Chapter 50: Paying Respects (8)

  Speaking of which, I should thank Ma Qunfang last night. If she hadn't helped divert Yao Cunmei's attention, it wouldn't have been so easy to swap the bowls.

  Ma Qunfang saw that Old Master Yao was also looking at her, so she nodded and said carefully: "The thing last night was just as my second sister said."

  "You're the elder sister, Mei Er is the younger sister, what are you still eating midnight snacks for? Can't you advise her? I think you have ulterior motives! Don't you ever think about who has been taking care of your sisterly duties in front of Old Lady Yun all these years?"

  Ma was still indignant and continued to scold.

  Yao Cunhui's lips moved slightly, a look of grievance flashed across her face, and she hung her head, not daring to speak.

  She could only say that she had really gained a lot of experience and insight, and it turned out that people could be shameless to this extent!

  "Enough!" Old Master Yao saw that Yao Cunhui looked disheartened and worried that if they arrived at the Yun's house in a bad mood, it would be hard to explain things to Old Lady Yun and the others. He also deeply resented Yao Cunmei for causing trouble at an inopportune time. So he glared at Ma Shi and growled: "Three Miss's poor health is her own business, don't go spouting nonsense here! In my opinion, those sisters usually get along well, it's you who's always stirring up trouble between them! Don't say anything else, let's hurry up and leave. Our Yao family and the Yun family are relatives, the sooner we arrive, the better, or we'll fall behind others!"

  As she spoke, she gently patted Yao Cunhui's shoulder and comforted her warmly: "Your mother was also in a hurry and didn't choose her words carefully. Good child, you're not allowed to hold it against your mother! Today is your grandmother's good day, be happy, do you understand?"

  "Daughter understands, Father!" Yao Cunhui raised her head and smiled at Old Master Yao with a warm tone. The only thing that could make her father care was whether she could win over her grandmother's favor and bring benefits to the Yao family!

  "Alright, alright, Father knows that Hui'er is the most sensible one!" Old Master Yao laughed with relief: "Okay, let's go, let's go!"

  Ma was stunned, in the blind spot of Mr. Yao's line of sight, she shot a resentful glance at Yao Cunhui, and without saying a word, followed him out the door, her heart also secretly scolding Yao Cunmei for being too nosy!

  Early in the morning, she heard that Yao Cunmei had diarrhea all night and was too weak to get out of bed. She guessed it was three or two points.

  He went to Qiong Lin Garden and heard Yao Cunmei admit it in person, which made him even angrier.

  Yun Jin had just been to the Yao's house, and due to Mao Shi's meddling, it was clear that he was no longer satisfied with himself. If Yao Cun Hui were to have an accident and couldn't attend the birthday banquet at the last minute, wouldn't this be tantamount to telling the Yun family that he had done it himself?

  Not to mention that Yao Cunmei harmed others and herself, and couldn't attend. Even if she really calculated Yao Cunhui, she wouldn't be able to bring her today, only leaving her in the mansion to cover up the fact that Yao Cunhui was drugged. This daughter is really blinded by jealousy, getting more and more unbearable!

  After passing through half of the city, about an hour and a half later, the horse carriage finally turned into the alley of Huguo Temple. The sound of drums and music could be heard from afar, and the people coming and going in the alley gradually increased.

  The Yun family was located at the north end of Huguo Temple Hutong, occupying almost half of the street. The houses behind the hutong were also mostly homes of Yun family members and their relatives.

  Outside the grand mansion gate, long awnings were set up on both sides of the empty space, hanging colorful ribbons, bustling with people coming and going, the several major stewards of Yunfu led a group of prominent slaves busy singing and welcoming guests, politely chatting and laughing, the sound of laughter never-ending.

  When Mr. Yao and his family arrived, the butler had obviously received instructions from the old lady and master beforehand, loudly ordering the servants to report their arrival while he himself went forward with a smile, personally escorting the Yaos inside.

  Because many of Yun's relatives and friends were from out of town, yesterday was the day before the birthday, also known as "Warm Longevity", many people came even a day earlier, at this time the house was already very lively, many ladies, young ladies and daughters-in-law were chatting with Old Lady Yun.

  Yun Lao Tai Jun heard that her long-unseen granddaughter and grandson had arrived, she didn't wait for anyone to support her, hurriedly got up and wanted to personally go out to welcome them, repeatedly calling "Quickly! Please come in!"

  "Grandma, slow down! The cousins will be here soon!" Cloud Second Miss Yun Zhi hurried to support her, while Pearl, Coral, Amber, and Linglong, several senior maids, as well as many female relatives and younger maids all chimed in agreement, advising her. But Old Lady Yun refused to listen, so everyone had to work together to support and escort her out.

  Yao Cun Jia, Yao Cun Hui and Yao Shi Zan saw a large group of glamorous women with flowers in their hair, surrounding an old lady with silver hair and wearing a dark green silk brocade jacket and skirt, coming out from the courtyard. They knew this must be their grandmother, so they quickened their pace to catch up.

  "Grandma!" Yao Cun Jia held hands with Yao Shi Zan, Yao Cun Hui stood on the other side of Yao Shi Zan. The three siblings stepped up onto the platform and came before Yun Lao Tai Jun, then knelt down.

  "Get up, get up quickly! Good children, good children!" Cloud Granny looked at her three grandchildren in front of her, who had been worried day and night, and her nose turned sour. She couldn't help but choke with sobs, and hastily stretched out her hands to support them, not knowing which one to support first.

  "My poor child..." Old Lady Yun hugged Yao Shizan in her arms, suddenly thinking of her daughter, and burst into tears.

  Yao Shizan last saw Cloud Granny when he was five or six years old. Although he was young and his memory was vague, he knew that the old lady in front of him was his paternal grandmother. The kind of kinship connection would not change. When his grandmother cried, Yao Shizan, being young, couldn't help but also burst into tears in her arms. Yao Cun Jia and Yao Cun Hui also couldn't help but have moist eyes and a sour heart. All the female relatives and maids saw this and had faces that revealed their inability to bear it, accompanying the sad and soft voices of persuasion, for a time, no one could persuade them to stop.

  Dujia stood there, unsure of what expression to make, her eyes secretly glancing at the crowd, and then she also raised her handkerchief and pretended to wipe away tears.

  "Grandma, today is your birthday, and the grandsons have come to wish you a long life. Who would have thought that it would end up causing you distress? Isn't this the fault of the grandsons? How can they bear the weight on their conscience? Please don't be sad anymore, Grandma!" Yao Cun Jia gently consoled Yun Lao Tai Jun.

  At this time, Mr. and Mrs. Yun also rushed over, seeing the situation they hurriedly came forward to persuade, Yao Cunhui also softly coaxed Yao Shizan, only then did Old Lady Yun turn from sorrow to joy, blinked her eyes, took the handkerchief from Shanhu's hand and personally wiped away Yao Shizan's tears, holding him and smiling: "My precious child, it's all Grandma's fault, I've made you cry too!"

  Yao Shizan also took out his own handkerchief and tiptoed to wipe away Yun Lao Taijun's tears, "It's Zan'er's fault, Zan'er should have persuaded her maternal grandmother, Zan'er will come often to accompany her maternal grandmother from now on, don't be sad anymore, Maternal Grandmother!"

  Everyone couldn't help but burst out laughing at this, and Old Master Yao laughed especially heartily, his face radiant with joy.

  "Alright, alright, you often come to accompany your grandmother, and your grandmother will not be heartbroken! My dear grandson, how can this make your grandmother not heartbroken!" Cloud Old Lady was even more delighted, holding onto Yao Shizan's hand and couldn't bear to let go.

  At once, everyone followed him into the house and sat down again. Mr. Yao, Mrs. Ma, and the three siblings, including Ma Qunfang, all kowtowed to Old Lady Yun and wished her a happy birthday, saying a few auspicious words. Old Lady Yun was delighted and praised them, even exchanging a few words with Mr. Yao, then smiled and asked: "Why didn't your family's third daughter, Mei'er, come?"

  Ma heard this and suddenly had two points of spirit, hurriedly accompanying a smile said: "Mei'er originally also missed giving birthday greetings to the old lady, but unfortunately these two days her body was not feeling too well, feared bringing illness to disturb the old lady so didn't come, only good at home gave the old lady two head knocks."

  "It's rare for her to be so considerate, I'm touched by it!" Cloud Granny said with a smile.

  "That's what younger generations should do."

  Yun Lao Tai Jun smiled and ordered Yun Da Lao Ye and Yun Da Fu Ren to take Yao Lao Ye and Ma Shi down to entertain them well, leaving Yao's three siblings behind to talk. Yao Lao Ye was overjoyed and followed Yun's parents separately to the halls where male and female guests were being entertained, each going their own way to join the other guests.

  Because Yun Lao Tai Jun stayed by her side with only extremely close female relatives, she didn't mention leaving Ma Qun Fang behind. Yao Cun Jia sisters were busy catching up and didn't remember Ma Qun Fang for the time being. Ma had no choice but to take Ma Qun Fang out as well.

  Yun Lao Tai Jun then had the opportunity to carefully examine the three siblings, holding hands and chatting. Everyone saw Yun Lao Tai Jun's fondness for them, who would not join in the fun? With seven mouths and eight tongues, they cleverly flattered the three siblings until they were praised to the heavens, and Old Lady Yun became even more delighted!

  "It's hard to believe that Zan'er has grown up so big!" Cloud Old Lady stroked Yao Shi Zan's head and couldn't help but feel emotional, then asked the Yao sisters: "What was Zan'er suffering from before? I heard it was Liu Taiyi from the Imperial Hospital who cured her. If I had known earlier, I would have invited Liu Taiyi to come over, and it wouldn't have been delayed until now!" Thinking about how she had always heard that Yao Shi Zan couldn't even get out of bed, she felt a little displeased in her heart, with a hint of blaming Old Master Yao and Madam Ma for inviting incompetent doctors.

  Yao Cun Jia and Yao Cun Hui exchanged a glance, in front of everyone, they couldn't say anything against Old Lady Yun or their parents. After thinking for a moment, Yao Cun Hui stood up and smiled as she replied: "Zan actually doesn't have any serious illness, it's just that her body is weak. The previous doctor's diagnosis was correct, but he overlooked the fact that Zan is still a child and can't withstand tonics, which is why there was no improvement in her condition for so long. Later, Liu Taisheng adjusted the prescription, and now she has recovered quickly. Zan's body is much better now! Father even hired a martial arts master to teach him some exercises to strengthen his body, and he will be even better in another year or two! If you don't believe me, Grandmother, let Zan perform a set of fist techniques for you, and you'll see that what I said is true!"