Chapter 3: Poria Cake

Before the New Year, Shen Huaijing had been instructed by Master Shen to learn proper etiquette, and at this moment, he was already sitting there quite decorously, eating a piece of Fuling cake. Shen Caiwei ate the fastest; after finishing, she called for a napkin and picked up a book to read. Only Shen Caiheng, while eating the Fuling cake, kept shouting for water, unwilling to be quiet for a moment, making the maid beside her run around in circles.

Because she is inherently someone who does not know how to raise children

The Empress Guanglie was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, with a great love for reading, rivaling that of any man. Even after marrying Emperor Taizu and during his campaigns across the world, she often could not part with her books. Later, after establishing Đại Việt, she resolutely advocated for the establishment of women's schools, stating simply: even women should have the freedom to read. Such a woman is both admirable and worthy of respect. Master Shen praised Shen Caiwei for possessing the 'spirit of Empress Guanglie,' which is a highly esteemed compliment

Thus, Pei lived a smooth and uneventful life for five years. During these five years, she occasionally picked up a needle and thread to stitch a few times, and by the end of the year, she had made a robe for Master Shen with sleeves of uneven lengths, totaling five garments over five years; she occasionally practiced writing, painted, and made incense; she sometimes went with Master Shen to the other courtyard to enjoy a peaceful life, shoveling snow, brewing tea, admiring flowers, and soaking in hot springs. In short, by the time Pei began to sense something amiss, her three children had all grown up like turnips.

Pei was naturally unaware of how to proceed, and upon hearing this, she raised her head to glance at the attendant, Xia Lian, beside her

Compared to Shen Caiheng, she cannot be considered cute or beautiful, but the unique aura she carries is impossible to overlook. It is distinctly different. This reminds Pei of what her husband privately said to her.

Pei was at a loss with this daughter, and could only cover her forehead in frustration, saying: "You, you, truly make my head ache with anger"

The result is that the beauty mirror has also resorted to coercion and temptation—literature nurtures the atmosphere of culture, and the atmosphere of culture enhances the beauty of a person.

Since childhood, Erniang has had a fondness for reading, and her heart is set in the right place, resembling the noble spirit of Empress Guanglie.

Indeed, not everyone can gain admission to this women's academy. If one fails to pass, there is still the opportunity to make another effort the following year. However, if one fails twice in a row, continuing to delay may result in being too old by the time of graduation. To avoid becoming an old maid, one would have to conform to societal norms and remain at home to seek a tutor. Consequently, when it comes to marriage proposals in the future, families of scholars may have certain expectations—after all, marrying a wife involves considerations of virtue and talent.

The education of women in the Great Yue has always flourished, and the expectations for their talents and abilities are significantly higher than in previous dynasties. Therefore, when Pei saw Shen Caiwei's appearance, although she felt regretful, she also thought that as long as Shen Caiwei excelled in her studies, she would surely have a bright future, especially in families that value talent over beauty. In scholarly families like the Shen family, children begin their education at home around the age of three or four, learning a few characters and reading some introductory books under parental guidance. By the age of six, they are expected to invite a tutor for formal instruction, learning various skills such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. By the age of ten, they can take the entrance examination for women's schools. After three years of study in women's school, upon graduation, they can begin to discuss marriage proposals based on their academic performance and family background.

Three children sat together enjoying snacks. Pei had loosely tied her hair up, with a deep blue and emerald hairpin inserted, reclining sideways on the imperial couch while watching them.

Shen Caiheng was also very pleased as she held Shen Caiwei's hand, smilingly interjecting: "Exactly, exactly, I can already recite more than half of it." She seemed a bit proud, "If I read a little each day, by the time I start school, I will definitely be able to memorize it all."

However, gradually, as the three books were read several times back and forth, the effect of the beauty mirror on the birthmark began to diminish almost to nothing. Shen Caiwei understood that it was time to read other books. At this point, Shen Caiwei had lost the initial obsession with quick results and instead began to gradually appreciate the nuances within this.

Reading books, one can only read them repeatedly, absorbing them little by little. At the beginning, Shen Caiwei was always surrounded by people, and apart from three introductory books, there were no other books available for her to read—first, because it was known that she could not understand them, and second, out of fear that if she did understand, her temperament would change. Therefore, Shen Caiwei had no choice but to hold those three books and become a bookworm

The three children are of similar ages and appear to be of average size. Shen Huaijing is a boy, which naturally makes him somewhat different. Although the second daughter, Shen Caiwei, and the third daughter, Shen Caiheng, are both little girls, their temperaments and manners are quite distinct from each other

Pei poked her, expressing his frustration with a tone of disappointment, saying: "All you ever talk about is food. Where are you with your studies?"

Although Pei stated in front of Master Shen that he would raise the second lady just like the third lady, it would indeed be somewhat challenging to put this into practice

Shen Caiheng's face immediately flushed red, and she said directly: "I am not like my second sister, who was born knowing how to read. Mother always forces me to do things." As she spoke, she became even more aggrieved, saying, "I already said I would look at it later."

Shen Caiheng pouted in silence, her face displaying evident displeasure, with her delicate features creased.

Pei could only follow up with a command: "You must not be lazy; learn more from your second sister." She could not help but say, "A girl should be modest and gentle. You spend all day making noise like a monkey, causing a ruckus over books. What kind of decorum is that"

In summary, ever since Shen Caiwei learned that she possessed a small golden finger known as the Beauty Mirror, she has been pondering its purpose all day long. As a result, one day she received a book that enlightened her, and the Beauty Mirror, which had only been able to function as a mirror, suddenly became warm.

Shen Caiheng and the Pei family are closely connected, and upon hearing this, their expressions softened.

Although Shen Caiheng is still very young, one can already see the resemblance to the Pei family and Master Shen on her face. Her large eyes and sweet smile, along with her porcelain-white skin, make one reluctant to touch her. She is cheerful and lively, evoking an irresistible desire to cherish her. Shen Caiwei is also gradually maturing; the birthmark on her face has diminished significantly, with only a small patch remaining near her right eye, which can be largely concealed by her hair. She has always been quiet and can sometimes sit alone for an entire day, appearing from a distance like a jade figure, which does not cause anyone to feel troubled.

Pei merely glanced casually, yet for some reason felt a bit uncomfortable inside, and said, "Third Miss, it is a rule not to speak while eating or sleeping; where did you learn such manners?" She raised her eyes to look at Shen Caiwei, who was quietly sitting there reading, and seriously added, "You should learn from your second sister; after eating, take some time to read. School is about to start, and you cannot fall behind in your studies."

Within the pages of a book lies a myriad of worlds, and she should respond with utmost sincerity. The path through the mountains of books is paved with diligence, while the boundless sea of knowledge requires hard work as a vessel. Since she has found the method with the beauty mirror, there will surely come a day when she will remove that birthmark

A wealth of poetry and literature enriches one's spirit—these are the words that emerge on the surface of a beautiful mirror

Xialian hurriedly replied, "This is not a rare item; it was just that the lady suddenly remembered it yesterday and instructed the chef to make it. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be something the young lady liked." She smiled, not because Shen Caiheng was too young to understand, but rather spoke earnestly, "It is made with 70% white japonica rice, 30% white glutinous rice, and then mixed with 30% poria, lotus seed flesh, longan flesh, water chestnut, and yam, steamed until cooked, and then cut into slices. If the young lady likes it, we can have someone make it again another day."

The six-year-old girl appeared as if sculpted from jade, bathed in light, almost radiating a warm glow. However, a small birthmark on her face, akin to a flaw in jade, evoked a sense of regret. She sat on a window-side Luohan bed, dressed in a gown of goose yellow, with a layer of purple felt mat beneath her. The backrest and pillows were all adorned with rose-gold borders and cherry-red brocade featuring peonies. Holding a book, she read quietly; despite her youthful features, her demeanor was as tranquil as water, and her gaze steady as a mountain, exuding a unique charm that created a scene of its own.

She couldn't help but glance at Shen Caiwei again

As Shen Caiwei, who was born with the ability to read, sighed inwardly while stepping forward to pull Shen Caiheng, she smiled and said: "I only read books because my memory is poor. Third sister is much smarter than I am; she can memorize a large passage after just a short while of reading."

You are not a Mary Sue; there is no such thing as an abundance of good fortune. Behind countless glamorous appearances lies an equal measure of hard work.

To speak seriously, ever since she began to read, that birthmark has indeed gradually diminished little by little. The attendants and the Pei family merely regarded it as a natural part of the child's growth, believing that the birthmark was fading away, and secretly wished Shen Caiwei good luck, unaware that this was a joint effort of the beauty mirror and Shen Caiwei herself

Speaking of which, Pei does not usually need to personally oversee matters like an ordinary family; it suffices to observe more each day and delegate many tasks to the subordinates. The wet nurse chosen by Sister-in-law Song is also very reliable, which is quite reassuring. Moreover, taking these three children to pay respects to Old Madam Shen means that Mother no longer has to worry about not having anything to say.

In order to restore her beautiful face, Shen Caiwei had no choice but to turn over a new leaf and begin reading. The beauty mirror did not force her to read many books; its strategy regarding reading could be summed up in one sentence—"Reading a book a hundred times reveals its meaning."

Shen Caiheng naturally did not understand much; she merely frowned upon hearing that string of names and pouted, saying, "Alright, we will eat it tomorrow then." Being a child, she was naturally fond of novelty and preferred to eat something new each day

Shen Caiwei, as a point of reference, seems to be caught in the crossfire even while lying down. If one were to ask why she suddenly transformed from a poor student into an academic achiever, there is quite a lengthy explanation to be given

Shen Caiwei was left speechless, exclaiming in disbelief: Oh my God, is her golden finger really meant to compel people to study? Do academic underachievers have no way out at all?

Shen Caiwei was well aware of how much her status as the "ideal child" annoyed others, especially since Shen Caiheng had a typical child's temperament, making the contrast even more pronounced. Therefore, she could only take the time to guide Shen Caiheng in reading, ensuring that Shen Caiheng did not fall too far behind. In order to maintain her appearance, Shen Caiwei had to exert the effort of a guerrilla fighter against the Japanese invaders, dedicating her days to reading, and then the next morning, she would get up, look in the mirror, and check how much smaller the birthmark had become.

Shen Caiheng had always been spoiled, and at that moment, she jumped down and ran over to hold Pei's hand, acting coyly: "Mother, I will watch in a moment." As soon as she spoke, it was as if honey had been spread on her lips, and with a beaming smile, she said, "The Fu Ling cake is really delicious; how is it made?"

It is not that Pei's eyes were solely fixed on the faces of the two children, but rather that the contrast between them was indeed quite striking as they sat together. Just like now