Aristocratic Family - Chapter 11

Chapter 11 : Brother Zheng

Yueyao was prepared to tell her grandmother about Brother Zheng’s matter. The sooner it was resolved, the better.

The old lady saw that Yueyao had something to say and dismissed the maids, “Third girl, if you have something to say, tell grandmother. Did someone bully you?”

Yueyao shook her head hastily, “No, with grandmother around, no one dares to bully me. I just had a dream, and mother told me that Brother Zheng is the only son left in father’s lineage. She wants me to take good care of him.” This was the reason Yueyao had thought through carefully, believing it would be convincing. Hua Lei believed her, and she was sure grandmother would too.

The old lady was taken aback, surprised that her deceased daughter-in-law had appeared in Yueyao’s dream. Although unexpected, she didn’t doubt Yueyao’s words, mainly because Yueyao was simple-minded and usually only focused on copying scriptures. She didn’t know Yueyao was capable of scheming.

The old lady thought that Yueyao’s filial piety must have moved heaven, allowing her deceased daughter-in-law to appear in Yueyao’s dream.

Yueyao saw the old lady’s expression and knew she had swayed her. Now, she needed to push her advantage. With the old lady’s agreement, everything else would be easy.

Yueyao knelt before the old lady, “Grandmother, I was previously unaware, but Brother Zheng is father’s only son. I should take good care of him. Please, grandmother, grant me this.”

The old lady fell silent, thinking about Tingzheng’s poor background and his foolishness. Although he was the only son of her second son, she didn’t like him. The Lian family was a scholarly family, and Tingzheng’s background and intelligence made him unsuitable.

The old lady had left the arrangements to Madam Mo, not wanting to bother with it. However, her deceased daughter-in-law was still concerned about her son’s well-being in the afterlife and had specifically asked Yueyao to take care of him.

If only her second son’s wife hadn’t died, her second son would be doing well now.Madam Mo was chosen by the old master. The old lady had opposed Madam Mo’s marriage to her eldest son, but ultimately couldn’t change the old master’s mind.
As a result, the old lady never liked Madam Mo.

Yueyao’s mother, Madam Ma, was chosen by the old lady herself. Madam Ma was filial and virtuous, and the old lady favored her. The only thing that didn’t meet the old lady’s expectations was that Madam Ma didn’t give birth to a direct grandson.

The old lady didn’t entirely blame Madam Ma, as she had stopped taking medicine to have concubines after learning that giving birth to Yueyao had damaged her body. However, none of the concubines became pregnant. Later, when the second son went to take up an official post, the old lady sent Madam Ma to accompany him, hoping to have a direct grandson. Instead, she received the devastating news of her son’s death.

Seeing Yueyao’s pleading expression, the old lady understood that Tingzheng, despite his shortcomings, was the only remaining son of her second son.

The old lady thought that she couldn’t take care of Tingzheng herself due to her health and her dislike for him. Given Yueyao’s filial nature and the fact that ancient people believed in ghosts and spirits, if Yueyao was willing to take care of Tingzheng, she would allow it. The old lady nodded, “Third girl, you mean to educate him yourself?”

Yueyao had used her mother’s dream as an excuse because she wasn’t close to Tingzheng, and proposing to take care of him directly would be inappropriate. With her mother’s dream as proof, it was more convincing.

Yueyao’s eyes welled up with tears, “Mother’s dream, I dare not disobey. Please, grandmother, grant me this.”

The old lady didn’t think further, “Alright, Zheng Mama, accompany third young lady. Third girl, if there’s anything improper, tell grandmother.”

Zheng Mama was instructed to accompany Yueyao, and the old lady gave Yueyao permission to take care of Tingzheng.

The old lady didn’t want to manage Tingzheng’s affairs because she was old and couldn’t handle many things. Since Yueyao didn’t like Tingzheng, she let Madam Mo handle it. After all, Madam Mo wouldn’t starve Tingzheng.

Yueyao knew the old lady’s decision was a gesture of her attitude. With Zheng Mama by her side, everything would be arranged properly.

Yueyao’s courtyard was beautifully landscaped and quiet, but it was located on the south side of the mansion, which was relatively remote. What surprised Yueyao was that her brother’s residence was directly opposite hers, one in the south and the other in the north. If they wanted to meet, they would have to walk almost the entire mansion. Given the distance, the chances of running into each other were zero.

Yueyao followed Zheng Mama for a long time before arriving at a courtyard. The courtyard was very dilapidated. The gate was peeling, and the walls were showing signs of wear and tear. If Zheng Mama hadn’t brought her here, Yueyao wouldn’t have known this place existed.

When they entered the courtyard, it was clean, but there were no trees, and compared to her own courtyard, this one was unimpressive.

Just as Yueyao was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she heard a loud and exasperated voice coming from inside the house, “How many times have I told you to stay in the house and not go anywhere? You’re not allowed to go out, and yet you disobey me and get all dirty. Now I have to clean up after you again.”

Yueyao’s expression turned stern. She had never been spoken to in such a loud tone, neither in Jiangnan nor here. When she entered the room, she saw a woman in her thirties yelling at a thin, weak-looking child dressed in green. The child was hanging his head, tears streaming down his face, but he wasn’t making a sound. His shoulders were shaking, and he was trying to hold back his sobs, looking utterly pitiful.

The old woman saw the child’s pitiful state and became even angrier, “Did you hear what I said? You stupid child, speak up! Say you won’t do it again.” She raised her hand, ready to slap the child.

Yueyao saw the woman’s intention to hit and said coldly, “Who are you to dare do such a thing? Who gave you the courage?”

She hadn’t expected Tingzheng’s life to be so difficult. A mere servant dared to scold and even hit him.
What kind of sister was she?

The old woman turned around, saw Yueyao’s icy expression, and was frightened. Her legs gave way, and she knelt down, “Third young lady, please forgive me! I was just trying to scare the young master, I never actually hit him. Please have mercy, third young lady!”

Yueyao asked coldly, “Where is Concubine You? Where is she?”

The old woman trembled, “I don’t know, Concubine You left early in the morning and hasn’t returned yet.” If this incident was reported to the master and lady, she would be finished. She could only hope that Yueyao would spare her.

Yueyao ignored the old woman and walked over to Tingzheng. His face was covered in tears and snot, and his clothes were stained with unknown substances, making him look dirty and unkempt. His hands were also dirty.

Yueyao examined Tingzheng carefully. He was extremely thin, with hardly any flesh on his bones. Although he was five years old, he looked like a three- or four-year-old child.

Yueyao felt a pang of heartache. She had never paid attention to her younger brother in her past life and didn’t know he had it so tough. She blamed herself, thinking that Concubine You must not have cared for him properly. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have delayed seeking medical attention, which led to his death from fever.

Yueyao held Tingzheng’s hand, and despite the August weather, his hand was icy cold. Yueyao’s heart sank, and she lifted his sleeve and clothes to check. Fortunately, she didn’t see any bruises. These people still had some sense and didn’t dare to actually hit Tingzheng.

The old woman saw Yueyao’s icy gaze and was terrified, continuously kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Yueyao turned her head, “Zheng Mama, how should we punish this servant for her insolence?”

Zheng Mama said coldly, “Twenty strokes of the cane and the entire family will be sold out.”

The old woman immediately collapsed to the ground, wailing like a pig being slaughtered, “Young lady, please forgive me! Young lady, please forgive me!”

Yueyao seemed not to hear her. She had long seen through people like her. When they were in power, they didn’t even put their masters in their eyes. So-called kindness to them meant foolishness and vulnerability.

At this moment, Tingzheng looked at Yueyao with expectation and fear in his eyes. Finally, he mustered up the courage to grab Yueyao’s sleeve and called out pitifully, “Sister.”

Yueyao was taken aback, wondering if she had heard wrong.
She asked again, “What did you just call me?”

Tingzheng opened his mouth but didn’t say anything more.

Hua Lei was afraid that Yueyao would get impatient and abandon Tingzheng again. She quickly stood aside and coaxed, “Young master, third young lady is asking you a question. Tell her whatever you want to say.”

Tingzheng called out softly again, “Sister.”

Yueyao asked in surprise, “How do you know I’m your sister?”
Tingzheng’s voice was like a mosquito’s, “I saw sister before, and sister gave me candy.” After saying that, he lowered his head again.

Yueyao was very surprised; she didn’t remember that at all.

While Yueyao was still lost in thought, Hualei whispered in her ear, “Miss, I gave him the candy. The young master also saw you on the boat.” Hua Lei had secretly taken good care of Tingzheng.

Yueyao glanced at Hua Lei and then smiled wryly. What kind of sister was she, not even as good as a servant?

Hua Lei didn’t know what Yueyao was thinking and instead comforted her, “Miss, although the young master isn’t very smart, he’s not stupid.”
Hua Lei was worried that Yueyao would dislike Tingzheng’s foolishness and change her mind. Although everyone said Tingzheng was a fool, Hua Lei believed he wasn’t truly stupid, just not as smart as others. Blood relatives were closer than collateral relatives. For the current miss, apart from the old lady, Tingzheng was the most trustworthy.

Yueyao realized from Tingzheng’s words earlier that her brother might be a bit silly, but he wasn’t a fool. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have remembered her for so long. “Tingzheng, tell sister, did the candy taste good?”

Tingzheng looked at Yueyao and expressed his inner thoughts, “Sister, I’m very hungry.” Maybe the memory of the candy was profound, or maybe it was because they were siblings, sharing blood ties, or perhaps a combination of both. Tingzheng trusted Yueyao and wanted to get close to her.

When Yueyao heard Tingzheng say he was hungry, she became furious.
She scolded loudly, “Don’t you feed him regularly? Do you all pocket the rations allocated for Tingzheng?”

Hua Lei was taken aback. The young lady had never lost her temper like this before. In Hua Lei’s impression, the young lady was always gentle and soft-spoken, never raising her voice. But now, she seemed like a completely different person, so much so that Hua Lei found her unfamiliar.

Had a single dream changed the young lady that much?
Hua Lei quickly dismissed those messy thoughts; the miss had changed, but for the better. She wouldn’t think about it anymore.

The old woman knelt on the ground, crying, “Young Lady, even with the servant’s greatest courage, we wouldn’t dare to embezzle the young master’s monthly allowance. It’s Concubine You who has been managing these silver and money.”

If she added another crime to her list, it wouldn’t just be selling the entire family out, but they’d all be beaten to death with sticks. By now, she could only push the blame onto Concubine You.

Yueyao restrained her anger and stopped scolding the old woman. Scolding wouldn’t help. Yueyao took out her own handkerchief to wipe away Tingzheng’s tears and snot. The once clean and white handkerchief was now ruined.

Hua Lei stared blankly at Yueyao. The Young Lady loved cleanliness the most; she wouldn’t even let others touch her belongings, let alone dirty things. The young lady had truly changed, and for the better. If Madam knew that her words had completely changed the young lady, she would be very relieved.

Yueyao asked the old woman, who was kneeling on the ground and crying until she had no voice left, “Where are his clothes?” These clothes definitely wouldn’t do; they needed to be replaced with new ones.

The old woman had just shouted too loudly and couldn’t say a word for a long time.