As Gu Liyue stepped out of the shop, she saw her second elder brother, Gu Junzhe, and fourth elder brother, Gu Chengzhi, rushing over. Her heart ached. Due to their similar ages, she was closer to her fourth elder brother. Her eldest, second, and third elder brothers were all on duty on weekdays, so they didn't have much contact.
But no matter where she was or what happened to her, her elder brothers always showed up as soon as possible.
Gu Chengzhi had already started shouting, "Where is that person? Who made my sister scared?"
Gu Junzhe was much more mature. He helped his sister into the carriage and then asked, "Don't be afraid, sister. Tell your elder brothers what happened. We'll make the decision for you."
Gu Liyue recounted what had happened that day, "I never thought I'd meet her here... She recognized me. Second elder brother, I'm a bit scared."
Gu Junzhe couldn't hold her hand, so he just gently patted her on the shoulder, "Don't be afraid. Your elder brothers are here. Since you're scared, I'll make sure she never shows up again."
Gu Liyue quickly shook her head. She had thought it through clearly in the private room just now. Given the situation of the Liu family, she really didn't need to argue with them. Moreover, the Gu family was noble and couldn't tolerate the slightest mistake. If they attracted others' attention because of the Liu family, it would be a great loss.
"It's okay. I was just a bit scared to see her suddenly. After thinking about it, I'm already back home. Why should I still care about them?"
Gu Junzhe didn't comment. He carefully sized up Gu Liyue but didn't say a word.
Gu Liyue added, "By the way, second elder brother, could you help me find out why the Liu family is in the capital? But don't alert them. Just find out secretly."
Gu Junzhe nodded, "Okay."
After being scared, Gu Liyue fell ill when she got home. In a daze, she seemed to return to her childhood, lying on the hard bed board.
Miao shrieked, "A child with a father but no mother to teach! What time is it and you still haven't gotten up? You don't even cook. All you do is be lazy all day long! I've fed and clothed you, and this is the lazy good-for-nothing I've raised!"
Gu Liyue shook her head, "Yunniang..."
Miao raised the stick high and was about to strike.
Gu Liyue was extremely scared and cried loudly, "Don't hit me... I'll get up and cook right away..."
The stick didn't fall, but Miao's shrill voice continued to ring in her ears, "You only behave yourself after a beating. Hurry up. Your uncle has to go on duty, and your elder brothers have to go to the private school! If you dawdle any longer, I'll shove you into the stove and let you know what's what!"
But Gu Liyue still struggled to get up.
Then a gentle hand was placed on her forehead, gently stroking her head.
"Yunniang, are you back?" Gu Liyue said half-dazedly and held the hand tightly. Then she let go. This wasn't Yunniang's hand. Yunniang's hands were extremely rough from doing housework and washing clothes all year round. Although this hand didn't feel young, it was delicate and smooth. How could it be Yunniang's hand?
"Yunniang, Liyue is so scared..."
Seeing Gu Liyue in such a state of delirium from the illness, the old lady was so heartbroken that her eyes were red from crying. She quickly called Yunniang over and asked her to take care of Gu Liyue.
This time, Gu Liyue grabbed Yunniang's hand and felt her stroking. Finally, she felt at ease. Yunniang was here. Someone would help her. She didn't have to suffer anymore.
It was not until late at night that Gu Liyue fell into a deep sleep.
The old lady wiped her tears and motioned for Yunniang to come out. She asked, "Why is she so scared just because she met her aunt?"
Yunniang gestured and explained their previous life with some difficulty. She had been in the Gu family for so long and had tried her best to communicate with others on weekdays. By now, the maids around her could already understand her gestures, so they explained to the old lady beside her.
"Yunniang said that the aunt is a very strict person. She only loves her own children and is not kind to the young lady. When the young lady was very young, she had to get up early with Yunniang to light the fire, cook, do laundry, feed the chickens and ducks, pick vegetables in the vegetable garden, and learn embroidery from her aunt to supplement the family income. Later, when the family was in financial difficulties, the aunt found some washing jobs for Yunniang. Yunniang had to be busy from dawn to dusk. All the housework was left to the young lady alone. Even so, the young lady often didn't have enough to eat or wear warm clothes."
The old lady felt extremely heartache. Her beloved granddaughter had lived such a life in her uncle's house.
"Yunniang also said that the house was originally bought by the master and his wife, but the uncle's family took it over and even changed the deed. Later, the cousin forced the young lady's fiancé away and pushed the young lady into the water. The young lady became seriously ill. The uncle and aunt disliked the young lady for spending money on her illness and wanted to kill her directly. The young lady refused to die and managed to escape from the Liu family by all means. Naturally, she didn't care about the house..."
Even Jiang beside her couldn't help saying, "Liyue has always been gentle and weak. For her to make such a determination, it shows that she had no way out in the Liu family."
The old lady looked at her granddaughter on the bed. After thinking for a long time, she asked, "Yunniang, I've never asked before because I was afraid that it would make you sad and me too. But now, I still want to ask. How did Liyue's parents pass away? Before they died, didn't they think of telling us about Liyue's existence?"
A look of confusion appeared on Yunniang's face. It took her a long time to start gesturing.
"Yunniang said that at that time, the third master was a constable in Yangxin Town. Because of the third master's relationship, the uncle worked as a junior constable beside the third master. An accident happened during a case. The third master was seriously injured and died. When the mistress got the news and rushed there, she was also ambushed and assassinated..."
When talking about the death of the master and his wife, Yunniang looked dejected and continued to gesture with difficulty.
"Yunniang said that later, it was the uncle who sent a message to Yunniang, saying that the third master had asked the uncle to take good care of the young lady and that she should listen to the uncle in everything."
The old lady wanted to ask why Yunniang was so obedient just because the Liu family said so. But she paused. Over these days, she had already seen that Yunniang was a person without much initiative and always listened to Liyue. At that time, the third master and his wife had just passed away. Yunniang suddenly lost her backbone. Naturally, she would do whatever the uncle said.
Although Liyue was gentle and weak, she had a clear mind. It was just a pity that her parents had passed away too early. The old lady looked at Gu Liyue on the bed and felt a little touched. Her mother was also a gentle and innocent woman. Fortunately, although she looked like her mother, her inner strength was more like her father.
The old lady was worried about Liyue and stayed in Zhuyue Tower. Jiang got up tiredly and led the wet nurse and maids out of Zhuyue Tower.
The maid asked in a low voice, "Madam, I don't know when the young lady will recover. As soon as she falls ill, the whole family is in a complete mess."
Jiang rubbed her temples, "Before, others told me that my sister-in-law's adopted daughter must be a person who would do anything for wealth. At that time, I believed it. Now I finally understand what it means 'you can't judge a book by its cover'... If she hadn't been unable to stay in the countryside, who would be willing to leave their hometown and live under someone else's roof?"
The maid was stunned and lowered her head, "The young lady's uncle and relatives are really despicable!"