Chapter 255: Chapter 100: Promises That Can’t Be Given_3 Chapter 255: Chapter 100: Promises That Can’t Be Given_3 Under the persuasion of two maids, Yueying finally stopped waiting in the corridor, turned, and entered the room. Cai Lan suggested opening two jewelry boxes to take a look.
Yueying personally opened them and looked at the jewelry boxes brimming with valuables. Her eyes lit up seeing each piece of jewelry inside, all of high value. However, thinking about having half as much jewelry as Yuebing and Yueyao, her expression imdiately dimd. Her heart ached severely, as the disparity between the legitimate and illegitimate mbers of the Lian family was significant, not only in their dowries but also in their marriage arrangents. Yuebing was still unaware, but the affection Yueyao described was sothing she could hardly aspire to.
In the room, Old Madam Lian, observing the unusually quiet Yueyao, suddenly said, “Third Girl, promise your grandmother one thing.” Old Madam Lian, recalling Nanny Zheng’s issue, suddenly felt worried. She hadn’t known about Nanny Zheng being bribed by Lady Mo; how did Yueyao know?
Old Madam wasn’t worried about how Yueyao got the information, but this incident revealed Yueyao’s cunning; she had always thought of Yueyao as pure, yet the reality was different. This girl had been scheming all along. It wasn’t petty intrigues for slight benefits, but a stratagem against Lady Mo.
Old Madam knew Lady Mo’s nature well, greedy and insatiable. If Lady Mo were to blatantly sche against Yueyao’s family wealth, with this child’s intelligence, would she let it go easily? Certainly not. But who would suffer from a conflict between Lady Mo and Yueyao? The answer was clear, the Lian family.
Yueyao was startled and said, “Grandmother, go on.”
Looking at Yueyao, Old Madam knew about Nanny Zheng very well, but that had been a long-standing issue she shouldn’t have involved her in. This ant Yueyao didn’t trust her, was on guard against her, otherwise, she wouldn’t have hidden so many things and said, “Yueyao, promise your grandmother not to do anything that would harm the Lian family’s reputation.”
Yueyao looked at Old Madam, unable to give her that promise. It was true Old Madam loved her, but what she cared about more was the Lian family, Tingli and Tingyi. If she jeopardized the interests of the Lian family and Tingli, Old Madam would be the first to alienate her.
Yueyao didn’t want to lie to Old Madam, nor did she want to agree with her, so she could only say tactfully, “If the main branch can’t accommodate and Tingzheng in the future, I will take Tingzheng and move out.”
Old Madam blurted out, “No, you absolutely cannot move out.” If Yueyao moved out before getting married, what would outsiders think of Fanger? What would they think of the Lian family?
Yueyao stubbornly replied, “Grandmother, my mother ca to in a dream to warn that Lady Mo is treacherous, consuming people without a trace. Grandmother, you must also be clear about what sches Lady Mo harbors in her heart. She is an elder. If she sches against , I will be in a very passive position. Grandmother, I don’t want to conflict with her, so if it becos unbearable, leaving is the best solution.”
At first, Yueyao also wanted revenge but soon realized that, given her current capabilities, she temporarily could not afford it. Getting revenge would an sacrificing herself, and she had many other things to do. To ruin the new opportunity given by the heavens for the sake of Lady Mo wouldn’t be worth it. Moreover, her past misfortunes were largely her own fault, for trusting the wrong people. Now, she wouldn’t give Lady Mo the opportunity, and Lady Mo could hardly do anything to her. However, if an opportunity for revenge on Lady Mo arose, she wouldn’t show rcy.
Old Madam categorically said, “Yueyao, if you and Tingzheng leave Lian Mansion, what would people say about your Uncle? How would they view the Lian family? In at most seven years, you will marry into the Shen family, and after Tingzheng’s coming-of-age ceremony, he can move out too.” Yueyao and Tingzheng were Fanger’s direct nephew and niece. If they lived outside, Fanger wouldn’t just stop being a court official; it would be the end of him socially.
Yueyao firmly replied, “Grandmother, I naturally would prefer not to live outside if I can stay in the mansion. But if it becos unlivable, I will leave with Tingzheng.” Yueyao outright ignored the ntion of marrying into the Shen family. She would not marry into the Shen family in this lifeti.
Seeing Yueyao’s unwavering deanor, Old Madam asked, “What if your Auntie and Auntie don’t let you leave?” Realizing then that Yueyao hadn’t referred to her Auntie directly, but as Lady Mo, Old Madam’s expression drastically changed.
Yueyao looked at the Old Madam without replying. Being able to leave the Lian Mansion smoothly and safely at that ti would naturally be best. She didn’t want to cause any unpleasant incidents, for deep in her heart, she also didn’t want the Lian family to decline as it had in her previous life. Such an event would trouble her father even in his grave, and the ancestors of the Lian family would not spare her.
In her previous life, she had cherished the Lian family and didn’t want to see it fall or its reputation tarnished; however, in this life, she no longer harbored such thoughts. As long as the downfall of the Lian family wasn’t by her hand or because of her tarnished reputation—not troubling her conscience—she wouldn’t care. If the Lady family would not let her leave and sched against her, she would not surrender without a fight. To live, and to live well, she would not mind tearing off the mask, and if pushed to desperation, a mutually destructive outco was also not beyond her consideration.
The Old Madam looked at Yueyao, unable to hide her hatred and ferocity, which was shocking like a violent storm. The Old Madam had previously thought Yueyao had grown up and beco sensible; only now did she realize that this girl had been hiding her true self all this ti, just like a cheetah masking itself as a docile cat, and she had truly been deceived by her appearance, mistaking her for a ta cat.
The Old Madam seriously thought about when Yueyao had started to change, yes, it was since the Second Son’s Wife had co to her in a dream.
The Old Madam grasped Yueyao’s arm and said, “Yueyao, tell your grandmother, what exactly did your mother say to you? What exactly did she tell you?” The Second Son’s Wife coming in a dream surely didn’t just tell her that Old Granny Guh had ulterior motives and Lady family harbored sinister intentions. The Second Son’s Wife must have said more, otherwise, it wouldn’t have caused such a drastic change in Yueyao’s character.
Yueyao quickly regained her composure and said, “Grandmother, you are overthinking it. Whatever mother said in the dream, I have already told you.” She did not say anything more.
The Old Madam felt extrely tired, she hadn’t noticed the child’s strangeness for such a long ti, it was definitely impossible now to extract any information from Yueyao. This child clearly had her own plans, the Lady family’s attempt to sche against her would definitely backfire, she said, “Yueyao, promise grandmother not to do anything harmful to the Lian family.”
Yueyao looked into the Old Madam’s pleading eyes, feeling extrely distressed. Thinking about what Doctor Tang had said about the Old Madam’s limited ti left, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse; but to promise, she couldn’t. The days of despair haunted her, Yueyao always had recurring nightmares, she always tried to forget, but things etched deep in her bones couldn’t be forgotten. In her midnight dreams, she often thought she had returned to those earlier, life-worse-than-death days.
The Old Madam wanted to speak, but Yueying said from outside, “Grandmother, Doctor Tang is here.” Grandmother had said not to let anyone in, so she dared not rashly let him enter.
The Old Madam did not respond, but Yueyao no longer wanted to continue this topic and said, “Grandmother, Doctor Tang is here, let the doctor take your pulse!” Yueyao never thought Yueying’s voice could sound so pleasant.
Yueyao felt Yueying’s probing gaze and suddenly smiled, she had thought it was a coincidence, but it turns out Yueying had her own motives. Yueying probably thought the grandmother had privately subsidized her, so she hurried in to find out. Yueyao chuckled, yes, everyone in the mansion had their own calculations.
On seeing Yueyao’s empty hands, Yueying didn’t know why a sense of relief suddenly washed over her. She didn’t know why, despite knowing she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t help but think about it.
Yueying stayed to take care of the Old Madam, and seeing nothing concerning her in the main courtyard, Yueyao returned to Lanxi Courtyard. Walking the path, Yueyao’s face was filled with sorrow.
Hua Lei softly comforted, “Miss, don’t be sad.” Hua Lei thought Yueyao was distressed over the Old Madam’s illness.
Yueyao didn’t speak.
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