All Hail Cousin Brother

Chapter 94: Tyrant Abusing Power

Ingredients, spices, jewelry, and other items were all the most popular items on the market. Even Yang Shuwan was intimidated by this. She realized that the Xie Residence in Quan Zhou was not an ordinary business.

After Yu Jianjia received the raw materials, she only glanced at them indifferently before letting Hui Xiang put them away.

Hui Xiang was a little unhappy, so she said bluntly, “I know that you usually like plain colors, and your clothes are mostly simple and elegant. You’ve never worn such beautiful flowers before. I wonder what Eldest Miss is thinking by giving you such colors.”

Yu Jianjia said gently, “Even if it’s a gift, it’s not good to give something too plain, in case it’s unlucky.”

Giving gifts was also extremely important.

Hui Xiang said angrily, “Young Mistress, you’re just too kind. That’s why Eldest Miss doesn’t take you seriously. Not only is she stealing your limelight in school, but she’s also putting on an act in front of Master. Recently, even Ms. Ye hasn’t asked Young Mistress questions in class. After school ends, you haven’t been staying and receiving extra tutoring anymore. Master has been full of praise for her, and even asked you to learn more from her!”

At the mention of this, Yu Jianjia felt a lump in her throat and couldn’t help but cough a few times.

She did not have Yu Youyao’s generosity, nor did she have Nanny Xu, who could make all kinds of spices and medicinal tea to show filial piety to her father.

Therefore, she could only watch helplessly as Yu Youyao gained her father’s favor day by day. This made her father, who originally did not like Yu Youyao much, view her with greater satisfaction.

Hui Xiang didn’t seem to hear her young mistress’s cough. She still looked angry. “It’s just another powerful nanny. Who knows who made those filial things?”

Yu Jianjia took a sip of tea and said unhappily, “Don’t say so much. It’s a good thing that Big Sister is willing to study hard now. She’s the eldest daughter of the first wife in the family, so it’s only natural that Father values her more. Naturally, Ms. Ye has to give her more attention too.”

Hui Xiang stomped her foot. “Young Miss, you’ve always been in the limelight in this residence. She’s the eldest daughter of a widow and doesn’t have any manners. What right does she have to climb all over you?”

Yu Jianjia’s brows furrowed slightly, making her look even more pale and weak. “Don’t say anymore.”

Hui Xiang was indignant.

Yu Jianjia said with a pale face, “Send the pot of tea plums from the greenhouse to Big Sister.”

Hui Xiang’s eyes suddenly widened. “That pot of tea plums is extremely rare. How can we give it to Eldest Miss for no reason? Why don’t we exchange it for a pot of spring orchid!”

Tea plum leaves were like tea, and the flowers were like plums. They were usually not an expensive camellia variety.

However, not only was Young Mistress’s tea plum tea leaves beautiful and had elegant leaves, but their flowers were also red and white, complementing each other. They were beautiful and noble, and had always been Young Mistress’s favorite.

Yu Jianjia frowned. “The material Eldest Miss sent over is also very expensive. How can I use an ordinary spring orchid as a gift in return? Don’t make your own decisions. Just do as I say.”

Hui Xiang opened her mouth and thought to herself, “How is that petty? Young Mistress likes flowers and trees, so First Madam built a small greenhouse in the courtyard. The flowers and trees in the greenhouse were all prepared by Young Mistress herself. Even ordinary spring orchids are not ordinary. How can the flowers and plants that Young Mistress spent so much effort on not be as expensive as a few pieces of cloth?”

Yu Jianjia flipped through two more pages of her book, but was still vexed. She suddenly asked, “Fourth Sister has also learned some manners from Nanny Qian. How is she?”

Hui Xiang did not expect her to suddenly mention Fourth Miss, so she said, “She was made by Nanny Qian to stay in the courtyard to learn the rules, and the guards don’t even let her out.”

Without Yu Qingning in the residence, she felt that Yu Youyao was living a more comfortable life. Yu Jianjia frowned and said, “Fourth Sister has been punished previously and has to learn the rules. The maidservants and old maids have to treat her well. Get Old Niu to secretly bring some silver taels and go to the Hanlu Courtyard to get some. Let them take care of Fourth Sister more.”

Hui Xiang nodded. “I understand.”

Old Madam Niu was a loose-tongued person and liked to gossip. However, in the first few years, when Young Mistress shocked the horse pulling the carriage, it was Old Madam Niu who had used all her strength to stop the horse and save her. Young Mistress remembered Old Madam Niu’s kindness and handed over some miscellaneous matters to her.

Yu Youyao practiced writing for an hour before stopping and rubbing her sore wrist.

Dong Mei walked in. “Young Mistress, Old Madam, Eldest Master, and the others have all sent gifts to you. Do you want to take a look?”

Yu Youyao nodded. “Let’s go take a look!”

There were many gifts piled up in the room. Yu Youyao looked at them one by one. The “red lacquered phoenix-patterned seven-treasure makeup box” that her grandmother had given her was the most expensive.

The makeup box was in the shape of a four-sided tower. It had five floors on all four sides, and there were tassels made of jadeite and jadeite hanging on the four corners of the eaves. It was also inlaid with precious pearls and jades. It looked gorgeous and expensive.

Dong Mei couldn’t help but exclaim, “Old Madam really dotes on Young Miss.”

The craftsmanship of the lacquer carving was even more complicated than that of green jade. Small pieces of lacquer carving were easier to make, but it would take at least a month or two, or at most half a year to make. Such large and exquisite pieces would take an ordinary person a year or up to five years to make. Additionally, they were difficult to find. Ordinary families could not get many of them.

Yu Youyao held the jade hairpin that Yang Shuwan had given her and thought that she was going to feel the pinch again. She couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She asked thoughtfully, “It seems like it’s been many years since I’ve seen jade carving in the capital.”

Nanny Xu’s eyes flashed. “Not even in the palace for the past few years.”

Yu Youyao’s lips curled up. “I’ll wear this jade tomorrow. I can’t waste it.”

After saying that, she picked up the calligraphy piece that Second Aunt had sent over. After taking a closer look, she said happily, “It’s a calligraphy piece from Wang Xizhi’s early days. Although it’s not a famous piece, it’s still very rare.”

As Dong Mei smiled, she interrupted. “The people following Second Madam said that this calligraphy book is part of Second Master’s collection and is very precious. Young Master didn’t even give it to him when he wanted it earlier. Second Master only gave it to you because he knew that you were learning from Cousin.”

Second Master, on the other hand, doted on Young Miss very much. He thought of her everywhere and gave her the best gifts. Therefore, Eldest Miss was very close to the second branch.

“Second Uncle has always doted on me.” Yu Youyao was even happier. She asked Dong Mei to put away the calligraphy piece and picked up the scroll that her father had given her. She carefully unfolded it. It was a painting of a mountain stream.

The artist had painted a strange stone with light ink. There was a black orchid between the rocks. The black leaves were long and beautiful, and an ink orchid bloomed quietly among the leaves. Although it was simple, it was drawn well using ink and looked a little artistic.

It should be a painting that her father was quite proud of.