Maternal Auntie You, not wanting to let go, was crying very sorrowfully as she clung to Brother Zheng's clothes, "Brother Zheng, you are my lifeblood, you cannot abandon me. If you leave, what will I do?"
Brother Zheng did not hesitate and only held Yueyao's hand tightly, as if he was afraid Yueyao would let go and throw him back to this woman.
Yueyao reassured Brother Zheng and then gave Maternal Aunt You a cold laugh, but she did not respond to Maternal Aunt You and start an argument with a father's concubine, as it would lower her status. Yueyao turned to the silent Nanny Zheng and said, "Nanny, I will leave this matter in your hands." After speaking, Yueyao, without glancing at Maternal Aunt You, walked away, pulling Brother Zheng along.
Nanny Zheng had noticed Yueyao's strong approach from the start and was greatly shocked. When had the young lady become so assertive? Or was it that the young lady had just been too grieved before, constantly immersed in the scriptures and paying no attention to external affairs, thus everyone thought the Third Young Lady was easy to talk to? In fact, the Third Young Lady had always been strong-willed.
Nanny Zheng had previously heard that the Third Young Lady was somewhat bookish, and she had thought so herself for the past half a year. She hadn't expected that now she had changed completely. It seemed that reality and rumors were not the same!
Thinking this, Nanny Zheng immediately shouted at the following maids and old nannies, "What are you standing there for? Hurry and pull her away!" The Third Young Lady was the legitimate daughter of the mansion; though her parents were gone, the Old Madam treated her as dearly as the apple of her eye. Now that the Third Young Lady was being assertive, she dared not offend her.
The following maids and old nannies immediately went to pull Maternal Aunt You away.
Seeing Maternal Aunt You desperately clinging on and mumbling something unclear, Nanny Zheng's expression also changed, "Maternal Aunt You, the Old Madam has already agreed to allow the Third Young Lady to personally teach Young Master Tingzheng. You grew up in this mansion too, and should know the rules." Once the Old Madam had spoken, not even the Great Master and the Eldest Madam dared to object. If anyone dared to cause more trouble, with a word from the Old Madam, selling them off would not meet any objections.
Maternal Aunt You had thought it was just a whim of Yueyao; she didn't know that she had actually gained the Old Madam's approval. In Lian Mansion, the Old Madam's word was as powerful as an imperial edict from the Emperor. Nobody dared to defy it. Immediately, she let go of her hold.
Yueyao successfully took Brother Zheng away. As they walked, Yueyao noticed that Brother Zheng was slowing down and even frowned. She quickly stopped and asked softly, "What's wrong? Does your foot hurt?"
Brother Zheng shook his head.
Yueyao wanted to carry Brother Zhenzhen, but being frail and young, she couldn't lift him. Mu Qiu wanted to carry Brother Zhenzhen, but he was unwilling. Hua Lei tried to carry him, but he was also reluctant. All he did was clutch Yueyao's hand, refusing to let go. He was afraid that if he let go, his sister would not want him anymore.
Yueyao saw the panic flash in his eyes, feeling his fear. She squatted down, took off Brother Zheng's shoes, and saw a long cut on his foot that was bleeding.
Yueyao held Tingzheng, tears streaming down. Tingzheng had passed away early in his previous life due to these people's neglect. It was her failure as a sister; she truly owed an apology to their parents in the afterlife. Yueyao thought her tears had dried up in her previous life, but she still had so many now. Being able to cry meant she still knew heartache and still held hope for the future.
Tingzheng used his hand to wipe her tears and said softly, "Sister, don't cry. It doesn't hurt. Please, don't cry." While saying not to cry, he too had tears in his eyes.
Hua Lei and Mu Qiu didn't know why Yueyao was crying so sadly; they could only try their best to console her.
Yueyao stopped her tears and softly said, "Since you don't want them to carry you, how about sister carries you on her back?"
Mu Qiu initially wanted to stop her but was blocked by Hua Lei. Hua Lei whispered in Mu Qiu's ear, "Though it's a bit unorthodox, this could strengthen the siblings' bond. If Brother Zheng grows close to her, he could protect the young lady in the future."
Mu Qiu then stood still.
Brother Zheng was initially unwilling, but seeing Yueyao squatting in front of him, he obediently leaned onto her back, his thin little hand wrapped around her neck, his small head resting against her neck. He softly called out, "Sister, I'm okay now."
Yueyao's whole body shook, almost losing control of her tears again. But in the end, she managed to swallow them back. Their future path was still long, and the road ahead for the two of them was filled with hardships. To ensure that Brother Zheng grew up safely and that she herself lived peacefully and successfully, she needed to carefully plan.