Chapter 9: The Uncle

  It turned out that the Ling family was not as bad as he had thought before.

  Yuè Dài was lost in thought, and for a moment, she forgot to move. Wén Píng waited behind her for a while, but didn't see her budge, so he finally couldn't help but take a step forward and softly called out: "Miss!"

  Yan Dai was startled and only then came back to her senses. She didn't intend to explain the reason for her daze, but instead calmly instructed: "Let's go!"

  Wen Ping nodded, took a step forward, and supported her hand as they slowly walked into the house. Yuan Dai entered the house, sat down on the kang, and had a maid serve tea. After taking a light breath, Yuan Dai smiled and asked Wen Ping: "Did Sixth Master say anything to you?"

  Wen Ping hurriedly replied, "Just now, Sixth Master secretly called me over and asked if Miss's monthly allowance was enough. I didn't know what he meant, so I didn't dare say anything rashly, just following his lead and saying a few words. Sixth Master then sighed and didn't say anything else. After he left, his attendant Ling Xing came over and handed me fifty taels of silver, which I originally didn't want to accept, but he said it was Sixth Master's intention and told me to just take it!" As Wen Ping spoke, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Yuan Dai, seeing that her expression was calm and seemingly without any intention, before cautiously saying, "Now it seems that Sixth Master is actually a thoughtful person!"

  Yan Dai nodded slightly and said: "Although we don't lack these few taels of silver, it's rare for him to have this kind of heart!"

  Wenping smiled and looked around, seeing no one nearby, she whispered: "Now that I think about it, the trouble with Cailian was also a misunderstanding, and the pros and cons have been balanced!" She and Cailian were both born into the Ling family, but they had known each other since childhood. Later, they served together by Yuandai's side, so their feelings for each other were quite good. Last time, Cailian took matters into her own hands and caused Yuandai to be displeased. Since it was Cailian's fault, Wenping didn't dare speak too much on her behalf. However, now that she had the opportunity, she couldn't help but open her mouth.

  With a thoughtful gaze, she glanced at Wenping and replied faintly, "Let's not mention this again. As for Cailian, I have my own plans. Don't worry, I won't treat her unfairly!" Cailian had been by her side for many years and had always been diligent. Although she was angry with Cailian for taking matters into her own hands, she wouldn't intentionally make things difficult for her. However, she still thought that someone like Cailian wasn't suitable to stay by her side anymore.

  Wen Ping heard her say so much and knew there was no room for maneuvering, so he lightly responded with a sound and didn't speak again.

  Unexpectedly it was Cao Cao who arrived

  The two were talking about Cai Lian, when suddenly Cai Lian walked in with a happy expression. After giving a slight bow to Zhen Shuang and Dai Shu, Cai Lian smiled and said: "Miss, your aunt is inviting you over for dinner!"

  With a slight nod, Yuandai got up and said: "Since that's the case, it's already late now, let's go!" Her mother had been living in fear for so many years, being cautious and careful. With her temperament, since Lingyu Qing had come to bid farewell at the other courtyard, she would naturally have called her over to ask about the situation. Wenping heard this and quickly turned around to walk to one side, taking a lotus-green cloak with a pattern of fighting dragons to put on her, before supporting her out the door. Cailian hastily followed closely behind them.

  Zhou Yiniang's courtyard was not far from Yuandai's small courtyard, and after walking for a while, she arrived. At the gate of the courtyard, there were already people waiting, and when they saw Yuandai approaching, they hurried forward to pay their respects, smiling and saying: "Miss has finally arrived!"

  She saw it was her and slightly turned sideways, saying: "Auntie doesn't have to be so polite!"

  The person standing at the gate was the maid who had walked in from outside and spoken with Madame Wang after Daiyu left her place that day. As for why she only received half a courtesy, there was also a reason for it as far as Daiyu was concerned.

  On the day of her marriage to the Ling family, Mrs. Lu was accompanied by four personal maids and several other relatives who had come with her as part of her dowry. Among them were the parents and elder brother of Madame Zhou. The servant woman in front of her was actually her aunt, Madame Wang. Madame Zhou's parents and brother had passed away many years ago, leaving behind only her aunt, Madame Wang, and her cousin, a boy and a girl.

  Although the young lady from a humble background should consider her stepmother as her mother and her stepmother's maiden home as her own uncle's home, after all, they are related by blood. Moreover, Wang Shi has been very caring towards Zhou Yiniang over the years, so when facing Wang Shi, Yuandai never put on an air of superiority.

  Wang saw her like this, and was also delighted in his heart. He hurriedly came forward to support her into the house, and personally helped take off her cloak. At this moment, Zhou Yiniang from the inner room had already heard the sound, and hastily walked out.

  Yuan Dai saw her come out and hastily went forward, smiling as she curtsied.

  After taking care of herself for these days, Zhou Yiniang's body had fully recovered and her complexion had improved a lot. Under the flickering candlelight, even the fine lines at the corners of her eyes seemed to have faded a lot. As she approached, holding Yu Dai's hand, Zhou Yiniang smiled and said: "You've come. Come in and let's talk!"

  Yan Dai responded and followed Zhou Niang into the inner chamber. She had just sat down when Hong Ying brought in tea from the other side.

  Zhou Yiniang took the tea and drank a mouthful with some embarrassment, just as she was hesitating about what to ask, Yuandai had already spoken up: "Is mother wondering what Liu Ge's purpose is in coming here today?"

  She asked directly, but it made Zhou Yiniang inexplicably relieved, and she quickly nodded her head.

  。

  Yuandai was very clear about her temperament, but seeing her like this now, she couldn't help but secretly sigh and said lightly: "Sixth brother came here on the way, actually there is nothing important!"

  Aunt Zhou let out a soft "sigh", and it was unclear whether she had breathed a sigh of relief or felt a little disappointed.

  She had not yet fully exhaled this breath of air when Faraway suddenly said, "However, Sixth Brother left fifty taels of silver when he went away, saying that our mother and daughter's bodies are not well, and the monthly allowance may not be enough for expenses!"

  Auntie Zhang let out a soft sigh, but her mouth remained agape for quite some time. After a while, she was still muttering to herself: "This... how can he bear it... Sixth Master... He's really too courteous..." Her face showed both shock and delight.

  Silently gazing at Aunt Zhou, Yuandai also couldn't express the feeling in her heart. After a long while, she softly sighed: "Mother, don't worry about some things! I'll teach you to live a life free of worries!"

  Zhou Yiniang's heart was in a state of turmoil, and she didn't pay much attention to Yuande's words, simply nodding randomly. At this time, Ziluo walked in and reported that dinner was ready. The mother-daughter duo got up and went out to the outer room for dinner.

  This dinner, Madame Zhou was distracted and absent-minded, nearly dropping her chopsticks several times. Yan Dai saw this and also didn't intend to stay long, so after finishing the meal, she stood up and planned to return to her own courtyard. Wang Shi had been standing on the side serving, and during the meal, she gave Madame Zhou many meaningful glances, but seeing that Madame Zhou was still clueless, she secretly became anxious, yet for the time being couldn't do anything about it.

  For some reason, she can loudly scold and severely reprimand this timid and cowardly young lady in front of Aunt Zhou, but when facing Yu Dai, she dares not to overstep the rules, and is extremely cautious in her words and actions, not even daring to breathe heavily.

  Yan Dai bid farewell to Aunt Zhou, and just as she was about to leave, her eyes suddenly moved, sweeping a glance at Wang Shi: "At this moment the sky has already darkened, traveling on the road is not convenient, please, auntie, light the way for me and see me back!"

  Her words were plain, her eyes warm and gentle, but somehow Wang heard her say this, inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine, and involuntarily looked at Zhou with pleading eyes. But Zhou was too distracted to notice him at the moment. Seeing no other way, Wang could only smile wryly and agree, then took a lantern and walked ahead to light the way for Yu Dai.

  Before she could say a word, Yu Daiyu had just entered her own chamber when Wang Shi came in to bid farewell.

  Yan Dai showed a hint of intention to pick lotus for herself and took off her cloak, while calmly opening her mouth: "Auntie don't go, I still have a few words to say to you!"

  When Mr. Wang heard this, his heart suddenly skipped a beat and he couldn't help but shiver with fear, standing there, even his legs were trembling slightly.

  After sitting down on the kang, she took a sip of tea handed over by Hui'er and then slowly said: "Auntie has been busy these days!"

  A dull and ordinary sentence, yet it inexplicably startled Wang Shi, who couldn't think of a response to Yu Dai's words for the moment. After being stunned for a while, she could only dryly say: "Miss is being too serious!" Her voice also trembled slightly.

  Looking at her deeply, Yuandai said: "To say it, in these years, if Auntie hadn't taken care of my mother in every way, I'm afraid she wouldn't have been able to hold on. The kindness you've shown me, I remember them all!"

  Wang heard these words, and his heart finally settled down a bit. His speech also became more fluent: "Miss, what are you talking about? My wife was originally the younger sister of that short-lived ghost in my family. Between sisters-in-law, we should take care of each other, it's only natural!"

  Yan Dai smiled and didn't bother to argue with her words, only saying: "Aunt is a clever person, in front of wise people don't speak in riddles, I won't play tricks on you either. There are just a few things that need to be clearly told to Aunt, and I hope Aunt will remember them!" Seeing Wang Shi nodding in agreement, she continued: "The things Aunt has been doing these days, I won't say much about it, only hoping that from now on you won't do them again!"

  Wang's family was stunned, and after a long time, he stammered: "Those things, I also asked Auntie about it." These days, what she did was just spending some money in the capital to let the mansion bring back Yuandai as soon as possible. She thought that this matter was done secretly, but unexpectedly, Yuandai's face didn't show any movement, and it seemed like she already knew everything in secret.

  She looked at her deeply and said indifferently, "Auntie, don't worry, I didn't intend to argue with you about this matter! I just wanted to tell you that this can be the end of it!" These days, Wang Shi had been spending money lavishly in the Ling Mansion, with expenses totaling no less than a hundred taels of silver. This silver certainly wasn't coming out of Wang Shi's own pocket. Therefore, Zhou Yiniang must have known about this, and Yuandai understood this point very clearly.

  Wang's mouth opened, wanting to say something again, but was deterred by Yuandai's majesty and didn't dare speak up. Her face couldn't help but reveal a hint of discontent. Yuandai took in her expression and couldn't help but shake her head secretly.

  "After a moment of contemplation, Yuandai slowly said: 'Don't worry about my affairs! If I'm not mistaken, before the end of the year, someone from the mansion will come to take me back!'"