Yuehuan returned to the courtyard, her mind not quite back yet. At first, she was quite composed, but when she heard Yueyao say that someone had intentionally tried to kill her, Yuehuan was terrified.
Maternal Aunt Su also received the news and, seeing her daughter’s pale face, immediately guessed Yuehuan’s thoughts: "You don’t think that the Third Young Lady’s problem was caused by Madam, do you?" The Third Young Lady had loudly accused someone of harming her, clearly indicating that Madam was behind it. Such actions of the Third Young Lady are condemnable.
Yuehuan inwardly agreed with Yueyao’s suspicion. That road wasn’t used only by their carriage, and many other carriages had passed without incident. Why had only the carriage Yueyao was riding in had an accident? It was hard not to be suspicious. Though that’s what she thought, she dared not show it on her face. Yuehuan was now cautious around Maternal Aunt Su and naturally couldn’t speak freely. "Maternal Auntie, I just feel that the Third Young Lady’s suspicion makes sense. This incident indeed is very strange," she said.
Maternal Aunt Su was convinced it was an accident.
Yuehuan purposefully asked, "Maternal Auntie, if it was an accident, then why would Third Sister say someone deliberately tried to harm her? Why would she do such a thing?" Yuehuan knew in her heart that, even if it were an accident, Yueyao would staunchly claim that it wasn’t an accident but a deliberate act of harm.
Maternal Aunt Su paused at Yuehuan’s question, then laughed and stroked her hair: "The Third Young Lady says so because she surely has her motives."
Yuehuan looked confused. "What could she be scheming?" She pondered a moment then asked cautiously, "Maternal Auntie, is the Third Young Lady plotting against Madam? Maternal Auntie, Madam has always been after the Third Young Lady’s wealth, is it now that the Third Young Lady is also taking action against Madam?" Yuehuan actually found Yueyao’s behavior very strange. If Yueyao was seeking revenge, this method was too gentle.
Maternal Aunt Su was shocked, then spoke very sternly, "Fourth Miss, such words must never be spoken again."
Yuehuan lowered her head.
Seeing her daughter’s aggrieved expression, Maternal Aunt Su was also helpless: "Don’t blame Maternal Auntie, it’s correct to be cautious and careful in the mansion."
Maternal Aunt Su thought for a moment then asked, "Fourth Miss, during your time with the Third Young Lady on the mountain, did you gain anything? How did she treat you?"
Yuehuan felt a chill in her heart, then expressed her disappointment, "Third Sister doesn’t like me. I stayed with her in the mountains for over a month. Except for the initial instances where she explained scriptural texts to me, she ignored me for the rest of the time as if I were some dreadful beast. I don’t know if I am really that annoying." Hong Yi and Hong Mei probably wouldn’t keep it a secret, it was likely that these matters had already been leaked. So, it didn’t matter much if she said a bit more.
Maternal Aunt Su’s face showed disappointment.
With her thoughts turning over, Yuehuan asked, "Maternal Auntie, didn’t you previously tell me not to get too close to the Third Young Lady? Maternal Auntie, you don’t know how scary her eyes look when she sees someone. Additionally, the Third Young Lady is really very stingy. On the mountain, she would eat Bird’s Nest and other tonics every three to five days, while I could only watch dryly. Everyone in the mansion says the Third Young Lady is generous, but her actions are truly nothing less than stingy." Yuehuan concluded from the events described in Yueyao’s letter that the real Yuehuan was in fact very petty, a narrow-minded person. She had to slowly correct her old ways of dealing, at least outwardly, to appear more like the real Yuehuan.
Maternal Aunt Su’s face showed subtle changes, but Yuehuan, not being keen on observing, didn’t notice: "The Third Young Lady isn’t really generous; she does this to win people’s hearts. However, this is indeed a bit too much." Both young ladies together, she enjoying the finest while her own daughter didn’t even get a sip of soup, was indeed uncomfortable.
Yuehuan sighed lightly: "Third Sister said those tonics were gifts from the Ma Family to her, that it wasn’t right to share them with me, but in reality, she is just too stingy to part with them. Whatever the Ma Family sends her, naturally becomes hers, and she can deal with it as she wishes. Ma Family certainly won’t mind. Well, let it be, I won’t speak ill of her anymore. It’s a pity that I previously wanted to be on good terms with her; I didn’t expect her to be such a person."
However, Maternal Aunt Su didn’t speak ill of Yueyao: "Let’s talk about future matters in the future."
Having heard this, Yuehuan’s heart sank. If Maternal Aunt Su had continued her line of thought, Yuehuan would have been more at ease. Now it was clear that she didn’t trust her as much as before.
Yueyao lay on the bed thinking, while Nanny Deng had swollen, red eyes: "Young Lady, how are you?" With such a big incident, Nanny Deng had been terrified out of her wits.