Yu Zeyan did not show mercy this time. The old madam was sent to the separate courtyard the very next morning.
The old madam closed her eyes, unwilling to say a word to her son.
Second Master Yu was the least favored among the old madam's three sons, so she only gave him a few casual instructions.
Whether the old madam was in the manor or not did not affect him much. The old madam's favorite was his fourth brother.
The third branch was from a concubine, so Master Yu San did not dare to be as casual as his two legitimate sons. He spoke a few more patient words.
Yu Mingyue brought a pair of knee pads over. "Grandmother, you are not feeling well. Yue'er has sewn you knee pads. You must wear them."
If your legs are not good, you should not be walking around. Stay in the separate courtyard and recuperate.
The old madam's eyes flew open in anger. This hateful girl, was she wishing her to be paralyzed? She would not wear any darn knee pads.
However, she could not refuse them.
"Yue'er is thoughtful." Her tone was sarcastic, marring the beauty of her face.
Actually, the old madam was quite beautiful. In her youth, she must have possessed a graceful and delicate demeanor, otherwise, the old Duke would not have been so smitten at first sight.
"Grandmother, you must get well soon!" Yu Mingyue said, tears in her eyes.
Truth be told, the more she acted, the more natural it became, and the more genuine it seemed.
The old madam was furious and closed her eyes, ignoring her. Crying, why was she crying? She wasn't dead yet.
Yu Zeyan did not mind being neglected by the old madam, but seeing her neglect his daughter, his heart ached.
He reached out and put his arm around his daughter's shoulders. "Yue'er, don't cry. Be careful of the wind; it might hurt your cheeks."
Yu Mingyue nodded obediently, tears in her eyes. "Yue'er will listen to Father."
This is great. Father is so much better than those in the storybooks.
Yu Zeyan did not see Cui Shi among the farewell crowd. After so many years, she had indeed suffered.
And that incident...
Cui Shi did not want to join the commotion. She and the old madam had disliked each other for a long time. At this point, there was no need for pretense.
Cui Shi was practicing calligraphy in her room when Dong Zhi rushed in. " Madam, the Duke has arrived."
Dong Zhi was the head maid in Cui Shi's chambers. She was usually calm and rarely flustered like this.
"He's here, so what are you panicking about?"
"The Duke is kneeling in the courtyard, bearing thorns and carrying a stick to beg for forgiveness..."
A drop of ink fell onto the paper. Cui Shi glanced down at it. It was no use. A perfectly good piece of calligraphy was ruined.
They were indeed mother and son, both quite adept at putting on a show.
Cui Shi ignored it and took a clean sheet of paper, starting a new piece.
In Qingfeng Courtyard, Cui Shi's word was law. Since Cui Shi paid no attention to Yu Zeyan, the servants naturally went about their tasks in an orderly fashion, as if they had not seen the Duke kneeling in the courtyard.
Seeing that the Duke had been kneeling for over an hour and the Madam remained unmoved, Granny Qin could not help but sigh again.
In the first few years of their marriage, the Madam and the Duke had been deeply in love. Under the 'special care' of the old madam, they had grown increasingly distant. Especially after the old Duke passed away, they had even reached the point of divorce.
"Madam, the Duke is injured and kneeling outside with his chest bare. If he falls ill, I fear the young lady will be distressed," Granny Qin pleaded.
"If he wants to put on a show, and I stop him, won't he accuse me of meddling?" Cui Shi sneered.
"Oh, my dear girl, what nonsense are you speaking? Since the Duke has made up his mind to send the old madam away, and now he is begging for forgiveness, it shows his intention to reconcile. Madam, for the sake of the heir and the young lady, please give the Duke another chance," Granny Qin urged anxiously.
If the couple continued to quarrel like this, and no one intervened, they would truly drift apart.
"If he sincerely apologized and spoke to me properly, would I not listen? Must he make such a spectacle that the entire manor knows, to utterly ruin my reputation? He and his mother are unwilling to let it go," Cui Shi was truly enraged.
"Madam, you are wronging the Duke. The Duke is a military man. This action is a imitation of the famous general Lian Po bearing thorns and carrying a stick to beg for forgiveness. Madam, please ask the Duke to rise. Can't husband and wife sit down and talk things through?"
Now, in the Yu manor, only Granny Qin dared to persuade Cui Shi.