331 Caught in Her Own Trap
At the thought that Yang Shuwan was the instigator of Xie Roujiaâs death, Yu Zongzheng hated her to the core. He suddenly pulled out his leg, kicked her away, turned around, and strode away.
âMaster, Masterâ¦â Yang Shuwan lay on the ground and wailed, âI had no choice. Back then, I accidentally discovered that I was pregnant and asked Master to take me in as a noble concubine. It was Master who said that Madam Xie was about to give birth and asked me to wait a little longer. After Madam Xie gave birth, she would take me in. I can wait, but the child in my stomach canât waitâ¦â
After giving birth, she still had to go through confinement. At the very least, she had to wait for Xie Roujia to finish her confinement before she could go through the door. At that time, her stomach would be big, and she wouldnât be able to hide it anymore.
Yang Shuwan knelt on the ground and covered her face as she cried. âI never thought about harming Xie Roujiaâs life. I didnâtâ¦â
!!
Although Xie Roujiaâs death was a pleasant surprise that made her, the daughter of a concubine, the second wife, she had always been smug about it. However, when she first left the handkerchief on Yu Zongzheng, she really did not expect that Xie Roujia would slip and lose her life.
âItâs that b*tch Xie Roujiaâs bad luck. Why should I be blamed for her death? B*tchâ¦â Yang Shuwan lay on the ground and screamed.
After Imperial Physician Shi took Yu Shansiâs pulse, Yu Jianjia used the excuse of feeling unwell to return to the courtyard and go to the study to copy the Heart Sutra. After her father returned to the residence, it was time for the Songtao Courtyard to have some commotion. As the most obedient and sensible daughter in the family, she naturally shouldnât get involved.
At this moment, Hui Xiang entered the house.
Before she could speak, Yu Jianjia put down her brush and asked gently, âHowâs the situation at Songtao Courtyard?â
Yu Youyao was in charge of the house, and the Songtao Courtyard was also renovated by her. Yu Youyao couldnât absolve herself of the blame for Fourth Brother drowning on the first day of moving into the courtyard.
Her father had always valued her fourth brother. Even if Yu Youyao saved him, she probably wouldnât be able to escape punishment.
âThird Sister, if you want to know about the situation in Songtao Courtyard, why donât you ask me?â
Suddenly, she heard a gentle voice. Yu Jianjiaâs heart skipped a beat. She looked up at the door and saw Yu Youyao leading Chun Xiao into the study.
Looking at the time, shouldnât her father be furious and scold Yu Youyao because of her fourth brotherâs drowning?
Why did Yu Youyao have time to come to the courtyard?
Moreover, Yu Youyao never took half a step into her courtyard. Why was she suddenly here today?
As her mind raced, Yu Jianjiaâs mind was already filled with a thousand thoughts. She had a bad feeling. âWhy is Big Sister here?â
Yu Youyao sized up the study casually. âWhy? Is Third Sister very surprised to see me?â
âBig Sister has never been to the courtyard before. Iâm indeed a little surprised.â Yu Jianjia walked around the desk and walked up to Yu Youyao. She bent down slightly. âItâs all thanks to Big Sister that Fourth Brother was saved today.â
Yu Youyao bypassed her and went to the desk. She picked up the Heart Sutra that Yu Jianjia had copied just now and looked at it carefully for a while. âThird Sisterâs small handwriting is light and lively. Even Ms. Ye is full of praise for it.â
Yu Jianjia wasnât sure what Yu Youyao was up to, so she said cautiously, âThank you for your praise, Eldest Sister. Iâve been weak since I was young, so I can only learn these light and simple small scripts. Theyâre not as graceful as Eldest Sisterâs calligraphy thatâs like a dragon. Yours is natural and elegant.â
If anyone else heard this, they would think that Yu Jianjia was humble and sincerely praising her.
However, if she praised someone, so be it. Why did she have to add the words â Iâve been weak since I was youngâ? It was nothing more than revealing that she was exhausted, so she couldnât practice calligraphy. If others heard this, they would inevitably pity her.
Yu Youyaoâs lips curled up slightly as she changed the topic. âThe handwriting is good, but I can see that thereâs a hint of awkwardness in Third Sisterâs handwriting. Itâs like you felt uneasy. The problem is that the brush is too tight, and your wrist couldnât control it well. Itâs pulled left and right. When you write, itâs not focused. Your heart and mind werenât calm.â
Yu Jianjia slowly tightened her grip on her handkerchief, her lowered eyelashes trembling uncontrollably.
Yu Youyao looked up at Yu Jianjia and said word by word, âThird Sister, youâre restless. Youâre thinking about everything, and your brush is like a caged bird. Youâre trapped.â
The words âyouâre trappedâ seemed to be casual and gentle.
However, Yu Jianjiaâs heart skipped a beat.
She suddenly looked up and saw the corners of Yu Youyaoâs lips curl up slightly. She was smiling brightly, but this smile was like a handful of winter snow in early spring. It was cold at first, then it was bone-chilling.
Just one look made her feel a chill run down her spine.
Yu Jianjiaâs eyelids twitched slightly, and she slowly lowered her head. âAlthough Fourth Brother was saved by Eldest Sister this time, I couldnât help but feel a lingering fear. When I was copying the Buddhist scriptures, I couldnât calm down. Iâve made a fool of myself in front of Eldest Sister. Jia Jia is ashamed.â
Yu Youyao really did not come with good intentions.
In that case, the situation in the Songtao Courtyard probably wouldnât go as she wished. However, her father had always valued her fourth brother the most. How had Yu Youyao escaped her fatherâs punishment?
Yu Youyao smiled when she heard this. âI see.â
Yu Jianjia suddenly remembered that at the Flower Festival in the Marquis of Changxingâs Residence, Yu Youyao had also smiled casually. Caught off guard, she splashed tea on Seventh Miss Caoâs face and suddenly felt a little flustered.
Yu Youyao did not beat around the bush anymore. She turned to look at Chun Xiao. âThird Miss is concerned about the situation in the Songtao Courtyard. Tell her everything that happened in the Songtao Courtyard.â
Yu Jianjiaâs breathing stopped for a moment, then she heard Chun Xiao say eloquently, ââ¦Carpenter Zhao said that the wooden railing at the side of the lake was newly built, and it will take a few days to close. He even looked for First Madam and asked her to be more careful. He also told Fourth Young Master not to go to the lake to play. Even if he does go, he has to bring servants who know how to swim with himâ¦â
Yu Jianjiaâs delicate and innocent expression froze, but her trembling eyes and trembling lips still revealed her panic.
She could most likely guess what was going on in Songtao Courtyard.
Fourth Brother had drowned not because the wooden railing had not been fixed tightly, but because his mother had failed to take good care of him.
Her fatherâs anger was not directed at Yu Youyao, but at her mother.
â⦠First Madam said that she had instructed Mo Cai and the old maids who served Fourth Young Master to take good care of himâ¦â
Yu Jianjiaâs eyes darkened. She did not want to listen anymore.
She finally understood that Yu Youyao hadnât said it casually. She was really mocking her for being trapped.
Yu Youyao knew that Fourth Brotherâs drowning was her doing.
ââ¦Mother Mo immediately rushed out and knelt in front of Eldest Master to complain about the injustice. She said that Fourth Young Master was ignorant and incompetent and insisted on going to the lake. Mo Cai couldnât stop himâ¦â