Chapter 141 A Mother's Strength (Second Update)
After vomiting, Aunt Ling seemed to realize something, gave an embarrassed smile, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and said, "I'm allergic to pollen."
Gu Changqing's expression remained unchanged: "Why didn't you say earlier that Auntie was allergic to pollen? That way, you wouldn't have been asked to take care of the flower room for Grandmother."
Aunt Ling opened her mouth, but was speechless for a moment.
"Take it down," Gu Changqing said to the servant.
The servant took a plate of pastries away, and Aunt Ling clearly saw the servant take a pastry and put it in his mouth as he walked away.
Aunt Ling's eyelashes trembled.
"Auntie," Gu Changqing called to her.
Aunt Ling looked away, her hands clenched tightly beneath her wide sleeves, and smiled as she asked, "What's wrong?"
Gu Changqing looked at her and said, "As I just said, since Aunt is allergic to pollen, then from now on, Grandmother's flower room will no longer be managed by Aunt. I will go and talk to Grandmother about it."
Aunt Ling lowered her eyes and smiled, "I'll be careful, it'll be alright."
Gu Changqing said, "Why make my aunt take this risk?"
Aunt Ling smiled and looked up to meet Gu Changqing's gaze: "...Since the young master says so, then very well. But if the gardener can't do it, remember to tell me."
"Hmm." Gu Changqing nodded slightly.
Aunt Ling stood up: "It's getting late, you should rest. I'm going back too."
She had taken a few steps when Gu Changqing suddenly called out to her, "How is Grandmother?"
"Hmm?" Aunt Ling paused slightly, turned around, and smiled at Gu Changqing. "She is in good health, but she is a little worried about her three little grandsons. If you have time, Your Highness, you can take Chengfeng and Chenglin back to see her."
“I will,” Gu Changqing said.
Aunt Ling did not linger any longer and turned to leave the courtyard.
On her way back, she passed by the flower room and saw several servants and maids cleaning it.
"Pulled up all those white flowers!"
"Such beautiful flowers, it would be a shame to pull them out."
"The old lady tripped and fell, and the young master took his anger out on her. What a waste of all these flowers."
"Alright, stop talking. Be careful that it doesn't reach the ears of the old lady and the young master."
A chill ran down her spine.
"Auntie, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? You look terrible," a maidservant asked.
Aunt Ling tightened her cloak, and said in a low, trembling voice, "I'm fine...I'm fine..."
It snowed lightly again in the capital at night, but not as heavily as the night before.
The family closed the door and ate inside.
Gu Jiao made carrot and cured pork soup and tofu and mushroom soup, and stir-fried a few side dishes.
Xiao Jingkong received today's delicious feast—vegetarian meatballs, green pepper and corn kernels, vegetarian sausage fried rice, and vegetarian shrimp and egg custard. He only recently unlocked the skill of eating eggs and felt great!
I need a bowl of Jiaojiao's lovingly made steamed egg custard every day!
His tableware was unbelievably beautiful, and the presentation was far superior to the other dishes.
He ate with relish, not forgetting to puff out his little chest, shake his head, and send smug, boastful expressions to the others.
Because Xiao Liulang started tutoring Lin Chengye again, he didn't come home for lunch every day and ate with Xiao Jingkong at the Imperial College.
Dinner has become the most organized time of day for the family.
After each dinner, the matriarch would ask everyone how their day had gone.
Xiao Jingkong always gave the longest report. He was very sparing with words in his elementary school and was a very aloof child. But when he got home, he became a little gossip, speaking vividly and adding gestures. He would only stop when Gu Jiao praised him.
Nothing special happened to anyone today.
When it was Gu Jiao's turn, she hesitated for a moment before telling the story of Yao Shi.
She didn't mention that Yao was framed in the Marquis's mansion, or that Yao almost died together with Gu Chenglin; she only said that she wanted to bring Yao over.
Everyone likes Yao very much and has no objections to this.
The only problem is the room.
Gu Yan said he could move in and squeeze in with Gu Xiaoshun, freeing up the room for Yao Shi.
Gu Xiaoshun nodded repeatedly. His bed was large enough for two people to sleep in.
"Tomorrow... shall I go with you?" Xiao Liulang asked Gu Jiao.
He was referring to the matter of going together to pick up Yao and bring her to live with them.
Gu Jiao said "Oh," and asked him, "Don't you have class tomorrow?"
Xiao Liulang: "...I have class."
The next morning, Gu Jiao went to the Marquis's residence.
Madam Yao got up early and was having breakfast in the warm pavilion.
She was pleasantly surprised to see her daughter arrive, but also a little worried. She took her daughter's hand and sat her down: "Have you eaten?"
"I've already eaten," Gu Jiao said. "I'm here to take you out of the manor."
Ms. Yao was taken aback.
Gu Jiao paused for a moment, then said, "Would you... be willing to move out and live with us?"
Yao dreamed of hearing those words, and dreamed of living with her daughter.
But not now.
Madam Yao reached out and touched her daughter's hair at her temple: "Did you rush over so early just to pick me up from the manor?"
Gu Jiao nodded honestly.
Madam Yao looked at her daughter with doting eyes: "Jiaojiao... has she truly accepted me?"
Gu Jiao remained silent.
She didn't know.
She never accepted Yao Shi, but her mother.
But Yao was also her mother.
Ms. Yao held her daughter's hand and said gently, "Jiaojiao made the concession because she was worried about me. I am very touched and happy. But I... cannot move out and live with Jiaojiao right now."
“That concubine is problematic,” Gu Jiao said.
As expected, it was because she was worried about her. Madam Yao touched her daughter's cheek with a mixture of relief and bitterness: "Mother knows, Mother can handle it, please trust Mother this once."
In the past, if she had known she could move in with her daughter, she would have gone without hesitation. But she already knew about the flower room.
She spent the entire night thinking about what she should do.
Should she move out, or stay in the mansion?
She didn't fight before because she felt she couldn't see any hope. Her Yan'er could lose his life at any moment. She just wanted to protect Yan'er and stay away from the troubles of the Marquis's mansion.
But now she doesn't think that way anymore.
Some people are useless to avoid; for them, mother and her two children, even their very existence is a sin.
More importantly, she learned that her daughter had been whipped for saving her.
If she hadn't been so incompetent, her daughter wouldn't have been whipped for trying to save her!
Her heart was bleeding!
Her daughter has done so much for her; she can't always hide behind her daughter and become a burden to her.
She hopes to move there someday, not because she has nowhere else to go.
She also hopes that one day when she is gone, her daughter will remember her not as a helpless, weak, and pitiful mother, but as a mother she can be proud of.
This is the strength her daughter gives her.
"If I could, I wouldn't want you to be so capable."
It was her own incompetence that forced her daughter to become strong.
She can't go on like this anymore.
She wanted to protect her daughter.
Gu Jiao couldn't understand such emotions, but she respected Yao's choice: "If you need anything, you're always welcome at home."
After Gu Jiao left, Madam Yao changed her clothes, put on two gold hairpins, and went to Songhe Courtyard to pay her respects to Old Madam Gu.
Upon hearing that Madam Yao had come to pay her respects, Old Madam Gu nearly choked: "Who did you say came?"
The maidservant said, "Madam, it's Madam! She's come to pay her respects!"
Ever since Yao returned to the manor, she has been claiming illness and has not come to pay her respects to Old Madam Gu. What's wrong with her today? Has the sun risen in the west?
Madam Gu was in a very bad mood. First, Gu Chenglin was still locked up in the ancestral hall. Second, she was frightened by a petty thief yesterday and had an accident in the flower room. Unfortunately, her eldest grandson had not yet caught the thief.
She had never been this unlucky in most of her life.
"Hiss—" She was in pain all over. "Tell her to wait outside and that I haven't gotten up yet."
Yao was left hanging for almost half an hour without uttering a single complaint.
Madam Gu chuckled and said, "Oh? She's changed her ways? Ten years ago, she would have given me the cold shoulder and left!"
Madam Gu eventually called the person in.
Not only did Mrs. Yao come in person, but she also brought some homemade pastries.
Madam Gu sneered, "What? You want to poison me?"
"Your wife wouldn't dare," Yao said respectfully.
Even his tone of voice changed, revealing a fawning and ingratiating air.
Old Madam Gu couldn't help but glance at Madam Yao again.
Previously, Madam Yao was as aloof as could be, appearing to have no desires or wants, which even annoyed Old Madam Gu. Today, she changed her clothes and put on a hairpin, finally showing some self-awareness as a noblewoman from a noble family.
Women are supposed to dress themselves up beautifully and then be subservient to their mothers-in-law.
Madam Gu finally stopped feeling like she'd punched cotton, and surprisingly started to find Yao Shi a little more agreeable.
"Mother, please try some." Madam Yao presented the pastries with both hands, her demeanor perfectly respectful.
Madam Gu picked it up and took a bite without much interest.
Then Madam Gu was amazed.
Who would have thought that this down-on-her-luck wife was such a good cook? She's much better than the cooks in the mansion!
Madam Yao complimented, "I practiced for a long time before daring to present this to my mother, and I hope she will not find it offensive."
Everyone in the room was stunned. Had they heard correctly? Did the lady really say those words?
Despite her humble origins, Madam Yao was a woman of great integrity and never wanted to be subservient like Aunt Ling.
Madam Gu was pleased with Yao's attitude, and since she was indeed having a poor appetite due to her injury, she could eat some of Yao's pastries.
Madam Yao said gently, “Mother, let me massage you. The blood stasis on your body will dissipate after I massage it. Yan’er often feels unwell. I’ve massaged him before, and the imperial physicians all praised me for my good massage skills.”
Madam Gu was in a lot of pain, but after hearing what she said, she hesitated for a moment and then let her try it anyway.
Yao Shi hadn't been taking care of Gu Yan all these years for nothing; she was indeed very good at it, much more professional than the maids in the mansion.
While it's true that the physicians in the prefecture could also perform the massage, it's important to remember that men and women shouldn't be in close contact.
The area where Yao had pressed did indeed feel less pain.
She felt relieved; Yao's submissive demeanor finally gave her a sense of authority as a mother-in-law.
"Mother, I've thought about Lin'er's matter."
Upon hearing that Madam Yao still dared to mention Gu Chenglin, Old Madam Gu's face darkened.
Gu Chenglin was beaten up like this by her daughter, and was also locked in the ancestral hall by the eldest brother because of his affair with Gu Yan.
How dare she bring that up?!
Madam Yao said, "When the young master returns to the manor tonight, I will go to him and ask him to release Lin'er. I will tell him that Yan'er is fine now."
She's definitely lively and energetic now, while Gu Chenglin was beaten so badly by Gu Jiao that he still can't get up.
Madam Gu's expression softened slightly. It was true that she disliked Yao's children, but the most urgent matter was to release her precious grandson.
Gu Changqing might not listen to what others say. Now that the person involved has stopped pursuing the matter, Gu Changqing can't keep holding onto Gu Chenglin.
Old Madam Gu asked warily, "Why are you suddenly being so obsequious to me?"
Madam Yao lowered her eyes and sighed: "I've come to my senses. I haven't fulfilled my duties as a daughter-in-law all these years, which has caused you, Mother. In the future, when Yan'er and Jiao Jiao grow up, they will still have to rely on your protection."
Sorry, Jiaojiao, let me use you to play the victim first.
Flattery will get you everywhere.
Madam Gu withdrew her questioning expression: "It's good that you have self-awareness."
Meanwhile, Aunt Ling came to pay her respects to Old Madam Gu, and upon entering the room, she witnessed the strange scene of Old Madam Gu and Madam Yao getting along harmoniously.
Aunt Ling froze, almost unable to believe her eyes.
Just as she was about to step forward to pay her respects, Madam Yao turned around and gestured for her to be quiet.
Madam Yao slowly stood up, pulled the quilt over Old Madam Gu, and gently lowered the curtain.
Aunt Ling opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak. Old Madam Gu was asleep, and she couldn't very well wake her up.
"I'll come back to serve Mother later," Madam Yao said to the servants in the room, then turned and left. As she brushed past Aunt Ling, she said softly, "Aunt, why don't you go too? Don't disturb Mother's rest."
After she said that, how could Aunt Ling possibly stay and refuse to leave?
Aunt Ling found it strange; Madam Yao seemed quite different today than usual.
What exactly has changed?
It could be her clothing and appearance, or perhaps her overall aura.
Aunt Ling followed Madam Yao out of Songhe Courtyard.
Just as she stepped out of the courtyard, Madam Yao suddenly turned around and slapped Aunt Ling across the face!
With a loud crack, Aunt Ling was stunned.
(End of this chapter)
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