204 Cousin, Iâm Fine!
Chun Xiao felt a lump in her throat and couldnât help but lower her head to wipe her tears.
Such a silent cry made one feel even worse. It was as if there were too many grievances, sadness, and sorrow that someone couldnât say out loud and could only bear.
As she cried, her remaining tears flowed out. Yu Youyao did not continue crying.
She opened the incense box.
There were five layers of incense boxes, and each layer contained the incense that Yu Youyao usually used. On the lowest layer, there were incense sticks. She picked up a jade spoon and a handful of the incense sticks. Then, she threw them into the incense burner. There was a soft sound, and wisps of smoke floated out of the furnace.
Yu Youyao placed the letter on it and flipped it to burn it.
As soon as Zhou Linghuai entered the Jade Courtyard, he sensed that something was wrong.
She heard a girl named Xia Tao in front of Yu Youyao say, âShould we comfort Young Miss? She feels terrible. If she stays alone like this and keeps it in her heart, her body will suffer.â
Dong Mei and Chun Xiao stood still. Even if they were worried about Young Miss, how would they know how to comfort her?
âWhat happened?â Zhou Linghuai suddenly asked.
Xia Taoâs eyes lit up. âYoung Master, youâre finally here. Miss is in a bad mood after seeing her motherâs old servant today. Sheâs staying in the study alone and ignoring everyone.â
Zhou Linghuaiâs expression darkened slightly as he nodded.
Dong Mei heaved a sigh of relief. âYoung Miss is the closest to Young Master. With him by her side, she probably wonât feel so uncomfortable.â
After Zhou Linghuai entered the room, he did not disturb Yu Youyao.
He looked at the little girl and carefully read the slightly yellowed letters one by one. Then, he carefully flattened them and smoked them one by one. After the fragrance penetrated the paper, he placed them into a wooden box.
He knew that musk-scented paper could last for a long time, and the wooden box was resistant to moisture and insects. Some important letters had to be kept like this to last.
She was so focused that she did not notice that there was someone else in the study.
Zhou Linghuai felt depressed. It was not that the little girl had ignored him.
However, the little girlâs face was tense, and her delicate eyes revealed heartbreaking sadness. There was too much grievance and sadness hidden, but it was difficult to express.
He didnât know what to do.
It took Yu Youyao two hours to finish burn dozens of pages of the letter. The study was filled with a strong fragrance.
Yu Youyao closed the box carefully. When she looked up, she saw that her cousin had come over and was looking at her. She was stunned for a moment before smiling again. âCousin, why are you here?!â
Her smile was as bright as ever, but Zhou Linghuai felt his heart ache.
In these two hours, the little girl had experienced countless sufferings of life and death before she could smile again when she saw him.
Zhou Linghuai gently rubbed the top of the little girlâs head. âIâve arranged for a few old servants to enter the capital. Take some time to meet them. Iâll lend them to you. Theyâll be yours. You can make the arrangements yourself.â
At her cousinâs mention, Yu Youyao recalled that she had asked to borrow some people from him previously. As she had been busy at home recently, she was delayed. âThank you, Cousin.â
Zhou Linghuai glanced at the wooden box in the little girlâs arms and paused for a moment. âHave you learned the new song I taught you previously? That song is a little difficult for beginners. Do you want me to teach you another one?â
Yu Youyao tilted her head. âCousin, have you forgotten? I just played that song yesterday. You even asked me to practice more.â
Yesterday, on a whim, she thought of the âParasol Zither Paintingâ that her cousin had drawn for her, so she pulled her cousin under the Parasol Tree and played a new song for him.
Her cousin had said that she played well and wanted her to practice more.
Zhou Linghuai was stunned for a moment. Then, he recalled the scene of the little girl wearing a yellow and green dress yesterday and playing the zither under the tree. Her pleated dress was spread all over the ground, and there were branches and leaves embroidered on it. Even before the flowers bloomed, he still felt that it was beautiful.
Rubbing the armrest of the wheelchair gently with his fingers, Zhou Linghuai continued, âMs. Yeâs class talked about the Spring and Autumn Period. It involves Confucianism, Daoism, law, ink, soldiers, fame, and other Hundred Schools of Philosophy. The content is demanding and complicated. Iâll teach you again. In the future, itâll be easier to learn it at home.â
Yu Youyao smiled and said, âCousin teaches me every day, and you always talk about the content of Spring and Autumn. I can actually handle Ms. Yeâs classes thanks to you.â
Zhou Linghuai was speechless for a moment. Then, he remembered that the little girl liked to play chess, so he suggested, âWhy donât I play chess with you and see if your chess skills have improved?â
Yu Youyao burst out laughing. âCousin clearly doesnât like to play chess with me. Youâre so reluctant every time. You thought I couldnât tell.â
Zhou Linghuai shook his head. âItâs not that I donât like playing chess with you, butâ¦â
Yu Youyao held her cousinâs hand and smiled. âActually, Iâm deliberately pulling you along to play chess with me. I just want to see you. You clearly canât stand my chess skills, but you canât bear to reject my request. Not only are you coaxing me, but youâre also trying your best to set me up so that I can win and be happy. You donât have to explain. I know everything.â
Zhou Linghuai opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Yu Youyao said softly, âI know. Cousin, youâre worried about me.â The little girlâs eyes were red, and after the baptism of tears, her eyes were also bright. âCousin, Iâm fine!â
Zhou Linghuaiâs throat choked, but he still said, âThe dead are gone. Youâ¦â
He had just started to speak when his words turned into nothing under the little girlâs bright gaze. He couldnât say anything else.
Yu Youyao climbed onto her cousinâs lap. âIâve never had a mother since I was young. No matter how much Grandmother doted on me, I just know that sheâs different from my mother. I donât know what itâs like to be doted on by my mother. Iâve always been envious of Second Sister. I always thought that if my mother hadnât diedâ¦â At this point, her eyes turned red, but she didnât cry. âCousin, when I saw Nanny Yue today, I realized that I was also someone who had a motherâs love. Even though my mother was no longer around, her love for me didnât decrease at all.â
The little girl sniffed, and tears welled up in her eyes. She looked pitiful, as if she was about to cry again.
Seeing that she was holding it in, Zhou Linghuai said, âIf you want to cry, just cryâ¦â
âIâm not crying.â Yu Youyao sniffed stubbornly and tried her best to hold back the tears in her eyes. Even her voice was choked with sobs. âIâm just happy. My mother said in her letter that when I was in her womb, I was very obedient and didnât torture her at all. When she was three months pregnant with me, she had a dream about a golden Buddha. Mother told Grandmother that she was very happy and said that I had a Buddhist affinity. Also, when my mother was pregnant with me, she especially liked to eat sour food.â