Yun Qiya didn’t know just how complicated Nanny Yao’s feelings were. She squeezed in next to her grandmother, holding the fruit the Old Madam had given her, and looked up to listen to the elders speak.
“In the past, some things weren’t suitable to write in letters, but now that you’ve returned to the capital, there are matters you must pay attention to.” The Old Marquis spoke of the recent power struggles in the capital. Fearing that his youngest son, Yun Zhongsheng, would go out and cause trouble, he stated bluntly, “For the next half-month, stay in the manor. Get a clear handle on the situation in the capital before you go out.”
Yun Zhongsheng agreed with a grin. Although he was nearly forty, he was naturally handsome, so even his playful manner didn’t seem annoying.
The Old Marquis lost his temper looking at him like this, and his thousands of words turned into a single sigh. “It’s enough that you’ve returned home safe and sound.”
Back then, if it hadn’t been for the Deposed Prince, his youngest son’s family wouldn’t have been away from the capital for so many years.
Seeing his father’s expression, Yun Zhongsheng knew he was being doted on. He immediately seized the opportunity, acting charming and playing the victim to coax the Old Marquis into feeling even more distressed for him.
By the time the servants brought in the local specialties and souvenirs the family had brought back to the capital, each of the four family members held a banknote in their hands.
“Everything costs money when you’re out and about; it’s never as comfortable as being at home.” Seeing Yun Qiya clutching the banknote and smiling more radiantly than the flowers in the courtyard, the Marchioness gave her another one. “You were still young when you left the capital. Keep more silver on you. When you have time, wander around the city and buy the things young ladies like.”
“Thank you, Grandmother.” Yun Qiya happily took the banknote and tucked it into her purse, her eyes shining as she looked at her grandmother.
The Marchioness’s heart softened under that gaze. Looking at Qiya’s pale pink cheeks, the more she thought about it, the more she felt her granddaughter must have suffered terribly out there.
Her hairpins weren’t exquisite enough, and her fabrics weren’t soft enough.
Buy them. She had to buy them all.
“In half a month is the Empress’s Birthday Celebration. Yaya, come with me to the palace to offer birthday wishes to Her Majesty.” The Marchioness looked at Wen Yuxiu with a gentle expression. “There are no girls her age at home. I’ll take her out to make some friends so she won’t be lonely in her quarters.”
“Thank you, Mother, for considering her.” Wen Yuxiu started to rise to give her thanks, but the Marchioness stopped her. “We are family; there is no need for such ceremony. Besides, as her grandmother, it is only right that I plan for her.”
“It’s because Grandmother loves me that she cares so much.” Yun Qiya rested her head on the Marchioness’s lap, her voice soft and sweet. “Thank you, Grandmother.”
Seeing her granddaughter so close to her, the smile on the Marchioness’s face widened involuntarily. She reached out and carefully stroked Qiya’s cheek. Seeing that the girl didn’t reject the gesture, she chuckled and held her shoulder to keep her from sliding off her lap.
Leaning against her grandmother’s knee, Yun Qiya vaguely remembered something that happened when she was five or six.
One morning when she woke up, she saw many sparkling icicles hanging from the eaves and clamored to break one off to play with. Her grandmother didn’t find her troublesome. Instead, she wrapped a thick cloth around one end of an icicle and played with her inside the room.
Later, when the sun came out, the icicle melted, but she still remembered how transparent and bright it looked in the sunlight.
While the grandmother and granddaughter were enjoying their sweet moment, the father and son on the other side were badmouthing the Deposed Prince.
“The Deposed Prince dared to do such a bold and heaven-defying thing; he deserves to be purged by His Majesty.” Yun Zhongsheng sycophantically poured a cup of tea for the Old Marquis. “Father, don’t worry. This time back in the capital, your son will absolutely not cause you any more trouble.”
“I hope so.” The Old Marquis huffed. His gaze swept over his granddaughter leaning on the Marchioness’s knee, and his tone turned slightly heavy. “Regarding the marriage between Qiya and the Zhou family’s second son, I’m afraid there has been a complication.”
“Hmm?” Yun Qiya looked up, staring at her grandfather curiously.
What complication? Is he dead?
“What complication?” Yun Zhongsheng didn’t want his daughter to marry early anyway. Hearing this, he immediately said sarcastically, “Is he dead or crippled?”
“Two years ago, the second son of the Zhou family became the Third-Place Scholar and later took a post at the Hanlin Academy.” The Old Marquis took a sip of tea, pretending not to hear his son’s sarcasm. “Young Master Zhou is known for his benevolence and kindness. Three months ago, he took in a woman who was selling herself to bury her father to be his personal maid. Half a month ago, he redeemed a woman from a music house and lent her money to open an embroidery shop.”
Yun Luoqing, who was sitting upright, furrowed his brows. What a man who “pities the fragrant and protects the jade.”
What a load of trash. As a man himself, who didn’t know what kind of dog-brained thoughts he had!
“Father!” Yun Zhongsheng let out a wail and hugged the Old Marquis’s leg. “Other people’s daughters live in luxury and wear gold and jade. Our Yaya has been following me through wind and sun, climbing mountains and crossing rivers since she was little. She hasn’t had many good days. You can’t let her marry someone who doesn’t maintain male virtue!”
Most people might praise such a man for being kind-hearted. But men understood men best. He loved his own daughter; marrying her to such a person was definitely not the best choice.
The Old Marquis’s head throbbed from his son’s wailing. Turning to meet his granddaughter’s watery eyes, he sighed helplessly. “Enough. You’re a man nearly forty; what do you look like wailing in front of the children? Take your wife and children back to your rooms to rest. I’ll handle this marriage matter with your mother.”
“Thank you, Father! Thank you, Mother!” Seeing his goal achieved, Yun Zhongsheng let go of the Old Marquis’s leg, wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, and scrambled up from the floor. “Hehe, home is still the best. With Father and Mother here, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Yun Qiya nodded vigorously in agreement. “Grandmother and Grandfather are the best.”
Hearing his granddaughter’s words, the Old Marquis’s stern face broke into a smile. “Don’t worry, Yaya. With Grandfather here, I won’t let you be wronged.”
“I believe in Grandfather,” Yun Qiya nodded. “Mother often says that the money for our travels was given by Grandfather and Grandmother. Every place we went, you sent people to bring us clothes, food, and money because you were worried we would suffer.”
The Marchioness hadn’t expected her second daughter-in-law to tell the children these things so often. No wonder the grandchildren had sent them gifts and letters continuously over the years; they had been keeping them in mind.
“As elders, it’s only natural to think of our descendants.” The Marchioness’s gaze toward Wen Yuxiu became even warmer. Worried they were tired from the journey, she added, “The Ministry of Rites has been busy with the arrangements for the Empress’s Birthday Banquet recently. Your Eldest Uncle will likely be busy until dark before he gets off duty. Go back to your courtyard and rest with your parents. We’ll have a proper family reunion dinner tonight.”
“Okay,” Yun Qiya obeyed. “Grandmother, I have so many, many things to tell you. If I wake up late, you must send someone to call me.”
“I will.” The Marchioness happily pinched her hair buns. “Once you’ve rested, we’ll talk as much as we like.”
Her own granddaughter was indeed the best; even her hair buns were styled more cutely than other little girls’.
After Yun Qiya’s family of four left, the smile on the Marchioness’s face didn’t fade. She called her personal maid to open her storehouse to pick out fabrics and jewelry.
The Old Marquis sat beside her, accompanying his wife as she chose the fabrics. “Now that the Deposed Prince’s family is in prison, my heart can finally be at peace.”
“Who would have thought the Deposed Prince would be so bold as to be the mastermind behind the child-swapping case back then?” Mentioning the Deposed Prince, the smile on the Marchioness’s face vanished. “If it weren’t for him, Zhongsheng wouldn’t have had to take his wife and children out of the capital to avoid disaster.”
“And that Zhou family, I don’t even want to talk about them.” The Marchioness sneered, flipping through her account book with a loud rustle. “Tomorrow is the First Son’s day off. Take him with you to the Zhou family to break off the engagement. Our girl cannot be allowed to get in the way of his ‘pitying the fragrant and protecting the jade.'”
What a piece of work!
***
“Miss, your courtyard is so beautiful.” Helu followed Yun Qiya into the courtyard and whispered in her ear, “Just now, when I was waiting outside the main courtyard, I saw that Nanny Yao, who serves the First Wife, didn’t look very happy.”
“Helu, you’re very observant. I didn’t even notice that.” Yun Qiya led her into the inner courtyard. “With you by my side, I have so much less to worry about.”
Hearing this, Helu immediately became happy. She puffed out her chest with pride and looked at the other servants in the courtyard with her head held high.
Although the Miss would have many servants around her now that they were back in the capital, she was still the most important head maid.
No one could replace her!
Yun Qiya’s courtyard was exquisite, clearly having been meticulously arranged. She slept beautifully for two hours. When she got up to dress, her grandmother had already sent over many fabrics and jewelry.
“Miss is indeed the most likable person under heaven.” Helu flattered her. “Look at how much the Old Madam treasures you.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright.” Yun Qiya cupped her own face, smiling joyfully at herself in the mirror. “Helu, bring the jewelry over. I want to pick something Grandmother sent to wear.”
When Grandmother saw her wearing the jewelry she gave, she would surely be happy and continue to send more beautiful little trinkets.
Grandmother is happy, and I am happy.
It’s a win-win.
“Right away!” Helu sycophantically laid out all the jewelry boxes in front of Yun Qiya, opening them one by one. “Miss, take your time picking.”
The jewelry in the boxes was dazzling. Yun Qiya’s and Helu’s eyes both became as bright as the gemstones.
The First Branch of the Marquis’s estate lived in the East Courtyard. Nanny Yao saw off the servants from the main courtyard and turned back into the room to organize the piles of gift boxes with the other servants.
The gift boxes contained all sorts of random things—wood carvings, medicinal herbs, stones—all brought back by the second branch from outside the capital.
Nanny Yao snorted disdainfully. It was all just worthless trinkets. Only the Old Marquis and the Old Madam would treasure such junk.
“So, the wood carvings in Linzhou are in this style.” The First Wife noticed that each gift box had a floral slip of paper indicating the gift’s origin. These slips mentioned many places. The First Wife collected them and placed them into a small wooden box.
Seeing this, Nanny Yao sighed in her heart again. The First Wife was truly a kind person, treating even these trifles from the second branch with such importance.
“Nanny Yao, I remember there are several bolts of bright fabric in the storehouse, and two new sets of pearl hair ornaments. Take two young maids and deliver them to Qiya for me.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Great, the second branch was taking advantage of her mistress again.
Nanny Yao didn’t dare to oppose the First Wife’s orders. She led the young maids toward the West Courtyard. Just as they reached the garden outside the West Courtyard, she heard Yun Qiya’s voice drifting over.
“Who looks after this garden?”
Hearing this, Nanny Yao immediately stopped in her tracks.
She knew this Miss Qiya wasn’t a good person. Since she couldn’t directly deal with the First Wife right after coming home, she was preparing to take it out on her.
In the entire Marquis’s estate, who didn’t know that the gardens were managed by her son? Was she mentioning this now because she wanted to use it to cause trouble?
Fine! She, Nanny Yao, also knew a thing or two about mansion intrigue!
“To answer the Miss, it is Manager Liu.”
The sneer on Nanny Yao’s face became even more obvious. Look, the fox’s tail was finally showing.
“To be able to manage the garden so beautifully and elegantly, this Manager Liu must be a capable person.”
“Nanny, the Miss is praising Manager Liu.” The young maid was happy for Nanny Yao. The Miss was valued by the Old Madam; if she could say a few good words about Manager Liu in front of the Old Madam, it would be a huge blessing.
“Ahem.” Nanny Yao cleared her throat, stiffened her face, and lifted her chin. “It is our duty as servants to share our masters’ burdens.”
She looked at Yun Qiya standing in the garden, and the corners of her mouth twitched upward uncontrollably.
Earlier in the main courtyard, her old eyes had been too dim to see clearly. Looking closely now, she realized Miss Qiya had a very discerning eye and exceptional taste.