Chapter 104 - 104 Cousin, You"re So Kind!
104 Cousin, You’re So Kind!
With her grandmother around, no one dared to use the word “unfilial” to attack her.
Old Madam Yu nodded approvingly and turned to instruct Nanny Xu to set the table.
After dinner, Yu Youyao returned to the Jade Courtyard. Xia Tao quickly came over and said, “Young Mistress, I heard that not long after you left Master’s place in the afternoon, First Madam went to the front courtyard and was taught a lesson by Master until she cried. Then, she said that she had a headache and asked someone to secretly hire a doctor.”
Yu Youyao glanced at her sideways. “Where did you hear this?”
Her grandmother didn’t even know about this. She really hadn’t let down her reputation as a G.o.dly reporter.
Xia Tao giggled. “There’s a servant girl in First Madam’s house called Liu’er. She entered the residence with me. In the beginning, she was a servant girl in the residence. Not long after she entered the residence, she fell sick. I was the one who took some money and grabbed a few sets of medicine for her to recover, so our relationship became a little closer. Liu’er acknowledged the maidservant who guarded the back door as her G.o.dmother. The maidservant pulled some strings and was sent into First Madam’s house to be a servant girl. I occasionally chatted with her. The physician that First Madam hired today was secretly brought into the residence from the back door.”
Those who could guard the back door were all trusted people of the residence. They were much more respectable than ordinary servants.
Yu Youyao couldn’t help but laugh. “I remember that Old Madam Ye in Father’s courtyard fell down a few days ago. You often went there too.”
Xia Tao hurriedly said, “This is called forming a good relationship. Old Madam Ye is a servant in Master’s house. If she doesn’t recover soon, how can she serve Master well?”
Yu Youyao chuckled. “You don’t do proper work all day.”
Seeing that Miss was not angry, Xia Tao giggled.
The next morning, the news that Madam Yang was sick spread throughout the residence. Yu Youyao went to school but did not see Yu Jianjia. Only then did she know that Yu Jianjia was worried about her mother’s health and had applied for a day off from Ms. Ye.
During cla.s.s, Yu Youyao realized that Ms. Ye’s voice was a little hoa.r.s.e. Old Madam Su usually brought over tea twice in a cla.s.s, but today, she brought over tea four times.
After the cla.s.s ended, Yu Youyao called Xia Tao over. “Go back to my house and get me a box of pear paste.”
The pear paste was good for clearing one’s lungs and improving one’s complexion. It also had a good cough reducing effect. She had prepared a lot of it in the house.
After school, Ms. Ye did not ask Yu Youyao to stay.
Yu Youyao called out to Old Madam Su, “I heard that your voice was a little hoa.r.s.e. Are you feeling unwell?”
Old Madam Su was a little surprised. “Ms. Ye slept late last night and caught a cold. When she woke up in the morning, her throat felt a little uncomfortable. She took some medicine and felt that it wasn’t serious, so she didn’t say anything.”
However, she did not expect Eldest Miss Yu to be so meticulous.
Yu Youyao felt much more relieved. She took the pear paste from Xia Tao’s hand and handed it to Old Madam Su. “I made this pear paste myself, so I’ll help you soothe your throat. Although it’s just a sore throat, you can’t be careless. I’ll get someone to get a doctor to take a look later.”
Old Madam Su quickly accepted it and said sincerely, “Eldest Miss, you’re too kind.”
Yu Youyao nodded. “Let her rest well.”
Seeing that Eldest Miss Yu had left with her maidservant, Old Madam Su hurriedly returned to the inner room with the pear paste. She heard Ms. Ye cough and clear her throat. It was obvious that the medicine from this morning was useless.
Old Madam Su hurriedly said, “Ms. Ye’s throat isn’t feeling well, so Eldest Miss Yu specially sent a box of pear paste for you to use. I’ve heard from the servants in the residence that Eldest Miss learned this from a nanny in the palace. Most of the things in her hands are from the palace, and they’re excellent. This pear paste is probably the same.”
When Ms. Ye heard this, her brows relaxed a little, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. “She’s really considerate.”
“Isn’t that so?” Old Madam Su agreed deeply. She added, “All the young misses in the residence have attended Ms. Ye’s cla.s.s, but no one noticed that Ms. Ye’s throat was unwell. Only Eldest Miss Yu noticed it. It’s obvious that she truly respects Ms. Ye.”
Ms. Ye’s expression was indifferent, and she did not speak.
In the past, when Eldest Miss Yu was bad at studying, no matter if it was a lecture, a punishment, or a beating, she had always stubbornly endured it without crying or making a fuss.
Even so, every time she faced her, her eyes still revealed reverence and no resentment. It was obvious that she was pure and naive.
It was also because of this that she was more strict with Yu Youyao, hoping that she could learn something!
“I’ll use this pear paste to mix with water. Ms. Ye, quickly try some.” Old Madam Su poured a cup of hot water and opened the blue and white round box. The light yellow pear paste had a faint sweetness to it. She took a small spoon and mixed it into the hot water.
Ms. Ye took it and took a sip. It was faintly sweet that was not too strong, and very palatable. There was also a faint lotus-like fragrance. As the bowl of pear paste entered her stomach, the discomfort in her throat indeed eased a little. “It’s quite good.”
Old Madam Su laughed.
Ms. Ye said, “Send the bamboo brush that I made previously to Eldest Miss Yu.”
The brush made by Madam Ye of the Linjiang Prefecture were quite famous in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Most of the brushes used by scholars everywhere were from the Ye Clan.
Ms. Ye was very good at writing. She had inherited all of Madam Ye’s skills, and often, people would send money over to invite her to write.
However, Ms. Ye had rules. She had to prepare the materials for making a pen every three months. She only accepted some handicraft fees and was unwilling to earn money from this.
The bamboo brush made by Ms. Ye was made from the bamboo from the Xiaoxiang Forest in the Yu Residence. It was originally meant for Eldest Miss Yu.
After returning to the Jade Courtyard, Yu Youyao asked Xia Tao to look for her cousin.
Suddenly, she heard a faint and clear voice from outside. “Cousin, are you feeling unwell?”
Hearing this voice, Yu Youyao was overjoyed. She turned around and saw Chang An pushing her cousin into the house. Her eyes lit up and she quickly shouted, “Cousin, you’re here!”
The young lady’s face was rosy, and she did not seem to be feeling unwell at all. Zhou Linghuai’s lips curled up slightly. “You came back early today. Didn’t Ms. Ye ask you to stay?”
Yu Youyao stopped laughing and shook her head. “I heard that Ms. Ye’s throat wasn’t feeling well. I was about to get Xia Tao to look for a doctor to take a look at you.”
With that, she saw her cousin holding a large silver cup with flowers and birds on it. She hurriedly took it and lifted the lid to take a look!
Inside were bright red cherries that were smaller than longans. They were bright and full, like beautiful rubies.
“It’s a cherry!” Yu Youyao exclaimed softly. She couldn’t take her eyes off the cherry in the big silver cup, and her mouth was still watering.
Seeing her greedy expression, Zhou Linghuai couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s for you.”
“I love cherries.” Yu Youyao cheered, her voice crisp and sweet with joy. “Cousin, you’re the best!”
A cherry was an expensive item that had been shipped from the south.