Chapter 80: Attracting Trouble
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Why did she have to mention this when he was shocked and injured?
In the past, he used to think that Madam Yang was a good person, but now, she was becoming more and more unrestrained.
Hearing Yu Zongzheng’s words, Yang Shuwan panicked and hurriedly said, “Uh, that’s right. Fourth Sister is only two months younger than Jia Jia. When Jia Jia was her age last year, she had already moved into a courtyard, so…”
Her words were true, but her fl.u.s.tered and evasive att.i.tude made Yu Zongzheng suspicious. His expression darkened. “What exactly is going on? Why are you beating around the bush? Did the butler make another mistake?”
When Yang Shuwan heard this, she panicked and quickly explained, “No, no. I’ve been establishing rules in Old Madam’s house these past few days and only returned to the main courtyard at nine every day. Nanny Liu has been helping to handle the matters at home. It’s Fourth Miss. Today, she almost got Ms. Ye to kick her out of school…”
“What? What mistake did Fourth Miss make that she was almost kicked out of the family school?” Hearing Yang Shuwan’s words, Yu Zongzheng was stunned.
He could not be blamed for being too surprised. Although Fourth Miss was not as obedient and sensible as Jia Jia, she was still smart and pleasant. In the past, she had never made any mistakes in school.
Yang Shuwan hesitated for a moment before telling herhimeverything that had happened in the school today without embellishing anything.
Yu Zongzheng was furious, and his face flushed red with anger. “This evil creature actually doesn’t have any respect for her elders or her teachers! As her mother, how do you usually discipline the sisters?”
Yang Shuwan was stunned by Yu Zongzheng’s shout. Then, her eyes turned red with grievance. “Master blamed me for not teaching Fourth Sister well, and I have nothing to say. However, Master has always doted on Fourth Sister, and has taught her many times in the past. The kindness of a wise master is indeed more important than the heaven and earth, and more important than parents. She should have respect for a master regardless if she’s rich or poor. This is the principle of respecting a master.”
Yu Zongzheng let out a breath, which affected the injuries on his face, causing him to grimace in pain. Indeed, he often said these words to the children.
Instantly, the anger in his heart surged.
He had originally thought that Yu Qingning was a smart and quick-witted person. In the past, he had doted on her a little more. But now, Yu Qingning did not even care about his teachings, which made him both disappointed and angry.
Yang Shuwan was so aggrieved that she started crying. For a moment, tears streamed down her face. “Fourth Sister doesn’t even listen to you as a father, so why would she listen to me, her stepmother? Fourth Sister wasn’t raised by me since she was young. She was raised by Concubine He herself. However, Fourth Sister has always been smart since she was young. I think she knows it too. Her food, clothes, and allowance are all better than Jia Jia’s. I confess that I’ve never mistreated Fourth Sister, no less disciplined her.”
Yu Zongzheng thought about it carefully. Madam Yang had a soft personality and treated Fourth Miss very well. She had never treated her harshly. “It’s not that I want to blame you. It’s not easy for you to manage such a big family, and recently, you’ve been setting rules in Old Madam’s house. It’s inevitable that you haven’t taken it into consideration. I was anxious just now and said something wrong. Don’t take it to heart.”
At the side, Nanny Li couldn’t help but interrupt, “Master, you don’t know the grievance in Madam’s heart. Fourth Miss made a mistake today, and even Madam was implicated. Today, she was copying Buddhist scriptures in the temple hall and only returned to the main courtyard at nine o’clock. Madam…”
“Stop talking.” Yang Shuwan did not expect Nanny Li to suddenly interrupt. She was shocked and quickly stopped her. “Master has been busy with court matters all day and is already too busy to do anything else. How can you bother him with such a small matter? I’m Fourth Sister’s mother. Although I wasn’t the one who raised Fourth Sister, it was still my oversight. Old Madam only punished me to copy Buddhist scriptures for two more hours. That’s already exceptionally kind of her.”
Nanny Li lowered her head, not daring to say anything else.
One of them had a dark expression, while the other had a pale face. This made Yu Zongzheng feel even more guilty. “You’ve suffered.”
Yang Shuwan shook her head and said, “Master’s heart aches for me. I’m happy, so why would I feel aggrieved? It’s just that Old Madam is already so old, and you still have to worry about the matters of the residence. It’s my fault as a daughter-in-law. I’m also very ashamed.”
Yu Zongzheng felt that Madam Yang was becoming more and more generous and proper after setting the rules with his mother for the past few days. His slight dissatisfaction with her also dissipated.
Yang Shuwan said with a face full of shame, “Old Madam was so angry today that she taught Fourth Sister a lesson. She even asked a nanny from the Education Department to teach Fourth Sister and Concubine He some manners tomorrow.”
Yu Zongzheng was also shocked. He had also heard of the prowess of the nanny in the Education Department. Thinking of Concubine He’s tender skin and Fourth Miss’s pampered upbringing, how could they bear such hardship?
Of course, Yang Shuwan could tell what he was thinking. She suppressed the jealousy in her heart and said, “Master suffered today, and I feel terrible too. I didn’t plan to say anything about this at first, so that Master wouldn’t blame me for not knowing my limits. However, Fourth Sister’s upbringing has become problematic, and I’m also burning with anxiety. I thought that Fourth Sister shouldn’t continue to live with Concubine He, so I want to discuss with Master to move her to another courtyard.”
These words were generous and appropriate, showing her virtuous and magnanimous nature and motherly kindness.
Even though Yu Zongzheng’s heart ached for Concubine He, he couldn’t help but think about many things.
Fourth Sister had always been taught by Concubine He herself. Now that Fourth Sister was so unruly, it was obvious that Concubine He had spoiled her.
As a concubine, he liked Concubine He very much.
However, it was still necessary for the matriarch and elders of the family to raise the children. Otherwise, if the child learned to act like a concubine, he would become a laughing stock.
In the capital, which young mistress from a concubine’s family did not have rules? Everyone would say, “In the end, she was raised by a concubine. She’s not presentable.”
Now that Concubine He had led Fourth Sister astray, it was also acceptable for the nanny from the Education Department to teach her some manners.
Just as Madam Yang had said, Fourth Miss did not even take her father’s words to heart. She would probably have to suffer a little.
After understanding all of this, Yu Zongzheng held Yang Shuwan’s hand. “It’s been hard on you to make plans for Fourth Sister. We’ll do as you say and find a day for Fourth Sister to move to Hanlu Residence.”
Yang Shuwan’s gaze flickered. “There was a problem with Fourth Miss’s upbringing. As for Concubine He, I…” She hesitated for a moment before saying carefully, “I deducted half a year’s worth of salary and reduced her allowance. Master, what do you think…”
Yu Zongzheng frowned. “I originally thought that although she was the daughter of a criminal, she was also well-mannered and sensible. That’s why I kept Fourth Sister by her side to be educated. I didn’t expect her to be so unruly and ill-mannered. This is her fault, so it’s only right that you punish her.”
Yang Shuwan heaved a sigh of relief and finally smiled.