She wanted to demonstrate her management of the Marquis Manor, not actually serve them like a maid!
Lin Siqiong could barely maintain the smile on her face. Taking a deep breath, she finally said, "It’s only an hour until lunchtime. Youniang, please wait a little longer. Someone will bring food over then."
Yu Youniang’s face was full of disappointment as she let out a small sigh. "The Marquis Manor is so pitiful? Before lunchtime, we can only go hungry. Auntie, you’ve endured hunger for so many years in the Marquis Manor on behalf of my mother. You’re truly pitiful!"
"I haven’t gone hungry in the Marquis Manor!" Lin Siqiong couldn’t hold back any longer and raised her voice.
This outburst revealed her ferocity, completely devoid of her earlier gentleness.
Yu Youniang widened her eyes and stared at Lin Siqiong. "Auntie, why are you so fierce! Where did the gentle auntie from before go? Are you performing magic tricks?"
Lin Siqiong felt as if her mind were being tightly gripped by a hand, the pain making it hard to even keep her eyes open.
Taking another deep breath, Lin Siqiong forced a smile. "A maid will bring you some snacks in a moment. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now."
"Is Auntie going to serve Grandmother? Auntie must serve Grandmother well! After all, Grandmother loves your service so much!"
Lin Siqiong clenched her hands tightly, digging her nails into her palms, wishing she could rush forward and slap Yu Youniang.
But Yu Youniang was only a five-year-old child, and an uncultured village girl at that.
If she were to truly pick apart the girl’s choice of words, it would only demean herself.
Helpless, Lin Siqiong could only cast a cold glance at Yu Youniang before turning and striding out of the room.
Once Lin Siqiong left, the servants waiting outside followed suit. The entire courtyard was now empty except for Yu Youniang and Yu Tingwan.
Yu Tingwan helplessly reached out and tapped Yu Youniang’s forehead. "You! Always so mischievous!"
Yu Youniang blinked her big eyes, revealing two rows of pearly white teeth as she smiled. "Mother, it’s not my fault! Who told her she always wants to bully you!"
With that, Yu Youniang jumped down from the chair, walked over to Yu Tingwan, grabbed her arm, and shook it vigorously. "Mother, can I not go to the Imperial Academy?"
"No," Yu Tingwan said sternly. "These past few years… you’ve always been mischievous and unruly, surely because you lacked a strict teacher. The Imperial Academy is the best academy in the land, filled with strict and renowned teachers. You must study diligently there.
Moreover… this is your grandfather and grandmother’s kind intention. They want to make up for what they couldn’t give me by investing in you. We shouldn’t disappoint them."
Yu Youniang lowered her head in disappointment. "Alright then, I’ll go."
Lin Siqiong first went to the main courtyard, where she slandered Yu Tingwan and Yu Youniang in front of the Marchioness. Satisfied, she then headed to Chunxue Courtyard.
Chunxue Courtyard was Lin Ruoli’s residence.
When Lin Siqiong arrived, Lin Ruoli was playing the zither.
The little girl sat beside the zither table, her fair and tender fingers adorned with picks as she plucked the strings.
The melody was graceful, the sound of the zither pleasing to the ear.
Though she couldn’t compare to a master, for a five-year-old girl to play at this level was already astonishing enough.
That little village girl Yu Youniang probably hadn’t even touched a zither string before!
As the final note faded, Lin Ruoli finally turned her gaze toward Lin Siqiong. "Mother."
Lin Siqiong walked over and sat down opposite Lin Ruoli. "Li'er, tomorrow that Yu Youniang will be going to the Imperial Academy with you. She's just a little country girl who grew up in the countryside and hasn't seen anything of the world. You should take her around properly, show her what it's like, and introduce her to your classmates at the Imperial Academy."
The corner of Lin Ruoli's mouth lifted in a disdainful smile. "A country girl—what does it matter even if she has the Lin Family's bloodline? I am the chosen daughter of heaven, the destined Crown Princess. Do they really think that just because Mother isn't of the Lin Family's blood, the Marquis Manor would drive us mother and daughter out? What a dream!"
When she heard Lin Ruoli mention the destined Crown Princess, a flicker of something strange passed through Lin Siqiong's eyes, but it quickly returned to normal as she nodded with a smile. "Li'er is right! So, Li'er, there's no need to hide her identity. It's a perfect opportunity to let outsiders see what the true, legitimate bloodline of the Lin Family is really like! In the capital, it's not just bloodline that decides everything!"
"Don't worry, Mother. Li'er knows what to do."
That evening, there was no so-called reunion dinner at the Marquis Manor.
Lin Yu was late in returning, Marquis Yong'an had left the manor on short notice, and the Marchioness was deeply fatigued. So, Yu Tingwan and Yu Youniang still ate their meal alone in their courtyard.
The table was laden with lavish dishes—fish, meat, abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, and fish maw. Yu Youniang ate with great relish, her cheeks puffed out, her lips glistening with oil, looking rosy and bright.
The maid serving nearby showed no expression on her face, but inwardly she sneered with contempt.
Truly from a poor, remote place—no manners at all when eating!
Yu Youniang had no idea what the maid was thinking; her eyes were fixed solely on the feast before her.
So much! So delicious! All hers!
Coming to the capital was definitely the right decision!
No one would ever fight her for food again!
Yu Tingwan wanted to stop her, but seeing Yu Youniang's pitiful expression, her heart softened, and she simply let her be.
In Chunxue Courtyard, Lin Siqiong and Lin Ruoli were also having their evening meal. Both had a bowl of bird's nest soup in front of them, and the dishes on the table were all exquisitely presented, with light and delicate flavors.
Their manner of eating was identical—refined and elegant.
A small bowl of bird's nest soup took a full quarter of an hour to finish.
When they finally set down their chopsticks and had the dishes cleared away, the food was barely touched.
A maid then stepped forward and softly reported Yu Youniang's eating habits.
Upon hearing this, Lin Siqiong chuckled lightly. "Don't bother with her. Let her be. Give her as much as she wants, let her eat her fill."
Better yet, let her grow into a fat pig! So that people would feel disgusted at the very sight of her!
After the maid withdrew, Lin Siqiong looked at Lin Ruoli with satisfaction. "A daughter like Li'er is the true heiress of a noble family!"
Lin Ruoli smiled faintly, her sharp chin lifting slightly. "Don't worry, Mother. Li'er knows what truly matters. I won't ruin my future for the sake of mere appetite."
…
Early the next morning, after breakfast, Yu Youniang and Yu Tingwan arrived together at the entrance of the Marquis Manor.
They had just arrived when Lin Yu snorted coldly. "Coming so late, making all of us wait for you—you really have no sense of propriety at all!"
Yu Youniang opened her big eyes wide, looking at Lin Yu with curiosity. "Uncle, Grandmother, Grandfather, are you all going to study at the Imperial Academy too?"
Lin Yu’s face darkened. "Of course we’re not going!"
"If you’re not going, why did you come? If Uncle hadn’t come, we wouldn’t have had to wait."
Lin Yu snorted coldly. "Who said I came to wait for you? I came to see Li’er off! You were the one who arrived too late! If you’re this late again next time, I’ll let Li’er leave first! You may be lazy and unambitious, but don’t drag Li’er down with you!"