chapter 56.2

It was clear that she was finally at the helm of the family, yet Lin Shi seemed to have lost a battle as she walked erratically with no strength. Yu Miao Qi was standing under the porch to greet her. Seeing this sight, she urgently asked, “Mother, did Grandmother refuse?”

“No, the ancestor has agreed.” Lin Shi pulled her daughter into the room. All the maidservants were dismissed except Jin Momo who remained to guard the door once they both seated and got closer to each other for a private chat.

“Mother, you are unaware of how unreasonable Yu Xiang is. She went so far as to warn right in front of me not to get close to elder brother. On what grounds? That’s my elder brother, not hers!” Yu Miao Qi began to shed tears again as she talked about this and continued, “I happened to meet elder brother on my way and told him about this, but he actually laughed and walked away, not treating me like a family member at all. I really felt bitterly disappointed!”

“Nothing to worry about, you still have Mother!” Lin Shi was extremely furious inwardly, yet she had no choice but to put her arms around her daughter and patted her, “Mother will be taking charge in the future, so you won’t have to look at her face anymore. Mother will definitely find you a good husband that you can be prideful and happy with, and also attain extreme wealth. Your elder brother is now the highest rank cavalry general, holding a million military power that even the princes have to give a little precedence when they meet, not to mention those nobilities. Based on our family status, you can even marry a prince or any royal descendants and be a Zhengfei[1]. Why bother with a cripple? She will not marry illustrious in this lifetime. After your elder brother gets married, I will set up a small house then send her away to the village and randomly match her to any stewards, page boys or villagers. The ancestor and your elder brother will only think about the new wife and their newborn son, so how can they still care about her? Just watch, she may be formidable now but will definitely not end up well in the future.”

Yu Miao Qi indeed felt relieved hearing this and spoke with a smile through her tears, “It still Mother who treats me the best. I didn’t expect my elder brother to be a great cavalry general but only know that he is some All Commander.”

She did not understand the current political standings and thought that the cavalry general’s authority was greater than an All Commander, hence she was more determined to form a better relationship with Yu Pin Yan. Since Yu Xiang feared that she would snatch Yu Pin Yan away, then she would insist on giving it a try.

As the Department of Command and Envoys was only established by the Emperor in recent years, Lin Shi had never heard of it before, so she shook her head and said, “Mother also doesn’t know what an All Commander is. Probably a second or third rank official, so that your elder brother will not be idle when he is not at war. Since your elder brother is so powerful and favored by the imperial family, that bastard will naturally want to hold him tightly which is a good plan. Child, you should also get along well with your elder brother and let him know who‘s his biological Di younger sister. Although Mother can help you out a little in the inner manor, your future is still dependent on your elder brother.”

“Daughter knows.” Yu Miao Qi nodded her head repeatedly and spoke after deliberating for a long time, “Mother, can you send someone to check on Shen Yuan Qi, the current academic top scholar?”

“Why check on him all of the sudden, did you fancy him? The top scholar’s name does sound good, but he’s still not good enough for my precious daughter!” Lin Shi covered her mouth and laughed.

Yu Miao Qi’s face alternated from flush to pale as she waved her hand, “No, daughter suspects that he is the Di son of the Shen family who is formerly my elder brother. If it’s really him, I’m afraid he might tell the world about this daughter’s past or try to get on our Marquis manor’s good graces thus, we have to guard against him. Mother might not be aware, he is now the Bachelor of Attendance at the Imperial Academy[2] and is staying in the Capital.

“It’s already considered benevolent of my Marquis Yongle manor not to eradicate the Shen family, yet he still dares to come seek graces?” Speaking of the Shen family, Lin Shi was beside herself with anger and gnashed her teeth, “Don’t worry daughter, if it’s really him, Mother will definitely think of a way to get rid of him.”

“Mother, please don’t hurt him!” Although Yu Miao Qi was dying to know that all the people from her past had gone to hell, her face showed her intolerance.

Lin Shi was rather gratified as she patted the back of her hand and smiled, “Qi’er is really kind. The Shen family is so shameless yet you still care about the past relationship. Let it be then. I’ll not do anything to him, merely asking your elder brother to expel him from the Capital and ban him from returning for the rest of his life. How dare a mere Imperial Academy’s Bachelor of Attendance challenge my Marquis Yongle manor, he simply doesn’t know what is death!”

Yu Miao Qi was still worried and asked hesitantly, “Mother, will elder brother help me? He doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

Lin Shi was somewhat diffident, yet her face was partial to strong support as she smiled to reassure, “I’m his mother and you’re his younger sister. This little matter is nothing more than lip service, so how can he refuse. It’s not that he doesn’t like you, he’s like that with everyone.”

“But he’s much different with Yu Xiang.” Yu Miao Qi’s words had a strong sour taste to them.

“Having saved his life, Yu Xiang is naturally different from the others. In the future, as you two siblings get along, your feelings will grow deeper. After all, you are both biological Di siblings and you’re still afraid that you can’t surpass a bastard? My child, you must never be anxious. Everything will be fine and Mother will protect you.” Lin Shi hugged her shoulder and patted her gently.

“I know, it’s really only Mother who treats me best.” Yu Miao Qi gradually felt at ease in Lin Shi’s arms, then asked, “Mother, I’ve just found out that the person Yu Si Yu fancy is the current academic flower scout (third rank candidate) whose father was the envoy of the Salt Transport Commissioner, Lord Fang. Is it true that his family has already met with misfortune according to Ma Momo?”

Lin Shi had lived in seclusion for many years, thus she was really ignorant and had no idea about the tendency in the Capital, so she could only look at Jin Momo.

Jin Momo bowed and responded, “Madam, this should be true. Sometime ago, the Emperor had a thorough investigation into salt taxation and beheaded many corrupt officials that the officialdom of Lianghuai is more than half vacant. As the Salt Envoy for the Salt Transport Commissioner is one of the easiest positions to reap personal profits, the Fang family is likely unable to escape the Emperor’s butcher’s knife.”

With a twinkle in her eyes, Yu Miao Qi pursued, “Then why does Yu Si Yu still have her heart set on marrying over? And Grandmother even agreed!”

“It’s a long story. The eldest young miss definitely doesn’t know the inside story yet. It’s also a moment of confusion. In order to climb up the wealthy and high-ranking family, she actually ruins her own reputation. So, why won’t Old Madam teach her a lesson“. Jin Momo narrated the details that her secretly pried of the ‘rendezvous night that Fang Zhi Chen got caught’ and other matters before she finally sighed, “Don’t be fooled by Old Madam’s words of certainty, in reality, she is just scaring the eldest young miss. Just wait. In these few days, Old Madam will have a showdown with the eldest young miss and then force her to choose a decent family to marry. Lord Fang had been decapitated, the family’s fortune confiscated while Gentleman Fang’s official robe would be used to atone the crime and redeem his mother’s life. Will that kind of impoverished family be worthy to marry a lady of the Marquis manor? Old Madam will certainly not agree even if it is a Shu daughter.”

Yu Miao Qi nodded thoughtfully, but Lin Shi laughed lightly and spoke in a low voice, “In my opinion, it’s best for Yu Si Yu to marry into the Fang family. What’s wrong with an impoverished family? An impoverished family happens to be useful for our manipulation. Get them to the Capital with a few hundred taels and let them get Yu Si Yu to the remotest corners of the earth, so we will never see her again. If she does not behave and wants to come back, give them a few more hundred taels for her sudden death immediately. Hasn’t she already ruined her reputation? Let the Fang family spread the news about this. She will either marry or be drowned in the pig cage[3]. This is the family and the clan rules that even the ancestor is unable to change. Jin Momo, send someone to Yangzhou to find that Fang family’s mother and son and keep it a secret.”

Jin Momo bowed her head and complied. Yu Miao Qi was greatly pleased as she hugged Lin Shi while repeatedly calling her mother dotingly.

After Old Madam had sent Lin Shi away, she sent someone to inform Yu Xiang to hand over the authority of the household management. Without demur, Yu Xiang took out the account books of fourteen years, the pair of matching tablets, keys and other things, without a shred of enmity.

Old Madam felt extremely satisfied, knowing that Xiang’er was still the most considerate one. She then ordered several strong pozi to carry all the boxes of ledgers to Lin Shi as she stood aside with folded arms and watched.