Chapter 147
Chapter 147: Putting On an Act
The maid from the second gate said: “Madam Yu has come and wants to see Old Madam. She says she has made two sets of clothes and shoes to congratulate you on your birthday.”
Old Madam did not react for a moment.
Who was Madam Yu?
It seemed there was no relative with the surname Yu in their family.
Luo Ning asked: “Is she Yu Zhuo’s mother?”
The maid said yes.
Old Madam’s face darkened at once.
It had only been a few months since Yu Zhuo had strutted around the Luo family, helping Bai Ci Rong and Luo Yin bully Luo Ning.
If Luo Ning had not been quick and sent a maid ahead of time to invite Old Madam over, she would have suffered in their hands.
And this widowed Madam Yu had ignored the verbal promise her late husband had made with the Luo family. She wanted to abandon Luo Ning and ask to marry the cousin instead, trampling Luo Ning’s dignity under her feet.
Old Madam snorted and said: “Tell her to go back. The Luo family is not holding a birthday celebration. She got the wrong information.”
The young maid looked at Old Madam in embarrassment, then looked at Luo Ning.
From that, Luo Ning knew the girl had surely taken reward money from Madam Yu and wanted a clear answer.
Old Madam’s refusal sounded like words spoken in anger.
When the master spoke in anger, the servants could not pass those exact words along. If they did, they would make the master seem unreasonable. When the master’s anger cooled, that maid would be the one at fault.
Luo Ning said: “Go tell Second Madam and ask Second Madam to decide.”
The young maid answered and hurried out.
Old Madam was still upset and said: “I wanted to pity her, a widow with an orphaned son, but look at that face of hers. When she was in favor, she was so arrogant. Now she has the nerve to come and act pitiful.”
Luo Ning gently patted Grandmother’s back and said: “Grandmother, we can just ignore her.”
If Madam Yu had not come to the door, Luo Ning would have already forgotten that mother and son.
When she thought of Yu Zhuo now, her mood was calm.
It was not like last time, when her heart had twisted so hard it almost cramped from pain.
How could it be easy to truly let go? Only if you made your enemy taste the bitter fruit with your own hands.
Luo Ning had done that.
The thorns that had imprisoned her were being pulled out of her heart one by one. She was slowly gaining her freedom.
When Grandmother came back, she wanted to give out Buddha porridge again, and Luo Ning helped her pick out the Buddha counting beans.
Sorting the Buddha counting beans took a lot of time. Before they knew it, it was almost lunchtime.
Second Madam came.
She and Luo Ning ate with Old Madam. The main kitchen sent over Second Madam’s share of the dishes, and Luo Ning just shared Grandmother’s meal.
After setting Old Madam’s chopsticks in place and serving her dishes, Second Madam finally sat down.
Second Madam said: “Madam Yu came to my place to complain. She said that even though Yu Zhuo has been given the title of General, he still has not been given any post. These days he stays at home drinking all day. He wants to go guard the northern frontier, but the Yu family depends on him to hold up the household, and Madam Yu cannot bear for him to go.”
Old Madam still sounded unhappy as she said: “What, does she blame us?”
Second Madam said: “She does not dare blame us, of course, but between the lines she wanted to beg A’Ning to help and put in a good word for Yu Zhuo.”
Luo Ning fell silent.
Old Madam said: “Ridiculous. How did they treat A’Ning? They are truly selfish.”
Second Madam said: “I refused her. I told her A’Ning is only an intended consort and an inner residence young lady. How could she help with such a thing?”
Luo Ning listened quietly.
After lunch, Old Madam went to take her nap. Luo Ning and Second Madam walked back together.
The sky was cloudy, with no burning sun, so they could walk slowly to help their food digest.
Luo Ning asked: “Aunt, do you think Madam Yu’s visit is a bit too coincidental?”
Second Madam had not expected her to ask that. She became alert at once and said: “Why do you say it is coincidental?”
Luo Ning said: “You also know that Yu Zhuo admired Bai Ci Rong. Now that Bai Ci Rong has attached herself to the Marquis of Jian Ning Residence, the Yu family comes to our door. Is that not too coincidental? Yu Zhuo’s days really have not gone smoothly lately, but he is far from being down and out. Think about it. He is a General of third-rank official status. The imperial court pays him a salary. How is that being down and out? Madam Yu is the kind of person who treats small things as if they were huge. Would she really think Yu Zhuo has nowhere to turn and come to beg me for help? I am not even married yet. She never looked up to me before.”
Second Madam said nothing.
Luo Ning asked her to think it over again.
Second Madam thought carefully and also felt that what Luo Ning said was not wrong.
It was not as if Yu Zhuo had been forgotten for ten or twenty years.
The Yu family had never been powerful before. All of a sudden, Yu Zhuo gained great merit and was made a General. Madam Yu and Yu Zhuo had been so proud their tails were up in the sky.
How could it be that after just half a year, Madam Yu was crying that her son was having a hard time?
It was not as if he was going downhill.
Even now when he was idle, people still praised him, and he still had his salary. Deep down, Madam Yu was still very proud.
Second Madam came back to herself and said: “She is truly hateful. I almost fell into her trap. I even thought she was holding back and about to cry, so I took it as her trying to control her feelings. Now that I think about it, she was just putting on an act. She could not even cry.”
Luo Ning said nothing.
The more Second Madam thought about it, the angrier she grew, and at the same time her heart shook with fear. She said: “I really did not guard against this.”
Luo Ning said: “Once you have met enough strange and crafty people, you will slowly understand. Besides, this is only my guess. What if I am just being petty and judging others too harshly?”
Second Madam shook her head and said: “No, your guess is almost right. Madam Yu has no good intentions.”
Then she asked: “Has she joined up with Bai Ci Rong?”
Luo Ning said: “Bai Ci Rong needs helpers.”
A young and successful Valiant Cavalry General who was now forced to stay idle was a very useful fighter to use.
Since Bai Ci Rong hated Luo Ning so much she wished she could skin her alive, how could she let this chance go?
The Marquis of Jian Ning Residence was holding large banquets to gather money and to show off their power. Bai Ci Rong would surely make full use of such a good chance to give Luo Ning a heavy blow.
Back in Wenqi Courtyard, Luo Ning picked up a cup of tea and drank it slowly.
Qiu Lan asked if she wanted to take her nap. Luo Ning shook her head.
Luo Ning said: “The Prince once gave me a guqin made of paulownia wood. Find it for me. I want to practice.”
Qiu Lan agreed.
Very soon, she found the guqin. Qiu Lan set out the stool for Luo Ning, then sat beside her burning incense and asked: “Eldest Miss, why do you suddenly want to play the zither?”
Luo Ning said: “I was just thinking about what the Prince said.”
Qiu Lan asked: “Did the Prince scold you?”
Luo Ning said: “He once said that my methods are too soft.”
Qiu Lan said: “We are not going to the battlefield.”
Luo Ning said: “But every time Bai Ci Rong deals with me, she aims for my death.”
Qiu Lan said: “She has no humanity.”
Then she said: “Eldest Miss, you are not that kind of person. There is no need to make things hard on yourself. If you really become like her, you will not be happy. Your nature is different from hers.”
Luo Ning smiled and said: “That is why I want to play a little. I changed this piece when I was a child. It is very cheerful.”
Madam Bai said that her character was dull and not likable, but Luo Ning did not agree.
She often looked for small bits of joy for herself. Good food, fun things to do, even going wild together with Black Dog all made Luo Ning feel happy.
The hatred in her heart had to be washed away with blood, but there was still a bit of sunlight in one corner of her heart.
She could taste good food, feel the warm sun, and smell the fragrance of flowers. These things were important too.
Luo Ning said: “I will also want her dead, but I will plan slowly and carefully. Qiu Lan, we still have a long life ahead of us. We do not need to fight anyone for a moment of quick pleasure.” Her fingers gently plucked the strings.
She played a piece for herself.
This time, it flowed without any break.
With her happy music, everyone in Wenqi Courtyard felt that the Eldest Miss was in a good mood. So everyone’s steps became lighter, and their talking and laughter grew livelier.
Living in the middle of it, Luo Ning knew that she had gotten her life back.
It was full of life.
She could not throw away her good mood because of people like Bai Ci Rong and Yu Zhuo.