All Hail Cousin Brother

Chapter 103: It’s Hard to Be a Stepdaughter

Yang Shuwan gritted her teeth and nodded. “Even a dog would find it annoying to be in charge for three years. I’ll take this opportunity to let your father know how hard it is for me to manage the family. They can’t do without me in this family, and he’ll also know how important I am. In the future, he probably won’t be angry at me because of the matter of managing the family.”

Yu Jianjia nodded. “That’s right.”

After Yang Shuwan thought it through, her mood brightened and she immediately felt her headache ease. “However, Old Madam asked Mother to go to An Shou Hall tomorrow to set up rules. Do you think…”

Yu Jianjia’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, “Mother, just listen to Grandmother’s instructions. Don’t think about anything else. Don’t make things difficult for you by angering Grandmother.”

Her mother probably wanted to use this as an excuse to play a trick on her grandmother.

However, this trick had to be used on her father. What was the point of using it in front of her grandmother? It wouldn’t make her grandmother unhappy. Even if her father felt guilty towards her mother, it would be greatly discounted.

Yang Shuwan thought about it carefully. Master was easy to fool, but Old Madam was smart. There was no need to complicate matters as it would be self-defeating.

Seeing that her mother had figured it out, Yu Jianjia heaved a sigh of relief. “Mother’s illness can’t be treated lightly. We have to find a capable physician and treat it carefully. Otherwise, Mother will suffer in the future.”

Yang Shuwan was touched by her daughter’s caring and thoughtful words. She held her daughter’s hand and said, “How could I not know that? I’ll definitely listen to you and recuperate well. Fortunately, I have you by my side. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t know what to do.”

Yu Jianjia frowned slightly. Thinking back to how her mother had casually mentioned Yu Qingning just now, she hadn’t expected that Yu Qingning would be so useless. After causing a commotion, she didn’t manage to cause any trouble. Instead, it gave Yu Youyao a chance to perform in front of her father.

She was really unable to do anything right!

Yu Jianjia felt a little uncomfortable again, but she still said, “Mother, get someone to send 20 taels of silver and some expensive cloth and supplements to Nanny Qian later to appease her. Fourth Sister’s life will be better in the future. Fourth Sister hit Nanny Qian. If this matter gets out, even the reputation of the other young misses in the residence will be affected. We have to deal with it well.”

At the mention of this, Yang Shuwan finally thought of this and quickly nodded. “I’ll get Nanny Li to go over immediately.”

After returning to the courtyard, Yu Jianjia called over another maidservant, Fu Ling. “Has the Scarlet Orchid bloomed in the greenhouse?”

The Scarlet Orchid was one of the more expensive types of orchids. The veins of the leaves were clear and transparent, and the plant was majestic, but it did not lose its beautiful and elegant appearance. The flowers bloomed like lotus petals, and the outermost layer of petals was as green as jade. The inner layer was as white as a lotus flower, and the petals were bright red, making them look beautiful, elegant, and imposing.

Fu Ling had been brought up by her mother after Lu Shui had been chased out of the residence. She usually helped Nanny Qin take care of her room, so she was a reliable person. “It has bloomed this morning. It will take about two to three days for it to fully bloom.”

Yu Jianjia’s expression relaxed, and she said, “Send Chi Chanlan to Father’s house. Tell him that I specially nurtured it for him. Don’t say anything else.”

After receiving the order, Fu Ling went down to handle it.

Yu Jianjia sat in her room and drank tea. Not long after, Fu Ling returned with a scroll in her hand. “Young Miss, Master was very happy to have received your Scarlet Orchid. He picked out an ‘Orchid Painting’ and asked me to bring it back for you.”

Yu Jianjia’s slightly furrowed brows finally relaxed. She hurriedly took the scroll and carefully unfolded it…

In An Shou Hall, Yu Youyao was chatting with Old Madam Yu when she mentioned the Tian-tsui. “Mother had someone give me a piece of Tian-tsui, and it’s bright and beautiful. I didn’t have such exquisite jadeite jewelry in my hands, so I couldn’t help but wear it to homeschool. I thought that it would fulfill Mother’s wishes, but I didn’t expect the Tian-tsui to be so infamous. I also didn’t expect Grandmother to pay respects to Buddha because of it, so I couldn’t bear to see this.”

Old Madam Yu frowned when she heard this. After a while, her expression softened. “Yao Yao, you don’t have to think too much about it. You weren’t born yet, so how would you know how amazing the feather dress was? You’ve never seen such exquisite craftsmanship in the past, so it’s inevitable that your eyes will be dazzled when you see such an exquisite thing. Besides, your mother has given you something, so you definitely can’t hide it. Even if you’re a polite person, it’s timely to put it on and show off. If others find out, it’ll be good to show the mother-daughter gift. It’s not wrong for you to do this. It’s also because your mother doesn’t know the severity of the matter so she didn’t stop herself from giving it to you.”

She didn’t blame Nanny Xu for not reminding Yao Yao. It was human nature to dress like mother and daughter, but it wasn’t a hindrance for Yao Yao to wear it in private.

Yang Shuwan was used to causing trouble, but she wasn’t a magnanimous person. If Yao Yao didn’t wear some jadeite, she might even feel dissatisfied and cause more trouble.

As Yao Yao’s stepdaughter, she had to be more cautious when it came to her stepmother, Madam Yang. If she was careless, it might cause rumors to spread, and people would start speculating about her. It wouldn’t be good for Yao Yao’s reputation either.

It was difficult being a stepmother!

But it was even more difficult for her as a stepdaughter!

It would be Yao Yao’s fault if she didn’t wear it, and it would be Madam Yang’s fault if she did. Not only was it right for Yao Yao to wear a Tian-tsui, but it was also a very appropriate thing to do.

Yu Youyao still looked uneasy. “But Father seems a little unhappy…”

Old Madam Yu waved her hand. “Your father is also angry that your mother is too ridiculous and careless. It has nothing to do with you. Your mother should also know how capable she is, lest she keeps her eyes on the land in this residence and causes trouble sooner or later.”

Eldest Son was obsessed with official matters. Since it concerned his future, he couldn’t help but be concerned.

Yu Youyao finally heaved a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Qing Xiu walked into the house. “Old Madam, First Madam is not feeling well. She has just invited a physician into the residence.”

Old Madam Yu raised her eyebrows. She did not suspect that Madam Yang was pretending to be sick. After all, with Eldest Son’s personality, most people would not be able to take it. “Pick some good medicinal herbs and supplements and send them to the main courtyard. Let Madam Yang recuperate well. She doesn’t have to come over tomorrow to set the rules.”

Qing Xiu was dismissed.

Yu Youyao held a brightly colored teacup and turned to Xia Tao. “Go back to my courtyard and bring some good medicinal herbs and supplements over. Let Mother recuperate well.”

However, she had no intention of going over to take a look.

Madam Yang’s illness was definitely real, so naturally, she was also angry. She was her stepdaughter. As long as she was magnanimous and did not let others find fault with her, it would be fine. She did not have to force herself to be a “filial daughter.” Even if she was truly filial, Madam Yang would not accept her. There was no need to make things difficult for herself.