Yu Sheng was not surprised by this. “They certainly know how to apply what they’ve learned, quickly bringing Old Madame in as their savior.”
After washing up, she changed into a smoke-purple silk dress. The wide-sleeved robe, made of exquisite fabric and layered elegantly, looked noble yet graceful.
The maids stood by, holding mirrors and golden hairpins, while Dicui fetched a wooden comb to style the young lady’s hair.
Feihong approached and whispered in Yu Sheng’s ear, “Second Master also sent someone to fetch Madam…”
Upon hearing this, Yu Sheng couldn’t help but frown.
Her mother had just vomited blood yesterday and was in such poor health that she couldn’t bear any more stress.
Yet, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had always been an unsolvable dilemma since ancient times.
Old Madame Yu was Father Yu’s stepmother, so to Yu Sheng and her siblings, she wasn’t exactly a proper grandmother.
However, in today’s society, “filial piety comes first among all virtues.” Even as a stepmother and stepson, the word “filial” could be used to crush someone.
With Old Madame here, Madam Lin, as the daughter-in-law, had to go and pay her respects unless she was on the brink of death.
Afraid that Madam Lin’s condition would worsen from their provocations, Yu Sheng casually picked up a golden hairpin and handed it to Dicui. “Just a simple hairstyle will do.”
Once her hair was done, she took her two maids and headed toward the main hall.
In the adjacent main room, Yu Xuan saw her elder sister walking hurriedly and wanted to join her. But glancing back at Father Yu, who was still unconscious, she obediently stayed behind to look after her father.
Yu Yuan was vast, and it took Yu Sheng half an incense stick’s time to walk from Father Yu’s Jin Yu Pavilion to the main hall.
Before she even entered, she could hear Old Madame Zhang’s reprimanding voice:
“Before, all matters in the household, big or small, were handled by the eldest, followed by the second and fourth brothers and their wives. You’ve never been one to manage affairs, so why is it that after the eldest fell from the building and hasn’t woken up, you’re letting that little girl Yu Sheng run wild? Is this how you act as a mother?”
Zhang didn’t give anyone a chance to respond and quickly continued, “Although I’m not the eldest’s birth mother, I raised him with all my heart and effort, no different from his birth mother. How is it that when I say a few words to you, you don’t want to listen?”
“Sister-in-law, why haven’t you been speaking? Do you think Mother-in-law is wrong?”
“Sister-in-law, after all, comes from an official’s family, unlike Second Sister-in-law and me, who come from humble backgrounds. Our parents taught us from a young age to obey our husbands after marriage, to be filial to our mothers-in-law, and never to defy them.”
Second Madam Yu and Fourth Madam Yu chimed in from the side, their words growing increasingly infuriating.
Then, Yu Sheng heard Madam Lin’s coughing.
Yu Qing, being young, couldn’t help but speak up for her mother. “Grandmother, Mother has always been respectful and attentive to you, never showing any negligence. How can you say such things?”
Hearing this, Zhang was greatly displeased. “Respectful and attentive? If she truly were respectful and attentive to me in front of others and behind their backs, she wouldn’t have raised someone like you, who dares to openly defy your grandmother—”
“Grandmother.” Yu Sheng called out before Zhang could utter the words “unfilial daughter” to Yu Qing.
For women of the time, especially those yet to be married, reputation was of utmost importance.
Yu Sheng interrupted Old Madame’s criticism of her mother and sister, stepping into the main hall and curtsying to her. “Your granddaughter pays her respects to Grandmother.”
Behind her, Feihong and Dicui also bowed and greeted, “We wish Old Madame good health.”
Earlier, the sisters-in-law had been exchanging sharp words, practically roasting Madam Lin over the fire.
As soon as Yu Sheng arrived, she calmly paid her respects, effortlessly dissipating the advantage they had unexpectedly gained.
“Sheng’er,” Madam Zhang, in her fifties, squinted as she looked at Yu Sheng for a moment.
This granddaughter was truly beautiful.
So beautiful that even she, a step-grandmother who saw her only during festivals, couldn’t help but feel momentarily dazed after not seeing her for several months.
When Madam Zhang regained her composure, she heard Yu Sheng say, “Mother is unwell and cannot stand for long. I will help her sit down first.”
Without waiting for Madam Zhang to speak, she helped Madam Lin sit down beside her. “Mother, calm your heart and steady your breath.”
It was too late for Madam Zhang to object even if she wanted to.
Yu Wan hurriedly patted Madam Lin’s back to soothe her.
“Elder Sister—” Even the usually carefree Yu Qing felt deeply wronged, whispering to her elder sister and accusing their grandmother of unfairness with her eyes.
Yu Sheng gave her second sister a reassuring look.
Second Master Yu and Fourth Master Yu were both Madam Zhang’s sons. It was clear that Madam Zhang had come to Yu Yuan today to support her biological sons and daughters-in-law, deliberately finding fault and causing trouble for Madam Lin.
That was why Second Master Yu, Fourth Master Yu, and their wives had taken their seats early, leaving only Madam Lin and her two daughters standing to answer questions.
Clearly, this was meant to intimidate them before reprimanding them with words.
But Yu Sheng refused to play along.
She instructed the maids to serve fresh tea and then asked Madam Zhang, “Grandmother, have you come today specifically to inquire about Father’s injuries?”
Madam Zhang paused before replying, “Of—of course.”
“Then Grandmother has come at an unfortunate time,” Yu Sheng said with a regretful expression. “Not long ago, Father woke up once, took his medicine, and fell asleep again.”
Hearing this, Madam Zhang’s thoughts were immediately steered by Yu Sheng. “The eldest has woken up?”
Second Master Yu had said that Liyang Houfu had sent them a message: if Yujia agreed to let the matter rest and had the Shizi release Xu Liu, they would not trouble Yujia further. Otherwise, Yujia would face endless turmoil.
That was why Old Madame had agreed to accompany them to Yu Yuan. Who would have thought that the person who had fallen from a height and was so severely injured that he was barely breathing could still be saved!
Yu Sheng’s words not only shocked Old Madame but also left the others unable to remain seated.
Weren’t they told he was on the brink of death? How could he have woken up?
Second Master Yu said incredulously, “Elder Brother has woken up?”
Fourth Master Yu’s face paled as he muttered to himself, “How is that possible? The doctors earlier clearly said to prepare for the worst…”
Second Madam Yu was more meticulous and kept asking, “When did he wake up? When was a new doctor brought in?”
Fourth Madam Yu didn’t know what to say and simply uttered dryly, “Why weren’t we informed?”
Madam Lin and Yu Qing were also shocked by this.
Yu Wan directly tugged on Yu Sheng’s sleeve and whispered, “Elder Sister, what exactly is going on?”
Yu Sheng then took the opportunity to briefly explain that she had invited Guiyi to treat her father’s injuries. Guiyi’s reputation was renowned throughout the world and was quite intimidating.
Moreover, Ye Feibai and A-Mo were currently in the residence, which made half of it true.
As for the other half, she was simply using the fact that her father had woken up to temporarily intimidate her uncles and aunts, preventing them from acting recklessly.
Old Madame and Second Master Yu were caught off guard.
Before they could react, Yu Sheng spoke again, “Although Father has woken up, he is still weak and needs to rest for many days. He cannot attend to household matters or the business outside for the time being.”
Old Madame’s thoughts were in turmoil, and she followed up with a question, “So what do you mean?”
Yu Sheng had been waiting for this very sentence and replied calmly, “Father is severely injured and must rest quietly, while Mother is frail and still unwell.”
As she spoke, she swept her sleeve and took a seat in the main position. “As the legitimate eldest of Yujia, I should assume Daixing Jiazhu zhi Ze.”