"Oh dear, Madam Ye, you wouldnât know; my familyâs Old Madam, she misses her granddaughter so much that she sheds tears. Some years ago, this child loved living outside more than in the Capital City, and stayed outside for so many years, causing the Old Madam to ask constantly when Linyu would return. Every time, she wanted us to send someone to fetch her, but each time our third Old Master stopped us. I donât know what he was thinking; how could being outside be better than being at home? Yet he insisted that itâs better outside, and let the child live there for so many years."
As she spoke, Ms. Li of Luo Family wiped her tears for effect, then continued, "Once we heard Linyu is back in the Capital, my familyâs Old Madam couldnât hold back her longing to see her granddaughter and insisted on coming over to see her. In this sweltering heat, just moving leaves one drenched in sweat. I advised Old Madam, suggesting Iâd bring my niece back and she could wait at home, but Old Madam wouldnât hear of it. She insisted that we couldnât come, she must come herself to get her granddaughter. You see, oh dear, Old Madam loves her granddaughter so much, even my Linyu is envious."
"Exactly, Grandmother, you know, cousin is a junior; my mother and second aunt and I could have handled it. Why trouble you to come in person?"
Yang Chuxia heard the Eldest Miss Luo, Luo Linfei, complaining about the Old Madam Luo while belittling Luo Linyu. "And I just donât understand, Iâve been serving by your side every day, yet Iâve never seen you think of me and care for me this much. But cousin, even after being away for so many years, you still think of her. In my opinion, cousin is quite unfilial too, not even coming back to visit all these years, never even sending a letter to ease the familyâs worries."
"You cheeky child." The Old Madam Luo tapped Luo Linfeiâs head. "Havenât you heard of the saying? Whatâs close stinks, and whatâs far away fragrant. Youâre around me every day, and Iâm tired of looking at you, why would I think of you?"
It sounded like a rejection, but was actually full of affection. It was evident that the Old Madam usually doted on this legitimate granddaughter from the first branch of family, it made sense, after all, they were close relatives.
"Oh, right, Madam Ye, where is my dear cousin? Why hasnât she come out?" Luo Linfei glanced around the room and asked again, "Grandmother came in person to fetch her, and she hasnât come out; isnât that too much pride? Moreover, itâs quite unfilial, having so many elders and relatives at home come to fetch her, and making them wait so long. No wonder she was raised outside; in terms of etiquette and manners, sheâs lacking."
Both this Luo Linfei and her mother were unwilling to acknowledge Brother Anâs identity and thus were reluctant to call her cousin-in-law, which suited Yang Chuxia just fine; otherwise, sheâd have to find a way to sever the familyâs connection.
But why did this young girlâs words sound so unpleasant to her?
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia heavily placed the cup she was holding onto the table, looked directly at Luo Linfei, and said, "Miss Luo has come of age this year, hasnât she? Has she found a match? I see youâre no longer a child, so why is there so little thought to your words? Is it that you couldnât speak properly as a child, or were you not educated well as you grew up? What do you mean by âno wonder she was raised outside, her manners are lacking?â Linyu has always been raised by our Ye Family, and is now living at Prince Anâs Mansion. By extension of Miss Luoâs meaning, are you saying our Ye Family lacks etiquette and manners?"
"..." Luo Linfeiâs face flushed red with anger, thinking, is this Madam Ye saying she has no brains?