The doctor came in with a medicine box, took her pulse, and prescribed a new dose of painkillers.
The two maidservants didn't dare to be negligent. They personally brewed the medicine and respectfully brought it to their master's bed. They scooped up a spoonful and blew on it to cool it. Then, they said softly, "Miss, drink the medicine."
Yu Pinyan brought over a soft pillow and placed it behind her. Then, he spread out a handkerchief and covered her clothes.
Yu Xiang turned her head to the side with a deep frown.
The maidservant stared blankly for a moment before hurriedly handing over the spoon.
Yu Xiang shook her head left and right, refusing to comply. The maidservant was a bit anxious. She wished she could pinch her chin and force the medicine down her throat, but she didn't dare to show the slightest bit of impatience because Little Master Hou was watching from the side.
"Xiang'er, don't make a fuss. Once you drink the medicine, your leg won't hurt anymore." Yu Pinyan pressed down on her moving head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"Older Brother, only drink if you feed me." Yu Xiang grabbed his large palm and pitifully pleaded.
Yu Pinyan smiled helplessly. He took the bowl, blew on it to cool it, and then fed it to her pale lips.
This time, the little girl didn't dodge and obediently drank the medicine. Her face immediately distorted. It was obvious that she was very afraid of bitter. However, when he fed her again, she still drank in big mouthfuls. The tears that had just disappeared began to swirl in her eyes again. Her small appearance was indescribably pitiful, but her pitch-black eyes were filled with determination.
Even though she was injured like this, she didn't complain or hate him, nor did she collapse into despair. She was just throwing a little tantrum and throwing a tantrum. This little sister of his was stronger than he had imagined.
The youth's cold gaze gradually softened. After feeding the medicine, he picked up a candied fruit from the plate and stuffed it into his little sister's mouth. Seeing her eyebrows instantly relax, the corners of his lips couldn't help but rise.
"Older Brother, my leg doesn't hurt at all." Yu Xiang said with certainty.
The smile in Yu Pinyan's eyes deepened. How could the medicine's effect be so fast? The little girl was obviously comforting him.
"Older Brother, can you feed me medicine every day in the future? If you don't come, there's no one to talk to me. "The radiance on Yu Xiang's face dimmed.
"Okay." Yu Pinyan tucked the messy hair in front of her forehead behind her ear. His mood was very complicated. From now on, in this huge Marquis Household, Yu Xiang could only rely on himself.
"Pinky promise." Yu Xiang stretched out his pinky and wagged it gently. Even if they weren't related by blood, they would still have some feelings for each other over time. Yu Pinyan was the only person Marquis Yongle would protect her. Naturally, she had to get along well with him.
"Pinky promise." Yu Pinyan also stuck out his pinky.
Yu Xiang clung onto him and refused to let go. After a while, she couldn't bear the fatigue and fell asleep. Yu Pinyan waited quietly. Seeing that she had fallen into a deep sleep, he carefully pulled out his finger. However, he saw that she suddenly trembled. Her round eyes were filled with fear. When she saw the figure in front of the bed, she quickly regained her composure.
In the end, she was frightened by that disaster and left an indelible shadow. Yu Pinyan hurriedly leaned forward and patted her, murmuring, "Don't be afraid, Big Brother is here. It's okay, it's all in the past. "
Yu Xiang softly snorted and slowly closed her eyes. Suddenly, she forced herself to open them again and said, "Big Brother, help me get all my things back. She's too bad, I would rather throw them away than give them to her. " She didn't know when the real person would come back. It could be a few years, or it could be a few days. Yu Xiang had to start saving money now to make plans for the future. The things he gave to Yu Siyu were all very valuable. In addition, he gave her five taels of silver every month. After giving them to her for six years, he had given her a total of 360 taels of silver. It could be considered a huge sum. Even though she wasn't the descendant of the Marquis Household, these things couldn't buy her legs. She didn't feel the slightest bit of guilt when she took it.
Yu Pinyan didn't understand for a while, but when he saw her forcing herself to open her eyes and wait for him to answer, he could only nod his head repeatedly. After coaxing her back to sleep, he thought about it and shook his head with a smile.
He quietly walked out of the room and looked at the two maidservants standing in the corridor. He asked, "Do you remember what things Yu Siyu usually took from Xiang'er?"
These two maidservants weren't easy to deal with. They spent all of their monthly allowance on themselves and didn't save a single cent for Yu Xiang. They just took whatever they wanted and emptied the private treasury. In their opinion, Yu Siyu taking advantage of Yu Xiang was the same as taking advantage of them. Unfortunately, Yu Xiang was a fool and would grant her every request. Yu Siyu's wet nurse was also very good at stirring up trouble. If she caught them red-handed, they were afraid that the Matriarch would hear about it. They could only pretend to be generous, but in reality, they were scared half to death.
How could they forget what Yu Siyu took? They hurriedly reported it one by one. At the same time, their hearts were uneasy. They were afraid that Little Master Hou would investigate Yu Xiang's private treasury.
Yu Pinyan simply didn't care about the matters of the inner residence. After writing down the list, he ordered someone to ask for it and then returned to his study. Xiang'er lost her legs because of him and half her life was ruined. He would definitely do his best to make up for it. As for Yu Siyu, she could only take what she should take. It was best not to think about anything else. Even if the real Yu Xiang was wandering outside and it was unknown whether she was alive or dead, it still wasn't her turn to be Marquis Yongle's legitimate daughter.
-----
Yu Siyu was badly frightened yesterday. Late in the morning, she was still lying sickly in bed with a wet handkerchief covering her forehead.
A young maidservant came in with a washbasin and softly called out, "Eldest Miss, it's time to get up."
Yu Siyu turned over and ignored her. However, she heard the maidservant put down the copper basin and run out. She said in a surprised tone, "Mama Fung, why are you here?"
Mama Fung wasn't an outsider. She was Yu Pinyan's wet nurse. She did her best to raise Yu Pinyan and had some face in the Marquis Household. Yu Siyu couldn't afford to be offended and struggled to get up to greet her.
"Eldest Miss's complexion is very poor. Are you sick? Why didn't you send someone to find a doctor? "Mama Fung smiled kindly and said with concern.
Yu Siyu's eyes gradually reddened. She lowered her head and said in a low voice, "The doctor went to sister's place. I sent people to look for him four or five times yesterday, but he still didn't come. I'll just apply the handkerchief myself. It'll save me a lot of trouble. "
Mama Fung's smile faded and she inwardly shook her head. Even in this situation, she still didn't forget to put Second Miss in a bad light. How foolish. Although Second Miss wasn't of the Marquis Household's blood, she currently held the position of the daughter of the first wife. Competing with her was an attempt to suppress the first wife. How could the matriarch tolerate this? Moreover, Second Miss had saved the Marquis's life and was crippled. How could the Marquis treat her unfairly? Becoming enemies with Second Miss was equivalent to becoming enemies with Master Hou. She didn't know what Eldest Miss was thinking.
Mama Fung muttered in her heart. She didn't answer her and went straight to the point, "Eldest Miss, this old servant came under Master Hou's orders to ask for property on behalf of Second Miss. Please make things convenient for me."
"Ask for property?" Yu Siyu's weak voice immediately rose several octaves, "What property do you want?"
"It's the property that Eldest Miss used to take from Second Miss. This is the list. Please take a look, Eldest Miss. "Mama Fung took out a piece of paper from her sleeve and handed it over.
Yu Siyu took it and looked at it carefully. Her beautiful face distorted beyond recognition. She questioned in a shrill voice, "How can you take back something that you've already given away? Second Sister is so unreasonable, yet Eldest Brother is actually indulging her? " Some of the things she stole were placed in the room, some were used to bribe the servants, but most of them were used as money to help her concubine mother. How was she supposed to return them now? She never expected that Yu Xiang's personality would become so surly after her legs were broken. She continuously punished her to the point where she was unable to speak.
"Second Miss crippled her legs for Master Hou and gave up the rest of her life. Not to mention that Second Miss only wants her things back, even if she wants the stars in the sky or the pearls in the sea, Master Hou will get them for her. I hope that Eldest Miss will not bicker with her on account of Second Miss being seriously injured and unable to calm down. Master Hou is still waiting for this old servant to report back. Eldest Miss, please send someone to get them. "Mama Fung bowed slightly. Her attitude seemed gentle, but in reality, it was unyielding.
Since Yu Pinyan had spoken, how could Yu Siyu dare to disobey? After searching for almost an hour, she only managed to gather ten to twenty percent of the items. As for the remaining eighty to ninety percent, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't explain where they went. She was a young lady from the boudoir and had her own monthly allowance. The fu also provided for her food and clothing, yet she still spent three to four hundred taels every year. Mama Fung wouldn't believe that there wasn't something fishy going on.
She probably used it to help that concubine mother of hers. Mama Fung secretly noted it down and ordered people to carry away the pitifully small amount of things. She also added more than ten boxes of precious treasures that Master Hou had given her and carried them into Second Miss's courtyard.
Once Mama Fung was far away, Yu Siyu fell onto the couch in a daze. After a while, she came back to her senses and looked around the empty room. A huge sense of humiliation welled up in her heart.
Those things were originally the property of the Marquis Household. What right did a bastard like Yu Xiang have to take them?! She was the legitimate young lady of the Marquis Household. How could she be bullied by a bastard like her!
Madam was muddle-headed, and so was Brother. She didn't believe that Ancestor would also be muddle-headed and condone a bastard like her acting like a tyrant in the Marquis Household!
Thinking of this, Yu Siyu immediately changed her clothes and rushed to the main courtyard with red eyes.
In the main courtyard, the matriarch was sitting cross-legged on the couch with a scripture by her feet and a string of prayer beads in her hand. She was resting with her eyes closed. Mama Ma, who was accompanying her, quietly came in and whispered in her ear, "Matriarch, Eldest Miss is kneeling outside and crying. She says she wants to see you."
"Kneeling and crying? What's wrong? "The matriarch didn't even open her eyes.
Mama Ma told her about the Second Miss's request for the property. Only then did the matriarch open her eyes and say, "Yu Xiang has finally come to her senses. I've watched her coldly for many years, but today, she finally has some of the demeanor of a legitimate daughter …" When she said this, she thought of her granddaughter who was living outside and fell silent.
Mama Ma didn't dare to disturb her, so she stood obediently to the side and waited.
After a while, the matriarch waved her hand, "I don't want to see her. Go and tell her that destroying Yu Xiang is destroying 'Yu Xiang.' If she dares to mess with the legitimate children and ruin the reputation of the Marquis Household, even though I've been a vegetarian for many years, I can still be ruthless."
Mama Ma bowed and agreed. After she left, she passed on the message to Yu Siyu without missing a word.
Yu Siyu returned to her room in a daze. She pondered for an entire afternoon before she finally understood what the matriarch meant. The real Yu Xiang was living outside, and it was unknown whether she was dead or alive. She could be living a safe and smooth life, or she could be a slave or a maidservant. She could even be living in poverty. If she kept this matter under wraps, she could find her in the future and quietly erase her past, thus restoring the reputation of the Marquis Household. If she made a fuss, destroying two Yu Xiangs was secondary. What was more likely was that someone would use this against the Marquis Household. At that time, not to mention the matriarch, even her eldest brother wouldn't forgive her! If she was ruthless, it wouldn't be as simple as banishing her to a farm.