Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 357 - 355

Chapter 357: Chapter 355

Fu Ranhui took the handkerchief from Empress Dowager and handed it to Xiao’er, offering her services, "Princess Rui’an, this handkerchief was personally embroidered by me, what do you think of my handiwork?"

The Empress Dowager, whose handkerchief was snatched away, looked at Fu Ranhui with mixed feelings of amusement and resignation, thinking that it wouldn’t matter who was actually teaching, she can simply get a maid to do the job and earn herself a good reputation.

Zhixin Academy is a charity school, everyone would like to be associated with this kind of philanthropy to garner a good reputation. However, the Empress Dowager pondered, probably only a few would wish to actively take up a teaching role.

Xiao’er accepted the handkerchief handed over by Fu Ranhui and nodded:"Your Highness’s needlework is indeed extraordinary. The academy will open in October, please make sure the coursework is ready before then."

"Coursework? What coursework?" Fu Ranhui was puzzled.

"I won’t be able to explain it properly at the moment. I will have someone send you a copy of the coursework. Once you went through it, everything will be clear."

"Okay, thank you, Princess Rui’an. But you don’t need to send it, I will come to the Marquis Shengping’s Mansion tomorrow to find you!" Fu Ranhui happily agreed.

Xiao’er nodded in acknowledgment.

After listening for a while, Lan Yue weighed considerations in her heart and proposed: "Princess Rui’an, I will be the literature teacher."

Being a teacher for a free academy is an act of kindness to the people. As the First Prince’s consort, she must do good deeds for her husband to earn him a good reputation among the people. Only this way could she demonstrate her capability as the mother of the nation!

The words Lan Yue spoke were by no means polite!

However!

Teaching literature? The Empress Dowager and Xiao’er looked at each other in a rare moment of understanding, both thinking the same phrase: misleading the students.

"Miss Lan, I’m sorry, but besides the needlework teacher, all other teaching positions have been filled." Xiao’er tactfully declined.

"Who has been hired? Just dismiss them, Princess Rui’an! Considering our relationship, you won’t refuse to help me!"

What kind of relationship did we have??? Xiao’er inexplicably recalled that time in Guofu Temple when Lan Yue called her ’sister’.

Xiao’er felt as though she had been stricken by lightning, as if suffering a sudden shock.

"Miss Lan, I’m truly sorry. My principle is to keep my word and deliver on my promises. Since I’ve already confirmed with the other women, it’s not appropriate to simply dismiss them."

"Your Majesty~ Can you please plead for me? After all, I was personally assigned by Her Majesty to be the First Prince’s consort." Lan Yue turned to the Empress Dowager, coquettishly raising her voice, hoping to get her to intervene.

She didn’t finish her sentence, but everyone present understood her meaning.

After all, she was the Empress Dowager’s personal choice for the First Prince’s consort, wasn’t refusing her request in front of the Empress Dowager akin to disrespecting her?

The Empress Dowager’s face hardened when she heard this; "Speak properly!" Who did she think she was, cooing around like that?!

Despite this granddaughter-in-law being somewhat obtuse, she was still her own choice. As the saying goes, respect the disciple for the sake of his teacher. The refusal from Princess Rui’an was considered a loss of face for her.

"Miss Lan, actually being a teacher is not suitable for you at the moment. You will soon be wed to the First Prince and there’s so much to do, how could you find time to teach? Right?" Seeing the countenance of the Empress Dowager changing, Xiao’er knew that she was successfully manipulated by Lan Yue. Xiao’er quickly spoke before the Empress Dowager, reminding her that if the future consort of First Prince, Lan Yue, didn’t learn some basic etiquette soon, the royal family’s reputation could be at stake at the First Prince’s wedding.

The ceremonial procedure for a prince’s wedding is not only complicated but also has no room for errors.

The Empress Dowager indeed started thinking along these lines. "Lan Yue, you should follow Aunt Gui to learn some etiquette. The wedding matters are important."

If it weren’t for your lucky horoscope, I would have thrown you out of the Imperial City!

"Your Majesty, I’ve learned my manners very well, I promise there won’t be a single mistake during the wedding ceremony. Please don’t worry, I still want to be a teacher."

Listening to her words, Fu Ranhui couldn’t help but laugh: "Miss Lan, just while you were speaking, you moved your bottom three times. Since I arrived, you must’ve moved around no less than thirty times, is this your so-called good manners?"

The Empress Dowager’s face darkened even more upon hearing this. "Learn properly from the nanny! If you make even the slightest mistake at the wedding, don’t blame me for calling off the wedding on the spot!"

Only when Lan Yue heard these words did she become scared. She glanced at Xiao’er, wondering why she didn’t have to learn even though they were both future Imperial Consorts.

"Your Majesty, isn’t Princess Rui’an also the future consort of the Sixth Prince? Shouldn’t she learn these rules too? Shall we learn together?"

"Miss Lan, among all the young ladies of noble families, Princess Rui’an has the best manners. What else does she need to learn? Having her learn with you would be like asking her to teach you what manners are!" Fu Ranhui shook her head dismissively. Lan Yue evidently had no sense of self-awareness at all.

"Great, since Princess Rui’an is so well-mannered, let her teach me then. Your suggestion is excellent, Princess Ranhui." Lan Yue nodded in agreement to Fu Ranhui’s words.

Fu Ranhui: "..."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Xiao’er, considering the feasibility of this proposal.

Xiao’er, upon hearing these words, was so startled that she almost spat out her drink. She quickly regained her composure:

"Your Majesty, I’m afraid this isn’t appropriate. I’m younger than Miss Lan. If I were to teach her manners, it would itself be against etiquette!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager nodded in agreement. It would indeed be unsuitable for the consort of the Sixth Prince to teach the consort of the First Prince manners. If word got out, would the royal family have any dignity left?

Lan Yue was not only unimpressive as a person but also lacked in her considerations. She had almost managed to trick the Empress Dowager!

She felt sorry for her eldest grandson. It wouldn’t do! She had to choose two more concubines for him, so that someone would be able to uphold the dignity of the occasion in case of need.

Thinking of this, the Empress Dowager didn’t have the energy to deal with them any further, so she said:

"Let the nannies in the palace teach Lan Yue manners! You may all leave now. I’m a little tired."

Xiao’er sighed in relief. Teaching Lan Yue manners? She wouldn’t do such an ungrateful task.

The three of them knelt to take their leave and left the palace.

Since Lan Yue was there, Xiao’er didn’t want to speak. She simply walked quietly.

Fu Ranhui had almost stirred up trouble and caused trouble for Xiao’er. With Lan Yue around, she didn’t want to speak either.

This person didn’t know what politeness was and dared to make any unreasonable requests.

After leaving the palace gate, Fu Ranhui once again mentioned visiting Xiao’er at the Marquis Shengping Mansion tomorrow.

Xiao’er kneeled to salute: "Xiao’er is honored to have the princess visit!"

Fu Ranhui couldn’t help but laugh: "Naughty!"

Desiring to be included in the conversation, Lan Yue opened her mouth: "Princess Rui’an, I will also visit your mansion tomorrow for a chat."

Xiao’er: Can I refuse?

Fu Ranhui: "Miss Lan, don’t you need to wait at home for the nanny the Empress Dowager is sending over?"

"Isn’t she just a servant? Am I, the master, expected to wait for her? If she arrives and I’m not at home, she can wait!"

"Go home and ask your mother if you should wait at home!" Having said this, Fu Ranhui bid Xiao’er goodbye and got into the carriage of the Princess Mansion.

Xiao’er also got into a carriage and left.

Lan Yue, looking blank and confused, was left behind. She didn’t understand what she had said wrong.