Lady Cheng saw Yueyao hugging her husband and crying, and her own husband looked like he too was about to cry. She hurried over to console them, and after a good while, Ma Chengteng finally regained his composure.
Ma Chengteng looked at Yueyao, who was wearing a Suzhou brocade dress with pear flower patterns and a Flowing Cloud Hairbun. She had a pair of blue butterfly hairpins embedded in her hair, adorned with several Beaded Flowers, long green jade necklaces hanging down to her shoulders, and a pair of rhombus-shaped jade earrings on her ears. She also had a Light Blue Sachet hanging at her waist. The simple and subdued clothing made Yueyao appear even more frail and pitiful, eliciting even more sympathy from Ma Chengteng. He personally wiped Yueyao's tears, "Don't cry. Stop crying. If anyone ever bullies you, tell your uncle. I'm here for you! I'll stand up for you."
Lady Cheng watched Ma Chengteng's actions with displeasure in her heart. She hadn't seen her husband be this good to their own daughter. Yet, for a girl of a different surname, he seemed to care even more. Nevertheless, she knew Yueyao's place in her husband's heart, so she dared not show too much on her face.
Yueyao nodded vigorously in response to Ma Chengteng's words, believing them. As long as her uncle was there, he would surely stand up for her. Wiping away her tears, she pulled Brother Zheng over to introduce him to Ma Chengteng, "Uncle, Aunt, this is Brother Zheng. Brother Zheng is five years old this year. This is his first time meeting uncle and aunt."
Today, Brother Zheng was dressed in Dark Straight Robe, his hair secured with a White Jade Hairpin. He also had a plain Sachet hanging around his waist. Brother Zheng had a face as round as the full moon and a complexion as fresh as the bloom of early spring.
At the sight of such an outstanding-looking child, Ma Chengteng smiled. He had seen many beautiful girls but this was the first time he saw such a handsome boy.
Ma Chengteng didn't have as many thoughts as Yueyao. Yueyao was quite worried about her remarkable appearance. If Yueyao had lived a sheltered life without ever stepping outside, innocent of the dangers of the outside world, she would not be so worried. But she had heard all sorts of things during the ten years she spent in the Nunnery. Many elite figures were fond of beautiful young boys and could be quite mad about it. Therefore, for her and her brother, who had no powerful backing, such looks could be a curse, not a blessing!
Yueyao cast aside those troubling thoughts and nodded to Brother Zheng to encourage him. At her encouragement, Brother Zheng plucked up his courage and called out to his uncle. Before, Brother Zheng was mixing greetings, but now Yueyao emphasized it to solidify the impression.
Ma Chengteng was not like Lian Dongfang; he had no expectations for Brother Zheng. If Yueyao hadn't brought him along, Ma Chengteng would have pretended not to know about him. Now that Yueyao had brought him, Ma Chengteng treated him as he would treat a blood nephew. Seeing the child so well-mannered, he smiled and took off the Mutton-fat Jade Pendant hanging from his waist to give to Brother Zheng as a meeting gift.
With the present received and seeing Ma Chengteng's kind and affable expression, Brother Zheng's nervous heart immediately relaxed.
The maid brought water for Yueyao to wash her face. Seeing the maid half-kneeling, holding up the Copper Basin high with both hands, Yueyao suppressed the strangeness she felt in her heart. In the Lian Mansion, the maids were also very proper, but they did not kneel to hold up the Copper Basin. This was the meticulousness only found in the rules of ducal mansions. Yueyao, composed, washed her face. After grooming herself, she went out again.
Lady Cheng said, "Old Master, I've prepared Begonia Garden for Yueyao to stay in these few days. What do you think, Old Master?"
Begonia Garden was the place where Yueyao's mother had once lived. Yueyao had no objections: "Uncle, Aunt, Brother Zheng and I will stay in Begonia Garden together!"
Naturally, Ma Chengteng had no objections.
From Lady Cheng's words, Yueyao knew that her uncle had stayed at home today especially waiting for her. Hearing this, Yueyao felt extremely touched.
Soon after, her eldest cousin, Ma Peng, second cousin, Ma Yue, and eldest cousin sister, Ma Linlin, also came over to greet them. Ma Chengteng did not care much about women and had only these two sons and one daughter.
Yueyao knew that her eldest cousin, Ma Peng, was the son of the principal wife, while her second cousin, Ma Yue, and eldest cousin sister, Ma Linlin, were born to Lady Cheng. The family truly didn't have many people; it was very simple.
In Yueyao's memory, her eldest cousin Ma Peng, was an uncomplicated, honest, and straightforward person.
Ma Yue was very clever and shrewd, the kind that knew how to deal with people. However, his smartness was not employed in the right way, and after the uncle's passing, Lady Cheng couldn't control him either. Engaging in all kinds of vices, he eventually led the Ma Family to decline a few years after the uncle's death.
Ma Linlin, a tricky and haughty girl. She always regarded herself as a lady from the Marquis' household, looking down on her. She did not consider that the Marquis' household had long declined. Now, like her, she was just a daughter of a government official. In her previous life, because of Ma Linlin's jeers, Yueyao left in a fit of pique. But she would not do such a thing now. After all, she was only staying temporarily for three to five days.
Now, face to face with the three of them, Yueyao led Brother Zheng to greet each one. Ma Peng handed Yueyao a small box he had prepared.
Seeing Ma Peng give a gift, Ma Yue hurriedly decided to give Yueyao the ornament hanging from his waist.
From the gesture of giving gifts, it was clear that the eldest cousin had put thought into it. As for the second cousin, he probably hadn't taken this matter seriously at all.
Yueyao, now eight years old, was at an age when men and women must be wary of propriety. She could no longer accept personal belongings from men so casually. Right then, she looked at Ma Chengteng, her expression one of difficulty.
Ma Chengteng held a position in the Ministry of Rites, naturally imposing even stricter demands on rules and etiquette. Upon seeing Ma Yue's behavior, his face darkened immediately.
Lady Cheng watched Yueyao, who caused her son embarrassment as soon as she arrived. It seemed that this mother and daughter had crossed her the moment they met.
Ma Linlin was a year older than Yueyao, yet still just a young girl. Ma Linlin looked down on Yueyao. For one, Yueyao's reputation was too great, always overshadowing her. Moreover, her own mother also disliked this cousin. Upon seeing Yueyao, she lifted her chin like a proud peacock. Knowing her father was present, she dared not be too disrespectful.
After greeting them, Yueyao said oddly, "Uncle, aunt. I heard there are two Cousin Misses staying at Uncle's house, but I haven't seen them."
Ma Chengteng glanced at Lady Cheng. If Yueyao hadn't mentioned them, he would have completely overlooked them.
Lady Cheng replied with a smile, "Your Cousin Miss Lizhi had matters to attend to outside the household and will only return this evening. Your second aunt is ill, and your Cousin Sister Ying is attending to her."
Upon hearing that his second aunt was unwell, Ma Peng's expression turned a bit sour. Seeing Yueyao look towards him, he said with a smile, "Yueyao, I'll take you to Begonia Garden. That's where your mother used to live."
Ma Linlin stamped her foot, feeling quite aggrieved and said, "Mother, father cherishes her more than me." She had never seen her father so amiable and accommodating before.
Lady Cheng's face turned cold. Her husband's actions certainly made it seem he regarded the Lian family girl more important than his own daughter. However, she couldn't express these thoughts in front of her daughter, "What nonsense are you talking about? Your father is only being partial because your aunt has passed away and because your cousin greatly resembles her. Being his own daughter, how could he cherish others more than you? Besides, she will only stay with us for a few days and then return to the Lian family."
Only then did Ma Linlin regain a sense of balance.
Once everyone had left, Lady Cheng started inquiring about the words of Old Lady Chen. Due to Yueyao's negligence, Old Lady Chen's bad-mouthing became even more fluent. Lady Cheng said coldly, "I'm afraid this wily girl is even more cunning than her mother." Watching her actions earlier, it was clear she deliberately annoyed Master to make him favor Yueyao less. At such a young age, her mind is already so scheming. It makes one wonder what trouble she could cause now that she's in Ma's Mansion.
Lady Cheng despised Yueyao greatly. Not because Yueyao was unlikeable, but because of her mother. As the stepmother, Lady Cheng herself held a slightly inferior status. When Lady Cheng first joined the Ma Family, the Old Madam was still around, and Yueyao's mother had not yet been married off.
After her marriage into Ma's Mansion, Lady Cheng was respectful to her mother-in-law and caring towards her husband's eldest son, Ma Peng, from his first wife. She was also exceedingly kind to her younger sister-in-law, Yueyao's mother, always thinking of her first when it came to good food, drinks, and items. Unfortunately, Yueyao's mother did not appreciate it and never humiliated Lady Cheng publicly.
For a time, Lady Cheng played the role of the obedient daughter-in-law in Ma's Mansion. After becoming pregnant and giving birth to Ma Yue, her thoughts began to shift. As a mother, she naturally wanted to secure better opportunities for her son. With Ma Peng in the picture, he would inherit all the family's assets, leaving her son to merely share the spoils, something Lady Cheng found unbearable. So, she schemed to get rid of Ma Peng.
However, her plan was discovered by Yueyao's mother, who intervened. This led to the Old Madam's disfavor and the stripping of her stewardship, leaving her suppressed in every aspect by the Old Madam.
The Old Madam, until her last breath, did not trust her and informed Ma Chengteng of the matter while handing over control to Ma Peng. To this day, Lady Cheng has not been able to lay a finger on Ma Peng, all thanks to Yueyao's mother, Madam Ma. Otherwise, Ma Peng would have died long ago, and he wouldn't still be a thorn in her side for so many years.
Lady Cheng yearned to destroy Yueyao as revenge for the indignities she had suffered over the years. But now was not the time; she had to wait for the right opportunity. Through careful behavior over more than a decade, she had eased her husband's suspicions. If she were to make any move now and he found out, she feared their marital affection would end as well.
Upon returning to his courtyard, his Steward Mother, Nanny Liu, asked him, "Eldest Young Master, did you meet your cousin miss? Is she well?"
Thinking of his little cousin, Ma Peng answered with a smile, "She's doing quite well. This is a gift from my cousin miss." He then took out the gift Yueyao gave him.
The gift from Yueyao was also a piece of embroidery. The workmanship was average, but the symbolism was auspicious, featuring magpies perching on branches, expressing the wish for Ma Peng to succeed in the upcoming autumn imperial examination.
Granny Liu, looking at the embroidery, said with a smile, "The Cousin Miss is really thoughtful, remembering that the Eldest Young Master will soon take the autumn imperial examination." Even though Granny Liu did not believe that Yueyao embroidered it herself, the sentiment was what counted.
Ma Peng smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
Granny Liu did not say anything further, but thoughts were stirring in her mind. Maybe, they could seek the help of their Cousin Miss. With this thought, she summoned a maid with a wave of her hand. After whispering in the maid's ear for a while, the maid finally left.