Time Travel: The Noble Family

Chapter 145: Chapter 60: The Li Family (Part 2)_4

Li Guoxing asked many questions, and Yueyao patiently and earnestly answered them. Lady Li couldn’t help but laugh as she listened to her husband inquire about Yueyao’s life.

Upon hearing his wife’s laughter, Li Guoxing realized he had asked too many questions. Nevertheless, he unflinchingly replied, “Very good.” Yueyao’s answers were clear and structured, and she wasn’t intimidated, which was truly commendable. It’s a pity she’s a girl; if Yueyao were a boy, then Brother Ziming would have a successor.

A maid came in to report, “Old Master, Lord Yang is waiting for you in the great hall.”

Li Guoxing nodded, exchanged a few words with Lady Li, and then left; the appointment with Lord Yang had been arranged beforehand for them to discuss matters.

Once Li Guoxing had left, Lady Li patted Yueyao’s hand and said with a smile, “Your uncle is just like that; don’t be frightened by him.” She found it amusing to recall how her youngest son always frowned like he was in deep misery whenever he saw his father, as if his very life depended on it. In truth, her husband was only stern on the outside, but unfortunately, everyone around him was intimidated by his tough exterior.

Yueyao shook her head with a smile, “Auntie, I know that uncle truly cares for and cherishes me, which is why he asked me so many questions. Otherwise, with how busy he is, why would he bother with such trivial matters?” If someone wasn’t valued, they wouldn’t be asked so much; in Yueyao’s memory, her Great Uncle Lian Dongfang had never asked her about so many things.

Lady Li, hearing this, showed a look of pity in her eyes. The children must be having a harder time at Lian Mansion than expected. The Second Old Master of the Lian Family and the Second Madam had only needed half a year to let this child understand the warmth and coldness of human relationships, sigh, children without parents truly lead hard lives!

For the midday meal, Yueyao ate together with Li Guoxing and Lady Li. Li family’s eldest son, Li Heng, and the second son, Li Zhen, were just like Tingli and Tingyi, studying at Bailu Academy, returning home for two days each month, leaving only the Third Young Master, Li Han, at home. Li Han was also scheduled to attend the School once he reached the appropriate age.

Lady Li originally intended to have separate tables for men and women. Li Guoxing shook his head, “The child is still young; there’s no need for such formality.” Had the eldest son and second son been there, they surely would have dined at separate tables. Now, with only the youngest son at home, who was just six years old, it wasn’t yet time to distinguish between the sexes.

Yueyao looked at Li Han who had been hopping about energetically just moments before but now sat at the dining table like a little old man, and she couldn’t help but reflect on the boy’s dual personality.

After the midday meal, Yueyao spent some time talking to Tingzheng, “Brother Zheng, tell sister, how does your teacher instruct you?” Yueyao wanted to know how Brother Zheng felt about his classes.

Brother Zheng felt that attending classes with Li Han was different from learning characters with Yueyao alone, “The teacher is not as good as sister.”

Yueyao asked with a smile, “Where is he not as good as sister?”

Tingzheng was at a loss; he just felt that the teacher was not as good as his sister, but he couldn’t articulate where the teacher was lacking. His little face turned red with the effort.

Yueyao, understanding Tingzheng’s expression, realized that perhaps he did not want to be separated from her and was deliberately saying that the teacher was not as good as she was, “In the future, you must listen obediently to your teacher, you cannot be lazy, nor can you become complacent. You have to be as diligent and hardworking as you are at home, understand?”

Although Tingzheng was reluctant, he still nodded, “Sister, I understand.”

Yueyao spent a good while talking with Tingzheng before bidding farewell to Li Guoxing and Lady Li to return. There was an embroidery class in the afternoon, and she didn’t want to delay her studies again; otherwise, she would have liked to go back after dinner.

When Li Guoxing heard she had to study, he didn’t stop her. He simply looked at Yueyao and said, “You are still young, if there’s anything in the future, just talk to your Auntie. Don’t be formal.” He had always been strict with his son and really had no experience in how to deal with little girls.

Yueyao nodded with a smile, “Sure.”

Lady Li walked Yueyao to the second gate, holding Yueyao’s hand and said, “Come over to visit Auntie when you have free time.” She indeed wished for a daughter, but it was an unfulfilled hope. Such a well-behaved child, she almost wished Yueyao was her own.

Yueyao nodded immediately, “Sure.” If possible, she also hoped to go out more, as she was sure to learn a lot from these elders.

After Lady Li returned, she expressed to Li Guoxing with a sigh, “This child is too sensible, so sensible that it hurts my heart.” She recounted the events with Yueyao and, after finishing, couldn’t help but shake her head, “It seems that the child really has a hard time in the Lian Mansion. Otherwise, why would an eight-year-old behave like an adult? It’s too hard on her.” For someone like Lady Li, it was not a mere declaration of how good the Lian Mansion was from Yueyao’s lips that she would believe. Yueyao’s words and actions revealed a lot.

It took a while for Li Guoxing to say, “We should look after her more in the future if we can.” He was a reserved person; the reason he let Tingzheng study with his younger son was that Tingzheng was a boy whom he could take care of. But Yueyao was a girl, beyond his ability to manage.

Lady Li knew her husband’s concerns. The two families used to be close, but her husband and the Lian Family’s eldest grand master had some issues, so it’s likely that after Old Madam Lian passed away, the two families might only maintain a superficial relationship, “Old Master, don’t worry, I will make sure Brother Zheng is well looked after.” Taking good care of Brother Zheng might also lessen the burden on that child.

Li Guoxing frowned slightly, then suddenly said, “Maybe I should mention it to Brother Shen. Yueyao has an engagement with Conghao, and it might be better for him to get involved.” Although Li Guoxing’s relationship with Shen Qian wasn’t as close as with Lian Dongbo, they were still good friends. The Shen family was Yueyao’s future in-laws, so it would be more proper for them to step in.

A complex look flickered in Lady Li’s eyes, “For now, there’s no need. We’ll talk to the Shen family if something comes up. Otherwise, the Lian family might think Yueyao has been complaining to us.” Given the good relationship between Li Guoyan and Shen Qian, it stood to reason that the mistresses of the two families should have been close too, but the relationship between Lady Li and Lady Shen was just lukewarm, with merely superficial interactions.

Li Guoxing nodded, “Wife makes a good point.” He didn’t meddle in the affairs of the inner court and left it all to his wife.

Lady Li said with a smile, “Old Master, rest assured, I see that Yueyao can take good care of herself. If she indeed has troubles, I believe she will tell us.” After a morning’s acquaintance, Lady Li understood that Yueyao was a very smart child. Sensible and intelligent, she wouldn’t let herself suffer.

Li Guoxing nodded slightly, “Let it be for now.”

Lady Li asked, “How did this engagement come to be?” She knew something about Lady Shen, Lady Mu, and if Yueyao’s parents were still alive, it would definitely be a good match. But now that Yueyao had become an orphan, Lady Li couldn’t help but worry about her future.

Li Guoxing said with a smile, “Brother Shen and Ziming settled the children’s marriage; the two are indeed quite a match.”

Lady Li chuckled, “They are quite a match.” If Yueyao’s parents were still around, naturally, it would be a match, but she didn’t know what the future would hold.