353 Let’s Pinky Swear
And what about Eldest Miss Yu? She had used her grandmother to attack and bring up the late emperor. She finally brought up the Empress Dowager, causing the Marquis of Changxing’s Residence to lose all its reputation and face…
As he drank the medicinal tea made by Eldest Miss Yu, he smelled the medicinal fragrance made by Eldest Miss Yu in his grandmother’s house, and listened to Eldest Miss Yu’s story. Unknowingly, he was engrossed in it. He couldn’t help but wonder how such a thin and petite girl could fight for her reputation and dignity in the Yu Residence.
He also thought of the day at the Buddhist Festival. Her gentle voice was like a delicate oriole, and her voice entered his ears. “Buddhism emphasizes fate. Everything can be stopped when it’s appropriate. All I want is peace of mind.”
She thought to herself that such a pure woman should have such a temperament.
At this moment, the servant returned, disturbing Song Mingzhao.
Song Mingzhao seemed displeased. “What is it?”
The servant quickly lowered his head. “Sister Huang Yao brought some medicinal tea made by Eldest Miss Yu. It’s a medicinal fragrance. Old Madam knows that you like it, so she sent some over.”
Song Mingzhao nodded. “Put it down!”
The servant continued, “Third Miss sent someone over to ask if you want to go to the dragon boat competition in the moat.”
Third Miss had asked yesterday. At that time, Young Master had replied, “We’ll talk about it when the time comes.”
Song Mingzhao shook his head. “I won’t go.”
The servant could not help but be stunned.
Previously, Young Master did not express any intention of not going! It was obvious that he had the intention to go.
Why did he suddenly refuse?
Could it be…
He suddenly thought of Eldest Miss Yu, who was also not going. Could it be related to her?
The servant scratched his head and felt that he was thinking too much. His young master had been pure of heart and desire since he was young. He was like an ascetic monk. How could he suddenly pay attention to a woman?
He must be thinking too much.
After sending Huang Yao off, Old Madam Yu used the excuse that she was tired and asked Madam Yao to help her into the room. Madam Yao knew that Old Madam Yao was not tired at all. She clearly did not want to disturb the younger generation’s fun.
With the elders present, how could they play freely?
In the courtyard, the little girl’s smile was bright. Even though she couldn’t watch the dragon boat race, she didn’t seem to care.
Zhou Linghuai lowered his head and rubbed the incense beads on his wrist. “Go if you want. You don’t have to worry so much. I’m here in the residence, so nothing will go wrong.”
Yu Youyao blinked and looked at her cousin. “Then do you want me to go?”
The little girl looked at him, her eyes bright and dazzling. Zhou Linghuai lowered his eyes and rubbed the beads on his wrist. “As long as you’re happy.”
Yu Youyao giggled. “I’m very happy now. This is the first Dragon Boat Festival that Cousin has celebrated in the Yu Residence, and it’s also the first Dragon Boat Festival that Cousin and I have celebrated. I naturally hope to spend it with you. Didn’t you give me a painting of a dragon boat race? I feel very happy.”
However, previously, in the face of the Zhenguo Marquis Residence’s suggestion, the little girl had clearly hesitated. Zhou Linghuai said in a low voice, “You don’t have to worry about me. If…”
When Yu Youyao heard this, she pouted. “Cousin, what do you mean? Why are you chasing me out? Don’t you want to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with me?”
Zhou Linghuai shook his head. “Of course, but…”
Yu Youyao suddenly leaned closer and stared at her cousin. “There’s no ‘but’. It’s more meaningful to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with my family. Although I’m familiar with the Zhenguo Marquis Residence, there’s still a lot of red tape when I go there. How can I be as comfortable as my own family? Besides, the dragon boat race happens once a year. If I don’t see it this year, I’ll have a chance to see it in the future.” She glanced at her cousin’s leg and held his hand. “I still want to bring me to see it when your leg recovers in the future.”
The little girl’s eyes were filled with anticipation. Zhou Linghuai nodded. “Okay, I’ll bring you to see it in the future.”
Only then did Yu Youyao smile again. “We agreed so let’s pinky swear.” She reached out her delicate little finger and hooked it around her cousin’s. She shook it gently, and her voice was sweet and soft. “You can’t change your pinky swear for a hundred years.” After pinky swearing, she pressed her thumb against her cousin’s and smiled happily. “You can’t go back on your word!”
Her childish actions made Zhou Linghuai laugh a little, but he cooperated. Looking at their thumbs, he couldn’t help but smile. “Okay!”
Yu Youyao looked up. “I’m very happy to be with Cousin.”
Therefore, without her cousin’s company at the dragon boat competition, she didn’t care about watching it/
Zhou Linghuai felt a lump in his throat. “I’m happy too.”
The two of them looked at each other and heard Yu Shuangbai’s chattering voice. “Big Sister, the Zongzi in the kitchen are steamed. Come and try them.”
Yu Youyao turned around and nodded. Then, she said to her cousin, “Let’s go over quickly. I still want to try the Zongzi that Cousin personally wrapped.”
Previously, when she was steaming the Zongzi, she had secretly marked the Zongzi her cousin had wrapped so that they wouldn’t be mixed up.
Zhou Linghuai had the same intention. He turned his wheelchair and walked over with Yu Youyao. The table was filled with Zongzi with red beans, red dates, dried fruits, and flower fillings. There were more than ten types.
As her cousin did not like sweet food, Yu Youyao even wrapped a few salted egg yolk Zongzi.
Seeing them come over, Yu Shanxin’s eyes darted around and he suggested, “What’s the point of eating Zongzis like this? Why don’t we play Hundred Herbs? The winner will eat Zongzi.”
Hundred Herbs was also a custom of the Dragon Boat Festival. In the previous dynasty, every Dragon Boat Festival, many young masters and young mistresses of wealthy families would go up the mountain to pick medicinal herbs. Whoever picked the most flowers and plants would be the first to win. Later on, from time to time, they would go up the mountain to pick medicinal herbs themselves and prepare a lot of medicinal herbs. The younger generation in the family would guess the names of the herbs. The winner would be the one who guessed the most herbs accurately.
Yu Shuangbai rolled her eyes and rejected it immediately. “No, no. Eldest Sister has learned pharmacology from Nanny Xu. What medicinal herbs and plants doesn’t she know? Playing Hundred Herbs is simply cheating.”
The few of them agreed deeply.
Yu Youyao pursed her lips and said, “Why don’t we play Shooting? We’ll place the Zongzi on the food tray and shoot them with wooden arrows. Those who hit them will eat them. There are many of us, so it’ll definitely be interesting to play this.”
They all agreed.
Chun Xiao immediately got someone to prepare a table. She placed the wooden arrows on the table and fixed the Zongzi in place.
Yu Shanxin explained the rules again. “You can eat whichever one you hit. Sisters, you can go first, in order from youngest to oldest.”
When Yu Youyao heard this, she glared at Yu Shanxin.
However, everyone else agreed. She had no choice but to be dissatisfied.
Seeing her unfriendly gaze, Yu Shanxin raked his hand through his hair. “Eldest Sister, why are you looking at me like that? Is there anything wrong with my suggestion?”
The others also looked at Yu Youyao, their eyes filled with questions.
Yu Youyao smiled insincerely and gritted her teeth as she stared at Yu Shanxin. “Good, very good. Very good.” Good, good my ass. If the Zongzi that Cousin had wrapped was shot away by someone else first…
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