Translator: Atlas Studios   Editor: Atlas Studios
Madam Xu was shocked and quickly said, âCounty Mistress Shaoyi, youâve misunderstood. This matterâ¦
Yu Youyao continued, âIn that case, I feel guilty accepting the âcompensationâ from Consort Xu and Madam. I canât accept it.â At this point, she squatted down and bowed. Such a big bow was naturally not for Madam Xu, but for
Consort Xu. âHowever, since itâs Consort Xuâs kind intentions, I will accept it.â
Madam Xu felt bitter. She finally understood what it meant to shoot yourself in the foot.
She quickly got up and went to help Yu Youyao, who was squatting down deeply. âCounty Head of Shaoyi, what are you saying? The crepe myrtle garden is in the backyard of the Regional Kings Residence, and itâs also Third
Princeâs fault. How can you take the blameâ¦â
She helped her up but she did not move.
Yu Youyao still maintained her deep squatting posture. Ordinary people wouldnât be able to take it after a few seconds, but she maintained this posture steadily and couldnât be helped up.
Yu Youyao lowered her eyes. âI understand what Madam means. Madam, donât worry. The Third Prince has a noble status. Since he has suffered an undeserved calamity from me, my family canât implicate him.â
Madam Xu finally understood. Three years ago, the Marquis of Changxings wife had scolded Yu Youyao in front of everyone. When she was embarrassed, she felt aggrieved and angry, but also awkward and helpless.
She had specially come to the Yu Residence today because she wanted to end the matter at Duke Rongs Residence.
Yu Youyaoâs words were not far from her goal.
After achieving her goal, Madam Xu should be happy. However, she had come to visit in the name of âcompensationâ, but Yu Youyao had twisted the truth with her words. It was as if the Xu family was bullying others and wanted to âwarnâ and âbeatâ the Yu Residence!
That was not what she meant at all.
Madam Xu looked at Yu Youyao with a complicated gaze. With such shrewdness, who could scheme against her?
The Imperial Concubine had made a bad move, turning a good hand of cards into a lousy one.
Before she could hit the fox, she was in trouble.
Old Madam Yu felt relieved. She leaned against the couch and narrowed her eyes as she looked at Madam Xuâs defeated expression. She was like a vicious dog with its teeth pulled out.
Yu Youyao said aggrievedly, âIâve also been raised by the etiquette of the family. I should have entered the palace to see the Imperial Concubine and apologize, butâ¦â It was difficult to talk about Concubine Xuâs imprisonment. She squatted down a little more. âHowever, Madam, please convey my apology to the Third Prince.â
Madam Xuâs âcompensationâ just now was insincere.
At this moment, Yu Youyaoâs âapologyâ did not seem sincere.
Madam Xu did not even pretend well, but Yu Youyaoâs etiquette was impeccable. Comparing the two, Madam Xu was so embarrassed that she felt awkward.
âCounty Lord of Shaoyi, please get up quickly.â Madam Xu quickly held her hand and helped her up. Her voice was bitter. âItâs also because Third Prince did something inappropriate. How can you be blamed? You have to accept this compensation. Otherwise, itâll be difficult to answer to the Noble Consort.â
Yu Youvao glanced at her grandmother.
Old Madam Yu stopped the show and said calmly, âOur family feels guilty accepting this apology. Take it back. As for the congratulatory gift, itâs also a token of appreciation from the Noble Consort and the Xu family. Keep it!â
Since Old Madam Yu had already spoken, how could she ask her to take back what she had said?
Madam Xu had never expected things to develop to this extent. If she couldnât make amends, it wouldnât be considered burying the hatchet with the Yu Residence. In the eyes of outsiders, this was still inappropriate for the Third Prince.
She had made a wasted trip.
At this point, there was no point in staying any longer.
After Madam Xu left, Old Madam Yu sneered. âOur Yu Clan was in the limelight and their Duke Xuâs Residence is just an unknown family. They were only conferred the title of Duke because they had contributed to saving the emperor.â At this point, she looked disdainful. âIâll just watch them. I want to see how long Duke Xuâs relationship with the emperor can last.â
The Xu Clan was originally a small family that relied on the Ning Public House. Although they had some foundation, they were still very weak. It was all thanks to the promotion of Duke Ning that they could become a fourth-grade general when the emperor was on a expedition to the north.
It was because they had contributed to the rescue that they had gained the emperorâs recognition.
Back then, Duke Ning and his son had died tragically in the North, and their 800,000-strong army had been completely wiped out. After General Xu escorted the emperor back to the palace, he was the first to jump out and report several crimes of the Ning Public House.
It was also because of the accusation of General Xu, his trusted aide, that the emperor could naturally push all the blame of the imperial expedition to Duke Ning and his son, causing the entire Ning Public House to be punished.
Duke Xuâs actions could be said to be ungrateful.
However, everyone knew that all of this was instigated by the emperor, so no one dared to say this.
However, in private, some old aristocratic families disdained to interact with the Xu family. Even though Concubine Lu had lost her power, there were still many court officials who secretly supported the Second Prince and disdained to side with the Third Prince.
With Madam Xuâs character, what good daughter could she raise?
No wonder Concubine Xu was always inferior to Concubine Lu in the palace.
Not long after Yu Youyao returned to the Jade Courtyard, Zhou Linghuai came over.
The cousins sat under the Dorch and chatted.
After Yu Youyao grew up, every time Zhou Linghuai returned to the Jade Courtyard, he would no longer be in the same room as Yu Youyao.
The Jade Courtyard was not like The Green House. After all, there were too many people. If the cousins were in the same room, it was inevitable that there would be gossip.
Zhou Linghuai put down his teacup. âIâm going back to Youzhou the day after tomorrow. â
Yu Youyao was only stunned for a moment before nodding. âIâll help Cousin pack up later. When you go back this time, will you take a carriage or ride a horse?â At this point, she frowned slightly and said, âYour leg has just recovered. Itâs safer to take a carriage for such a long journey.â
In the past two years, she had become used to parting with her cousin. She would not cry like two years ago when her cousin had gone to Shandong to quell the rebellion because she could not bear to part with him.
Zhou Linghuai, who had been preparing to ride a horse and return quickly, smiled. âIâll listen to you.â
Yu Youyao felt a little relieved. âThen Iâll prepare a few more things.â
Zhou Linghuai nodded and suddenly asked, âWhy didnât you ask me why I suddenly want to return to Youzhou?â
Yu Youyao looked at the scorching sun outside. âThe festivities this year are earlier. Itâs only May, but itâs already summer. The rice has to be planted in the fields before summer, not even a day later. This year is already destined to be a famine year. The land in the North is thin, and there are few rice fields to begin with. I think the situation will be even more serious. Cousinâs rule is in the North, so I naturally understand that youâre worried.â
In the past, summer would only officially arrive after the Dragon Boat
Festival..