Chapter 132: Returning to the Capital (Part 2)

  She raised her head to gaze at the azure sky with not a cloud in sight, high and transparent, truly autumnal crispness. She let out a long sigh, herself unsure how to describe her emotions at this moment.

  Here is her home, but still lacks that warm warmth of belonging to a home, only responsibility and the desire to survive.

  "Is it Xiaoxing, Xiaoli? I am the old servant sent by the mistress to pick up the second young lady!" Xiaoxing and Xiaoli had just come out of the cabin, shading their eyes with their hands and looking towards the dock. Hearing the call, they looked around and saw a middle-aged woman wearing a tea-brown jacket with a stone-green pleated skirt and a bun on her head, waving at them. Behind her was a maidservant, who was none other than Qiao Mama, the trusted confidante of Madam Ma.

  Previously, Xie Fu's merchant ship going up to Beijing brought a letter, which said that the Yao family had received the news and Yao Cunhui would arrive today.

  "Jo Mama, Second Miss is here!" Xiang and Li smiled and loudly responded, then hurried back to the cabin to tell Yao Cun Hui.

  Before long, Old Madam Zhao led the woman to welcome them aboard, and with a deep bow, she said: "Second Miss has had a hard journey! The mistress has specially sent me to escort Second Miss back to the manor, please come along!"

  Yao Cun Hui's eyes glanced back at her and smiled: "Thank you, Mother! Are only the two of you here?"

  Qiao's mother was slightly displeased. She was the first person to be used by Madam Ma, and she had come personally to pick her up. Could Second Miss still have objections?

  "Yes, madam specifically instructed me to bring the young lady back safely, so please get in the carriage now!" Mrs. Qiao's face suddenly looked a bit unpleasant.

  "This is not my fault!" Yao Cunhui smiled and said: "It was not clear in the letter, I have a lot of luggage, and one horse carriage may not be enough. How can we let mother move it by herself? You are the one who serves by your mother's side! Yao Cunhui said, then politely called the old captain of the boat, gave him five taels of silver as labor costs, and asked him to help find a suitable horse carriage. He also asked the old captain and his son, as well as the two sailors on the boat, to help move the luggage later.

  Qiao's mother looked embarrassed for a moment, rubbing her hands and smiling awkwardly: "It was this old servant who didn't think it through, making the young lady laugh!"

  "It doesn't matter, Mother is old and forgetful, it's understandable!" Yao Cunhui smiled lightly, calm and composed, sitting in the cabin, calmly instructing Xiao Xing and Xiao Li to watch the luggage being moved.

  Qiao's mother's smile froze on her face, and she stood silently by with her hands hanging down.

  Yao Cunhui sneered in her heart, and the Ma family sent over a first-class matron to escort her, which was already giving her enough face. Even if it were in front of Old Master Yao, no one could say anything about it! But unexpectedly, not even a single male servant came, and there was only one carriage!

  She returned to Beijing from her sister's house, how could she have less luggage? The servants who went with her before all followed Lin Zhanggui back to Beijing, and Ma Shi would not know? Today, she is clearly giving herself a warning, intentionally making things difficult.

  She's quite a temperamental person, and if she were to throw a tantrum on the dock, it would be quite a sight! Madam Ma is truly ruthless and won't let go of any opportunity to make things difficult for herself!

  "Miss, the luggage has all been loaded, please get in the car!" Xiao Li came in and replied with a bow, directly ignoring Mrs. Qiao and her entourage as if they were air.

  Originally seeing Qiao's mother come to pick her up, she and Xiao Xing were delighted in their hearts. After the young lady asked a few questions, the two of them also became annoyed in their hearts.

  Whose young lady has returned from a long journey, and her parents at home are indeed so coldly treating her?

  "Jo Mama, let's go!" Yao Cunhui stood up with a smile.

  "Please go first, miss!" Mrs. Qiao's face was full of embarrassment and awkwardness as she stepped aside, not waiting for Yao Cunhui to take out the money. She hastily took out some loose silver coins and gave them to the old boatman, thanking him repeatedly.

  Yao Cunhui had just gotten off at the second gate and hadn't even steadied herself when she heard a clear and crisp cheer "Second sister! Second sister!", her eyes blurred for a moment, and then a figure in a blue dress rushed into her arms like the wind, small arms tightly hugging her, cheering: "Sister you're finally back! Zan'er missed you so much!"

  "Good boy!" Yao Cunhui's heart warmed up, and she bent down to tightly hug Yao Zan. Her eyes felt hot as she happily said: "Good Zan'er, sister also misses you so much! When sister is not around, have you been studying well?"

  Yao Shizan's little brain was nodding repeatedly, like a small chicken pecking at rice, as he hastily expressed himself: "Zan'er reads books and writes characters every morning, practices martial arts in the afternoon, and never falls behind for even one day! Sister, you don't believe me? Ask Wu Jin and Wu Guang!"

  "Is that so? Turn around and let your sister test you!" Yao Cunhui smiled, pinching his tender cheek.

  "Good!"

  "Second Miss!" Wu Jin, who had been standing silently beside them, stepped forward and bowed after the sister and brother finished their conversation.

  "Master looks like he's recovering a bit, his spirit is also good. Thanks for your hard work!" Yao Cunhui smiled slightly at Wu Jin. Just now, she had already subtly taken Master Yao Shizan's pulse and carefully observed the color of his face.

  "No, I don't dare!" Wu Jin said somewhat flustered and at a loss.

  "Second Miss, you're really back!" Yao Cunhui raised her head and saw that Rong Ma and Hong Zhi were also rushing over. She hastily called out to welcome them, pulling Rong Ma's hand with a smile all over her face.

  Rong's mother was overjoyed to see Yao Cunhui again, and couldn't help but wipe away tears. "You've finally come back! You're thinner!" Rong's mother's heart had finally been put at ease.

  "Aren't I fine? Am I not more spirited than before?" Yao Cunhui playfully blinked her eyes, and actually made Rong Ma laugh.

  "Mother Rong, you've come just in time. Help me take all the gifts back!" As she said that, she held onto Yao Shizan's hand: "I'll go see Mother first, and then I'll be right back!"

  Rong's mother agreed, and ordered Hongzhi to call a few strong women to move the luggage. Yao Cunhui led Yao Shizan, accompanied by Xiao Xing and Xiao Li, to the main courtyard. Wu Jin followed closely behind Yao Shizan.

  Due to being caught off guard, and also wanting to show her noble maternal demeanor, Mrs. Ma treated Yao Cunhui with a very gentle and pleasant smile, almost as if it came from the heart! In the end, she didn't keep her for long, and considerately told her to go back and rest well. Yao Cunhui smiled coldly in her heart, and politely thanked her before leaving.

  Yao Shizan was going to follow Yao Cunhui to Luomei Courtyard, so Yao Cunhui sent Wu Jin back to Cuixiu Residence, and the two siblings returned together.

  Hong Lian saw Yao Cun Hui again, and was overjoyed, just like Rong Ma almost shed tears, hurriedly went forward to serve Yao Cun Hui washing his face and hands, chattering on and on about the longing emotions, Rong Ma occasionally interjected a few words, Yao Cun Hui smiled and listened, the atmosphere between the three was very harmonious.

  Xiao Xing and Xiao Li had already been sent away to rest by Yao Cun Hui, while Hong Zhi stood aside with her hands spread out, somewhat dazed. In front of outsiders, the second miss treated her and Hong Lian without any distinction, but she was very clear in her heart that the second miss had long known that she was the madam's person and would never trust herself. She kept herself only to know the inside story and control her. Hong Zhi felt a sense of despair in her heart, following such a master, she was destined to not be able to lift her head, but at the same time, she secretly rejoiced that the second miss had not sent her away, otherwise, the madam would never have forgiven her.

  Yao Cun Hui smiled and hugged Yao Shi Zan over, during their casual conversation at home, Yao Cun Hui had already checked on Yao Shi Zan's homework for the past two months. The result was very satisfactory. Zan Er hadn't disappointed her expectations, although he kept shouting that he missed her, he didn't fall behind in his studies either.

  Yao Shizan was delighted to hear her praise, his small hands tightly grasping her hem, his black grape-like eyes blinking at her as he begged: "Second sister, next time you go out, can you take me with you? I want to be with second sister!"

  Yao Cun's heart softened, and she gently stroked his head, saying softly: "Zan'er must learn quickly, when you grow up and master the skills, sister will take you out with her."

  "Really?"

  "Of course!"

  "Oh, Second Sister is so great!" Yao Shi Zan cheered up.

  Rong's mother smiled kindly and shook her head slightly, "Second Miss is indeed able to coax the young master, but she only occasionally goes out for a trip. As for going on a long journey in the future, who knows when that will be?"

  Rong's mother had a lot to say to Yao Cunhui, so she smiled and coaxed Yao Shizan to go back and let the second sister rest. Yao Shizan thought for a moment with his small head tilted, and cleverly agreed. Hong Lian then sent him back to Fengming Hall.

  "Hongzhi, go to the second gate and find out for me. As soon as Master returns, come back and tell me!" After sending Yaoshizan away, Yaocunhui turned around and instructed Hongzhi.

  Hongzhi nodded his knee and replied with a "yes", then turned around and left.

  The room suddenly fell silent, and then Mother Chong smiled and said, "Second Miss, are you tired? Why don't you go back to your room and rest for a while?"

  Yao Cunhui shook her head: "This road has been on the boat, and it's not tiring. How is the house during this time? Has Madam Ma been making things difficult for you and Zan?"

  "Old slave is fine, but Fourth Madame has had several bouts of fetal movement. Master ordered the mistress to take good care of Fourth Madame's pregnancy, so the mistress is busy and doesn't have time to deal with other things! In this Luomei courtyard, either old slave or Honglian must be keeping watch at all times, not even leaving for a moment! As for Young Master's illness, it was just a minor cold that caused a low-grade fever. Miss, don't worry, old slave took care of him for two days and secretly had the servant outside the second gate prepare some medicine, and he recovered in no time!"

  Yao Cunhui's heart suddenly tensed up and slowly calmed down, only to find that his palms were full of cold sweat. He looked serious and asked, "Zan'er was fine, how could she catch a chill and have a fever?"

  Yao Shizan is still young and has just recovered from a serious illness, so Yao Cunhui is well aware that even the slightest minor illness could develop into something major. If he were to relapse again, it would be a downward spiral, and to put it bluntly, there would be no cure. Even if they managed to save his life, his foundation would be ruined, and in the future, he would still be half-crippled.

  Rong's mother sighed softly and said, "That was about half a month after the second young lady left. The weather was hot at that time, and the lotus flowers in the shallow water of Hua Hu Lake were blooming very well. Young master went into the water to pick lotus flowers for fun, but he didn't want to come up after getting into the water, so he caught a cold! Later, I found out from someone that it was the third young lady who said that the lotus flowers in the lake were beautiful and there were also big carp in the water. Young master heard this and went down! Afterwards, when madam found out, she quickly ordered people to bring young master up and scolded the third young lady for a while!"

  Yao Cunhui gave a faint cold smile, her palms clenched tightly. "What about Wu Jin? Doesn't he care?"