Aristocratic Family - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Sisters

Old Lady Lian was helped up by her maid and looked at the orchid plant in the room. Her son had loved orchids, specifically the Virtuous Gentleman Orchid. Old Lady Lian became lost in memories.

Zheng Mama walked over and said, “Old Lady, the third young lady had a nightmare last night. She was possessed by a nightmare spirit. Gu Mama said that after the nightmare, the third young lady didn’t pay attention to her.”

Old Lady Lian became angry, “Why didn’t you call a doctor?”
What kind of household management was Madam Mo doing? The child was sick and possessed by a nightmare spirit, and no one thought to call a doctor.

Zheng Mama quickly explained, “Old Lady, Mu Qiu said that after the third young lady woke up, she liked to space out. Apart from that, she seemed normal.” They had been in the courtyard for most of the day, and if there was anything wrong, they would have noticed.

Old Lady Lian felt something was off when she heard about the nightmare, “This child wasn’t very close to Madam Mo, but she shouldn’t have shown such fear. And today, her complexion looks much better.”
Since everything seemed normal in the past few days, it meant there wasn’t much wrong. However, Old Lady Lian still felt a sense of discord.

Zheng Mama thought for a moment and said, “Old Lady, the third young lady’s good complexion shows that she’s relieved. That’s a good thing. You should be happy.”

Old Lady Lian leaned against the pillow, “If third girl could understand things, I wouldn’t worry. Others think I’m holding onto power because I’m old, but they don’t know I do it because I want to live a peaceful life. If I could have a few days of peace, I wouldn’t be so busy.”

Zheng Mama said a few comforting words and then suggested, “Old Lady, I think the third young lady is right. It’s August now, and the weather is getting cooler. It’s a good time for you to go out for a walk. It’s better than being cooped up in the room all the time.”
Old Lady Lian didn’t respond, but she didn’t object either.

In the main house, the gatekeeper’s wife, who was originally sitting on the corridor enjoying the cool breeze, stood up respectfully as she saw Madam Mo approaching. Madam Mo didn’t even glance at the gatekeeper’s wife and headed straight to her own courtyard.

After sitting down, Madam Mo drank a bowl of iced sour plum soup and said to her trusted maid, Liu Mama, “What’s going on with the third young lady? I feel like something’s off.”

Liu Mama nodded, “The third young lady does seem strange. But she was fine a few days ago. After meeting Old Lady Lian, she became distant with you, Madam. Maybe Old Lady Lian said something to her.”

Madam Mo shook her head, “No, that’s not it. Although Old Lady Lian doesn’t like me, she wouldn’t say anything bad about me in front of the younger generation. There must be something else going on. Ask someone to discreetly ask around.”

Madam Mo suddenly remembered the way the third young lady looked at her, with hatred and resentment in her eyes. Although it was just a brief moment, Madam Mo had caught it. She felt a chill and said, “Ask Gu Mama what’s going on with the third young lady. Why would she suddenly harbor resentment towards me? Did she find out something?”

Lian Yueyao had lunch and then went to the small Buddhist hall to copy the Classic of Filial Piety. She needed to calm her mind by copying scriptures.

After finishing copying the scriptures and washing her hands, Lian Yueyao walked out of the small Buddhist hall.

She saw Hua Lei looking hesitant and asked, “What’s wrong? Just tell me.” It seemed she hadn’t been paying enough attention, and Hualei’s words hadn’t been taken seriously. Otherwise, Hua Lei wouldn’t be looking like that.

Hua Lei said carefully, “I just heard a small maid say that she saw Gu Mama talking to Madam Mo’s trusted maid, Liu Mama. You were quite cold to Madam Mo in the morning, and in the afternoon, Liu Mama came to find Gu Mama. I’m worried…”

Lian Yueyao nodded to herself. Muqiu was straightforward, but Hualei was clever. Lian Yueyao thought about Hualei’s words and felt a chill. It seemed Gu Mama had already allied herself with Madam Mo’s people, “How long has this been going on?”

Hua Lei saw that Lian Yueyao wasn’t scolding her for overstepping and said cautiously, “Not long after we came back, Gu Mama started associating with Liu Mama.” Hua Lei had mentioned it before, but Lian Yueyao hadn’t paid attention. Now, it seemed Lian Yueyao was listening.

Lian Yueyao was pleased. Hua Lei was indeed perceptive. In her past life, Hua Lei had reminded her several times, but Lian Yueyao had been too naive and thought Hua Lei was being disrespectful to her elders. She had scolded Hua Lei several times for it.

Now, it seemed Hua Lei had seen through things early on, “I know about this. Don’t do anything for now. Just keep an eye on it.” Gu Mama was her wet nurse, and it wouldn’t be good to dismiss her without a valid reason. It would damage her reputation.

Hua Lei looked at Lian Yueyao with surprise and delight. She had reminded her many times before, but Lian Yueyao hadn’t believed her.
Now, it seemed Lian Yueyao had finally understood.

After dinner, Lian Yueyao continued to copy scriptures. To avoid suspicion, she needed to maintain her usual routine and make changes gradually.

When Lian Yueyao came out again, it was already late. She said to Hua Lei, “I want to take a walk.” Then, she strolled slowly in her Lanxi Courtyard.

The night air was cool and refreshing, with a bright moon hanging high in the sky. A layer of light cloud surrounded it, making it seem mysterious. The moonlight flowed gently like water waves in the courtyard.

Lanxi Courtyard was an independent courtyard in the mansion, built by her great-grandfather as a quiet retreat for his later years. It was located in a secluded area, and its tranquility was prized.

The courtyard was divided into the front and back yards.
The front yard had three main rooms with wing rooms and ear rooms attached. The back yard had three main rooms with two “Bao Xia” rooms attached. The “Bao Xia” rooms were like two small ears on the sides of the main rooms, formed by two nine-ridged roofs intersecting in a T-shape. The “Bao Xia” rooms were warm in winter and cool in summer, making them ideal for ladies to reside in. Lian Yueyao currently lived in the “Bao Xia” room in the back yard.

Lian Yueyao gazed at the courtyard and murmured: “Fifteen years have passed.” From the age of 15 when she was hastily sold away to the age of 30. For 15 years, 10 years of her life were lost to amnesia, and the other 5 years were like living in hell. Now, she was back in a place that only appeared in her dreams.

Lian Yueyao stood alone under the moonlight, silently shedding tears for the 5 years of her life that were like living in hell.

Hua Lei thought Lian Yueyao was thinking about her parents again and quickly comforted her, “Young lady, don’t be sad anymore. If your parents saw you like this, they would be very distressed. You must take care of yourself.”

Lian Yueyao wiped away her tears.

When Lian Yueyao’s emotions had stabilized, Hua Lei spoke softly, “Young lady, I have something to say, but I’m not sure if I should.”

Lian Yueyao raised her head, her expression calm, “Just say it. You don’t need to hesitate. Whether I listen or not is up to me.”

Hua Lei then said, “Young lady, I’m being presumptuous. Living in Lanxi Courtyard, you’re always reminded of the past, which isn’t good for you. When you visit Old Lady Lian with a bad mood, it makes her sad, which is bad for her health and also affects your reputation.” Hua Lei almost said that it would be better if Lian Yueyao didn’t live in Lanxi Courtyard.

Lian Yueyao was surprised. Hua Lei was indeed perceptive and had thought of this matter. Madam Mo’s calculation was ruthless.

It was indeed as Hua Lei said, making her live in Lanxi Courtyard, surrounded by memories of the past, would make her miss her deceased parents all the time. Visiting her grandmother with a sad mood would also trigger her grandmother’s emotional pain. With her grandmother’s already poor health, constant worry and sadness would further deteriorate her condition. If her grandmother passed away, the only person who could restrain Madam Mo would be gone. At that time, the entire family would be under Madam Mo’s control. Madam Mo’s thoughts were indeed deep and sinister.

Such a person with deep and sinister thoughts would be difficult to deal with!

The next day, Lian Yueyao got up early and followed her usual routine to pay respects to Old Lady Lian in the main house. In her past life, she was obsessed with copying scriptures, but this life, she would start changing from here.

When Lian Yueyao arrived at the main house, she saw her cousins. The eldest young lady, Lian Yueying, the second young lady, Lian Yuebing, and the fourth young lady, Lian Yuehuan.

Lian Yueying wore a light blue jacket with a white undershirt and a blue pleated skirt. Lian Yueying was only 12 years old. She had inherited her mother, Concubine Chen’s beauty, radiant like spring flowers and bright like autumn moon. Her figure was slender and tall, swaying gently in the wind.

Concubine Chen, Lian Yueying’s mother, was once Old Lady Lian’s personal maid. Because Madam Mo’s first child was a son, Old Lady Lian had stopped the concubine’s medicine. Concubine Chen was lucky, and she gave birth to Lian Yueying the year after the medicine was stopped, and then gave birth to Lian Tingchao four years later.
Later, Concubine Chen died after a miscarriage after Old Lady Lian passed away.

Lian Yueyao remembered that her eldest cousin’s marriage was arranged when her grandmother was still alive. However, the groom passed away before the wedding. The groom’s family asked Lian Yueying to marry into their family and remain chaste for the rest of her life. Her uncle and Madam Mo, for the sake of the Lian family’s reputation, agreed to let Lian Yueying marry into the family. After marrying, Lian Yueying lived a life of chastity, and she never returned home after that.

Concubine Chen’s son, Tingchao, died young due to an accident.
The second daughter, Lian Yuebing, was born to Madam Mo and was the only legitimate daughter of the main house.

Lian Yuebing was one year older than her, and this year she was nine years old. She wore a golden silk jacket with a goose-yellow pleated skirt, had a melon-shaped face, long eyebrows, and fair skin. She inherited the advantages of Lian Dongfang and Madam Mo. When she grew up, she would definitely be a great beauty.

Judging from their past life, Lian Yuebing wasn’t particularly bad to her, but she wasn’t particularly good either. Lian Yueyao clenched her fist and told herself that the past was just a memory. What was important was to grasp the present.

Lian Yuehuan, the third daughter and fourth child of the main house, was eight years old this year, three months younger than Lian Yueyao. Her mother was Concubine Su, who was Madam Mo’s personal maid. Concubine Su was very beautiful, which was why Madam Mo had chosen her. Lian Yuehuan inherited Concubine Su’s appearance.

Lian Yuehuan wore a light green shirt today and didn’t say much, looking a bit weak.
But Lian Yueyao knew that this was not the real Lian Yuehuan. In her past life, Lian Yuehuan married into the richest merchant family in Jiangnan and became the mistress of the household. Meanwhile,

Lian Yueyao was sold to the merchant as a concubine. It was said that Lian Yuehuan lived a very comfortable life in the Qian family. So, what one sees may not be the truth. Weakness was just Lian Yuehuan’s protective color.

Lian Yueyao thought about the past and suddenly felt amused. Marrying into the Marquis family was at most considered as seeking connections with the powerful. But the Lian family, a scholarly family, actually allied themselves with merchants. Marrying into a merchant family was like lowering oneself by several levels.

Lian Yueyao thought about the Lian family’s marriages and suddenly felt enlightened. Even without her, the Lian family wouldn’t last much longer. The Lian family had lost the pride of a scholarly family, and their foundation was corrupted. It was only a matter of time before they declined. With this thought, the guilt in Lian Yueyao’s heart disappeared.

Lian Yueyao looked at the three women with different destinies. All of this was manipulated by Madam Mo. To avoid being calculated by Madam Mo again, she had to seek external help. As long as she had help that could restrain Madam Mo, Madam Mo wouldn’t be able to control her anymore.
Not to mention being sold as a concubine.

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