Venting Anger
She had known all along that Yu Shuwan had held back when speaking of the past.
Yet Yu Shuwan spoke of these matters with such lightness, indicating the injustices she suffered went far beyond what was said.
Su Jintang seemed somewhat moved as well. Sensing her hesitation, Yu Guiwan’s heart tightened. Biting her lip, she spoke up, “This matter really has nothing to do with my sister…”
Better to pacify this madwoman first!
Hearing her words, Yu Shuwan immediately relaxed and said amiably, “Yes, I knew my sister wouldn’t want to harm me.
All the maids and elderly servants around were sent away, leaving only the young male attendants.
If I had fallen into the water and my brother hadn’t arrived, wouldn’t I have faced two possible outcomes?”
“What two outcomes?”
Yu Jingzhou asked blankly.
Yu Shuwan smiled and said, “One, of course, would be me drowning.”
“Nonsense! How could we let anything happen to you during the family recognition banquet?”
Su Jintang’s face darkened. Yu Shuwan soothed her, “So there’s a second possibility—that the attendants would rescue me and ruin my reputation.”
As soon as these words were spoken, almost everyone couldn’t help but turn their gaze toward Yu Guiwan.
Yu Shuwan found it amusing. “Why are you all looking at my sister? She said she had nothing to do with it.”
But after speaking, Yu Shuwan turned a reproachful look toward Su Jintang. “Mother was the one in charge of organizing this banquet. How is it that the maids and attendants were mismatched?
This time, it was one of our own who accidentally fell into the water. But what if next time, another young lady at the banquet falls in? Wouldn’t that tarnish the reputation of our Zhongyi Houfu?”
So this little girl was waiting here all along.
Grandmother Yu was both annoyed and amused.
After saying so much earlier, it turned out it was all for this final statement.
Su Jintang was no fool either. She immediately understood that Yu Shuwan was criticizing her poor performance as the mistress of the household.
Anger instantly flared in her heart, and the slight sympathy she had felt earlier vanished without a trace.
But before she could speak, Grandmother Yu had already begun,
“This matter ends here. Guiwan fell into the water and should go back to rest properly.
Su-shi, Shuwan is right about the banquet arrangements. This time, it was one of our own. Next time, it could be someone else. Even with ten mouths, you wouldn’t be able to explain it clearly.”
Grandmother Yu spoke calmly, “For now, the authority to manage the household will be handed over to Zhi Qiu. You should take some time to calm your mind.”
Su Jintang was stunned. “I have managed the household for over a decade. Do you truly intend to take this authority away from me?”
“Having been the mistress for so many years, you should be even clearer about what should and should not be done.”
Grandmother Yu’s gaze carried a hint of warning. “This is just a reminder.”
Her eyes intentionally swept over the pale-faced Yu Guiwan but did not linger for long.
Yu Jingzhou, however, grew anxious. “Grandmother, Mother has worked hard all these years. If you take away her authority to manage the household just like that, how will she command the respect of those below her as the mistress?”
“And you.”
Grandmother Yu looked Yu Jingzhou up and down and snorted coldly. “If you are as confused as your mother, you might as well stay in the military camp and not come back.”
With that, Grandmother Yu extended her hand. “Shuwan, come back with Grandmother.”
Yu Shuwan’s heart trembled.
She knew that Grandmother Yu’s words were meant to support her, to ensure that no one would dare look down on her in the future.
Such a wonderful grandmother—why hadn’t she protected her in her previous life?
Yu Shuwan supported Grandmother Yu, her voice gentle, “Grandmother, let me help you.”
After walking some distance, Grandmother Yu finally slowed her pace, “Speak, what happened?”
“Don’t you think I schemed against my own family?”
Yu Shuwan countered.
Grandmother Yu looked at her, “Though I am old, I am not confused.”
Hearing this, Yu Shuwan fell silent.
She lowered her head and kicked away a pebble at her feet.
The pebble rolled away and disappeared into the grass nearby.
Grandmother Yu was in no hurry, speaking calmly, “You are not a foolish child; whatever you do, you have your reasons. If you don’t want to speak now, why is that?”
“Don’t you really think I am cunning?”
Yu Shuwan asked again.
Grandmother Yu smiled, “Even the emperor’s daughters can be calculating, what do you think?”
“She dismissed the maids around her, so even if there were maids who could swim, they couldn’t save me. Those servants seemed prepared, and when they saw it was her who fell in, they didn’t dare to go down.”
Yu Shuwan said, “She was at fault, and Madam was at fault too. If Madam hadn’t blindly protected her and managed the household strictly, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
Grandmother Yu nodded, “So, by taking away her authority to manage the household, I was also standing up for you.”
“I know.”
Yu Shuwan looked up at Grandmother Yu, “Grandmother, thank you.”
“Silly child, what are you saying.”
Grandmother Yu sighed softly, “Today is a good day; you should be happier.”
Yu Shuwan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded, “Yes, I should be happier.”
Today marked the first step in saving her own fate, so it was indeed a good day.
The two continued talking as they walked toward the back garden.
The guests had merely changed locations and had not dispersed, now gathered in the back garden.
Many had witnessed Yu Guiwan’s disheveled appearance after falling into the water, and whispers about the incident were not few.
Seeing Yu Shuwan arrive with Grandmother Yu, everyone consciously stopped their chatter and began praising Yu Shuwan instead.
“Truly the daughter of the Marquis Estate, her looks resemble the Marquise’s by five or six parts.”
“Though young, she possesses an otherworldly grace, and what’s more, she has patience. Grandmother Yu is truly blessed.”
“Why haven’t we heard of this young lady before?”
Suddenly, someone asked this question, and the previously lively scene fell silent as everyone turned to look at the speaker.
It was Madam Xu, the wife of Vice Minister Xu. Seeing everyone’s gaze on her, she stammered, “D-did I say something wrong?”
She was not skilled at socializing with the other ladies and rarely went out.
She had come this time out of curiosity about why the Zhongyi Houfu had an additional daughter.
“You didn’t say anything wrong.”
Yu Shuwan smiled, her eyes curving, “Grandmother said that I was in poor health before and was raised elsewhere until I turned fourteen.”
Those who had wanted to ask but hadn’t dared now understood.
Their gazes toward Yu Shuwan held a bit more pity.
After all, Yu Shuwan looked quite frail, suggesting she had not lived well elsewhere.
Yu Shuwan didn’t mind these matters at all. Instead, she cheerfully invited everyone to watch the opera. “Grandmother mentioned that the most popular show in Jingcheng recently is The Princess Flower, so she specially invited a troupe to perform. Would all the ladies like to move over and take a look?”