Chapter 6 Return to the Manor (Part 2)

After about half an hour, the carriage entered the city of Kyoto.

Zhi Xue lifted the curtain and looked on, filled with astonishment. To him, all of this was completely new. He had no idea that the streets of the capital were so vast and bustling. People bustled back and forth on the main streets, creating a scene as lively as the festivities in the countryside during holidays. Moreover, the attire of the capital's residents was far superior to that of the countryside. The variety of goods on display was even beyond anything he had ever seen in the rural areas.

Zhixue watched intently, unable to take her eyes off, and kept urging Yuli to look as well. However, Yuli had been living here for five years, so how could he not know? He was thus quite disinterested and responded while explaining to Zhixue the things to take note of after entering the Jade Residence. Although Zhixue was innocent, she was also astute and understood everything immediately, quietly remembering it all in her heart.

After approximately half an hour, the carriage finally came to a stop in front of a magnificent and imposing mansion.

Yuli sat in the carriage, not in a hurry to get off, waiting for Feng An and the servants to come and invite him.

"Third young master, we have arrived. Please disembark." Feng An personally drew back the curtains and invited him to get off the carriage. Seeing him sitting calmly without moving, wearing a faint smile on his face, Feng An couldn't help but feel a bit astonished. If it were any other thirteen-year-old young master, they would either be too excited to contain themselves or too nervous and afraid to disembark. But this third young master remained so composed and unruffled. Was he pretending, or was he truly like this?"

Zhixue got off the car first and then served him outside, saying, "Young master, please get out of the car."

Yuli finally stepped down from the carriage. He looked up at the familiar signboard of "Yufu" and a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes. Then, he lowered his head and followed butler Feng without glancing around, entering the Yufu estate.

The Yu Mansion was quite large, with five courtyards. The second courtyard was the main hall, and upon entering, one could see camphor and cinnamon trees towering on both sides, giving off an ancient and elegant vibe. After walking for a while, one finally arrived at the main hall. The main hall was square in shape, with a length and width of about ten paces each, and it was furnished with everything one would need.

Yuli was already very familiar with the Yufu, so she did not look around. Zhixue had been instructed by Yuli, and therefore obediently followed behind him, keeping her head down.

The surrounding servants noticed that although the two of them were dressed plainly, they walked with great composure, not like country bumpkins. As a result, their initial intention to mock them subsided. Moreover, with the noble airs that Yu Li naturally exuded, these people didn't dare to openly scrutinize him.

"Third Young Master, the master has not yet returned from the court, so allow me to lead you to the Eastern Courtyard to meet the Old Madam and Madam first," Feng An said.

"Please lead the way, Steward Feng." Yuli nodded and followed along with Feng An as they headed towards the eastern courtyard.

Old Lady Li resides in the southeastern courtyard, Lady Qin and Yu Zhangci live in the main house. Several concubines and young ladies stay in the northeastern courtyard, while the second wife resides in the northwest side. The eldest son, Yu Xuan, and the twin sons, Yu Chi and Yu Yan, who were born from a secondary wife, live in the southwestern courtyard. The galleries separate the north and south, while the main hall and the backyard separate the east and west. This arrangement is also to avoid suspicion.

Several people arrived at the eastern courtyard. As soon as they entered the yard, they saw an old nanny standing at the door. Yuli recognized her - she was the maid brought from the maternal family by Lady Yulao, and her name was Du Ruo. She had served Lady Yulao all her life, so she held a prominent position in the Yufu household. Even Yuzhang and Qinshi had to give her some face. Yuzhang and Qinshi called her "Aunt Ruo," while the younger generation had to address her as "Old Nanny Ruo."

She saw Feng An bringing two teenagers inside and couldn't help but size up the one walking in front, Yu Li. She noticed that he had six parts resemblance to his mother, Liu Shi, and four parts resemblance to Yu Zhangci. He was incredibly handsome and good-looking, but he maintained a straight gaze and walked with proper and steady steps, without any swaying or shaking. Even the hems of his clothes did not flutter much.

She couldn't help but feel a little happy in her heart and thought to herself, "Although this young master was sent to the countryside at a young age, his character and appearance are pretty good."

"This is the Third Young Master," Feng An said to Du Ruo. "Third Young Master, this is Nanny Du Ruo."

Yu Li hurriedly smiled at her and respectfully said, "How are you, Masa?"

If the nanny was also busy saying, "Third Young Master has finally arrived. The old lady has been eagerly anticipating him all morning. Finally, he has arrived." As she spoke, she lifted the curtains to let Yuli enter, "Third Young Master, come in quickly. The old lady and the madam are both waiting for you."

Yu Li nodded and motioned for Zhi Xue to wait outside, while she herself hurried inside.

As soon as I entered, I saw Madam Yu wearing a purple autumn dress with a pattern of longevity, and a purple embroidered headband. She was leaning on a couch, at the age of fifty-six, but she maintained her looks well and usually led a life of luxury. Therefore, her true age was not apparent. Sitting beside her was Madam Qin, the original wife of Yuzhangci. Madam Qin was the eldest daughter of Duke Qin Huan of the State of Qin. Although she was not exceptionally beautiful, being the daughter of a renowned general gave her a touch of masculine charm. However, having been the lawful wife for a long time, she had developed a somewhat sharp and harsh demeanor, thus displaying a somewhat unkind expression on her face.

Seated below the two of them were the second wife, Madam Qiu, and the two aunts, Madam Zhang and Madam Zhao. These few individuals held low positions within the Yufu, especially the two aunts, who could not be considered proper mistresses. That's why the nanny, Ruoying, hadn't even mentioned them just now.

As soon as Yuli entered, she saw her grandmother, Mrs. Li. Tears welled up in her eyes, her face seeming full of both indignation and sorrow. Immediately, she knelt down before Mrs. Li and said, "Granddaughter pays respects to grandmother and wishes you good health!"

Upon seeing Yuli's pitiful appearance and hearing his sincere tone, Li Shi's heart was moved and she couldn't help but feel compassion. Not to mention the fact that he was her own grandson. Therefore, she quickly got up and helped him, embracing him in her arms. "My dear grandson, you've finally returned!"

There was no hint of emotion in Yuli's heart, but her face still had a sorrowful expression: "Grandchild has been unfilial, bringing troubles to the family, and unable to fulfill filial duties towards grandmother and father..."

"Don't talk about these anymore. It's good that you're back now." Mrs. Li handed a handkerchief to Yuli to wipe away her tears and said, "My poor child, your birth mother passed away early, and you were sent away when you were young..."

As she spoke, she introduced to Xiang Yuli, "My dear grandson, this is your mother."

Yu Li turned around and glanced at the Qin family before quickly bowing and saying, "Greetings, Mother."

Qin Shi smiled and replied, "Good child, why do you need to be so formal with your mother? The two of us should not be so distant."

Yuli put on a shy smile on her face, but her heart was filled with nothing but a scornful laugh.

"This is your third aunt, and over there are Aunt Zhao and Aunt Zhang."

San shen bian shi er fang Yu Zhang Qu de qi zi Qiu Shi, yin wei Yu Zhang ci de shufu Yu Zhi Song hai you yi ge du zi Yu Zhang Shu zai chao zhong dan ren Da Li Si shao qing, bu yu Yu Fu yi zu zhu zai yi dao, ta pai hang di er, yin ci Qiu Shi shi san shen, Yu Zhang Shu fu qi cai shi er shu er shen.

Both of the aunts were not the legitimate masters. In terms of status, Yuli was slightly higher. Therefore, he only nodded at the two of them, then turned to face Qiu Shi and greeted her respectfully, "Nephew pays respects to Aunt Three."

"Oh, such a handsome nephew!" Aunt Qiu, who had a straightforward and cheerful personality, spoke her mind without hesitation. She then handed a red packet to Yuli and said, "With such a handsome nephew, this outfit is not suitable. Aunt Qiu doesn't have much money, so go buy yourself some new clothes!"

"Thank you very much, Aunt San." Yuli expressed her gratitude with a smile on her face, but deep down, she found it quite amusing. Jiu Shi, the second wife of the family, was also capable, but Yuzhang Qu was a useless person who couldn't achieve anything. He relied entirely on his older brother for a living, so his position in the household wasn't high. Jiu Shi had always held a grudge against Qin Shi and enjoyed teasing and belittling her, making her feel uncomfortable. Now, mentioning Yuli's shabby clothes was clearly insinuating that Qin Shi hadn't taken good care of her.

Sure! Here's the translation:

"Sure enough, after hearing this, Lady Yu also noticed the shabby clothing on Yu Li's body, and her face showed displeasure. She turned to Qin Shi and said, 'Yuemei, why is Li'er dressed so shabbily? Don't you send money to the temple every month? How come Li'er doesn't even have decent clothes to wear?'"

Qin Shi had not sent any money for seven years, yet she remained calm and smiled as she asked Yu Li with confusion, "Li'er, didn't mother send some? Where did all the money go?"

Yu Li looked innocent and naive, then said, "What silver? My son did not receive any silver."

Upon hearing this, Qin Shi's face contorted with anger. "It must be that damned servant who has been deceiving and embezzling! He swallowed the silver himself!" She then apologized to Elder Madam Yu, "It's all the fault of this daughter-in-law. I was so foolish to be deceived by that servant for so long! I will definitely expose that servant's true colors when I go back!"

"Alright, once Lier is back, you can fix this and fix that. If someone doesn't know, they would think that Lier has come back to interrogate us. Just give him a little reprimand, that's all." The old Madam Yu also had doubts about Qin Shi's statement, but now was not the time to confront Qin Shi's mistakes. Moreover, Yu Lier had been a "disaster" before, so it wasn't entirely Qin Shi's fault. Therefore, the old Madam Yu only spoke with a colder tone.

However, the Qin family did not stop there. They said to Yu Li, "Li'er, I specifically instructed someone to make three sets of clothes and asked Feng An to bring them to you. Why haven't you changed into them? How can you come to see the old lady dressed like this? Or perhaps Li'er, you don't like the clothes that your mother gave you?"

This statement implies that Yuli has been disrespectful in front of Madam Yu and has been picky and unappreciative.

Zhao Yiniang has always respected only the Qin family's status and authority, so she followed suit and said, "Is Third Young Master deliberately wearing these clothes? Is it to let others know that the people in our Yu Mansion are being harsh towards you, using this as a means to express your grievances?"

This statement was conveyed by both Madam Yu and Yu Zhangci. Upon hearing these words, Madam Yu's expression changed slightly. After all, their Yu Manor had indeed neglected Yu Li for eight years in the countryside. However, if this matter were to spread, it would damage the reputation of the Yu Manor. If Yu Li really intended for others to know how harshly he was treated in the Yu Manor, then he would truly be ignorant and unappreciative.

If it were the Yuli of the past, she would probably already be in a complete disarray and wouldn't know how to respond. But the current Yuli is someone who has experienced the scheming within the Marquis's Mansion. How could she be frightened by a few words? She quickly put on a puzzled and innocent look and said, "Why would Aunt Zhao say such things? Yuli doesn't understand, why would you want others to know that the Marquis's Mansion mistreats me? If this were to spread, it would bring no benefit to the reputation of the Marquis's Mansion. Yuli is also a member of the Marquis's Mansion, why would she do something that would backfire? Besides, when has the Marquis's Mansion mistreated Yuli? Aunt Zhao's thoughts, Yuli genuinely doesn't understand."

This is to say that Aunt Zhao has judged the intentions of others with narrow-mindedness. Aunt Zhao saw that the old Lady Yu frowned at her, her face turned slightly red, and she couldn't help but hold back. She forced a smile and said, "I was just making a comment. Besides, why does Young Master San have to dress like a beggar?"

Upon hearing this, Yuli's eyes turned red. She looked at the Elder Lady Yuli with a hint of a cry in her voice and said, "Grandmother, Mother did send me some beautiful clothes. I really want to wear them. However, the size of those clothes doesn't fit me. They look awkward on me, and the monks in the temple said it would be disrespectful to wear such clothes in front of you. It would be better to choose a clean and well-fitting outfit that makes me look more presentable and spirited. I'm sure you would like it too... I really like the clothes Mother sent, so I neatly folded them and put them away. When the one I'm wearing becomes unwearable, I can always change into the new ones later..."

He took another look at Aunt Zhao and cried out, "Does Aunt Zhao not like Lier? Why did she say Lier is a beggar? If Lier is a beggar, then what are Father, Mother, and Grandmother?"

Zhao Auntie speaks without thinking, Yuli is the biological grandson of the Li family. Just because he is a beggar, does that make Li's family an old beggar woman? Upon hearing this, Zhao Auntie immediately understood and her entire face turned pale.

Yu Li cried on her face, glanced at Zhao Yinian's expression from the corner of her eye, and thought to herself, fortunately, she was only thirteen years old and still young. Crying like this wouldn't be considered embarrassing, and she could handle acting effortlessly. Otherwise, she might not be able to continue acting!

"Aunt Zhao, you sure have some skills comparing our esteemed Third Young Master to a beggar asking for food. Are your precious Yu Chi and Li brothers beggars too?" Second Madam Qiu mocked her with a smile.

Beside her, Madam Yu's expression immediately turned very displeased upon hearing this. She first reprimanded Zhao Auntie, saying, "You have been in the Yu residence for more than ten years. How could you be so ill-mannered? Do you think you can talk back to Young Master San? Go back and copy the 'Female Precepts' ten times. During that time, you are not allowed to step out of your room!"

Aunt Zhao immediately fell silent like a cicada in winter, not daring to breathe heavily.

On the side, the Qin family was also a little annoyed with her. Just as they were about to mediate, they saw the old lady turn towards them and say,

"You're unbelievable. You can't even properly make a few pieces of clothing. How can I feel at ease leaving this huge manor in your hands?"

As soon as she heard about the matter of managing the Yufu, Madame Qin immediately became extremely respectful. She smiled apologetically and said, "It's my fault, I was too busy and caused Li'er to suffer. I will personally make some better outfits for her, which will definitely suit her."

Upon reaching her goal, Yuli decided to stop and said to her grandmother, "Grandmother, please do not be angry. Yuer came back to pay respects to you, not to make you angry. If you get sick from anger, how can Yuer take care of herself?"

Madam Yu smiled and said, "It's not your fault, my dear. It's all because of those who can't speak well and can't handle things properly. Alright, you must be tired. Go rest first. Let Feng An take you to settle down. Come join me for a meal in the afternoon."

"Yes, grandmother." Yu Li bowed respectfully towards Madam Yu and Madam Qiu, then said, "Mother, third aunt, I'm taking my leave."

With that, he took a few steps backwards and then turned around to leave.

As he walked away, a smile gradually appeared on his face. It was the first time Qin Shi had seen annoyance and frustration in his eyes. But she deserved it all, and this was just the beginning.

In the future, let's wait and see!