Chapter 8: Sisters_2
Hua Lei looked at Yueyao with surprise and delight. She had hinted at her so many times, both overtly and covertly, yet the young lady had always been skeptical. She never expected that now the young lady had finally come around.
After the evening meal, Yueyao continued to copy the scriptures. To avoid suspicion, she had to carry on as usual. Change needed to be subtle and gradual, one step at a time.
When Yueyao came out again, it was already quite late. She said to Hua Lei by her side, "I want to take a walk." With that, Yueyao slowly strolled through her own Lanxi Garden.
The night was cool as water, with a bright moon hanging high in the sky. A filmy veil of clouds surrounded it, appearing and disappearing, the clear moonlight flowing softly through the courtyard like water ripples.
The secluded Lanxi Courtyard was an independent complex within Lian Mansion, built by Great Grandfather Lian Cheng for his retirement, so its location was quite remote, chosen for peace and quiet.
The yard was divided into a front and rear courtyard, with three main rooms in the front flanked by wing rooms, and connected ear rooms. The back courtyard consisted of three main rooms accompanied by two enclosed arms. The so-called enclosed arms were like two small ears extending from the three main rooms, formed by two intersecting Nine-Ridge Hall "T" shapes, with the inserted part called the enclosed arms. These arms were warm in winter and cool in summer, most suitable for female occupants. Yueyao was currently residing in the enclosed arms of the back courtyard.
Gazing at this courtyard, Yueyao murmured, "Fifteen years." She had been hastily sold at fifteen and until she was thirty. Out of those fifteen years, ten were lost to amnesia, the other five like stepping into hell. Now, she had returned to a place that had only existed in her dreams.
Yueyao stood alone under the moon, silently shedding tears for the hellish five years she had endured.
Hua Lei thought Yueyao was again mourning Old Master and Madam, and hurriedly consoled her, "Miss, don't be sad anymore. If Old Master and Madam saw you like this, they would be very distressed. Miss, you must take good care of yourself."
Yueyao wiped her tears.
Seeing Yueyao's emotions had stabilized, Hua Lei spoke in a low voice, "Miss, I have something to say, but I'm not sure if it's my place."
Yueyao looked up, her expression tranquil, "From now on, just speak your mind; there's no need to hem and haw. Whether I listen or not is up to me."
Encouraged, Hua Lei said, "Miss, I'm overstepping my bounds. Staying in Lanxi Courtyard, you are constantly reminded of your late parents, which is not good for you. When you visit Old Madam with a heavy heart, it also makes her sad, which is harmful to her health and also affects your reputation." Hua Lei almost added that it would be best not to live in Lanxi Courtyard at all.
Yueyao was somewhat surprised; Hua Lei was indeed astute to have thought of this. Lady Mo's scheming was heartlessly cunning. Just as Hua Lei said, by having her live in Lanxi Courtyard, constantly surrounded by reminders of her deceased parents, she was perpetually dwelling on the loss. Bringing sadness to visit her grandmother would also trigger her grandmother's grief. With the grandmother's health already fragile, how could it improve amidst constant sorrow? Once the grandmother was gone, the only person who could suppress Lady Mo would no longer be there. By then, wouldn't the Lian family be entirely under Lady Mo's dominion? Lady Mo's machinations were indeed profound.
Such a deep-minded person, truly difficult to deal with!
The next day, Yueyao got up early as usual to pay respects to the Old Madam in the Upper Chamber. In her past life, she had been engrossed in copying scriptures, but in this life, she would start making changes from here.
When Yueyao arrived at the Upper Chamber, she saw several of her female cousins. The Eldest Miss Lian Yueying, the Second Young Lady Lian Yuebing, and the Fourth Miss Lian Yuehuan.
Lian Yueying was dressed in a water-blue cross-collared blouse paired with a blue and white hundred-pleated skirt. Lian Yueying was only twelve years old now. Yueying had completely inherited her biological mother, Maternal Aunt Chen's beauty, radiant as springtime, clear as the autumn moon, her figure was like a sprouting orchid, tall and slender, gently swaying in the wind.
Maternal Aunt Chen had once been the Old Madam's personal maid. Because Lady Mo's firstborn was a son, the Old Madam allowed the concubine's medicine to be stopped. Blessed with good fortune, Maternal Aunt Chen gave birth to the Eldest Miss Yueying in the second year after discontinuing the medication, and Lian Tingchao four years later. Later, Maternal Aunt Chen passed away from a miscarriage after the grandmother died.
Yueyao remembered that her eldest cousin's marriage had been arranged while her great grandmother was still alive. However, the groom passed away before the wedding took place. The bridegroom's family demanded that the eldest cousin marry into their family to mourn their son for a lifetime. To preserve the reputation of the Lian family, her uncle and Lady Mo allowed the eldest cousin to marry into that family. After marrying, Yueying lived her life confined to a memorial arch and never returned. Chen's child, Tingchao, died young in an accident.
Lian Yuebing was born to Lady Mo and was the only legitimate daughter of the main branch. Yuebing was a year older than she was, nine years old this year. She was wearing a gold-threaded begonia flower patterned long jacket with a goose-yellow hundred-pleated skirt. Her face was shaped like a melon seed, her eyebrows were long and her skin was fair and tender. She inherited all the good qualities of Lian Dongfang and Madam Mo. She was destined to be a great beauty when she grew up.
Considering what had happened in her previous life, Lian Yuebing hadn't treated her badly, but it was hard to say she had treated her well. Yueyao clenched her fists and told herself that the past was all smoke and clouds. What mattered most was to grasp the present.
Lian Yuehuan, the third daughter of the main branch, ranked fourth. She was also eight years old this year, three months younger than Yueyao. Her mother was Maternal Aunt Su, who was Lady Mo's personal maid. Maternal Aunt Su was very beautiful, otherwise she wouldn't have been chosen by Lady Mo. Yueyao inherited Maternal Aunt Su's appearance.
Yuehuan was wearing a green shirt today, quiet and seemingly timid. However, in her past life, this very Yuehuan had married into the wealthiest merchant family in Jiangnan. Yuehuan was the legal wife and the lady of the household, while she had been sold to the merchant to become a concubine. It was said that Yuehuan lived a very comfortable life in the Qian Family. Hence, what one sees may not always be the truth. Timidity was merely Yuehuan's camouflage.
Yueyao, reflecting on the past, suddenly found it amusing. Marrying into the Marquis' household at best meant trying to cling to the powerful. Yet, a family of scholarly repute ended up making marriage connections with a merchant family. The idea of intermarrying with a merchant family, bound by their offspring, made them seem lesser by many degrees.
Yueyao, thinking of the Lian family's marriage alliances, had a moment of clarity. Even without her, the Lian family wouldn't last much longer. They'd lost the proud spirit of a scholarly family, and with rotten foundations, decline was inevitable. With this thought, the guilt in Yueyao's heart also dissipated.
Yueyao looked at the three women, three fates, all manipulated by Lady Mo. To avoid being used by Lady Mo again, she had to seek external help. As long as the support was strong enough to deter Lady Mo, she couldn't manipulate her anymore. Not to mention sell her to someone as a concubine.