The Backing
“I know Grandmother is good to me,” Yu Shuwan said. “But Grandmother is a formidable person. I’d rather be like Grandmother, able to protect myself.”
Grandmother Yu had always been strict with the younger generation. This was the first time a junior had been willing to get close to her.
Perhaps out of a sense of guilt, Grandmother Yu did not mention a single word about rules to Yu Shuwan. Instead, she softened her tone and asked about her past life.
In her previous life, Yu Shuwan had been vague and evasive. Although Grandmother Yu felt heartache, she couldn’t help but feel somewhat disappointed.
In this life, Yu Shuwan narrated her story as if it were someone else’s.
After recounting how Liu Chunlan had wanted to sell her to a fool, Grandmother Yu angrily slammed the table. “Utterly absurd!”
Yu Shuwan smiled and said, “Grandmother, don’t let anger harm your health.”
Grandmother Yu’s expression was complicated. “How did your father handle it?”
Yu Shuwan did not want to hide Liu Chunlan’s matter from Grandmother Yu. Since only the two of them were speaking in the room, she decided to be forthright. “Father didn’t have the chance to handle it.”
“No chance?”
“Besides treating her granddaughter this way, Liu Chunlan herself was involved in the kidnapper trade. The local authorities were negligent, so I simply invited her to go up the mountain.”
As she spoke of this, a cold glint flashed in Yu Shuwan’s eyes.
But then, her expression returned to normal as she looked at Grandmother Yu. “Does Grandmother think I am heartless?”
Grandmother Yu naturally knew that “went up the mountain” was not meant literally.
She should have scolded Yu Shuwan for being heartless, but the child before her had suffered too much.
“I just think, how wonderful it would have been if you hadn’t been lost.”
Hearing Grandmother Yu’s sigh, Yu Shuwan held back her stinging nose and said solemnly, “Your granddaughter is not one who cannot distinguish right from wrong. As long as Grandmother does not find me foolish, I am willing to stay by Grandmother’s side for a lifetime.”
“You like me that much?”
Logically, this was their first meeting. Why was this girl so devoted to her?
Yu Shuwan pursed her lips, her eyes dimming.
“Mother and Father seem to prefer that elder sister more.
Although this is my first time meeting Grandmother, you recognized my identity right away, which shows that Grandmother cares about me.”
Hearing Yu Shuwan’s words, Grandmother Yu felt an even more complex mix of emotions.
Just a little extra attention from her had made this girl so devoted. How much had she suffered in the past?
“Good child, what is your name?”
Grandmother Yu’s tone softened as she reached out to hold her hand.
Yu Shuwan looked into the old lady’s eyes and said, “They call me Liu Xiaowan—’bowl’ as in the bowl for eating.”
“Why such a name?”
“They said a humble name is easier to raise. I used to be sad that my name was so casual, but now I feel fortunate.”
“Fortunate about what?”
“Somehow, my name is similar to that elder sister’s—Guiwan. ‘Thoughts boundless. Jade pendant, golden hairpin, cloud-like hair in disarray. Only others return late, showing how deep Father and Mother’s affection was back then.'”
When she was giving birth, Yu Fangyi had not been able to stay by Su Jintang’s side.
Thus, upon learning of the child’s birth, Yu Fangyi deliberately named her Yu Guiwan, homophonous with “returning late.”
It was considered a beautiful story.
Upon hearing this, Grandmother Yu’s expression also turned subtle.
That name should have belonged to the girl before her.
“Now that you’ve returned, you should change your name.”
Grandmother Yu changed the subject. “From what you said earlier, it seems you’ve learned some characters. The generational character for your generation is ‘wan.’ Do you have one you like?”
“I just learned a bit from the village schoolchildren.”
Yu Shuwan said, “Grandmother, what do you think of the character ‘Shu’?”
“To clear obstructions—Yu Shuwan, it is indeed a fitting name.”
Grandmother Yu sighed, “Do you resent Guiwan?”
The smile faded from Yu Shuwan’s face. “Your granddaughter is no saint. I cannot forget the hardships of these years. But I know Grandmother wishes for family harmony brings prosperity, so I will certainly not provoke trouble.”
“That is enough.”
Grandmother Yu had feared Yu Shuwan might be too extreme, but after this brief interaction, she could sense that Yu Shuwan was not a reckless person. This clear distinction between love and hate reminded her of her own younger days. Thus, Grandmother Yu felt no aversion.
If someone in the household is restless, why keep tolerating it?
Noticing that no one had come looking for Shuwan even after she had been here for so long, Grandmother Yu knew that the estate would likely become livelier from now on.
Yu Shuwan stayed with Grandmother Yu until the sun began to set. Only then did someone arrive belatedly. “I was supposed to bring the Second Young Miss to see you, but she doesn’t understand the rules and is nowhere to be found. Madam specifically sent me to inform you, Grandmother, that there’s no need to—”
“Nowhere to be found?”
Grandmother Yu sneered. “She arrived in broad daylight, and now the sun is nearly set. I haven’t heard any commotion about searching for her. Instead, I heard a few maids saying that Treasure Pavilion had sent clothes and jewelry to Guiwan again?”
These were things Grandmother Yu had deliberately asked Zhiqiu to keep an eye on.
The woman’s expression turned awkward, not expecting Grandmother Yu to directly refute her words.
As the atmosphere grew tense, a clear, slightly languid female voice rang out.
“I remember you.”
The young girl, now dressed in brand-new attire, had shed all traces of her timid, rabbit-like demeanor.
Yu Shuwan emerged from behind the screen with a smile. “You are that elder sister’s wet nurse.”
This wet nurse had quite a background.
Because Yu Fangyi doted on Su Jintang, he had specifically sought out the most fortunate woman in Jingcheng to serve as Yu Guiwan’s wet nurse.
In her previous life, this Madam Wen had targeted Yu Shuwan at every turn since her return to the Yu family, even smoothing over things that Yu Guiwan herself couldn’t justify.
Yu Shuwan had suffered greatly at her hands.
Madam Wen felt puzzled but forced a smile. “This must be the Second Young Miss. Indeed, you carry yourself with exceptional grace. However, since the Second Young Miss is here with Grandmother, you should have informed the Marquis and Madam. They were worried sick when they couldn’t find you.”
“Wait a moment.”
Yu Shuwan lifted the hem of her skirt and stood on tiptoe to look outside. Madam Wen couldn’t help but ask, “What is the Second Young Miss looking at?”
“I’m checking the sky. When I arrived, the sun was shining brightly, but now it’s almost dark, and only now has someone found me?” Yu Shuwan looked at her with confusion. “Are you all negligent, or do Father and Mother not welcome me?”
Before Madam Wen could respond, Yu Shuwan suddenly seemed to understand. “It couldn’t be that Elder Sister deliberately kept Father and Mother from looking for me, could it?”
“How dare you slander her!”
Madam Wen hadn’t expected this country bumpkin to immediately pin the blame on her young mistress after just one sentence.
But with Grandmother Yu present, Madam Wen flushed red with anger. “If the Second Young Miss dislikes the Eldest Young Miss, why resort to such provocations?”
“Provocations?”
Yu Shuwan sneered, “You simply wanted to complain to Grandmother about my crude behavior, but you didn’t expect me to be right there.
Wen Mama, spare me your clever talk.
You should be grateful that I have the blood of Zhongyi Houfu in my veins, so I don’t learn everything. Otherwise, I would have already torn your mouth apart like Liu Chunlan.”