Chapter 13: Punishment

Walking along the way, I felt that this manor was truly not very large; it certainly could not compare to the Marquis’s residence or the Prince’s residence from my previous life.

Thinking that I had not yet visited the original owner’s little brother—who, of course, was now my own brother—I said to the maid behind me, "Siqin, let’s go to Hao-ge’er’s place."

"Yes, Miss."

As soon as Yun Yi and her maid arrived outside the courtyard gate, they heard a conversation between two young maids inside: "This little young master really knows how to cry; it’s giving me a headache."

Then, another maid said with some pity, "The little young master is truly pitiful. To lose his parents' love at such a young age—it really makes one’s heart ache."

"Sigh, the whole manor is saying the little young master has a hard fate, that he克死了 (cursed to death) the Second Master and the Second Mistress. Do you think we’ll be cursed by him too?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have a death wish? Besides, that was just a coincidence. If you talk about the little young master like that again, I’m going to fall out with you."

Hearing this, Yun Yi could no longer tolerate it. She strode into the courtyard and snapped, "Insolent! A lowly servant dares to gossip about a young master?"

The two young maids were startled by the sudden reprimand. Upon seeing who it was, the maid named Caixia was so frightened that she knelt down immediately: "Third Miss, this servant was wrong. Please, Third Miss, forgive me."

Yun Yi had no intention of listening to her and said coldly, "Siqin."

"This servant is here."

"Drag this loose-tongued, lowly servant out and sell her."

"Third Miss, this servant knows she was wrong! Please, spare me!"

Soon, the young maid had her mouth covered by the older women in the courtyard and was dragged away.

The other maid who had spoken earlier knelt there, trembling. Yun Yi said coldly, "You may rise."

The maid said nervously, "This servant, Liuxu, thanks the Third Miss."

"You are a good one. Take good care of the little young master from now on."

"Yes, Third Miss."

No one had expected that the Third Miss, who had always been kind-hearted, would directly sell a maid serving the little young master.

Yun Yi thought to herself that since the Second Branch no longer had parents to support them, if she didn't stand up for herself, she would only be waiting to be bullied by others. It was fortunate that she had just recovered from a major illness; a change in temperament could be easily explained away.

Walking into the main room, the wet nurse was holding the little young master, trying to soothe him: "Little young master, be good. Let’s not cry. Shall Nanny hum a little tune for you?"

After entering the room, Yun Yi saw that the wet nurse, surnamed Zhao, was so anxious that sweat was beading on her forehead. She asked, "Hao-ge’er, what’s wrong?"

Seeing the Third Miss enter, the wet nurse bowed slightly while holding the little young master: "Replying to the Third Miss, the little young master has been crying for nearly half an hour. Nothing I do can soothe him; it’s worrying me to death."

Yun Yi had some experience in taking care of children, so she reached out her hands: "Come, let me hold him and see."

Seeing this brother who was not yet three months old reminded her of her sons when they were small. Seeing the child crying until his face was red, she took him into her arms: "Hao-ge’er, don't worry. With your sister here, I will surely protect you and see you grow up safely."

After holding and soothing him for a while, the little fellow actually stopped crying. He opened his large eyes and looked at Yun Yi, his gaze darting around.

The wet nurse said excitedly, "Look at how dependent the little young master is on the Third Miss. He stopped crying the moment you held him; this is truly a wonder."

The little fellow really was something; when Yun Yi teased him, he even started to laugh.

This made Yun Yi instantly fond of this 'toothless' little person.

After teasing him for a while, Yun Yi felt a bit tired. Just as she handed her brother back to the wet nurse, the child began to whimper again.

Yun Yi reached out a finger and tapped his forehead: "You little rascal. Sister will come to see you again tomorrow. You must be good, you hear?"