"Stop!" An old but sonorous shout rang out. Before Concubine Sun could turn around and react, the maids and servants behind her scurried to the sides like mice seeing a cat.
The old nanny with a high - coiled hair bun and wearing a brown dress walked in front. This nanny had a smiling - like mouth with upturned lips, looking amiable with a half - smile on her face. However, her eyes were as cold and sharp as knives in the cold wind. Just a glance made people shiver involuntarily.
The old lady walked in leaning on her walking stick. Seeing Liu Yushu being held down on the ground, she stamped her walking stick on the ground angrily. Overwhelmed with rage, she shouted, "Quickly let go of Miss Shu!" She glared at Concubine Sun with a look of hatred as if she wanted to devour her alive. "You slut! Seeing that I'm not in the mansion, you think you can dominate everything. Today, I'll show you who's in charge of the Grand Tutor's Mansion and who represents the law here!"
"Madam, I had no choice. It was the master's order. I didn't dare to disobey," Concubine Sun knelt on the ground, wiping away her tears pitifully. She was as changeable as the weather and instantly put on a pitiable act.
"Grandmother!" Liu Yushu was helped up by the maid. She threw herself into the old lady's arms, sobbing loudly with tear - filled eyes and a hoarse voice. "Grandmother, please avenge me."
Hearing her cry, the old lady felt as if her heart was being tightly grasped. Her eyes immediately turned red. She stroked Liu Yushu's back and comforted her, "My dear child, don't be afraid. As long as grandmother is here, no one can bully you." She told the nanny beside her to help Liu Yushu steady. "You've been frightened today. Go and rest in my room first." Then she glared at Concubine Sun fiercely. "As for these dirty people, don't let them sully your eyes. Grandmother doesn't want you to have nightmares tonight."
Liu Yushu was escorted to the Shanhui Hall by the people around the old lady.
Zui Tao helped her take a bath. Since she had caught a chill today, she needed to soak in a warm herbal bath. Firstly, it could prevent the chill from entering her body, and secondly, it could calm her nerves.
Liu Yushu sank into the bathtub, her head comfortably resting on the edge. She closed her eyes with a relaxed expression. Her beautiful almond - shaped eyes were still red and slightly swollen.
She let out a long sigh. Now that her grandmother was back, she could finally feel at ease.
Zui Tao put some pomelo leaves into the bathtub to ward off bad luck for her. "Miss, we were really lucky that the old lady came back today. I was so scared. That brute Concubine Sun could be so vicious. She really knows how to hide her true nature. When Concubine He was still alive, she was so humble, willing to do anything for Concubine He. Now, she acts as if no one in the mansion can do anything to her." Zui Tao was extremely angry. Just talking about it made her feel disgusted, so she spat on the ground.
"She's been pretending to be harmless to devour her prey. She's even more evil - minded than Concubine He. Look at how pitiful she pretended to be just now, always using our master as an excuse. She really knows how to absolve herself of blame," Liu Yushu opened her eyes, and her bright eyes were filled with hatred.
She thought she had never done anything excessive to Concubine Sun and her daughter, but the mother - daughter pair regarded her as a mortal enemy. Not only did the daughter play tricks to scare her, but the mother even wanted to ruin her.
If she could, she swore that she would surely teach Concubine Sun and her daughter a lesson. She wouldn't show any mercy. She would return evil for evil.
"Miss, it's getting late. Let me help you go to bed earlier. You've been tired all day," Zui Tao wiped Liu Yushu's body with a towel and then helped her change into clean clothes.
Lying on the couch, Liu Yushu tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. She turned over and called out to Zui Tao, "Is the old lady back?"
Zui Tao shook her head. "No. There's been no news from there."
Liu Yushu was curious. She wondered how the old lady would punish Concubine Sun.
Zui Tao seemed to read her mind. She smiled and said to her, "Miss, don't worry. With the old lady around, Concubine Sun will surely get her comeuppance." She was also grinding her teeth, waiting to see Concubine Sun's retribution.
"Okay," Liu Yushu closed her eyes and fell asleep. In her dream, she faintly heard a woman's painful screams.
The next day, when Liu Yushu opened her eyes, the person in front of her was not Zui Tao but an unfamiliar nanny.
She carefully sized up this kind - looking and amiable nanny. She remembered that this was the nanny who had served the old lady last night. She quickly got up and greeted, "Hello."
"Miss, you don't need to be so polite. The old lady is worried that you might catch a cold, so she sent me here to bring you some ginger soup. I've asked the girls to put it on the table outside. Please drink it after breakfast to reassure the old lady and let me report back to her," the nanny said.
"Yes, I understand," Liu Yushu replied politely. She felt that this nanny was very kind, so there was a bit more eagerness in her eyes. "May I know how to address you?"
"You can just call me Nanny Xie," Nanny Xie put the towel into the basin brought by the maid. She tested the water temperature with her hand. It was just right, neither too hot nor too cold. After soaking the towel, she handed it to Liu Yushu and personally served her to wash her face and rinse her mouth.
"Thank you, Nanny Xie," Liu Yushu was naturally polite to this nanny who served the old lady.
"Miss, you're welcome. You're about the same age as my granddaughter. When I see you, I feel very kind - hearted," Nanny Xie said with a loving smile and a gentle tone.
After breakfast, Liu Yushu wanted to go and pay her respects to the old lady, but Nanny Xie stopped her outside, saying that the old lady was not feeling well and was resting.
Hearing this, Liu Yushu immediately got anxious. "Is grandmother sick? Is it serious?"
Nanny Xie smiled and comforted her, "Miss, don't worry. She's just an old person. She went to bed too late last night, so she's just catching up on sleep today."
Liu Yushu heaved a sigh of relief. After returning to her room, Zui Tao prepared plum tea for her. She took a sip, but her curiosity got the better of her. She looked at Zui Tao and asked, "How was Concubine Sun punished? Did you go and find out?"
Zui Tao grinned. "I went out to find out early this morning. The people in Bilian Courtyard are very tight - lipped and won't say a word. But there's no wall that doesn't have a crack. I only heard that Concubine Sun screamed horribly last night. She begged for mercy, but it was all in vain. Finally, her mouth was gagged, and it was said that she couldn't even get out of bed."
Unable to get out of bed? Could it be that her legs were broken?
Liu Yushu frowned, feeling quite puzzled. Anyway, she couldn't hear any gossips in the old lady's courtyard. As long as she was by the old lady's side, her days were always peaceful.
Zui Tao also said that the lecherous Taoist priest was beaten to a pulp and then thrown into the mass grave. He ended up in a miserable state.
Hearing this, Liu Yushu felt a sense of satisfaction. She even thought that it was too easy for that lecherous Taoist priest who spouted nonsense to just die like that. He should have been tortured for three days and three nights and then bitten to death by mad dogs!
As for the new Nanny Xie, she also piqued Liu Yushu's curiosity.
Nanny Lu, who used to serve the old lady, had disappeared. Liu Yushu had a feeling that Nanny Lu was probably in danger. But she needed to see the body to be sure. So, she couldn't draw a conclusion about Nanny Lu's fate for now.
After inquiring, Zui Tao told her that Nanny Xie was a very capable person. She had served the old lady when the old lady was young. Later, the old lady sent her to serve the queen in the palace. She was highly regarded by the queen and was very familiar with the palace etiquette. Now that Nanny Xie was old, she was sent back to serve the old lady by the palace.
Liu Yushu felt relieved now. It seemed that Nanny Xie was very powerful. With the queen as her backer, even her father might have to give way.
"Miss, the old lady sent someone to say that you should go to the main hall earlier for dinner," Zui Tao said with a smile.
"Okay, I know," Liu Yushu was a bit sleepy. She went back to the couch to take a nap. When she opened her eyes again, it was already evening. She changed her clothes and went to the front hall.
In the front hall, the old lady was sitting on the main seat, drinking tea. Her father, Liu Daqiang, was sitting on the left side of the old lady. Liu Yuyu had also arrived but didn't sit down. Instead, she stood obediently aside. Liu Yumei, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, was also there. Like Liu Yuyu, she hung her head and stood quietly in the corner.
As for Liu Yanhao, his venereal disease hadn't fully recovered. Liu Daqiang didn't allow him to leave his room. He sent some leftovers to him every day, leaving him to fend for himself as if he didn't have this son.
Her younger brother, Liu Yanyi, wasn't feeling well and was resting in his room, so he didn't come. Concubine Tian didn't like to attend such family gatherings and often made excuses not to come. The old lady knew her personality and didn't force her.
Almost everyone who should come had arrived. They were just waiting for Concubine Sun.