After listening to Ziming, Yu Yuan realized that he had lost his composure just now.
When Yu Luo was little, he had been fond of this younger sister.
Later, Yu Luo had become increasingly spoiled and rude due to his family’s indulgence. Then, Liu Yanran, gentle and virtuous, came to the mansion, and naturally, everyone’s attention shifted to Liu Yanran.
Strictly speaking, in the past year or two, whenever Yu Luo had asked him and Yu Che to do something, they had mostly declined.
But whatever Liu Yanran asked them to do, they could complete it perfectly.
Ziming quickly returned to Jishui Courtyard. She first went in to report to Yu Luo and, in the process, repeated what she had just said.
While saying it, Ziming felt a bit uneasy, worried that Yu Luo would scold her for disrespecting the Eldest Young Master.
Unexpectedly, after she finished speaking, Yu Luo slightly curved his lips and his eyes bent subtly. “What you said is true; it hasn’t offended the Eldest Young Master. It’s fine. You may leave now.”
Ziming’s tense heart gradually relaxed. “Yes.”
Li Xiao came in from outside.
Yu Luo held a cup and was drinking tea. Seeing him enter, she quickly swallowed and set the cup aside.
Li Xiao’s voice was calm: “Eldest Miss.”
Yu Luo casually asked, “Are your injuries better?”
After speaking, Yu Luo immediately felt uneasy.
Such severe wounds could not heal in such a short time, even with medicine applied. By asking, she might remind him of what Eldest Miss Yu had done in the past, intensifying his resentment.
Li Xiao’s expression remained unchanged. “Better.”
Yu Luo pointed to a glazed lamp nearby. “I heard Wenhua Pavilion isn’t safe at night. This lamp is for you. The pavilion is full of books; using candles could easily start a fire.”
“Thank you, Eldest Miss, for the gift.”
Hearing him say “thank you,” Yu Luo couldn’t help but recall Eldest Miss Yu’s ultimate fate. A chill ran through her, but she maintained her composure: “No need to thank me. You may leave now.”
Li Xiao raised his eyes toward Yu Luo, then withdrew from the room.
The rumors of Wenhua Pavilion being haunted were entirely baseless. However, Li Xiao’s subordinates would report to him here at night. Even if anything had happened, he wouldn’t have minded.
The lamp, however, was exquisite.
Li Xiao found the “new” Eldest Miss Yu, who had replaced the previous one, quite intriguing.
In recent days, Yu Luo had avoided running into Yu Yuan and Yu Che.
How those two flattered the green tea girl was none of her business; Yu Luo didn’t want to get involved.
As for competing for Liu Yanran’s favor in the mansion, Yu Luo had even less interest.
To Yu Luo, feelings couldn’t be stolen. Affection that could be seized would inevitably be taken by someone else in the end.
When the weather turned cooler, the Marquis of Shunning returned from outside.
Yu Luo had never seen Eldest Miss Yu’s father before.
Madam Yu looked exactly like Yu Luo’s mother. Yu Luo had wondered if the Marquis of Shunning resembled her own biological father.
Yu Luo held little sentiment toward the father who had treated her harshly upon her arrival.
That morning, when Yu Luo went to Madam Yu’s quarters to pay respects, Hui Xiang, the head maid beside Madam Yu, said, “The Lord Marquis returned last night. He is speaking with the Madam now. Eldest Miss should come later.”
Yu Luo knew Hui Xiang disliked her.
Liu Yanran had done everything possible to please the servants by Madam Yu, even the small girls who swept the courtyard, and Hui Xiang, as head maid, had been no exception. She had often received Liu Yanran’s gifts and spoke highly of her before Madam Yu.
Yu Luo had no affection for such colluding servants.
She understood Hui Xiang was simply trying to find an excuse to stall her. If it had been Liu Yanran, Hui Xiang would have been eager for her to show off before the Marquis and Madam Yu.
Yu Luo said, “My father has returned. Should I still avoid him? You don’t need to inform him; I’ll go in myself.”
Afraid Yu Luo might whip her, Hui Xiang dared not stop her and watched as Yu Luo entered.
Inside, Yu Luo found Liu Yanran and Second Young Master Yu Che already there.
Liu Yanran was well-informed. Having heard the Marquis of Shunning had returned last night, she had risen early to dress and present herself, arriving before Yu Luo.
Yu Luo glanced at Hui Xiang.
Hui Xiang lowered her head, silent and slightly guilty.
In recent days, Yu Luo had learned much about the customs of this era. In the Jing Dynasty, filial piety was highly valued.
Servants attending elders had to be treated with care; offending them meant showing disrespect to one’s elders.
One had to “consider the master when striking the dog.” Young masters and misses could not act arrogantly in front of servants serving elders.
Yu Luo recalled the depictions of the Yu Family Residence in The Path of the Tyrant. Some details were quite meticulous to fill out the story.
For instance, regarding Yu Che and Liu Yanran’s marriage: at first, the Marquis of Shunning opposed it, wanting his son to marry a girl of higher status. Later, Concubine Hui praised Liu Yanran extensively before the Marquis, who then consented.
Yu Luo had not encountered this Concubine Hui in the mansion these days; none of the concubines she met carried that name.
Hui Xiang was young, attractive, and served Madam Yu. In this era, a maid serving the lady was akin to a mistress of the household. By this logic, Hui Xiang had great potential for advancement.
The Marquis of Shunning looked at Yu Luo. “Luo’er, you’ve come.”
Yu Luo studied him carefully. The Marquis appeared to be around forty, fair-skinned, with a long beard, and a refined appearance.
Yu Luo bowed respectfully. “Father.”
The Marquis rubbed her head. “Your mother said you’ve been more obedient lately. I didn’t believe it. Now I see, Luo’er, you’ve grown up. You knew to greet your father.”
Yu Luo was mortified.
Once again, she had slipped in her role. Luckily, no one suspected her.
Liu Yanran, seeing the Marquis’s affectionate gaze toward Yu Luo, felt a trace of dissatisfaction in her eyes.
The Marquis continued, “I’ve returned from outside and brought some jewelry and fabrics. I’ll have them delivered to you later.”
Seeing the Marquis focus on Yu Luo and show little concern for Liu Yanran, Yu Che quickly said, “Father, Yan Biao Mei also lives in the house. Let Luo’er and Yan Biao Mei split them evenly.”
The Marquis’s smile faded.
In this situation, he could not contradict Yu Che.
Liu Yanran was Madam Yu’s relative, with no blood relation to the Marquis. Naturally, Yu Luo, his biological daughter, mattered more to him.
He said, “I don’t know Yan’er’s preferences. Luo’er, go back and pick two for your cousin.”
Yu Luo understood: the Marquis wanted her to choose first. If there was anything Yan’er didn’t like, it could be given afterward.