Chapter 5: Misplaced Anger

After soothing her daughter, Madam He returned to her own courtyard. She had just finished a cup of tea when someone came in to report, "Madam, the Old Madam has ordered the kitchen to send the tonic stewed for her over to Youzhu Courtyard."

Once the servant who delivered the message had retreated, Madam He slammed her teacup onto the floor. "That wretched girl really has a tough life. Didn't they say she wouldn't last these few days? It would have been a relief if she had just followed her parents."

Nanny Sun, who was standing to the side, spoke up, "Madam, please calm your anger. We must plan this carefully; you mustn't ruin your health over it."

Madam He said with some irritation, "How can I not be angry? If it weren't for the people in the second branch, why would my Ru'er have suffered such humiliation?"

Clearly, the entire second branch was being made to bear the brunt of her anger.

Nanny Sun did not know how to soothe the Madam, so she could only say, "I fear the Huo family wasn't truly interested in the Third Miss from the start. Otherwise, they wouldn't have so easily agreed to swap the marriage to the Eldest Miss, likely just to use the Second Master to build a connection with the Prince Jin's estate.

Now that the Second Master is gone, the Huo family has turned their backs the moment it suited them. In this old servant's view, it is a good thing. If the Eldest Miss had married into that family only to discover their shamelessness, she would have had no happy days ahead."

Originally, the Huo family's eldest son, Huo Jinxiang, was about to leave the capital for a local appointment. It had been agreed that after he and the Eldest Miss, Xiao Yunru, were married and had paid their respects to her family, they would leave the capital together.

Now that the Second Master had died, there was no longer any advantage to be gained. Using the excuse that the Eldest Miss needed to observe mourning for her uncle and aunt, and that the eldest Huo son could not afford to be delayed, the Huo family had come today to call off the engagement.

Madam He raised her hand and struck the armrest of her chair heavily. "It didn't happen early, it didn't happen late, but it had to happen right before Ru'er's wedding date. It's all that little jinx's fault."

Nanny Sun whispered, "Madam, rest assured. This old servant has already spoken with the servants attending to that courtyard."

Madam He narrowed her eyes upon hearing this. "Make sure there are no slip-ups that the second branch could use against us."

Nanny Sun's face was full of disdain. "Rest assured, Madam, they will certainly not notice anything."

She thought to herself: the second branch doesn't even have an adult in charge right now, so how could they notice anything unusual? Besides, which of the servants in this manor isn't a cunning fox?

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Back at Youzhu Courtyard, after the Old Madam and Madam He had left, the younger half-sister, Xiao Yunsan, stepped forward and offered a perfunctory bow. "Third Sister, I haven't finished my lessons yet, so I shall take my leave first. Do take good care of yourself."

Without waiting for Yun Yi to speak, she turned and left.

Yun Yi watched her half-sister's retreating back and frowned slightly.

Beside her, Xiao Chenrui's eyes flashed with disgust. "Sister, you must be on guard against Xiao Yunsan. I've noticed she's been getting close to the people in the first branch lately, and I caught the look of disdain in her eyes just now."

Yun Yi gave a soft hum. "She is nothing but a clown jumping on a stage. Let her be."

Seeing that his sister was tired, Xiao Chenrui said, "Sister, the porridge will be here soon. Have a bowl before you rest, alright?"

Yun Yi nodded in agreement. Her body had not had food for several meals; if she didn't eat something nourishing soon, she feared she wouldn't be able to hold on.

The little maid, Siqin, walked in carrying a food box. "Miss, the Old Madam is truly good to you. She ordered the kitchen to prioritize the tonic stewed for her today for you instead. I will serve it to you right away."

The little maid wanted to feed her personally, but Yun Yi refused.

The original owner's body was indeed weak after this ordeal, but not so ill that she couldn't get out of bed. She suspected that the first branch had a hand in this.