All Hail Cousin Brother

174 Angering the Little Girl

After returning to the Jade Courtyard, Nanny Xu ordered someone to set up tea, snacks, fruits, and so on. It looked even more exquisite than the ones in An Shou Hall. The table was filled to the brim. It was obvious that it had been prepared long ago.

Yu Youyao personally served the tea to Xie Jingliu and smiled. “Third Cousin, this is medicinal tea that I made myself. Try it quickly.”

Xie Jingliu put away his folding fan and took the tea from his younger cousin with a smile. The moment he smelled it, the tea’s fragrance immediately became clear and refreshing. After taking a sip, he felt refreshed, as if he had relieved a lot of his fatigue from the long journey.

He laughed. “Cousin, you’ve really grown up.”

Yu Youyao’s voice was gentle. “I’ve made a lot of this tea. Grandfather, Grandmother, Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Eldest Cousin, Second Cousin…” The little girl’s voice was soft as she spoke. As she spoke, she tapped her tender little finger. “Everyone has it. Not only this, but I’ve also made a lot of medicinal fragrances that can nourish one’s health… Grandfather and Grandmother are old. Even if their health is good, they should rest more. The business in the residence is huge, so the uncles and aunts can’t help but work hard. They should rest more. Cousin and the others…”

Every word was filled with concern and filial piety for his family. The smile on Xie Jingliu’s lips deepened. He suddenly picked up his fan and knocked on his little cousin’s head.

“Ah!” Yu Youyao held her forehead, which didn’t hurt much, and glared at her third cousin plaintively. “Third Cousin, why did you hit me? It hurts.”

Xie Jingliu smiled. “You’re so young, but you’re already worrying about all this. Why don’t you ask me what fun, delicious food, and good-looking things I’ve brought you? How are you like a young lady? You’re simply like a young mistress.”

Speaking of this, his eyes darkened.

He had followed the merchant ship into the capital for three days and was not in a hurry to go to the Yu Residence. It was also because this was his first time here that he had inquired about the matters in the Yu Residence in advance.

The mistress of the household was sick and couldn’t manage the household. Instead, they asked a young child to help manage the household. Old Madam Yu was kind-hearted and paved the way for her granddaughter.

However, Yao Yao was only a child, and she had to be busy managing the house like an adult. Even with her grandmother’s protection, her days in the residence weren’t so comfortable.

He had also noticed Madam Yang before. On the surface, she looked generous and proper.

However, when she spoke to him, her eyebrows were subconsciously raised, and her gaze became a little sharper. She was polite, but her attitude was obvious.

It was obvious what kind of person her stepmother was.

However, it made sense. A hundred days after his aunt’s death, Yu Zongzheng couldn’t wait to welcome her into the residence.

To the outside world, it was said that Old Madam Yu was too old and didn’t have the energy to take care of her eldest daughter, who was still in her infancy. In addition, Yao Yao was born a few days earlier, so it was really worrying. They were afraid that they would neglect her. They couldn’t not have someone in charge at home, because she was the daughter of Yu Zongzheng’s concubine . First of all, it wasn’t appropriate to talk about it in the Imperial Court. Although outsiders felt that it was too rushed and would inevitably have some guesses, they couldn’t say anything in the end. They just had to talk after dinner.

However, the Xie family knew very well that these words were just to fool outsiders.

A trace of mockery flashed across Xie Jingliu’s eyes.

Old Master Yu had probably hooked up with Madam Yang long ago. Yu Jianjia wasn’t really born prematurely. The so-called generations of scholars were just a bunch of dirty tricks.

Yu Youyao’s eyes welled up with tears. She blinked to hide the tears in her eyes and pouted unhappily. “Third Cousin, how can you say that about a mistress? Do you think I’m wrong for being filial to my elders?”

In the past, her father had despised her for not knowing her limits and being sensible.

Her grandmother did not dislike her, but she also hoped that she would learn more rules. She even invited Nanny Xu into the residence.

Only her maternal grandfather and the others treated her sincerely. Only they thought that she was only a half-grown child and should be thinking about eating and playing at this age.

At this moment, there was a rumbling sound.

Yu Youyao turned around and saw Chang An pushing her cousin over. She quickly said, “Cousin, tell me, in what way do I look like a mistress?”

Zhou Linghuai’s expression paused for a moment. Thinking of how the little girl often said that he was like a “little old man”, he felt inexplicably amused.

However, the young lady cared about her face. He really couldn’t laugh and anger her.

Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “Cousin isn’t even ten years old.”

Xie Jingliu raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhou Linghuai.

He was a young man sitting in a wheelchair. He was dressed in black, making him look dignified and noble. He looked elegant and reserved.

Other than Old Madam Yu, her cousin rarely mentioned anything about the residence in her letters. However, the last time, she had written a lot about her cousin.

At An Shou Hall, Xie Jingliu had paid special attention to Zhou Linghuai.

As if sensing Xie Jingliu’s undisguised scrutiny, Zhou Linghuai looked up.

When their gazes met, Yu Youyao felt that the atmosphere was a little off. She turned to look at her third cousin, then back at him.

Hence, she quickly said, “Third Cousin, this is my cousin, Zhou Linghuai, from Youzhou. He’s been taking good care of me recently…”

She kept saying that her cousin’s health wasn’t good, but he still had to take time out every day to go to the Jade Courtyard to teach her calligraphy, studies, and zither skills. He even cut off wood from the Parasol tree and wanted to personally make a zither for her. Previously, he had even given her a fan…

It was as if she was afraid that others wouldn’t know how well her cousin treated her.

Zhou Linghuai did not know whether to laugh or cry.

However, Xie Liujing was not in a good mood. He tapped his fan against his palm. “You’re already learning so much at such a young age. How can you have time to play?”

From her words, it was obvious that she was very close to Zhou Linghuai. She called him Brother Linghuai and addressed him as Third Cousin. He was already ranked third in the Xie family, so couldn’t he be called “Cousin”?

He really did not expect that his younger cousin would be living such a life in the Yu Residence. It was inevitable that she would dislike the Yu Residence and would vent her anger on Zhou Linghuai.

Yu Youyao stopped what she was about to say. However, when she saw her third cousin’s dark expression, she did not dare to say anything else. She quickly looked at Zhou Linghuai and introduced, “Cousin, this is my third cousin…”

Before he could finish speaking, Xie Jingliu knocked his fan on her forehead. “Call me Cousin!”

Zhou Linghuai pursed his lips slightly and looked at Xie Jingliu’s hand that was holding the fan. He was glaring at him, and a trace of ruthlessness flashed across his eyes.

Yu Youyao, who had been knocked lightly, did not feel any pain. However, she had been delicate since she was young. Even though she had learned many things from Nanny Xu and had suffered a lot, her delicate nature could not be changed.

She covered her forehead and blinked. When she looked at Xie Jingliu, her eyes were as black as an onyx.