331 Caught in Her Own Trap
At the thought that Yang Shuwan was the instigator of Xie Roujia’s death, Yu Zongzheng hated her to the core. He suddenly pulled out his leg, kicked her away, turned around, and strode away.
“Master, Master…” Yang Shuwan lay on the ground and wailed, “I had no choice. Back then, I accidentally discovered that I was pregnant and asked Master to take me in as a noble concubine. It was Master who said that Madam Xie was about to give birth and asked me to wait a little longer. After Madam Xie gave birth, she would take me in. I can wait, but the child in my stomach can’t wait…”
After giving birth, she still had to go through confinement. At the very least, she had to wait for Xie Roujia to finish her confinement before she could go through the door. At that time, her stomach would be big, and she wouldn’t be able to hide it anymore.
Yang Shuwan knelt on the ground and covered her face as she cried. “I never thought about harming Xie Roujia’s life. I didn’t…”
Although Xie Roujia’s death was a pleasant surprise that made her, the daughter of a concubine, the second wife, she had always been smug about it. However, when she first left the handkerchief on Yu Zongzheng, she really did not expect that Xie Roujia would slip and lose her life.
“It’s that b*tch Xie Roujia’s bad luck. Why should I be blamed for her death? B*tch…” Yang Shuwan lay on the ground and screamed.
After Imperial Physician Shi took Yu Shansi’s pulse, Yu Jianjia used the excuse of feeling unwell to return to the courtyard and go to the study to copy the Heart Sutra. After her father returned to the residence, it was time for the Songtao Courtyard to have some commotion. As the most obedient and sensible daughter in the family, she naturally shouldn’t get involved.
At this moment, Hui Xiang entered the house.
Before she could speak, Yu Jianjia put down her brush and asked gently, “How’s the situation at Songtao Courtyard?”
Yu Youyao was in charge of the house, and the Songtao Courtyard was also renovated by her. Yu Youyao couldn’t absolve herself of the blame for Fourth Brother drowning on the first day of moving into the courtyard.
Her father had always valued her fourth brother. Even if Yu Youyao saved him, she probably wouldn’t be able to escape punishment.
“Third Sister, if you want to know about the situation in Songtao Courtyard, why don’t you ask me?”
Suddenly, she heard a gentle voice. Yu Jianjia’s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at the door and saw Yu Youyao leading Chun Xiao into the study.
Looking at the time, shouldn’t her father be furious and scold Yu Youyao because of her fourth brother’s drowning?
Why did Yu Youyao have time to come to the courtyard?
Moreover, Yu Youyao never took half a step into her courtyard. Why was she suddenly here today?
As her mind raced, Yu Jianjia’s mind was already filled with a thousand thoughts. She had a bad feeling. “Why is Big Sister here?”
Yu Youyao sized up the study casually. “Why? Is Third Sister very surprised to see me?”
“Big Sister has never been to the courtyard before. I’m indeed a little surprised.” Yu Jianjia walked around the desk and walked up to Yu Youyao. She bent down slightly. “It’s all thanks to Big Sister that Fourth Brother was saved today.”
Yu Youyao bypassed her and went to the desk. She picked up the Heart Sutra that Yu Jianjia had copied just now and looked at it carefully for a while. “Third Sister’s small handwriting is light and lively. Even Ms. Ye is full of praise for it.”
Yu Jianjia wasn’t sure what Yu Youyao was up to, so she said cautiously, “Thank you for your praise, Eldest Sister. I’ve been weak since I was young, so I can only learn these light and simple small scripts. They’re not as graceful as Eldest Sister’s calligraphy that’s like a dragon. Yours is natural and elegant.”
If anyone else heard this, they would think that Yu Jianjia was humble and sincerely praising her.
However, if she praised someone, so be it. Why did she have to add the words ” I’ve been weak since I was young”? It was nothing more than revealing that she was exhausted, so she couldn’t practice calligraphy. If others heard this, they would inevitably pity her.
Yu Youyao’s lips curled up slightly as she changed the topic. “The handwriting is good, but I can see that there’s a hint of awkwardness in Third Sister’s handwriting. It’s like you felt uneasy. The problem is that the brush is too tight, and your wrist couldn’t control it well. It’s pulled left and right. When you write, it’s not focused. Your heart and mind weren’t calm.”
Yu Jianjia slowly tightened her grip on her handkerchief, her lowered eyelashes trembling uncontrollably.
Yu Youyao looked up at Yu Jianjia and said word by word, “Third Sister, you’re restless. You’re thinking about everything, and your brush is like a caged bird. You’re trapped.”
The words “you’re trapped” seemed to be casual and gentle.
However, Yu Jianjia’s heart skipped a beat.
She suddenly looked up and saw the corners of Yu Youyao’s lips curl up slightly. She was smiling brightly, but this smile was like a handful of winter snow in early spring. It was cold at first, then it was bone-chilling.
Just one look made her feel a chill run down her spine.
Yu Jianjia’s eyelids twitched slightly, and she slowly lowered her head. “Although Fourth Brother was saved by Eldest Sister this time, I couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear. When I was copying the Buddhist scriptures, I couldn’t calm down. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of Eldest Sister. Jia Jia is ashamed.”
Yu Youyao really did not come with good intentions.
In that case, the situation in the Songtao Courtyard probably wouldn’t go as she wished. However, her father had always valued her fourth brother the most. How had Yu Youyao escaped her father’s punishment?
Yu Youyao smiled when she heard this. “I see.”
Yu Jianjia suddenly remembered that at the Flower Festival in the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence, Yu Youyao had also smiled casually. Caught off guard, she splashed tea on Seventh Miss Cao’s face and suddenly felt a little flustered.
Yu Youyao did not beat around the bush anymore. She turned to look at Chun Xiao. “Third Miss is concerned about the situation in the Songtao Courtyard. Tell her everything that happened in the Songtao Courtyard.”
Yu Jianjia’s breathing stopped for a moment, then she heard Chun Xiao say eloquently, “…Carpenter Zhao said that the wooden railing at the side of the lake was newly built, and it will take a few days to close. He even looked for First Madam and asked her to be more careful. He also told Fourth Young Master not to go to the lake to play. Even if he does go, he has to bring servants who know how to swim with him…”
Yu Jianjia’s delicate and innocent expression froze, but her trembling eyes and trembling lips still revealed her panic.
She could most likely guess what was going on in Songtao Courtyard.
Fourth Brother had drowned not because the wooden railing had not been fixed tightly, but because his mother had failed to take good care of him.
Her father’s anger was not directed at Yu Youyao, but at her mother.
“… First Madam said that she had instructed Mo Cai and the old maids who served Fourth Young Master to take good care of him…”
Yu Jianjia’s eyes darkened. She did not want to listen anymore.
She finally understood that Yu Youyao hadn’t said it casually. She was really mocking her for being trapped.
Yu Youyao knew that Fourth Brother’s drowning was her doing.
“…Mother Mo immediately rushed out and knelt in front of Eldest Master to complain about the injustice. She said that Fourth Young Master was ignorant and incompetent and insisted on going to the lake. Mo Cai couldn’t stop him…”