Chapter 2 Yu Liuzhu Compared to Yu Qingxue, this eldest daughter of the Yu family...
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The wine has gone cold since the Awakening of Insects, and the sound of the zither is no longer heard.
The lively atmosphere at Liufang Xiaozhu gradually subsided. After seeing off her last close friend, Yu Liuzhu's elegant smile slowly faded, revealing a barely perceptible gloom.
She stood by the water, the cold wind blowing her dress, making it flutter like the wind.
"Tang'er!" A gentle voice, tinged with anxiety and worry, rang out. "The spring chill is still strong. You've always been delicate; how can you stand in the wind like this? What if you catch a cold?"
The newcomer appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, but was actually close to forty. Dressed in embroidered brocade with light makeup, she was well-dressed, lacking in striking beauty but possessing a heroic air. She was none other than her mother, Madam Yu, Shen Linlang.
Shen Linlang came from a general's family. Because she had practiced martial arts, her demeanor was both dignified and dashing. She arrived in front of her in no time.
Her personal maid, Magpie, had brought a red cloak trimmed with white fox fur, but Shen Linlang took it from her. Shen Linlang personally helped her daughter put on the cloak, tying a flower knot around the ribbon adorned with jade beads.
"You're such a child, you always crave coolness. You can't do that again."
Although Shen Linlang's words were meant as a reprimand, her tone was full of affection, and her gaze towards her was filled with tenderness.
Her eyes held a subtle glint as she said, "I won't do it again next time."
“You,” Shen Linlang tapped her nose, her tone becoming increasingly indulgent, “I’ve told you so many times but you never change. I have to keep an eye on you and manage you every single day.”
"I can't live without Mother." Her expression changed, and she snuggled closer. "Mother, you love me the most. No matter what, you will never abandon me, right?"
After giving birth to two sons, Shen Linlang longed for a daughter. Although she was injured during childbirth and could not have any more children, she had no regrets because her sons were successful and her daughter was sensible and considerate.
Compared to many others, her children are all healthy, which is a blessing from God. Thinking of her sister-in-law's child, she feels even more grateful and should not be greedy in the slightest.
"You silly child, what nonsense are you talking about? Of course, your mother won't abandon you, I'm just afraid you'll find me annoying." She smiled, but the smile quickly faded. "Your little sister Ali fell into the water today."
"How could this be?" Yu Liuzhu asked in surprise. "Aunt has cared for her all these years, treating her like her own life. Now that something has happened to her, what will Aunt do?"
Shen Linlang stroked her hair affectionately, "Don't worry, I just received news that she has woken up."
"Awake?" Yu Liuzhu seemed even more surprised, but her expression quickly relaxed, and she murmured, "That's good."
A gust of cold wind swept by, and she couldn't help but shiver. Seeing this, Shen Linlang urged her to go inside.
"Mother, something like this has happened to Ali. Let's go see her."
In the past, Shen Linlang did not want her daughter to have too much contact with her sister-in-law's daughter, firstly because the child was different from ordinary people, and secondly because of the Su family.
The entire Su family was exiled, and unless there was a general amnesty, they would likely have no chance of being pardoned. No matter how pitiful the child was, he had Su family blood in his veins. She could allow him to live in the mansion, but she absolutely did not want her own child to get close to him, lest he cause trouble in the future.
“Your aunt prefers quiet and has never liked to be disturbed. I’ll have someone send some tonics over.”
Speaking of her sister-in-law, Shen Linlang felt incredibly sad.
Back then, my sister-in-law was quite beautiful and a bit arrogant. She was always competitive and demanding, especially when it came to marriage. I never expected her to end up like that, and now she spends her days in seclusion, surrounded by Buddhist scriptures and lamps.
Fortunately, she is sensible and understanding. Over the years, she has quietly kept to herself and her daughter, avoiding public appearances and making it clear that she wants to focus on Buddhist worship and doesn't want people to visit her, so as not to cause them any trouble.
“Although I haven’t seen my aunt often since I was little, I know she loves me very much.” Yu Liuzhu said solemnly, with a look of pity between her brows. “My sister Ali was born on the same day as me. Such a big thing has happened. If I don’t go to see her, wouldn’t I break my aunt’s heart?”
"You're just too kind-hearted, kid."
Shen Linlang doted on her the most, and she couldn't go against her wishes, so she finally nodded in agreement.
As soon as the mother and daughter arrived at Jingxin Courtyard, the two old women waiting outside quickly bowed and greeted them. The older one was more composed, showing respect without being obsequious, while the younger one was completely different; it wasn't exactly flattery, but it was definitely ingratiating.
It's easy to tell from their behavior that the older one is a trusted servant of Xie, surnamed Li. The younger one is Yu Qingxue's servant, surnamed Qin.
Qin's mother hurried forward and announced loudly, "Madam and the eldest daughter have arrived!"
"Keep your voice down, don't startle Sister Ali." Yu Liusu frowned, and the begonia flower between her brows moved accordingly.
"This servant deserves to die." Qin Mama raised her hand and slapped herself.
Shen Linlang's face darkened, and she reprimanded in a low voice, "What are you doing? Do you want my Tang'er to be known for mistreating servants?"
Qin's mother repeatedly said she dared not, and knelt down with a thud.
Yu Qingxue came out of the house, glared at her sternly, and then looked at Shen Linlang and Yu Liuzhu, "Sister-in-law, Tang'er, you shouldn't have come."
“Ah Li has been in such a predicament, we should come and see for ourselves,” Shen Linlang said.
As the two women were talking, Xie's voice came from inside, "Since you're already here, come in."
The scent of sandalwood mingled with the aroma of medicine, filling every corner. The hexagonal incense burner, shaped like a fiery mountain and engraved with intricate patterns, was the most exquisite object in the entire room.
As soon as Yu Liuzhu entered, she subconsciously looked at the person on the bed, a look of shock flashing across her eyes.
To be honest, apart from meeting the two cousins once when they were young, she had never seen them again and had never known that her cousin looked like this.
"Little sister Ali," she called softly.
Shen Qinglu stared at her, her empty gaze seemingly unchanged, but her heart was filled with utter horror.
Her grandmother wasn't her grandmother, her aunt wasn't her aunt, her mother wasn't her mother, and there were even people who looked like her, and more than one at that. Compared to Yu Qingxue, this eldest daughter of the Yu family looked even more like her; if not six or seven parts similar, then at least four or five parts.
Looking at everything before her, she felt utterly absurd, like a chaotic and confusing dream from another life, leaving her unsure whether it was real or an illusion.
“Your sister Ali doesn’t recognize people, calling her won’t do any good,” Shen Linlang reminded her daughter, her gaze filled with regret.
This child is exceptionally good-looking; if he were of good character, he might have a chance to change his fate.
What a pity.
“Ali should be better now.” Madam Xie was also looking at Shen Qinglu and said, “She recognized people just now and even called me grandmother.”
"Really?" Shen Linlang asked with some doubt, carefully examining the person whose eyes still looked dark and empty. "Ali, do you recognize me?"
Shen Qinglu looked at her, a glint in her eyes, but remained silent.
"Sister-in-law, don't ask anymore, she doesn't even recognize me." Yu Qingxue stepped forward and hugged her tightly. "Ali, are you really alright? Look closely, I'm your mother."
Shen Qinglu seemed startled, her eyelashes trembling a few times. Instead of responding, she stood there blankly, at a loss, her dark eyes devoid of any light.
"A-Li?" Xie's newly raised hopes were dashed, and she felt somewhat disappointed.
When she looked over again, Shen Qinglu's eyes lit up again, "Grandmother."
Everyone was surprised. When asked to identify other people, she knew none of them except for Xie Shi.
Yu Qingxue released her, her gaze filled with sadness and disappointment. "Ali, do you really not remember me? Don't you remember Mother?"
She sat up, initially shrinking back, then timidly moved closer to Madam Xie, gently shaking her head.
Madam Xie embraced her and said to Yu Qingxue, "Ali has just woken up and doesn't know many things. The fact that she can recognize people shows that she is getting better. We will teach her slowly."
Yu Qingxue nodded with tears in her eyes, her expression unreadable, as if she were crying or laughing.
Yu Liuzhu looked at the person being embraced by Xie Shi. Her forehead was half covered by hair, which carried a heavy deathly aura, yet her beauty was so striking that it made people feel increasingly uncomfortable the more they looked at her.
"Little sister Ali, don't you recognize me?"
As soon as she finished speaking, those dark eyes looked at her, making her feel uneasy.
She still remembered the time they met many years ago, at night. She was startled by that gaze and thought she had encountered a ghost. She even had a nightmare afterward.
Yu Qingxue wiped away her tears and comforted her, "Tang'er, don't ask anymore. She probably doesn't recognize anyone except her mother. Fortunately, she can recognize people, so I will teach her slowly in the future."
Having seen the people and found nothing serious, Shen Linlang and Yu Liuzhu, with Yu Qingxue's gentle reminder, took their leave.
Not long after the mother and daughter left, Yu Qingxue again advised Xie Shi, "Mother, I'm sorry to have troubled you. You should go back and rest. I'll take care of things here."
Madam Xie hummed in agreement and said, "The people around Ali should also be given a warning. They cannot be neglected just because their master's temperament is different from that of ordinary people."
"My daughter understands."
When Madam Xie got up, Shen Qinglu clung tightly to her arm, looking pitiful and helpless, "Grandmother, don't go."
Madam Xie's heart skipped a beat, and a look of pity crossed her face. "Ali, be good. Listen to your mother and get some sleep. Grandmother will come to see you again tomorrow."
"Grandmother, don't you want Ali anymore?"
As Shen Qinglu spoke, the light in her eyes slowly dimmed, and tears welled up in her dark pupils, large teardrops falling in a string.
“Ali, you child, why are you so disobedient as soon as you wake up? Your grandmother has been watching over you for several hours, she should go back and rest.” Yu Qingxue pried her hand off Xie Shi’s and hugged her tightly. “Be good, listen to your mother.”
He then said to Madam Xie, "Mother, you go and rest. I'll take care of things here. If I talk to her more and spend more time with her in private, maybe she'll remember me."
Originally, Madam Xie was reluctant to let her stay any longer, but after hearing her words, she felt that the mother and daughter should indeed spend more time together. So she hardened her heart and said to Shen Qinglu, "Ali, you and your mother have a good talk. Grandmother will come to see you again tomorrow."
Ultimately, the bond between mother and daughter runs deep. Their hearts are connected, and they are of one mind. What is he, an outsider, compared to her?
Shen Qinglu felt a chill in her heart, but her eyes were full of expectation as she looked at Madam Xie with tears in her eyes. "Grandmother, you must come to see me tomorrow."
After agreeing, Xie couldn't bear to look at her any longer and turned to leave.
Once Madam Xie left, only she and Yu Qingxue remained in the room.
With tears still on her face, she reverted to her blank, wooden expression, ignoring Yu Qingxue's repeated questions.
After a long silence, Yu Qingxue seemed helpless and said to her, "Now that you can recognize people, there are some things I can talk to you about. Your father got into trouble, and the whole family was punished. I am a girl from the Yu family, so the Yu family can tolerate me. You are an outsider and the descendant of a disgraced official. If it weren't for the fact that you and your cousin Tang'er were born on the same day and benefited from her, you would probably have been sent to your father's place to suffer."
The sandalwood incense wafted gently, and Yu Qingxue seemed to be talking to the air.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. Just remember that you can stay in the Yu family and still have the surname Yu, all because of your cousin Tang’er. Your life belongs to her. From now on, you must put her first in everything. Even if it costs you your life, you can’t make things difficult for her.”
The person on the bed remained empty and soulless, as if they were air and others were air as well. No matter what Yu Qingxue said, they did not react, only staring blankly with their dark eyes.
Whether out of guilt or fear, Yu Qingxue was momentarily unable to meet his gaze. In her averted look, she failed to notice the fleeting coldness in Shen Qinglu's eyes.
A note from the author:
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