Magnanimity
Her eyes glinted coldly as she sneered:
“When you brought me back, you said I was the Yu family’s true daughter.
Now you want to cross my name off the Family Register to give the only daughter’s spot to an outsider? Then why did you bring me back in the first place?
What, you want both substance and reputation? Since when do such good things come so easily?”
“What outsider? At such a young age, you’re already so calculating. Guiwan is your sister!”
“Yes, she’s my sister.
The sister who crawled out of my kidnapper foster mother Liu Chunlan’s womb—a sister who shares neither my father nor my mother.”
Yu Shuwan covered her lips with a light laugh, paying no mind to their livid expressions.
“I know you resent me, but Father and Mother truly care for you.”
Yu Guiwan bit her lip,
“None of this was what I wanted to happen, little sister. Can you understand that?”
“No.”
Yu Shuwan shook her head sincerely, extending both hands. “Look, these calluses should have been on your hands, and these scars…
From the moment I understood anything, I was constantly working, terrified that one day I’d be sold off.
When I was starving, cold, and living in fear, what were you doing?
Enjoying the boundless affection of my parents and brother, hmm?
I haven’t even insisted on driving you out of the Yu family—that’s already my magnanimity. Yet you still want to take my place? Who gave you the nerve?”
“So you do blame me…”
“Of course I resent you. But is that all you have to say?
I’ve heard that line so many times my ears are growing calluses.”
Yu Shuwan grew impatient.
“The Family Register can have my name or hers, but not both. If Father has forgotten what he said when he brought me back, I can easily have someone write it out a hundred or a thousand times and post it everywhere you’ll see it, day after day.”
Grandmother Yu had initially worried that Yu Shuwan might be hurt by the couple’s attitude, but now she saw her concern was unnecessary.
A faint smile touched her lips as she gave an almost imperceptible shake of her head. She lifted the tea Yu Shuwan had poured for her to her lips and focused on sipping it quietly.
“Nonsense!”
Yu Fangyi naturally wouldn’t allow Yu Shuwan to leave now.
Moreover, Grandmother Yu had already submitted Yu Shuwan’s name to the Clan, and it was long since recorded in the Family Register.
His face darkened as he said,
“You are a daughter of the Yu family. That fact will not change.”
Hearing Yu Fangyi’s words, Yu Shuwan didn’t press further. Instead, she turned her gaze to Yu Guiwan, whose face had paled noticeably.
Getting anxious now?
Look how pale that little face has turned.
Su Jintang suppressed the ache in her chest from anger and once again questioned Grandmother Yu,
“Mother, Guiwan has been with us for so many years. Your daughter-in-law and the Marquis have long regarded her as our own child.
How can one be heartless like grass or trees?
If we don’t give Guiwan a proper status, how will others see her? How will she face the world in the future?”
Yu Shuwan couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
Such deep maternal affection, truly touching.
As everyone’s eyes turned toward her, Su Jintang’s expression darkened. Yu Shuwan blinked innocently,
“Am I not even allowed to laugh?”
Yu Fangyi had by now recognized Yu Shuwan’s stubborn nature. He took a deep breath and chose to ignore her.
Turning instead to Grandmother Yu, he pleaded earnestly,
“Mother, please have some compassion for Guiwan as well.”
Grandmother Yu set down her teacup, her face grim as she asked,
“Whose idea was it to come before me with these questions?”
Su Jintang naturally wouldn’t admit it was because Yu Guiwan’s weeping had been so pitiful that she’d decided to approach Grandmother Yu about the matter.
In her view, Guiwan was currently in a state of panic and fear, so it was only natural for her to say such things.
But she had always been afraid of Grandmother Yu, and now, under Grandmother Yu’s gaze, her confidence dwindled inch by inch.
“As parents, we always have to plan more for our children…”
Yu Shuwan found it utterly ridiculous.
As parents?
For Yu Guiwan’s parents, right?
In her previous life, Su Jintang initially only felt that she had stolen all the attention from Yu Guiwan, and always harbored a sense of disgust toward her.
Later, she desperately studied music, chess, calligraphy, painting, etiquette, and grooming, just to resemble Yu Guiwan a little, hoping Su Jintang would spare her a glance.
But Su Jintang’s eyes were only on Yu Guiwan.
Yu Guiwan set up various schemes, and she foolishly fell into the traps, yet still yearned for that faint trace of familial affection and maternal love.
But Su Jintang only said with disgust:
“With such a malicious heart, no matter how much you learn, you’ll never compare to Guiwan in the slightest!”
Yet no matter how she explained, Su Jintang refused to listen.
…
The events of her previous life seemed to still be vivid before her eyes, making Yu Shuwan unconsciously clench her hands, her heart aching with a sharp pain.
Sensing Yu Shuwan’s unease, she assumed it was because she was hurt by the couple before her.
Grandmother Yu could no longer sit still and said coldly:
“If you had planned a little for Shuwan, I wouldn’t have directly submitted her name to the Clan.
Since Shuwan returned, have you asked her once how she is, whether she has suffered any grievances?
How dare you say ‘as parents’!
Or perhaps in your eyes, this old woman is a cold-hearted and unfeeling person?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the maid who had gone to submit the names returned to report.
“The Clan Elder has added the young lady’s name. This is a copy of the Clan Register. Please take a look, Grandmother.”
“Let them see for themselves.”
Grandmother Yu snorted coldly, signaling the maid to hand the register to Yu Fangyi.
Yu Fangyi pursed his lips and eventually took it.
Flipping to his page, two names were clearly recorded: adopted daughter Yu Guiwan, daughter Yu Shuwan.
“As long as she doesn’t stir up trouble, what’s written in this register won’t reach anyone else’s ears.”
Grandmother Yu said:
“You came eagerly to seek justice from me, but have you ever considered whether you yourselves are just?”
Yu Shuwan knew Grandmother Yu was standing up for her, and her heart warmed with gratitude.
Being scolded in front of the servants without any regard, Su Jintang’s face flushed red and pale alternately.
Even though she was dissatisfied with Grandmother Yu listing Yu Guiwan as an adopted daughter, at least her name was still in the Family Register.
No matter how dissatisfied Su Jintang was, she could only suppress it and dared not bring it up.
“Since there’s nothing else, you may leave.”
Grandmother Yu’s tone was indifferent.
“In the future, don’t come over unless necessary. Shuwan will stay by my side, and I will personally teach her.”
“How can that be?”
“Great!”
Su Jintang disliked Yu Shuwan and naturally couldn’t agree more, but it was Yu Guiwan who objected.
Her eyes filled with guilt and unease, she said:
“My sister has just returned, and now she misunderstands me deeply.
Even if it’s to make up for my sister and make her feel better, I still want to spend more time with her.”
“You’re just too kind-hearted.”
Su Jintang chided softly, “With her temperament, you’ll suffer. Just let her be.”
Yu Shuwan burst into laughter. “Who do you think you are?”
“Liu… Yu Shuwan!”
Su Jintang roared angrily, “How dare you speak to your sister like that?”
“I ask, what does she count as?”
Yu Shuwan enunciated each word clearly,
“Originally, you didn’t prepare a courtyard for me either. I’ve been living perfectly fine at grandmother’s place—why should I be arranged into a small woodshed by you?”
“Even if the Yu family were to fall into the worst of times, we would never make you live in a woodshed.”
Yu Fangyi was displeased, and Yu Guiwan’s tears came even more readily, “Sister, how can you say such things about me?”
“I won’t go.”
How could Yu Shuwan not see through Yu Guiwan’s little schemes?
By putting her down, Yu Guiwan sought to gain what she called “fortune.”
In this lifetime, even if she had to feed that fortune to the dogs, she wouldn’t let Yu Guiwan take the slightest advantage.
“Sister, if you truly dislike me and are unwilling to give me a chance to get along well, then I am willing to leave the Houfu.”