When Yu Jianjia heard this, she couldn’t help but feel an itch in her throat. This was indirectly restricting her from walking outside anymore.
Nanny Liu handed her a copy of the Heart Sutra. “When Old Madam was young, she was very impetuous and couldn’t rest for a moment, so she went to the Precious Peace Temple to ask for a copy of the Heart Sutra. This Heart Sutra was from Old Madam’s previous book. Previously, Imperial Physician Hu had taken Third Miss’s pulse and instructed her about her illness. She had to calm down and rest to nourish her heart, qi, and mind. Only then could she revitalize her blood flow and heal her illness. Old Madam asked Third Miss to read more and copy the Heart Sutra. When her heart has calmed down, she would be free and calm, and all her illnesses would disappear.”
These words were like needles stabbing into her heart, and her vision darkened. Yu Jianjia sat there in a daze, not reacting for a moment.
Nanny Liu handed the Heart Sutra to her. “Third Miss, keep it. Old Madam is paying respects to Buddha. Once Third Miss has copied the Heart Sutra, send a copy to Old Madam’s house every now and then. Let Old Madam worship it in front of Buddha so that Third Miss can be safe.”
Not only did she have to read and write it, but she also had to copy it and send it to An Shou Hall to be read.
Yu Jianjia’s eyes darkened and her arms trembled. She held the Heart Sutra with both hands and lowered her head. She said respectfully, “Grandmother is kind and remembers my health. I can’t repay her. I naturally have to remember Grandmother’s kindness and read and write the Heart Sutra seriously to reassure her.”
How was she concerned about her body?
It was obvious that he was dissatisfied with her words and actions at the flower festival, so she punished her to copy Buddhist scriptures.
However, because she had sprained her ankle at the flower festival yesterday and her body was weak, she had taken a detour and used her physical condition as a tool to show her “caring” heart. It was really disappointing.
Yu Jianjia thought of the palace token tied around Yu Youyao’s waist. Her voice was soft, smooth, greasy, cold, and quiet. She enunciated each word clearly and hissed, “Cleanliness is good, and Yao Yao’s heart is good…”
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly waved her sleeve—
Clang, bang, bang. The sound of cups, tea, plates, bowls, and so on fell onto the ground.
Yu Jianjia’s gaze was cold as she stared at the mess on the ground. Her low voice sounded in her ear. “Yu Youyao, are you worthy?!”
Hui Xiang had returned after knocking on the servant’s door. When she heard the commotion in the house, she was shocked. She quickly entered the house and saw that the things on the small table had fallen to the ground. “Young Miss, what’s wrong?”
Yu Jianjia lowered her head and said in a gentle and hoarse voice, “I suddenly thought of the Heart Sutra that Grandmother sent over yesterday. I haven’t read it today, and I accidentally knocked over the things on the table.”
Hui Xiang hurriedly said, “Young Miss’s body is still injured. She can also read the Heart Sutra later. How can she be in a hurry?”
However, she was blaming Old Madam in her heart. She knew that Young Miss’s leg was still injured, but she still asked her to copy the Heart Sutra. Wasn’t this torture?
She kept saying that it was for Eldest Miss’s own good, but Eldest Miss used to be impetuous and couldn’t even attend school at home. Why didn’t Old Madam ask Eldest Miss to write Buddhist scriptures?
However, she was biased.
Yu Jianjia changed the topic. “Have the servants been warned?”
Hui Xiang pulled a long face and said, “I’ve just passed on Young Miss’s message when the old maids from the north courtyard came over. They said that Eldest Miss had received a reward. Today, there were additional dishes in the residence, so everyone was happy for a day. Tomorrow, they’ll put away their smugness and even ask the servants to go to the stewards to receive the reward money later. Everyone has it. The stewards and maidservants who performed decently will get two taels each. Even the servants in the stable can get 500 copper coins. The entire residence is overjoyed…”
However, no one remembered that Third Miss had sprained her ankle yesterday and her foot was in pain.
It was infuriating.
Yu Jianjia felt a lump in her throat again, and she couldn’t even breathe.
“Young Miss…” Hui Xiang was shocked again. She quickly poured a cup of hot tea and took out the sachet at Young Miss’s waist. She dropped a pill into it and dissolved it into hot water. She stirred the spoon and fed Young Miss some hot tea.
After finishing the cup of hot water, Yu Jianjia still felt uncomfortable and leaned against the couch to rest.
Hui Xiang knelt beside her and massaged the acupuncture points on her hand. “Young Miss, your illness has acted up a few times recently. Do you want to tell Madam and ask her to think of a way to invite Imperial Physician Hu into the residence to take a look?”
Imperial Physician Hu’s medicine was excellent. If Young Miss was feeling unwell, she would recover after taking the medicine for a while.
However, this illness was getting more serious day by day, and it was also very worrying.
Yu Jianjia bit her lip lightly. After a while, she said, “Imperial Physician Hu can’t enter the residence easily. He needs Father’s help.” At this point, she bit her lip lightly, looking aggrieved. “Father was angry with me yesterday. How can I use this matter to trouble him again? I’ll wait a little longer.”
Hui Xiang’s heart ached for her young miss, but that was all she could do.
Yu Jianjia lowered her head and said softly, “Mother’s head disease has acted up a few times. Fortunately, Doctor Ding’s pulse reading is good and the prescribed medicine was effective. That’s why she’s better.”
Hui Xiang lowered her head and said nothing.
Madam’s heart ached for Young Miss. Seeing that Eldest Miss, the bereaved eldest daughter, had received the Empress Dowager’s reward and praise, but Young Miss had sprained her ankle and suffered from Master’s reprimand, she was unhappy. Only then did she return to the courtyard from An Shou Hall, shouting that she had a headache. Nanny Li did not ask her to tell Young Miss so that she would not worry.
Yu Jianjia looked down at her still swollen feet and said softly, “Grandmother is angry that Mother didn’t protect Eldest Sister at the flower festival and caused her to suffer. Mother doesn’t feel good either. Call Fourth Brother to my house later. I’ll talk to him properly. He’s not young anymore. He can’t eat, drink, and play like before. It’ll be too much for Mother.”
Hui Xiang’s heart ached. Even though Young Miss was injured, she was still thinking about her mother and younger brother. There was no one more kind and considerate than Young Miss.
How could Eldest Miss compare to her?
Why did she have to suffer?
There was really no justice!
For the entire day, the residence was filled with joy and smugness.
In the afternoon, Yu Zongzheng and Yu Zongshen left the government office and came to An Shou Hall to greet Old Madam Yu. They had to mention this matter.
Old Madam Yu happily explained everything that had happened since Aunt Shen had arrived at the residence. She also asked Qing Xiu to call her granddaughter over.
Yu Zongzheng looked at his eldest daughter, unable to hide the pride on his face. “Cleanliness is virtue. Yao Yao, you have to remember these words in the future so that you can live up to the Empress Dowager’s good intentions.”
This was both a praise and a warning.
The palace token made of Lantian jade had three sets of significance.
Four good characteristics namely harmony, gentleness, trueness, and firmness.
Five virtues namely benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, courage, and purity.
Six qualities included purity, transparency, silence, moisture, clarity, kindness, and fragrance/