Duoduo and Lüdou exchanged a smile, holding hands as they walked aside to rest.
Duoduo seemed to remember something. She turned her head to look—when had Princess Pingyang left? She hadn't even noticed.
Nanny Li picked up the ruler and struck a few maidservants who hadn't met the standard.
The maids winced in pain, wiping away tears, but dared not voice any complaint.
Next, those who hadn't met the standard had to continue balancing an incense stick's worth of time on their heads.
Those who had passed could rest.
Duoduo and Lüdou huddled together. "Lüdou, thanks for reminding me earlier, otherwise, I would've been hit again."
Lüdou gave Duoduo a smile.
Some nearby saw their intimate manner and felt quite resentful.
"It's just a fluke win. What's there to be so proud of? The later parts will be even harder!"
A maidservant with a face full of freckles rolled her eyes at Duoduo.
"Exactly! Maybe Nanny just went easy on her because she's young! She might not have actually met the standard at all," chimed in a slightly shorter, rather plump maidservant.
Duoduo puffed out her chest. "That's not true! I did meet the standard!"
"Hmph!" The plump maidservant rolled her eyes and ignored Duoduo.
Duoduo grew anxious. She tugged at Lüdou. "Lüdou, I did it! She's wronging me!"
Lüdou held Duoduo back, gesturing for her to look at Nanny Li not far away.
Nanny Li was looking at the group with a displeased expression.
Swallowing her grievance, Duoduo closed her mouth and plopped down onto a chair.
"Duoduo, don't argue with them. Nanny said that quarreling or fighting will be punished."
"In serious cases, one might even be expelled from the manor."
"So, let's not contend with them. As long as we do each step properly, Nanny Li will understand whether we've done well or not."
Duoduo quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Mm! I understand."
Seeing that the group had stopped arguing, Nanny Li finally looked away.
After the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, everyone had passed.
Nanny Li took a sip of tea and moved on to the next item.
Walking.
"Walking must be fast, but you cannot run."
"How can one walk quickly? First, the upper body must not sway..."
Nanny Li always explained the theory first, then demonstrated.
Finally, everyone had to perform it once.
Those who did well earned a nod from Nanny Li; those who did poorly received a harsh scolding.
Most of the maidservants here today were bought last year.
With only two masters in the manor usually, these maids felt they had fallen into a nest of comfort and forgot all their cares.
Now, Nanny Li demanded they do this and that. Doing poorly meant a scolding; doing badly meant being hit.
Immediately, several maidservants couldn't take it anymore.
When Nanny Li scolded the plump maidservant again, she finally broke down.
"Nanny, this servant has tried her best. I believe I've met your requirements. Why are you still not satisfied?"
"You believe? Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to 'believe'?" Nanny Li sneered coldly.
The plump maidservant bit her lip and pointed at Duoduo beside her.
"This servant at least did better than her, right? Why did she pass and I didn't?"
Nanny Li turned to look at Duoduo.
"Are you willing to walk the course again for them to see?"
Duoduo nodded and hopped down from her chair.
"Since you think you did well, now, you and her will do it together. The rest of you, watch. Which of them did better?"
The other maidservants, hearing this, gathered around.
Nanny Li went inside and brought out several jade pendants, hanging them from the waists of the two girls.
Everyone watched Nanny Li's actions curiously, guessing why she was doing this.
"Duoduo, you can do it!"
Lüdou whispered encouragement. Duoduo smiled at her.
"Alright. Now, both of you walk from here, circle the covered corridor, and return to this spot. We'll see who returns first."
Everyone cleared the path.
"Begin," Nanny Li announced.
The plump maidservant immediately stepped forward, heading onto the corridor.
Duoduo, firmly remembering Nanny's key points, followed closely behind her.
Everyone watched the two tensely, their bodies turning to follow their movement.
One lap finished. The plump maidservant returned to Nanny Li first.
Duoduo arrived back at the starting point right after her.
"So? I was the fastest, wasn't I?" The plump maidservant lifted her chin triumphantly at Duoduo.
Nanny Li didn't announce the result. Instead, she looked at the group.
"You all come and judge. How did they both perform just now?"
"Pangya walked fast. She won," the freckled maidservant spoke first.
"And? Does anyone else have an opinion?" Nanny Li didn't say who was right or wrong.
"Duoduo also walked fast, and she walked without a sound," Lüdou spoke up.
"Right! Duoduo only fell behind Pangya because she's smaller."
"Yes, Pangya's pendants clattered all the way!"
In the end, everyone agreed that Duoduo was slightly better than Pangya.
Pangya's face flushed crimson. She had only thought about speed earlier and forgotten what Nanny had taught.
"Just now, I merely forgot. If we do it again, I definitely can do better!"
Pangya vowed to turn the tables.
Nanny Li gave a cold laugh. "I already gave you a chance. You didn't cherish it yourself."
"Now, stand here for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. If I find any water spilled from the wooden bowl, don't blame me for being harsh."
Nanny Li picked up a wooden bowl from nearby and placed it on the plump maidservant's head.
Pangya was very indignant. She straightened her back. Fine, she'd stand. She just felt Nanny Li was biased.
Nanny Li paid her no mind. She pointed at the freckled maidservant.
"You, come here!"
The maidservant hurried over with quick steps. Halfway there, she suddenly realized her posture was wrong and hastily slowed down.
"You! Watch her. If any water spills, speak up."
"If you cover for her, you'll be punished alongside her!"
"Yes, Nanny Li," the maidservant hurriedly assented.
Nanny Li walked to the side, instructing the others to continue their training.
Duoduo, having just received everyone's praise, was beaming.
"Lüdou, they all praised me!"
Lüdou was also very happy for Duoduo. She gently squeezed Duoduo's palm.
Not long after, the freckled maidservant called out.
"Nanny, her water spilled!"
Everyone heard and looked over.
They saw Pangya glaring at the maidservant who had reported her.
Nanny Li walked over and took down the wooden bowl.
"Hand out!"
Pangya shot a glare at the freckled girl and resentfully extended her hand.
"Smack!"
Nanny Li expressionlessly struck once with the ruler.
"Ah!" Pangya cried out in pain, vigorously rubbing the spot that was hit.
"Stand properly! Continue!"
Nanny Li struck Pangya's back with the ruler.
"Ah!"
Pangya cried out in pain, starting to sob.
Nanny Li placed the water-filled wooden bowl back on her head.
"Continue!"
Pangya hurriedly straightened her back, trying hard to stifle her sobs.
"You all, stop practicing. Stand here and watch. Think about why she, and only she, is being punished."
