Time Travel: The Noble Family

Chapter 93: Chapter 43: Maternal Uncle’s Affairs (Part 1)_2

The so-called protocols should not be abandoned, Yueyao is certainly going to come over for a courtesy visit tomorrow. She does not wish to be criticized again for lacking manners and disrespecting her elders. She can have her own little temperament, but on such issues, she absolutely cannot afford to give others any handle.

Before Yueyao could leave, Ma Linlin said with a smile, “Cousin has been here for so many days, yet I haven’t paid you a visit. I shall accompany you today.”

Yueyao understood that Ma Linlin’s visit was a pretense, and her true intention was to see what Uncle had bought for her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have waited until the fourth day at the Ma Family to mention visiting. Yueyao should have bought gifts for her female cousins when she went out. But this time she was accompanying Uncle, and it would have been inappropriate to openly buy gifts with Uncle’s money for her cousins. Thus, Yueyao feigned ignorance and did not bring anything.

As Yueyao suspected, Ma Linlin’s eagerness to accompany her was indeed to check what her father had bought for Lian Yueyao yesterday, and Loo Ying harbored the same thought.

Cheng Lizi did not want to go initially. She was focused on Ma Peng, who was much older than Yueyao and already engaged, so there was no conflict with her. But when Lady Cheng gave her a meaningful look, she had no choice but to join the excitement. In her heart, Cheng Lizi also felt uncomfortable. She had been in Ma’s Mansion for nearly half a year, and the marriage arrangement had not been finalized. If the delay continued, she would miss the prime marriage age.

Upon returning to Begonia Garden, Yueyao led the three of them directly to the bedroom. Ma Linlin looked around but saw nothing that caught her fancy. All the items were very common and unimpressive to her.

Loo Ying spoke first, “Yesterday, Uncle took Cousin out, and it was late when you returned. What did you buy?”

After inviting the three guests to sit down, Yueyao replied, “I had been owing Brother Zheng some calligraphy practice papers for two days, so I asked Uncle to take me out to buy them. Yesterday, Uncle took me to Qingfeng Bookhouse, and we bought quite a number of books there. Hua Lei, please bring up the books.” Hua Lei and Mu Qiu brought over a stack of thick books.

The topmost books were all related to the imperial examinations. Of course, the calligraphy practice papers and two books on painting had already been taken away. The rest of the books could be purchased anywhere, so Ma Linlin and the others were free to pick any they desired.

Looking at the stack of books, Ma Linlin could hardly believe it, “Just these?” Ma Linlin and Ma Yue were like Lady Cheng—impatient with reading and practicing calligraphy. They would rather enjoy eating, drinking, and playing than studying. Loo Ying preferred jewelry, and the Cheng family was not a scholarly family, believing that knowing a few characters was sufficient. Cheng Lizi came for the wealth and prestige of the Ma Family, and since her arrival, she had focused on dressing up and currying favor, rather than on books.

Yueyao nodded, “We visited several bookstores, and I didn’t find any practice papers I liked. Uncle then took me to Qingfeng Bookhouse. Because it was quite far, we returned very late. If Cousin doesn’t believe me, you can ask the servants who accompanied us.” Going to the Money Shop to move so many small silver pieces, she thought it was to exchange silver. She did not suspect Yueyao of anything.

Nanny Deng heard Yueyao’s explanation and glared at Ma Linlin and the others, her facial color turning purple with anger. Uncle Master had only taken his niece out once, but now these people were interrogating her as if she were a criminal. How could she not be furious? But she also knew that she had to bow her head under someone else’s roof.

Ma Linlin looked at Yueyao suspiciously but eventually stood up and said, “I naturally believe you. If Cousin is not busy, come with me to play in the garden.”

Yueyao shook her head, “Cousin sister, you go ahead, I’ll come over later. I need to organize these books first.” If nothing went wrong, she should be returning home tomorrow. Having stayed at the Lian Mansion for four days, it was imperative that she return tomorrow; otherwise, grandmother would surely send someone to fetch her.

While Yueyao was organizing the books, Nanny Deng came in to seek guidance, mentioning that an old sister friend was looking for her to catch up. Yueyao agreed at once.

After Nanny Deng left and returned, she saw hesitation on Yueyao’s face. She wasn’t sure whether or not to tell the young lady about these matters. But what Granny Liu said afterwards made Nanny Deng hesitate.

Yueyao smiled and said, “Mother, I am in charge of the second branch now. No matter whether it’s good or bad, I have to take it on. Mother, even if I can’t resolve it now, I can learn. As for what I don’t know or understand, you can just guide me from the side.”

After drinking a cup of tea, Nanny Deng finally said, “Young lady, it was Granny Liu who came looking for me earlier. Young lady, Granny Liu is the steward mother for the cousin young master and was previously a trusted nanny of the Old Madam.”

Yueyao now understood; there’s no going to the temple without a cause. If Granny Liu sought out Nanny Deng, it was likely she had some favor to ask: “What did Granny Liu ask mother for?”

Nanny Deng had become immune to Yueyao’s sharpness. The young lady had always been clever, so her guess was not unusual, “Granny Liu came anxiously telling me that Lady Cheng brought Miss Cheng here with the intention of having the Eldest Young Master marry Miss Cheng. If that happens, the Inner Courtyard of the Ma Family will truly become Lady Cheng’s domain.” Granny Liu pleaded earnestly with her, saying the young lady was intelligent, and if she could think of a solution, it would be wonderful. Of course, while the request itself wasn’t taken to heart, there was one sentence that made her hesitate.

Yueyao’s expression showed no significant reaction, “What did Granny Liu say that moved you, mother?” If there hadn’t been anything compelling, Nanny Deng would certainly not have hesitated and would have outright refused instead of mentioning it to her.

One must admit, Granny Liu was really shrewd. She had been in the mansion for merely four days and had already made her move, probably because she saw that uncle was fond of and trusted her.

Nanny Deng sighed softly, “Young lady, Granny Liu said that the main branch of the Lian family is unreliable. You are still so young, and Brother Zheng is too much of a child to shoulder responsibilities. If the cousin young master recovers, you will have an additional support in the future. Young lady, since the main branch is unreliable, we should indeed seek another path.” If it weren’t for Lady Mo scheming over Yueyao’s silver, Nanny Deng would not have entertained Granny Liu’s words at all. But now, with the main branch not only unreliable but also to be guarded against, the Ma Family became the sole support.

Lady Cheng was clearly not fond of the young lady, though the Eldest Young Master was alright. In any case, Madam had saved the Eldest Young Master’s life; helping him again this time, the cousin young master would remember this favor. But Nanny Deng didn’t want Yueyao to be involved in such dirty affairs. She was truly caught in a dilemma.

Yueyao was somewhat surprised, “Does cousin brother fancy Miss Cheng himself? If he doesn’t fancy her, how can Lady Cheng arrange things so arbitrarily? There’s still uncle, isn’t there?” Uncle married Lady Cheng as a stepmother, and given Cheng Family’s decent status back then, otherwise, even the stepmother wouldn’t have qualified. Although the Ma Family was somewhat lacking now, at least the uncle was still an official at court, and the Ma Family had a solid foundation, with the cousin young master being the legitimate eldest son, his marriage prospects should be selective. Uncle should understand that if cousin brother marries a girl from the Cheng Family, he will lose the support of a wife’s family in the future.

At this thought, Yueyao suddenly became suspicious. Such a simple truth, uncle surely would have known. But why then, in the previous life, did cousin brother end up marrying Cheng Lizi!