Chapter Five: The Initial Show of Force

Xiumei poured a glass of water for Wei Ruo. “Miss, I think the Commandant’s Residence is quite nice. Both Madam and your brother treat you well. Why not stay here? Having more support will make your life easier in the future.”

“They’re good to me, as long as I don’t have any conflict with the protagonist.”

“Protagonist? Who are you talking about, Miss?”

“No one, just nonsense. Meizi, tidy up a bit. Keep the eye-catching things packed away; don’t leave them out.” Wei Ruo instructed.

“All right, Miss, you should rest for a while too,” Xiumei said.

Wei Ruo agreed she needed a nap to regain some strength, or she wouldn’t have the energy to cope with tonight’s events.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, Madam Li, one of the two elderly attendants who had brought Wei Ruo back from Huaibei Town, arrived.

Xiumei tried to intervene, but Madam Li paid her no heed and walked straight into Wei Ruo’s bedroom.

“Miss, how can you be asleep at midday?” Madam Li stood by Wei Ruo’s bed, her expression stern.

Wei Ruo sat up and stretched lazily. “Is there something you need, Madam?”

“Madam sent me to teach you about the household. Please tidy yourself and follow me to the courtyard,” Madam Li commanded, then turned swiftly and strode away, giving Wei Ruo no time to think or refuse.

“Miss…” Xiumei frowned. “Why is Madam… You just got home, and she won’t even let you rest.”

She had just praised Madam’s kindness, only to have reality slap her in the face.

“Having Madam Li teach me the rules is surely Mother’s idea, but the urgency may not be her doing. Madam Li has her own motives,” Wei Ruo replied.

Madam Li was from the Loyal Earl’s residence, which gave her a higher status than ordinary servants. She carried herself accordingly, with stricter expectations, and had already shown displeasure at Wei Ruo’s laid-back habits during their journey.

Madam Li had raised Wei Qingwan, and her daughter Cuihe was now Wei Qingwan’s head maid. Wei Ruo, having read the original story, knew all this well.

“What will you do, Miss?” Xiumei asked worriedly.

“It’s fine. I know what she wants,” Wei Ruo said, rising and heading to the courtyard.

In the garden, Madam Li began by instructing Wei Ruo on her posture.

“Miss Ruo’er, now that you are in the Commandant’s Residence, things are not as they were before. You must pay attention to every gesture and word. You can’t be so casual anymore, or you’ll make a spectacle of yourself. It won’t just be your own reputation at stake, but that of the Commandant’s Residence and the Loyal Earl’s household in the capital. Do you understand?”

“I’m not used to it,” Wei Ruo retorted directly.

“Miss Ruo’er, what do you mean by that?” Madam Li’s expression grew severe.

“Am I not the young lady of the Commandant’s Residence? Why should I care what others think of me?” Wei Ruo’s words were brazen and dismissive.

“Miss Ruo’er, don’t say such things in public. People will laugh at you!”

“Let them laugh. What can they do to me? Isn’t my grandfather the Loyal Earl? Isn’t he powerful? Why would I be afraid of them?”

Madam Li’s gaze grew obscure, then she said slowly, “Regardless, from now on you must learn the rules from me. Remember everything I teach you. Speak and act as a proper lady should.”

“Understood,” Wei Ruo replied with obvious impatience.

“Today, I’ll introduce a few basic rules so you don’t embarrass yourself when you meet the Master tonight. The rest I’ll teach gradually,” Madam Li said.

She lectured Wei Ruo for a long time, but Wei Ruo’s attention wandered, clearly uninterested.

“Well, since Miss Ruo’er isn’t inclined to learn further, we’ll stop here for now,” Madam Li concluded, then reminded Xiumei to take good care of Wei Ruo and not let her run off, before leaving Ting Song Court.

After Madam Li left, Xiumei asked in confusion, “Miss, why did Madam Li stop teaching you when you pretended to be ignorant and lacking manners?”

“Because she doesn’t want me to be outstanding. Today, she came first to intimidate me, then to test me, and only lastly to teach. Instruction wasn’t her main task,” Wei Ruo said with a soft laugh.

In the original story, Madam Li did teach Wei Ruo the rules, but never truly invested in her. The original character behaved poorly, and Madam Li never punished her. Outwardly, it seemed tolerant, but at heart, she didn’t want Wei Ruo to shine and overshadow Wei Qingwan.

In any case, she went through the motions, said what needed to be said, and if Wei Ruo didn’t learn, it was her own failing—not that of the experienced Madam Li. The elders would just think Wei Ruo was hopeless, beyond teaching.

After wasting half an hour with Madam Li, Wei Ruo returned to her room for a short rest. When she woke again, dusk had fallen, and Lady Yun herself came to escort her to the dining hall.

Lady Yun held Wei Ruo’s hand the whole way, earnestly asking if she was comfortable and whether she had any complaints about her room.

Inside the dining hall, Wei Ruo saw Wei Mingting, whom she hadn’t met during the day. He was tall and well-built, with sharp features and deep-set brows—a figure of formidable authority, just as described in the novel.

Upon seeing Wei Ruo, Wei Mingting’s expression shifted. He took two steps forward unconsciously, then quickly stopped, as if realizing he’d acted too eagerly for the head of the household.

“Ruo’er, this is your father,” Lady Yun led Wei Ruo to him.

“Father,” Wei Ruo said.

“Mm,” Wei Mingting replied, his voice low, as if suppressing some emotion.

His gaze lingered on Wei Ruo for a long time. She thought he might speak to her, but he didn’t. Compared to Lady Yun, his manner was much colder.

“Take your seats,” Wei Mingting instructed.

They were not in the capital, and only their branch of the family was present, so many formalities were dispensed with. There was no need for men and women to sit separately; everyone sat at the same table.

Lady Yun pulled Wei Ruo to sit beside her.

Once everyone was seated, they noticed Wei Qingwan standing awkwardly nearby.

Wei Mingting and Lady Yun both paused, and the atmosphere grew tense.

Just then, Wei Yilin hopped down from his chair and ran to Wei Qingwan, pulling her toward the table. “Sister, let’s eat!”

“Yilin, I… I’d better not sit at the table…” Wei Qingwan replied softly.

“Why not? You’re my sister! We’re family!” Wei Yilin said, with decisive warmth.