Lu Shuo's mouth fell open in shock. Realizing his lapse in decorum, he silently closed it again.
But he still couldn't believe what he had heard.
The Duke and Duchess were actually letting him study with Fourth Miss?
Was this... appropriate?
Wouldn't Fourth Miss despise his dullness? He didn't know her well, and if he accidentally offended her, what then?
"But... but..." Lu Shuo stammered. He wanted to voice his concerns, but asking them outright would make Fourth Miss sound like a difficult person, and he might offend the Duke and Duchess before even getting to know Fourth Miss.
"Don't worry. Be at ease. Pei'er has already agreed," Zhang Yizhu said cheerfully, rising to her feet. "The tutor has also agreed. I'll take you there now."
Lu Shuo was dumbfounded again.
So fast? He wasn't mentally prepared.
If he had known this would happen, he would have... he would have...
Actually, he didn't know what he could have done.
Could he have crammed a few more characters to avoid being laughed at by Fourth Miss and the tutor?
Flustered, Lu Shuo followed Zhang Yizhu, instinctively straightening his robes and hair as he walked.
Though everything was already neat, doing something helped ease his nerves.
"I won't go with you. After all, I'm supposed to be 'recuperating,'" Helan Zong said from his seat with a laugh. "Lu Shuo, follow the tutor and study well."
Lu Shuo turned back and swallowed hard. "Yes."
"Tianqing," Zhang Yizhu said in passing, "go fetch Lu Shuo's writing materials. Also, ask Second and Third Young Masters if they still have their old primers from when they started school. Bring them all to the Eastern Corridor Side Room."
Tianqing, who had been eavesdropping at the door and was stunned speechless, quickly snapped his jaw shut and replied in a respectful tone, "Yes."
Tianqing went to fetch the items, while Lu Shuo followed Zhang Yizhu toward the Eastern Corridor.
After hesitating for a moment, Lu Shuo finally couldn't help asking, "Madam, what time does Miss usually start her lessons?"
"Around half past Chen. She studies for half a day and then has the afternoon free to do whatever she pleases," Zhang Yizhu said.
Lu Shuo took a sharp breath.
He had only woken up at half past Chen today, and Fourth Miss had already started her lessons by then!
He felt secretly ashamed. Half past Chen wasn't early at all. Back home, his family often went to work in the fields or mountains at daybreak. He should get back to that routine.
Thinking he was just curious, Zhang Yizhu added, "Pei'er doesn't have much to do at home, so lessons are her most anticipated activity. The tutor is surnamed Jiang. She used to be a Siji in the palace and was released when she got older. She's knowledgeable, so I hired her to teach Pei'er. She's well-traveled and knows many interesting stories that Pei'er loves to hear. The elder boys come home only once every ten days, so I have the tutor give Pei'er a day off every ten days as well, so they can spend time together on their days off."
"Is... is Jiang Siji currently in a lesson with Miss? If I go now, will I disturb them..."
"Don't worry. They aren't having a lesson now," Zhang Yizhu said with a smile. "Since the Master returned home, the brothers and sister have all taken two days off. Jiang Siji wasn't scheduled to come today either. But I sent someone to inform her about this matter this morning. She said since she was free anyway, she'd come early to assess your level, so she knows how to teach you."
Lu Shuo breathed a sigh of relief when he heard there was no lesson, but his heart clenched again at the mention of being assessed.
Jiang Siji was a female official from the palace who had seen many brilliant minds. The student she taught, Fourth Miss, was diligent and inquisitive, even reading on her own and consulting the Eldest Young Master on her days off. Facing such a tutor, how could he, who barely knew his characters, not feel intimidated?
The closer they got to the Eastern Corridor Side Room, the faster Lu Shuo's heart pounded, and the lower his head drooped.
If only someone from the Jiang family would come and call Jiang Siji away... he daydreamed.
Finally, they reached the Eastern Corridor. The doors and windows of the side room were open, and a burst of hearty laughter came from inside: "...See? What a coincidence! Even after all these years, I still find it amusing!"
Outside the room, the maidservant Zisu was idly sitting under the eaves, watching ants crawl on the ground.
When she suddenly saw Zhang Yizhu approaching with Lu Shuo, she jumped to her feet. "Madam! Young Master Lu!"
Zhang Yizhu was surprised. "Is Pei'er here too?"
"Yes. Miss heard that Jiang Siji had arrived, so she said she wanted to come and see her," Zisu replied.
Zhang Yizhu laughed. "This child. She doesn't have class today! Why is she here? Surely not out of such diligence? That doesn't sound like her."
Hearing the commotion, Jiang Siji came out with brisk steps.
"Good morning, Madam." Jiang Siji was fifty this year, slightly plump, and dressed simply but full of vitality. She had been a female official in the palace, never married, and after leaving the palace, it was too late for her to marry, so she lived with her younger sister and brother-in-law.
Since she had money, her sister's family was happy to have her. But she couldn't sit idle, so she was thrilled to have gotten the job of teaching the mute young lady of the Duke Mansion.
Jiang Siji's bright eyes swept over Lu Shuo, and she smiled. "Is this the young master the Madam mentioned? What a handsome lad! Clearly a fine youth!"
Lu Shuo: "..."
In all his life, no one had ever called him handsome before. If he could be considered handsome, then the young masters of the mansion must be celestial beings! Was this the skill of a palace official—always speaking pleasantly?
He felt a bit embarrassed, and even more so knowing Fourth Miss was inside listening.
Speak of the devil. Just as he was feeling awkward, Helan Pei walked out of the room, stood at the door, and silently looked at him.