Chapter 36: Re-Alliance

  The Yao family has such a large estate, if they say they don't have any thoughts about it in their hearts, that's false. Especially since Old Master Yao only has one son, Yao Shizan, who is weak and sickly, no one knows when he'll pass away. In other words, as long as Yao Shizan is gone, won't the entire Yao family estate belong to Yao Shili?

  The Mao family's eyes are fixed on the family business, and they have actually ignored Old Master Yao's temper! With Old Master Yao's personality, how could he make clothes for others? If Yao Shizan were still around, it would be fine, but if he weren't, it would be absolutely impossible to let him pass on all his property to Yao Shili! Adopting a child from another branch of the family, that might be possible!

  If it were a child of the clan who was adopted, he would inevitably be controlled by the Ma family and would not have any freedom. On the other hand, with Yao Shizan having two sisters to counterbalance the Ma family's influence, and also having her maternal grandparents' support when needed, the Ma family would also have to be more cautious in their actions. This way, it would also be beneficial for Yao Shili. Moreover, who knows if Madam Ma is really pregnant? Otherwise, why would Yao Cunhui say such a thing? If Madam Ma were to give birth to her own child, having Yao Shizan around to attract attention would also be beneficial for her own child!

  Mao's palm tightened, and she immediately made a decision to change her previous inaction and protect Yao Shizan. At least for now, Yao Shizan's existence was beneficial and harmless to her.

  The decision was made, and Mao smiled: "This kind of talk about adoption can't be said casually! Zan is so smart, after the disaster, he will definitely have a long and prosperous life, a lifetime of peace, and in the future, he will definitely be able to support the Yao family's business, where does he need to adopt?"

  Yao Cunhui nodded and smiled: "Still, Auntie's insight is good! What you said is also true, our Yao family has Zan'er and Li'er, in the future they will definitely be able to hold up the whole family! Zan'er usually keeps a low profile too, if there's nothing wrong with Li'er, Auntie should let him go to Fenghu Pavilion to play, so that the two brothers can get closer!"

  Before Mao Shi could respond, Yao Cun Hui jokingly said: "Second Aunt can rest assured, I will take good care of them and won't let them fight! Even if they do make a fuss, Zan is the older brother, he should give in to his younger brother!"

  "You, that's good, they should be closer as brothers!" Mrs. Mao was shocked and widened her eyes in disbelief. She didn't expect that after such a serious accident, Old Master Yao would still entrust Yao Shizan to Yao Cunhui's care!

  It's absolutely impossible according to Old Master Yao's temperament! If it weren't for Yao Cunhui saying it herself, the Mao family would never have believed it.

  It seems that Yao Cunhui holds a special position in Old Man Yao's heart!

  Mao Shi hastily smiled and agreed, secretly feeling ashamed. Giving up on Yao Cun Hui earlier was a huge mistake! As long as he supported Yao Cun Hui, wouldn't he be able to see Ma Shi being punished?

  Unconsciously, Mao had already abandoned the idea of pinning Yao Cunhui down as a pawn or tool, and unconsciously began to treat her as a cooperative partner.

  In the afternoon, Yao Cunhui went to Mingfeng Xuan. Yao Shizan saw his second sister and was very happy, holding her arm and leaning on her, saying that he would not let go. Yao Cunhui felt both sour and joyful in his heart, and accompanied him for a long time before leaving Mingfeng Xuan.

  Yao Cun Jia let out a sigh of relief and handed over the affairs of Ming Feng Xuan to Yao Cun Hui. In front of the maids, the two sisters did not dare to say anything too straightforward or private, but they could understand each other's implicit meaning.

  In just two days, Yao Cunhui heard that the government had invited craftsmen to rush and renovate a courtyard called Feiyouju next to Mr. Yao's study, and Yao Cunhui knew it was for Yao Shizan.

  Indeed, Old Master Yao soon summoned Yao Cunhui to instruct him, saying that the young servants and martial arts instructors were not allowed to live inside the second gate, so they would prepare a place outside the second gate for them to reside. During the day, he had Yao Shizan go to the Feiyu Residence to practice martial arts for one or two hours before returning to the Mingfeng Pavilion to rest. As for the two young servants who were selected, they were allowed to accompany Yao Shizan during the day but were not permitted to move about on their own; at night, they had to return to the Feiyu Residence.

  Yao Cun Hui Xin Ling Shen Hui, indicating that he will definitely take good care of himself.

  Mr. Yao nodded in satisfaction and called over the eight young servants he had selected himself, letting Yao Cunhui help choose two more.

  Yao Cunhui glanced over, and the eight people were all dressed in blue and brown, with their hair tied back in a queue, all wearing the same attire, standing in a row with their hands hanging down and their heads slightly bowed, each one silent and still, looking very proper. They looked to be no more than eleven or twelve years old at most, and no younger than eight or nine, roughly the same age as Yao Shizan.

  "Dad, since we've chosen to be with Zaner, why don't you listen to his opinion as well?" Yao Cun Hui said with a smile.

  Yao Cunhui did not expect that Old Master Yao's suspicion of Madam Ma had already become so heavy, even selecting a young servant required his personal inspection, and instead of asking Madam Ma, he asked himself to propose it. If this were in the past, such matters would have been handled by Madam Ma, and she would have just mentioned it to him afterwards.

  "What you said is also right, it's better to satisfy Zan'er's heart!" Old Master Yao nodded and ordered someone to bring Yaoshizan.

  Yao Cun Hui smiled and said, "Although we want to follow Zan Er's heart, but after all, Zan Er is still young and doesn't know how to distinguish people or recognize them. He still needs his father's guidance and pointing him in the right direction!"

  Old Master Yao was even more pleased after hearing this, stroking his whiskers and nodding at Yao Cunhui with a gentle "hmm" and a smile.

  "Dad! Second sister!" No wonder Old Master Yao doted on his son, Yao Shizan was especially affectionate and worshipful towards him. As soon as he saw him from afar, he would open up his two little legs and rush towards Old Master Yao, with a big smile on his face, and pounce into Old Master Yao's arms. It delighted Old Master Yao so much that his whole face lit up, and he immediately picked him up in one hug!

  It's said that he had to choose his own playmates, and Old Master Yao pointed at this group of servants and asked him who was good. Yao Shizan put one arm around his father's neck and the other grasped his father's lapel, blinking his big black eyes as he tilted his little head towards Old Master Yao and said: "I'll listen to Father, I want Father to choose for me! Choose someone clever and capable who can play with me!"

  He expressed his own opinions without appearing to be without a mind of his own, and at the same time showed respect and trust towards his father. Old Master Yao was overjoyed after hearing this, and the smile on his face never faded. He teased Yao Shi Zan for a while, saying that he had chosen two people, one named Xiao Jue and the other named Xiao Song. Xiao Jue was 9 years old, and Xiao Song was 11 years old. Both of them were elegant in appearance and demeanor, with Xiao Jue appearing more intelligent and clever, while Xiao Song looked more stable and meticulous.

  Mr. Yao ordered Old Hong to keep Xia Jiu and Xiao Song behind for training, and then ordered Yao Cunhui to lead Yao Shizan back first.

  On the way, they ran into Yao Cunmei and Ma Qunfang. Yao Cunhui obviously felt Yao Shizan's small body stiffen slightly.

  Yao Cunmei didn't have a good impression of this half-brother either. They stopped to exchange greetings and then went their separate ways.

  Yao Cunhui subconsciously looked towards Yao Shizan, and Yao Shizan also happened to be staring at her with his shiny black eyes.

  "Second sister, I don't like third sister, nor do I like cousin. I know that day under the artificial hill, it was cousin who shouted loudly to scare us off -" Yao Shizan's voice was soft, but her tone was unmistakably affirmative.

  "Good boy!" Yao Cunhui's face turned pale, and with both hands grasping his small shoulders, he leaned forward and asked: "Have you told anyone?"

  Yao Shizan shook his head as he looked at her: "Big sister said it can't be said, not even to Father, only to Second Sister."

  "Alright, alright!" Yao Cunhui's wildly racing heart gradually calmed down, and his palms were surprisingly covered in a layer of cold sweat.

  "Good girl, listen to your elder sisters' words. This matter should be kept in mind and not told to anyone, do you understand?" Yao Cunhui's breathing was a bit disordered, her eyes gleaming brightly.

  "Uh-huh!" Yao Shi's childish face was full of seriousness, nodding vigorously: "I know, big sister and second sister are good to me." After thinking for a moment, he added another sentence: "When I grow up, I will definitely protect big sister and second sister well."

  Yao Shizan had been ill for many years, and he rarely came into contact with people in his daily life. His thoughts were also simpler than those of his peers, like a blank sheet of paper. But precisely because of this, his feelings were all genuine and heartfelt, perceived with sincerity.

  After going through a thrilling and dangerous life-or-death experience, he looked back on the attitudes of Old Master Yao, Madam Ma, Yao Cun Jia, and Yao Cun Hui towards him with a detached eye. In his small heart, some consciousness that even he himself might not be aware of had been stored. Who was good to him? Who was bad to him? Who was sincere, and who was pretending? He suddenly had a feeling about it all.

  Fortunately, during this period, the one who accompanied him was Yao Cunjia, a woman with delicate thoughts and warm feelings, clever and wise. With her guidance and comfort, Yao Shizan's mind did not become disordered.

  Yao Cunhui pursed her lips and smiled slightly at Yao Shizan, raising her hand to gently stroke his head.

  "So, Zan'er must grow up safely and soundly!" Yao Cunhui smiled, and a surge of turbulent emotions suddenly welled up in her heart.

  Half a month later, the decoration of the house was completed, and Old Master Yao had someone select an auspicious day, only waiting for eight days to let Yao Shizan move in.

  At the same time, a person named Wu Jin was also hired to protect and teach Yao Shanzan martial arts. He was originally a guard of the Imperial Forest Army.

  Upon hearing Wu Jin's name, Yao Cun Hui's mouth corners slightly curled up with a hint of a smile, and her heart felt slightly more at ease.

  It turned out just as she had planned.

  Wu Jin, in her memory, this person was the trusted guard of her husband Zhao Jiyuan in her previous life, a man with great abilities and a kind heart, who also showed great respect to her, which is why she remembered him. Zhao Jiyuan was really lucky to have found such a treasure.

  According to Zhao Jiyuan, Wu Jin was originally a guard in the Imperial Guard. Due to lack of money and being straightforward by nature, not good at flattering, he was never successful. Later, he was even framed as a scapegoat and expelled from the Imperial Guard, assigned to guard the city gate. Wu Jin angrily resigned and returned home to find another way out. Later, coincidentally, he met Zhao Jiyuan, but for some reason, he followed Zhao Jiyuan devotedly, although his original memory was not very clear. What was clear was that Zhao Jiyuan trusted Wu Jin very much, and Wu Jin was indeed a trustworthy person.

  Yao Cun Hui sighed secretly in her heart, thinking that the days before were really none of her business and she didn't care. The memories left to her were almost all ambiguous and too challenging!

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