Bab 4: This Fourth Miss Will Not, Can Not, Must Not.

Yujia couldn't get over the fact that she was actually marrying someone old enough to be her father.

Staring at the younger girl— Xiaoyi— Yujia pulled away, attempting to keep a calm, collected image when in reality, she was somewhat hyperventilating and dying inside.

"Xiaoyi," Yujia stated, "I'm feeling a bit tired now and would like to have some time to myself." She rubbed her temples, soothing the headache that was becoming worse by the minute, especially after learning of her engagement to the old master of the Yu Family.

Xiaoyi, with her wide eyes, nodded, standing up. "Alright then, Older Sister. Do call for me if you need someone to talk to."

With that, Xiaoyi headed for the exit. At the front of Yujia's room, she ran into Hui'er, who was walking in with a steaming bowl of hangover soup on a tray. Yujia's eyes narrowed as she realized that Hui'er instantly stiffened, appearing uncomfortable while greeting Yujia's "younger sister". Xiaoyi, however, didn't have much of a change in her expression, nodding at Hui'er before leaving.

Once Xiaoyi left, Hui'er, who walked next to Yujia, instantly relaxed, taking a deep breath. "Miss, I have your hangover soup!" She smiled at Yujia, carefully setting the tray down and handing it over.

Gratefully, Yujia took the bowl from her hands, dipping a spoon into the rich broth. As she blew on the soup resting inside the spoon, Yujia asked with a careless attitude, "Hui'er, why do you appear so uncomfortable around Xiaoyi?"

Hui'er froze, backing away a step. "Miss, if I were you, I would stay away from her. There's something off about the Fifth Miss."

"How so?" Yujia took a sip of the simmering soup, enjoying the savory taste. "I think that Xiaoyi is actually quite nice."

"Miss, don't you understand? You're the Fourth Miss. Why would anyone treat you with kindness if they didn't have ulterior motives?"

This time, it was Yujia's turn to freeze. Slowly, she set the bowl of soup down. "Hui'er, explain yourself."

"Isn't it all about your birth, Miss? Everyone in the household looks down on us because your mother… was never… really married with the old master, not even given the title of a concubine."

Yujia blinked.

Perhaps it was because of the fact that learning about her engagement with some old man was already too shocking, this new piece of information she gathered turned out less surprising. She already accepted the fact that her transmigration process as of the moment definitely wasn't the most ideal, novel-worthy story.

Nevertheless, how was she supposed to know that the Fourth Miss was stuck in such a position? Again, Yujia held too much trust in the novels where whoever transmigrated always landed in such a positive scenario as a princess or a rich merchant's actually legitimate daughter. And even if they did land in the body of someone who was negatively viewed by everyone in their society, they always had wonderful skills to aid them in their survival. Why was Yang Yujia the only one to have such terrible luck to be both a bastard child and also involved in an engagement to some man old enough to be her father?

Pausing for a few moments, Yujia asked Hui'er to clarify. "Are you saying… that I'm an illegitimate child?"

Instantly, Hui'er knelt down in fear. "Miss, I'm not trying to offend you. Please don't get angry. I'm just stating the obvious facts that everyone knows."

Puzzled at her maid's behaviors, Yujia rushed over and beckoned for Hui'er to stand back up. "Silly, why are you acting this way? I'm just asking."

"Ah, Miss, I always thought you were sensitive about this topic! Whenever I brought it up in the past, you would always become angry. I thought that… you would dislike it if I talked about it again."

Yujia began pitying the previous owner of the body. From what she had seen and heard about this society so far, she assumed that it must've been tough for her to keep herself going in this world when she was illegitimate. Still, for the previous Yang Yujia to become so angry that her own personal maid feared her anger… that was a strange fact that Yujia would keep in mind.

"Hui'er, am I someone who gets angry so easily?"

"No, Miss, not at all!" Hui'er widened her eyes and shook her head rapidly. "Miss, you're the most tolerant and patient person in the villa! Even when the household would not provide you with medicine when you were the sickest, you made me not fight with them and suffered on your own! Miss, I would never think of you as someone who has trouble controlling their anger. But, it's only this one topic that always irritates you…"

"I see now." Yujia nodded knowingly, taking another sip of her hangover soup. Sounded like the previous Yang Yujia was a total pushover, probably a personality trait that developed because of the fact that she was illegitimate. Yujia did admit that she was a little taken aback by the genuine fear that Hui'er held in her eyes before though towards this entire situation. "So, Hui'er… about Xiaoyi— we seemed to get a little off track there."

"Oh, Hui'er just doesn't understand the purpose of Fifth Miss trying to get so close to you." Hui'er frowned. "None of the other three misses would ever treat you with kindness… and Fifth Miss always ignored you until two years ago. Even you told me before that you wouldn't ever trust Fifth Miss."

Even though Xiaoyi did seem a bit suspicious, Yujia decided that she would have an open mind towards this entire situation. Xiaoyi seemed genuine and considerate, as sweet as Hui'er. For now, she would just treat Xiaoyi as Xiaoyi treated her.

"Besides, Fifth Miss is the one who's courting the Yu Family's young master… I'm sure she's just trying to rub the fact that she's getting a better deal than you in your face!"

What?

In the midst of drinking another spoon of soup, Yujia choked and soup sprayed out of her mouth. Hui'er jumped, quickly grabbing a towel on the side and wiping the sides of Yujia's mouth.

"Miss, are you alright? Did Hui'er say something wrong again?" Worriedly, Hui'er blabbered and with trembling hands, took the bowl of soup away from the choking Yujia.

Yujia kept coughing, but she shook her head. "N—no… Hui'er— you're— fine… I'm just a little shocked to hear that."

How messed up was this entire situation? Yang Yujia was marrying the old master of the Yu Family as a concubine while the same Yu Family's young master was courting her younger sister? If all the marriage ceremonies played out as planned, wouldn't that make Yujia a generation higher than Xiaoyi? And how disgusting was it for there to be a double marriage within these families?

Perhaps it was normal within this time period.

Right.

That must be normal in this Xiang Dynasty.

Yujia attempted to assure herself while at the same time, she was still somewhat appalled at how unfair the entire situation was. If only she transmigrated into the body of Yang Xiaoyi… that would have made her life much better.

After Yujia's coughs subsided, she turned back to Hui'er. "Hui'er, is it true that I'm marrying the old master of the Yu Family? My memory is all fuzzy right now from drinking so much last night."

Hui'er agreed sadly. "Yes, Miss, you are. In fact, the reason why you were drinking in the first place was because you were in despair that the Old Master created such an arrangement for his own business advancement!"

Oh. That was sadly relatable.

If Yujia was to get into a marriage arrangement like that— which she just did— she would drink away all her worries as well.

"Well then, Hui'er," Yujia sat up straighter, sharp determination reflected through her eyes, "I suppose it's a good time to let my father— the Old Master— know that this Fourth Miss will not, can not, and must not marry into the Yu Family."

PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA
yaoyueyi

Sorry for not updating sooner! Life is always busy for me. TuT I will try to get another update finished today though, and if not, I'll make sure that there's one on Monday, at least.

Thoughts and comments are always appreciated!

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