Chapter 363: Chapter 128: Yuehuan Arrives (Part 3)_3
Yueyao handed the completed letter to the steward, “Deliver this letter to the Li family and give it to Tingzheng.” It was so cold in the mountains, Yueyao asked Tingzheng not to come up. After all, she would be returning next month.
That day’s dinner was very lavish: black bean tofu, hot and sour radish slices, Immortal Eggs, and kelp soybean soup.
After dinner, Yueyao spoke with Yuehuan, “No one can idle around here. Starting tomorrow, have Hong Mei and Hong Yi work with Nanny Hao.” Because Granny Xu was available to carry water, chop wood, and do other strenuous tasks, the maids were not needed for those, but there were still many trivial tasks to handle, and Yueyao couldn’t allow Hong Mei and Hong Yi to be idle.
Upon hearing this, Hong Mei and Hong Yi couldn’t help but recall what Cai Lan had said back at the mansion, and their expressions immediately stiffened.
Yuehuan shook her head, “Third sister, they can’t handle heavy tasks.” Yuehuan didn’t believe Cai Lan’s words, but Yueyao had said not to let the two of them appear close; not too close nor too distant, which was hard to balance, so it was simpler to be antagonistic.
Frowning, Yueyao said, “There’s Granny Xu for carrying water and chopping wood; they’ll just do some cleaning tasks. If Qiao Lan and Hua Lei can do it, why can’t they?”
Hong Mei and Hong Yi were not as scheming as Cai Lan, but the rumors spread by Cai Lan were too frightening, causing them an involuntary fear. Having heard Yueyao’s words just now, they were no longer worried.
Yuehuan quickly stood up to explain, “Of course not.”
Yueyao stood up to wash her hands, “If you can’t stand it now, go back, but don’t end up like the Eldest Miss, falling ill and troubling everyone, to the point where even the monks in the temple can’t have peace.” With that, she returned to her room.
Yuehuan blinked, thinking how well her third sister was playing along.
Hong Mei and Hong Yi also exchanged looks. The Third Young Lady’s words implied that the Eldest Miss’s illness was self-inflicted. Surely not!
Back in her room, Hua Lei asked quietly, “Miss, was the Eldest Miss’s illness really self-inflicted?” She was unaware of it.
Yueyao glanced at Hua Lei, who immediately shrank back and dared not make another sound. Although it wasn’t intentional, Yueying wouldn’t have caught a cold and fever had she drunk the ginger soup that day; the responsibility was still on herself. So her accusation against Yueying wasn’t entirely unfounded.
Hua Lei whispered, “I wonder if the Fourth Miss can endure it?” She felt that the Fourth Miss would surely end up like the Eldest Miss, having to return home within ten days.
Yueyao spoke indifferently, “The Fourth Miss is different from the Eldest Miss; she can endure it.” A child who grew up in the Infant Nurturing Hall not only survived but also completed her education and entered the civil service on her own merits, these alone are enough to show that Yuehuan is not afraid of hardship. Yuehuan just hadn’t experienced the malevolence of human nature, which is why she was so naive. But suddenly being in the unfamiliar environment of Lian Mansion and receiving the maternal love she had missed in her previous life, she had indeed been confused. In fact, with Yuehuan’s intelligence, as long as she wasn’t deceived by Maternal Aunt Su, she could live well in the Lian Mansion.
That evening, Yueyao let Qiao Lan assist with the ink and paper at the side. Tired of writing, she sat down and smelled Qiao Lan, “I haven’t had much contact with the Fourth Miss, can you tell me about her? Start from when she was born.” Qiao Lan and Nanny Hao both knew everything about the Fourth Miss from her childhood to now; however, Nanny Hao was shrewd, and Qiao Lan was a bit naive–by asking more, Qiao Lan wouldn’t be suspicious. Even if she became suspicious, given Qiao Lan’s cautiousness, she wouldn’t talk to others.
Though Qiao Lan was puzzled why Yueyao was asking in such detail, she still told Yueyao all she knew. Being a maid close to Old Madam, Qiao Lan had a clear understanding of affairs in the Lian Mansion and was well-informed about Yuehuan’s matters.