A young man in blue robes lifted the curtain and entered.
At the sight of the newcomer, Madam Lin forgot her sorrows, wiping away her tears with a smile. “Xiuzhu! My son is back!”
The one who entered was indeed the fifth young master of the Yujia family, Yu Xiuzhu. Covered in the dust of travel, he clasped his hands in greeting to his parents and sisters as he said, “Guard Zhao told me everything that happened at home today on our way back. Eldest Sister did everything right!”
Upon hearing the last sentence, Madam Lin’s joy at seeing her son immediately faded. “All you know is that Eldest Sister is right, that Eldest Sister did everything correctly! Besides these two phrases, can’t you say anything else?”
“Of course I can,” Yu Xiuzhu promptly replied. “Mother is the best and most reasonable!”
The fifth young master, deeply favored by Madam Lin, was skilled at flattery and sweet-talking. Though Madam Lin’s tear stains were still fresh on her face and her heart was filled with displeasure, she couldn’t withstand her son’s tactics.
Yu Xiuzhu exchanged a glance with Yu Sheng and continued, “Besides, this matter really can’t be blamed on Fourth Sister. Mother, think about it—if Xu Liu had taken a fancy to Second Sister or Third Sister, would you still think Father and Eldest Sister shouldn’t have protected her like this?”
Madam Lin caught his meaning and said unhappily, “Even you are using words to choke me!”
Yu Xiuzhu quickly replied, “How would I dare? Isn’t this what you asked me to say?”
Madam Lin ignored him and turned to complain to Yu Zhengda. “Look at these fine children you’ve raised—they all side with you and point out my faults!”
Yu Qing, Yu Xiuzhu, and the others exchanged glances upon hearing this.
“You… you gave birth to them,” Yu Zhengda said weakly, uttering only these few words.
Madam Lin: “…”
To prevent Madam Lin from sulking and harming her health, Yu Sheng timely changed the subject. She told Father Yu about inviting the Zhenguo Gong Shizi to deal with Xu Liu, seeking justice from the Liyang Houfu, and informing several uncles and aunts about taking charge of the household and investigating the accounts.
She said, “Father was unconscious earlier, and with no one in charge, the household fell into chaos. That’s why I overstepped and said I would take charge. Now that Father is awake, please decide how household matters should be handled in the future.”
Yu Zhengda hadn’t actually dared to think about seeking justice from the Liyang Houfu, but Yu Sheng had invited the Zhenguo Gong Shizi. This move was executed swiftly and decisively; even he couldn’t have thought of a better approach.
Father Yu was full of praise but couldn’t help worrying about Yu Sheng’s future. He glanced at Madam Lin and then at Yu Xiuzhu.
Madam Lin had barely managed the inner household for a few days over the years, let alone handled the Yujia family’s business.
Yu Xiuzhu was only thirteen years old. At this age, if he were to deal with the old foxes in the business world, wouldn’t he be devoured without a trace?
Father Yu’s gaze finally settled on Yu Sheng. This daughter of his had been wise beyond her years since childhood, knew when to advance and retreat, and had exceptional luck.
Others said that the wealth the Yujia family had achieved today, starting with the capital left by the old master, was due to his business acumen. In truth, only Father Yu himself knew that most of the credit belonged to A’Sheng.
If the Yujia family were to be entrusted to anyone, it could only be entrusted to Yu Sheng.
“The Jiazhu Yinxin is… in the hidden compartment,” Yu Zhengda said, looking at the plum blossom painting on the wall. “Go and retrieve it.”
Yu Sheng turned and walked over, lifted the plum blossom painting, and opened the hidden compartment in the wall. Inside, she saw a sandalwood square box. Opening the lid, she found the white jade-carved Jiazhu Yinxin inside.
She carried the Jiazhu Yinxin, along with the box, to Father Yu’s bedside.
“Keep it safe.” Yu Zhengda said hoarsely. “From now on, Yujia will depend on my A-Sheng’s hard work.”
At such a moment, Father Yu had no energy for the customary rituals of repeated offers and refusals.
Yu Sheng held the Jiazhu Yinxin with both hands and bowed to her father, who lay bedridden.
The gauze curtains beside the bed hung low, sunlight streaming through the small latticed window, casting a halo of light around her.
As the new head of Yujia received this heavy responsibility from the previous head, she seemed bathed in a faint glow. Solemnly, she promised, “I will do everything in my power to live up to Father’s trust.”
Yu Zhengda nodded with trembling satisfaction.
He had confidence in his eldest daughter, but there were still people in this household who worried him. He could only add one more thing: “Unless absolutely necessary, try not to be too harsh with your uncles and aunts…”
Seeing that Father Yu could barely keep his eyes open yet still forced himself to give instructions, Yu Sheng felt both helpless and heartbroken. “Don’t worry, Father. I know what I’m doing.”
“Th-that’s good.” Yu Zhengda said with difficulty. “Our Yujia…”
He didn’t have the strength to finish the second half of the sentence.
Yu Sheng knew what he wanted to say and completed it for him. “Our Yujia, one family with one heart.”
“One family with one heart!” Yu Qing, Yu Wan, Yu Xuan, and Yu Xiuzhu repeated in unison.
Their clear voices echoed through the room.
Yu Zhengda showed a satisfied smile and finally closed his eyes in peace.
“Master!”
“Father!”
Madam Lin, Yu Qing, and the others were startled by this.
Yu Sheng’s expression also tightened. Just then, Feihong arrived with Ye Feibai and A-Mo.
Ye Feibai checked Father Yu’s pulse for a while before addressing everyone. “It’s nothing serious. He’s just exhausted and has fallen into a deep sleep.”
Hearing this, Madam Lin and the others collectively sighed in relief.
At that moment, a furtive figure flashed past the window.
Kongqing inquired from outside the door: “Eldest Miss, I just saw Second Master Yu’s servant peeking by the window. Should I apprehend him?”
After a brief thought, Yu Sheng guessed that after her uncles and aunts left, they must have remembered they forgot to verify whether Yu Zhengda had truly awakened earlier in the main hall, and had sent someone to Songfeng Yuan to spy.
“No need to apprehend him.” She said indifferently. “Let him be.”
Meanwhile, at Second Master Yu’s side.
They had gone to the accounting office and found an excuse to dismiss the accountants and managers, closing the door to discuss the matter among themselves.
Their sons and daughters-in-law couldn’t understand why Madam Zhang had suddenly changed her mind, turning against them instead. Especially the straightforward Fourth Master Yu and his wife, who practically wore the word “displeasure” on their foreheads.
Second Master Yu said with displeasure, “What Mother did today truly hurts our feelings.”
If Old Madame hadn’t scolded them so severely they couldn’t lift their heads, they wouldn’t have forgotten to personally verify whether their elder brother had truly awakened, allowing Yu Sheng to deceive them so easily.
But now, bringing it up again would be too late.
Madam Zhang looked at them, utterly exasperated. “And you call yourself educated? Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘A wise man knows when to yield.’ Since neither of you can be considered wise men, you should at least know when to yield.”
“Mother!” Hearing their own mother say they weren’t wise men, Second Master Yu and Fourth Master Yu instantly grew even more resentful.
Second Madam Yu and Fourth Madam Yu, as daughters-in-law, initially wanted to speak up for their husbands, but after one glance from Old Madame, they reluctantly closed their mouths.
Being a daughter-in-law means being a step lower; one dare not argue with one’s mother-in-law as a biological son would.
As they were speaking, the servant sent to Songfeng Yuan to gather information returned. “The eldest master is indeed awake. He spoke with the members of the main household for quite some time, and the fifth young master has also returned.”
Upon hearing this, Second Master Yu and the others completely gave up their schemes.
The eldest brother was awake, and his own son had returned. What was there left to fight over?
“See?” Madam Zhang wore an expression that still said, “This old ginger is still spicy.” “It’s a good thing you didn’t break ties with the main household. If things had truly escalated beyond repair, you’d be kicked out by now.”
Fourth Master Yu said with a pained expression, “Even if we didn’t break ties this morning, we’ll have to by evening. Mother promised the eldest young lady on our behalf that we’d hand over the accounts by dusk.”
Fourth Madam Yu whispered, “Where are we supposed to get so much silver in half a day to cover the shortfall?”
Second Master Yu and his wife remained silent, their expressions equally grim.
Seeing them like this, Madam Zhang knew they had been embezzling more than their fair share over the years. She felt like slapping each of them. “Cover as much as you can!”
Before her sons and daughters-in-law could speak, Old Madame roared with vigor, “Take all the calligraphy, paintings, jewelry, estates, and shops you bought with the silver embezzled from the eldest master, sell them, and return the silver to him!”