186 Cousin, I Miss My Mother

Now that she had offended First Madam, she probably wouldn’t be at peace even in the horse stable.

The work in the horse stable was dirty and tiring. She was still injured, so she probably wouldn’t be able to last for more than a few days. Perhaps after a few days, her body would be damaged and she would almost lose her life.

Not only had Eldest Miss saved her life, but she had also arranged a way out for her.

Xia Tao said angrily, “What’s there to thank her for? Would Eldest Miss lack your words? If your body is damaged, it would be a waste of Eldest Miss’s kindness. You should recuperate obediently. It won’t be too late to thank Eldest Miss after you recover.”

Old Madam Ma also advised, “Miss Xia Tao, you’re right. Look at you. Don’t foolishly offend Eldest Miss. There’s still a long way to go. Remember Eldest Miss’s kindness and work carefully after entering the Jade Courtyard.”

When Liu’er heard this, she knew that it was inappropriate, so she did not insist.

Xia Tao comforted Liu’er a little more before returning to the Jade Courtyard. “Liu’er said that she’ll come over to thank Young Miss when her injuries recover a little in a few days.”

Yu Youyao nodded and did not say anything. She thought about how Uncle Sun’s Essence Protection Pill was developing after two days, so she made another trip to the Green House.

Uncle Sun was flipping through the almanac when he saw her glaring at him. Without waiting for her to speak, he said angrily, “Girl, aren’t you tired? You’ve been running around the Green House all day. Do you think medicinal pills are that easy to refine? Do you think it’s simply picking up medicinal herbs and throwing them into the furnace?”

After being lectured by Uncle Sun, Yu Youyao was stunned. “If this isn’t the way to refine pills, what else do you do?”

Uncle Sun was so angry that he blew his beard and glared at him. “Little kid, you’re really infuriating me. Alchemy requires the right time, place, and people. It has to follow the yin and yang, be adjusted for the five elements, and match the heavens. Didn’t you see that I was flipping through the almanac?”

Yu Youyao quickly leaned over. “Which day do you plan to choose?”

Uncle Sun shook his head and closed the almanac. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I’ve already picked it. The eighth of April is a good day. It’s still the Buddha Festival.”

When Yu Youyao heard this, her face fell. She went to look for her cousin. “Cousin, do you think Uncle Sun did it on purpose? He clearly knows that I’m going to the Precious Peace Temple with Grandmother on the eighth of April. He’s not in the residence, but he actually decided to start refining pills on this day…”

Zhou Linghuai closed the book. “The sixth day of April is also an auspicious day. I believe it’s also suitable for alchemy. I’ll get him to change the date.”

When Yu Youyao heard this, she quickly shook her head. “How can that be? Uncle Sun must have his reasons for choosing the eighth of April. How can he change it so easily? It won’t be good if something goes wrong with the pill refinement.”

Zhou Linghuai shook his head and laughed. “I’ve also dabbled in mystic techniques. Not to mention anything else, I’ve looked at the date and adjusted for the five elements according to the yin and yang. It still works”

Yu Youyao was a little tempted, but she remembered that the person who was refining the pills was Uncle Sun, not her cousin. Uncle Sun must have the final say, so she shook her head. “No, it’s fine. The day of the Buddhist Festival is quite good. Uncle Sun is refining pills for Cousin in the residence, so I’ll pray for him in the temple. Anyway, I can’t help much in the residence.”

Zhou Linghuai smiled and nodded.

Yu Youyao looked at her cousin and smiled. “Cousin, you’re really amazing. You even know mystic techniques.”

The little girl’s eyes sparkled with admiration for him, making Zhou Linghuai laugh. “Not really. It’s just that I’ve read too many Daoist classics, so I naturally understand a little.”

Yu Youyao did not believe him. “Cousin, you’re too humble. If you say that you know a little, then you must be even better than ordinary people. You said that you know a little about calligraphy, but even Second Uncle praised your handwriting and paintings.”

Zhou Linghuai changed the topic. “On April 8th, you’re going to the Precious Peace Temple with Grandaunt?”

She had never mentioned this before.

Yu Youyao nodded. “Grandmother lit a lantern for my mother at the Precious Peace Temple. After I turned five, I had to go to the Precious Peace Temple with Grandmother every year to add oil to my mother’s lamp and mourn for her.”

At the mention of her mother, she looked a little sad.

Zhou Linghuai did not think of this for a moment. He should not have mentioned it, as made the young lady feel uncomfortable.

“Cousin, I miss my mother.” The little girl’s voice was soft and as low as a feather. “My mother gave me fifteen longevity locks of all kinds. Grandmother said that after my mother gave birth to me, she looked for a model when she was sick and made them for me.” As she spoke, she leaned over to her cousin and picked up the longevity lock with the lotus pattern on her neck to show him. “I’ve been wearing the longevity locks that my mother gave me since I was young. I change it every year. Every year on my birthday, Grandmother will personally help me put it on.”

Zhou Linghuai took a closer look. This longevity lock was indeed exquisite. The words “Long Life and Wealth” were engraved on the back.

The children of rich families were afraid that it would be difficult to raise them for a long time. They had the habit of wearing longevity locks from the moment they were born. Newly born babies had to wear silver chains to avoid evil that could suppress their lives. Not only were they lighter, but they were also afraid that if they wore too expensive ones, it would ruin their luck. If they were older, they would have to wear jade chains that were warm and smooth. They would nourish their bodies. When they were well-nourished, they would have to wear gold chains to suppress their luck.

There was a lot of thought behind this.

Madam Xie had given her daughter 15 longevity locks while she was still in her infancy. This was full of earnest blessings and care for her daughter. She probably knew that she did not have long to live and was powerless to take care of her daughter…

Yu Youyao’s eyes turned red as she sniffed. “My mother must love me very much. When I was young, every time Father reprimanded me, I would miss my mother very much. For a period of time, I especially hated Yu Jianjia. I felt that it was all her mother’s fault that I lost my mother, so I always went against her. Every time Father found out, he would scold me…”

Zhou Linghuai held his breath and pursed his lips.

Yu Youyao said softly, “Not long after Yang Shuwan entered the family, she tainted my mother’s dowry, causing Grandmother to be furious. Not only did she make Yang Shuwan spit out everything she had swallowed, but she also sent the people in my mother’s house to the farm. I don’t see them often.”

Her ordinary words made Zhou Linghuai realize that something was wrong.

The old servants in front of Madam Xie were all brought over from the Xie Residence in Quanzhou. They were definitely loyal to their master. Yu Youyao was still an infant, so wouldn’t it be more appropriate for these old servants to help take care of her?

Even if Old Madam Yu brought Yu Youyao to her side, she would still have to be served.

Previously, Uncle Sun had said that Yu Jianjia was born at full term. It was obvious that Yu Zongzheng had colluded with Madam Yang when Madam Xie was pregnant and even secretly became pregnant.

Thinking back to Old Madam Yu’s actions, it seemed that Madam Xie’s death was not that simple.

The little girl was not completely unaware!

Yu Youyao pursed her lips slightly. “I heard most of what happened to my mother from my grandmother. My grandmother said that my mother was a magnanimous and polite person. When I was young, I also heard some things about my mother from the servants. They also said that my mother was clearly a good master…”

At the thought of her mother’s death, an indescribable anger suddenly arose in her heart!

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