Classes With Momo Kang begin

Spoilers Ahead

1) In the first 1/4, an interesting scene unfolds between GTY, Momo Gu, and Mistress Miniang. Momo attempts to chastise Miniang for her behavior with GTY present. Miniang immediately kneels and begs for forgiveness. GTY defends her without attacking Momo Gu. Afterwards, GTY attempts to soothed an angry Momo Gu by explaining that Miniang is sorry. Momo Gu attempts to explain that this was not an apology but a threat (I think its because Miniang is trying to establish that she has control over GTY by showing Momo Gu that he will always pick her--kind of like what Concubine Lin does). GTY does not quite believe this, but rather than pursue it, he explains to her that he is alone in the Marquis house and Miniang provides him comfort and loves him even more than Lady Qin (his stepmother). Because of this, Momo relents but only after making it clear she doesn't care about her status--its her personality.

2)Back at the Sheng house, Big Madame and Master Sheng are drinking tea in the main hall, and he casually (and quietly) raises the idea of Mo'er taking lessons with the other girls (perhaps because he know it will trigger his wife). The Big Madame is angry, and points out that Mo'er is better behaved, she doesn't need any lessons she is only interested in lessons from someone who might teach her how to interact with nobles . Before the argument escalates, Momo Kong enters, and this is how Master Sheng gets Mo'er in class.

3)In the very first class, Rulan is clearly irritated because Mo'er has moved her own desk front and center and in front of the other girls. She also proceeds to give Momo a gift--but Momo is flat, emotionless, and unimpressed. She calmly chastises mo'er for seeking to curry favor and orders her back to her seat--and to move her desk back. This has Rulan grinning from ear to ear.

4)That night, in a conversation with her maid, Ming Lan basically states it doesn't matter if she has done her homework because her sisters probably haven't, and her level can never exceed theirs'. Back in Old Madame's room, momo sits and has tea with her old friend. While talking, Momo praises Ming Lan and becomes irritated when Old Madame is more than modest, she won't accept a compliment. This is where she learns from the Old Madame that Ming Lan is walking on egg shells here and tries to be invisible, hence as much as she would like, Momo really shouldn't give her attention. (the way this plays out it seems cute, then serious, then cute again--they are clearly very good old friends)

5) The next day, Rulan begs to be released from lessons because she can do small talk but the finer things--brewing tea, etc. may come naturally to Molan but she cannot get it right. Besides, she is a legitimate daughter, so who cares? This annoys her mother, who shows her how to brew tea and snaps at her to stop talking about concubine born because her father is born of a concubine (she could have said that it is an unrefined topic not befitting her status but she doesn't--in this day and age, if a concubine is treated poorly, it is sort of like a dirty secret--it makes you look bad because it shows you can't take care of your people but it isn't like a huge shock because everyone kind of understands that it is difficult for wives to get along, it basically drags you through the rumor mill)

.6)At the same time this is happening, Mo'er is patiently and elegantly preparing her tea. She gracefully complains to her mother that the way Momo Kong taught it is wrong, and her mother tries to tell her a different way her daughter ignores the offer and says its the wrong way--her mother is annoyed and explains that the book is old, that the directions are wrong and that Momo Kong wants her to understand tea etiquette and the history (for the purpose of expanding her mind and for conversation) and shows her how to do it

7)Auntie Wei visits, and is so mistrustful (reasonably so) of the Sheng family that she washes the dishes and tests for poison and tells Ming Lan to always do this. It is amusing. Ming Lan accepts this behavior and that night they discuss her mother and we learn that the two women are actively investigating the servant who were present at that time--they are trying to find the doctor and Xiao Die.

8)Concubine lin tries to gain an audience with Auntie Wei to figure out the purpose of her visit but is neatly deflected by Ming Lan. She does not suspect that Ming Lan did this deliberately, but plans to watch them just in case.

Interesting Fact: In the novel, the girls are significantly younger when receiving lessons from Momo --I think it is not long after Mistress Wei dies so Ming Lan may be about 8

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