Chen Shi spoke gently to Luo Yihui: “Your grandmother passed away so suddenly, leaving affairs in disarray. Yining is still young, so it’s fortunate you’ve returned in time. Why don’t you stay for dinner before heading back…”
Yihui glanced at Luo Yuyu sitting beside Chen Shi. On the way here, she had already learned from Xuezhi about the past few months’ events.
“Mother is still busy with matters at home and can’t get away. I’m afraid I’ll have to decline your kind offer,” Yihui said with a smile. “I heard from Meimei that Jade Sister is engaged to the son of Liu Prefecture’s Assistant Magistrate?”
Chen Shi wouldn’t have thought much of it if anyone else had asked. But coming from Yihui, the Heir Apparent’s wife of the Marquis of Dingbei with a second-rank title, Chen Shi couldn’t help but compare. Yuyu’s fiancé didn’t even have an official post yet, let alone any noble titles. Both were legitimate daughters of the Luo family…
“The Old Madam arranged it before she passed,” Chen Shi replied with a smile. “He’s not bad – he passed the provincial exams this year along with Huaiyuan and Shenyuan. He’ll take the metropolitan exams next year.”
Yining hadn’t heard about this before. So Luo Yuyu’s future husband had also passed the provincial exams.
At that time, Luo Shenyuan had just become a Provincial Graduate with Distinction, so probably no one paid much attention to him.
“Speaking of engagements gives me a headache,” Yihui said with a gentle laugh. “Take the Duke of Ying’s grandson Cheng Lang for example. His temperament has been giving his two uncles no end of trouble. Recently, he somehow offended Grand Secretary Dou’s eldest granddaughter. She insists on marrying him, forcing Grand Secretary Dou to plead with his brother-in-law, General Lu. Yet Cheng Lang still refuses. Who knows what kind of girl he’s looking for.”
Upon hearing Yihui’s words, the color drained from Luo Yuyu’s face.
She suddenly asked, “Grand Secretary Dou’s eldest granddaughter… wants to marry Second Young Master Cheng?”
Yihui looked at Luo Yuyu and smiled slightly, “He comes from an illustrious family, with General Lu as his uncle and the heir of Duke Ying as his adopted uncle. He’s handsome and brilliant. Not just Grand Secretary Dou’s granddaughter, but every eligible noble daughter in the capital would want to marry him.”
Listening to her elder sister’s words, Yining felt a mix of emotions.
Those people who were once so close to her could now only be heard about through others’ words, as distant as the horizon.
Her elder sister’s marriage to the Marquis of Dingbei’s family meant they had long-standing ties with the Marquis of Ningyuan’s family. The Duke of Ying’s family, like the Marquis of Ningyuan’s, was among the most prominent of the noble families. The heir of Duke Ying had fought alongside Lu Jiaxue many times, risking life and limb. He was now the Commander-in-Chief of Xuanfu and had a deep friendship with Lu Jiaxue. So it wasn’t surprising that her elder sister had connections with the Duke of Ying’s family.
These words from her elder sister were meant for Luo Yuyu to hear.
Luo Yuyu’s face looked terrible, both dejected and dazed.
She glanced at Yining. Yihui must have learned about Cheng Lang, which could only have come from Yining.
But Yining didn’t care at all about Luo Yuyu’s feelings. What use was there in caring about someone like her?
She stood expressionlessly beside Yihui, not even looking at Luo Yuyu.
After finishing, Yihui stood up with Yining and bid farewell to Chen Shi.
Seeing them leave, Chen Shi closed her teacup lid and said to her daughter, “Don’t harbor any more delusions. Have you forgotten past lessons? I think the match your grandmother chose for you is indeed good. Liu Jing is an ambitious young man. Even though you’ll be in mourning for three years, he specially sent a message through Madam Gao saying he’s willing to wait. Such devotion is truly rare.”
Luo Yuyu nodded and said softly, “I understand. I just can’t help feeling regretful. I like him so much…”
“There are plenty who like him,” Chen Shi said with a cold laugh. “But does he like you?”
Luo Yuyu fell silent. Chen Shi slowly stroked her sleeve and continued, “Your elder sister’s return this time is not simple. The Cheng Lang matter is trivial – we need to see what she’s really up to.”
A maid helped Chen Shi stand up. She looked at her two daughters. Luo Yuyu was proud and arrogant, with high aspirations but little ability. Luo Yixiu’s personality was rash and muddled, taking after who knows who. Gu Minglang was indeed formidable, leaving behind such a capable eldest daughter as Luo Yihui.
Chen Shi closed her eyes briefly. It seemed she would have to move up her plans.
Yining followed Yihui back to the main room, where Lin Hairu had already had the meal prepared. A maid went to inform the others, and soon Concubine Qiao arrived with her two children to pay their respects.
Concubine Qiao didn’t want to come, but knowing Yihui’s temperament, she feared what trouble might arise if she didn’t. Moreover, the Second Master always listened to his eldest daughter. Upon hearing the maid’s message, she immediately had her maids help her freshen up.
Yihui held Yining in her arms, feeding her sweet osmanthus and white fungus soup with longan.
Even Grandmother had never fed her like this before. Yihui was still treating her like a little child.
Yining drank the spoonful her sister offered, only for another to follow. Seeing her sister drink what she fed her, Yihui felt content. She had fed her like this when she was little – it was no different from raising her herself.
After finishing, a maid handed over a handkerchief. Yihui wiped Yining’s mouth and softly asked if she wanted more.
Yining was already quite full and said with a hiccup, “Elder Sister, I really can’t drink anymore…” She was a bit worried, having been fed so much by Lin Hairu these past few days and now by Yihui. She felt she would keep getting fatter.
Seeing her chubby pink cheeks looking so adorable, Yihui pinched them once before setting her down on the seat beside her.
Just then, a maid lifted the curtain as Concubine Qiao entered with Luo Yiliang and Xuan’er.
“Paying respects to the First Young Lady,” Concubine Qiao said. She was dressed, her black hair in a simple bun, her profile as delicate as morning dew. After she curtsied, Luo Yiliang also led Xuan’er in bowing to Yihui.
Yihui wiped her fingers with the handkerchief she had used to clean Yining’s mouth. She asked indifferently, “Is that Concubine Qiao?”
Yining, who had just sat up straight, looked up to see Concubine Qiao bowing to Yihui. She thought her elder sister was truly formidable. Although a concubine’s status was lower than a daughter’s, what noble concubine would bow to a young lady? Judging by Concubine Qiao’s practiced movements, this seemed to be a common occurrence.
So Yining answered, “Yes, Elder Sister. Concubine Qiao has arrived.”
Concubine Qiao maintained her bowing posture without a word. Yihui also remained silent. The main room was quiet for a moment.
The maids all lowered their heads, not daring to speak. Lin Hairu looked at Yihui and Yining, wondering what game the two sisters were playing.
“Concubine Qiao is a favored concubine who serves Father and often feels unwell. There’s no need for such formality,” Yihui finally said, glancing at the maid beside her. “How lacking in awareness. Quickly bring a round stool for the Concubine.”
All the maids in the room, big and small, watched as Concubine Qiao bowed to Yihui for a full quarter hour.
Only after Yihui spoke did a little maid bring a round stool for Concubine Qiao.
Concubine Qiao held back her feelings and gently thanked Yihui.
There had been times when Concubine Qiao opposed Yihui, but it seemed those never ended well. She had already decided to endure it – after all, Yihui was not only the eldest legitimate daughter but also the wife of an heir apparent. She wouldn’t be staying in the Luo family much longer anyway. Having made up her mind, she calmed down, though her hands were still clenched tightly in her sleeves. Usually, her status in the Second Branch was second only to Lin Hairu’s. Besides Yihui, who would dare slight her?
Yihui stroked her sister’s head. This little girl understood everything clearly.
She smiled and said, “I hadn’t seen Xuan’er since he was just born when I married. It’s been so long – bring him over for me to take a look.”
A maid brought Xuan’er to Yihui’s side.
Xuan’er was unfamiliar with Yihui but found her pretty. He played with her, giggling happily until he almost fell off the stool.
Concubine Qiao couldn’t help but stand up, seeming ready to snatch Xuan’er back.
Yihui had already steadied Xuan’er. She glanced at Concubine Qiao and said coolly, “What is the Concubine doing? Don’t you trust me?”
Concubine Qiao forced a smile, “How could I not trust the First Young Lady?”
“Why are you so jumpy? I’m Xuan’er’s elder sister. Do you think I’d let him get hurt in my care?” Yihui said flatly, continuing to play with Xuan’er.
Concubine Qiao and Luo Yiliang watched intently, not daring to look away for a moment. Xuan’er, seeming to feel he had just had a close call, laughed even more happily.
After playing for quite a while, a servant came to relay a message that the Second Master was waiting for the First Young Lady in his study.
Yihui finally handed Xuan’er back to Concubine Qiao. Xuan’er had enjoyed playing with his unfamiliar elder sister and seemed a bit reluctant to leave. Concubine Qiao, however, grabbed Xuan’er tightly, clearly relieved as she prepared to take her leave.
“Wait, Concubine,” Yihui called out to her. “You’re a clever woman. Xuan’er is smart and lovable. If you focus on raising him well, you’ll have a stable future. If you start thinking of other things, I’m afraid you won’t be able to take good care of Xuan’er. In that case, it might be better for Mother to raise him.”
Yihui hadn’t summoned her just to receive greetings.
Concubine Qiao was grinding her back teeth. Was she using Xuan’er to threaten her?
She held Xuan’er tightly and said, “I… understand.”
Strike the snake at its weakest point – Xuan’er was Concubine Qiao’s Achilles’ heel.
If not for the fact that Concubine Qiao had given birth to Xuan’er and held an unusual position in the Second Branch, given Yihui’s current methods and status, she would have dealt with Concubine Qiao long ago. But using Xuan’er to warn her was enough to make her behave.
Luo Yiliang also seemed to feel the humiliation. She bit her lip and withdrew with her mother and brother.
“Meimei, stay here with Mother to play. I’ll be back soon,” Yihui patted Yining’s head.
Yining obediently said “Alright.”
Seeing Yihui leave, Lin Hairu said softly to Yining, “Your elder sister is formidable. Did you see Concubine Qiao’s face just now? It was awful!”
Perhaps because Yihui had made Concubine Qiao eat humble pie, Lin Hairu’s appetite improved greatly, and she ate half a bowl more rice than usual.
She wasn’t worried at all about what her eldest daughter might be discussing. After the meal, she played dominoes with Yining on the luohan bed.
Yining hadn’t been in good spirits these past few days, and she didn’t enjoy playing. After a while, she started to feel drowsy. She wanted to wait for her elder sister to return, but a child’s body craved sleep. Now that she was in a growth spurt, she was even more prone to sleeping.
Lin Hairu had a maid bring over a quilt. Yining habitually wrapped herself in the quilt and fell asleep on the luohan bed.
By the time Yihui returned, candles had been lit in the room, and Lin Hairu was quietly talking with Ruixiang.
Yihui was also tired after a long day. She let a maid help her sit down and saw that her sister had wrapped herself up like a silkworm cocoon, sleeping soundly. She couldn’t help but laugh, “She used to kick off her covers while sleeping. How did she start liking to wrap herself up like this?”
Xuezhi said, “This servant doesn’t know. The Young Miss started liking to sleep wrapped up after she fell into the water.”
This was just Yining’s habit. She had liked to wrap herself in quilts since she was little, as it helped her sleep better. She didn’t change this even after getting married.
Yihui misunderstood upon hearing this. She stared at her sister’s sleeping profile for a moment, then asked Lin Hairu, “Tell me, when Nanny Zheng spoke with Grandmother that day, and Grandmother passed away soon after. What exactly did Nanny Zheng say?”
Lin Hairu sighed, “None of us know. But before the Old Madam passed, she only spoke to one person. She had us all leave the room. The person she spoke to was Luo Shenyuan, Yining’s third brother.”
Yihui fell into deep thought upon learning that Grandmother had spoken to Luo Shenyuan before she died. No one knew Grandmother’s attitude towards Luo Shenyuan better than her. She very much wanted to meet with Luo Shenyuan to see what he was planning. Unfortunately, Luo Shenyuan had gone to Dingzhou today and wouldn’t return until tomorrow.
This third brother had never been easy to deal with. He was too ruthless and too indifferent to others.
She had just spoken with Father for a while. Now that Luo Shenyuan had become a Provincial Graduate with Distinction, the Second Branch would surely rely on him in the future. If he wanted to do something, even she might not be able to stop him.
Did Yining believe Luo Shenyuan cared for her?