novelraw Chapter 738 - 727: Stand-In Younger Sister
Chapter 738 - 727: Stand-In Younger Sister
"Ah! My jewelry, damn it, it’s taken it. Catch it quickly." Ye Wangshi just sent two sets of invaluable jewelry, which Ye Xia was planning to show off after her coming-of-age ceremony, but this cursed bird has snatched a necklace and grabbed a bracelet, each from a different set. Now aren’t both sets of jewelry incomplete?
At this moment, Jiawu Courtyard was a scene of chaos. But no matter how they acted, they just couldn’t catch the Little Red Bird.
"Quick, over here, close the windows."
"The door, why isn’t the door closed?"
"Oh no, the Little Red Bird has flown out."
Ye Xia stomped her feet in place: "What are you all doing? How can you be so incompetent? You can’t even catch a little bird?"
"Where’s the cicada-catching net? Bring it here quickly?"
"It’s stopped, it’s stopped; the bird has landed on the tree. Everyone, be quiet, don’t startle it."
Ye Xia also crept closer quietly, holding a shoe in her hand, attempting to throw it to startle the Little Red Bird so it would drop the jewelry.
Unfortunately, her wish was unfulfilled. Before she could throw the shoe, the Little Red Bird flew away with a flutter of its wings.
"What are you standing there dazed for? Don’t just stand there, chase it!" Ye Xia slapped the maid next to her and commanded loudly.
"What’s happening? Why is it so chaotic?" Unknowingly, Ye Xia and the servants had chased it to the front yard, disturbing Ye Fu who was working on the accounts in the office.
Just then, the Little Red Bird landed on the roof, its barely visible eyes twinkling with a teasing glint.
"Father." Ye Xia halted, looking somewhat wronged at the Little Red Bird on the roof, "It’s this bird; it took away the jewelry mother sent to her daughter."
"How could a bird take away your jewelry?" Ye Borong came out from under the eaves and looked up, "Where did this bird come from?"
Ye Xia’s eyes flickered, she said softly: "It’s second sister’s."
"How could your second sister have a bird?"
"It is said that it flew into second sister’s courtyard on its own. Daughter found it pleasant and wanted to take care of it for a couple of days, but as soon as it arrived, it caused damage. Not only did it ruin two of my garments, it even snatched away two pieces of my jewelry." As Ye Xia spoke, she became increasingly wronged, even suspecting that this might be Ye Qiu’s scheme. Knowing her fondness for small animals, it was possibly deliberate training by Ye Qiu to lure her with this bird.
It must be so, otherwise why would a wild bird act like this? Isn’t second sister revered and indulged enough by everyone in the manor? Why would she set up a trap for her?
"What are you standing around for? Don’t you use a net to capture this bird?" Ye Borong said angrily.
At this moment, the Little Golden Crow let out a loud cry, startling many sparrows around, creating a moment of confusion among the servants. They didn’t know which bird to net. In their panic, some sparrows not only tangled Ye Xia’s hair but also dropped feces on Ye Borong’s head.
"Preposterous, absolutely preposterous!" Ye Borong was irresistibly furious, "Bring all the cicada-catching nets from the manor, and do not let a single sparrow go."
The farce lasted for nearly two hours, and by the time Ye Qiu heard the news, it was already evening, and she also learned that Ye Xia’s jewelry had not been recovered.
Upon learning the news, the servants of Luoxia Courtyard burst into sneers. This is retribution!
But today Ye Xia had been wronged, and Ye Borong had suffered a great humiliation, so Ye Qiu was called to the main courtyard before she even had her dinner.
"Father, Mother, what happened? Why call your daughter over so late?" As she spoke, she also fittingly coughed twice.
Seeing her pale face, the originally angry Ye Borong and Ye Wangshi’s rage turned into embarrassment; it seemed they had forgotten that their second daughter’s body could no longer withstand such turmoil, especially now that it was autumn, and the evenings were even chillier.
But the ones who always claimed to love their second daughter the most were determined not to admit this fact, so they pretended not to see or hear it: "Your elder sister said you’ve raised a Little Red Bird?"
"Yes, it flew into the courtyard two days ago and refused to leave, so I had the maids feed it some water and food. But wasn’t it taken away by my elder sister this morning? Could it have flown away?" Ye Qiu asked, puzzled.
Ye Borong asked with suppressed anger, "Was the bird truly there by accident?"
"Could there possibly be a mistake?" Ye Qiu lightly laughed, "Aren’t Father and Mother most aware of my courtyard? Who could be kept in the dark about something being added or missing? Could it be that Father and Mother’s affection for me is false, and you actually don’t know what’s going on in my yard?"
"How could that be?" Ye Wangshi gave an awkward smile; she would never admit that she deliberately ignored the situation of Luoxia Courtyard. Since this daughter was destined to leave early, it was better not to invest too much emotion from the beginning to avoid heartache when it was time to part.
"So, what’s the reason Father and Mother called me over today? I haven’t even had dinner yet!" Ye Qiu said, feeling somewhat aggrieved.
Ye Borong and Ye Wangshi found it even more difficult to speak. Ye Wangshi glanced at her sulking elder daughter then looked at the frail Ye Qiu, and with a loving smile, said, "It’s nothing, your father and I were just thinking that it has been some days since we saw you come out from your courtyard. We didn’t want you to feel too stifled, so we thought to have you come over to the main courtyard to stretch your limbs. Although Doctor Liu said you should rest quietly, it’s not good to stay still all the time."
"Father and Mother are truly good to their daughter." Ye Qiu looked gratefully at both of them, making the couple feel rather embarrassed.
However, Ye Xia felt jealous again and huffed, "Father and Mother only care about Second Sister. Some of my hair was even pulled out by that brute today, yet I didn’t see Father and Mother showing such concern for me."
"Alright, how could Mother not care about you? Isn’t it that your sister needs our care even more?" Ye Wangshi comforted her, holding Ye Xia’s hand.
Ye Qiu lowered her eyes, a cold light flickered deep within, were they taking their own excuses for genuine care? Did she not know why they had called her here so late? If they truly cared for her, they would not have come before she had dinner, initally set on a confrontation, only to feel embarrassed after she spoke a few words.
Ye Xia is jealous? How does she have the nerve to be jealous?
What right does she have to feel wronged? Was it not her who forcefully took Little Jin away?
All of this is just retribution.
"I am a bit hungry; if Father and Mother have no other instructions, your daughter will take her leave first?" Ye Qiu said, supported by a maid, she bowed and coughed twice again.
Ye Wangshi’s gaze was complex as she looked at her, instructing, "Your coming-of-age ceremony is in a few days; these days, don’t leave the courtyard and take good care of your health. Tomorrow, I will ask Doctor Liu to come and check on you again."
"Thank you for your concern, Mother. Your daughter will take care."
Ye Wangshi watched Ye Qiu’s departing figure, looking exceptionally slender in the evening of the autumn day, as though she might float away at any moment.
They never expected her to grow so much; it seemed like only a moment had passed, and now she was coming of age. But Doctor Liu had said, at this rate, she might only last another two or three years. She had no mother-daughter bond with this second daughter – it was enough to watch from a distance, not depriving her of anything.