“Qi Momo, what are you doing here? Why are you so nervous?”
“Master, this old servant only came to check on the young miss, afraid she might need something.”
“Is that so? Then why are you so tense?”
【Isn’t Qi Momo that vicious old hag? Father may not know why you’re here, but I do. Your daughter just gave birth to a baby girl too—you’re planning to swap babies, aren’t you? Replace me with yours? Luckily Father found out.】
“Is what Hua Hua said true? Qi Momo is actually this malicious?”
“Master, I’m not nervous. I’ve just been feeling unwell these past few days.”
【I wonder if Father will fall for her lies. She hid that baby in the kitchen. She came this time to scout things out.】
“Is that so? By the way, I’m hungry. Take me to the kitchen—I want something to eat.”
Qi Momo grew even more flustered. “Master, if you’re hungry, just tell me what you’d like. I’ll prepare it and bring it to you. The kitchen is crowded and unsanitary—you needn’t go there.”
“Didn’t you just say you’re not feeling well? Then don’t trouble yourself. Just lead the way. I’ll grab a few bites in the kitchen and come right back.”
“Master…”
She tried to protest but was cut off.
“How bold of you—not even listening to my words?”
“I wouldn’t dare!” Qi Momo immediately knelt.
“Enough. Get up and lead the way.”
【Did Father discover something? Is he actually this smart? But if he’s so clever, why was he written like that in the original novel?】
“Of course Father is clever. He’s the Minister of Revenue—a high-ranking official of the first grade. How could he not be smart?”
With no other choice, Qi Momo led him toward the kitchen, deliberately walking very slowly.
Yu Jinghong grew impatient. “Qi Momo, if you’re truly unwell, I can grant you a few days off.”
“No, no! This old servant can still work!”
She was terrified of losing her position. Both Yu Jinghong and Shen Yanchu were rare, kind masters who never mistreated servants. At her age, she’d never find such a good household again.
Thinking this, she quickened her pace slightly—though her heart pounded. Her granddaughter was hidden in the kitchen. She could only pray the baby wouldn’t make a sound.
What should have taken half the time of burning half a stick of incense took a full stick’s time to reach.
Since it wasn’t busy hours, the kitchen was empty.
“Master, what would you like to eat? I’ll make it now.”
“Just prepare something simple.”
“Then I’ll cook you a bowl of noodles.”
Yu Jinghong nodded and began looking around the kitchen.
Qi Momo noticed but didn’t dare stop him, pretending to focus on cooking.
In one corner, Yu Jinghong spotted a pile of hay and walked toward it.
Qi Momo panicked and deliberately dropped a bowl onto the floor with a loud crash.
Yu Jinghong frowned. “How careless.”
“My apologies, Master. It was my mistake.”
The kitchen was quiet, so the shattering sound echoed loudly.
It startled the baby hidden in the haystack, who began crying loudly.
Yu Jinghong stepped closer, brows furrowed. “Whose child is this?”
Qi Momo hurried forward and knelt. “Master, it’s this old servant’s granddaughter. She startled you—please forgive me.”
“Why is your granddaughter here?”
She stammered, unable to answer.
“Speak the truth. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless.”
“My daughter doesn’t produce enough milk, so I brought the baby here… hoping she could share some of the young miss’s wet nurse’s milk.”
Yu Jinghong stared sharply at her. “If that were true, you could have told the steward. He isn’t unreasonable. Did you inform him?”
“I… I did not.”
Yu Jinghong thought to himself: So my precious daughter was right. She truly intended to swap the babies.
“Since you didn’t report it, you’ve broken the household rules. Then we’ll handle it according to the rules.”
“Master, spare me! My entire family depends on my monthly wages!”
Yu Jinghong was usually kind-hearted, but remembering Yu Hua’s inner voice, he hardened himself.
“The rules have always been clear. You are an old servant of this household. If you’ve made a mistake, you must face the consequences.”
He immediately summoned servants to expel Qi Momo from the residence.
Afterward, he told Shen Yanchu everything.
She frowned deeply. “You’re still too merciful. If it were me, I’d have had her beaten to death. Our daughter has already suffered so much, and she dared try to steal her life.”
“I truly wonder how you became Minister of Revenue. Isn’t the court full of schemes? Kind people are bullied; gentle horses are ridden.”
“Madam, when did you become like this? Weren’t you even softer-hearted than I?”
“That depends on the matter. When it concerns harm to our daughter, no one is spared.”
“Understood, Madam. I’ll remember next time.”
Later, after Yu Hua fell asleep, Yu Jinghong gathered his wife and two sons for a small family meeting.
“You all know Hua Hua’s situation. Today’s meeting is to emphasize several points.”
“First, the matter of hearing Hua Hua’s inner voice must never be revealed. Anyone who speaks of it will be expelled from the Yu family and erased from the clan registry.”
“Second, at all times and in all places, Hua Hua’s safety must be protected. No matter what happens, she must not suffer the slightest grievance.”
“Third, she must never be left unattended. And you two—whatever Hua Hua likes, no matter how much you like it yourselves, you must give it to her.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
For three generations, the Yu family had not had a single daughter. Now that they finally had one, they cherished her beyond measure.
“We understand,” Yu Qingshan and Yu Qingyun replied in unison.
As the eldest and second son, neither felt jealous of their parents’ extra affection toward their sister.
Shen Yanchu spoke firmly, “If the four of us can’t protect one little girl, then there’s no point in us living.”
“Madam, what are you saying? If we can’t even protect a daughter, then we’re the most useless of all.”
The two sons nodded solemnly.
And so, following the rules set in that meeting, the family lived carefully and attentively.
As Yu Hua grew older, they gradually realized something—
Their daughter’s thoughts and actions were truly unprecedented, unmatched by anyone before or after her.