Chapter 577: Incurring Disadvantages
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
He was indeed seriously ill and the root cause was not healed.
However, sometimes, people only believed what they saw.
Moreover, they firmly believed in their judgment.
Hence, they ignored many things.
When Old Madam Yu heard this, she heaved a sigh of relief. “Why didn’t you continue to recuperate in the residence?”
She did not doubt the authenticity of these words. It was impossible for the Zhenguo Marquis Residence to joke about Song Mingzhao’s health. If Song Mingzhao was really seriously ill, it was impossible for him to come out.
Song Mingzhao explained, “It’s also because there are many complicated matters in the capital. It’s not as peaceful as the Precious Peace Temple, so I might as well go to the Precious Peace Temple to recuperate. Master Hui Tong’s medical skills are also outstanding, so the family is naturally at ease. In three months, the Imperial Court will restart the examination. I reckon my body will be almost recovered.”
He didn’t finish what he planned to say.
However, Old Madam Yu understood that Song Mingzhao would participate in the imperial examination again in three months. This meant that his body was indeed fine, and it also showed that he had not been defeated by the prison.
He would only have to wait for three months. He would take back the glory that belonged to him and definitely not let himself be tainted at all.
Old Madam Yu was gratified. She felt that she had not misjudged him. “You’re only 17 or 18 years old this year. You’re at the prime of your life. As long as you take care of your health, there’s no illness that you can’t recover from.”
He looked quite sick, but he was still able to come out and walk around. He could probably recover if he was more careful. When Linghuai first entered the Yu Residence, his sickly body had recovered a lot after recuperating for a few years.
Feeling much more at ease, a smile appeared on her face.
Song Mingzhao nodded. “Grandmother Yu is right.”
Old Madam Yu then recalled that although the case of cheating in the examination had come to an end, there were still many rumors in the capital. It was probably because of this that Song Mingzhao had gone to the Precious Peace Temple to recuperate.
Hence, she comforted him again. “According to ‘Poetry’, every step you take in life will not be in vain. You’re a young genius. Although it’s a good thing to be successful at such a young age, it also means that your character, literary talent, cultivation, values, and so on have to be like bones, horns, ivory, and jade. The suffering you’re experiencing now is all a trial of life.” Song Mingzhao listened attentively and respectfully.
Old Madam Yu changed the topic and said, “On the first day that my grandnephew, Linghuai, entered the residence, Yao Yao heard her cousin say that since the heavens were about to confer a great responsibility on a person, they had to first torture their will, exhaust their muscles and bones and starve their bodies. They had to do whatever they could to endure temptation. In the end, they would benefit and do what they couldn’t before. tempted and tolerated, benefiting what they couldn’t do.” At the mention of this matter, a smile appeared on her face. “At that time, she couldn’t even memorize the essays and blushed.”
Hearing the Matriarch mention Yu Youyao, Song Mingzhao subconsciously tilted his ear again. “Third Sister said that Miss Yao has already become Ms.
Ye’s favorite disciple.”
Old Madam Yu’s smile did not fade. “More like her cousin’s favorite disciple.”
Ms. Ye had indeed taught Yao Yao a lot, but Yao Yao was learning too quickly. Ms. Ye had to take care of the other sisters in the family, so she couldn’t just focus on teaching Yao Yao alone. Afraid that she would delay Yao Yao, she had long stopped asking her to go to school again. She only said that if there was anything she didn’t understand, she could look for her in private.
Everyone in the residence knew that Yao Yao had been taught by her cousin.
At the mention of Zhou Linghuai, Song Mingzhao subconsciously lowered his eyes and looked at the longevity knot on his wrist. “Grandmother Yu, on the day of the Buddhist Festival six years ago, I was relaxing at the Bodhisattva of Wishes and was almost injured by a fugitive. In a daze, I heard someone call their father and scare the fugitive away, saving my life.”
Old Madam Yu’s eyelids twitched as she recalled what had happened six years ago.
It was also on the day of the Buddhist Festival that Yao Yao, who was not even six years old, ran out on her own and disappeared after a few words with Yu Jianjia.
She had heard that a thief had entered the temple and injured someone, but she had been so frightened that she had almost lost her soul. She had not seen anyone everywhere. It was the monks in the temple who had sent her granddaughter back to her room.
At that time, she had thought that if word got out that Yao Yao, the eldest daughter without a mother, had been implicated by a thief, it would be bad for Yao Yao’s reputation. Hence, she had silenced the monks in the temple who knew about it and even warned the few people around her.
As she had covered it up well, even Madam Yang and her daughter only thought that Yu Youyao had just been playful and hurt her head.
After that, her granddaughter had a big scare and a high fever for the night.
When she woke up the next day, she couldn’t remember much about this.
She did not expect that the person who had been injured by the fugitive was actually Song Mingzhao. However, from what Song Mingzhao said, the person who had frightened the fugitive away might be Yao Yao?!
Even Old Madam Yu’s blood froze.
She had never expected that six years ago, her granddaughter had already walked through the gates of hell without her knowledge.
It was said that the fugitive had killed countless people and had dozens of lives in his hands. If Song Mingzhao was telling the truth, it was no wonder that Yao Yao had forgotten about this when she woke up.
How old was Yao Yao at that time?
How could she not be afraid when she saw the fugitive injure someone?
Old Madam Yu’s heart trembled, but she drank her tea calmly. “I’ve never heard your grandmother mention this.”
Song Mingzhao secretly saw Old Madam Yu’s reaction and was a little disappointed. “It’s also because it’s a serious matter that the family hid this matter and didn’t make it public. However, I’ve always remembered this life-saving favor and have been investigating this matter for many years.”
A drop of water should be repaid with a spring. It was only right that Song Mingzhao remembered his life-saving grace. Old Madam Yu nodded in understanding, but she still did not say anything.
Song Mingzhao could only say, “I know. Every year, during the Buddhist Festival, Grandmother Yu will bring Miss Yao to the Precious Peace Temple to add incense oil for Eldest Madam Xie. In the past two years, she has also investigated some clues.”
Old Madam Yu did everything flawlessly, and the monks in the Precious Peace Temple kept quiet about this matter. At that time, he was in a daze and could only hear a girl’s voice. He couldn’t hear her clearly, so he couldn’t deduce her exact age.
On the day of the Buddhist Festival, there were many visitors in the temple. Everyone was secretive about the thief and did not want to mention it, afraid that they would be implicated.
Many things could not be investigated.
He had also noticed Yu Youyao on the day of the Buddhist Festival three years ago. He had bumped into Yu Youyao at the Bodhi of Wishes and casually asked the monks in the temple which family she was from.
The monk actually recognized Yu Youyao.
After investigating for more than two years, they actually did not find anything.
There was once when he had accidentally heard from his grandmother that before Eldest Madam Xie died, she had made 15 longevity locks for Yu Youyao. One of them looked like a red and yellow embroidered fish.
Only then did he suspect Yu Youyao.
Old Madam Yu was enlightened. No wonder Song Mingzhao suddenly liked Yao Yao. In the past two years, he had often entered and left the Yu Residence. This was an explanation.
He did not come over for no reason. After understanding why, she felt more at ease..