Helpless in life

  Yun Shu was pulled out of the main courtyard by Li Ayi and sent back to her own courtyard. On the way, seeing that there were few people around, she spoke with a heavy heart: "Good child, you have suffered injustice. Old slave has many words, but you must understand that some things cannot be said, or it will not only harm others but also yourself. At that time, what kind of outcome would it be? You are more aware than anyone else of your father's personality. Wan Yu is very favored by the Empress Dowager, and even in the Yonghe Palace, she can speak with her, no one dares to neglect her, this is the result of nearly five or six years of hard work, are you certain that you will definitely be stronger than your sister?"

  Mrs. Li couldn't bear to see a child being completely abandoned, and also didn't want to trouble the old lady, so she said something in a neither heavy nor light tone.

  Yun Shu, upon hearing Li's sighs, was comforted by her gentle and soothing words, which caused the tears she had been holding back to burst forth instantly. The weakness in her heart flashed across her eyes as she covered her face with a handkerchief and sobbed quietly, yet said nothing. In this moment, the child grew up and finally clearly and distinctly understood the cruel fact that she was an illegitimate daughter.

  It wasn't until then that she finally understood that she and Wenyu were different, even though they were both born to the same mother, they were worlds apart from the moment they were born.

  She went back to the house, dismissed the servants, and Li Niang took the ointment that Yuanyu had brought over. She carefully applied it to her skin, "This ointment is very good, it won't leave any scars after application. It was researched by your elder sister, and even the imperial physician has tested and praised it. The emperor also praised it, and Fang Zicheng presented it to the Imperial Hospital in the name of the Murong family, without mentioning her name."

  As expected, Yun Shu was stunned and raised his head, with a puzzled look in his eyes, wondering why such good news would be refused.

  Mrs. Li naturally understood the meaning of her eyes, and just smiled and said: "Because your elder sister is clearer than anyone else, whether Jing Fei praises or the emperor praises, it's all because she has the surname Mu Rong. Without this surname, she would be nothing. Besides, she's still young and not suitable for showing off."

  Yun Shu's eyes seemed to be deep in thought, her eyeballs rolling as if thinking of something again, but at the bottom of her eyes, there was a hint of unwillingness that refused to dissipate.

  Li Ayi had been living in the mansion for many years, following Old Madam's side all her life. Her eyesight and mind were also as sharp as Old Madam's, and she could easily guess what was on a young girl's mind.

  "I know you think your elder sister is also the daughter of a concubine, but fortunately she met the kind-hearted mistress and had good luck. But I want to tell you, this kindness was exchanged with the life of He Concubine and her daily caution and obedience as a child, others can't learn from it even if they want to. Moreover, He Concubine saved the lives of Young Master and Mistress back then. Eldest Miss has been raised by Mistress since she was young, what do you have to compare with her?" Li Ayi gave another dose of bitter medicine, wanting to knock some sense into this child.

  The illegitimate daughter who can't even get along in a big mansion is not as good-looking as this slave girl.

  Yun Shu sat there dazed, and Li Niang softly sighed, "Miss, think carefully about it, and consider your aunt's situation as well. Today's events have already caused your aunt to lose favor, and she might not see the master for a long time. Apply the ointment once in the morning and once at night, don't be too hard on yourself."

  Mrs. Li put down the ointment and retreated, while Yun Shu remained sitting there in a daze. She heard the servants in the courtyard snickering and whispering to each other, which made her blood boil. Even if I'm not doing well, it's not for you slaves to mock me.

  The laughter seemed to be ringing in her ears, as if every sound was mocking and ridiculing her for being overconfident and arrogant? Her face turned bright red as she suddenly stood up, sweeping the medicine on the table onto the floor with her sleeves.

  A faint scent of fragrance wafted up from the tip of her nose, a light and pleasant smell. She subconsciously touched the bandaged wound on her forehead, as if there was still some coolness that made her suddenly come to.

  She heard every word of Li's clearly, but when combined together it was so troublesome and unclear, but the last sentence she heard clearly, that she had harmed her aunt's favor.

  She collapsed into the armchair, suddenly burying her face in the table and wailing loudly, as if to vent all her grievances and frustrations, completely disregarding the anxious and bewildered maid outside.

  Yun Shu wiped away her tears again, picked up the ointment on the ground, and sneered with a smile. "Are you warning me? Are you telling me that you're not easy to mess with either? So, big sister also has thorns?" She smiled bitterly, fearing that the days ahead would be even more difficult.

  How did it end up like this? Originally, even if it wasn't as good as before, it wouldn't be too bad. The stepmother would still be considerate of her face and not make her eat or dress poorly, clearly she was living better than Yun Qing, right? But now she's messed everything up for herself, in the future, Big Brother and Fourth Brother won't have a good impression of her either.

  The two elder brothers of the Da Fang family would not be able to see her again, Yun Shu let out a long sigh and wiped away tears. What was wrong with her? Didn't Aunt say that she should endure? How could she have forgotten it all?

  "Someone? Come in and bring me a basin of water." Yun Shu shouted loudly.

  Only when she heard the maid calling out did she dare to enter, holding water and waiting for Yun Shu to wash up. Throughout the entire process, not a single maid asked Yun Shu about the injury on her head or if she had been wronged in any way. Yun Shu smiled wryly, realizing that there had been signs of this all along, but she was just too foolish to notice. The methods of her stepmother were indeed not something an ordinary person could handle.

  After Yun Shu left, Wan Yu and Wan Yi accompanied the old lady to dinner together. Mu Rong Jin and Li Shi also accompanied them in jest, even Yun Qing, who had been a wallflower all along, chimed in with a few words, her serious expression making the joke even more hilarious, causing the old lady to smile again.

  After dinner, the old lady looked at Yun Qing and said, "You must learn from your aunt well. Any girl from my Mu Rong family who goes out must be able to see people with talent. Don't learn those shameful tricks that are not suitable for a virtuous woman." With a meaningful glance at Yun Qing, she seemed to be warning her not to follow in the footsteps of Yun Shu, who was foolish and learned improper things from her aunt, making a laughing stock of herself.

  The three girls nodded in unison, "Yes, we've taken note."

  Yun Qing was even more direct in her gaze at the old lady, with a serious and firm nod to indicate that she had truly taken it to heart. The old lady nodded in satisfaction, her eyes also becoming much kinder.

  "Tomorrow, go with your elder sister to practice calligraphy and temper your nature. A girl should be gentle and quiet, don't be so restless. If something is not enough, just ask the person in charge, it won't lack because of you." The old lady glanced at Yuwen with a hint.

  Wan Yu pouted and leaned in, snuggling into the old lady's arms and acting coquettishly. "Grandma, just because you have a new granddaughter doesn't mean you can't love me anymore. I'm also very well-behaved, you can't give all the good things to them and ignore me."

  The old lady burst out laughing, stroking her delicate little face, unable to contain the love in her heart. With this considerate child by her side all these years, she had been much less lonely, and even her body had been getting better day by day.

  "Alright, don't forget your dear granddaughter, you can't forget anyone else but her. Oh my, this vinegar is strong, why are you so short-tempered?" The old lady patted her head, laughing and coaxing her at the same time.

  Wan Yu's face turned red, "Grandma loves me the most." After finishing speaking, she also stuck out her tongue at Wan Yi, making the two of them laugh loudly.

  "Sister, I'm embarrassed, I don't throw tantrums anymore, but you're still not as good as me." Yanni tilted her head to indicate that she was an adult now.

  The whole family was delighted, and with the three lively and lovely girls occasionally teasing each other, the old lady's anger dissipated, and she put this episode behind her. Mu Rong Jin also breathed a sigh of relief, fearing that the old lady would harbor resentment in her heart and fall ill again. Now that he saw his mother turn around, he finally felt at ease.

  Taking a closer look at Wen Yu, she was gentle and delicate, with a subtle smile, her eyebrows and eyes shining brightly, her skin as smooth as jade, her complexion rosy and vibrant, exuding an extremely comfortable vitality and a bright aura, making it impossible for anyone to feel any dislike towards her.

  Murong Jin sighed, and indeed it was a difference between heaven and mud. No wonder Li's family had never been worried, she really raised Yuwen well, and it was not her fault either...

  Dejing Concubine has been devoted and unforgettable for so many years, doting on and being close to her children.

  As he raised his eyes and met the old lady's smiling gaze, Murong Jin let out a wry smile. In his heart, he still couldn't bear to part with her. In fact, he himself had little control over his own fate; some things were beyond his power.

  The old lady's eyes were calm and loving, with a tenacity and grandeur that ordinary people didn't have. They contained encouragement and tolerance for her son, allowing Murong Jin's bitter heart to slowly calm down. He gradually revealed a firm smile to the old lady, who nodded slightly with a hint of a smile.