When the two of them had tidied up and came out again, Qiao Xin pointed at Nanny Qin and said, “Come and meet your etiquette instructor. Heng-ge’er went through great efforts to find her for you. She is truly skilled. If you can learn even a fraction from her, it will benefit you for a lifetime.”

Nanny Qin stepped forward and greeted them with a bow.

Every movement of hers was graceful and pleasing to the eye, making people feel inexplicably comfortable.

Xu Shi and Zhang Shi hastily returned the bow, but their clumsy gestures only made them appear awkward.

When they realized it, their faces turned red, and they didn’t know where to place their hands and feet.

A sense of inferiority rose in them.

Qiao Xin pretended not to notice their embarrassment.

Instead, she held Nanny Qin’s hand and instructed, “Nanny Qin, don’t laugh at them. Though my two daughters-in-law lack knowledge, they have kind hearts and are intelligent. They only need a good teacher to guide them, so I’ll be relying on you.

We don’t expect them to become as refined as noble ladies from prestigious families. But they must at least learn how to avoid the pitfalls of the inner courtyard. At the very least, they should be able to manage their own household and not be easily taken advantage of.”

Then, she turned to her daughters-in-law and said, “You don’t need to be afraid. We neither steal nor harm others. We support ourselves, so there’s nothing shameful about it.

Live your life as you should, however you find it comfortable. Your husbands are fighting for their futures out there, struggling to climb up the ranks. We, as women, must also learn what we need to so we can keep up with them and enjoy the rewards together. These rules and lessons are just precautions. I’d rather you never have to use them in your lifetime!”

“Mother, do I have to learn? Wouldn’t it be better if I just stayed with you?” Xu Shi hesitated, feeling anxious.

In early spring, the southern barbarians had crossed the border and attacked without warning, forcing the Jing Kingdom to go to war.

The two sides were now locked in intense battle.

Her husband, the eldest son, was already a sixth-rank military officer. If he achieved a few more merits on the battlefield, it was possible he could be promoted to a proper fifth-rank or at least a subordinate fifth-rank general upon his victorious return.

At that point, he would have to establish his own household and move out.

The inner courtyard of his new residence would need someone to manage it.

The first choices for this responsibility would be Qiao Xin or Xu Shi.

Even if Qiao Xin followed the example of traditional mothers-in-law and took control of her son’s household under the excuse that her daughter-in-law was unrefined, society wouldn’t criticize her.

However, this situation would be highly disadvantageous for Xu Shi.

Qiao Xin was unwilling to take on such a role.

Even if she managed the household temporarily, it would ultimately be Xu Shi’s duty as a wife.

If Xu Shi failed to grow into this role, then for the sake of his career, her husband might at best take a capable concubine, or at worst, divorce her and remarry.

The last thing Qiao Xin wanted was such an outcome.

If that happened, she could force Qiao Yunqing to compromise by leveraging her authority as his mother, but that wouldn’t be a long-term solution.

After weighing the options, she decided that the lesser evil was to help Xu Shi grow and learn how to become a competent mistress of the house.

That was why she had arranged all of this. Who knew that Xu Shi would be frightened before even starting?

Qiao Xin straightened her posture and casually tapped her fingers on the table.

She said slowly, “Of course, you can stay with me. When your husband is assigned to a new post elsewhere, you can remain here with this old woman. As long as you don’t mind another woman managing his household.”

“I…” Xu Shi looked up helplessly, suddenly panicking.

Of course, she didn’t want that!

After enduring so much hardship, how could she let someone else take what was hers?

But she truly didn’t feel capable of carrying the dignity and responsibilities of a government official’s wife.

Seeing her so weak and hesitant, Qiao Xin felt a headache coming on.

She understood that Xu Shi didn’t fully grasp the stakes involved, so she patiently broke things down for her.

“I’m having you learn literacy, arithmetic—these are all part of managing a household. The intricate rules of the official families’ inner courts? I don’t know them either, since I grew up as a hunter’s daughter. That’s why I found Nanny Qin to help you. So what are you afraid of?

Even those noble madams weren’t born knowing these things. They were taught from childhood. You’re just starting a little late, but it’s not too late. The more you see and hear, the more you’ll understand.

Besides, military families are more carefree than civil officials. The rules aren’t as strict. As long as you can keep the household in order and prevent outsiders from taking advantage of any weaknesses, that will be enough.”

Seeing that they still remained silent with their heads lowered, Qiao Xin’s patience ran thin. “Think about it carefully. Even if you don’t care about yourself or your husband, at least consider your children! You must stand strong for their sake!”

“Da Lang, Er Lang, and our little daughter—they’re all his children. He wouldn’t ignore them. As long as I serve you well and fulfill my duties as a daughter-in-law, my husband will listen to you,” Xu Shi reasoned weakly.

Qiao Xin couldn’t help but laugh in anger.

Her voice sharpened. “I’m not so old and weak that I need you to serve me! Your husband listens to me, yes, but he makes his own decisions. When he knelt before me, begging to marry you, was that my idea or his own? If he is determined to marry again in the future, what makes you think I would stop him for your sake?”

“That…” Xu Shi was truly flustered now.

She knew Qiao Xin was speaking the truth.

Nanny Qin added, “Madam Xu, the old madam is truly thinking of your best interests. Even if your husband doesn’t want to take another wife, if the inner courtyard is unstable, it will give others an opportunity.

If his superiors insist on arranging a noble concubine for him, he wouldn’t even have the grounds to refuse. Once such a woman enters the house, your entire family will be in a passive position.

You have no maiden family to rely on, and if you don’t learn how to secure your own position, what will you do then? Will you give up everything you’ve worked for and hide behind your mother-in-law for the rest of your life? What about your children? Their future could be at risk!”

“That… that’s impossible, right? Even tigers don’t eat their own cubs!” Xu Shi was trembling.

Qiao Xin scoffed at her naivety. “If your husband rises to first rank or even gains a noble title, do you think people won’t fight for it? Even blood-related brothers turn against each other over a few acres of land. Do you really think no one would scheme against you over such immense power? Getting rid of you would be as easy as lifting a finger.”

Nanny Qin was so startled she stood up immediately. “Old Madam, please be cautious with your words…”

Xu Shi and Zhang Shi were already petrified, their legs giving out beneath them.

They had never realized just how dangerous their situation could become.

Qiao Xin sighed. “Forget it. I won’t force you. Everyone has their own fate. Whatever happens, happens.”

Xu Shi saw the disappointment in Qiao Xin’s eyes and suddenly felt a surge of courage.

She crawled forward, kowtowed repeatedly, and pleaded, “Mother, I’ll learn! If I make mistakes, please don’t abandon me. Nanny Qin, please teach me!”

Qiao Xin sighed again. “Good, good. Why would I abandon you? You’re already doing well with literacy and arithmetic. If you don’t push yourself, how will you know what you’re capable of?”

Then, she turned to Zhang Shi. “You too. Your husband will soon take the imperial examination. It’s better to be prepared than to panic later.”

Zhang Shi quickly nodded. “I understand, Mother.”