338 Definitely a Calamity
He did not say if it could be treated, but Yu Zongzheng knew very well that his third daughterâs illness was probably not easy to treat. He was furious. âThank you, Imperial Physician Hu.â
Imperial Physician Hu spread out some paper and began to write a prescription. He prescribed three sets of medicine in a row. After explaining how to use them, he stood up. âAlthough medicine is important, recuperation lies in the foundation. This illness canât be delayed.â
Yu Youyao quickly got someone to prepare a generous gift and sent Imperial Physician Hu out. She also instructed Ai Ye, who was in front of Yu Jianjia, to get the medicine.
After everything was arranged, Yu Youyao returned to her house.
Yu Zongzheng was already furious. He ordered someone to gather all the servants in the courtyard.
âThird Missâs illness has acted up again. Youâre serving her in front of her, but all of you didnât report it. You hid your Masterâs illness, causing her illness to worsen. Itâs simply hateful.â
Hui Xiang was shocked and quickly explained, âMaster, Iâm innocent. During this period of time, Master was busy in the government office, so Third Miss didnât allow me to tell Master about this. She said that she was afraid that Master would worry.â
Yu Youyao frowned and said, âThird Sister doesnât want Father to worry because sheâs being filial. However, there are other elders in the family, and Third Sister has fallen ill frequently. Youâre just a servant. How can you bear the responsibility of hiding Third Sisterâs illness and delaying her recovery?â
Hui Xiang said anxiously, âMaster, Master, I didnât mean to hide it. Itâs just that Old Madam is old, and First Madamâs illness flares up from time to time. Third Miss has always been considerate and filial, and she doesnât want the elders to worry about her healthâ¦â
Bangâ Yu Zongzheng slammed the table and glared at Hui Xiang. âYouâre full of lies. Third Missâs health isnât good, so she doesnât want her elders to worry. Isnât there still Eldest Miss in this residence? Eldest Miss is the eldest daughter of the first wife, and also the eldest sister. She has the responsibility to take care of and raise the younger siblings in the family. Third Miss is weak, but youâre actually so negligent. Youâre even using such sweet words to push the blame to her. What exactly are your intentions?â
Yao Yao cared about their sisterly relationship. If she had known about Jia Jiaâs health earlier, why would her condition have worsened to this extent?
Hui Xiangâs eyes widened in shock. âIâm innocent. Itâs Eldest Miss. Eldest Miss didnât allow me to say anything. I didnât mean to hide it. Iâve been with Third Miss since I was young and am loyal to her.â
Yu Youyao said coldly, âYouâre indeed loyal to Third Sister. Itâs just that sheâs weak and has a gentle personality. Youâre all arrogant and donât know the severity of the matter. Previously, Third Sister fell to the ground. She was frightened and had a high fever. She was in a coma for three days and three nights and almost lost her life. Now, thereâs also you, a sly maidservant. You hid Third Sisterâs condition and made her so seriously ill.â
When Hui Xiang heard this, she felt dizzy and kowtowed. âMaster, Iâm innocentâ¦â
âShut up.â If Yao Yao hadnât mentioned it, Yu Zongzheng would have almost forgotten about it. Previously, he had thought that it was because Yao Yao was pampered that Jia Jia had fallen and was frightened. How could he have known that it was obvious that Jia Jia was neglected by the maidservant in front of her? Immediately, he was furious. âSomeone, tie up all the servants in front of Third Miss. All of them will be punished with 30 strokes of the paddle and sold to the brokerage house.â
Immediately, a few old maids found ropes and tied them up without any explanation.
âMaster, show mercyâ¦â
âIâm innocentâ¦â
âI know my mistake. Master, please spare me this timeâ¦â
The servants cried and kowtowed, begging for mercy. The room was in chaos.
When Yu Jianjia received the news, she couldnât care less about being sick or weak. She asked the little girl in the room to help her out. âFather, w-what are you doing? Theyâve served me for many years. Even if they havenât contributed much, theyâve worked hard. Father, please spare them this time on my account. I-Iâll definitely discipline them strictly laterâ¦â
Yu Youyaoâs lips curled up slightly as she tapped her teacup with one hand. âItâs raining today. The weather is cold and humid. Third Sister is weak to begin with, so why did she run out without even wearing a thick set of clothes? How did your maidservant serve you?â
Yu Jianjia knew that something was wrong.
Her father was angry because the servants in front of her were useless and did not know the severity of the situation. Yu Youyaoâs words undoubtedly further confirmed this.
Indeed!
Seeing that his third daughter was only wearing a thin white shirt and not even a cloak and her thin body was trembling, Yu Zongzheng frowned. âYour sister is right. Your health isnât good, so you should stay in the house and recuperate well.â With that, he turned around and instructed the old maids that Yu Youyao had brought over. âHelp Third Miss back to rest.â
The servants in the courtyard were too outrageous.
Yao Yao was right. Jia Jia was too gentle and kind, which was why they were so arrogant and didnât know their limits. They couldnât even serve their master well.
They could not let it go easily.
Yu Jianjia refused to leave and knelt on the ground with a thud. Her lips trembled as she said in a trembling voice, âFather, please let them off this time. Iâm weak and theyâre used to serving me. If Father punishes them and I get someone new to take care of me, it wonât be as appropriate as themâ¦â
Yu Zongzheng frowned, feeling that what she said made sense. He turned to look at Yu Youyao and asked, âYao Yao, what do you think we should do?â
Yu Jianjia looked at her father in shock. When had her father trusted Yu Youyao so much that he even asked about her opinion when dealing with the servants?
Yu Youyao put down her teacup and fiddled with the blood beeswax prayer beads on her wrist.
In the yellow room, the crystal clear blood beeswax prayer beads shone like jade under the dense light. They were pure and beautiful, almost piercing Yu Jianjiaâs eyes.
She knew that this string of blood beeswax prayer beads had been enshrined in the Precious Peace Temple before Yu Youyao was born. Some time ago, when she was old enough, Old Madam had given it to Yu Youyao as a gift for her tenth birthday.
After Yu Youyao put it on, it never left her side.
Who wouldnât like beautiful and rare things?
Every time she saw her, she couldnât help but take a few more glances. When Hui Xiang saw her, she would complain about how biased Old Madam was. Everything good was for Eldest Miss, and she only had Eldest Miss in her heart.
She had said it after hearing it from Hui Xiang, but why didnât she think so in her heart?!
But!
She had her fatherâs love, and Yu Youyao could never compare to her.
Now, not only had Yu Youyao gained her fatherâs trust, but she had also snatched away his love for her. Could it be that as her mother had said? Yu Youyao was not human, but a monster?
Yu Youyao pondered for a moment before saying, âWe definitely canât keep the same people in front of Third Sister. Otherwise, it will definitely become a disaster in the future.â