Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 204 - 82: Exposure_4

Chapter 204 -82: Exposure_4

Old Madam received Lady Mo’s words but did not react with the outrage Lady Mo had expected; instead, she looked at Lady Mo somewhat curiously, then shook her head. Everyone knew that Yueyao was proud and aloof; how could she possibly go to the Gambling House to gamble? Even if she really had gone, there must have been a reason. If it were for money, Old Madam would not believe it for an instant: “Go call Third Girl over.” Let’s see what act this maid is playing.

Qiao Hui returned with the message and shared the news with Yueyao.

Yueyao smiled lightly and stuffed a pouch into Qiao Hui’s hands. Nowadays, whether a maid or an old nanny, everyone liked errands to Lanxi Courtyard. Even if they didn’t receive silver, they would definitely get something tasty. Accepting gifts meant owing favors. Yueyao’s generosity earned unanimous praise, so her reputation in Lian Mansion was still quite good.

Seeing that she had warned her, but Third Miss didn’t take it seriously, Qiao Hui felt slightly relieved. It seemed Third Young Lady was confident and wouldn’t provoke Old Madam’s anger.

Yueyao changed her clothes and went to the Upper Chamber, where not only her grandmother but also Lady Mo were present. She smiled lightly, “Grandmother, Eldest Aunt, how are you both?”

With Old Madam there, Lady Mo naturally didn’t have the liberty to speak freely, especially about matters concerning Yueyao: “Third Girl, Liu Er’s wife in the front courtyard says you gave money to Liu Er for betting. Is this true?”

Yueyao nodded with a smile: “Grandmother, how did you find out?”

Old Madam, initially a bit frustrated to hear Yueyao confirm it, relaxed a bit seeing her cheerful demeanor. It appeared there was more to this matter: “Third Girl, you do know that place is a Gambling House. For a lady to go there and place bets, if people were to find out, it would not only damage your reputation but also turn the Lian family into a laughingstock.”

Yueyao felt secretly indignant—it was just a bet, how could it damage the Lian family’s reputation? Grandmother was too concerned about the family’s name. Yueyao looked up calmly and spoke, “Grandmother, I was inconsiderate, please punish me.” At this point, excuses would be futile; it was better to admit fault first then explain.

Yueyao herself requesting punishment was one thing, but her face still held a trace of amusement, as if betting had been an enjoyable affair.

Seeing Yueyao’s expression, Old Madam said sternly, “Tell me, why would you go to the Gambling House to place bets? Is the house lacking in food or clothing for you?”

Yueyao shook her head, “Grandmother, I am well provided for in the mansion, lacking nothing; everything is of the best quality.” She was waiting for Old Madam to ask further so she could reveal what was in her heart.

As expected, Old Madam’s face was tense: “Tell me, if you lack nothing in the mansion, why would you have someone gamble?”

Yueyao then presented the excuse she had prepared: “Grandmother, I heard previously in the mansion that a talented individual from Jiangnan named Yu Zida had arrived. That day I heard that this individual was first in the district examinations, and top scorer in the provincial examinations, which made me think whether he might also top the national examinations and even the palace examinations to become the first person in the Great Yuan Dynasty to pass the imperial examinations at all three levels—a feat that would be remembered forever. Later, Nanny Deng told me after returning from delivering a gift to my cousin that uncle also mentioned Yu Zida might very well become the first person in the Great Yuan Dynasty to achieve this feat. Upon hearing this, I wagered three hundred taels on the success of Yu Zida.”

Although Yueyao’s explanation was somewhat far-fetched, Old Madam found it seventy percent believable, as such a bet was unlike Yueyao’s character. Thus, the more absurd the reason, the more credible it seemed.

Old Madam’s expression immediately softened: “Who told you to go to the Gambling House and bet?” Nobody had mentioned this; Yueyao, a young lady confined to her quarters, couldn’t have known this.

Without implicating Nanny Deng and Hua Lei, Yueyao said: “I heard father mention it. In his youth, he also made bets with friends about who would be the top scholar in Jiangnan, and since there was no one in the mansion to bet with, he went to the Money Shop to place a bet. Grandmother, I thought if I lost, so be it, but if I won, I planned to donate the money for charity.”

Old Madam heard her son had also made bets with friends, and her heart softened immediately. Whenever it was about her youngest son, Old Madam always felt an unconscious tenderness.

Seeing Old Madam’s expression relax, Lady Mo immediately asked, “Why didn’t you say so earlier, and only now bring it up?”

Yueyao, looking down, said, “I was afraid grandmother and Auntie would punish me for it. After all, this is not something to be proud of. I had originally planned to donate it quietly.” Being afraid of punishment was very normal.

Nanny Zheng came in and whispered into Old Madam’s ear that Liu Er had already confessed that it was the maid who placed the bet on Yu Zida to pass the imperial examinations at the county, provincial, and national levels.

After listening to this, Old Madam felt quite relieved to know Yueyao wasn’t lying, and glanced at Yueyao, “Then how much did you stake?”

Without hesitation, Yueyao responded, “One hundred taels. I made a fourfold profit from the bet, earning four hundred taels. Grandmother, although I was hoping for a talent who would achieve such a level in the Great Yuan Dynasty, Yueyao did make a mistake. Please punish me, Grandmother.”

This time Old Madam really wasn’t angry, one hundred taels of silver was a small sum for Yueyao, not even worth as much as a single piece of jewelry she wore.

Lady Mo felt like spitting blood upon hearing this, a casual bet earned a fourfold profit. But from this incident, it was evident that Fourth Miss still did not regard money as important, just as she hadn’t in the past.

Old Madam was very satisfied, “Copy the scriptures twenty times and the Female Precepts twenty times. If there is a next time, you will be subjected to family law.”

Yueyao willingly accepted the punishment. For Yueyao, copying the Female Precepts was a way to practice her writing, and Grandmother hadn’t specified a deadline: “Grandmother, I would like to continue studying with the nanny’s professor during the day and copy the scriptures and Female Precepts at night.” She wouldn’t delay her daytime studies.

Old Madam nodded in approval.

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Lady Mo, seeing that Old Madam had dealt with the matter so lightly, suppressed her frustration. She had actually hoped to take the opportunity to get rid of Hua Lei or Nanny Deng. Without either person by Yueyao’s side, it would have been easier to manipulate the situation.

In order to protect the family’s reputation, Old Madam would not overlook Nanny Deng and Hua Lei’s actions: “Nanny Deng, I allowed you to come back and made you steward for Tingzheng because I remembered your service to Second Son’s Wife. I did not expect you to dare conceal such a major matter, you are fined three months’ salary.” The same punishment was applied to Hua Lei.

Naturally, Nanny Deng and Hua Lei had no objections.

Old Madam coldly said, “This matter is now closed. If even half a word leaks out to damage the Lian family’s reputation, I will be relentless.”

Lady Mo, hearing this, remained silent. She had merely wanted to remove the people around Yueyao; spreading the word was obviously not going to happen. Damaging the Lian family’s reputation would also implicate her own children.