Yueyao explained, "Brother Zheng is very shy. Nanny, please don't mind."
Nanny Deng naturally did not mind. She used to be the Inner Court Steward for the second branch and understood Brother Zheng's temperament better than anyone else. Brother Zheng's manners had improved a lot compared to before. The rest could slowly be taught. After all, children are young and very malleable. As for his not being close to her, she didn't care. As long as Brother Zheng was willing to be close to the young lady, that was enough.
Brother Zheng and Yueyao returned to the study where only two people remained, and Brother Zheng tentatively asked, "Sister, I heard you crying just now. Sister, has someone been bullying you?"
Yueyao patted Brother Zheng's shoulder with a smile, "No one has bullied your sister. It's just that your sister hasn't seen mother for over half a year and cried out of excitement. Brother Zheng, what would you do if someone bullied your sister in the future?" She could not lie to the child when he was so old.
Putting down the brush in his hand, Brother Zheng's face showed a determined look, "Sister, if someone bullies you, I will protect you."
Yueyao tousled Brother Zheng's hair, "Good, but to make sure your sister is not bullied, our Brother Zheng has to work hard to become a learned man. In the future, take the imperial examinations, become an official, and then no one will dare to bully your sister."
Brother Zheng clenched his fists. He would surely undertake the imperial examinations, become a Juren, a Palace Graduate, then an official, so he could protect his sister.
Yueyao, although not holding out hope, did not hinder giving Brother Zheng a direction to strive for. Whether it would be successful or not was up to fate, but the necessary efforts must not be lacking.
Brother Zheng was practicing calligraphy.
Yueyao was also practicing her plum blossom calligraphy style. Seeing that Brother Zheng's forehead was covered with beads of sweat, she had someone come in and fan Brother Zheng.
Nanny Deng stood by serving them, and the room also contained Hua Lei, Qiao Lan, Xi Juan, and four other maids. The room was crowded, but not even a cough could be heard.
At night, after Brother Zheng had fallen asleep, Yueyao sent everyone else away but asked Nanny Deng to stay and keep the night watch. Yueyao was well aware that with such a big change in her over half a year, Nanny Deng, who had watched her grow up, must be full of doubts. Therefore, she decided to confide in Nanny Deng and repeated to her what she had told Hua Lei before.
After Yueyao finished speaking, she choked up, "I was half-doubtful at first, but I didn't expect that the Wet Nurse would indeed be very close to Eldest Aunt's accompanying Nanny Hua. I used a ruse to test Nanny Gu and, to my surprise, mother immediately gave herself away. Eldest Aunt has been trying to find out how much Silver Coin I have. If it's not to plot against the silver in my hands, why would she inquire? I heard from Hua Lei that Eldest Aunt has even sent away the people who used to serve our parents intimately."
Nanny Deng's expressions shifted, but she grasped the crucial point and didn't lose her composure, "Young lady, what else did Madam say?"
Yueyao continued, "Mother also said that Tingzheng is the family member who shares my blood and told me to nurture Tingzheng well so that he can support me in the future."
In those times, people were very superstitious and believed in the existence of the underworld. This was true for Hua Lei, the Old Madam, and now for Nanny Deng too. Yueyao's words were well-rounded. Plus, all three knew about Lady Mo's temperament, so a mother from beyond the grave being restless and entrusting dreams to her daughter was not strange.
Full of resentment, Nanny Deng said, "Madam knew Lady Mo's nature the best." Madam had been cautious of a stepmother but had not been on guard against Lady Mo. In her dreams, she never would have imagined that the Old Master would follow so soon.
With a smile, Yueyao said, "Nanny, don't be sad anymore. As long as Brother Zheng and I are well, mother can rest in peace in the underworld."
Nanny Deng wiped away tears. The young lady, who had always been pampered and sheltered from worldly affairs, had, in just a short time since the passing of the Old Master and Madam, developed a maturity not typical for her age. How many hardships the young lady must have endured during these six months: "Young lady, we should tell the Old Madam about Lady Mo's vile schemes and have her decide for you." She realized her foolishness as soon as the words left her mouth.
Yueyao gave a bitter smile, "Without evidence, even if there was evidence, flesh is flesh, whether from the palm or the back of the hand. For the sake of my elder and second brother's future, Grandmother would definitely not humiliate Lady Mo. She would not only avoid bringing this matter to light but would also help cover it up. However, the fact that Grandmother sent away the Wet Nurse is already considering Yueyao's well-being. Now that she has sent Nanny Hao to be my Steward Mother, Grandmother has already done enough for me. I can't put her in a difficult position." Within reasonable limits, the Old Madam would certainly want to protect her. But beyond those limits, it wasn't possible.