In the Marquis of Qiyang's Mansion of the Xue Family in the capital, Xue Yusong returned to the mansion after finishing his duty. Without going back to change into his regular clothes, he went straight to his second uncle's courtyard in the Western Garden first. Linghe Hall was the courtyard of his second - branch younger sister. In the past, that younger sister was Yu Ning, but now the younger sister was Xiaorou - his second uncle had already renamed her Yu Jiao.
The three characters of "Linghe Hall" were written by his grandfather. At that time, Yu Ning was just ten years old. She happily pulled on his sleeve and asked him to help her hang up the plaque of her courtyard. Yu Ning loved calligraphy and painting. When discussing famous ancient painters in front of him, she always seemed to know it all. But outside the mansion, she was extremely modest. Perhaps Yu Ning would only turn into a smiling and show - offish child in front of him.
Xue Yusong still remembered that in the past, Yu Xin always complained that he treated Yu Ning better than her, his own younger sister born of the same mother.
Now that he thought about it, perhaps everyone praised Yu Ning for being smart and said that her personality was like his. As time went by, he also felt that this little younger sister was very like - minded with him.
However, at this moment, looking at the courtyard gate inlaid with gold, stones, jade and jewels, and the magnificent interior, he could finally feel that things had changed and people were no longer the same.
Now this courtyard belonged to Yu Jiao.
A down - cast and sad maid walked out of the courtyard. Seeing Xue Yusong, she was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't recognize him. It took her a long time to react. She quickly stepped forward to pay respects and then asked him to wait a moment. Then she went in to report.
Xue Yusong didn't recognize this maid either. He vaguely remembered that after Yu Ning left, all her nurses and maids had been sold off by his second aunt. A few of those given by his grandmother were sent to the manor. All the servants around Yu Jiao now were newly arranged by his second aunt.
The maid didn't go in for long before coming out again, saying that the eldest young master was invited in.
When Xue Yusong stepped into the door, his steps paused. Every time Yu Ning heard that he was coming, she would always fly out to greet him like a little bird, wishing she could pounce on him. Later, after being scolded by him several times for being a grown - up girl and not being allowed to act so recklessly, she gradually restrained her unseemly behavior.
He smiled self - deprecatingly. Now his younger sister was Yu Jiao. He couldn't always think about Yu Ning's goodness.
Xue Yujiao had been back in the Xue Family for more than a year. At first, she was raised according to the upbringing of a noble girl, and an old nurse who had served in the palace was invited as her tutor. But she managed to drive away several nurses one after another, so his second uncle and second aunt lost interest.
However, seeing her now, she looked quite well - behaved.
Xue Yujiao asked someone to serve tea. This elder cousin was not close to her. Moreover, due to his busy official duties, he spent little time at home. Besides, the first and second branches of the family lived in separate areas. She had only seen him a few times at family feasts. She only heard that the person who had occupied her position had a very good relationship with this elder cousin.
"I wonder what brings big brother here today?"
When Xue Yusong lowered his head to pick up the tea cup, he saw that the tea leaves were scattered on the tea tray and the bag was open. Taking a sip, he really tasted a musty smell.
He put down the tea cup dispiritedly, tapped his fingers on the table twice, and asked calmly, "Did you send someone to Yun County?"
Xue Yujiao was shocked. She glanced at her elder cousin in surprise, then gritted her teeth and sneered rather resentfully, "What, did she complain to you?"
Xue Yusong was a bit unhappy, but he remembered what his wife had told him. This younger sister had suffered too much since childhood, so her personality was inevitably a bit awkward. He should always think more about her and not blame her just because she was not as good as Yu Ning. After all, although it wasn't Yu Ning's intention, Yu Ning had still occupied Yu Jiao's position for fifteen years.
He shook his head. "If she were willing to complain to me, she wouldn't have waited until now. The half - brother of my classmate is now the county magistrate in that Yun County. Coincidentally, he encountered this matter and recognized Yu Ning. I've known him since childhood, and we still exchange letters occasionally."
It wasn't that he was trying to cover for Yu Ning. It was just that Yu Ning was right in her letter. It was better to cause less trouble. If Xiaorou's family knew that they still had correspondence, it might not be appropriate.
Xue Yujiao used to have a rather rough voice. She felt that it was not as pleasant as other noble girls', so she always spoke in a suppressed voice, which instead had an indescribable affectation. Now that she raised her voice, it was even more unpleasant to listen to. "A bastard is so meddlesome! Why does he have to interfere in other people's business?"
Xue Yusong's expression darkened. "Heroes are never judged by their birth. Although my friend is a bastard, he is very capable and not a person who can't tell right from wrong. Yu Jiao, this is really your fault. Why did you..."
" My fault? She made my first fifteen years so miserable, but do you want me to watch her live a carefree life?" Xue Yujiao was not a reasonable person. She suddenly stood up, glared angrily at her elder cousin, and shouted shrilly, "Do you know what kind of life I lived in the past? You all knew but didn't care. She lived as a young miss for fifteen years, and now she's using the money you gave her to do business? Dream on. I will never let her get what she wants."
With her eyes wide open, Xue Yusong subconsciously stood up. She pushed him down, and he sat back down.
" When she left, I had someone search her! It was you who sent her off. You gave her the money, didn't you? Otherwise, she was penniless. Even if she returned to that damned Shenjiapo, she would have been sold by them!"
Xue Yusong frowned tightly. "I would have liked to give her money, but she had to be willing to take it! And Yu Jiao, what are you talking about? The incident back then wasn't her fault. We also sent her back to Shenjiapo as you requested. But she was just an orphan. You know how pitiful she was when she was sold. Why do you have to treat her like this?"
Seeing that her elder cousin was always defending Shen Yuning, Xue Yujiao was so angry that she trembled all over. She pointed her trembling finger at Xue Yusong's face. "Yes, the hardships I suffered in the past don't matter. She has nothing to do with the Xue Family, but all of you feel sorry for her! Grandmother doesn't like me, and neither do you. Get out, get out of here!"
Throughout his life, Xue Yusong had never been so rudely pointed at the face by someone. He was extremely angry at the moment and just wanted to scold this younger sister severely for her lack of manners. But just as he was about to speak, he stopped. Manners? His younger sister came from a remote and poor place. It was not easy for her to survive. Where did she learn manners from?
He couldn't help but sigh. He poured a cup of tea from the table himself and carefully handed it to Xue Yujiao. "Yu Jiao, it was my fault just now. I was just too anxious, afraid that you would do something wrong. I'm not trying to favor anyone."
However, Xue Yujiao didn't want to listen to him at all. She slapped the tea cup to the ground. "I don't want your hypocrisy. All of you are like this. Outside, everyone says I'm unworthy. Why am I unworthy? I'm the legitimate daughter of the Xue Family. Am I not more worthy than that bitch?"
She was so agitated that if the maids and nurses hadn't knelt on the ground and held her back, she would have rushed over to beat Xue Yusong up.
However, a smart maid had already gone to invite the second mistress, Mrs. Xiao. As soon as Mrs. Xiao came in, she saw her daughter flailing her arms and trying to rush at her nephew.
She quickly stepped forward to hold her daughter and shed tears. She turned to Xue Yusong and said, "My daughter has suffered so much outside. Why do you have to stimulate her, Brother Song?"
Xue Yujiao shouted shrilly, "Mother, look at him. What kind of elder brother is he? He's always partial to Shen Yuning. Humph, I'm your younger sister. I am!"
Xue Yusong understood what she meant and looked at his second aunt in disbelief. "Second aunt, do you know about all the things Yu Jiao has done? Second aunt, do you know that what Yu Jiao has done violates the law? If she damages someone else's property, she has to pay ten times the compensation. And those who refuse to correct their mistakes after repeated admonitions will at least be punished and imprisoned."
For generations, the men of the Marquis of Qiyang's Xue Family had served either in the Ministry of Punishment or the Supreme Court. Naturally, they knew the laws and regulations of the Great Zhou Dynasty very well.
But Mrs. Xiao averted her eyes and replied rather aggrievedly, "Well... Brother Song, Yu Jiao is your younger sister. Why do you scold your own sister for an outsider?"
Xue Yusong rubbed his forehead. "Yu Ning... yes, Yu Ning is an outsider. But even if she is an outsider, the law is the law, and there will be no partiality. Yu Jiao is ignorant, but don't you, second aunt, understand? Indulging her is not helping her, but harming her!"
Didn't Mrs. Xiao know all this? But whenever she thought of the hardships her daughter had suffered since childhood, her heart ached as if being stabbed by a knife. She wished she could tear Shen Yuning to pieces.
Seeing his second aunt's expression, Xue Yusong understood her thoughts. He just felt that his second uncle's family had all gone crazy. He said coldly, "Back then, grandmother said that the Xue Family was wealthy and could afford to raise an extra daughter. But second aunt insisted on sending Yu Ning away, and grandmother didn't say a word. Now that she's gone, Yu Ning is no longer a member of the Xue Family. Her future is up to her own fortune. I hope second aunt and younger sister won't do such things in the future, or..."
Mrs. Xiao suddenly looked up. "If it weren't for Yu Ning, how could Jiaojiao have suffered so much? Do you know how the Shen Family treated Jiaojiao? She had to work like a beast of burden since childhood. Poor thing, she should have been a legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Mansion, living a high - class life without any suffering. In the end, she was even sold into slavery and served as a maid for three years. Xue Yusong, this is your own cousin!"
"Is this Yu Ning's fault?" Xue Yusong stood up and stared at his second aunt. "Second aunt, do you think all this is Yu Ning's fault?"
Mrs. Xiao stammered, "This... if it weren't for her birth mother..."
Xue Yusong sneered. "Her birth mother is already dead. Even if we wanted to dig her out of the ground, we couldn't. According to the law, her elder brother sold her when she was twelve years old. Even so, to relieve your hatred, we found out about his past crimes and sent him into exile."
"I still think it's not enough!" Mrs. Xiao said hatefully.
Xue Yusong nodded. "We all think it's not enough, but what does this have to do with Yu Ning? Second aunt, she was also the daughter you raised for fifteen years. And actually, when she came to our Xue Family, she was just a newborn baby. And the ones who made mistakes were not only her birth mother, but also because of your carelessness and that of your maids, which gave others an opportunity."
Looking at Mrs. Xiao's retreating figure, he sighed softly. "I've said all I need to say. Now that Yu Ning has returned to the Shen Family, how her life will be is her own business. If she can really live a good life, it's her ability. Yu Jiao doesn't need to hate others. It's more important to improve herself during this time."
Xue Yusong flicked his sleeves and walked out. It took Xue Yujiao a while to come to her senses. She tugged at her mother's sleeve and asked, "Mother, what does he mean? He told me to improve myself. Does he think I'm a disgrace to the Xue Family?"
Mrs. Xiao was crying sadly. It was impossible for her not to remember Yu Ning at all. Although Yu Ning had grown up under her mother - in - law's care, she had still raised her as her own daughter for fifteen years. But she didn't dare to think too much. Whenever she did, her heart would ache, and she would feel even more sorry for Yu Jiao.
Yu Jiao was her own daughter. How could she think about others?
"Don't worry, Yu Jiao. You're the daughter of the Xue Family. Who dares to think you're a disgrace? Mother will never forgive them!"