At this point, Xia Tao couldn’t help but laugh gloatingly. “Fourth Miss is really pitiful. She had just been punished by Old Madam to copy ‘Female Virtue’ a hundred times, and then by Ms. Ye. I’m afraid she won’t have time to cause trouble for a long time.”
Yu Youyao nodded and looked thoughtful.
Even if Yu Qingning was forgiven by Ms. Ye, this matter was probably not over yet.
If nothing else, Grandmother would definitely be angry.
Yu Youyao shook her head slightly and turned to go to the embroidery pavilion at the side. She picked up the needle thread that was already used in the embroidery basket. She was familiar with each stitch and thread, and her movements were not as jerky as before.
Chun Xiao couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you going to learn pharmacology from Nanny in the afternoon?”
Before Yu Youyao could speak, Nanny Xu revealed a meaningful smile. “There aren’t many stitches needed to finish the headband. Let’s finish embroidering first before learning pharmacology.”
The house fell silent, and the afternoon sun shone brightly. It shone through the window panes and into the house, illuminating the room.
Yu Youyao was quick to react. About an hour later, under Nanny Xu’s guidance, the thread, needle, and headband were done.
Nanny Xu nodded in satisfaction. “Your embroidery skills have improved a lot.”
Although she had received Nanny Xu’s praise, Yu Youyao was not very satisfied. She felt that her embroidery skills were a little lacking and looked a little crude. In the end, she still had to show filial respect to her elders and be more meticulous.
Yu Youyao held the handkerchief and examined it carefully. Suddenly, she had an idea. She asked Chun Xiao to pick seven beads of different sizes: gold, silver, glass, coral, amber, mercury, and agate.
After struggling for another hour, Yu Youyao rubbed the back of her neck, which was a little sore. She looked at the completely finished headband on her forehead and finally smiled in satisfaction.
“Eldest Miss, you’re so clever. Old Madam will definitely like it.” Chun Xiao found a yellow rosewood box and carefully placed the headband in it. She looked at the headband in the box, which was glowing with a faint glow. It looked luxurious and grand.
She knew that the swastika on it was auspicious.
1
After resting for about ten minutes, Nanny Xu took a medical book and taught Yu Youyao pharmacology.
It wasn’t until the sun was setting in the west and the light in the house had dimmed that Yu Youyao glanced at the funnel. It was already seven o’clock, so she closed the book. “It’s getting late. Get ready to go to Grandmother’s house.”
Yu Youyao changed into a cherry-red dress with embroidered edges and narrow peach-colored sleeves that reached her waist, making her look delicate and beautiful. Only then did she bring the box with her to An Shou Hall.
The atmosphere in the north courtyard was a little off.
Chun Xiao looked around cautiously and saw that the maidservants in the courtyard were all silent and doing their own things. They did not even exchange glances with each other. She moved closer to Yu Youyao. “Young Miss!”
Yu Youyao nodded but said nothing.
When they arrived at An Shou Hall, Qing Xiu, who was guarding outside, welcomed them. She bowed and said, “Old Madam is in the hall. Eldest Miss, don’t stand outside. Hurry in!”
Yu Youyao nodded. “Thank you, Sister Qing Xiu.”
The hall was very quiet. Her grandmother was old and had many people around her. The people who usually served her in the house were not around.
Chun Xiao and Dong Mei lifted the curtains on each side, and Yu Youyao walked into the inner room.
Old Madam Yu was dressed in an ink-blue enamel robe with longevity patterns. She leaned against the couch with her eyes closed, one hand on her forehead and the other holding a prayer bead.
Meanwhile, Yu Qingning was kneeling in the hall. As her head was lowered, she couldn’t see her expression clearly.
Nanny Liu and Bai Kui stood at the side, their eyes lowered and their breathing steady.
At this moment, Old Madam Yu heard the commotion and opened her eyes. Seeing that Yu Youyao was dressed in peach red, and looked delicate, and sweet, her eyes couldn’t help but light up, and even her mood brightened.
Old Madam Yu’s expression softened a little. She waved her hand. “Yao Yao, come to me quickly.”
“Grandmother!” Yu Youyao quickly walked over and leaned against her grandmother’s side. Her voice was clear and cheerful as she called out to her grandmother, causing Old Madam Yu to beam with joy. She hugged her granddaughter tightly in her arms and called her little darling. Even the heavy atmosphere in the house dissipated, revealing an indescribable sense of relief.
Nanny Xu couldn’t help but smile.
At the side, Bai Kui also heaved a sigh of relief and went over to pour some tea.
Only Yu Qingning, who was kneeling in the hall, felt her eyes sting when she saw this filial and happy scene. She subconsciously clenched her fists and revealed a resentful expression.
If it weren’t for Yu Youyao, that b*tch, how could she have offended Ms. Ye? Not only did she have to bear the reputation of not respecting her teacher, but she also almost caused Ms. Ye to be kicked out of school. Not only did she anger her grandmother, but she also knelt in An Shou Hall for four hours. However, Old Madam did not say anything and just let her kneel. She even asked Nanny Liu and Bai Kui to keep an eye on her.
1
No matter how indignant she was, she did not dare to act rashly in her grandmother’s house.
This way, she was neither beaten nor scolded, and neither punished nor disciplined. It was difficult and torturous. Yu Qingning knelt on the ground with an uneasy heart. Not long after, her waist and legs ached, and her entire body was stiff, and numb.
But what infuriated her the most was…
She was angry, aggrieved, slapped, and punished to kneel, but Yu Youyao acted as if nothing had happened. She even had the cheek to run over and laugh at her, showing off her grandmother’s love and affection in front of her.
It was simply too hateful!
Yu Youyao did not care what Yu Qingning thought. Seeing that her grandmother had finally smiled, she took the cup of tea from Bai Kui and handed it to her grandmother. “Grandmother, have some tea.”
Old Madam Yu happened to be a little thirsty, so she received it with a smile. After drinking a cup of tea, the anger in her heart had mostly dissipated. She looked indifferently at Yu Qingning, who was kneeling in the hall. “Why did Ms. Ye punish you?”
Yu Qingning’s breathing stopped for a moment, causing the Old Madam’s cold gaze to cause her to break out in a cold sweat. Her lips trembled as she said, “It’s, it’s because I secretly occupied Eldest Sister’s position.” Before she could finish speaking, her heart skipped a beat. The Old Madam was biased towards Yu Youyao. When she found out that she had occupied Yu Youyao’s position, she probably wouldn’t let her off easily. She hurriedly said, “Grandmother, I didn’t mean to occupy Eldest Sister’s position. I just wanted to see her…”
Old Madam Yu couldn’t bear to listen to her explanation and interrupted her. “Before you went to school, I called all of you into the house and told you that when you go to school, your teacher’s principles are more important than anything else. It’s only right and proper for her to discipline her disciples. It’s only right and proper for disciples to respect their teachers. You made a mistake, but you refused to be punished or taught, and you even contradicted your teacher. You don’t know how to respect your teacher. My Yu Residence doesn’t have any girls like you who don’t know the rules and are ill-mannered. Your teacher even chased you out of school.”
Disrespecting one’s teacher was a serious matter.
“Grandmother!” Yu Qingning was dumbfounded. She tried her best to recall what her mother had said to her previously.