Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 405 - 142: Decline_2

Chapter 405: 142: Decline_2

Ma Peng’s actions were indeed effective. Zhuang Ruolan knew nothing about the matter before the full moon feast. But by the time of the banquet, the secret could no longer be hidden.

Zhuang Ruolan, upon hearing Madam Bao mention it, suppressed her fury and said indifferently, "I don’t know where mother heard such things. Mother shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on rumors."

Madam Bao, looking at Zhuang Ruolan’s contorted face, felt a sense of satisfaction. Recently, dealing with Hailan’s marriage had left her seething with anger. Now, seeing Zhuang Ruolan’s discomfort brought her some semblance of balance.

After Madam Bao left, Cai Yun advised Zhuang Ruolan, "Young lady needn’t worry. Look how the Old Master and the Eldest Young Master don’t believe it and are so fond of Miss."

Zhuang Ruolan pondered for a long time before asking, "Did the Old Master and the Eliest Young Master ask a high monk from Zhaohua Temple to divine Keyue’s fate?" Only the divination by such esteemed monks could dispel the negative impact.

Cai Yun hesitated for a while before replying, "Miss isn’t aware, but the Second Young Master said that day he had asked Master Ru Tong from Zhaohua Temple to divine for Miss." Ru Tong had gained some recognition within Zhaohua Temple and was trusted by many ladies of the Capital City.

There were many high monks in Zhaohua Temple, but they were either reclusive from the world or wandering abroad. They would not come out to divine for someone. This was why Yueyao had gone out of her way to showcase her innate talent in Buddhist principles to Master Ru Kong, hoping to catch the attention of these individuals and get an audience with them.

Zhuang Ruolan clenched her teeth in hatred. If it had been Ru Tong who had divined the fortune, unless the three venerable masters gave her daughter another divination, the impact could not be undone. Zhuang Ruolan came to utterly despise Ma Yue. Any mother would wish for her children’s safety and peace, but Ma Yue had ruined her daughter’s reputation, and such malice could affect her future marriage prospects. How could she not hate him?

Yueyao was also shocked when she heard the news and exclaimed angrily, "Has my second cousin gone mad, to hold a grudge against a newborn child?" His own failure to become a Scholar was one thing, but to blame Keyue for it was despicable.

Nanny Hao also felt the Second Young Master of the Ma Family was acting despicably, but there was little Yueyao could do to help.

Yueyao thought about it and decided to visit Ma’s Mansion anyway. She had not gone for the full moon celebration, so now she considered it making up for the missed gift.

Lady Mo showed her displeasure upon hearing Yueyao was visiting Ma’s Mansion again. It was not proper for a young lady to be going out so frequently, especially to other households. But she had no good reason to object. She was in a position where she could neither scold nor physically correct Yueyao and had to treat her like a Bodhisattva: "Come back early. In a few days, we will go to Hualin Temple to offer prayers, and you should come too!" Lady Mo felt that Yueyao was tainted with an evil aura, and she needed Grand Master Pu An to see what was wrong with the girl.

Yueyao didn’t refuse: "Alright." With her past life’s experiences, Yueyao detested Hualin Temple utterly. Even though it was reputed as the largest and finest temple next to Zhaohua Temple, she simply disliked it. However, she had no reasonable excuse to decline. Besides, offering prayers was a rare opportunity for relaxation; cooped up in the inner courtyard, Yueyao also wanted to go out, treat it like a chance to get some fresh air.

When Yueyao arrived at Ma’s Mansion, she adored the plump little Keyue: "I’ve always heard that children change every day, but it’s only been a short while, and she’s grown so much." The child was just a tiny mite at the washing ceremony, but now she was fair and plump, blowing bubbles, which was adorable.

The gift Yueyao had prepared was a red gold necklace, chosen from her mother’s dowry, a gift of considerable value.

Ruo Lan said with a smile, "This gift is too heavy."

Yueyao placed the gold necklace in the baby’s swaddle, "As an aunt, giving my niece a little something, how could it be too heavy?" The care she received from the Ma Family could not be measured by a mere gold necklace.

Yueyao, seeing a bit of worry between Ruo Lan’s brows, smiled and said, "Cousin-in-law, I have also heard about the rumors outside. Do not take them to heart, Cousin-in-law, as time passes, people will also forget."

What Zhuang Ruo Lan worried about was the future, not the present.

Yueyao considered for a moment and then said, "Cousin-in-law, I actually think rumors are not scary; what’s scary is taking them to heart. You haven’t completed your postpartum period yet, and if you overthink and develop complications, that would really be terrible. Cousin-in-law, have you ever thought that by acting this way, you might be playing into the hands of certain people? If something really were to happen to you, it would further confirm those rumors. Then, your daughter’s future would indeed become even more difficult." According to Mother’s words, the postpartum period should last at least forty-five days, and Zhuang Ruo Lan was still in hers.

Zhuang Ruo Lan’s gaze grew heavy; if something really were to happen to her, her daughter’s life would become even more challenging; she had not expected that she had actually fallen into Madam Bao’s scheme.

Seeing Zhuang Ruo Lan’s expression, Yueyao hesitated for a moment before still saying, "Cousin-in-law, in fact, there is a way to dispel this matter." Seeing Ruo Lan’s somewhat incredulous look, she smiled and said, "Cousin-in-law, the prescription I gave you last time is actually the best way. If you use this method to make a large sum of money, and the Ma Family grows more and more prosperous, then all you need to do is to say that it was all Keyue’s blessing, and those rumors will naturally fall apart."

Yueyao didn’t believe in these rumors at all. Rumors misled people, and besides, since Keyue’s birth, not a single bad thing had happened in Ma’s Mansion, and as for Ma Yue failing the examination, that should be ignored.

Ruo Lan’s eyes lit up; if this were true, it could indeed disperse the negative impact, though she wasn’t confident about this method. Regardless of whether the method worked or not, Zhuang Ruo Lan was very grateful for Yueyao’s suggested strategy, "Cousin, it’s considerate of you to think so thoroughly."

Yueyao accompanied Ruo Lan in conversation for a long time, which lifted Zhuang Ruo Lan’s spirits considerably. It wasn’t until Yueyao heard that Ma Chengteng had returned that she left.

Cai Yun, upon seeing Zhuang Ruo Lan’s mood had relaxed a lot, heaved a sigh of relief in secret. If only she had known earlier how persuasive Cousin Miss was, she would have asked her to come over sooner.

Zhuang Ruo Lan also felt that Yueyao had unique insights: "Yueyao is broad-minded, thinks things through thoroughly, and has a long-term perspective. For someone so young, it’s truly rare."

Cai Yun agreed with Zhuang Ruo Lan’s thoughts.

Cai Yi whispered, "Young lady, should we try the prescription that cousin suggested?"

Ruo Lan felt Yueyao was a quite reliable person, and she immediately instructed Cai Yi to find someone she could trust to test it out.