Yueyao waited two days, but did not hear from the Ma Family. She wondered if Nanny Deng's message had not been sent out. Otherwise, why hadn't her uncle sent someone to fetch her for a short visit?
Yueyao did not like Lady Cheng's repugnant countenance, but her uncle truly cared for her. Before he passed away, he would send her things every month. Although they were not valuable, they exhibited her uncle's concern.
Yueyao missed her uncle for one thing, and for another, it was much more convenient to get things done at her uncle's home. She felt anxious; it had already been two days. Logically, her uncle should have received the message and sent someone to fetch her by now. Why had no one come? Could it be that her uncle had not received the message?
In fact, two days were indeed short, but Yueyao was preoccupied with concerns and eagerly hoped to see her uncle soon. So she felt very anxious.
As Yueyao pondered this matter, Old Madam's chief maid Yuehuan and Qiao Hui came to tell her personally, "Miss, the Old Madam is asking for you. Someone from your maternal family has come to visit you."
Nanny Deng said with a smile, "Miss, the Uncle Master has sent someone."
Qiao Hui couldn't help but glance at Nanny Deng, wondering why she seemed especially happy that someone from the Ma Family had come. The Ma Family would send someone every two weeks with gifts. Now, sending someone to visit Miss was not anything unusual. Why was Nanny Deng so delighted?
Yueyao saw the question in Qiao Hui's eyes and changed the subject, "Miss Qiao Hui, my grandmother asks for me, but for what reason?" She knew in her heart what it was, but her face did not show it at all.
Looking at Yueyao's calm and composed demeanor, Qiao Hui's doubts dissipated, "Someone from the Ma Family has come, saying that Lord Ma misses you and hopes the Old Madam would consent to your short visit at the Ma's Mansion. The Old Madam said it is up to you to decide." When you had returned, the Ma Family's people came a few times, but you refused them all. This time they seemed earnest, and the Old Madam could not decline, so you must go and refuse them yourself."
Yueyao nodded, "Miss Qiao Hui, please wait. I will change my clothes and come right over."
Qiao Hui had no suspicions, for the Third Young Lady was in her everyday clothes, and it was only natural to change and freshen up to meet an outsider. Qiao Lan stayed behind to chat with Qiao Hui.
Qiao Lan and Qiao Hui had both served close to the Old Madam and had a good relationship. Now that an opportunity for a chat presented itself, they spoke more: "Qiao Lan, is it good serving the Third Young Lady?"
Qiao Lan smiled and replied, "It's good. The Third Young Lady is very easygoing, never scolding or beating anyone. If something is done poorly, at most Nanny will have to reteach the rules." As for learning ten characters every day, Qiao Lan did not mention it to Qiao Hui.
Nanny Deng didn't want Yueyao to toil, but Yueyao still taught four people ten characters every five days. However, she was not as patient as she was with Tingzheng; after teaching the large characters only five times, she left them to memorize on their own. Yueyao thought that, over time, they could accumulate a few hundred characters, which would be quite sufficient.
Nanny Deng entered the room, and her smile was hard to conceal. Uncle Master sending someone to take Miss for a short stay also told Lady Mo that the girl was not without support and was not someone Lady Mo could manipulate as she pleased. "Miss, why don't you freshen up?"
However, Yueyao shook her head, "No need." She wouldn't bother to freshen up; if she were to stay at her uncle's for a few days, she would certainly need to pack a few things. For now, she would temporarily respond. Otherwise, if her grandmother knew that she had sent the message to the Ma's Mansion inviting them to fetch her, she would certainly be displeased. Right now, within the Lian family, her grandmother was the only one she could depend on.
Nanny Deng laughed and scolded herself, "Look at me, I got too excited and forgot my place."
A smile also appeared on Yueyao's face, "It's good that they have come." After returning to her room and changing clothes, she followed Qiao Hui to the Upper Chamber.
The Old Madam did not want Yueyao to stay at the Ma Family for a short visit. It wasn't that the Old Madam harbored any prejudice against her maternal uncle, Ma Chengteng. It was just that she frowned upon Lady Cheng's behavior and was worried Yueyao would pick up these undesirable habits if she went there.
When the visitor heard the Old Madam making excuses, they quickly expressed that Uncle Master always missed Cousin Miss and hoped to have her stay for a few days: "Old Madam, my Old Master says if it weren't for being too tied up with official duties, he would have come himself to fetch Cousin Miss." The implication was that if the Old Madam refused, their Old Master would personally come to take her.
The Old Madam knew they were determined to have Yueyao stay at the Ma's Mansion for a few days. With things having come to this point, refusing would be too impolite. Therefore, the Old Madam had Yueyao called over, hoping she would refuse by herself.