Time Travel: The Noble Family

Chapter 154: Chapter 65: Harsh Reality

Maternal Aunt Su held her daughter’s hand and looked at her daughter’s radiant face, she also felt conflicted. During these days, she had been struggling. If it were possible, she would not have wanted to reveal such sordid matters to her daughter, for previously, her daughter had suppressed her true disposition because of her words and treated herself as if she were invisible. Although the accidental fall this time meant a loss of memory, seeing her daughter, who was now cheerful and lively, revert to her true self made her very happy. However, the joyous smile on her daughter’s face would soon be shattered by her own hand, and she truly could not bear to do it.

Yuehuan’s tears fell, “Maternal Auntie, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have screamed at Madam at that time; I just couldn’t control myself.” At that moment, she only knew that she was very angry and sought an explanation from Lady Family, completely forgetting her own status. Otherwise, she definitely would not have been so rash.

From this incident, Yuehuan realized that she hadn’t fully adapted to her role and was still living in this era with a playful attitude—this situation taught her a profound lesson.

It took a long time for Maternal Aunt Su to speak, “This incident really was caused by you, if not for you, your aunt wouldn’t have been punished.” When Maternal Aunt Su said this, it was as if a knife had been plunged into her heart.

Yuehuan stared at her aunt with wide eyes, her voice quavering, “Auntie, you, you were punished because of me? What, what did I do?” Her aunt being punished was also her doing? What was going on? She hadn’t done anything. She really did nothing.

Suppressing the pain in her heart, Maternal Aunt Su said, “Because you went to Lanxi Courtyard the day before yesterday on your own, Madam believed that it was your aunt who incited you to go, hence the anger.”

Yuehuan laughed as if hearing a joke, her voice involuntarily rising, “Why? I was just going to Lanxi Courtyard to borrow a few books. Why would Madam be angry just because I went to borrow books?” It seemed a daughter born of a concubine had no right even to read.

Maternal Aunt Su sighed softly, “It’s not wrong to borrow books, but you shouldn’t have asked the Third Young Lady for them. Madam thought it was my idea for you to ingratiate yourself with her.”

Yuehuan didn’t understand.

Maternal Aunt Su didn’t want her daughter to know these dirty things, but if she didn’t tell her now and her daughter continued to act so recklessly, it would be a minor issue if she got punished, but missing the chance for her daughter to be with Brother Lun would be a significant matter. “Madam has always been trying to win over the Third Young Lady. Previously, the Third Young Lady was amiable, but she suddenly became astute and no longer close to Madam, which greatly annoyed Madam. But with the Old Madam around, Madam couldn’t do anything for the time being.”

Yuehuan recalled the previous discussion on this topic, “Auntie, I know Madam covets the huge sum of money the Third Young Lady holds, but what does that have to do with my borrowing books?” Yuehuan couldn’t understand how this matter was related to her at all.

All Maternal Aunt Su could feel towards her daughter’s naive thoughts was helplessness. Her daughter used to see through everything, but now she had become so naive, “It’s not about the books you borrowed, but Madam suspects I directed you to do it. I have served Madam for many years and am clear about her affairs and understand her temperament well; Madam is afraid I…” There was no need to elaborate on what she was afraid of.

Yuehuan was stunned, “Auntie… you mean to say that Madam will definitely take action against the Third Young Lady in the future.” It seemed that the past was only concealed, not forgotten.

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Maternal Aunt Su gave a bitter smile, “Naturally, after the Second Old Master took up the post of Salt Censor of Jiangnan, but the Old Master only brought back less than two hundred thousand silver taels, which was unreasonable. Nanny Gu had already tipped off the Old Madam, and just before the Second Old Master died, he gave the Third Young Lady a chest. If nothing goes wrong, this chest should contain the remaining money from the second branch, conservatively estimated to be also around ten to twenty thousand taels, or perhaps even more.”

Yuehuan fell silent. Yuehuan disdained the acts of Lady Family, who schemed heartlessly even for the wealth of an orphan girl, but since ancient times, money has swayed human hearts, especially such a large sum; the saying goes, a man without guilt, possessing jade becomes a crime, pity that the Second Old Master left so much money to the Third Young Lady.

The palm oil lamp on the table crackled, flickering with a faint light.

Maternal Aunt Su also felt the fickleness of the world, “Since her return, the Third Young Lady has immersed herself in copying scriptures, not even getting close to the Old Madam; however, Madam bribed the Third Young Lady’s wet nurse, Nanny Gu. With Nanny Gu’s help, the Third Young Lady grew close to Madam. But two months ago, something happened, and the Third Young Lady, who had been devoted to copying scriptures, suddenly changed. She not only drove Nanny Gu away but also brought the previously indifferent Young Master Zheng to her side to instruct him, and later she even brought back a trusted nanny from Second Madam’s side. With the Old Madam around, Madam can’t do anything to the Third Young Lady. If the Third Young Lady had continued to focus on copying scriptures, it would have been fine, but now she has suddenly become shrewd. With the Old Madam still here, Madam dares not act rashly, but after the Old Madam passes, the mansion will not be at peace.”