In the central room, Yu Xiaoxiu stood behind Yu Shu and stared unblinkingly at the woman who sat down at the table after entering the room.
Aunt Cui held a heater in her hands and looked around the room before turning to look at the siblings. Her eyes skipped over Yu Shu and fell on Yu Xiaoxiu. Only then did she show some parental concern on her face. She raised her hand and said, "Xiaoxiu, come here. Let me take a good look at you."
Yu Xiaoxiu hesitated and did not go forward immediately. Instead, he stretched out his hand and quietly pulled Yu Shu's sleeve. He was happy to see his biological mother, but he felt sad at the same time. Half a year ago, they were driven out by the Ji family. His mother did not ask them to stay and watched them leave. They had suffered a lot before they came to Chang 'an. His sister had taken care of him along the way. No matter what happened, she had never left him. Compared to his biological mother, he was closer to his sister.
Aunt Cui saw that Yu Xiaoxiu was standing still and felt embarrassed. She pulled down her face and said angrily, "What? You don't even recognize your mother like your sister?"
"No," Yu Xiaoxiu said in a muffled voice.
"Then you didn't answer when I asked you. Are you unhappy to see me?" Aunt Cui's face was full of displeasure. Any mother in the world would be unhappy to see that their son was not close to her.
Yu Shu knew Aunt Cui's character. She was afraid that she would make Yu Xiaoxiu sad if she continued, so she interrupted and pushed Yu Xiaoxiu, saying, "Go and make a pot of tea for me."
Yu Xiaoxiu bowed his head and went out. Yu Shu turned her head and asked Aunt Cui, "Mother, how did you find us?"
In fact, when Yu Shu saw the maidservant next to Aunt Cui, she had already guessed what was going on. Last time when Ji Xingxuan talked to her, it was this maidservant who knocked on her door.
The siblings depended on each other for survival. Back then, they were ruthlessly driven away by the Ji Family. Now, if the Ji Family wanted anything from her, it would be the Six Lines Technique.
Although Yu Shu didn't admit it, Ji Xingxuan was sure that she learned the Six Lines Technique from Taoist Qing Zheng … Yu Shu knew that Ji Xingxuan wouldn't give up on the Six Lines Technique, but she didn't expect that they would directly bring Aunt Cui from Yiyang City. No wonder after that time, Ji Xingxuan didn't look for her again … She had this plan, so she didn't do anything else.
Aunt Cui was not as kind to Yu Shu as she was to Yu Xiaoxiu. She sneered, "You asked me how I found you, but I have to ask you. You ran to the capital with Xiaoxiu without saying a word. You've been in the capital for so long … You didn't even send me a letter. Are you deliberately making me unable to sleep?"
If this was really her 'mother', Yu Shu might feel wronged and sad to hear this accusation. But for Yu Shu, this woman in front of her was an outsider who had nothing to do with her … If it wasn't for Yu Xiaoxiu, she wouldn't let her enter this courtyard.
Yu Shu didn't want to argue with her, so she said, "I didn't think it through … I made you worry."
People's hearts were made of flesh. How could it not be painful? Aunt Cui saw that Yu Shu was indifferent to her, so she didn't have anything good to say to her. So, she came straight to the point and said, "You should pack your things and go back with me."
Yu Shu looked suspicious. "Where are we going?"
"Where else? Go back to the Ji family with me."
Yu Shu frowned, "Mother, you didn't forget that Xiaoxiu and I were driven out by the Ji family, did you? Now you want us to go back?"
Before Concubine Cui could open her mouth, the servant girl who led the way coughed lightly and forced a fake smile at Yu Shu. "Young Lady Yu, the Old Master didn't know that you and Young Master Yu were driven out of the clan. When he found out later, he reprimanded Third Master. The Old Master is a generous person. When he heard about the matter between you and your brother, he was moved by the fact that the two of you were alone and had no one to rely on. He specially allowed the two of you to return home and asked Concubine Cui to personally pick you up."
Hearing this dignified reason, Yu Shu almost burst into laughter. People who weren't from the same family wouldn't enter the same family. How could the reason that Old Master of the Ji family asked them to go back now be exactly the same as the reason that Ji Hyotani asked her to go back to be a concubine of the Xue family?
It was obvious that they had other plans, but they put on a compassionate attitude to coax them back, and then asked for the Gui's Liudiao Technique.
If she didn't agree, would they beat Yu Xiaoxiu badly again to force her to give in?
"Did the Third Master come with you to the capital this time?" Yu Shu didn't answer, but asked Concubine Cui instead.
Aunt Cui said, "Yes, why do you ask this?"
Yu Shu thought hard. What did she want to do? Of course, she was thinking about how to get this dizzy and silly mother out of the Ji family, so that she could cut off the last connection with the Ji family, so that they wouldn't hold this against her.
"Mother," Yu Shu sighed softly and sat down next to Aunt Cui. She took her hand and coaxed, "After half a year, Xiaoxiu and I miss you very much. I don't know if Third Master made things difficult for you after we left. Did you suffer in the Ji family?"
Faced with Yu Shu's sudden concern, Aunt Cui was stunned. She was reminded of her sad past, and her expression was unnatural. "So you also know that because of you two, I suffered a lot."
Yu Shu glanced at the yahuan behind her and smiled bitterly. "Of course I know what Third Master's temper is. At that time, because I was disobedient and refused to replace Fourth Miss and be a concubine, he beat up Xiaoxiu and almost lost his life. Only then did I learn to be obedient. Unfortunately, the marriage didn't go through and Xiaoxiu and I were chased out. There was no other way, so I came to the capital to make a living."
Hearing Yu Shu mention that past, Aunt Cui's expression became more and more uncomfortable. Her hand struggled in her daughter's hand to avoid having other thoughts. She had come to find Yu Shu because she had been instructed by Ji Hyotani to bring Yu Shu back. He had also promised that when they returned to Yiyang, he would give her a courtyard to live in.
But she had been a concubine for all these years. How could she not know how much truth a man's words could have? She knew very well what kind of temper Ji Hyotani had. Her son and daughter were bad natured. If they really made him unhappy, they might be beaten and chased out again. At that time, it would not only be her son and daughter who would suffer, but she would also have to suffer once again.
Yu Shu caught the change in Aunt Cui's expression. She squeezed her daughter's hand again and changed the topic, saying: "But Mother, don't worry. I will participate in this year's Dayan Examination. I will definitely do my best to become a Teacher Yi for you. When the time comes, you will have a Teacher Yi daughter. Let's see who dares to bully you and look down on you."
Hearing this, Aunt Cui was stunned again. "You, you participated in that Dayan Examination?"
Aunt Cui was a little dazed. As a concubine in the Yixue family, she more or less knew what the Dayan Examination was all about. Since when did her ignorant, incompetent, and unrepentant daughter become so capable?
Looking at Aunt Cui's reaction, Yu Shu knew that the Ji family did not tell her everything about herself. Grandfather Ji was working for the Celestial Commissioner. How could a scheming person like Ji Xingxuan not investigate whether she was a candidate this year?
She was now a Dayan examinee, not a nobody who needed to live under someone else's roof. Otherwise, she would have sent people to capture them like she did in Yiyang. Why would she need to play the family card?
"That's right. If you don't believe me, wait." Yu Shu let go of Aunt Cui's hand and ran into the room. She took out her exam slip and pointed at the seal on it for Aunt Cui to see. Afraid that Aunt Cui did not understand, she explained: "Look, this is the proof to participate in the Dayan Examination. Not everyone can take the exam. You must have a letter of recommendation from Teacher Yi. Don't be fooled by your daughter's failure in the past. For the past six months, I've been studying hard to learn Teacher Yi. I'm no longer the same as before. Otherwise, why would he write a letter of recommendation for me to take the exam?"
She was spouting nonsense again. It was obvious that Xue Rui had used his connections to get her this exam slip after the examination deadline. However, Aunt Cui did not know about this. She only thought that Yu Shu had really become capable. She asked in shock: "Is, is this true?"
"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, you can ask Xiaoxiu." Coincidentally, Yu Xiaoxiu came in with a cup of tea. Yu Shu waved at him to let him talk to Aunt Cui.
Of course, Yu Xiaoxiu would not let Yu Shu down. "It's true. Sister is very good at Teacher Yi. There's even an escort agency that specially invited her to be a trader. She will definitely pass the exam."
Only then did Aunt Cui believe everything. She couldn't help but ponder. No matter what, this child was her biological daughter. If she really passed the exam and angered him again, she would be Teacher Yi's mother in the future. Her status would be very different. Even if Ji Hyotani wanted to treat her in the future, he would have to think twice.
Seeing that it was about time, Yu Shu changed the topic: "Mother, it's not that we don't want to go with you if you want us to go back, but think about it, Third Master has always disliked me. If I go back and say something wrong to anger him, being punished or beaten would be a light punishment, but not being able to participate in the exam would be terrible. How about this, you go back today and tell Third Master that I will bring Xiaoxiu back to the Ji family after the Grand Yan Exam."
Seeing that it was about time, Yu Xiaoxiu became anxious. He did not want to go back to the Ji Family.
Before Aunt Cui could say anything, the maidservant was the first to object. "How can this be? Miss Yu should quickly pack your things and leave with us. Great Master is still waiting."
Yu Shu ignored the servant and stared unblinkingly at Aunt Cui, waiting for her reply.
"Then, then I'll go back and talk to Master and see if I can postpone your return for a few days." In the end, Aunt Cui was instigated by Yu Shu and changed her mind at the last moment.
Yu Shu happily said, "Mother, you're still the most reasonable. Don't worry. When your daughter passes the exam, I will be filial to you."
Aunt Cui heard this and felt comfortable. She pretended to be brave, "I'm your biological mother. I've worked hard to raise you up. If you don't filial to me, who else can you filial to?"
Yu Shu repeatedly said, "Yes." Then she said, "This room is cold. You should hurry back. I also need to prepare to study."
"Okay, then study hard." Aunt Cui stood and gave Yu Shu a rare bit of gentleness. She patted her hand and pulled Yu Xiaoxiu, "Mother will come see you in two days.
Yu Xiaoxiu held back his words and nodded unhappily. He hadn't seen his birth mother for half a year, but when he saw her again, she didn't even say a word of warmth.
The maidservant who led Aunt Cui here was anxious but had no choice. She couldn't force people to leave. She had no choice but to temporarily leave with Aunt Cui and go back to report.
Yu Shu and Yu Xiaoxiu walked them to the door. When they left, Yu Shu closed the door. She turned her head and heard Yu Xiaoxiu ask her, "Older Sister, why did you agree to go back?"
"Who wants to go back?" Yu Shu patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't worry. Not only will we not go back, we will also bring mother out."
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