All Hail Cousin Brother

Madam Yang was sick and had to keep warm, so the windows in the room were closed.

As soon as Yu Youyao walked into the inner room, a strong medicinal smell mixed with the sour smell that had yet to dissipate rushed into her nose.

Fortunately, Yu Youyao was already mentally prepared. Although it was pungent, she could still tolerate it.

Yang Shuwan was the only one in the room.

Yu Youyao walked to the bed. The beautiful daughter of Madam Yang, who used to be dressed brightly, had been reduced to skin and bones.

During this period of time, Yu Youyao would occasionally have nightmares about many related things.

In the nightmare, Yu Jianjia fell down and had a high fever for three days and three nights after failing to get the jade pendant. However, after the older Yao Yao was punished by her grandmother for kneeling in the ancestral hall, she did not have a “nightmare” or fever.

Madam Yang had pushed all the blame to Big Yao Yao.

The older Yao Yao was furious. She said that she hadn’t pushed Yu Jianjia and that she had fallen herself. Grandmother did some investigation and realized then that she had wronged Yao Yao.

Madam Yang was unreasonable. When Yu Zongzheng left the government office, she would cause trouble in front of him.

Yu Zongzheng doted on Yu Jianjia. Seeing that Yu Jianjia had a high fever and almost lost her life while his eldest daughter was fine, he was furious.

Not only did he slap Yao Yao, but he had also ordered her to hand over the jade pendant and give it to Yu Jianjia to apologize.

Since Yao Yao did not have a fever or fall sick, it had become a heinous crime.

Yu Jianjia had a fever and was seriously ill, so she was seen as the victim.

When the older Yao Yao found out that she couldn’t protect her mother’s belongings, she shattered the jade pendant on the spot.

This was undoubtedly a provocation to Yu Zongzheng’s dignity.

Yu Zongzheng was furious on the spot and grounded her in the courtyard. Their father-daughter relationship only existed in name.

Later on, no matter how sensible and obedient Yao Yao was, Yu Zongzheng still criticized her in every way.

After this incident, her grandmother fell even more ill. The older Yao Yao had been attending to her grandmother’s illness all year round.

Yang Shuwan no longer had any scruples and became even more arrogant at home.

The older Yao Yao was alone and helpless in the Yu Residence.

This was what the Duke Rongs Residence had schemed.

A small jade pendant had ruined Yao Yao’s life. It was extremely ridiculous.

Yu Youyao asked herself honestly. If she hadn’t had a high fever because of that nightmare like in real life and almost lost her life just like Yu Jianjia, could she have avoided Yu Zongzhengs punishment?

Yu Zongzheng would also have asked her for her mother’s belongings like in her nightmare.

And her choice would be the same as the Yao Yao in her dream. She would rather die than be dishonored.

Without the jade pendant, her cousin would die as young as in the nightmare.

Was it because the Yao Yao in the nightmare was too stupid and naive?

NO!

Her grandmother was seriously ill, and the Yu Residence was surrounded by wolves. In addition, she had a coveted dowry. Be it that Yao Yao or Yu Youyao herself, they would not have a good ending.

The tragedy of the older Yao Yao originated from Yang Shuwan, Yu Jianjia, Yu Zongzheng, Song Mingzhao, and even everyone in the Yu Residence. They weren’t the only ones as well.

The one who had destroyed that Yao Yao was this rotten Great Zhou Dynasty.

She now believed that this nightmare was an omen between illusion and reality.

Thinking back to her nightmare, the older Yao Yao looked like she was at the end of her rope, and how similar she was to the current Yang Shuwan. Perhaps this was the cycle of the heavens.

At this moment, Yang Shuwan, who was lying on the bed unaware, coughed and slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were dark and sunken. Her eyes were turbid, and a bright and blurry figure was reflected in her empty and wooden eyes. Her mind was dull as she opened her eyes with all her might, and the blurry figure became clearer bit by bit.

Yang Shuwan asked weakly, “Jia, is it Jia Jia?”

“First Madam, you’re wrong. I’m Yao Yao.” Yu Youyao’s voice was indifferent.

Not long after Yang Shuwan moved into the Tranquil Heart Residence, she became crazy.

In the first year, it was better. She was much more awake and less crazy. Later on, she often went hysterical. Even though she was given a lot of expensive medicinal herbs, the effect was minimal.

Perhaps because she was about to die, even her mind woke up.

“Jia, Jia Jia…” Yang Shuwan shouted her daughter’s name. She tried her best to widen her eyes and see the person standing by the bed clearly. It was Yu Youyao, whom she hated.

Her eyes suddenly turned fierce, and her eyes almost cracked. “B*tch, what are you doing here?”

After being scolded, Yu Youyao was not angry. She chuckled. “First Madam has woken up.” She changed the topic. “In name, you’re still Father’s second wife. Although you’re sick and can’t manage the household, I still have to tell you about what has happened in the family in the past two years.”

Yang Shuwan was stunned. Would Yu Youyao be so kind?

Without waiting for Yang Shuwan to react, Yu Youyao said, “Two years ago, Grandmother made the decision to take in a concubine for Father through proper means. She is the third daughter of Master Jiangs family in the Imperial Academy. Madam Jiang’s family is an aristocratic family of farmers and scholars, and her ancestors have a small fortune. Madam Jiangs father was also a scholar. Madam Jiang is generous and straightforward, and Father is very satisfied with her. The two of them have a good relationship.”

Yu Zongzheng thought highly of himself and looked down on his second wife.

Even though he had respected Yang Shuwan very much in the past, he couldn’t hide the fact that he looked down on Madam Yang who had a daughter as a concubine. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for her to grasp the fact that Madam Yang was disrespected and easily sow discord between them.

From the looks of it, only someone with Concubine Jiangs background was most in line with Yu Zongzhengs expectations for his wife.

Yang Shuwan’s turbid eyes turned red.

A family of farmers, scholars, and legitimate descendants… Every word and sentence was like a knife scraping against her body. There was nothing that Yang Shuwan did not understand.

She was waiting for her to die so that she could make room for Concubine Jiang.

Yu Youyao did not seem to notice Yang Shuwan’s emotions. “By the way, Concubine Qiu gave birth to a son for Father. Father invited the respected elders of the Yu Clan to name him Shanming.”

So, Brother Si was no longer the only son? He was even called the son of a concubine. Yang Shuwan was so angry that her eyes rolled back and she let out a terrifying sound from her throat.

Yu Youyao chuckled. “Father has also been promoted to the Left Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. Some time ago, he even asked the Imperial Court for a title.” At this point, she paused!