When the shopkeeper walked away in high spirit, Yu Si Yu spoke in a soft voice, “Xiang’er, you know it’s time for me to receive prospective suitors. At the moment, I need a few outfits and a few head ornaments. Can you help your elder sister a little? In the future, your elder sister will never forget your good.”
When she said this, she felt all kinds of humiliation and resentment, but in order to live a life of luxury in the future, one of high position and great wealth, she had to endure. She didn’t know what this bastard had drugged her grandmother and elder brother with, where even their family property had been managed by her. When the real ‘Yu Xiang’ returned home, she wondered how aggrieved Yu Xiang would be.
Unfortunately, she would be in Chang Zhou when she married, she would not be able to watch the ‘mountain chicken falling off the Chinese Parasol tree’ play. As she thought about this, Yu Si Yu smirked.
Yu Xiang opened a piece of cloth and arranged it to be placed under the sun. When she heard what Yu Si Yu had said, she glanced at her and gave a half-smile, “What can you do with a few clothes and accessories? Your appearance would be beautiful but your inner self is an idiot. Even if you married into an aristocratic family, sooner or later, you would end up staying at home alone. I have told you earlier that it’s better for you to learn to manage the manor in your spare time. While you are this ‘good’, you aren’t attentive when you have received the task and instead you order people to cause trouble for me. You don’t even know of your own abilities. You’re too tender to play with me. As long as you put your effort into it and learn the tiniest bit from me, it would be enough for you for a lifetime. If you are so crazy about getting married, then go ahead and look into the Fang family’s circumstances well first before jumping into the pit. How can someone managing the salt administration be ethical? The Emperor has recently been investigating the state administration of taxes. Salt transportation is the most crucial area. Others are busy staying away from them, instead you can’t wait to jump into it. If you drag my elder brother down, don’t blame me for not recognizing you as my relative!”
She took a sip of hot tea and continued to reprimand, “To learn those that you aren’t supposed to learn, the things that you should know you don’t even know. The questions that should be asked you don’t ask. All you concentrate on are dishonest practices. I think you shouldn’t only straighten out your face, but also your brain!”
Yu Si Yu was lectured so harshly that she couldn’t even lift her head. Hearing the suppressed laughter of the little maidservants around her, she wished she could tear apart that vicious mouth. As for what she said, she didn’t put it to heart at all, and just considered that she couldn’t bear to see her doing well.
Although the Second Young Miss’ words were not pleasant to hear, they were very accurate. If the Eldest Yong Miss was cautious of this, she would surely benefit for life. Unfortunately, Eldest Young Miss was wooden-headed and didn’t understand what to do. Comparing the wisdom amongst the sisters, the difference was as vast as heaven and earth.
Yu Si Yu’s personal maidservant was a hot-tempered person. She couldn’t control herself and raised her head slightly to gaze at Yu Xiang with a venomous look.
Yu Xiang’s hand holding onto the teacup paused. She picked up the whip, hit the maid servant’s jaw and raised her eyebrows and said, “What kind of gaze do you have? You aren’t convinced?”
Who would dare to fight against the Second Young Miss in the Marquis Yongle Manor? If you were whipped by her, no matter whether you made a mistake or not, you would be awarded with 50 boards by the marquis.
That girl trembled and quickly knelt down to admit her mistake.
Yu Xiang ignored her and carefully warned Yu Si Yu, “I’ll give you the spring clothes and head ornaments that you have requested for. It doesn’t matter how expensive it is. I only have this small request for you——Don’t drag my elder brother down, or I will let you live in cold and hunger for the rest of your life. Do you believe in it or not?”
She raised her jaw, and her big bright feline eyes’ stared fixedly on the girl opposite her. There was a kind of innocent and cruel gleam hidden in her eyes.
Yu Si Yu unconsciously stepped back a few steps and said in a trembling voice, “Younger sister’s words are too harsh. I can’t make decisions in my marriage and it’s up to Grandmother to decide on my marriage.”
“I’m glad you know that. I am afraid that you wouldn’t think it through and do some dirty tactics like throwing yourself into the arms and lowering your status and pasting yourself to them?” She slightly opened her feline eyes and said. Her smile was so clear and beautiful that it was very cute. “Alright, you can go now. I will send someone to deliver the cloth and jewelleries. If you take my things, you must obey my rules.”
Yu Si Yu nodded and left.
This conversation was later relayed into the Old Madam’s ears through the Momo in charge. As the Old Madam pruned the potted plants, she laughed and sighed, “There is Xiang’er in my family. What else is there for me to worry about? If Yu Si Yu can learn a little bit of Xiang’er’s wisdom, I will not keep her in this manor until now. To marry into a noble family? She didn’t consider Yan’er’s position in the imperial court, how would the emperor look at our Marquis and aristocratic families joining hands. If she wants to squeeze into the aristocracy, she will never be able to do so in her life.”
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Yu Pin Yan was receiving Fang Zhi Chen in the front yard. The two sat opposite each other in the Lake Pavillion, and on the low table there were several dishes with perfect colour and flavour. The spring breeze brought a continuous stream of extraordinary aromatic fragrance from the flowers and trees. It was quite intoxicating.
Fang Zhi Chen secretly looked at the beautiful face of the unwed Marquis Yongle. He wanted to propose a toast but he did not dare to make a move as the aura of Marquis Yongle was so cold that even warm sunshine could not seep through.
Several little maidservants pretended to pass by the lake in a hurry and immediately turned and hid behind the rockery. Through the holes in the rockery, they enjoyed Fang Zhi Cen’s handsome face and sometimes giggled softly.
Fang Zhi Chen was a frail scholar that would naturally be unable to hear them. Yu Pin Yan could hear them clearly. His sharp eyes glimpsed through his face and then he said in a deep voice, “Since you’re here to prepare for the exam, you’d better stay in the room and study. Don’t walk around in the backyard.” If he accidentally bumped into Xiang’er, he would have to kick the mother and son out of the manor.
“Don’t I have to greet the Old Madam every day?” Fang Zhi Chen’s face was a little pale and tried to recall whether he had offended Marquis Yongle.
“No need. The Old Madam has to recite Buddhist scriptures every day. Don’t disturb her peace. If you need anything, send someone to inform her about it. Naturally, someone will help you with it.”
Fang Zhi Chen repeatedly agreed, and deeply thought that the rumour was true. Marquis Yongle had a jade-like appearance of the King of Hell. Sitting opposite him seemed to be sitting in a world of ice and snow, there didn’t seem to be even half a thread of human in him.