Chapter 172: Chapter 71: Tingzheng Added to the Family Tree_3
Tingzheng left, and Yueyao picked up her needle and thread to start embroidering.
Qiao Lan said helplessly, “Miss, can’t you take a break?” Her own miss seemed to be working tirelessly, every day if not practicing her calligraphy, then embroidering, or else painting. She really hoped her miss could be like the Second Young Lady, enjoying life leisurely in every aspect.
Yueyao shook her head, “I can’t sit still.” Whenever Yueyao stopped, she felt she was wasting time, and only by staying busy could she prevent herself from falling into pointless musing.
Qiao Lan was defeated by Yueyao.
Tingzheng returned before lunch.
Yueyao saw Tingzheng with his head lowered, looking like the image of grievance, and her heart skipped a beat, “Brother, what’s wrong? Have you been wronged?”
Tingzheng shook his head, “No. Sister, I’m a bit tired and want to sleep for a while.”
Yueyao would not press Tingzheng if he didn’t want to say what had happened. She could find out from other sources without forcing Tingzheng. However, she wouldn’t let Tingzheng go to take a nap at this moment, “No, you should eat lunch first, then sleep. Sister has been waiting for you, and hasn’t eaten yet, let’s go eat together.” Seeing that Tingzheng only ate one bowl of rice, Yueyao knew for sure that something unpleasant had happened during the family tree recording.
After finishing lunch, Tingzheng went to sleep, lying in bed with his back to Yueyao. Yueyao covered him with the quilt before leaving the room.
Yueyao summoned Ah Hai, “You’ve been following the young master all the time, tell me what exactly happened to him?” Brother Zheng’s state surely indicated something had occurred. Yueyao even had an ominous premonition that things might not have gone smoothly with the family tree entry!
Ah Hai, handpicked by Yueyao herself, naturally dared not keep anything from her, “Replying to Miss, after the recording of the family tree was complete, Third Young Master scolded Young Master Zheng.”
Yueyao’s face darkened instantly, “What did he scold him for?”
Under pressure, Ah Hai told Yueyao what Tingchao had said to Tingzheng. Tingchao had scolded Tingzheng’s mother as a lowly prostitute and by association called Tingzheng a base-born wretch, even saying that Tingzheng was not worthy of being his brother.
Yueyao’s face turned furious, “At that time, there was no one around?”
Ah Hai quickly said, “There were people there. Young Master Zheng almost fought with Third Young Master, and it was only because Great Master’s personal attendant stepped in to separate Third Young Master that they didn’t actually come to blows.” Ah Hai didn’t dare tell Yueyao that on the way back to Lanxi Courtyard, Tingzheng asked him what a prostitute was, and he had answered truthfully. To his surprise, after hearing the explanation, Young Master Zheng just fell silent.
Yueyao huffed angrily, “This despicable creature, there is truly no cure for him.” After saying this, she went to Tingzheng’s bedroom. This child must be distressed after hearing those words.
Yueyao entered Tingzheng’s bedroom and heard the soft sound of crying. Without guessing, she knew it was Tingzheng hiding under the blankets weeping.
Yueyao knelt beside the bed without speaking. Tingzheng initially intended to pretend to be asleep, but after quite some time with Yueyao not leaving, he eventually opened his eyes, voice hoarse, “Sister…”
Yueyao touched Tingzheng’s forehead, “Sister knows all about what Third Young Master said to insult you. When you feel aggrieved, you should tell sister, instead of hiding under the covers to cry by yourself.”
Tingzheng couldn’t help but let his tears flow again.
Seeing Tingzheng sobbing heartbreakingly, Yueyao could only wipe his tears away. It was said that men should not easily cry, but Tingzheng cried so easily, truly troublesome.
Tingzheng had cried enough and looked at Yueyao before finally mustering the courage to ask, “Sister, is the person who gave birth to me really from such a place? Is it because of this that you and so many others in the mansion do not like me?”
Yueyao became angry, “You say that sister does not like you? Say that again?”
Tingzheng drew back, tears welling up in his eyes again, looking extremely pitiable, “But the others in the mansion do not like me; I know it.”
Yueyao looked at Tingzheng, who seemed like a pitiful little rabbit, and her heart softened. She spoke much more gently, “Silly boy, if sister did not like you, why would I have brought you to be by my side? Tingzheng, sister was young before and needed someone to take care of her, naturally, she could not look after you. After father and mother passed away, sister was so distressed that she fell ill and needed a doctor, even more unable to take care of you. Although there was a reason for everything, it still was sister’s fault that Tingzheng suffered.”
Tingzheng looked at Yueyao, remembering how she had painstakingly taught him, word by word, and said hesitantly, “I know sister cares for me, but the others still don’t like me. Sister, is the person who gave birth to me really as appalling as Third Brother says?” Ah Hai had been very vague, but it was possible to guess that his birth mother must have been someone detestable, because he too was disliked by everyone. This made Tingzheng extremely sad; he also craved Yueyao’s affirmation.