Chapter 28: The Matter of the Family Tree

Nanny Deng looked worried.

Yueyao asked in confusion, "Nanny, what happened?"

The nanny said, "Miss, I've noticed that everyone is now calling him Young Master Zheng. Miss, this is not appropriate. According to seniority, everyone should call Young Master Zheng as Fourth Young Master." Calling him so indicates that Young Master Zheng has not yet been included in the family genealogy. Normally, not being included in the family genealogy is not a big deal, but this manner of addressing him clearly shows that someone is doing this on purpose. It lets everyone know that Young Master Tingzheng is not yet part of the Lian family.

After hearing this, Yueyao suddenly realized she had overlooked such an important matter. However, Yueyao quickly steadied her mind. Since she had brought Brother Zheng under her wing, Brother Zheng was bound to be included in the family genealogy. Moreover, Yueyao had decided to register Brother Zheng under her mother's name. This would not have been acceptable before, but now her father only had this single bloodline left, and no one had a reason to object. If it still did not work out, she would ask her uncle to intervene, "This is also my fault. I did not think of it at the moment. But do not worry, Nanny, when uncle comes to take me there, I will bring it up with him." As long as uncle agrees, the Eldest Uncle and Eldest Aunt would have no standing to object.

Nanny Deng was just reminding Yueyao. In case Brother Zheng was not included in the family genealogy, and they were plotting something harmful, both the young lady and the young master would be at a great disadvantage.

Yueyao saw Brother Zheng practicing his writing very seriously, which was very comforting. Over this period, Yueyao discovered something that was very reassuring. Once Brother Zheng remembered the characters, he mostly wouldn't forget them. Not only could he recite the Hundred Family Surnames he had learned, but he could also write them down from memory, although he also made a few mistakes.

That day Yueyao habitually went to the Upper Chamber to pay respects to the Old Madam and also recited some scriptural texts for the Old Madam. Before she finished, she heard that the Eldest Miss had arrived.

Yueyao put down the scriptures and stood up.

Yueying walked in, seeing Yueyao dressed in a white outfit embroidered with a few cold plum blossoms. She was elegantly ethereal.

Yueyao similarly looked at Yueying, who was dressed in a goose yellow outfit, beneath which was a similarly colored six-tiered skirt. She had styled her hair in a Fallen Horse Hairbun, adorned with a Treasure Flower Hairpin, wore a Beeswax Stone Bead Flower, and had a pair of Pearl Pendants dangling from her ears. Her rosy cheeks were full of youthful vigor. She, however, was calm and no longer possessed that liveliness.

The two of them performed their courtesies to each other.

The Old Madam saw the two standing together. Although Yueyao was not fully matured, standing beside Yueying, she was by no means inferior. In fact, she possessed an air of tranquility. The Old Madam did not know if this was good or bad, but this appearance was certainly better than spending all day cooped up in the temple copying scriptures.

Yueyao noticed the package that Cai Lan, following behind Yueying, was carrying. She knew that today Yueying was starting to move into Yisong Courtyard.

In her previous life, she had been very close to Yuebing and had a distant relationship with Yueying. They met rarely, and she only knew that Yueying often embroidered in her room. Now it seemed that the ladies of her family had intentionally not let her go out often, finding excuses. Now that Yueying's circumstances had changed from her previous life, she wondered if her fate would also change. If it could change, that would be good.

Yueyao thought that with Yueying keeping her grandmother company, the courtyard would surely be livelier than before. Her grandmother might feel more at ease and perhaps live a longer life.

On the way back to Lanxi Garden, Yueyao lightened her steps. She walked slowly along the blue stone path, even catching herself momentarily mesmerized by the blooming flowers in the nearby flower bed.

Once back in the garden, Yueyao summoned Nanny Deng and asked, "Is there anyone in the front courtyard who still genuinely serves my father loyally and can be of use?" As for those loyal to her mother, never mind. Her mother had never been in charge of the household since she married into the family. The people her mother used were all part of her dowry, but now these people were all at the manor. It was virtually impossible to bring them into the mansion to serve, so her hope rested with her father's side. Especially those family-born servants who had gone with her father to Jiangnan; they would be the best.

Nanny Deng nodded, "There are a few. Miss, I will probe their intentions." People's loyalty can change, who knows if they are still as loyal as before!

Yueyao instructed, "Make sure they are reliable; quality matters more than quantity. Observe them first, and only if they haven't sided with anyone else should you probe their intentions." They must be reliable and absolutely loyal. Otherwise, she preferred not to have any at all.

Nanny Deng nodded. However, this matter must be approached gradually, we cannot let anyone detect our motives. Otherwise, they might think we are up to something!

After pondering for a moment, Yueyao said, "Nanny, from now on, we need to be informed about everything that happens in the mansion." Yueyao meant that she wanted to be the first to know about any incidents occurring within the mansion. Money can make the devil turn the mill; as long as one is willing to spend, she believed there definitely would be people willing to bring them information.

Bribing these people was different from seeking loyal and reliable servants. It just took money. She had a deep understanding of this.

The young lady was also starting to scheme, Nanny knew it was a good thing. But Nanny Deng felt an indescribable discomfort in her heart. If the Old Master and Madam were here, there would be no need for the young lady to worry about these things!

Nanny Deng concealed her underlying sadness: "Miss, rest assured, I will handle it properly." Now that the Old Master and Madam were gone, both the external and inner courtyards were controlled by the Great Master and Eldest Madam. She, a mere maid, could not place people in both parts of the mansion. However, using money to bribe a few people to gather information was not a problem.

Yueyao thought for a while and then asked, "Nanny, I want to teach Hua Lei, Qiao Lan, Mu Qiu, and Dong Qing how to read. Once they can recognize words, they can help me with the account books. I plan to manage my mother's dowry myself, and having them literate would also be helpful." She planned to reclaim and manage her mother's dowry herself when her grandmother passed away. This could involve appealing to her uncle, so there wasn't much to worry about.

Nanny Deng's eyes grew sore again, "Miss, rest assured, I've watched Qiao Lan and she is not bad. You're willing to teach them literacy, which is their good fortune. Since we have their servitude contracts, if they dare harbor any ill intentions, we can simply sell them off. She must understand that being a maid in the mansion is far more comfortable than any other place." In ancient times, servants did not learn to read or write unless granted by their masters as a favor.

Yueyao then asked how Nanny Hao was doing. Nanny Deng couldn't see any obvious signs yet: "She is fine for now. But further observation is needed." By further observation, she meant experiencing actual events. Without experiencing events, one's true character cannot be discerned.

Nanny Deng disapproved of Yueyao's current plan to teach the four maids how to read: "Miss, let's discuss this matter later. You should not overexert yourself anymore." Every day was already so exhausting, how could there still be time to tutor them? Nanny Deng was firmly opposed.

Yueyao had no choice but to let it go.

Yuehuan returned to Hibiscus Garden, and immediately started worrying. During this period, her biological mother, Maternal Aunt Su, had taught her everything she could.

Yuehuan now had a clear understanding of her own situation. Her birth mother survived by depending on the Madam, because her mother's servitude contract was still in the hands of the Madam. Their future was also tightly controlled by the Madam. Hence, whatever the Madam said, the Maternal Auntie would have to do. This was why Maternal Aunt Su repeatedly instructed Yuehuan to ingratiate herself with the legitimate daughter, Yuebing. Even if she were to lose her memory, this was something she had to remember.

Thinking of the pampered Yuebing made Yuehuan reluctantly smile. Though she knew how to please others, and Yuebing was just a child and not hard to please, the powerless inequality was something Yuehuan found difficult to accept.

Maternal Aunt Su knew it was definitely going to make her daughter suffer. She said with some sorrow, "Fourth Miss, your auntie knows this is difficult for you. But if you have to blame someone, blame the fact that you settled in your auntie's womb. If you had settled in the Madam's womb, you wouldn't have to struggle so hard."

Yuehuan was now fed up with hearing about children born out of wedlock. She knew she was born out of wedlock. But it wasn't necessary to constantly remind her—how annoying! But she couldn't lose her temper; after all, her biological mother, although a bit too timid, treated her very well. She had taken care of her when she was sick. However, this excessive submission and timidity left her unsure of what to say. Oh, this damned society, why did it have to bring her here?

Yuehuan knew she could pretend to have amnesia, but there were many things she shouldn't overdo. So for now, whatever Maternal Aunt Su said, she would try to comply. If she really couldn't comply, she would pretend to be foolish. Compared to pleasing Yuebing, Yuehuan was more interested in Third Young Lady Yueyao. Thinking about Yueyao's behavior today, Yuehuan was planning to find a time to visit the Third Young Lady. To test her, she always felt this young lady was not simple.

Yueyao was in the study practicing writing with Brother Zheng. Qiao Lan came in and reported that Eldest Miss and the others had come to visit Brother Zheng.

Yueyao looked perplexed. Brother Zheng had been living at her place for over a month now. If they wanted to visit, they should have come earlier. Why come now? What was really being sold in this gourd? Regardless, since they claimed to be visiting Brother Zheng, naturally she had to take Brother Zheng to meet them.