Time Travel: The Noble Family
Chapter 573 - 224 Shuangxi

Chapter 573: 224 Shuangxi

Loo Ying ran into Ma Peng and Zhuang Ruolan on her way back. Ma Peng had just returned from an assignment and went with Zhuang Ruolan to Begonia Garden to visit Yueyao.

Although Ma Peng dared not rebel against his father, he harbored resentment in his heart and looked down on the Lian family even more. He scoffed at them for claiming to be of a scholarly family, when they were not even as good as bankrupt households.

Loo Ying curtsied and said, "Greetings, elder cousin."

Ma Peng hummed in response but didn’t stop walking. Behind him, Zhuang Ruolan smiled. They were both her cousins, but the attitudes of their husbands were worlds apart.

Ma Peng entered the bedroom and said to Yueyao, "Cousin, from now on, you should stay at home with ease. If you lack anything or need anything, tell your sister-in-law, or you can tell me directly if there’s anything. You absolutely must not suffer in silence like you did at the Lian Mansion. If any servant dares to offend you, tell your sister-in-law, and we’ll punish them with twenty big sticks before driving them out."

Yueyao smiled and said, "Don’t worry, elder brother, I will definitely speak up if there’s anything. I won’t suppress my own grievances." She would indeed turn to Ma Chengteng and Ma Peng if needed because they were her most reliable support.

Ma Peng didn’t react much upon hearing Yueyao call him elder brother, but Cai Yi, who was beside Zhuang Ruolan, glanced at Yueyao. Though both ’cousin’ and ’elder brother’ meant brother, the connotations here were entirely different. Miss Yao was not to be underestimated.

Zhuang Ruolan spoke up from the side, "Yueyao, the small kitchen has just been thoroughly cleaned and needs a few days before it can be used." Yueyao had a small kitchen in the Lian Mansion, and it couldn’t be that they removed the small kitchen now that she had moved to Ma’s Mansion. The small kitchen in Begonia Garden hadn’t been used for a long time and had recently been rebuilt.

Yueyao repeatedly shook her head, "No need, I don’t need a small kitchen." This was true for Yueyao. She had needed a small kitchen in the Lian Mansion because it was inconveniently far away, and she had wanted to use more tonics to build a healthy foundation. In Ma’s Mansion, she certainly wouldn’t lack for food, clothing, or anything else.

But Ma Peng thought it was a good idea and nodded, "Your sister-in-law has thought everything through very carefully, having a small kitchen is convenient. Later on, if you want to eat something, just have the purchasing department buy it for you. You’re still growing, so you can’t neglect your diet." After saying this, noticing Yueyao’s frailty, he added, "You’re too thin, you need to nourish yourself properly. Just the other day I got some deer antler, I’ll send someone to bring it over later, and you can eat it when you’re better." Ma Peng knew that you couldn’t over-nourish while you were sick.

Ma Peng was now the main pillar of the Lian Mansion, and his words were as authoritative as Ma Chengteng’s. Since he had spoken, the matter was settled.

Zhuang Ruolan smiled with pursed lips, listening to Ma Peng’s series of remarks. Upon hearing the comment about nourishing well, she joined in, "I have already sent some Blood Swallow and red ginseng over. This ordeal has drained you, and once you’re better, you definitely need to recuperate and restore your depleted vital energy."

Yueyao responded readily, "Alright." She didn’t say anything about being responsible for the expenses, which would have been seen as being standoffish, because she knew that would surely invite a scolding.

Having a significant age difference with Yueyao, Ma Peng didn’t have much in common to talk about. After giving her a few cautions, he left. Zhuang Ruolan, on the other hand, stayed and spoke with Yueyao, "Yueyao, Lady Li said she would come to visit you tomorrow, and I have already agreed on your behalf."

Yueyao said, "Alright." Without Lady Li’s care, Tingzheng couldn’t have possibly fared well at Li Mansion. Yueyao was also filled with gratitude towards Lady Li.

Ma Chengteng came back very late, and the first thing he did upon returning was to visit Yueyao. Seeing the arrangement of the room, Ma Chengteng was very satisfied and, after giving Yueyao several instructions, did not stay for too long before returning to the front yard.

Upon hearing the news, Madam Tang urged Ma Yue to visit Yueyao, but Ma Yue outright refused, "She’s the one who moved into our house, not the other way around. Besides, I’m older than her; if anyone should be making visits, she should be coming to see me first." Ma Yue, like Ma Linlin, heeded Lady Cheng’s words and regarded Yueyao as a Jinx. If not for Yueyao, their mother and sons wouldn’t have ended up in such a state, nor would he have been so oppressed by Ma Peng that he couldn’t even catch his breath. If he had his way, Yueyao wouldn’t be living here, but unfortunately, he wasn’t the one calling the shots.

Madam Tang was incensed—was this something a person should say? In normal circumstances, it was indeed Yueyao that should come to pay respects to them, but now that Yueyao was ill in bed, even for appearances’ sake, he should visit. Anyone with clear eyes could see that the Father-in-law cherished this cousin of his; otherwise, he wouldn’t have forced the Lian family to release her to live in Ma’s Mansion, nor would he have ordered the Begonia Garden to be redecorated. If the Father-in-law were to learn of her husband’s actions, he would surely get angry again.