Chapter 5: Hatred

Yueyao was quietly looking at the person in the mirror, with a pale complexion, lifeless eyes, and a thin and helpless expression.

Yueyao wanted to go home for a visit, and she might have heard a lot of things happening outside. The biggest drawback of being in the inner courtyard is being cut off from outside affairs. Muqiu still had some knowledge about the inner courtyard, but she knew almost nothing about the outside world. Hualai was born into the family and had many relatives working in the mansion. She was much more informed about the outside world.

Putting down the pearl hairpin in her hand, Yueyao asked, "I have been copying scriptures for the past few months and haven't paid attention to other matters. Tell me, what is the current situation outside?" It was time to start paying attention to the outside world.

Hualai was a bit surprised. Today, the young lady was asking about these trivial matters. In the past, the young lady was the least patient to listen to such things. She had doubts in her heart but still told Yueyao what she knew, "Miss, there is nothing much happening in the outer courtyard. It's just that the madam has released most of the people we brought back from Jiangnan. Miss, the people who were released were all the ones the master and madam acquired in Jiangnan." The madam's reason was that the mansion didn't need so many people now, and releasing them could also accumulate virtue.

After pondering for a moment, Yueyao said, "When did this happen?"

Hualai was pleasantly surprised. She didn't expect the young lady to be genuinely concerned, "It happened three months ago, Miss. The ones left behind were all born into the family. Miss..." She hesitated.

Yueyao raised her head and spoke softly, "Just say it, there's no need to beat around the bush."

After getting Yueyao's approval, Hualai continued, "Miss, it's one thing to release the people acquired in Jiangnan, but the madam's dowry must not be released at will anymore. I'm worried that all these people will be sent away by the madam, and then you will have no one to rely on." When she said "no one to rely on," she didn't mean there would be no one to serve her, but rather that there would be no one she could trust. The people her mother brought with her were not only capable but also trustworthy.

Yueyao was taken aback. She hadn't thought about it in detail before, but now that Hualai had brought it up and considering her subsequent experiences, it seemed that she would indeed end up with no one to rely on. The people her mother had chosen for her were all very loyal, but they had either died, been sold, or married off for various reasons. In the end, only two people were left: Muqiu, who had no roots or connections in the mansion and was easily deceived, and the cunning Gu Mama.

Realizing this, Yueyao was shocked. Mrs. Mo had been plotting against her from the very beginning, and she had thought it was only after her grandmother's death that she had started scheming. "Where are the people my mother brought with her now?"

Hualai smiled. She had heard all this from her parents. Her mother had said that Mrs. Mo might want to sideline the young lady and leave her with no one to rely on, so she had advised the young lady to be more cautious. Unfortunately, no matter how many times she advised her, the young lady didn't listen. What worried her the most was that the young lady not only had no guard up but, more importantly, she didn't care about these trivial matters. Now that the young lady was willing to ask, it indicated that she had started paying attention to the outside world, which was a good sign. It meant that the young lady was becoming more aware. "Miss, the people who came with the madam have all been sent to the estate. Miss, the madam's dowry is in the hands of the old madam, and the contracts of these people are also in the hands of the old madam." The fact that the contracts were in the hands of the old madam was also a problem. However, the old madam loved the young lady, so there was no need to worry about it.

Hualai was reminding her that the dowry and the contracts of the people below her were not in her hands. Anything not in her hands was not secure. Yueyao's hand holding the silver bracelet paused for a moment, and then she said calmly, "I understand."

Hualai didn't know if Yueyao had understood the meaning behind her words. She didn't mean to say that her young lady was foolish and couldn't understand her intentions. On the contrary, her young lady was very intelligent. It's just that she used her intelligence in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and literature, and didn't care about these matters. In the past, as long as the old master and madam were around, there was no problem, and she could take her time to learn about these things. But now, if the young lady continued like this, she would suffer in the future.

Yueyao asked Muqiu to bring her money box. She took out a silver ingot of ten taels and said, "Take this and let your mother take good care of herself."

Hualai knelt down, "It's already a great favor for the young lady to let me go back and take care of my mother. How can I ask for the young lady's reward? Now that the old madam is no longer here, we have to save money for the future. The young lady has money on hand, and we won't have to worry about pleasing people in the mansion in the future." Hualai had come from the lower class and knew that maintaining relationships required a lot of money. The old master and madam couldn't be relied on, and only having money on hand could be relied on. Money made things easier.

Yueyao understood Hualai's good intentions, but she couldn't do that. Saving money meant she wouldn't be able to spend it on Mrs. Mo and her children. Besides, she wasn't short of money. The money her parents had left her would last her a lifetime at her spending rate. "Just take it. There's no need for so many words. Let your mother take care of herself for a few more days. Once she's in good health, you can serve me with peace of mind."

Hualai knew Yueyao's temperament. If she refused this kindness again, the young lady would be angry. So she accepted the silver ingot and thanked her for her kindness.

At this moment, Hua Lei was overjoyed, not because of the silver, but because of the change in the young lady. The young lady was extremely intelligent, she had just been too trusting before. As long as the young lady became cautious, with her intelligence, she wouldn't be afraid of those with ulterior motives.

Yue Yao looked at Hua Lei's expression and felt a slight sinking in her heart. Even if she were to live her life again, facing someone as ruthless and unscrupulous as Mo Shi, she wouldn't have enough confidence to deal with her. However, now that she was on guard, as long as she made sufficient preparations, she believed that Mo Shi wouldn't be able to manipulate her life as she did in the past.

After tidying herself up, Yue Yao was going to visit the old lady's room. Mu Qiu and Hua Lei both advised Yue Yao to rest well, but the old lady had already instructed her to come and pay respects on the first and fifteenth of each month. Previously, Yue Yao had indeed gone to pay respects on the first and fifteenth, while spending the rest of her time copying scriptures. However, this time, no one could persuade Yue Yao to stay.

Yue Yao insisted on going to pay respects now, firstly because others like Yue Ying went there every day, and she didn't want to make an exception. Secondly, she wanted to reappear in front of everyone and show them her change.

The heavy rain last night had left the eaves and the road covered in water. The middle stone path was slightly elevated compared to the sides, so it wasn't flooded. However, it was still drizzling lightly outside.

Aunt Gu held a green cloth umbrella, ready to support Yue Yao. Yue Yao said lightly, "Aunt Gu, you're getting older, and the road is slippery in the rain. Let Hua Lei support me. You can rest in the courtyard." After yesterday's discomfort, Yue Yao's mindset had become much more stable. Dealing with this person required patience, it couldn't be rushed.

She had suffered a great loss in her previous life for not listening to her mother's words, so she must remember her mother's teachings firmly in this life. What her mother taught her was practical.

Aunt Gu dared not say more. She had raised the young lady and understood her temperament very well. If she said more now, it would only make the young lady more annoyed. Although Aunt Gu was full of resentment, without finding the reason, she had to go along with the young lady's wishes. Aunt Gu handed the green cloth umbrella to Hua Lei, "Take good care of the young lady and don't let her get wet."

Hua Lei took the umbrella and wondered why the young lady was acting this way. Normally, the young lady obeyed Aunt Gu in everything, but today she had refused to comply. However, she couldn't ask. She held the umbrella with both hands and tilted it towards Yue Yao's side.

Yue Yao walked slowly on the stone path, letting the rain hit her hand outside the umbrella. It was icy cold, giving her a sense of reality.

As she walked, she thought about the past. After her grandmother passed away, Mo Shi had made her move out of the Orchid Pavilion because it was too far from the main house. She had moved in with Lian Yue Bing to keep her from feeling lonely. At first, she had refused, feeling that it was her father's courtyard and she couldn't bear to leave.

Mo Shi didn't get angry with her for this, but instead showed her even more love, providing her with the best of everything. She was treated better than her own legitimate children.

At that young age, she was ignorant and only felt joy and gratitude. She even regarded Mo Shi as her own mother. Even Mu Qiu often praised Mo Shi in her ear. Because of this, she eventually listened to Mo Shi and moved out of the Orchid Pavilion to live with Lian Yue Bing.

Looking back now, she realized how naive she had been. If someone could favor other children over their own, there were only two possibilities. One was genuine gratitude, which was the mark of a true gentleman. The other was ulterior motives, and Mo Shi fell into the latter category. She had been young and had lost both parents, which had led her into Mo Shi's trap. Once someone convinced themselves of their righteousness, they wouldn't turn back without a fight.

When the Shen family broke off the engagement, Mo Shi had deceived them and taken all the money. She didn't hold a grudge for that. The Shen family had rejected her because she was an orphan and couldn't provide support for Shen Conghao, which was understandable. Mo Shi's desire to take her money didn't make her resentful either. It was natural for people to covet such a large sum of money. However, Mo Shi had gone too far. She not only sold her to merchants but also sold her to be a concubine, treating her as a plaything.

After learning the truth, she had struggled with the idea of seeking revenge. If she did, it would expose the whole matter and ruin the entire family.

In the capital, she heard that her uncle, Lian Dongfang, had risen to the rank of third-grade official. Both of her cousins had bright futures, and Lian Yue Bing had married into the Luoyang Marquis's mansion, enjoying wealth and honor. Even the illegitimate daughter had married a wealthy merchant in the south.

They were all living happily, enjoying high positions and wealth, all at the expense of her family. Not only that, but she had also suffered so much torment. She was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept it, unwilling to accept it.

Since they could do such cruel things, why should she hesitate? At that time, she didn't consider the consequences of her actions. She was determined to seek justice for herself.

Yue Yao smiled bitterly. She had indeed sought justice for herself. But now, she didn't know if what she had done was right or wrong. For herself, it was justice served and revenge taken. But for the Lian family, she was a criminal, an unforgivable criminal.

A family of scholars and nobles had sold their own niece to merchants as a concubine. If this matter were to be exposed, the Lian family's reputation would be completely ruined, and they would have no place to stand in the capital.

The centuries-old scholarly family, the result of the efforts and struggles of the Liang family for many years, and the accumulated reputation of many generations, were all ruined by her. It's fortunate that she didn't die. If she had really gone underground, how could she face the ancestors of the Liang family?

Hualei and a few maidservants by her side saw that Liang Yuyao had fallen into silence again, emitting an aura of sadness.

Hualei hurriedly asked, "Miss, what's wrong with you?"

Liang Yuyao shook her head after a moment of shock and said, "Nothing. Let's go."

Seeing Liang Yuyao like this, Hualei was extremely worried. What's wrong with the young lady? Why has she been daydreaming all day, and not just daydreaming, but also exuding an air of sadness? She was fine just now!

Sigh, the young lady must be thinking of the old master's wife again.

Liang Yuyao walked slowly. It takes about twenty minutes to walk from Lanxi Courtyard to the main house. For others, it's just a short journey of half an hour. But for Liang Yuyao, it felt like she had walked through a lifetime.