Chapter 414: Chapter 414

No one knew exactly what the couple discussed that day. However, not long after, while An Ning and her sisters were still preparing for the upcoming birthday banquet, they were informed that Eldest Sister's calligraphy and painting lessons had been abruptly suspended. Before the three sisters could even voice their confusion,

on this day, Lady Jiang suddenly personally led in a middle-aged matron dressed with extraordinary severity and formality, stating she was specially hired to teach the eldest young lady some etiquette.

Etiquette? And for Eldest Sister?

The moment the woman left, the faces of the three sisters all darkened in unison.

"What does Father mean by this? Etiquette? Is Eldest Sister's etiquette not good enough?"

How much better does it need to be?

Amidst the fluttering apricot blossoms, before the cool pavilion, the three sisters gathered once more, but this time, the atmosphere was no longer as relaxed and cheerful as before.

After an unknown length of time, Zhou Zhi was the first to toss down the embroidery pattern in her hand, expressing her dissatisfaction.

An Ning's usually sparkling eyes also dimmed, and she looked with equal worry at her eldest sister, who had suddenly fallen silent beside her.

And now this had happened.

Just what kind of place was she being sent to, that required hiring a separate person to teach etiquette? One must know that as the legitimate eldest daughter, Eldest Young Lady Zhou had never, from childhood to adulthood, stepped a single toe out of line, whether in etiquette or worldly conduct.

Even though the Count's residence was now in decline, she still received much favorable attention and praise from many ladies in society.

Of course, praise was one thing, while seeking her hand in marriage was another.

But even so, it shouldn't require retraining to this extent. To speak boldly, Eldest Young Lady's etiquette would not be found lacking even if she went to a Prince's mansion.

Moreover, the aura that matron just now carried was clearly not something an ordinary person could possess.

The more they thought about it, the more silent the sisters became.

After who knows how long, it was Eldest Young Lady Zhou who finally broke the silence:

"Alright, this is all just speculation without any concrete basis. We shouldn't make wild guesses and risk misunderstanding Father's intentions..."

"Besides, even if it were true, it... might not be entirely unacceptable."

Even after such a significant change, Zhou Yun's tone remained steady and calm, unhurried like a spring breeze turning to gentle rain.

Not a trace of resentment could be heard in her words.

She was the legitimate eldest daughter, meticulously cultivated by the family since childhood. It was only natural that she would contribute to the household in the future.

Even so, thinking that soon she might no longer be in control of her own fate, a flicker of gloom swiftly passed through Zhou Yun's eyes, but it vanished in an instant, and she soon regained her earlier dignified composure.

As if discerning her sister's thoughts, An Ning was the first to angrily toss down the little duck embroidery pattern in her hand:

"Eldest Sister, you're thinking about this the wrong way. Yes, the ways of the world are such that we sisters cannot sit for the imperial examinations, or go out to battle and achieve merits to bring glory to the family.

But does that mean, because of this, we daughters have no contribution to make at all?

Eldest Sister, you are gentle and dignified. Every time you go out, you receive much praise, bringing a great deal of face to the Count's household. You have many close friends among the young ladies. Are these not connections?

In the future, even if you marry into a suitable family, as a clan matriarch, you can also provide the family with an additional kinship and support. Isn't that enough repayment?

Why must you force yourself into a place like that to be of use to the family?"

"Furthermore, speaking of consuming family resources, how much have we sisters actually used?"

As she spoke, An Ning's still-childish little face was filled with indignation:

"The one who inherits the noble title and enjoys respect and glory outside is Father. The one who uses the household's sole Imperial College quota, and whose single Duan inkstone can cost hundreds of taels of silver, is Big Brother. Have they brought much glory to the household in all these years?"

"Fifth Sister!" The moment her words fell, the other two spoke almost simultaneously.

Hurriedly glancing around and seeing that the attending maids had already withdrawn, Zhou Yun finally let out a heavy sigh of relief, her tone unusually stern:

"Fifth Sister, Father and elder brother are our superiors and elders. No matter what, it is not our place to comment on them."

Even as she said this, looking at her younger sister before her and recalling those words, a complex emotion inadvertently flashed through Eldest Young Lady Zhou's eyes.

Father, Big Brother...

But it was fleeting, after all. Years of upbringing had long engraved the principle of putting the family first into her very bones.

Even so, Zhou Yun had no intention of forcefully correcting her. She was the eldest sister and the legitimate eldest daughter; naturally, she should bear more. It would be good if her two younger sisters could live more freely in the future...

Seeing her sister's thoughts clearly, An Ning pouted before the stone table and said no more.

They quietly did their studies for a while until noon, when it was time for the three sisters to part ways.

Only after Eldest Young Lady Zhou's figure disappeared from sight, and seeing that Third Sister beside her still looked dazed, her eyes seeming to hold something more, tinged with an indescribable conflict,

after brief contemplation, An Ning quickly widened her eyes, her face a picture of astonishment:

"Third Sister, you're not thinking of 'entering the palace,' are you?"

An Ning deliberately lowered her voice for the words "entering the palace," ensuring only the two of them could hear.

Seeing her fifth sister's horrified expression that screamed "Have you lost your mind? Did staying up late fry your brain?", Third Young Lady immediately saw black spots before her eyes, her fair face flushing with anger as she said:

"What are you talking about!"

"I... I was just thinking how truly heartless Father is. He valued Eldest Sister so highly before, yet now he can also..."

A touch of complexity crept into Zhou Zhi's eyes:

Or rather, perhaps all that earlier regard was precisely for this day.

Then what about herself? All these years of trying so hard to please, constantly striving to display her talents and feeling secretly proud of it—what was she in Father's eyes?

And Lady Jiang, who doted on Eldest Sister so, giving her all sorts of fine things that even she envied—and now...

Even though she had somewhat expected it, Zhou Zhi's heart still cooled a few degrees.

Yet a moment later, as if thinking of something else, she deliberately leaned in and lowered her voice to a whisper only the two of them could hear:

"Does Fifth Sister think the palace is... extremely bad?"

Seeing An Ning didn't speak, she gritted her teeth and continued in a small voice:

"Eldest Sister is dignified and generous, raised since childhood to be a clan matriarch. Perhaps she isn't suited for the palace and would find it hard to accept reality, but if it were someone else, maybe..."

However, the moment her words fell and she turned her head, she saw her own dear fifth sister wearing an expression that clearly said, "No way, you really have lost it."

Third Young Lady: "..."