All Hail Cousin Brother

296 Broke a Leg

This scroll was indeed related to the Xie family, but it was not an old item.

Yu Youyao’s eyes widened. “Cousin, is this scroll that powerful?”

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Yes, since the Han Dynasty, witchcraft has been banned, and related books have also become banned and burned in large quantities. If anyone who is a witch is discovered, they will be executed according to the law. The witchcraft culture is incomplete, so the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence has obtained this silk book but has never discovered its secret.”

No one knew sorcery.

Yu Youyao opened her mouth. Her mind was not thinking about the value of this silk book, but about how amazing it was that he even knew sorcery!

Zhou Linghuai laughed when he heard this and shook his head. “I don’t know anything about sorcery. It’s just that when I was young, I was curious and secretly read a few injunction letters. Later, when Father found out, he broke my leg and it took me two to three months to recover. Therefore, I know more about witchcraft than others.”

After saying that, he was a little annoyed that he had spoken too quickly. Why did he mention this?!

Yu Youyao’s eyes widened and she couldn’t help but mutter, “Uncle is too strict with Cousin. It’s fine even if he just takes a look secretly and doesn’t let others know. How can he be so ruthless as to break Cousin’s leg?” At this point, she looked at her cousin with heartache and held his hand. “Cousin must have been in a lot of pain back then.”

Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “It’s been too long. I don’t remember much.”

Yu Youyao pouted. If her uncle was still alive and found out that her cousin’s leg was really broken, his heart would ache even more. He might even regret breaking his leg back then.

Zhou Linghuai changed the topic. “There are less than ten thousand words in this book, but every word contains a huge amount of information. The most important information is hidden in the painting. When I looked at it just now, I only caught a glimpse of one autumn leaf. It takes a lot of time to decipher it. It’s not an easy thing.”

Yu Youyao nodded, then frowned. “Since the silk book isn’t considered an old item of the Xie Residence and it records the witchcraft culture, it’s ultimately a disaster. It’s not easy to send it to the Xie Residence. Cousin, you should keep it.”

Her cousin looked very interested in the silk book. Besides, it would be more appropriate to leave it in his care.

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Alright, I’ll find someone to interpret the silk book another day and copy the medical skills inside. When the time comes, you can send it back to the Xie family. It’ll be considered fate between this silk book and the Xie family.”

Yu Youyao felt that this was great. “Alright, I’ll listen to Cousin.”

Zhou Linghuai did not say anything else. Instead, he asked, “Have you read the ‘Zizhi Tongjian’ that I gave you yesterday? Is there anything you don’t understand?”

Yu Youyao nodded. “I did. I’ve memorized everything I don’t understand. I’ll ask Cousin for guidance another day. Today…” She glared at her cousin, looking delicate and fierce. “Cousin, it’s time to go back and rest.”

Just now, she had unknowingly said a lot to her cousin, and she had almost forgotten about this.

“Okay!” If he did not rest, the little girl would really be angry.

Thinking that they were going to have lunch later, Yu Youyao quickly called out to Chun Xiao, “The medicinal cuisine brewed in the small kitchen should be almost ready now. Hurry up and bring it over.”

Chun Xiao quickly agreed and turned to leave the room.

Yu Youyao turned to look at her cousin and quickly said, “Cousin, have some medicinal cuisine before you sleep!”

Zhou Linghuai nodded. “I’ll listen to Cousin’s arrangements.”

Yu Jianjia sprained her ankle and asked a few old maids to carry her chair back to the courtyard.

The maidservants and old maids in the residence were in an uproar because of Aunt Shen’s entry into the residence. All of them were so happy that they could not hide the joy on their faces.

“Aunt Shen, who was in front of the Empress Dowager, entered the residence and gave Eldest Miss a palace token. She even praised Eldest Miss for being clean, honest, and kind…”

“Is the palace token made of jade that’s yellowish-green? There are titled madams and young misses in the imperial family who wear similar ones. In the future, our Eldest Miss will be as dignified as the noble ladies of the imperial family.”

“Our Eldest Miss is really amazing. She’s only turned ten years old a few days ago, and this is the first time she’s gone out. She’s already earned herself a reputation and dignity. No one is luckier than her.”

“Isn’t that so? Eldest Miss is kind-hearted. Just like Old Madam, she’s like a Bodhisattva. Great blessing is still ahead.”

The maidservants did not do anything serious and gathered together to chat. When the stewards saw this, they did not say anything to stop them. They even gathered together to talk. As if they were proud, they felt that they were the ones who were rewarded and praised.

When Yu Jianjia returned to the courtyard, she heard that the servants in her courtyard were also talking about this. She bit her lip and said, “Big Sister has received the Empress Dowager’s reward and praise, but it’s not appropriate for her to talk about it openly. If others find out, they’ll think that our family is frivolous.” As she spoke, she frowned slightly. She felt that these words were a little inappropriate. If others heard them, they would think that she was jealous of Yu Youyao, so she added, “Go the small kitchen to make a few more dishes and add a few more to the servants in the courtyard.”

Hui Xiang was unwilling, but since Young Miss had instructed it, she agreed.

They were clearly sisters from the same family. They had gone to the Flower Festival together. How could Eldest Miss be the only one who had gained some dignity? Not only had she sprained her ankle, but she had also suffered and even been reprimanded by Eldest Master.

Really, Eldest Miss had taken all the good things.

All the bad things were tolerated by Young Miss.

After Hui Xiang left the house, Yu Jianjia leaned against the couch, feeling vexed. She couldn’t calm down for a moment. Even though Ai Ye had changed to a calming incense, she still felt uneasy.

Her mind was filled with what had happened at the flower festival yesterday, the scene of her father reprimanding her, and her grandmother looking down at her, making her heart turn cold.

Fortunately, after her father reprimanded her, her grandmother did not say anything.

Yu Jianjia also thought that this matter would end here, so she heaved a sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, not long after she returned to the courtyard, Nanny Liu came over.

Yu Jianjia was shocked and quickly got up.

Nanny Liu stopped her with a smile. “Third Miss sprained her ankle. Don’t get up quickly. Sit down.”

Although her attitude was gentle, Yu Jianjia also understood that Old Madam had not said anything in An Shou Hall just now. It was not that she did not intend to pursue the matter, but that she did not intend to pursue it in front of her father.

Her father had already punished her. If Old Madam punished her again, it was inevitable that her father would defend her a little.

Old Madam doted on Yu Youyao. Yu Youyao had suffered because of her, so how could Old Madam let her off?

Yu Jianjia lowered her head to hide the cold sarcasm in her eyes. She thanked Nanny Liu and asked gently, “Does Grandmother have any instructions?”

Nanny Liu said, “Old Madam said that Third Miss’s body is weak. The first time she left the house, she sprained her ankle and suffered. In the future, she has to recuperate carefully in the house. She can’t go out and cause trouble again.”