Chapter 445: Does Eldest Sister Dislike Me Too?
Yu Qiu Yun’s arrival once again stirred up the resentment simmering in the house.
Yu Mei Yao, playing the part of a delicate and pitiful beauty, had already started wiping away tears, while Chen Shi and Yu Yingying once again recounted Chao Ge’s crimes, fueling their hatred further.
Yu Yingying simply wanted to complain in front of Yu Qiu Yun, her elder sister, while Chen Shi had a bigger plan—she wanted her accomplished granddaughter to exact revenge for them.
“I never expected that wretched Yu Luo to become so ruthless after exile! Forget that she dared to hang Grandmother on the city wall, but now she’s even lost Xiao Yun! That was our Yu family’s child!”
Yu Qiu Yun wasn’t particularly concerned about her illegitimate half-brother or Lan Yiniang. What truly shocked her was Chao Ge’s audacity.
She still couldn’t understand how that once timid and insignificant family had suddenly become so bold.
Even if the Yu clan’s legitimate members had fallen on hard times, she was still the Crown Prince’s concubine!
“It must be because they think our Yu family is completely finished. That’s why Ye Jiamei, relying on her maternal family’s support, has finally revealed her true, vicious nature.”
Chen Shi spat bitterly, her words punctuated by fits of coughing. After drinking the hot tea brought by a maid, her throat finally felt better.
Seeing that Chen Shi had calmed slightly, Yu Zhengqing finally spoke. He did not want Yu Qiu Yun to continue misunderstanding the situation.
“This matter is complicated. If your grandmother hadn’t provoked your second uncle’s family—if she hadn’t faked her own death to deceive me and lead me and Xiaoxuan into an attack—our relationship with your second uncle’s family wouldn’t have deteriorated so much.”
Chen Shi, who had just regained some composure, flared up again upon hearing Yu Zhengqing defend Yu Luo’s family. Her anger sent her into another fit of coughing.
Meanwhile, Yu Yingying, who had suffered the greatest humiliation, saw Yu Qiu Yun as her strongest ally. She had long stopped taking her father’s words to heart.
Ignoring Yu Zhengqing, she turned to Yu Qiu Yun and continued her accusations.
“Eldest Sister, Father is just too softhearted! I wouldn’t be surprised if Lan Yiniang was secretly killed by them and they’re just pretending not to know her whereabouts. I’m telling you, Eldest Sister, Yu Luo’s family has become arrogant beyond belief. They built a city in the wilderness and have treated us with extreme cruelty!”
As soon as Yu Yingying finished, Chen Shi nodded vigorously in agreement.
Both of them placed all their hopes on Yu Qiu Yun, believing that she alone could help them vent their anger.
If possible, they wished the Crown Prince would send an army to annihilate Yu Luo’s entire family. Only then would their hatred be appeased.
Having already suffered humiliation at the hands of Yu Luo and Ye Jiamei, Yu Qiu Yun’s temper flared as she listened to her grandmother and sister’s grievances.
She didn’t truly care about them, but she absolutely despised the fact that the people she looked down upon now dared to disrespect her.
These lowly people didn’t even acknowledge her status as the Crown Prince’s concubine. How could she possibly tolerate that?
“Don’t worry, Grandmother, Yingying. I will make sure to get justice for you both. But you’ve just returned and must be exhausted from the journey. Rest well for the next few days, and if you need anything, the servants will take care of it.”
After saying this, Yu Qiu Yun turned to her personal maid, Shui Yue.
Understanding the signal, Shui Yue immediately stepped forward and respectfully presented a thick stack of banknotes.
The Yu family had been destitute for over a year, and now that they were back in the capital, they needed money more than ever.
Most of the family—except for Yu Zhengqing and Yu Xiaoran—were already eyeing the banknotes with eager anticipation.
“Mother, Grandmother is getting old. I think it would be best if you managed the household affairs. Father has important matters to attend to, and once he recovers, he will be busy with court affairs again.”
With that, Yu Qiu Yun took the stack of banknotes from Shui Yue and handed them to Chang Huilan.
Chen Shi’s face twisted in displeasure.
She hated losing control over the household. But she also understood that their return to the capital was entirely thanks to Yu Qiu Yun.
Now that Yu Qiu Yun was a side consort to the Crown Prince, while the Yu family had lost its noble standing, there was nothing Chen Shi could do.
“The Yu family’s downfall cost me much of my dowry. I had to sell off a great deal just to pull the right strings. Right now, my funds are tight, so I can only spare three thousand taels for now. I hope you can make do.”
The moment they heard the amount, Chen Shi and Yu Yingying’s faces fell with visible disappointment.
Only Chang Huilan, who truly understood her daughter’s struggles, felt an ache in her heart. She took Yu Qiu Yun’s hands, tears welling in her eyes.
“You’ve suffered enough. The family does need money right now, so I won’t refuse your help.”
After leaving, Yu Qiu Yun took Yu Mei Yao with her.
She claimed it was to let her “stay in the Crown Prince’s residence for a while.”
Yu Zhengqing and Chang Huilan could already guess her intentions.
Given Yu Mei Yao’s low status as a concubine’s daughter and her exile, it would be nearly impossible for her to secure a good marriage in the capital.
Rather than letting her become someone’s concubine, it would be better for her to serve the Crown Prince.
Even if she could only become a minor consort, it was still preferable to a lifetime of obscurity.
At the very least, she could assist Yu Qiu Yun in the palace.
Chang Huilan was already resigned to this fate.
Yu Yingying, however, was not.
“Does Eldest Sister Dislike Me Too?”
As soon as Yu Qiu Yun left, Yu Yingying lost all composure.
“Father! Mother! Why didn’t Eldest Sister take me with her? Why did she take Yu Mei Yao instead?! I am her full-blooded sister! If anyone deserves to enjoy life in the Crown Prince’s mansion, it should be me!”
She had forced herself to stay quiet in front of Yu Qiu Yun, but now that she was gone, Yu Yingying poured out all her frustration.
Yu Zhengqing, still unwell, couldn’t be bothered to deal with his spoiled daughter. Without a word, he got up and left the courtyard.
“You? In the Crown Prince’s residence? With your crippled leg?” Chang Huilan scoffed. “You’d only cause trouble for your sister.”
“What do you mean cause trouble?! All I’d be doing is keeping Eldest Sister company! I wouldn’t be a burden at all! The Crown Prince’s household has plenty of servants! Mother, tell me the truth—does Eldest Sister dislike me too?!”
Now that they were back in the capital, Yu Yingying’s spoiled nature resurfaced in full force.
But Chang Huilan no longer had the patience to coddle her.
(End of Chapter 445)
