Chapter 128.2

Zhuo Shi’s sharp voice sounded outside the door. Yu Miao Qi hurriedly sat upright and looked at the mirror to tidy the hair on her temple.

“Qi’er, are you ready? Let’s go now.” Zhuo Shi lifted the curtain and circled around Yu Miao Qi twice. She complimented, “Qi’er is really beautiful. No wonder the nobleman likes you so much, he told me to take good care of you. Do you like the sets of hair ornaments that have just been sent to you? If you don’t like them, ask the shopkeeper at Fairview Pavillion to pay another visit and pick until you are satisfied.”

“Thank you, Aunt. Miao Qi likes it a lot. Did the nobleman leave a message for me?” Shyness appeared within Yu Miao Qi’s eyes as her cheeks flushed.

“He did. He told you to calmly wait. And that as soon as this is over, he will welcome you to the palace in a palanquincarried by eight people[1].” Zhuo Shi’s smile was sincere, but deep in her eyes contained endless disdain. That man had only befriended Yu Miao Qi to deal with Yu Pin Yan. Now that Yu Pin Yan is dead, Yu Miao Qi is useless. It would be good if he could remember this person, let alone the sedan chair carried by eight people.

If it were not for the fact that the Old Master had wanted to send a woman from the Yu family to the palace… If it were not for the fact that her daughter had already married in Shu… If it were not for the fact that Yu Miao Qi was so beautiful and elegant, she would never have taken in this mother and daughter.

Yu Miao Qi appeared as if she was touched, her eyes lowered and gave a faint smile.

The two of them touched up their make-up and ignored Lin Shi in the corner before they got on the carriage and headed straight to the outskirts of the capital. The third branch of the (Yu) family had finally achieved success. Naturally, they had to take their revenge on the Old Madam. Zhuo Shi persuaded the Old Madam to stay with them. However, in reality, they were talking about Yu Pin Yan’s death and how they hoped that it would be even better if the Old Madam died in anger.

With a large number of manor’s servants, they easily broke through the door and reached the inner hall. The Old Madam was drinking her medicine. When she saw the people coming clearly, she smashed the bowl of medicine towards them, “Bitch, how dare you come here!”

“Mother, don’t be angry. Don’t vomit blood again like last time. Look at the place you are living. The walls are all mouldy. Why don’t you come home with me? In three days’ time, the reinstatement of official position and title of nobility will be sent over, and the seal on the Marquis Yongle manor will be lifted. You have lived there all your life. You should return (with us).” Zhuo Shi dodged the bowl of medicine and sat in the taishi chair as if she was talking to herself.

“Grandmother, regardless of who is in charge of the Marquis manor, you are our elder. We will definitely show filial respect towards you. Although Big Brother is gone, there is still Elder Brother Hong. Both brothers are your di[2]grandsons as well.” Yu Miao Qi sat down next to Zhuo Shi and smiled faintly. The ‘Elder Brother Hong’ she spoke of was Yu Pin Hong, the di son of Yu Jun Wei. He was currently studying at home and preparing to pursue his career in officialdom.

The Old Madam was so incensed at these two that her heart throbbed. She bellowed, “Someone come! Chase these two wretched things out!” However, as most of the Marquis manor’s servants left, only those that remained were old, weak, women and children. They were not able to deal with the young men brought by the third branch of the (Yu) family.

The servants pushed and shoved, while Yu Miao Qi and Zhuo Shi were leisurely still drinking tea and watching the show. When Yu Si Yu heard the news, she hurried over. At the turn off, she saw the gate opened again. Yu Xiang came in wearing a crimson red and beautiful muslin, and gold embroidered dress.

A gust of wind blew past, sending an intense and overpowering floral scent onto Yu Si Yu’s face. She couldn’t help taking a deep breath and shouted in surprise, “Xiang’er? You’ve returned?”

“I’m back.” Yu Xiang’s lips were about to curl into a smile but immediately turned sullen when she heard the commotion in the inner hall.

“Who has the audacity to touch my grandmother?” She took out the barbed whip from her waist and whipped a servant fiercely.

The person immediately covered his face and wailed miserably. Blood gushed out from his fingers. Everyone fell silent for a moment, involuntarily parting a pathway to allow her to walk unhurriedly to the front of the hall.

“Xiang’er? Is that you, Xiang’er?” The Old Madam stared at her in disbelief.

“It’s me. Grandmother, I’ve come to see you!” She quickly stepped forward and hugged the Old Madam. She leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Elder Brother is also fine. Now, he defeated the Western Barbarians and is returning to the imperial court. He will arrive at the capital the day after tomorrow. The Emperor has made his own arrangements, so don’t tell anyone now!”

The Old Madam’s whole body shook. She immediately threw her arms around Yu Xiang and cried out in pain and repented as she cried, “Xiang’er, it is good that you have come to see me. I was so foolish that I’ve done something wrong. Don’t hold it against me!”

“How could I? Even if I hold a grudge against someone, it would not be my grandmother. We will always be a family.” Yu Xiang also felt the same and her eyes slowly reddened.

Yu Si Yu pushed the servants away and walked over to them. The three of them, grandmother and grandchildren, hugged and cried together.

“Yu Xiang, you’ve finally come. I thought you were never going to acknowledge Grandmother in your life.” Yu Miao Qi interrupted the reunion of the three.

Yu Xiang helped the Old Madam to sit upright, poured her a cup of ginseng tea before speaking slowly, “Some time ago, my leg injury recurred and I urgently needed medical attention. Thus, I was held back for a few months. I am not like you, an ungrateful and heartless ingrate.”

Yu Miao Qi scowled and was about to retort, but then she heard Zhuo Shi sneered,, “Yu Xiang. Oh no, look at my memory. I should call you Shen Xiang now. Your surname is Shen and ours are Yu. Who are you to interfere in the family affairs of the Yu family? You are so bold. Do you really think you are the third daughter of Marquis Yongle manor?”

I didn’t think of myself as the Marquis manor’s third daughter. I only think of myself as the legitimate wife of the Marquis. Of course, Yu Xiang could say this out loud yet, so she covered her mouth and laughed, “Indeed, I am bold. I’m not the di daughter of the Marquis manor, but I still have the title of Si Nong Xiangjun on my head. So, if we are talking about rank, you’ll have to kneel and bow when you see me.”

　　……

Zhuo Shi and Yu Miao Qi were instantly rendered speechless. Their expression looked like they swallowed hundreds of flies.