All Hail Cousin Brother

259 The Bereaved Eldest Daughter

Since she had already been introduced, Yu Youyao couldn’t just stand there. She went forward and bowed.

She was dressed in a green parasol tree patterned outfit. It was not as bright as Lu Mingyao’s orange outfit, nor was it as beautiful as Cao Yingxue’s yellow outfit. However, when she stood with Lu Mingyao and Cao Yingxue, the young misses present realized something.

Eldest Miss Yu was beautiful and pure. She clasped her hands by her sides and bowed gently. Her skirt was gently piled up like a parasol flower. She looked elegant and noble, not inferior to Lu Mingyao. Even Cao Yingxue was inferior to her.

Lu Mingyao held her teacup tightly and sat still.

The nanny by her side was the best in the palace.

Her etiquette was also the best in the capital. No matter where she went, she would be praised.

However, at this moment, when she saw Yu Youyao, whose name was similar to Yu Jianjia’s, her eyes couldn’t help but narrow.

“So it’s Eldest Miss Yu.” These indifferent words made it seem like Yu Youyao rushed over.

Cao Yingxue ignored her and turned to hold Yu Jianjia’s hand. “Let’s have a poetry recital.”

When the young misses of the various families gathered together, it was inevitable that they would show some talent.

Yu Jianjia felt a little uneasy. She bit her lip and turned to look at Yu Youyao, her eyes filled with apology. However, Cao Yingxue pulled her to sit at the stone table at the side.

Immediately, a yellow-robed girl comforted her. “You’re just being kind. Fifth Miss Lu, Seventh Miss Cao, and the others want to play with whoever they want. It’s probably because your big sister isn’t pleasing to the eye and they don’t like her. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”

Yu Jianjia bit her lip. “My big sister also has a good personality. Perhaps fate still matters between people.”

These words made the few young misses present purse their lips. They also felt that Yu Jianjia was too kind. Although they couldn’t agree with her, everyone liked to be with such a person.

A group of young misses sat around the stone table and wrote poems. It was really lively.

Yu Shuangbai was furious. She lowered her voice and said, “As long as they’re well-mannered, people will reciprocate when they’re greeted. What do Lu Mingyao and Cao Yingxue mean?”

Song Wanhui looked at Yu Jianjia thoughtfully. “When I went to the Thousand Gold Pavilion earlier, I happened to see Third Miss Yu, Seventh Miss Cao, and Fifth Miss Lu together.”

She had to stop when she spoke.

Yu Youyao understood.

Seeing how lively the group of women in the octagonal pavilion was, Qi Sinian couldn’t stand staying any longer and suggested, “Let’s go outside to admire the flowers.”

Just as Yu Youyao was thinking this, the few of them stood up—

Cao Yingxue, who had ignored them just now, turned around and invited with a smile, “We’re holding a poetry recital. Eldest Miss Yu, come over to play. It’ll be more lively with more people.”

When Yu Youyao heard this, she was stunned for a moment. She quickly waved her hand. “I don’t know poetry, so I won’t join in the fun. I don’t want to disappoint everyone.”

Cao Yingxue covered her mouth with a fan and smiled. “This is the first time I’ve seen Eldest Miss Yu today, so I want to befriend you. Eldest Miss Yu, you have to give me face. Don’t refuse.”

Yu Youyao’s voice was gentle. “Seventh Sister, are you trying to embarrass me? You can’t include me, lest it spoils everyone’s mood and it becomes my fault.”

There was a smile in her gentle voice. It was neither soft nor hard, but it was very polite. It sounded like sugar beans wrapped in frosting in one’s ears. It was sweet, but also very unpleasant.

Cao Yingxue’s expression darkened on the spot. Her lips were smiling, but her face was dark. “Eldest Miss Yu, you’re a guest. I originally wanted to invite you to play with me so that I could do my best as a host. It’s fine if you don’t give me face, but you’re even slandering me.”

After saying that, Cao Yingxue even turned to look at Yu Jianjia and said sarcastically, “To think that you’ve always praised your big sister in front of me. You said she grew up in front of Grandmother and learned the rules from the nannies in the palace. Her etiquette is excellent. Now, it seems that it’s nothing much.”

It was probably because Grandmother had spoiled her that she had hired a nanny to be educated in the residence.

She did not expect these words to implicate her.

Yu Jianjia was stunned for a moment. She glanced at Seventh Miss Cao, then at Yu Youyao. She bit her lip lightly, and her fair lips immediately turned red, making her look even more delicate and innocent.

Qi Sinian and Song Wanhui also understood that Cao Yingxue did not hide her hostility towards Yu Youyao. Inviting Yu Youyao to a poetry recital was an excuse. She was deliberately making things difficult for her.

The two of them looked at each other and frowned.

Although Yu Youyao was a guest, Cao Yingxue couldn’t do anything to her.

However, as long as Cao Yingxue embarrassed Yu Youyao in front of the young misses, how could Yu Youyao still have the face to continue living in the noble ladies’ circle in the future?

It was obvious how vicious she was.

Yu Youyao pursed her lips slightly. “I already said that I don’t know poetry, but Seventh Miss Cao still embarrassed me. Isn’t that making things difficult for me? I’m also a guest. Seventh Miss Cao has to do her part as a host, so she can’t make things difficult for me.”

She did not even call Seventh Sister. It was obvious that she was angry.

Cao Yingxue’s eyes widened in anger. “You’re so sharp-tongued.”

Yu Youyao waved her hand. “You flatter me.”

Cao Yingxue was speechless for a moment, and the atmosphere froze.

Lu Mingyao’s sharp fingertips gently rubbed the pink and colorful patterns on the teacup as she changed the topic. “I heard that Eldest Miss Yu learned rules and upbringing from a nanny from the palace?”

Yu Youyao had lost her mother since she was young. She couldn’t deny it even if she wanted to.

It was also true that “The eldest daughter of a bereaved wife has no teachings.”

As long as it involved upbringing, Yu Youyao would not be able to defend herself. No matter how sharp-tongued she was, could she still defend herself?

Before Yu Youyao could speak.

Cao Yingxue reacted and covered her mouth as she giggled. “Did Nanny teach you to leave your weak sister behind to play when you’re a guest at someone else’s house?”

Yu Youyao’s smile was gentle. Cao Yingxue hated Nanny Xu for entering the Yu Residence, so she had also vented her anger on her.

If Yu Jianjia did not leave with them, how would she think that her Big Sister had left her behind? Yu Shuangbai’s eyes widened in anger, and she was about to retort—

Then, she heard Yu Jianjia explain anxiously, “Seventh Sister, you’ve misunderstood. Just now, I saw that the flowers of the Marquis of Changxing were blooming well. I was too engrossed in admiring the flowers and unknowingly fell behind. Big Sister isn’t…”

One of the young misses frowned. “Even if you fall behind, doesn’t your big sister know how to wait for you? How can she be like this? You’re still covering for her. You’re too easy to bully…”