Chapter 35
After dinner, Ai Ye and Ye Hu found some books for Yue Ming and were about to take them to Yun Kai's courtyard when they saw Yue Ming return with a bunch of Chinese roses in his hand, his head hanging low. Ai Ye and Ye Hu looked at each other in bewilderment. Didn't he say he was going to read at the Second Young Master's place? Why was he back? And he looked so unhappy.
Yueming handed the flowers to them and said, "Put the flowers in the vase. I'm going to sleep for a while. Don't call me if there's nothing else."
Ai Ye handed the book over: "Then this book..." Ye Hu held her hand and winked, saying: "Sister, go and arrange the flowers. I'll go make the bed for the young lady."
Yueming lay down on the bed without taking off her shoes, pulled the quilt over her head and cried, "All of you go out, let me be alone for a while."
Ai Ye wanted to go over and take a look, but Ye Hu held her back and shook his head gently. Ai Ye had no choice but to take the flowers and go find a vase. Ye Hu walked to the bedside and helped Yue Ming put down the curtains. She tiptoed out of the room. She walked to the side hall and said to Ai Ye who was arranging flowers, "I'll go find out what happened just now. Sister, you stay with the young lady."
Ai Ye said bitterly, "What's there to ask? When we left, the Second Young Master and the Young Lady were still talking and laughing, but now the Young Lady has come back with a sad face. It must be that the Second Young Master bullied her."
Ye Hu also thought so, but he had to know why the two of them had gotten into such a fight! He couldn't let the young lady suffer in vain! When he came, the housekeeper said that if the young lady was good, they would be fine, but if the young lady was not, they and their entire family would have no way to survive.
She arrived at the gate of Yunkai's courtyard and happened to see Feng Xiaosai going out. She hurried to meet him and said, "Brother Xiaosai is going out!"
Feng Xiaosai saw that it was Yueming's new maid, and knew that she was here to inquire about something, so he pretended to be silly and said with a smile: "Yehu! Are you here to see Miss Yueming? She has gone back."
Ye Hu didn't want to deal with him, but as a guest at someone else's house, she couldn't just do what she wanted.
She was three parts acting, seven parts sincere, and her face was filled with sorrow as she said, "Our young lady locked herself in her room and cried as soon as she got home. My sister and I tried to persuade her but she wouldn't listen. My sister was really at her wit's end and asked me to come over and ask what happened to the young lady here? Did she offend anyone, or was she wronged?"
Facing Ye Hu's subtle questioning, Feng Xiaosai lied calmly, his face calm, his heart calm, "Look at what you said. If anyone in our courtyard dares to wrong Miss Lan, will the Second Young Master's whip spare him?"
Ye Hu was so angry that he wanted to spit fire. He was worthy of being the Second Young Master's lackey. He took the Second Young Master out so easily. Yes, how dare a servant let the young lady be wronged? Isn't it your Second Young Master who is bullying others?
She held back her breath and whispered, "But Miss, you wouldn't be in a bad mood for no reason, would you? You're even crying."
Feng Xiaosai looked puzzled and said, "I'm also puzzled. She was fine when I went to pick flowers for her. Why did she leave unhappy when I came back after picking flowers?"
Ye Hu was furious. Someone had been bullied in their yard, yet he completely denied any responsibility. She had thought she could save face by not saying anything, but they had taken the opportunity to play dumb. There was no need to say anything at this point. She didn't care about whether she had offended them or not. She turned and left, determined to stay away from this unfortunate enemy, this nest of plagues.
Feng Xiaosai saw Ye Hu leave angrily and quickly turned back to report to Yun Kai. Yun Kai heard Yue Ming locked himself in the room and cried, and his heart was inexplicably panicked.
He sat in the armchair, leaning forward with his hands on his knees. He felt uneasy but complained, "Why is she so angry? She cried here for a while, and now she's crying again when she gets home."
Feng Xiaosai said carefully, "This girl is very sensitive. If she says something wrong, she will make a small grievance bigger than the sky. Miss Yueming is young and was brought up in a pampered family, so it's normal for her to have a bit of temper."
Yun Kai was inspired by what he heard and found an excuse. He stiffened his neck and said, "I was also spoiled by my wife when I was growing up. I have a temper too. I've already apologized to her. What else does she want? I'm a young master of a chieftain's mansion, and you can't even give me this little face?"
Even as he complained, he knew clearly in his head that he had offended someone. After complaining for a while, he asked Feng Xiaosai for attention: "Although I think she is making a big deal out of nothing, it is not a man's thing to make a little girl cry. How do you think I should comfort her?"
Feng Xiaosai thought to himself: Not to mention Miss Yueming, such a delicate girl, if it were my turn to hear what the Second Young Master said, I would cry too.
He said with a bitter face: "Master, you see, I don't have a lover either, and I don't have much experience in coaxing women!"
Yun Kai's face flushed suspiciously, and he kicked Feng Xiaosai, cursing, "What lover? What are you talking about? I almost became her uncle, and I treated her like an elder treats his own child."
Feng Xiaosai just wanted to sigh: that uncle elder would make his own child cry at any time.
Seeing Feng Xiaosai's face full of disbelief, Yun Kai kicked Feng Xiaosai again in anger: "Get out, get out, get out. You can't even take care of a child, what use is there for me to have you?"
Feng Xiaosai took the opportunity to run away. He ran out of the house, squinting his eyes to look at the scorching sun outside, then looked at the colorful flowers in the courtyard, and sighed. Such a beautiful day, such a beautiful view, the second young master didn't seize it, and even offended someone, which was a waste of his handsome face. The master was not reasonable, and even caused him to be unwelcome. This time, the master and servant had become a household name in Yueming Courtyard. The look Ye Hu gave him when he left was so hateful that he almost bled.
The Second Young Master couldn't figure out his own feelings, so he couldn't remind him. He was afraid that the Young Master would get awkward and angry like before. Listen to what he just said? He treated Miss Yueming like an elder treats his own child. You're kidding! If you really treat Miss Yueming like a child, why would you be so anxious when she's angry? If a naughty child doesn't listen, just leave her alone. Why are you so flustered that you have to ask a servant like you for advice?
His father was right. This father and daughter were destined to be either the son-in-law or the young mistress of the Tusi Mansion. Although Lan Yingde's status was not high enough, with Tao Touren as his backer, Miss Yueming might not be without hope of becoming the second young mistress.
He leaned against the porch pillar and thought carefully about how to help the second young master, this fool, to coax Miss Yueming.
Yueming cried herself to sleep. Aiye and Yehu followed her instructions but didn't dare to wake her. She slept until the moon came out. When she woke up, the room was dark. She called out to Yehu in a hoarse voice. After she called out once, Yehu and Aiye came in. They stayed at the door, preventing Yueming from waking up and calling for help.
Ye Hu lit the lamp and the room suddenly became bright. Yueming felt a little uncomfortable and pulled the quilt over his head again.
Ai Ye hung the tent on the hook and said to her, "Miss, you must be hungry. Mrs. Du has made noodles and is cooking pork rib soup on the stove. When she left, she told us to just boil the noodles and pour the soup over them. I'll make you a bowl."
Yueming lifted the quilt and squinted his eyes and said, "Don't add soy sauce and chili peppers, just add some salt and feed it."
Ai Ye almost cried out as she saw Yue Ming's eyes, which were swollen to slits from crying. She stamped her feet and said, "What on earth did the Second Young Master do to make you so sad?"
Yueming turned over so she couldn't see and whispered, "I'm hungry."
Seeing Yueming was unwilling to speak, Aiye stamped her feet again in anger. Yehu held her back and said, "Why are you stamping your feet? Will you stop being hungry if you stamp the floor through? Hurry up and cook some noodles." After Aiye left the room, Yehu knelt before Yueming's bed and cried, "Miss, if you're unhappy, just hit me a few times to vent your anger. Don't keep sulking and hurt yourself."
Yueming said quietly, "I'm not angry, I just figured it out. Even if the people in this mansion welcome you with smiles, it's not my home after all."
Yunkai was right. Li Shengmeng had only sent a few servants and said nothing else. Neither the black nor the white mentioned anything, indicating that they had no intention of recognizing her. She was rushing to claim her relatives, wouldn't that be a joke? Living under someone else's roof meant keeping a low profile, but Yunkai's attitude had made her arrogant. She deserved his sarcasm.
Although the Third Wife was unreasonable, she was right in saying that guests should behave like guests. It's really annoying to be pushy and want more when someone treats you well.
Seeing Yueming's unhappy and panicked face, Ye Hu didn't know where he got the courage from, and said to Yueming: "Miss, if you are not happy staying in this house, then we will return to Lishengmeng and let the master make the decision for you."
It was sunny all day, but it started raining again at night. The raindrops hit the lanterns hanging under the corridor, making a rustling sound.
The gloomy weather mixed with the yellow light made Yueming's face look a little gloomy. Yueming turned over and sat up.
Going back to Lishengmeng? It was because of going to Lishengmeng that all the commotion started today. Yueming said with a gloomy face, "Is Lishengmeng my home? What's the difference between going to Lishengmeng and staying in Yunxiang? You have to remember that there is only one master in the family, and his surname is Lan. If you're thinking about going back, I'll have someone harness the carriage to take you away."
Ye Hu was frightened and banged his head on the floor. "Miss, I was wrong. I won't mention it again. Please don't chase me away. I just... I just feel sorry for you."
Yueming's eyes moistened. She knew Yehu was worried about her. She had to accept Li Shengmeng's kindness, but she also had to avoid his suspicions. If she really couldn't stay, she could just go back to her own house, but going to Li Shengmeng now would be a slap in the face of her own father and the entire Tusi Mansion. Was this just a small matter that was going to cause the families to split apart?
Looking at Ye Hu who was still kowtowed, she hardened her heart and said in a hoarse voice, "I'm not trying to scare you. If you ever instigate me to do something I shouldn't do again, I will send you back to Lishengmeng immediately."
Ye Hu fell to the floor and cried uncontrollably: "I remember...Miss, I will never mention it again."
After dinner, Ai Ye wanted to sleep on the floor next to Yue Ming's bed. Yue Ming had just finished dinner and didn't want to sleep but just wanted to be alone. She said to Ai Ye who was spreading the mattress, "None of you need to stay by my bed tonight. Just leave a light on for me by the bed."
Yueming was in a bad mood, and Ai Ye was worried about her being alone, so she grabbed the mattress and said, "Did I disturb you by turning over? Then I'll go sleep by the window."
Ye Hu had just learned his lesson tonight and knew it was best not to contradict Yue Ming at this time, lest Yue Ming become impatient. Quietly pulling Ai Ye's sleeve, he said to Yue Ming, "Then I won't light the oil lamp for you tonight. I'll light a candle and cover it with a shade."
Yueming nodded: "Okay!"
Ye Hu lit a candle and went to get the lampshade, while Ai Ye held up a long stick and extinguished the flame on the long-legged oil lamp.
After tucking the tent for Yueming, the two of them walked out together. Ai Ye looked at Ye Hu's red forehead and asked, "Did the young lady take her anger out on you?"
Ye Hu shook his head: "It's my poor speaking ability that made the young lady angry."
Back in the room, Ai Ye took out the medicated oil and applied it to Ye Hu, saying distressedly, "It will definitely turn green tomorrow."
Ye Hu said calmly, "It's okay, I'll just cover it up with a bun tomorrow."
Looking at Ai Ye who was concentrating on applying medicine to her, she asked, "Sister, do you want to go back to Lishengmeng?"
Ai Ye answered without thinking, "No." Before Ye Hu could ask why, she continued, "I think it's good to follow the young lady. Miss Yueming is much more amiable than Miss Bowman. Yesterday, I broke a teacup, but the young lady didn't scold me. She even asked if I was hurt. Besides, there aren't so many rules here."
Ye Hu smiled bitterly: "Miss, it seems that the rules here are not strict, but in fact, Miss regards the rules as more important than the sky and will not tolerate any rebuttal."
Ai Ye was surprised and said, "The master gave us to Miss Yueming, so we are her people. Of course we have to listen to her and abide by her rules. Why would we contradict her?"
Ye Hu was speechless. Yes! They were just servants, why would they want to refute the young lady?
The rain at night finally stopped. The breeze swayed the shadows of the trees in the courtyard, casting mottled shadows of branches on the wall. The rich fragrance of the gardenias at the foot of the window also slipped in through the window gap that was never closed by the wind. The fragrance was so overbearing that not even the gauze curtains could block it.
Leaning against the headboard, sniffing the floral fragrance, Yueming felt as if she were back on her first night in Yunxiang, tossing and turning in the rich floral aroma, her heart pounding with anxiety. But back then, she had her father and her senior brother to comfort her. Now, she was alone, with no one to soothe her depression.
She regretted her outburst today. She should have at least acted calmly after leaving Yunkai's courtyard. Servants are quick-witted. The slightest change in their master's expression would spread throughout the mansion in an instant. It was a good thing they didn't exaggerate. If the Third Madam knew she had walked out of Yunkai's courtyard like a stray dog during the day, she would probably be eager to take advantage of her. She was not a forgiving person. The Second Young Master had humiliated her, and if she couldn't afford to offend him, wouldn't she have to take revenge on herself, the culprit?
Yueming's mind flashed back to the image of the Third Wife poking her forehead with her finger, painted with buttercup, and cursing. She lowered her head and rubbed her fingers, tears streaming down her face. Just imagining it made her feel like her lungs were about to explode, and she slammed the bed hard.
How could she endure this? She made up her mind that if the Third Madam dared to cause trouble, she would fight her to the death. If Li Shengmeng couldn't go, couldn't she pack her bags and go back to her own house? It wasn't like she had just arrived and only had the useless Ye Nan by her side. Now she had two maids who could speak Chinese, a carriage and a driver, and if she could ask Madam Du to hire a doorman, she would be all set. She didn't want to suffer the bullying of this family here.
After making up his mind, Yueming's chest immediately relaxed a lot. Confidence gave him courage. After lying down, he secretly calculated whether his money was enough to cover his living expenses if he returned to his own house.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
