Chapter 10: Planning

The cicadas outside kept chirping incessantly. The August weather was already hot and humid, and the constant chirping of the cicadas only added to the irritation.

Yueyao leaned on the couch, seemingly unaffected by the cicadas' chirping. She quietly pondered her own affairs, undisturbed by the outside commotion.

Seeing that Yueyao seemed in good spirits, Hualei cautiously spoke, "Miss, there's something I'm not sure whether I should mention."

Yueyao turned her attention to Hualei. She trusted Hualei and Muqiu the most, so she knew that whatever Hualei had to say was for her own good. Yueyao nodded, "You and Muqiu are the people I trust the most. If you have something to say, just say it." Hualei and Muqiu were indeed trustworthy. If Hualei hadn't spoken up, Muqiu would have been unjustly killed, and he even took the blame for her before he died.

Hualei then said, "Miss, Yu Mama has passed away. Our Lanxi Courtyard is now short of a housekeeper. We haven't mentioned this in the past few days because we've been busy. The Madam will definitely send a new housekeeper in a couple of days. Miss, do you think we should bring back Deng Mama to serve you? It would be a great help for you." Yu Mama used to be Yueyao's housekeeper, but she left the courtyard due to some circumstances that occurred a few days ago.

Yueyao was taken aback, "Deng Mama?" It was only after she finished speaking that she came to her senses.

Deng Mama was her mother's personal maid from before, who came with her as part of the dowry and later became her mother's trusted confidante. However, after returning from the south to the capital, Deng Mama fell ill. She went to her mother's dowry estate to recuperate. Later, Yueyao wanted to bring Deng Mama back, but Gu Mama said that Deng Mama was still unwell, so the matter was put on hold. It was only later that she received news of Deng Mama's passing.

After a moment of thought, Yueyao shook her head, "It's not possible. The absence of a housekeeper in our courtyard is not due to the negligence of the Madam. It should be my grandmother who is selecting someone for me." If the Madam hadn't sent someone over, it must have been at the behest of her grandmother. Otherwise, the Madam would have already arranged for someone to come. In her previous life, a housekeeper did come later. However, the details were too distant for her to remember clearly.

Hualei was disappointed for a moment, but soon became joyful again. She exclaimed, "Miss!" It turned out that the Miss was thinking that the absence of a housekeeper was due to the old Madam's decision.

Seeing Hualei's disappointment, Yueyao smiled and said, "But Deng Mama can still come back." Seeing Hualei's puzzled expression, she continued, "I plan to bring my little brother over once I am in good health and have him by my side for guidance. Although my little brother's background is not good, he is still my own brother. In the future, the second branch will still rely on my little brother."

Hualei was overjoyed, almost clasping her hands together, muttering prayers for the heavens to bless the Miss and make her realize, "Miss, once you've figured it out, it's good. Young Master Tingzheng and Miss are true siblings, and in the future, Miss can only rely on Young Master Tingzheng!" Hualei had always wanted the Miss to take care of Young Master Tingzheng. If it were possible to bring him to the courtyard, it would be the best. If the Miss personally guided Young Master Tingzheng, their sibling bond would deepen. More importantly, when Young Master Tingzheng grew up, he would be the Miss's true support. However, the Miss was stubbornly fixated on copying scriptures, thinking only of filial piety, but it was the person that mattered most.

Yueyao smiled bitterly. Hualei had understood it all along, while she had not. With no parents left, she only had this one brother, and they had to rely on each other. It was such a simple truth, why hadn't she realized it earlier? If she had thought it through, she would have put in more effort to keep her little brother by her side and not let him leave at such a young age. She wouldn't have ended up with no one to turn to in times of trouble. "Yes, I will talk to my grandmother in a few days about bringing my little brother over. I will also ask her to bring Deng Mama back to take care of my little brother. I don't think my grandmother will refuse. This way, it will be a win-win situation for everyone." If both of them were placed in the courtyard, they could see what kind of person the Madam sent over. If she was suitable, then good, if not, she could be discarded.

In her previous life, her grandmother had sent a housekeeper over. However, her courtyard was under the control of Gu Mama. Later, her grandmother passed away, and the housekeeper left for some unknown reason. After that, Yueyao didn't want to think about what happened next.

Hualei nodded eagerly, "Miss, your idea is excellent." Hualei had always known that the Miss was intelligent. It was just that the sudden passing of the old Madam had deeply affected the Miss, causing her to do nothing but copy scriptures. Now, the Miss had finally emerged from her grief. The Miss had always been clever since she was young, but she had previously been fixated on those things. Now that the Miss had a plan, she truly had nothing to worry about.

Yueyao turned to look at Hualei, staring straight at her. Hualei's palms were sweating from the intense gaze. "Miss, is there something wrong?" she asked nervously.

Yueyao shook her head, "No, I was just thinking about something. I wonder if you could help me take care of it?" Yueyao wanted to drive Gu Mama away, but she couldn't do it herself, so she had to use a more discreet method.

Hualei was surprised, "Miss, please tell me. As long as I can do it, I won't refuse." It was the first time Hualei had seen Yueyao in such a state. It must be something extraordinary. Hualei felt a bit skeptical.

Yueyao whispered something to Hualei.

Bud was so shocked that her mouth hung open for a while before she said, "Miss..." What's wrong with Miss? Although Bud knew these days that Miss was disgusted with Old Madam, she didn't expect that Miss actually wanted to send Old Madam away. According to Bud, someone who betrayed their master couldn't be killed, but sending them away was a good solution. But when the person in question was Miss, Bud felt very surprised.

Yueyao also knew that she had to give Bud a satisfactory answer. Otherwise, the maids around her would become suspicious, and it would be difficult for her to act in the future. "Are you wondering why I have changed so much recently?" She knew that in order to dispel Bud's doubts, she must have a sufficient and convincing reason. If this reason couldn't convince people, it would be a never-ending problem.

Bud nodded involuntarily. Miss had indeed changed a lot recently. She was glad for Miss's change, as it meant she wouldn't have to worry about Miss being deceived in the future. But Miss's sudden change also made people suspicious. It seemed like Miss had changed all of a sudden.

Yueyao stood up, looked out the window at the swaying green bamboo, and then looked up at the deep blue sky outside. Her gaze seemed to reach very far, as if she could see her parents in the sky. "You heard Muqiu say that the night before you came back, I had a nightmare. That day, it wasn't a nightmare, it was my mother sending me a dream. Mother said that Moshi had ill intentions towards me, and her kindness towards me was for the sake of our second branch's wealth. Mother also told me that Old Madam was hiding something. Mother wanted me to protect myself. If I continue to transcribe scriptures every day, she cannot rest in peace even in the afterlife."

Bud covered her mouth with both hands. For a maid from a wealthy family, this behavior was quite improper. But she couldn't help it, the impact on Bud was too great, and she had to cover her mouth to prevent herself from screaming.

Yueyao thought Bud might not believe her and was about to say more. But she saw Bud regain her composure and start crying and laughing, "This servant said it must be the master and madam blessing Miss from the heavens. I didn't expect it to be true, the master and madam's spirits in the heavens." People in ancient times were very superstitious. Yueyao said it was her mother sending her a dream, and Bud believed it immediately. Otherwise, there was no way to explain Miss's abnormal behavior these days. After saying this, Bud couldn't help but clasp her hands together and chant "Amitabha" repeatedly.

Seeing that Bud didn't doubt her at all, Yueyao felt much relieved. "Old Madam is hiding something, and she cannot stay by my side anymore. But she is my wet nurse. If I send her away, it wouldn't sound good. So, I can only use this method." It's also necessary to confide in the people you can trust around you. This way, they can better act according to your intentions.

Bud nodded repeatedly. As long as Miss's mind wasn't on those things, she believed that those people's schemes wouldn't succeed. Now, whatever Yueyao said, she would listen to it.

Yueyao hurriedly instructed, "Money is not a problem. It must be handled flawlessly. No one can know about it. Have you found someone like that?"

Bud nodded, "Miss, my uncle is honest and reliable. If you trust him, I want to let my uncle handle it." Bud was a native-born child, and most of her relatives in the family were working in the mansion. Her uncle was also working in the outer courtyard. However, he was just a small role and didn't have any lucrative job. The lucrative jobs were all held by Moshi's people.

Yueyao thought for a moment. She didn't have anyone else to use right now, so she had to go with this, "Bud, don't tell your uncle the details for now. Just ask if your uncle can handle it flawlessly. Bud, it's not that I don't trust your uncle, but this matter can't be known that I'm the one behind it." It's best to act within one's means. She had to see if Bud's uncle could be used. If he agreed without any specific plan, he couldn't be trusted. If there was a specific plan, she could let him try. After all, it wasn't a matter of life and death. As long as she was cautious, her identity wouldn't be revealed. This way, he wouldn't have to bear the reputation of being ungrateful and cruel.

Having experienced the events of her previous life, Yueyao no longer cared about her reputation. But if she could avoid having a bad reputation, she wouldn't want to tarnish it.

Bud nodded in understanding, "Miss, I won't reveal the details for now. After all, this matter concerns Miss's reputation, it's not a trivial matter." If people found out that Miss had sent her wet nurse away for no reason, it would damage Miss's reputation. She had to be cautious!

Yueyao was quite satisfied with this, "Don't rush to find your uncle. Wait for the right opportunity to discuss this matter with him." If she went to find him eagerly, she would definitely attract Moshi's attention. It's better to find a flawless time to discuss this matter. She was impatient to see Old Madam's face, but she still had to be cautious.

Bud said, "I understand, Miss." She had to get Miss's approval before leaving. She couldn't act on her own.

Yueyao tried to calm her mind as much as possible. But whether she could really face all of this with a calm mind, she didn't know at the moment. But she would try to restrain herself and not let the previous incidents happen again.

After adjusting her mindset, Yueyao's first task was to go and pay her respects to her grandmother. Muqiu had prepared a set of moon-colored clothes for her. It looked very elegant.

Yueyao frowned, "Go and get that light blue outfit. This set is too plain and light." How could her grandmother be in a good mood if she saw her dressed in clothes that looked like mourning attire? If her grandmother's mood was bad, it would also affect her health.

Bud secretly nodded in her heart. Miss had considered everything now. A dream had made Miss grow up all of a sudden.

As she approached the Yisong Courtyard where the old lady lived, Yueyao happened to meet two handsome young men. Yueyao's eyebrows twitched slightly, and she quickly went up to greet the two of them, "Elder brother, second brother, greetings."

Tingli is the eldest son of the family, and the future responsibilities of the family will fall on his shoulders. So he looks a bit mature for his age. When Tingli came back, he heard the servant reporting the recent events in the family. This time, when he heard the way Yueliang addressed him, there was a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

Second Young Master Tingyi looked surprised, "In the past, little sister used to call me and my elder brother 'elder brother' and 'second brother'. Why is she so distant today?"

Yueliang hesitated for a moment, as she had forgotten how she used to address them. After hearing Tingyi's words, she responded, "If Second Brother feels distant, I will continue to address you as before. Elder Brother, Second Brother, take care."

Seeing Yueliang's liveliness, Tingli felt doubtful. The servant said that little sister was acting strange, and indeed she was. Of course, that was all there was to it.

Tingyi didn't feel anything was wrong, and with his lively nature, he happily led Yueliang into the courtyard.

Yueliang forced herself not to let go of Tingyi's hand, but she felt extremely uncomfortable inside. Now, she wanted to avoid anyone connected to the Mo family. Unfortunately, she couldn't avoid it.

When the old lady saw Yueliang, she frowned and said, "Your health is not fully recovered yet. There's no need to rush to pay your respects. If your health is not good, it would be even more inappropriate for me to worry about you every day. It would be unfilial."

Yueliang squatted down at the old lady's feet and massaged her legs, "Grandmother, rest assured, I am much better now. The doctor also said that it's better for my health to move around more. Grandmother, the weather is so nice today, I want to accompany you for a walk outside." Tang, the doctor, did indeed say this, and Yueliang was not making it up.

The old lady, upon hearing Yueliang's words, smiled faintly, and her whole demeanor brightened. It was evident that the child had indeed relaxed. The old lady smiled and said, "Alright, with your words, I can rest assured."

After Yueliang finished speaking, Tingli and Tingyi greeted the old lady, "Greetings to Grandmother."

The old lady looked at her two legitimate grandsons. Tingli was raised by the old master and excelled in everything. Tingyi was raised by her, and they only separated when he went to school. Although they were separated, their bond was deep. The old lady held Tingyi and looked at him with a pained expression, "Why have you lost so much weight? Is the food at the academy not good?"

Tingyi cheerfully replied, "No, the food at the academy is quite good. Mother also sends things over from time to time. Grandmother, don't worry."

Tingli and Tingyi were both studying at the most famous academy in the capital, the Bailu Academy. The academy's admission process was very strict, requiring three exams to pass. Even with connections, if one couldn't pass the exams, they wouldn't be admitted. Moreover, the bottom ten students of each semester would be expelled, and then ten new students would be admitted. For Tingli and Tingyi to be admitted to the Bailu Academy was a great relief for the family, as it meant they were likely to pass the imperial examinations. The worst students from the Bailu Academy were at least successful candidates in the imperial examinations.

Yueliang looked at her two cousins, both of whom were outstanding individuals. Especially the eldest cousin, although he didn't rank in the top three, he was the top scorer in the second tier. He married Peng, whose father held the position of Minister of Personnel. This marriage was a great boost for Tingli's future.

Tingyi was also outstanding, having passed the imperial examinations twice and married the eldest daughter of the Yongchang Marquis, Zhao. His future prospects were also very promising. The members of the main branch of the family all had bright futures. Only she and her younger brother, Tingzheng, one died early, and the other was living a miserable life.

The maid outside called out, "Old Madam, the eldest Miss, the second Miss, and the fourth Miss have arrived."

Yueliang snapped back to reality and approached her sister, Moon Bing, with a sense of guilt, "Second Sister, I was wrong that day. I will listen to whatever punishment you have for me." She was indeed in the wrong that day and had to apologize.

Moon Bing hesitated, looking somewhat displeased. If Yueliang wanted to apologize, she should do it in her courtyard. Why pretend in front of their grandmother? But seeing the stern look on her elder brother's face, she could only step forward and hold Yueliang's hand, saying, "That day, little sister, you explained everything to me. Why should I be so petty? But I want you to draw a special pattern for me as punishment!" Yueliang's embroidery skills were not good, but her drawing skills were excellent. The things she drew were exceptionally beautiful.

Yueliang pretended to be embarrassed, "Second Sister, I still have scriptures to copy. I don't have time for it now. Can we talk about it after the mourning period?"

In the previous life, there was no such thing during the mourning period. However, living together, she often drew patterns for Moon Bing, and the things she made were very exquisite. But now, not to mention that she was still in mourning, even in the future, she wouldn't have the mood to draw patterns for Moon Bing.

Seeing Yueliang's refusal, Moon Bing's expression turned sour. She hadn't minded when Yueliang pushed her to the ground and scraped her hand last time. She didn't expect her to refuse just to draw a pattern. Her mother had told her to be more generous, but could she be generous to such a person?

Tingli saw Yueliang's impatience in her eyes, deepening his doubts.

Tingyi didn't think too much about it. Seeing Yueliang's refusal, he exclaimed, "Little sister, it's just a pattern. Don't be so petty. If you finish it, give it to me instead."

Tingyi, being the second son, was subject to less restraint. He was straightforward and idealistic. So it was not surprising that he said such things.

Yueliang lowered her head, showing her unwillingness.

The old lady didn't say anything. But she could see that Yueliang was very averse to this matter.

Yue Ying smiled and said, "Second brother, third sister is still in mourning. Playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting are not suitable for her. Let's wait until she finishes mourning and then she can draw something for second sister. Third sister, what do you think?" People in mourning cannot appreciate these things, especially painting, which involves using colors. Mourning prohibits the display of bright colors.

Yue Yao shyly smiled and said, "Okay, I will draw for second sister after I finish mourning." This expression was consistent with Yue Yao's previous behavior. She had always been shy and reserved.

Yue Bing glanced at Yue Ying with a disdainful expression.

Yue Huan had some thoughts in her mind, but she did not consider getting close to Yue Yao. Others did not know, but her aunt was from the lady's chamber and understood the lady's temperament very well. Therefore, she would not get close to the third young lady, let alone help her.

After chatting for a while, mainly led by Tingyi, the others chimed in. Even so, they managed to make the old lady laugh heartily.

Before long, the old lady asked everyone to disperse. Tingli and Tingyi left first, followed by Yue Ying and Yue Bing. Only Yue Yao remained sitting there without leaving.