Chapter 9 Entering the Mansion 3
Yu Qingying rarely saw her father, and he always had a dignified aura that instilled in her a sense of awe. When her father scolded her, her face turned pale, and she lowered her head, not daring to utter a sound.
Seeing this, Qiao smiled and asked someone to bring out the gift she had prepared. The gift for Yu Qingci was a set of pearl headdress. The pearls on it were not large, but the headdress was uniquely designed. The pearls, each the size of a soybean, were pink and very suitable for a young girl.
What Yu Qingbai received was a set of superior writing brushes, ink, and inkstones; the materials and craftsmanship alone exuded a grand and sophisticated air.
In such situations, Mr. Qiao always appeared magnanimous and composed, and would never appear petty.
Next, they paid their respects to several other elders, including the fourth wife, Madam Liu, who lived in the Earl's mansion, and the wives of the second and third wives who had already moved out and lived separately. The siblings stepped forward to greet them one by one.
After meeting the elders, the next step was the greetings between peers. Today, only the younger generation of the eldest and fourth branches were present. As for the second and third branches, only two aunts came today, saying that all the grandchildren would come over to get to know each other at the banquet.
Qiao had one son and two daughters. Her eldest son, Yu Qingyun, and Yu Qingyan were twins. Yu Qingyun was currently studying at the Imperial Academy and could only be seen when he returned home at night.
The youngest daughter, Qingying, was two years younger than Yu Qingci. Originally, she was the third child in the family, but after Yu Qingci returned, she would have to move down a bit and become the fourth child.
Yu Jingsheng was an official who was away from home most of the year, but he would occasionally return to the capital to report on his duties. In addition to Qiao Shi, there was also a concubine given to him by the old lady, who was Yu Lian's birth mother, Concubine Wei.
At this time, Yu Lian was only nine years old. She stood beside her aunt with a reserved expression. When no one spoke to her, she lowered her head and stood there obediently, not daring to move. Her cautious manner was even worse than that of the maids beside Yu Qingying. She was completely unlike the arrogant and smug person she had been in her previous life.
Yu Qingci glanced at her once and then looked away. No rush, she'd settle the score with her later.
There are also several children from the fourth wife's family.
Yu Qingci prepared purses or handkerchiefs embroidered with various flowers and birds for her sisters of the same generation, and made various kinds of knots by hand for her brothers.
When Yu Qingyan and Yu Qingying saw that the return gifts given to them were no different from those given to their half-sisters, they immediately showed their displeasure.
Yu Qingyan was somewhat better, and she still maintained a faint smile on her face.
Yu Qingying was still young and not very shrewd. She immediately put on a cold snort and stuffed the purse she had received into the hands of the maid behind her. If there hadn't been an elder present, she would have given it to the maid on the spot.
Yu Qingci maintained a polite smile throughout; as long as it looked good, that was enough. This time, she didn't want to waste her emotions on these people.
After a while, the old lady, Madam Zhang, looked tired, so Yu Jingsheng told everyone to disperse. He had specially taken the day off to stay home because he was afraid that the two children would feel uncomfortable after returning to the mansion. He planned to personally take the siblings to the courtyard that had been arranged for them.
Qiao gave Yu Qingyan a subtle hint, and Yu Qingyan understood and stepped forward, saying, "Father, just take Seventh Brother with you. I will take Third Sister to see the courtyard. Don't worry, Father, I will take good care of her."
After saying that, he took Yu Qingci's hand and said with a smile, "I have been looking forward to Third Sister and Seventh Brother returning to the manor. If you need anything in the future, Third Sister, please feel free to come to me. We sisters should get along well."
Qiao Shi echoed her daughter's words, saying, "Qingyan is right, that makes perfect sense. Qingci, just go with your second sister and relax. It'll be a good opportunity for me to take a break."
After saying that, he pointed to a middle-aged maid behind him and said, "Granny Wu is an old servant of mine. Let her go and take a look. If there is anything in the courtyard that is not to your liking, just tell me and let Granny Wu report back to me so that I can make up for it in time."
Yu Qingci naturally didn't take Qiao's words seriously, and said with a slightly shy smile, "Qingci thanks Madam and Second Sister for your trouble."
Yu Jingsheng was very pleased to see this scene. After giving a few instructions, he took Yu Qingbai out. Yu Qingci followed Yu Qingyan and Yu Qingying, and they walked outside surrounded by a group of maids and servants.
Once outside Shouyin Hall, seeing that there were no elders around, Yu Qingyan's smile quickly vanished, and she withdrew her hand from Yu Qingci's.
Yu Qingying also stopped and turned to look at Yu Qingci with contempt and arrogance: "Hmph! A concubine who came back halfway through her life, you dare to answer when I call you 'sister'? Where do you get the nerve? You'd better behave yourself in this manor from now on and know your place. Otherwise, I won't mind teaching you what the rules of a noble family are!"
Yu Qingying's voice was a bit loud, and Yu Qingyan frowned and whispered a reminder: "You should say less, and don't forget what Mother told you."
After saying that, she gracefully turned around and instructed Granny Wu, "Granny Wu, take her to the Wisteria Garden. I'm a little tired, so I'll go back and rest first."
After giving her instructions, she left without even glancing at Yu Qingci, and the maids and servants who served her quickly followed her away.
Seeing her sister leave, Yu Qingying gave Yu Qingci a smug, contemptuous smile and said in a low voice, "You're just a lowly child born of a lowly woman. It's your good fortune that the Earl's Mansion is willing to take you in. Don't really think of yourselves as masters. Granny Wu, you take her to get acquainted with the place."
After saying that, she followed her sister's example and strode away.
Looking at Yu Qingying's arrogant little expression as she left, Yu Qingci recalled her fate in her previous life.
It seems she married into a decent family, but unfortunately, Yu Qingying was spoiled by Qiao Shi from a young age, which made her spoiled and domineering. After marriage, she did not live harmoniously with her husband. They quarreled every few days and went back to her parents' home. Their life was chaotic and caused a lot of trouble, which gave Qiao Shi a lot of headaches.
Granny Wu stood behind the group like an invisible person, pretending not to see the two young ladies' behavior. Now that the two young ladies had left and only Yu Qingci and her maid Tong'er remained, she stepped forward and led them towards the Wisteria Garden.
The Earl's Mansion was a large four-courtyard house. Having lived here in her previous life, Yu Qingci was quite familiar with the layout of the mansion. However, being a newcomer, she could only pretend not to know the way and silently follow behind Granny Wu.
Granny Wu didn't say anything and just led the way. She took the most winding and unobstructed paths, all under the sun, passing through courtyard after courtyard. She even walked back and forth across the stone arch bridge in the back garden several times, but she still couldn't reach the Wisteria Garden.
Tong'er couldn't help but secretly glance at her young lady.
Yu Qingci sneered inwardly. The Wisteria Garden was not actually remote. It took less than a quarter of an hour to walk there to pay her respects at Shouyin Hall every day. Granny Wu was clearly leading her in circles.
However, Yu Qingci showed no sign of it. Granny Wu was Qiao Shi's most trusted nanny. She was over fifty years old and wasn't afraid of the sun or walking too much. So she and Tong'er, two teenage girls, had nothing to fear. Their only worry was that they would get tanned easily.
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