Translator: Atlas Studios   Editor: Atlas Studios
Old Madam Xie felt terrible and held back her tears. How could a child without a mother have a good life? Even if she had her grandmother to dote on her, this child without a mother still had to suffer the grievances.
Yu Youyao was embarrassed for a moment and tried her best to defend herself. âIâm 13 years old now. Thatâs why I lost weight. Girls still look better when they lose weight.â
Madam Wang disagreed. âYouâre too thin. You have to nourish yourself carefully laterâ¦â
There was a type of thinness that only Grandmothers thought of their grandchildren.
Yu Youyao was indeed quite thin.
However, she was naturally thin and had always been in good health.
Old Master Xie felt that the tea in his mouth was not fragrant, so he coughed hard again.
Madam Wang hurriedly said, âYour great-grandfather entered the capital once when you were born. Itâs rare for him to come over. Hurry up and greet him with a cup of tea.â
This cup of tea was a little late.
However, there was no choice. As soon as her mother-in-law entered the house, she hugged her granddaughter and chatted with her. He couldnât disturb her, right?
Only then did Old Madam Xie let go of her granddaughter reluctantly.
Yu Youyao quickly tidied her clothes and took the tea from the maidservant. She took a step forward and bowed. âGrandfather, please have some tea!â
âGood, good, good!â Old Master Xie immediately beamed with joy and said âgoodâ three times in a row. He quickly took the teacup and poured it into his mouth without caring if the tea was warm or hot.
Yu Youyao pursed her lips and chuckled.
Her familys love for her diluted the sadness of her grandmotherâs death.
After drinking a cup of tea, Old Master Xie immediately took a box from his servant and stuffed it into Yu Youyaoâs hand. âTake it and spend it!â
Yu Youyao understood that there were banknotes in this box.
During the holidays, in the gift list sent by the Xie family, Grandfatherâs gift would always be in banknotes, and it would never be less than ten thousand taels.
It was as if he was always worried that she did not have enough money to spend in the Yu Residence.
Yu Youyao could understand his thoughts. The Yu Residence and even the Yu
Clan valued profits very much. This was also common in aristocratic families. What could make them feel at ease was always money. Everything else was useless.
This time, it was Xie Jingliuâs turn to be jealous. However, with his elders present, he couldnât interrupt for a moment.
The family chatted for a long time.
After talking about their relationship, Old Master Xie asked, âNow that your grandmother has passed away, the Yu Residence is also a troublesome place. What are your plans from now on?â
The Xie Residence knew very well how Yu Zongzheng joined the 13 censors and had obtained the task of going to Zhejiang to provide disaster relief.
The Xie Residence would not sit back and do nothing.
However, all of this depended on Little Yao Yao,
Yu Youyao did not hide anything. âMy fate with the Yu Residence is over. Before Grandmother died, she also left a letter for me to return to my motherâs clan. She hopes that you would help to mediate the situation with the clan.â
With that, she bent down and bowed.
Old Madam Xieâs eyes widened, then she said happily, âThatâs great. With Old Madam Yu t s last words, this matter will be much easier.â At this point, she said excitedly, âOld Master really made the right choice to come this time. With our seniority, the Yu Clan has to give us some face. At most, weâll give them more benefits. I donât think the Yu Clan will refuse.â
Madam Wang also smiled and said, âOld Madam Yu really dotes on our Little Yao Yao, so she made such an arrangement. As long as Little Yao Yao can return to her motherâs clan, itâs worth it no matter the price.â
Xie Jingliu closed his fan. âAlthough thatâs the case, Little Yao Yao is the eldest daughter of the first wife and has been conferred the title of County Head of Shaoyi. Yu Zongzheng also cares about his reputation. If the eldest daughter of the first wife returns to her motherâs clan, wonât it be a hit to his pride? This will also affect his reputation. As long as Yu Zongzheng doesnât agree, itâs useless even if the clan agrees.â
The Great Zhou Dynasty valued the first wife and the eldest son. Yao Yao was related to both.
Old Master Xie frowned. âHas Old Madam Yu made arrangements?â
Yu Youyao nodded. âGrandmother left a letter before she died, indicating the birth of Yu Jianjia.â
Perhaps outsiders did not know about this, but the Xie family had definitely noticed something fishy long ago, so there was no need to deliberately hide it.
Old Master Xie had an idea. He sighed softly. âYour grandmother indeed dotes on you. Before she died, she didnât forget to make plans for you. You have to remember her kindness.â
Yu Youyaoâs eyes turned red, and she held back her tears.
Old Madam Xie and Madam Wang also sighed slightly.
Their daughter had married into the family for only about three to four years before she passed away. It was impossible to say that they did not resent Old Madam Yu. However, now that the young lady was gone, they had to take care of their granddaughter. All these years, they had to tolerate her.
Now that they saw that Old Madam Yu really doted on Little Yao Yao, the resentment in their hearts dissipated a little.
Yu Youyao thought of Madam Yang and her daughterâs scheme and said,
âThereâs one more thing I have to mention to Grandfather, Grandmother, and Aunt.â She recounted Yu Jianjiaâs intention to taint her motherâs reputation and question her background. Then, she said, âAlthough Grandmother has passed away and Madam Yang has been abandoned, this matter will be left unsettled. However, Yu Zongzheng is suspicious. He will definitely suspect that Mother had a private relationship with my second uncle.â
Her grandmother had used her own life to dispel Yu Zongzhengs doubts about her background.
However, it was true that Second Uncle was infatuated with his mother.
It was impossible for Yu Zongzheng to completely trust his mother.
This concerned her motherâs reputation, so she couldnât interfere. In order to avoid further complications, she could only leave this matter to the Xie Residence.
Old Madam Xie was so angry that she slammed the table. âOutrageous. Not only did the Yu Residence harm my Roujiaâs life, but they also tarnished her reputationâ¦â
No wonder Little Yao Yao had written to the Xie Residence earlier and vaguely mentioned that there was a âchangeâ in the Xie Residence?!
However, she really did not expect Second Brother Yu to have designs on Roujia.
Back then, Second Brother Yu was indeed very solicitous to the Xie Residence, and his etiquette was thorough and appropriate. Their family only thought that Second Brother Yu had a favor to ask of them.
Those who could be ranked first were more scheming than others. Their family did not see through this.
Otherwise, they wouldnât have sent such a good girl into a fire pit.
Madam Wang frowned and said, âYu Zongzheng is really too outrageous. When Old Madam Yuâs seventh day passes, weâll argue with him and look for the Yu Clan to let the clan judge. Our Xie Residence is a merchant family after all. Weâre not afraid of our reputation. At that time, itâll be Yu Zongzheng and his Yu Clan who will lose face.â
Thirty percent of Roujiaâs dowry was still in the Yu Clan.
Since the Yu Clan owed them a favor, they would not sit back and do nothing.
Otherwise, if they directly brought Roujiaâs memorial tablet back to the Xie Residence, the 30% of the Yu Clanâs assets would definitely have to be returned.
If this matter blew up, Yu Zongzhengs reputation would be over.
Family scandals could not be publicized. That was the best way to get back at the Yu Residence.
The Xie family did their job well and were righteous. They were not afraid of blowing this matter up.
Yu Youyao made up her mind to ask the Yu Clan to step in. With the clanâs approval, no one would dare to cause trouble with her motherâs reputation.
Everything was justified.
At this moment, Chun Xiao came over to report, âYoung Master is here to greet the elders..â