Old Madam Yu slapped her forehead. “Oh my, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have really forgotten about it after getting angry with Yu Qingning. You old thing, why didn’t you remind me earlier about such an important matter?”

Nanny Liu smiled but said nothing.

Old Madam Yu looked delighted as she glanced at Nanny Liu. “You’re right. Yao Yao has been learning from Nanny Xu for a while, but she’s not the same as before. Quick, help me to the side room. I have to carefully choose some useful study materials and send them to Yao Yao so that she can study hard.”

In the temple hall, Yang Shuwan felt like she was sitting on needles. She kept looking at the funnel, feeling uneasy. She couldn’t even copy the Buddhist scriptures anymore.

Old Madam’s attitude had changed. Something must have happened in the residence that implicated her. However, she was in the temple hall, and news of Nanny Li couldn’t be sent in often. She was really in the dark.

After staying in the temple hall for another hour, Madam Yang was so anxious that she had blisters on her mouth. Only then did she receive Old Madam Yu’s permission to go back to the main courtyard.

As soon as she saw Nanny Li, Yang Shuwan asked anxiously, “Has Master left the office? Did he go to study again?”

Seeing that the Imperial Court had yet to release the rankings at the end of the month, the candidates participating in the imperial examination could no longer hold it in. There were many messy rumors in the capital.

Yu Zongzheng had also become busier over the past few days. It had been a few days since he had visited the main courtyard.

She had to set rules and copy Buddhist scriptures in An Shou Hall every day until late at night. It had been a long time since she had seen Yu Zongzheng.

This was the first time in a long time since she had married into the Yu Residence.

If this continued, their relationship as husband and wife would fade.

Nanny Li quickly replied, “Master is still at the government office and hasn’t returned yet. He had previously sent Zhao Da to Old Madam’s house to pass on a message, saying that he would be back later today.”

Yang Shuwan was a little disappointed. Yu Zongzheng was so busy. Even if he returned to the residence, she couldn’t bother him with such trivial matters.

She probably wouldn’t be able to see Yu Zongzheng again today.

Seeing that she did not look well, Nanny Li leaned over and told her everything that had happened in the school today.

When Yang Shuwan heard this, she was furious. “No wonder Old Madam is acting so abnormally today. Usually, she would let me return to the main courtyard at the latest, but today, she asked me to stay for two more hours. It’s all because that little b*tch Yu Qingning made a mistake in the school, and I’ve been implicated for no reason.”

Nanny Li lowered her head and did not dare to speak. Ever since Madam had gone to Old Madam’s house to set the rules, her temper had become worse and worse. She would flare up every day when she returned.

Yang Shuwan thought of Yu Qingning’s fate again and immediately perked up. A gloating smile appeared on her face. “Heh, she’s just a concubine’s daughter. She should take a look at herself and see which rotten thing she crawled out of. Old Madam dotes on Yu Youyao as if she were her own. She snatched Yu Youyao’s position, so how can Old Madam let her off easily? When the nanny from the Education Department comes to visit, these two b*tches will suffer.”

Nanny Li handed a cup of tea to Yang Shuwan. “That’s because Madam is amazing. The maidservants around her usually treat her like the daughter of the first wife, and they also treat her better than the others. As time passes, she’ll grow up and really think of herself as the first wife’s daughter.”

Not only did she gain the title of a loving mother, but she had also raised Yu Qingning to be a narrow-minded and arrogant person. She even killed someone with flattery. This method was really impressive.

Among the wealthy families, how many daughters of concubines had a good ending?

Hearing this, a smug expression appeared on Yang Shuwan’s face. “I had no choice. Master dotes on the little b*tch of the Clear Autumn Courtyard, and treats Yu Qingning differently. If I treat Yu Qingning harshly, I would inevitably have a reputation of being jealous and unkind in front of Master. I wouldn’t make Master fall out of love with me because of a concubine’s daughter. Since Master dotes on her, I’ll support her too, so that Master will know that I’m kind and magnanimous.”

At this point, she raised her eyebrows slightly and thought of Yu Youyao.

Old Madam was so protective of Yu Youyao that even she, her mother, couldn’t interfere. She had raised Yu Qingning’s status too high, and it was a plan that killed three birds with one stone.

She had asked Yu Qingning’s maidservants to sow discord between Yu Qingning and Yu Youyao. Yu Qingning did not disappoint and often caused trouble with Yu Youyao.

Old Master was biased towards Yu Qingning, so he felt that Yu Youyao was at fault.

As time passed, Old Master felt that Yu Youyao was spoiled and domineering. He also treated her more harshly. Compared to Yu Youyao, the obedient and sensible Jia Jia naturally received more favor from Old Master.

Old Madam was always protective of Yu Youyao, so it was inevitable that she would have conflicts with Old Master. If their mother-son relationship became distant, Old Master would also side with her more.

Yu Qingning and Yu Youyao were locked in a fierce battle, while she and Jia Jia benefited from it.

Yang Shuwan was pleased with herself. “Yu Qingning made a huge mistake in the school, so Concubine He naturally has to be involved. Therefore, she’ll be fined half a year’s worth of money, and her food intake will be halved.”

Nanny Li nodded in agreement.

Madam had fined Concubine He and reduced her allowance. Even though she did not lack money, it was not convenient for her to use the money she had on hand.

Moreover, Concubine He was currently grounded. Even if she had money, she had nowhere to spend it.

Most of the servants in the residence saw that the situation had changed. Concubine He was not well-liked by Old Madam He, and she was also punished by the first wife. How could she have an easy time?

Nanny Li nodded and left the room.

At this moment, Yu Jianjia entered the house.

Yang Shuwan hurriedly pulled her daughter to sit down beside her. “It’s already so late. Why aren’t you resting in the courtyard?”

Yu Jianjia’s face turned pale. “Mother came back late today. I was a little worried, so I came over to take a look. But what happened to Grandmother?”

Yang Shuwan sneered. “How could anything have happened? I just suffered an undeserved calamity. Someone found an opportunity to torture me.”

Yu Jianjia looked at her worriedly. “Did Mother get blamed by Grandmother because Fourth Sister was studying at home today and was sent out of class?”

Yang Shuwan was furious. “Isn’t it obvious?!”

Yu Jianjia held her handkerchief and covered her mouth as she coughed.

Yang Shuwan couldn’t care less about being angry. She quickly handed her a cup of tea. “Don’t worry about me. Other than using her status as an elder to make things difficult for me, what else can Old Madam do to me? On the other hand, have you felt better after taking Imperial Physician Hu’s medicine these few days?”

After taking a sip of hot tea, Yu Jianjia felt a little better. There was also a hint of blood on her face. “Imperial Physician Hu’s prescription is excellent. After taking it for a few days, I feel much better. Mother, don’t always worry about me.”

Yang Shuwan smiled. After being upset for the entire day, she felt a little better. “That’s good. You have to listen to Imperial Physician Hu and rest well.”