Chapter 96: A Stepping Stone
However, she had never expected that Yu Youyao would already have the dignity and demeanor of the eldest daughter of the first wife in the Yu Residence.
She, the most outstanding Third Miss, had actually become Yu Youyao’s stepping stone.
Yu Jianjia bit her lip hard. Her pale lips quickly turned red, and a faint trace of blood spread along the delicate lines between her lips, making her lips look red. It was an indescribable beauty.
Hui Xiang’s face turned green with anger. She looked at Miss worriedly and called out softly, “Miss…”
Just as Yu Jianjia was about to speak, she heard someone inside say—
“In the past, when Ms. Ye was teaching Third Sister, I could still understand a little. When I went back to my room to revise twice, I could still learn six or seven points. But now, when Ms. Ye is in class, it’s much faster than before, and I’m still confused.”
“Me too. I can still learn some of the Five Classics, but I don’t know anything about the Four Books. What should I do?!”
“I don’t understand either…”
These words were undoubtedly a stab to her heart. Yu Jianjia could no longer suppress the itch in her throat. She lowered her head, pinched her handkerchief, and covered her mouth to cough lightly.
This cough was like a thunderclap, causing everyone to be stunned. When they saw Yu Jianjia standing at the door, they revealed uneasy and awkward expressions.
The room immediately fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop.
Hui Xiang helped Yu Jianjia into the house and sat down. Ai Ye cleverly brought her a cup of hot tea.
When Yu Shuangbai saw this, she tried to help. “Third Sister, you’ve learned well. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can also ask for guidance.”
Yu Lianyu looked at Yu Jianjia. “Third Sister, there are many things I don’t understand about the ‘University’ that Ms. Ye mentioned just now. Can you lend me your notes to copy?”
Her words were meant to help her out, but when they landed in Yu Jianjia’s ears, they became a great provocation.
Just now, when their teacher was lecturing them about ‘University’, she had really taught it too quickly, so she hadn’t learned it completely. Therefore, after school, she stayed behind to revise it.
Now that Yu Lianyu was asking to borrow her notes, how could she lend them out?
Second Aunt treated Yu Youyao more intimately, and Yu Shuangbai was also closer to her. They were only sisters on the surface. She even suspected that Yu Shuangbai was deliberately targeting her.
Yu Jianjia forced herself to swallow the tea in her mouth. For a moment, she felt a bitter taste in her mouth. “Fifth Sister, I was outside just now, revising Mr. Xi’s lecture on ‘University.’ I have some new insights, but I haven’t had the time to write them down. I haven’t finished writing my notes, so it’s not convenient for me to lend it to you. Can I lend it to you tomorrow?”
When she returned to the courtyard, she would probably be able to master it after learning it carefully for a while.
Yu Lianyu’s eyes flashed, then she nodded. “Thank you, Third Sister.”
Yu Shuangbai changed the topic again. As they chatted, the few of them spoke excitedly about how the residence was going to make spring clothes. Which girl didn’t like to look beautiful? Who wouldn’t be happy to have new clothes to wear?
As a result, it was inevitable that they would talk about the materials that Yu Youyao had given them yesterday and discuss what kind of clothes to make. In the end, they couldn’t avoid talking about Yu Youyao.
In Yu Jianjia’s ears, it was really ear-piercing and uncomfortable. She felt that even the air was suffocating, and she wished she could go out and breathe.
At this moment, Yu Youyao walked into the side room.
Yu Fangfei’s eyes lit up and she quickly leaned forward. “Big Sister, I didn’t understand the lesson that Ms. Ye was teaching just now. Can you lend me your notes to copy? I’ll return it to you later.”
Yu Youyao did not know what had happened, so she nodded. “Sixth Sister, feel free to copy it. After you’re done, get someone to send it over.”
With that, she asked Chun Xiao to take her notes and handed it to Yu Fangfei.
“Thank you, Big Sister.” Yu Fangfei happily received a stack of notes. She looked at the neat handwriting on the paper. Although it wasn’t as beautiful as the small handwriting written by Third Sister, it looked very imposing. Big Sister was really impressive. Even her handwriting was different from others.
She looked up at Big Sister, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
Yu Jianjia’s breathing froze, and her breath was stuck in her chest. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Yu Youyao agreed readily on the spot. However, she gave a vague explanation and only wanted to share her notes tomorrow. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t have mattered, but once there was a comparison, everything changed.
Yu Youyao’s straightforward attitude was also indirectly indicative that she had already learned everything that the teacher had taught. Her excuse of hesitation was proof that she was not as good as Yu Youyao.
Just as Yu Jianjia had expected, Yu Shuangbai and Yu Lianyu couldn’t help but look back and forth between Yu Youyao and Yu Jianjia.
At this moment, Yu Youyao also sensed something and said, “I’ll go back first.”
After leaving the school, Xia Tao told her everything that had happened in the side room. Yu Youyao nodded in understanding and did not say anything else.
After returning to the Jade Courtyard, Yu Youyao did not even have time to change her clothes. She instructed Qiu Xing, “Bring over the medicinal cuisine from the kitchen. I’ll send it to Father.”
This morning, Yu Youyao had personally processed the medicinal herbs and instructed the small kitchen to brew them.
Her father had done his best. As his daughter, it was time for her to show her filial piety.
Qiu Xing quickly agreed and turned to leave the house.
Yu Youyao then got someone to bring out medicinal tea, tonics, calligraphy, antiques, and so on. She wrapped them up one by one and brought Chun Xiao and Xia Tao to the front yard.
Wen Zhu hurriedly greeted, “Hello, Eldest Miss.”
Wen Zhu looked a little ordinary, but she was knowledgeable and had a scholarly aura. She was her father’s personal maidservant. Yu Youyao helped her up and said politely, “Sister Wen Zhu, thank you for helping out. Father isn’t feeling well. I’ve been troubling you to take care of him these past few days. You’ve worked hard.”
When Wen Zhu heard this, she quickly said, “It’s what I should do. Eldest Miss, don’t make me look bad.”
The corners of Yu Youyao’s mouth curled up, and she changed the topic. “How’s Father’s health? I’ve brewed a medicinal soup that nourishes the body. It’s a recipe from the palace, so I sent it over to nourish Father’s body. I wonder if it’s convenient.”
Wen Zhu first glanced at the blue and white porcelain cup in Chun Xiao’s hand, then at the bags in Xia Tao’s hand. She quickly said, “It’s convenient. Master got off the bed yesterday.”
Yu Youyao cheered up. “Thank you, Sister Wenzhu.”
Wen Zhu led Yu Youyao to the small hall in the front courtyard. “Eldest Miss, please sit here for a while. I’ll go in and inform Master.”
With that, she called for a maidservant and ordered her to serve tea before entering the inner room.
The maidservant quickly served the tea. Yu Youyao thanked her and took a sip of the tea.
Suddenly!
There was a shattering sound from the inner room, as if a bowl had accidentally hit the ground. Before the sound could fade, there was another scream.