5 The Liu Familys Young Lady (1/2)
A cool breeze started up during the night as winter has come, turning the day colder by the day.
Under the light, a young lady held a book in her hand, reading it word by word slowly, trying to grasp every little detail she could get from the book while leaning on a couch. She did not realized that thetwo maids by her side were anxiously looking at her, not understanding why she was so intent on reading these books.
Jing Chu had seen young ladies read books but she have never seen a young lady read a book so intently as if one was drilling a hole on the book. She snapped from her musing and walked over to place the cloak around Jiao Yu and warmly advised. ”Young lady the time is no longer early, it would be better for young lady to rest early to avoid getting sick and since young lady needed to go tomorrow to Xia Renmin to meet the other misses.”
Jiao Yu shook her head, turning her head to Jing Chu. ”Go on and rest first, I will read for a while longer.”
It had been two years since Jiao Yu attended Xia Renmin, an academy where the sons and daughters of a noble family learn things, to either get ready for the scholar exam or just to gain something; fame, talent and a satisfying marriage. At first, she struggled a bit to adapt to her new environment but because she was strictly trained to learn the basic and fundamentals to become a lady, Jiao Yu was able to catch up to the young misses in Jing capital.
Jing Chu wanted to persuade her again but was held back by Mui Gu, who slowly pulled her to the outer room.
”Mui Gu, why didn't you go up to persuade young lady to rest early?” Jing Chu's head ached, ”Young lady have been reading books since early morning, why does she still want to read books in the evening?” She glanced back to the room worriedly.
”So, what of it? If that girl wants to get sick tomorrow then we should just let her be. Let's go and rest.” Mui Gu stomped her foot with disdain and dragged the unwilling Jing Chu to their sleeping area.
”How can you say that?” Jing Chu nearly choked and could not believe what Mui Gu just said, she'd notice Mui Gu's attitude towards their young miss but she'd never thought that she would actually say all of this without fearing that it would implicate her if the young lady hears her. It's best that she find a way to stay away from Mui Gu if she wanted to stay be her young lady's side and keep her life intact, Jing Chu thought.
Inside the lit room, Jiao Yu glanced at the cinnabar door where the two maids left, raising a browbefore turning her gaze back to the book held in her hand.
The two maids clearly didn't said all of that aloud but with Jiao Yu's hearing, she could hear everything they said. She was born and raised in a small village outside of Jing Capital and because things were not free even if everyone in the village were 'kind' and 'loved' her it was not enough, and even withher annually allowance given by her father, it was still not enough for a growing child so she learned few things needed for her to survive; hunting, fishing, cooking, writing and reading.
She understood where the villagers stand but she just can't accept that her life and fate are up to someone else's will.
These past few days, she had been going to Xia Renmin more diligently. Even though many view her like she was at the bottom, Jiao Yu was not angry and only did her own things well. The more she was that indulgent, the more others would feel bored and thus she was able to have some days of peace.
She putted the closed book she was reading earlier, taking off her outer clothes and preparing to sleep but instead of closing her eyes to sleep, she kept it open.
Jiao Yu had been always like this since three years ago, she found out that she couldn't sleep properly because of the memories that haunts her and left with no solution she could only stare and wait for sleep to come with the help of a strong sleeping incense Liu Sheng Xiao bought for her.
Time were always gone too fast.
With the cold weather, the students ofXia Renmin also starts to prepare for the academy's upcoming tests that will be held at the end of the month.
And this is what all the students of Xia Renmin must do, even Jiao Yu who seemed to not care about the tests needed to participate. Staying in the capital for 3 years was enough for her to know that the beautiful and huge capital of Jing were completely different from the what the books and the people told her.
In the books she'd read before, had told her that Jing capital is beautiful and full of happiness and prosperity, anyone who could live in the capital would be able to experience the riches of the land and people. All of it was true except for the latter part. Not anyone could live in a place where wealth and position matters, many men vying for the highest position and women fought over men who are eligible and wealthy enough. In Jiao Yu's early years, she saw countless crimes, murder and death of any kind but the kind of death and punishments that the capital possess is something she had never seen.
It was horrifying and heartless, she'd seen the looks and expressions everyone in Jing capital had; grief, resentment, fear, disdain, guilt, and joy. She could not understand the latter part at first but living here for three years is enough to see why there was joy mixed in it. And she felt disgusted by it and disgusted from herself because the longer she become a part of this world, the faster she becomes a monster.