Chapter 60: Cousin Is So Amazing
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Seeing that her cousin was silent, Yu Youyao gritted her teeth and made up her mind. She placed the sachet in her cousin’s hand. “I’d originally planned to hone my needlework skills before making the sachet for you, but it wouldn’t have been good to keep you waiting.”
For a moment, Zhou Linghuai did not say anything. He stared at the sachet in his hand, but his mind was actually picturing this pampered and delicate little girl—who had never had to suffer before—holding a thin needle and threading it, but constantly poking her own fingertips because of her clumsiness. It was so painful that her eyes welled up with tears and she sobbed, shouting that she no longer wanted to learn, but still ended up gritting her teeth through it and finishing the embroidery carefully.
All of a sudden, the light sachet in his hand felt so heavy that he almost couldn’t breathe.
This gift was indeed much too heavy for him.
Yu Youyao was still chattering away. “Cousin, you’re not allowed to criticize my embroidery. It’s the first time I’ve embroidered anything. At the very most, I’ll give you a better one when I’ve mastered needlework.”
The first thing she had ever embroidered—she was giving to him. Zhou Linghuai swallowed. “I like this sachet very much. Thank you, Cousin, it must’ve been tough to make it.”
Yu Youyao suddenly stopped talking. She looked at her cousin and her face turned red. “No, it wasn’t tough. As long as you like it, Cousin. As long as you like it.”
Seeing the little lady standing a little distance away, Zhou Linghuai laughed lightly. “Come here.”
Yu Youyao ran over and crouched down in front of her cousin. She looked up at him with sparkling eyes that were even more beautiful than the stars in the sky.
Zhou Linghuai suddenly reached out to hold her hand. Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment. She blinked and looked at her cousin, but did not resist.
Her soft little hand seemed to be boneless as he held it in his own hand. It was soft and smooth. Zhou Linghuai flipped her hand over and placed the sachet on her palm. “Cousin, please help me wear it.”
Yu Youyao’s eyes widened, then she smiled brightly. She held the sachet in her hand and nodded eagerly. “Okay!”
It seemed that her cousin really liked this sachet that she had embroidered.
Her efforts in making this green bamboo sachet had not been wasted.
Zhou Linghuai’s pale lips also showed a hint of a smile. He watched as the little lady lowered her head and twirled the green knot, attaching it to his waist and nimbly tying an exquisite knot. She tilted her head and took a serious look at it, then frowned as if she was not satisfied. She reached out to adjust the knot and a.s.sessed it carefully for a while. Then, she pursed her lips and said reluctantly, “Cousin, you shouldn’t wear it. People will laugh at you for it.”
Her cousin was dressed in light green clothes with dark patterns, and he had an indescribably n.o.ble and dignified air.
This sachet clearly did not match her cousin’s aura. It was not worthy of him.
Zhou Linghuai looked down. “I think it’s quite good. It has a very special fragrance.”
Feeling that the sachet wasn’t completely useless, Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up, and she stopped worrying about her embroidery. “The apricot flowers inside are the ones from you at Precious Peace Temple…” As if realizing that she had misspoken, she quickly tried to salvage the situation. “I’ve recently been learning how to mix incense from Nanny Xu. I also handled the apricot flowers myself. Nanny Xu said that I’m very talented at making incense. This sachet can last for a long time.”
Zhou Linghuai gently rubbed the sachet in his hand with his fingers. The st.i.tching was not exquisite, and it was a little rough to the touch, but he liked it very much. “Cousin, you’re really amazing.”
Yu Youyao did not want to show off in front of her cousin. She was happy to be praised by him, but also a little embarra.s.sed. “Cousin, this sachet uses double-sided embroidery, and there are patterns on both sides. Although the other side is also embroidered with green bamboo patterns, the type and posture of the bamboo are a little different. I’ve only just started learning this embroidery skill, so I couldn’t make two completely different sides. but when you’re tired of this side, you can flip it.”
“Okay.” Zhou Linghuai nodded.
“This is your first time in the Jade Courtyard. I’ll take you for a walk.” Yu Youyao stood up and walked around to Zhou Linghuai’s back. Just as her hand was on the armrest of the wheelchair, she recalled how she had almost caused Cousin to fall previously. She lowered her hand awkwardly and retreated to the side.
Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Okay.”
The Jade Courtyard was not renovated like the Green House, so it wasn’t as convenient for wheelchairs to come and go. They stopped at the door, and Chang An half-carried the wheelchair over the threshold.
After that, Zhou Linghuai turned the wheels and went ahead.
Seeing that her cousin was moving with such ease, Yu Youyao couldn’t help but take a few more glances.
Noticing her gaze, Zhou Linghuai explained, “My legs aren’t nimble, so I’ve trained some arm strength, and my arms are more flexible and strong.”
Yu Youyao praised sincerely, “Cousin, you’re amazing.”
Zhou Linghuai laughed and changed the topic. “Imperial Physician Hu’s prescription is excellent. Thank you.”
Yu Youyao’s eyes lit up when she heard that. She was sincerely happy for him. “That’s great.”
He did not ask if the prescription had been given by her. Imperial Physician Hu couldn’t have produced something like that for him, but the Xie family of Quanzhou could.
Zhou Linghuai felt a headache coming on when he thought of the messy medicinal herbs needed for the prescription. However, he naturally had to accept and appreciate the young lady’s kind intentions.
According to Uncle Sun, this Essence Protection Pill was a secret recipe that could replenish his vitality. If he managed to take this pill for a long time, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about his lifespan anymore.
In the afternoon, Yu Zongzheng returned from the government office. When he heard that Concubine He had been grounded and Yu Qingning had been punished, he frowned.
His fourth daughter, Qing Ning, was smart and charming, and he doted on her a lot. The moment he heard that she had been punished, he immediately asked Zhao Da about what had happened in the residence.
Zhao Da did not dare to hide anything any longer.
Yu Zongzheng’s impression of his eldest daughter had changed a little, but compared to his fourth daughter, whom he had always adored, he couldn’t help but feel a little biased. Still, he couldn’t say much since Qing Ning had caused Yao Yao to cry while hugging her mother’s portrait.
At this moment, Qing Xiu came over. “Old Madam has invited Master over.”
Yu Zongzheng hurriedly went to An Shou Hall and saw Old Madam Yu sitting on the soft couch, leaning against the pillow and dozing off. She did not look too well. When he looked around but did not see Madam Yang, he was a little unhappy. “Mother, Madam Yang is supposed to be observing the rules by your side. Why isn’t she serving you?”
After a day, the anger in his heart had dissipated a little. Thinking that Madam Yang had used Jia Jia’s health to trick him only because she had been jealous when she found out that he had gone to Clear Autumn Courtyard, he had planned to speak up for her in front of his mother.
But now, he was a little displeased once again.
Other families had daughters-in-law who observed rules by being by their mother-in-law’s side at all times, serving tea and water. Madam Yang, on the other hand, had run off somewhere to slack off—how unbecoming of a daughter-in-law.
His mother was already at such an old age, and did not have great health, but still had to fret and be concerned over the household matters due to Madam Yang’s incompetence at management.
Yet, Madam Yang did not reflect on herself, and went somewhere to hide instead.