All Hail Cousin Brother

282 Hidden Malice

Nanny Liu lowered her head. After so many years, Old Madam was still brooding over Madam Xie’s death.

Old Madam Yu continued, “On the day Madam Xie died, Yao Yao cried non-stop for the entire day. When she was tired, she would sleep and wake up after a short nap. When she woke up, she would continue crying. She had a child who was born prematurely and had a difficult time giving birth. After a long day, she almost lost her life.”

It had been more than three months since Madam Yang had married into the residence. Later on, she had taken a pregnancy-preserving medicine and managed to keep the baby for more than a month. When she couldn’t keep it anymore, she had no choice but to give birth.

It was also because Madam Yang had taken too much pregnancy medicine when she was pregnant that Yu Jianjia had been thin and sickly since she was born.

As for Yao Yao, she was really born prematurely. She had grown well in Madam Xie’s womb. Even though she was born prematurely for more than half a month, she still looked very strong.

As time passed, no one remembered that Yao Yao was born prematurely.

Nanny Liu also knew about this.

Eldest Miss was out of breath from crying, and her face was red and purple. Old Madam had said that children would want to smell their mother’s scent and she would take Madam Xie’s things when she was alive.

A child’s soul was light, and Madam Xie had just left. It was not past the seventh day yet, so she was worried that it would be inauspicious, so she stopped her.

Old Madam insisted on taking the blanket that Madam Xie had used when she was alive to coax Eldest Miss.

As Old Madam Yu spoke, tears streamed down her face. “It’s said that newborn children don’t know anything, but newborn children are the most intelligent. Poor Yao Yao’er. From the moment she was born, she already knew the pain of separation in this world. At that time, when I was hugging her, I thought that I had harmed Madam Xie’s life and owed her. I had to protect my granddaughter no matter what.”

After so many years, this was the first time Nanny Liu had heard Old Madam mention the past.

It was probably also today that Eldest Miss had been criticized and called “bereaved eldest daughter” in the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence, making Old Madam feel terrible.

If Madam Xie was still around, Eldest Miss wouldn’t have…

Old Madam felt that she owed Madam Xie and Eldest Miss, so she mentioned these things.

Old Madam Yu pinched her handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes. “Eldest Son was infatuated and wanted to marry Madam Yang as his second wife. He thought that Madam Yang was the daughter of a scholar. Even if she’s the daughter of a concubine, she still has some literary talent. It’s not that I couldn’t stop him, but Madam Yang’s stomach was about to show. She was focused on entering the Yu Residence. If she really causes a commotion, not only will Eldest Son’s future be ruined, but the Yu Residence’s reputation will also be damaged. I’m afraid Second Son won’t be able to stand tall in court anymore.”

Nanny Liu lowered her head a little.

At this point, Old Madam Yu looked defeated. “Of course, as long as I was a little more heartless and threatened him with a scissors on my neck, I could’ve made him take her in as a noble concubine but I couldn’t do that. I had to preserve our mother-son relationship and scheme for Yao Yao’s future. I also hope that even if he doesn’t care about our father-daughter relationship, he can still take care of her on account of our mother-son relationship.”

Nanny Liu poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over. “Old Madam, have some tea to calm yourself down.”

Old Madam Yu took the teacup and placed it on the table again. “I’ve schemed so much because I want my Yao Yao’er, my little darling, to have a good future. However, my Yao Yao’er is such a smart, obedient, filial, and pleasant person. The first time she went out, they almost ruined her reputation.”

Nanny Liu thought about what had happened at the flower festival and felt terrible.

Eldest Miss was a capable person, so she wasn’t really bullied. However, how could she feel good when she was mocked in public? She probably endured her grievances for Old Madam An’s sake.

Old Madam Yu said hatefully, “Her stepmother is evil. I don’t know how she gloated and added fuel to the fire. She’s half a mother. How can I count on her? Even her sisters are hiding their evil intentions and want to suppress her limelight.”

In the past, although she had looked down on Yu Jianjia and her dejected behavior, she still admired her after all. She was smart, obedient, and polite. However, today, Yao Yao kept saying that she had “good intentions.” Even she couldn’t help but feel cold.

Madam Yang was not presentable, so she could only scheme at home.

However, Yu Jianjia, this granddaughter of hers, had ulterior motives. She really hid them well, and no one could tell.

At the thought of this, Old Madam Yu looked relieved again. “Fortunately, my little darling has grown a mind of her own, so she wasn’t destroyed. Otherwise, I would knock the Marquis of Changxing’s family down, cause them to bleed and drag them to hell.”

Nanny Liu’s heart trembled when she heard this.

Old Madam was a second-grade official. If she really did this, the future of the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence would be ruined.

Old Madam Yu felt a little better after spitting out the words she had been holding in. Only then did she bring the tea over and lower her head to take a few sips. “Help me to my room.”

Nanny Liu bent down and helped Old Madam up.

When they entered the room, Old Madam Yu sat down. “Bring me my imperial order. I’ll enter the palace tomorrow morning.”

Nanny Liu took out a carefully kept order from the box in the side room.

On her head, she wore a crown and tied her hair into a high bun. There were five green pine trees on it, and there were pearls on their branches. On the front, there were four pearl green jade flowers, three pearl green clouds, and three flowers. At the back of the crown, there was a ball of pearl green jade and four pearl green tassels. There were three golden cloud hairpins, a pair of golden hairpins, and a golden pendant.

She wore a large red sleeved top and a dark green ceremonial robe. On the ceremonial robe, there were golden embroidery patterns of clouds. On the top layer, there were golden embroidery patterns of clouds. The material was made of silk, gauze, and so on.

Old Madam Yu stroked her magnificent makeup and muttered, “It’s been many years since I’ve entered the palace. It’s time for me to go out and exercise. My makeup will be covered in dust.”

Nanny Liu lowered her head, not daring to say anything else.

The room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

Old Madam Yu stared at the phoenix crown and robe, her eyes suddenly filled with ruthlessness.

At this moment, Bai Kui lifted the curtain and entered the room. “Old Madam, the Empress Dowager has summoned the Marquis of Changxing’s wife and Seventh Miss Cao into the palace.”

Old Madam Yu was stunned. The nobles in the palace had to pay attention to the Flower Festival held by the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence. She did not expect this news to reach the Empress Dowager’s ears so quickly.

She frowned slightly.

Bai Kui continued, “The Empress Dowager did not see the Marquis of Changxing’s wife and Seventh Miss Cao. She asked them to sit in the outer hall and copy ‘Biographies of Exemplary Women’, ‘Lessons for Women’, ‘The Analects of Women’, and ‘The Training of Women’. Seventh Miss Cao did not write it well. The Empress Dowager was furious and punished her by copying ‘Lessons for Women’ a hundred times on the spot.”

Old Madam Yu twirled her prayer beads. At the Flower Festival, Yao Yao had used women’s teachings to prevent herself from being bullied.