Chapter 49: Paying Respects (7)

  "Sister, don't be annoyed," Yao Cunhui sighed softly, her clear and bright eyes gently fixed on Ma Qunfang, holding her hand sincerely and warmly said: "Sister, I didn't mean to, I'm just a little angry in my heart! We're sisters, why are you so distant from me? You won't even tell me about such a small thing."

  Ma Qunfang's heart was greatly shocked, and she stared at Yao Cunhui in surprise. Her mind was filled with a thousand thoughts as she thought to herself: "She actually said that! How could she have expected it? She actually said that!"

  Ma Qunfang's heart suddenly felt a warmth, and she couldn't help but feel two parts sorrow. She turned her hand over and grasped Yao Cunhui's hand, bitterly smiling: "I'm just a humble guest in someone else's home, how dare I lightly ask for anything? And unlike you, who is the young mistress of the Yao family!"

  Listening to Ma Qunfang's tone, full of admiration and envy, Yao Cunhui sneered in her heart. It turned out that she actually envied herself for being the young lady of the Yao family! How rare!

  She seems to have forgotten how she used to bully and mock her, the young lady of the Yao family, together with Yao Cunmei. Stepping on her fingers, pulling her hair, forcing her to ride on her back, these were all common occurrences, and they had scared the original Yao Cunhui so much that she would hide whenever she saw someone, cowering in fear, refusing to leave her room! And then there was Yao Shizan, who almost fell to his death from the fake mountain because of her loud scream! She has the nerve to complain to her now!

  "Big sister, your words are too harsh! How can you say that about living under someone's roof? Third sister is very close to you, even closer than I am as her own sister!" Yao Cun Hui smiled slightly.

  Ma Qunfang was taken aback, feeling a bit embarrassed, and lowered her head with a awkward smile: "Third sister is indeed good, but she's still a child at heart. I'm just teasing her for fun, how could I possibly share my inner thoughts with her? Even if I did, she wouldn't understand! Second sister, you're the one who's truly intelligent and beautiful."

  Ma Qunfang's heart was slightly anxious, fearing that Yao Cunhui would bring up old debts to settle with herself. But thinking carefully, she also had her own difficulties! Although her grandfather was a fourth-rank official, she was the daughter of a concubine and her mother had already passed away, making her an orphan girl. With great difficulty, she had managed to curry favor with Yao Cunmei and follow her to live in the Yao household. What else could she do but try her best to flatter Yao Cunmei and the Madam? If Yao Cunmei wanted to bully Yao Cunhui, how could she say no?

  Ma Qunfang thought so, and her heart felt more at ease: the culprit was not her, what was she guilty of!

  Yao Cunhui listened to her implicit and explicit excuses, and was even more disdainful in his heart.

  One's own misfortune cannot be used as an excuse to harm others, and being in a difficult situation does not necessarily mean following the crowd. This is what sets her apart from Ma Qunfang!

  Ma Qunfang saw Yao Cunhui with a reserved smile, without mentioning anything from the past, feeling relieved. Suddenly opening up, her wish was fulfilled, and she became cheerful, radiant and enthusiastic, chatting and laughing with Yao Cunhui.

  "What's going on with Second Sister and Cousin? It's so lively, I could hear the laughter from far away!" Yao Cunmei walked in with a sarcastic tone, her face full of discontent. Her gaze swept over Yao Cunhui and Ma Qunfang, as if she had caught them red-handed.

  "Beautiful!" Ma Qunfang's face stiffened and she hastily stood up with a forced smile.

  Yao Cunhui didn't get up, but instead smiled leisurely and said: "Just a casual chat, Third Sister, please sit down!"

  Where was Yao Cunmei waiting for her to greet? Zao Qing hummed a soft tune and sat down, seemingly smiling but not quite: "So it's just idle chatter, I didn't know when did my sisters have so much free time to chat? Your eloquence is getting better and better, you can chat with anyone!"

  "Third sister is free," Yao Cunhui smiled and said: "Third sister has nothing to do, just come to Er Jie's place, we sisters can also get closer! Oh right, I should go to Fei You Ju to see Zan'er, do third sister and cousin want to come together?"

  Yao Cun's face turned even colder: "Then Second Sister can go and attend to her business, I won't disturb Second Sister anymore. If Zan'er's matters are delayed, who can bear the responsibility?"

  Mr. Yao handed over the care of Yao Shi Zan to Yao Cun Hui, and even Madam Ma was not allowed to interfere easily. Yao Cun Mei had long been resentful about this, and hearing Yao Cun Hui's words, she seemed to be showing off. How could she possibly agree to go with her?

  He didn't wait for Ma Qunfang and got up and left.

  Ma Qunfang's eyes flashed with a hint of panic, and she hastily got up to bid farewell to Yao Cunhui with a smile, quickly following him out. After all, Yao Cunmei was still her benefactor, if she couldn't coax her well, her good days would come to an end!

  The days passed one by one, and the next day was the birthday of Yun Lao Tai Jun.

  That evening, Old Master Yao made a rare visit to both Yaofangyuan and Luomeiyuan, giving his two daughters some earnest instructions. He told them to dress properly, not to be rude, and to get along well with Old Madame, Uncle, and cousins, etc. Both Yaoshu Jia and Yaoshu Hui promised to obey, and Old Master Yao left in great satisfaction.

  In the evening under the lamp, Mrs. Rong personally carefully arranged and checked the clothes and jewelry that Yaocun Hui would wear the next morning, and locked them in the cabinet herself. She also instructed Hongzhi and Honglian to remember to get up early the next morning to heat water in the kitchen for the second young lady's bath and face washing.

  Unexpectedly, Yao Cunmei and Ma Qunfang came together in an alliance.

  Mother Kong couldn't help but frown: tomorrow they all had to get up early, why were they not resting well in their own rooms and running around at this hour?

  Unwillingly they came, but still they had to be welcomed in.

  "Will Second Sister mind us disturbing her?" Yao Cunmei asked with a smile, sitting down in the most comfortable position without any politeness.

  "What's going on!" Yao Cunhui laughed and said: "It's so late, we still have to get up early tomorrow. What brings Sanmei and her cousin here at this time?"

  "It's precisely because of tomorrow that I'm feeling a bit anxious, yet excited, and couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come over and chat with Second Sister!" Yao Cunmei blinked her long, butterfly-like eyelashes, her eyes sparkling brightly, her face full of excitement.

  Yao Cunhui smiled and hadn't replied yet, when Yao Cunmei chimed in: "This year's birthday banquet for our great-grandmother is a grand celebration, definitely more lively than previous years. In the past, the Crown Prince would only send someone to deliver gifts, but I heard that this year, the Crown Prince himself will be attending..."

  Yao Cunmei was talking incessantly, boasting about the lively scene at the Yun's house last year, and implying how much care and concern people like Old Lady Yun and Madame Yun had for her, occasionally raising an eyebrow to glance at Yao Cunhui.

  What did Yao Cunhui say that made her surrender so easily? She just smiled and nodded along, occasionally asking a few questions.

  Yao Cunhui was actually very puzzled, okay, her own mother is also considered Yao Cunmei's "mother", and her own paternal grandmother is also considered her "paternal grandmother", but it seems that she doesn't need to be so affectionate? Yun Lao Taikun doesn't care about her own grandchildren, but instead cares about the daughter of the person who took her daughter's place, that's really absurd!

  The tea was refilled twice, but Yao Cunmei showed no intention of leaving.

  Rong's mother was a nanny, considered half an elder, and at this time she couldn't help but speak up, smiling subtly to remind them that it was getting late and the young ladies should all be resting.

  Yao Cunmei had just finished speaking, but then shouted that she was a little hungry, and ordered Xiurong to go to the kitchen to bring out the midnight snack for everyone to eat together, and after eating, they would go back to rest.

  Yao Cunhui couldn't outdo her, so he let Hong Lian accompany Xiurong instead.

  Before long, Xiu Rong and Hong Lian brought back a steaming hot red date silver ear lotus seed porridge. They used clean blue and white small ceramic bowls to scoop out a bowl for each of the three women.

  After three people used it, Yao Cunmei and Ma Qunfang said goodbye.

  On the second day, early in the morning, after packing up, everyone gathered at the front yard and then went out together.

  Yao Shizan has already been taken away by Old Master Yao himself. When Yao Cunhui and Yao Cunjia arrived, they found that the atmosphere in the main courtyard was somewhat strange. Madam Ma was not there, and Old Master Yao's face was slightly gloomy. The two sisters looked at each other in dismay.

  "Father, it's almost time, but why hasn't mother arrived yet? And what about Third Sister and Cousin Sister? Why haven't they been seen?" Yao Cun Jia asked in puzzlement.

  "It's not you, Third Sister. She ate something bad last night and is now lying in bed unable to get up!" Old Master Yao furrowed his brow and ordered the servant: "Go invite Madame to hurry up, don't delay our departure time!"

  "Uh..." Yao Cun Jia hesitated for a moment, cleverly shutting her mouth, and Yao Cun Hui also fell silent.

  It seems that last night's midnight snack was indeed problematic. She said she came for no reason, just to show off and boast about what she had to say, but it turned out that drugging was the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, this time she was disappointed, harming herself instead of others! If anyone is to blame, it's because she still thought of herself as Yao Cunhui from back then.

  Only someone as brainless as her would do something like this, it's definitely not the work of Madam Ma. It's too obvious and will only invite unnecessary gossip.

  Yun's family already knew about the situation with her sisters and Zaner, even if she had diarrhea today and couldn't attend the birthday celebration. As long as Old Lady Yun gave the word, whenever she wanted to go, she could go, and Madam Ma wouldn't be able to stop her every time! She wouldn't be able to stop her! And if something unexpected happened at this time, how would Old Lady Yun look at Madam Ma? How would she look at Master Yao? Even if Madam Ma was unwilling in her heart, she wouldn't lose her mind and do something useless and harmful. Only Yao Cunmei, who had been blinded by jealousy, would come up with such a despicable plan!

  Before long, Madam Ma came in, dressed elegantly and luxuriously, but her complexion was not good. Her face, which was made up meticulously, had an angry look on it. As soon as she entered, she questioned Yao Cunhui bluntly: "I heard that Mei'er used the midnight snack at your place last night?"

  "What's going on?" Old Master Yao's gaze sharpened and also fixed on Yao Cun Hui.

  Yao Cunhui's expression changed slightly, and he quickly stood up and nodded: "Yes, last night Sanmei and my cousin said they couldn't sleep, so they came to talk to me. Later, Sanmei said she was hungry, so I ordered someone to bring some midnight snacks from the small kitchen. The three of us ate them, and there was no problem!"

  Yao Cunhui spoke clearly and concisely, telling the truth of the matter in just a few words. When she finished speaking, she looked towards Ma Qunfang.