suitable young ladies in other families, the Prince Consort would definitely choose the other. In a few days time, when the Residence of Prince Huai Ling holds a banquet, the Prince Consort will choose the most suitable two among all of the unmarried daughters. So you must not be complacent and slack. The County Princess is twelve years of age and since the study companion is to accompany the Princess to study, then the age difference must not be big. So Eldest Young Lady and Eighth Young Lady need not have to participate.”

Eldest Young Lady, Chu Jin Xian, stood up and bowed to Old Furen to show her compliance. She was already seventeen years of age and the Eldest Di-daughter of the family clan. As her family position was noble, even if she was of suitable age, Old Furen would not let Chu Jin Xian to be a study companion for others. It was not a study companion of a noble Princess, so why the need for Eldest Di-daughter? As for Eighth Young Lady, Chu Jin Zi, she was only six this year and thus was not possible for her too. Therefore, the suitable people were concentrated between ages twelve and fifteen, the ideal being twelve and thirteen like Chu Jin Yao.

Old Chu Furen paused before speaking, “I have found two MoMos for you all. From now on, you all can no longer be as relaxed as before and must learn the rules and regulations from the MoMos and do not lose our Residence of Marquis Chang Xing’s face. Understand?”

All the young ladies stood up and answered seriously, “This child understands.”

Old Furen then let the two MoMo come out to meet the young ladies. After the introduction, the MoMos took the young ladies towards the courtyard at the back of RongJingTang to educate them on the rules and regulations.

Of the two MoMos, one had the surname Hua and the other Deng. Hua MoMo taught etiquette while Deng MoMo painting, calligraphy and needlework. Hua MoMo said to the young ladies, “Young ladies have already heard just now. Old Chu Furen has requested us here to teach young ladies rules and regulations. It is said that without rules, nothing can be accomplished. The saints have also preached- spare the rod, spoil the child. We are strict with young ladies and it is all for your own good. May young ladies forgive us.”

“One does not dare,” Chu Jin Yao said softly with the other sisters.

Hua MoMo was very satisfied with the Chu Young Ladies’ obedience. She gave a few more pointers before instructing the young ladies to demonstrate their greetings.

Performing greetings was the most basic and common etiquette for noble families and the Young Ladies of the Chu family had been doing it since young, it was as natural as drinking water and eating. However, Hua MoMo was a MoMo released from the Palace and extremely strict. During the demonstration, she constantly used the ruler to hit the young ladies’ waists and hands.

“Waist has to be upright, do not lean forward.”

“Crouch down a little bit more, do not wobble.”

“Hands!” Hua MoMo hit the back of Seventh Young Lady’s hands fiercely. She looked down and spoke impolitely, “Seventh Young Lady, I have reminded several times. Why are your hands always not in the correct position?”

Seventh Young Lady was the Second Household’s Di-youngest daughter, Chu Jin Jiao. With Madam Yan’s shrewish and shielding personality, she was raised to be arrogant and lawless. Among the sisters, only Chu Jin Xian was able to criticize her while the rest would not provoke this devil incarnate. She had always been competitive and wanted to be the best among the sisters in everything. So for Hua MoMo to hit and scold her in front of everyone, she almost could not stand it and rebuked back. Only when she thought about her future position as a study companion in the Prince Residence, did she manage to suppress her anger and replied, “I understand.”