181 Cousin, Be Good
Yu Zongzheng had drunk a lot of wine, and his cheeks were red. He was still awake, but he was still a little angry when he thought about Yang Shuwan’s negligence at the banquet.
However, nothing had gone wrong at the banquet either. Madam Yang had been managing it for the entire day, and she had indeed put in a lot of effort. Even though he was unhappy, he couldn’t really flare up.
Then, he said calmly, “Go back to the courtyard and rest. I’ll go to Lady Qiu’s house today.”
“This…” Yang Shuwan tightened her grip on her handkerchief.
Two years ago, Old Madam had arranged for Yu Zongzheng to sleep with Lady Qiu. Although she wasn’t as seductive as Concubine He, she was still beautiful, delicate and even younger than Concubine He.
Other than Concubine He, she was the most doted on. Previously, Yu Zongzheng had mentioned twice that he wanted to make Lady Qiu his concubine, but she had found an excuse to dismiss him.
During this period of time, Yu Zongzheng rarely went to her room. The imperial court was busy, so he spent most of his time in the main room dealing with official matters. The rest of his days were spent in Concubine Qiu’s house.
She was also furious when she heard it.
However, Lady Qiu was someone arranged by Old Madam, so there was nothing she could do even if she was angry.
Other than being able to control Lady Qiu’s stomach and not let a scorned child jump out of it, she also had to treat her well.
Yang Shuwan forced a smile. “Well, Master hasn’t been to my house for a long time. Moreover, Lady Qiu has also been serving Master for a few days. I don’t think her body can take it anymore. She should rest for a few days.”
Even the matriarch of an ordinary family would not have the face to say such things.
However, Yang Shuwan did not care about this. She knew very well that it was important to capture a man’s heart, and other dignity could be thrown aside.
At this point, Yu Zong was about to consider their relationship as husband and wife and didn’t decline. Hence, he frowned and said, “Alright.”
Yang Shuwan heaved a sigh of relief. Master was resting in the main courtyard. Not to mention anything else, they were still husband and wife. Even if they had lost face, at least Master’s heart was still in the main courtyard, and he was willing to give her the dignity of a proper wife. The entire residence would not dare to underestimate her.
At noon the next day, after Yu Youyao left school, Nanny Xu brought over a booklet. “The things that the Xie family brought over have already been sorted in the warehouse according to the gift list. They’re also registered. Take a look.”
Yu Youyao took the booklet and checked it carefully according to the gift list of the Xie Residence. There was no problem, so she said, “Pick some top-notch tea leaves, spices, cloth, jewelry, and some novel toys and give them to the elders, brothers, and sisters of the residence. We can’t leave out the gifts for the second house either. As for what to give them, we’ll follow the old rules and pick some ordinary ones to reward the servants of the residence. Third Cousin has brought too many things. If he makes two more trips, my Jade Courtyard won’t be able to accommodate them.”
Nanny Xu smiled and agreed.
After giving her instructions, Yu Youyao called Xia Tao over. “Is Cousin here?”
Xia Tao nodded repeatedly. “Young Master has just arrived. He heard that Eldest Miss is busy, so he didn’t let us disturb you. He’s reading in the study.”
Yu Youyao pursed her lips. “Why didn’t he tell me earlier that he was coming? It’s not like it’s anything important. I’m always busy.” As she spoke, she instructed Xia Tao, “Bring over the few gifts I specially picked out yesterday.”
Xia Tao disappeared in a flash.
Yu Youyao held the bamboo tube like it was a treasure and brought Xia Tao to the study.
Zhou Linghuai was sitting by the window and reading a book. The mottled leaves of the Parasol tree shined through the window and landed on him, making him look even more elegant.
Yu Youyao smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. She leaned over and handed the bamboo tube to her cousin as if she was presenting a treasure. Her voice was cheerful. “Cousin, quickly take a look at what this is.”
Seeing how happy the little girl was, Zhou Linghuai thought that it was a new item that Third Cousin had brought for her. He opened it as he was told, and his eyes couldn’t help but freeze.
What the…
The little girl said that she wanted to ask her maternal family to find a strange bug?!
At that time, the young lady said, “If you need anything in the future, you have to tell me. I can help you think of a way.”
He couldn’t bear to reject the young lady’s kind intentions, so he didn’t refuse. However, he didn’t think that the young lady could really help him.
During this period of time, his subordinates had been asking around about the whereabouts of the “strange insects”, but they had found nothing. The Southern Barbarians were good at expelling and raising insects. They had even ventured deep into the Southern Barbarians’ territory, but there was no news.
As time passed, Zhou Linghuai lost hope.
However, this strange bug that he couldn’t find was actually found by the little girl. Zhou Linghuai smiled silently.
“Cousin, you didn’t expect that I would really be able to help you find such a strange worm, right?” Yu Youyao looked at him with a smile, her curved eyebrows also revealing a smug expression.
Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Yes, I didn’t expect that.”
Yu Youyao was even more smug. “Third Cousin said that this is called the Lingxi Bug, a treasure inherited from the Xie family. It doesn’t exist outside. If I hadn’t heard Uncle Sun’s words that day and asked Grandfather to help find it, Cousin wouldn’t have been able to find it.”
So that was the case. Zhou Linghuai’s smile deepened. It seemed that this medicinal treasure was also a secret of the Xie family, but the little girl did not hide it from him at all.
Yu Youyao smiled. “So, Cousin, if you have anything in the future, you have to tell me. Don’t underestimate me just because I’m young. I’ve learned many skills from Nanny Xu. I’m amazing!”
Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “Cousin, you’re really a lucky star.”
Ever since he met the little girl, everything seemed to have changed for the better.
After the young lady’s treatment, his injured body had improved a lot. It was also because of this that there was hope for his leg to be cured. The young lady had given him a pill formula that could help strengthen his foundation, and even helped him find the most important Lingxi Bug.
She was his lucky star!
Yu Youyao smiled at her cousin. “With the Rhinoceros Worm, Cousin’s leg will recover.” She blinked, and her smile widened like ripples, filling her eyes, face, and heart. The stars in her eyes flickered, so bright that one couldn’t take their eyes off them. “That’s great!”
Zhou Linghuai chuckled. “Yes, that’s great!”
Yu Youyao held her cousin’s hand. “I hope you can stand up quickly.” Her voice was gentle. “Although you look good in a wheelchair, I still want you to stand up again and live properly.” She looked up, her eyes filled with stars. “Cousin, you have to live well in the future.”
Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Okay!”
There was a smile on his lips, and his deep eyes had a reflection of the little girl. His eyes were like stars decorating the night sky, dazzling with starlight.
The little girl smiled. “Cousin, the Lingxi Bug will stay in the Jade Courtyard. I’ll help you raise it. Third Cousin taught me how to raise the Lingxi Bug. I’ll definitely be able to raise it well.”
The key to raising the Lingxi Bug was the medicinal liquid made by the Xie Residence.
Yu Youyao wanted to secretly feed the Lingxi Bug with the spiritual dew. Perhaps the Lingxi Bug she raised would be better and more useful to her cousin.