The Grand Secretary's Pampered wife

Her daughter had already done so much for her. She could not always hide behind her and become a burden to her daughter.

She wanted to move there by herself one day, not because she had nowhere else to go.

She also hoped that if she was ever gone one day, her daughter would remember her not as an embattled, weak and pitiful mother, but a mother she could be proud of.

It was her daughter who gave her strength.

"If possible, Mother doesn't want you to be so capable."

It was her incompetence that forced her daughter to toughen up.

She couldn’t go on like this.

She wanted to protect her daughter too.

Gu Jiao couldn’t understand such emotions, but she respected Yao shi's choice. She said, "If you need anything, you’re always welcome at home."

After Gu Jiao left, Yao shi changed her clothes, put on a pair of golden buyao[1], and then went to the Pine Crane Courtyard to pay respect to Old Madame Gu.

Hearing that Yao shi had come to pay respect to her, Old Madame Gu almost choked to death, "Who did you say came?"

The servant girl answered, "Madame, it's Madame. She's here to pay respect to the Old Madame!"

Since Yao shi returned to the estate, she was ill all time and hadn’t come to pay respect to Old Madame Gu once. What happened today? Did the sun rise in the west?

Old Madame Gu was not in a great mood these days. First, Gu Chenglin was still locked up in the ancestral hall. Second, she was frightened by a little thief yesterday and had an accident in the greenhouse. Her oldest grandson hadn't caught the thief yet.

She had never been so unlucky in her life.

"Hiss—" Her body was aching all over. She instructed, "Let her wait outside, just say I'm not up yet."

Yao shi, who was treated with a cold shoulder, waited for less than half an hour without a single complaint.

Old Madame Gu said, "Oh? Has she changed her temper? Ten years ago, she would have given me a long face and walked away!"

Ultimately, Old Madame Gu called people inside.

Yao shi not only came on her own, but also brought some snacks she made by herself.

Old Madame Gu sneered and asked, "What’s this? Are you planning to poison me?"

"Daughter-in-law doesn’t dare." Yao shi replied humbly.

Even the manner she spoke had changed, showing a sense of fawning and flattery.

Old Madame Gu couldn't help looking at Yao shi once more.

Yao shi used to be very cold and aloof, and she always had the look of having no desire in life at all. Old Madame Gu felt she was an eyesore whenever she saw her. Today, however, the way she dressed had changed, even putting a pair of buyao on her head. Finally, she had the appearance of an upper-class woman of a noble house.

A daughter-in-law indeed should dress herself up beautifully and then bow down in respect before her mother-in-law.

Old Madame Gu finally lost the feeling of punching a cotton and rarely felt that Yao shi was pleasing to the eye.

"Mother, please have a bite." Yao shi presented the snacks with both hands, and her respectful manner could get a full mark.

Old Madame Gu picked a piece and took a bite.

Soon after, Old Madame Gu was amazed.

She really couldn’t tell that the craftsmanship of this gloomy woman was so good that it was much better than that of the cook in the estate!

Yao shi said fawningly, "It took me a long time of practice before I dared to bring them to mother as a show of filial piety. I hope mother doesn't dislike it."

All the people in the room dropped their jaws. Did they hear right? Did those words really come from the Madame’s mouth?

Yao Shi might not be of high birth, but she had an unyielding character and was never willing to act humble like Concubine Ling.

Old Madame Gu was quite pleased with Yao shi’s current attitude, coupled with the fact that she had a poor appetite because of her injury, so she ate some of Yao shi's snacks.

Yao shi said in a warm voice, "Mother, let me give you a massage; you’ll feel good when the blood stasis on your body is massaged away. Yan'er often feels uncomfortable in his body and I always give him a massage. All the physicians praised me for being good at it."

Old Madame Gu’s body was indeed aching again. After hearing what she said, she hesitated for a moment before letting her give it a try.

Yao shi’s taking care of Gu Yan by herself all these years wasn’t in vain. She really did a good job at massaging; she was much more professional than the servant girls in the estate.

In fact, the physician in the estate could also do it, but after all, men and women should keep their distance from each other.

Wherever Yao shi massaged, the pain she felt really lessened.

Her heart also felt comfortable. Yao shi behaving just like a daughter-in-law should, finally gave her a sense of dignity as a mother-in-law.

"Mother, I've thought about Lin'er’s matter."

As soon as she heard Yao shi dare to mention Gu Chenglin, Old Madame Gu's face sank.

Gu Chenglin was beaten like that by her daughter and was locked up in the ancestral hall by the eldest child because of what happened to Gu Yan.

And yet she still had the face to mention it?!

Yao shi continued, "When shizi returns to the estate in the evening, I will go to him and ask him to let Lin’er out. I will tell him that Yan'er is all right."

Indeed, Gu Yan had long been able to skip and jump about. On the other hand, Gu Chenglin was beaten so miserably by Gu Jiao that he still couldn’t get up till now.

Old Madame Gu’s expression grew somewhat worried. It was true that she hated Yao shi's children, but it was still most important to release her precious grandson first.

Gu Changqing might not listen to what others say, but if the party concerned expressed not to pursue the matter anymore, then Gu Changqing could no longer keep Gu Chenglin locked up.

Still, Old Madame Gu was wary as she asked , "Why are you buttering up to me all of a sudden?"

Yao shi lowered her eyes and let out a sigh, saying, "Daughter-in-law has figured it out. Over the years, this daughter-in-law has failed to fulfill her duty as a daughter-in-law, which has upset mother greatly. But when Yan'er and JiaoJiao grow up in the future, I still have to count on mother for her blessings."

I'm sorry, JiaoJiao, mother is bad and had to use you as an excuse.

After all, it was flattery that would get one everywhere!

Old Madame Gu withdrew her askance expression and said, "It's good that you have self-knowledge."

Just then, Concubine Ling came to pay respect to Old Madam Gu. As soon as she entered the room, she saw a strange picture of Old Madame Gu and Yao shi getting along in harmony.

Concubine Ling was stunned and she could hardly believe her eyes.

She was about to come forward to give a salute when Yao shi turned around and made a gesture of silence at her.

Yao shi stood up slowly, pulled the quilt to cover Old Madame Gu, and gently lowered the bed curtain.

Concubine Ling opened her mouth to say something but then hesitated. Old Madame Gu had fallen asleep, and it wouldn’t be good to wake her up.

"I'll come back and wait upon mother later." Yao shi said to the servants in the room before turning to leave. When she passed Concubine Ling, she said in a low voice," Concubine Ling, why don’t you go out too? Lest you disturb mother’s rest."

After what she said, could Concubine Ling still stay?

Concubine Ling felt very strange at the moment. Today's Yao shi seemed different from the past.

What on earth had changed?

It seemed to be the way she dressed, but also the aura of her whole person.

Concubine Ling followed Yao shi out of the Pine Crane Courtyard.

Just as they walked out of the courtyard, Yao shi suddenly turned around, raised her hand and gave Concubine Ling a slap in the face!

All Concubine Ling heard was a loud smack, then she was stupefied.

1. ↑ — a type of Chinese hairpin which the jewelry dangles when the wearer walks, hence the name, which literally means "shake as you go". The use of buyao denotes noble status.