The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 698 - 689 Two Disciples

Chapter 698: Chapter 689 Two Disciples

"I have always been trying to save myself," replied Gu Youyou.

The Empress Dowager heaved a long sigh and said, "There is a saying that healers cannot heal themselves. It must be tough for you. Do you want me to summon a few Imperial Physicians to have a look at you?"

Of course her illness could not be treated by Imperial Physicians. Gu Youyou quickly said, "Thank you, Empress Dowager, but there’s no need to trouble the Imperial Physicians. It is already a miracle that Youyou has lived to this age. I am well aware of my own condition."

The Empress Dowager did not insist and said, "All right then. I’ve heard that you have been sick from a young age, which must have been very hard for you. You may leave now, go and find the Princess."

"Yes, I shall take my leave."

The Empress Dowager’s palace maiden led Gu Youyou to Princess Jiu’s Liuying Hall.

Cui Yingying, the young healer from the Cui Family, was Princess Jiu’s study companion, and the two often read together. When Gu Youyou arrived, their female teacher was instructing them in the "neixun" (inner training).

The palace maiden was about to move forward to announce her arrival but was stopped by Gu Youyou.

"Thank you, Auntie Li, for leading the way. Please first return to Renshou Palace and report to the Empress Dowager, I will wait here for a while."

Complying, the palace maiden then returned to Renshou Palace.

Gu Youyou stood outside the window listening to the two young ladies reciting the inner training, and couldn’t help but lament the sorrows of women in the feudal society from deep within her heart.

To want to read and to learn, one must first master the ’Four Books for Women.’

"The Women’s Precepts," the "neixun," the "Women’s Analects," and the "The Records of the Ladies of Distinguished Service."

To her, what was there to read in these books? They did nothing but indoctrinate women into the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, mere accessories to men who were revered as greater than the heavens.

Yet the women born in this era had no choice.

Of course, women like them were still somewhat better off, being able to learn at least a little. If they were daughters from a poor family, no one would say a thing even if they were educated through the rod.

Therefore, in peasant families, mothers with a bit of foresight would teach their daughters to be more assertive to avoid being wronged or suffering.

Perhaps the female teacher glimpsed Gu Youyou standing by the window, for she sped up the pace and ended the lesson early.

"Princess Jiu, Miss Cui, have you memorized everything your teacher taught you today?"

Cui Yingying obediently said she had remembered, while Princess Jiu remained motionless.

The female teacher did not say much, simply offered a faint smile, performed a curtsy, and then left.

Only after the female teacher had left did Gu Youyou, carrying her medicine box, enter the Princess’s study.

"Master, you’ve come!" The originally listless Princess Jiu brightened up immediately upon seeing Gu Youyou. She threw herself towards Gu Youyou, hugging her waist.

Gu Youyou smiled and patted her head, saying, "Yes, have you missed your master?"

"Yes, Liuying has been waiting for the master to come," said Princess Jiu with a joyful smile.

Cui Yingying was much more courteous than the Princess, conducting herself properly before calling her master.

Teaching children was considered shocking and scandalous to the palace maidens, so the astute Princess Jiu sent her palace maidens and eunuchs away as soon as Gu Youyou arrived, and closed the door.

"Have you read the books I showed you last time?"

Cui Yingying took out a book of acupoints and said, "I remembered the pages master told me to read."

Princess Jiu, on the other hand, brought out a book of paintings and asked, "Master, look, are my drawings good?"

Gu Youyou collected both children’s homework and reviewed each, nodding her satisfaction.

"Both done well. This time, we won’t do any schoolwork, let’s go outside and play."

"Play outside?" Princess Jiu cocked her head and said, "If the Empress learns that I’m not studying diligently, she will scold me again."

Gu Youyou chuckled and said, "You are still so young, and it will be many years before you need to study seriously. Learning that little bit of stuff is so boring. When it’s time to play, you should play properly. But when it’s time to study, you should also study hard. The method your master teaches you, to learn while playing, is naturally more effective than being cooped up inside studying all day."