All Hail Cousin Brother

304 Little Debt Collector

Zhou Linghuai smiled. “You’ll understand soon.”

Even after her cousin returned to the Qingqu Courtyard, Yu Youyao’s mind was still in a mess. Her cousin’s words kept echoing in her mind. “The vassal king will definitely rebel. This royal court and the world should be in chaos!”

Thinking of her cousin’s casual tone when he said this, his bone-chilling expression, and his confidence in controlling everything, Yu Youyao’s heart beat wildly, each beat more anxious than the last. Even her ears were filled with the sound of her heart beating like a drum.

At this moment, Chun Xiao entered the room. “Sister Qing Xiu is here to pass on a message. Old Madam wants you to go over.”

Taking a deep breath, Yu Youyao finally calmed down a little. “I’ll go over now.”

Yu Youyao picked up her teacup and lowered her head to take a few sips. There was a hint of bitterness in the medicinal tea, and after entering her throat, there was a hint of sweetness. Drinking this when the weather was hot was good for cooling down in the heat and calming the mind.

Hence, after drinking a cup of tea, Yu Youyao completely calmed down. She stood up and tidied her clothes before bringing Chun Xiao out to An Shou Hall.

Old Madam Yu was old and could not stand the cold and heat. It was not even May, but the room had already been changed to a warm and detoxifying incense. There was a hint of medicinal bitterness mixed with a strong sandalwood fragrance. The smell was suffocating.

Yu Youyao frowned. It seemed that it was time to make the cooling summer beads she had mentioned previously.

Seeing her granddaughter come over, Old Madam Yu perked up a little, and a smile appeared on her face. “Yesterday, Madam Yang handed over the butler’s key. From today onwards, you’ll be in charge of the household with Grandmother.”

Yu Youyao was stunned when she heard this. She quickly said, “That won’t do. How can I trouble you? Nanny Liu and I will manage the family matters together. It’s very appropriate. You have to recuperate carefully.”

Old Madam Yu’s concerned words made her smile. “Silly child, I know that my Little Yao Yao is capable and can handle everything inside and out. However, you’re still young and have many things to learn and do every day. You can’t not have elders in charge of the family.”

Yu Youyao understood what her grandmother meant. “But Grandmother has only recovered a little…”

Previously, when Madam Yang took the initiative to hand over the butler’s key, it was only for a moment. Sooner or later, the butler’s key would have to be returned to Madam Yang.

Her grandmother had asked her to help manage the household so that she could take the opportunity to learn how to manage the household.

However, this time, her father had personally said that Madam Yang must hand over the butler’s key. It probably wouldn’t be so easy to get the key back in the future.

Her father was the head of the family. As long as he spoke, the family would not dare to refute him. A woman is to obey her father at home, her husband when she is married, and her son when her husband dies!

No matter how unwilling Madam Yang was, she did not dare to challenge the authority of the head of the family.

Therefore, her father had asked her to manage the household not just for a day or two, but for a long time.

However, in the end, she was only a growing child. This month and a half was meant for her to share the burden of her elders. It was not suitable as a long term situation.

In such a huge house, it was impossible for there to be no proper elders to manage the household.

Therefore, in the past, when her grandmother was not in good health, she could not manage the family matters at all. That was why Madam Yang was fearless and worked hard at home.

Old Madam Yu smiled and said, “Don’t I still have my little granddaughter and Nanny Liu? Besides, there are rules in the family. How will I really work hard? Grandmother’s health has improved a little, so it’s good for her to exercise her bones.”

Yu Youyao thought about it carefully. That made sense.

Old Madam Yu hugged Yu Youyao in her arms and sighed softly. “You don’t know that there’s a lot of logic in managing the household. I wasn’t in good health in the past and didn’t have much energy, so I brought you along and raised you carefully. I only doted on you and almost spoiled you. However, you fell sick, so Grandmother woke up and didn’t continue to make mistakes. I asked you to learn the principles of management from Nanny Liu and found Nanny Xu to enter the residence to raise you.”

At the mention of this, Old Madam looked afraid.

She thought about how Madam Yang was such an unbecoming person, but Yu Jianjia had her mother’s care and upbringing. She had also developed a mind of her own.

However, her Yao Yao’er had no mother since she was young. There were many principles that no one could teach her. She was nine years old and still did not know anything.

She had been smart all her life, but she had been muddle-headed for a moment. She had almost raised her granddaughter badly and harmed her for the rest of her life.

Yu Youyao shook her head. “I’m the one who’s disappointing. Just because Grandmother dotes on me, I don’t know how to improve. I’m such a big person, but I always make Grandmother worry.”

That was not the way to put it. What could a child know? She still had to rely on the upbringing of the adults.

Old Madam Yu shook her head and did not continue the topic. “No matter how shrewd Nanny Liu is in managing the household and no matter how capable Nanny Xu is, they’re all servants. There’s always a limit to what they can teach you. Some of the skills of managing others still have to be taught by the masters in the family. I’m much better now and have some energy. Naturally, I have to teach you well.”

At this point, she sighed slightly.

At the Flower Festival in the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence, Yao Yao’er had gained the reputation of being clean and honest. There was naturally no need to mention her future.

Some of the skills that Nanny Xu had taught were just small tricks. A true noblewoman still had a lot to learn. Among them, the most important thing was structure, but it was not enough.

She had to bring her along and raise her carefully.

This was probably her grandmother’s true goal. Yu Youyao nodded. “Grandmother, I understand, but I can’t tire myself out.”

Old Madam Yu nodded. “Even if it’s a little debt collector like you, you have to stay strong. I still want to live a few more years and support you for a few more years.”

Yao Yao’er, who had gained her father’s favor, would have a better future. However, Eldest Son’s personality was capricious and easy to manipulate. Besides, the court was not peaceful. How could he be counted on?

She couldn’t let Yao Yao’er lose her mother and her grandmother’s power.

Only then did Yu Youyao throw herself into her grandmother’s arms. “Grandmother, you have to be well.”

Old Madam Yu asked Nanny Liu to bring over the account book from the government. As she flipped through it, she instructed Yu Youyao, “The greatest achievement of the government is to return the courtesy of the various families in the capital…”

Yu Youyao listened carefully. She still did not know much about this matter. Nanny Liu had taught her a little previously, but the gift list had been drafted by the masters of the family and handed over to the servants to prepare. The masters had their own considerations about what gifts to send and what gifts to return. Previously, Nanny Liu had also taken the gift list made by her grandmother and only taught her the tradition of reciprocation in the residence.

After talking for a while, Old Madam Yu asked Nanny Liu to take out a treasure box. She took out the key from her sleeve and opened the treasure box.

Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment before she understood that the key to the treasure box was something that her grandmother carried with her all day long and never left her side. It seemed that the things in the treasure box were very important.