Chapter 282: 158 Top Student (an update)_3
Yao Family’s mother said, “She’s at girl’s school, not at the mansion.”
“Oh.” Yao Xin was very envious.
She also wanted to go to school, but her grandparents and parents only let her brother go to school.
Yao’s mother looked at Maid Fang, “Maid Fang, please take Miss Xin for a walk in the garden.”
The landscape of the Marquis Residence was renowned throughout the Capital City.
Besides, she also understood that her eldest brother wanted to talk to her privately.
“Yes, ma’am! Miss Yao, please follow me.” Maid Fang led Yao Xin out of the courtyard.
With no one else in the room, Yao’s mother dropped her enthusiastic hospitality and asked calmly, “Elder brother, why did you suddenly come looking for me?”
Yao Yuan stuttered, then forced out a laugh, “I just wanted to see you. After your return to Capital City, you did not visit your natal family nor inform it of Jin Yu’s Coming of Age Ceremony. Everyone says it’s because you despise the Yao Family. I know that’s not true. Sister, are you still resentful about the past?”
Yao’s mother took a sip of her tea, “Let’s not bring up the past, brother. You know very well why I avoided the Yao family and did not invite them to Jin Yu’s Coming of Age Ceremony. Just accept that I looked down upon the Yao family.”
Yao Yuan expressed his regret, “We were wrong back then, we shouldn’t have ruined your perfectly good marriage by forcing you into the Marquis Residence.”
Before Yao’s mother married Marquis Gu, she had a potential suitor. Although his family was not as wealthy, when Marquis Gu proposed for her hand, the Yao Family hastily broke off the engagement without a second thought.
This was something neither Marquis Gu nor Yao’s mother were allowed to mention.
Yao Yuan remembered painfully that his sister had almost eloped with that man, and he was the one who prevented her, even going so far as to order the man’s legs to be broken.
Yao Yuan: “Our father and mother did it for the Yao family’s sake…”
Yao’s mother: “Unfortunately, you didn’t anticipate that I wouldn’t help the Yao family either. You just gave your daughter away for nothing.”
Yao Yuan choked on his words.
After her wedding, his sister quickly distanced herself from her natal family, so much so that not even their dying father could see her one last time.
But they could hardly blame her; how could she make it back from the manor to the Capital City in time?
He blamed himself, “Sister, it’s all my fault for not protecting you back then, for not standing by your side against our parents’ decisions. If you want to blame someone, blame me.”
If anyone in the Yao Family could still talk with Yao’s mother, it would be Yao Yuan.
Yao Yuan adored his little sister enormously. He didn’t disapprove of her previous relationship to gain any benefit but simply because he felt that man wasn’t worthy of her.
He thought that by marrying his sister into the Marquis Residence, she would lead a luxurious life.
But he didn’t know he had actually pushed her into the fire.
With sadness in his voice, he said, “Before our father passed away, he regretted his actions immensely. He told me to seek your forgiveness on his behalf if I ever saw you again. As for our mother, she knows she was wrong, and she has changed. Can you forgive her? Her health isn’t doing well, I’m afraid she doesn’t have much time left.”
Maid Fang took Yao Xin around the Marquis Residence. Yao Xin was truly amazed – she knew her aunt had married into a wealthy family, but she had no idea it was this grand!
When Yao Xin returned to Yao’s mother’s courtyard, Yao Yuan took his leave.
Yao’s mother had some gifts prepared for them – for Yao Xin, it was a pair of ruby hairpieces.
Yao Xin really loved them.
But Yao Yuan declined them.
He did not come here for favors, but to sincerely seek his sister’s forgiveness.
After they had left, Yao’s mother sighed as she sat by the window, “Maid Fang, do you think I should go back?”
Comforting her, Maid Fang said, “What grudge between a mother and daughter can’t be resolved? The old lady wishes to see both her children before she passes. You should take Miss Jin Yu and the young master to see her for the last time. After all, she isn’t just your mother, she’s the children’s paternal grandmother too.”
She first asked Gu Jiao at the Medical Hall, “…I’m not asking you to accept her as your grandmother, but since her health is failing, could you please take a look at her given your excellent medical skills?”
Gu Jiao had no objections.
Gu Yan had no lessons tomorrow, he could also go there.
After school, Yao’s mother asked Gu Jinyu, who was also free the next day.
However, Gu Jinyu apologetically mentioned, “Mother, I’ve promised to visit the Empress Dowager in the palace tomorrow. May I visit grandmother another day?”
Another day meant after the New Year.
Yao’s mother wanted to point out that he visited the Empress Dowager quite frequently, so missing one visit wouldn’t hurt.
Before she could say so, Gu Jinyu politely offered, “Why don’t you go first, Mother? I’ll join you after I’ve paid my respects to Aunt in the palace.”