When Liu Zhen and her sisters arrived at the main house, the newly hired female tutor was already speaking with Madam Zhang.

The woman had a full head of silver hair and was past the age of sixty. Although she sat in a seat of lower rank than Madam Zhang, her bearing was solemn and her conduct graceful, making her seem more like the mistress of the house than Madam Zhang herself.

This female tutor's surname was Han. It was said she had once served in the palace of the King of Han and later tutored the children of Song Xie. Her quality was reliable and guaranteed.

The steward Liu Yuan had found for Madam Zhang was very dependable. He had previously helped manage the Governer's manor, so now, returning to his old profession, he was thoroughly familiar with the work. In just a few days, he had helped Madam Zhang manage the entire household, putting everything in perfect order. All those who shirked their duties or behaved improperly were dealt with by the steward, and the atmosphere in the manor immediately cleared up.

Since this Steward Jiang was a man, it was somewhat inconvenient for him to frequently enter the inner quarters. Thus, he promoted a capable old woman from among the servants to act as his deputy, so she could report to Madam Zhang at any time and stay by her side to help manage household affairs.

With these two people helping and guiding her, Madam Zhang was instantly freed from her state of confusion and helplessness, and she gradually became able to handle some matters herself.

The servants who loved to gossip were all driven out, and with the lesson learned from the two maids, no one dared to speak ill of their masters behind their backs anymore. Madam Zhang felt refreshed and increasingly at ease, and her smiles grew more frequent by the day.

With the excellent precedent set by Steward Jiang, and hearing that this female tutor Han came from the palace of the King of Han, Madam Zhang was immediately filled with awe and respect.

Previously, when Liu Yuan had brought Song Xie's family to the manor as hostages, Madam Zhang had spent several days with them. The more time she spent with them, the more she felt inadequate by comparison. The proper wife of that Master Song was also from a noble clan; her every word and action was pleasing to the eye. Although Madam Zhang couldn't describe it, it didn't mean she lacked the ability to appreciate it.

Although Song Xie's family was quickly taken back, their conduct and bearing left a deep impression on Madam Zhang. She felt her own origins were humble, and after coming to Yangdi County and suddenly becoming wealthy, she found it increasingly difficult to speak of her past experiences, wholeheartedly wanting to emulate the lifestyle of the aristocratic clans.

The arrival of Madam Han happened to fill this void for her. Madam Zhang eagerly asked her many old stories about the former palace of the King of Han and listened with great relish to her descriptions, right until Liu Zhen and the others arrived.

Madam Zhang, her face wreathed in smiles, introduced her to them, "This will be your teacher from now on. You may call her Governess Han."

Liu Zhen, Liu Wan, and Liu Zhuang all bowed to Madam Han in unison.

"Young ladies, there is no need for such ceremony." As was customary, Madam Han needed to inquire about the students' educational foundation to get a clear picture. "May I ask if the three young ladies have previously studied women's arts?"

This question, however, was directed at Madam Zhang.

Madam Zhang was a bit embarrassed and didn't know how to answer.

It was Liu Zhen who came to her rescue. "Mother has taught us cooking, spinning, and tailoring since we were young. Ah Wan and I have learned some, but Ah Zhuang is still young and has only watched a little without trying it herself."

Madam Han nodded and smiled faintly. "That is sufficient."

She then said to Madam Zhang, "I am grateful that you, my lady, have seen fit to have me teach the three young ladies. If possible, I would like to begin the lessons as soon as possible, so as not to betray the trust of the Governer and yourself."

With the teacher being so dedicated, of course Madam Zhang would not refuse. She immediately had a servant woman lead Madam Han and Liu Zhen's group to a room in the rear courtyard. It had been cleaned and cleared out long ago to serve as the three girls' place of study.

At this time, the so-called "Three Obediences and Four Virtues" had not yet been formulated, nor would anyone jump up and say, "To starve to death is a small matter, but to lose one's virtue is a great one." Although Qin Shi Huang had inscriptions carved on Mount Tai during his imperial tours, calling for the world to have "clear distinctions between noble and common, and for men and women to follow propriety," and had promoted the Widow Qing as a model of the chaste woman, a common saying holds true: you only advocate for what you lack. If the social customs of the time had already met Qin Shi Huang's standards, he would not have needed to do such superfluous things.

Unfortunately, Qin Shi Huang's reign was too short. The "customs" he so strongly wished to purge had not yet been realized when society once again fell into turmoil. When society is in turmoil, people are lucky just to save their own lives; they certainly wouldn't care about a woman's chastity or her devotion to one husband.

Given the practical situation, the education of aristocratic women at this time was naturally also very pragmatic. It certainly wouldn't teach things like "be reverent and respectful to your husband, and devoted to him until death." Instead, it began with recognizing the simplest things, like the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.

Before the lesson began, Madam Han gave them a brief introduction to the upcoming curriculum. Besides learning simple arithmetic and how to read account books, Liu Zhen and her sisters also had to learn how to manage the household servants so they wouldn't be deceived by their subordinates.

For example, how an aristocratic woman could better protect herself in chaotic times, or for instance, how one should conduct oneself when interacting with female relatives of a similar family status so as not to appear rude, and so on. Madam Han's introduction thoroughly piqued Liu Zhen's interest. After all, this kind of knowledge could never be learned from books; only the royal family and aristocratic clans would have such subjects in their curriculum.

However, on the first day of study, Madam Han couldn't possibly impart too much profound and difficult content. Besides briefly introducing the curriculum, she also told the three Liu sisters some interesting anecdotes from her time in the palace of the King of Han.

Madam Han had spent a considerable amount of time in the palace of the King of Han. She herself was from a collateral branch of the nobility with royal blood. Originally, she was supposed to accompany a princess as a concubine in her dowry, but Madam Han was unwilling. She requested to stay behind and serve as a tutor in the palace, teaching the royal women. Later, when the Han State fell, women, being the weaker sex, had even less control over their destinies than men. Most of the princesses of the Han palace were scattered and displaced, their fates unknown. Madam Han was slightly better off; no one would pay attention to a plain-looking female palace tutor. She seized the opportunity to escape, fled from place to place, and married a common man. After her husband died, she was hired by a local aristocratic family because of her past experience, once again becoming a female tutor. In fact, she had stayed with the Song family the longest, a full five years.

If Song Xie hadn't personally come to ask her time and again, Madam Han would have been absolutely unwilling to come to Liu Yuan's household to be a tutor. The reason was simple: like most people, she did not look favorably upon this upstart Governer. She felt he would be driven out of Yangdi County at any moment. Since that was the case, his children were originally from a rural household, so why waste time on any sort of education?

But since she had already come, she couldn't just slack off. Madam Han's plan was to tame the students on the first day, no matter their temperament, which would make teaching them easier later on.

From her conversation with Madam Zhang, Madam Han discovered that someone like her was indeed very concerned about her own origins and showed considerable envy and yearning for the life of the nobility. Therefore, when Madam Han spoke with Liu Zhen and Liu Wan's group about the old days in the palace of the King of Han, she couldn't help but reveal a sense of aloof, self-important superiority, whether intentionally or not.

The luxurious life of the Six States' royal families was certainly beyond the imagination of the poor common folk. When Madam Han mentioned that the palace was filled with beauties as numerous as clouds, all wearing guiyi, Liu Wan asked, "Tutor, what is a guiyi?"

Madam Han smiled faintly, dipped her finger in water, and drew the shape of a guiyi on the desk.

Sashes fluttering, silks trailing, like a dark bird in flight, riding a rainbow southward.

Liu Wan already had a good sense of beauty. The shape of the guiyi sketched by Madam Han was enough to make her reveal a look of envy just by imagining it.

Since arriving at the Governer's manor, Liu Wan and her sisters' attire had already evolved directly from simple cloth jackets and short skirts to the quju shenyi. However, the guiyi was an even more formal and grand ceremonial robe than the quju. In such unstable times, everyone had to be ready to flee at a moment's notice. No one would wander around outside wearing a cumbersome guiyi; that would be the act of a fool. Only in times of peace and prosperity, or women raised in the deep palace, would have the leisure to dress themselves up so elaborately.

Seeing Liu Wan's eyes light up, Madam Han continued, "Not only that, back then, when the King of Han had his morning meal, there would be over twenty dishes on the table. The jujubes of An'yi, the pears of Zhending, the oranges of Yingcheng, the river delicacies of Linzi—from all corners of the land, these were all things the King was accustomed to eating. The Queen of Han's palate was a bit heavier; she liked to eat bear paws, braised until tender, dipped in a fresh sauce with ginger, and paired with the wine of Yicheng. I was once fortunate enough to be invited to dine with them, and the taste is unforgettable to this day!"

Liu Zhuang then asked, "Tutor, what is the wine of Yicheng?"

Madam Han said, "The wine of Yicheng is famous throughout the world. If there is a chance in the future, young lady, you might as well try some."

Liu Wan said unconvinced, "How can braised bear paws be delicious? Roasted pork is the most delicious!"

Madam Han gave a reserved smile, her expression one of superior aloofness that seemed to say, "You foolish mortals wouldn't understand my magnificent world." She said, "Young lady, do not underestimate this dish. The Queen of Han had very high standards. Besides the usual procedures, the bear paws had to be soaked in honeyed water for a day and a night, then boiled three times and stewed three times, simmered in a rich broth, only then could they be eaten. When it finally entered your mouth, the flavor was fresh, delicious, and sweet, truly a delicacy of the human world."

Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang were indeed stunned as they listened, almost drooling, completely captivated by the scene Madam Han described.

This is clearly just showing off wealth, isn't it? Liu Zhen's teeth ached a little listening to this, and she couldn't help but say, "And where is the King of Han now?"

Madam Han's expression changed slightly. "Why does the young lady say such words to insult the King of Han? You should know that thirty years ago, this land was still the land of Han, and you, young lady, would have been a person of Han!"

Liu Zhen had no intention of insulting the King of Han. She just wanted to remind Madam Han that no matter how magnificent the King of Han was, he was now in the underworld playing mahjong with Qin Shi Huang. The Han palace had also been reduced to a pile of ruins. As for who would rule the world now, no one knew. It was pointless for her to reminisce about these old matters all day long. At an impressionable age like Liu Wan's and Liu Zhuang's, it would be easy for them to develop a bad habit of coveting luxury.

Besides, in the late Warring States period, the Han State was the weakest of the states and the first to be conquered by Qin Shi Huang. As far as Liu Zhen knew, in order to weaken the Qin State's power, the Han State had even done something quite comical: they sent Zheng Guo to the Qin State to build a water conservancy project, claiming it would drain Qin's finances. As a result, as all Chinese people later knew, the Zheng Guo Canal became famous for millennia, and the Han State became a laughingstock for the ages. There was really nothing worth promoting about such a country. If the King of Han hadn't been so particular about his enjoyment, perhaps the Han State wouldn't have fallen so quickly.

But since Madam Han had misunderstood her meaning, Liu Zhen didn't want to explain further. She only said, "Tutor, the past cannot be recalled. Please, let's begin the lesson."

Madam Han hadn't expected Liu Zhen to be so bold as to rebut her. Her expression stiffened slightly. As expected, she didn't continue on that topic, nor did she reprimand Liu Zhen. She just calmly changed the subject, beginning to speak about the daily conduct and etiquette of royal noblewomen.

Although Madam Han liked to show off, relying on her past experiences and status, she was indeed skilled. Her lectures were simple and easy to understand. In just half a month, even Liu Zhuang could understand the simplest account books. The etiquette of all three girls had been trained to be much more dignified. During meals, Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang no longer caused any trouble. They would be quiet and well-behaved throughout the meal, already showing the early makings of proper young ladies.

These were all visible signs of progress and change. Overjoyed, Madam Zhang naturally trusted Madam Han even more. On a day when there were no classes, she summoned Madam Han to inquire about the three children's progress.

Madam Han said, "The three young ladies are all very eager to learn. In terms of progress, Young Lady Ah Zhen is naturally the fastest. She is gifted and intelligent, superior to the other two young ladies. It's just..."

Madam Zhang: "Just what?"

Madam Han sighed. "It's just that she is somewhat arrogant about her talents. When it comes to being kind and magnanimous, she is not as good as the other two young ladies."

Madam Zhang was naturally very happy to hear her praise Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang for their kindness, but she didn't forget Madam Han's assessment of Liu Zhen. She said, "I am not Ah Zhen's birth mother, but she has always been respectful towards me in her daily life, without any neglect."

Madam Han said, "My lady raised her with her own hands; even a birth mother could do no more. Besides, the grace of raising a child surpasses the grace of giving birth. Young Lady Ah Zhen is still young. It's understandable that she's a bit proud due to her natural intelligence, but if it is not corrected early, I fear it could lead to great disaster in the future."

Madam Zhang deeply agreed and said, "Thank you, Governess Han, for the advice. I will have a talk with her when I have the time."

Two days later, Madam Zhang called Liu Zhen before her and asked how her studies were going and what she thought of Madam Han.

Liu Zhen said, "Governess Han is truly talented and learned. My sisters and I have benefited greatly. It's just that Governess Han used to be in the palace of the King of Han and inevitably carries some of the habits of the old aristocracy. I'm afraid my younger sisters will be misled by her. I was just thinking of asking Father to hire another teacher to teach them the principles of how to conduct themselves in the world."

Finally, she briefly mentioned how Madam Han often "showed off her wealth" to them.

Madam Zhang was unconvinced. "Governess Han is from the old palace of the King of Han and is said to have been a woman of the royal clan. She is naturally very familiar with these matters. Her speaking of them is to help you better understand the lives of aristocratic families. It is of great benefit to you. How could that be bad?"

Liu Zhen said, "Understanding is naturally something we should do, but my younger sisters are still young. I'm afraid their minds are not yet firm, and without the cultivation of character through poetry and books, over time, they will easily develop a nature that covets wealth and despises poverty."

Madam Zhang could not understand. "What's wrong with coveting wealth? People naturally yearn for wealth and despise poverty. Do you want to go back to the mountains to live a hard life?"

Liu Zhen said, "Of course I don't want to, but in these chaotic times, our lives are not our own to control. We cannot guarantee that Father will be able to hold onto the position of Governer for long. If my sisters get used to a life of silk clothes and fine food, but lack the mindset to be constantly vigilant and self-reflecting, I'm afraid they won't even be able to stomach bean-and-grain rice in the future."

Madam Zhang was a little displeased upon hearing this. Although you've read many books, there's no need to lecture people every time you open your mouth. I'm still your mother, and now you're lecturing me!

Because of this, Madam Zhang felt that Liu Zhen's words only further confirmed Madam Han's assessment of her: arrogant because of her talent.

She's so young, yet so proud and disdainful just because she's smart. She's young now, so people don't think much of it, but in a few years when she's to be married, if she's still like this, she'll probably find it impossible to get by in her husband's family.

But Madam Zhang didn't say anything more to Liu Zhen. Liu Zhen was precocious, and Madam Zhang was not her birth mother, so she sometimes felt restrained when trying to guide her, and some things were hard to say too bluntly. Moreover, when they were in the mountains, it was often Liu Zhen who came up with ideas and Liu Nan who did the work, while Madam Zhang's role was diminished. Now, although the family had moved into the Governer's manor and was living a much better life, the effects of this role reversal had not been eliminated overnight. Liu Zhen would still habitually offer suggestions to Madam Zhang, forgetting that Madam Zhang was now the mistress of the Governer's manor and was eagerly hoping to establish her own authority.

Liu Zhen didn't take the matter too much to heart. After speaking with Madam Zhang that day, she went back to studying when it was time to study and playing when it was time to play. Madam Zhang had wanted to find another opportunity to talk with Liu Zhen, but just then, Madam Zhang's mother arrived.

Of course, Madam Zhang's mother hadn't come on her own; she had been invited by Madam Zhang.

Whenever Madam Zhang recalled the hard times her family had endured in the mountains, when even her husband's father and brothers had ignored them, only her own parents had sent some grain. Although the amount was small, like a cup of water on a burning cart, the sentiment was all the more precious in comparison. Therefore, after coming to Yangdi County and starting to live a good life, she thought of bringing her parents over to stay for a while to express her filial piety.

She had mentioned this matter to Liu Yuan, who also remembered the kindness of his father-in-law and mother-in-law, so he naturally had no objections.

And so, Madam Zhang's mother was brought over.

Madam Zhang's father did not come with her. After all, the Zhang family had their own small business to run. Madam Zhang had sent many good things to the Zhang family, but her father always had a sense of insecurity from his days of humble living and wished to hoard even more things. Besides, the Governer's manor was now full of women, except for Liu Yuan and Liu Nan, so it would be inconvenient for her father to come.

Since Madam Zhang and her family were forced up the mountain, the mother and daughter had not seen each other. Reunited after a long separation, they first embraced and wept bitterly, then recounted in detail the sorrows of their parting. Only then did Madam Zhang remember that her mother hadn't even seen her grandson and granddaughters yet. She said hurriedly, "Mother, let me bring Ah Jin for you to have a good look!"

From the moment she entered the manor until now, Madam Zhang's mother had still not recovered from her shock.

Never mind the Governer's manor, which was even more magnificent than the County Magistrate's office; when Madam Zhang came out to greet her in gorgeous clothes, she almost didn't recognize her own daughter. Even the servants in the Governer's manor were dressed better than people outside, not to mention the soft mat she was now sitting on. Just now, Madam Zhang's mother had hardly dared to sit down, afraid that her rough clothes would soil the exquisite mat.

It seemed her daughter was truly living a good life now. Madam Zhang's mother was both happy and heartbroken.

Upon hearing Madam Zhang's words, she broke into a smile. "Good, good! And Ah Wan and Ah Zhuang, I haven't seen them in a long time either. Call them all over for me to see!"