Chapter 144: Chapter 60: The Li Family (Part 3)
Lady Li waved Yueyao over to sit beside her, “Come, sit next to Auntie. You really tug at one’s heartstrings, child.” To be so young yet understand the ways of the world, it truly isn’t easy.
Yueyao smiled, “It’s all thanks to mom’s reminders.” Yueyao didn’t want to come across as overly precocious, so she credited her mother.
Lady Li patted Yueyao’s hand.
As Yueyao was talking with Lady Li, a maid announced from outside, “Madam, the Old Master has returned.” Li Guoxing and Lady Li were very affectionate towards each other, and though there were two concubines in the residence, in reality, they were akin to decorations.
Upon hearing this, Yueyao stiffened all over. She was nervous, extremely nervous. She had seen Uncle Li only once in her past life when she went to retrieve Silver Coin. She still remembered Uncle Li’s unpleasant expression at that time, looking at her for a while with eyes that revealed not just disappointment but also pain. Now, facing Uncle Li again, Yueyao’s palms sweated with anxiety.
Seeing Yueyao’s nervous expression, Lady Li couldn’t help but smile, “You silly child, it’s not like your Uncle is going to eat you; what’s there to be afraid of?” She had just been calm and composed, but at the mention of her husband’s name, she was frightened to this extent. Remembering her husband’s commanding presence, Lady Li smiled, not realizing Yueyao was already influenced by her husband’s reputation.
Li Guoyan came straight in without changing his clothes, so he was still in his Court Attire. Li Guoxing had an exceedingly upright appearance: a square face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. This appearance was the most favored in the officialdom, as it was regarded as having the look of an authority.
When Yueyao saw Li Guoxing look at her, for some unknown reason, she felt shame and lowered her head. However, she knew inside that things were different now. Although Uncle Li’s countenance was still stern as he looked at her, his eyes revealed tenderness.
Lady Li teased her husband with a laugh, “Who made you look so frightening, scaring Yueyao like that.” The child was truly afraid of her husband.
Li Guoxing felt helpless; that was just how he looked, even his son was afraid of him. He hadn’t expected his niece to be frightened as well.
Yueyao steadied herself and greeted Li Guoxing, “Uncle, I hope you are well.”
Li Guoxing, seeing Yueyao’s face rosy and her complexion good—not as mournful as he had imagined—and with Yueyao displaying good etiquette, nodded his head in approval, “Hmm, very good.” As for whether Yueyao understood what ‘very good’ meant, that was beyond his concern.
Lady Li suggested with a smile, “Old Master, why don’t you go change into another set of clothes?”
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Li Guoxing nodded and left the small living room. When he reappeared, he had changed into a light blue silk shirt tied at the waist with a Jade Belt, looking less imposing and more at ease.
Although Li Guoxing hadn’t had much contact with Yueyao, as Lian Dongbo was his close friend, now that the friend had gone, leaving behind two children, he was definitely determined to take good care of them. Furthermore, past events had given him a very good impression of Yueyao. Li Guoxing asked Yueyao, “Are you getting used to life in the Capital City?” Yueyao, having grown up in Jiangnan, surely wasn’t quite accustomed to the Capital.
Yueyao nodded with a smile, “I was a bit unaccustomed when I first arrived, but now I’m used to it.”
Lady Li noted how Yueyao, who was just now scared out of her wits, replied to her husband’s inquiries without a trace of nervousness.
Li Guoxing asked Yueyao many questions, not only about her time in Jiangnan but also about life in the Lian Mansion, even going to the extent of inquiring about the minutiae of her daily life.
Yueyao consistently replied “very good.” She was clear in her understanding that she could tell her uncle that life in the Lian Mansion was bad because he was her beloved relative, and most importantly, she was confident her uncle would be on her side. But it was different with Li Guoxing. Even though he was her father’s close friend and a respected elder she could trust, Li Guoxing was ultimately an outsider. It was extremely unwise to speak ill of one’s own family to outsiders, as a careless word could lead others to question her character.
With this thought in mind, in responding to Li Guoxing’s questions, Yueyao only spoke of the good, not uttering a single negative word about Lian Mansion.
Lady Li cast Yueyao an unexpected glance. Could the rumors have been wrong? Even Li Guoxing wondered if he had been overly concerned, perhaps the Lian Mansion actually treated the two children rather well.
In fact, what Yueyao said was also the truth, with Old Madam Lian there, Yueyao’s life within the mansion was indeed very good, but the future remained uncertain. Yueyao was well aware that the more she spoke well of the Lian family now, the more sympathy and affection she would receive from them later, should they learn about any mistreatment she suffered within the Lian Mansion.