Chapter 739: Deep Thoughts
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Two years ago, when King Li of Zhou was around, blood flowed like a river in the north. That was why the north was still stable until now. Small commotions were inevitable, but there were no riots like in Zhejiang.
However, didn’t those powerful ministers who were fighting for power know that for every incense stick, hour, two hours, or even a day that was delayed, countless commoners would die from famine and cold?
They definitely knew.
They just didn’t care.
After sending Auntie Shen off, Yu Youyao returned to the Jade Courtyard tiredly.
Nanny Xu quickly brought over the hot medicine.
After drinking the medicine, Yu Youyao felt much warmer.
Not long after, Yin Huaixi heard the news and came over. “You’ve become bold. You even dare to test the Imperial Court openly.”
Yu Youyao hugged the furnace. Her body was warm, and she was a little sleepy. “It’s not just to test the Imperial Court. Grandmother left most of the private assets under her name to me. She also went to the government office to sign a contract. However, these businesses have been operating for decades. On the surface, they’re separated from the Yu Residence, but their interests are constantly interwined. Since I’m determined to return to my mother’s family, I’ll take the opportunity to cut off all the interests at once to prevent any trouble in the future.”
After her grandmother passed away, she instructed Zhou Yonghe to start handling this matter.
Yin Huaixi nodded. Seeing that she was not in good spirits, his heart ached. After a few months, Yu Youyao was both physically and mentally exhausted. In the end, she had hurt her body.
Therefore, she was caught off guard by the winter cold and contracted an illness. She still had to go to Quanzhou and stay away from the troubles in the capital to slowly recover.
Yu Youyao sighed softly. “Grandmother has also been worried about the drought in the north. Donating a little in her name can be considered as doing her part and accumulating good karma. Before Grandmother died, she did not mention the Yu Residence or the clan. However, I know that she must still have some concerns in her heart. By donating her assets, the Yu Residence and the clan will benefit. It can be considered a form of comfort.’
She had also helped the clan repair the ancestral hall and expand the clan school with this consideration.
Yin Huaixi held her hand. Her hand was still warm, but her palm was moist. This was a symptom of fatigue. “When Old Madam was alive, she spent most of her life planning for the Yu Residence and the clan. After she died, she even found a monument for the clan and gave benefits to the clansmen. She’s probably most worried about you. She hopes that the businesses under her name can give you a better future.”
Yu Youyao shook her head. “Grandmother prepared a batch of dowry for me, a total of 264 pieces.”
Although it was better to have more dowry when marrying off a daughter, there were still certain rules.
264 pieces was definitely beyond the rules.
However, a family that doted on their daughter would carry some things into her husband’s house a day in advance. It was commonly known as a pre-wedding custom. No matter how many items there were, the remaining things would follow their daughter into her husband’s house,
Yin Huaixi suddenly felt that it was time for him to prepare the betrothal gifts early!
Yu Youyao did not know what he was thinking and continued, “Just one bed frame is already priceless. It’s made of the best agarwood. The best water agarwood does not sink into water. It takes more than a hundred years or even longer to make it. Therefore, it’s very rare. Most of it is used for medicine. From the moment I was born, Grandmother began to gather the wood for the agarwood bit by bit. She found the most skilled craftsman in the capital. It took more than ten years, but it isn’t completely finished yet.”
At the current rate of completion, it would probably take another year or two and be finished just after she reached adulthood.
It was obvious how much effort she had put in.
Yin Huaixi understood now. When a wealthy family married off their daughter, only the especially doted on sisters in the family would marry with a bed related item. The materials used for the bed were also very particular. If it wasn’t good material, it wouldn’t be presentable. The best ones were boxwood and agarwood. Sandalwood, rosewood, and so on were slightly inferior.
Not every family could afford to do so.
Not to mention that it was made of agarwood.
The bed style of the Great Zhou Dynasty consisted of a couch, a Luohan bed, an alcove bed, and so on. Among them, the main bed was large, and the craftsmanship was the most complicated.
It was a bed, and it was also a beautiful small house. It was also called an “eight-step bed.” It was as big as eight steps in the bedroom.
It would take at least three to five years for the bed to be completed, and at most ten years. The best beds would take more than ten years.
Everything was because of Old Madam Yu’s love!
Yin Huaixi sighed softly. No wonder. Old Madam Yu had been gone for more than a month, but Yu Youyao still couldn’t let go. She often dreamed of her grandmother, so even her body had suffered. Even though she had taken medicine, her recovery was slow.
Yu Youyao said, “These were brought into the Jade Courtyard in the name of the dowry. Be it the Yu Residence or the clan, there’s no reason to use Eldest Miss’s dowry. After obtaining so many benefits, it’s inevitable that they will be greedy.”
Yin Huaixi nodded. “Although that’s the case, there are still many people in the world who are unpredictable. After obtaining a temporary benefit, there will be endless trouble in the future.’
For example, Old Madam Yu.
Back then, Yu Zongshen had received the Xie family’s full help and activated the sea ban. When Old Madam Yu saw that the Xie family had received a commendation from the Imperial Court and was rich, she became greedy and overstepped herself.
Yu Youyao seemed to have telepathy with him. She also thought of what her grandmother had done back then. “When dealing with people, you have to know when to stop. Don’t push your luck. If you get something, you have to give something. If you just take and not give, it’s inevitable that you’ll lose your composure. The gains won’t make up for the losses.”
At this point, she felt that it wasn’t appropriate to talk about this topic anymore, so she changed the topic. “Now that I want to return to my mother’s clan, it’s better to avoid trouble. Although the Yu Clan values benefits, they’re still an etiquette clan. It’s good to part on good terms and to show that I value our relationship and dignity. If I go to the Xie Residence and have a large clan like the Yu Residence behind me, I think anyone has to consider carefully before targeting me.”
Yin Huaixi tightened his grip on Yu Youyao’s hand. “You took the opportunity to test the Imperial Court’s disaster relief. I think there should be a conclusion soon. Take good care of yourself next.”
The Imperial Court definitely had to send disaster relief, but when and how was a problem.
Yu Youyao cared about the commoners. As a woman, she publicly donated disaster relief in the name of her grandmother’s loyalty. This was equivalent to public criticism of the current disaster relief efforts.
Yu Youyao nodded. Perhaps it was because she had just drunk the medicine, but she was a little sleepy.
Yin Huaixi changed the topic. “Chang An came over with a box of fresh chestnuts and Chun Xiao made a charcoal fire outside. I’ll cook chestnuts for you.”
Yu Youyao’s interest was piqued, and she forced herself to perk up. “Coincidentally, two days ago, when Nanny Yue entered the residence, she sent over a few boxes of sweet potatoes. Let’s roast them together.” No matter what was made, the sweet potatoes tasted good.
When roasted, they were especially sweet.
Yu Youyao liked it very much, but Nanny Xu felt that the sweet potatoes were too filling and did not allow her to eat too much.
The two of them went to the side room of the outer room. Although it was winter in the north, the snow had yet to fall, and it was not the coldest time..
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