The Eldest Daughter-in-Law [Reborn] - Chapter 20
When Xie Yunchu was four years old and her younger brother was born, her mother suffered from postpartum depression and finally decided to divorce her father and returned to her hometown in Jinling. She was away for fifteen years.
From that time on, Xie Yunchu learned to take care of her infant brother and lived her life conscientiously, treading on thin ice under the disgusted gazes of the elders in the Xie family. She did not dare to cry or make a fuss. At the age of four, she was like an adult, taking care of the younger ones, serving the older ones, and trying her best to be well-behaved and diligent in exchange for a little sympathy from her elders.
It was at that time that Concubine Lu lent her a helping hand.
The clothes for her and her brother were sewn by Concubine Lu, and the medicinal porridge for her and her brother was also made by Concubine Lu herself. Even when her father was dissatisfied with her brother’s studies, it was Concubine Lu who rushed to his side, protected him, and pushed her stepson in front of others to take the blame for him.
She truly had a kind heart like a bodhisattva, and her reputation as a wise woman spread far and wide.
Her tenderness and love made up for Xie Yunchu’s longing for her mother, so much so that she always told herself in private that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring.
So, when she saw Concubine Lu busying around in her tattered coarse cloth shirt, she gave all her monthly salary to her for safekeeping.
When Concubine Lu knelt down in front of her because her younger sister Xie Yunxiu had smallpox and begged her to give the spacious courtyard originally occupied by the eldest daughter of the Xie family to her younger sister, she leaned forward without hesitation to give up the courtyard.
In that way, what she had, her sister also had, and what she didn’t have, her sister had.
She always remembered kindness and trust and gave back without reservation.
But she never imagined that it was all a scheme by Concubine Lu and her daughter. She humbled herself to gain a good reputation, used cunning and deceitful means to gain her trust, and successfully gained the recognition and respect of everyone in the Xie family. Then, she nibbled away at them step by step, from a concubine to a wife. What she didn’t expect was that her ambition expanded, and she even set her sights on Wang Shuhuai, wanting to seek the position of the Prime Minister’s wife.
It was such a kind face that gradually destroyed her trust.
Xie Yunchu went through the ups and downs of her emotions alone and gave Concubine Lu a smile that was exactly the same as hers.
“Concubine Mother, even though you are my concubine mother, I still treat you as my elder. How can an elder wait for a younger person at the door?”
It was just hypocrisy, who didn’t do that?
Concubine Lu’s eyes welled up with tears when she heard this. “It is a great blessing for me that the Eldest Lady thinks highly of me. Come in with me quickly. I will make you your favorite mushroom and wolfberry chicken soup. You look so thin. You need to take good care of yourself.”
The two of them went in together.
Concubine Lu tried to hold Xie Yunchu’s hand as she did before, but Xie Yunchu lowered her arm and did not give her a chance.
Her father Xie Hui was famous since he was young. He loved to recite poems and compose essays and to play with strange rocks and plants. Entering through the gate, a mountain of huge rocks as a barrier could be seen. After passing around the rocks, they reached the main hall of Xie Mansion. Compared with the majestic and grand Wang Mansion, Xie Mansion was ingenious and beautiful, with lush greenery everywhere and stones decorating the scenery.
“Is Father at home?”
“He’s still in the Imperial Academy. It is said that the court has been busy revising the fish scale map recently, and he has selected some students to help the Hanlin Academy. By the way, I heard that my son-in-law is going to Jiangnan to take up the post. Miss, although you are not my biological child, I think you are closer than my girl. If he is successful, you will also be proud.” After saying that, Concubine Lu tucked her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief, looking happy for Xie Yunchu.
Xie Yunchu inquired, “Is Xiu’er still in Jiangzhou? Has she sent any letters? When does she plan to return to Beijing?”
With the help of her father, Xie Yunxiu’s uncle opened an academy in Jiangzhou. The entire Lu family also rose from a small family to become a local celebrity. Two years ago, in the list of Jinshi in the same year as Wang Shuhuai, Jiangzhou Academy had two people, which made it famous. Xie Yunxiu went to Jiangzhou Academy to study two years ago and became the most famous lady in Jiangzhou.
Concubine Lu mentioned her daughter with a loving look on her face, “She is not as sensible as you. She is just crazy and refuses to come back.”
Xie Yunchu smiled calmly, “She can’t keep playing. She’s already sixteen this year. You should find her a good match and let her stay in the capital to serve you and my father.”
Concubine Lu didn’t know what she was thinking about. Her smile froze for a moment, and then she shook her head and said, “Forget it, forget it. Your father dotes on her and indulges her. I can’t make the decision.”
After passing through an alley and entering a moon-shaped door in the middle, they arrived at a courtyard with white walls and green tiles, which was the upper courtyard where the old lady lived.
A group of people were waiting under the eaves, surrounded by flowers and willows.
The leader was none other than Xie Yunchu’s biological grandmother, Old Lady Xie. The old lady had two sons. The eldest son, Xie Hui, was aloof and stubborn. She usually lived with her younger son and didn’t care much about the affairs of the eldest house. After Xie Yunchu’s mother left, the old lady disliked Xie Yunchu for a long time. Later, when she saw that the little girl was tough and pitiful, she felt pity for her and took her to her side to raise her.
Xie Yunchu’s younger brother Xie Yunyou had always been at odds with his father. He gave up the Imperial Academy and went to Songshan Academy to study. He could not return to Beijing in a short time. Waiting for Xie Yunchu in the main courtyard together with Old Madam Xie were Li’s daughter Xie Yunshuang, Lu’s son Xie Yunzhou, and the aunts and cousins from the second branch.
Xie Yunchu looked at them one by one and felt as if she was in another world.
A pretty girl with a bun on her head lifted her skirt and threw herself into her arms.
“I heard that my sister will be staying at home for a few days? This is a rare thing.” Xie Yunshuang was the youngest sister. Her eyes and eyebrows were somewhat similar to Xie Yunchu. Although she was a concubine’s daughter, the Xie family never sticks to the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, and she was raised very well.
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