Chapter 269: Not a Son

Chapter 269: Not a Son

"No, no!" Tong Nanxia quickly raised her head, strongly refusing, "Third Sister, don't do anything rash. I know you mean well, but I'm really fine."

"Fine, my foot!" Tong Nanyuan was furious. "When we were young, my mother wanted to take you into her room to raise you, but your mother refused to let go. Even when Grandmother offered to take you in, your mother still refused, saying you were just a concubine-born daughter and didn't deserve it!"

"What does it matter if you're a concubine-born daughter? You're still a master of the household. My mother and grandmother were willing, so who is she to control you all the time? It's bad enough at home, but even outside, she still acts like this. I can't stand it anymore."

With that, Tong Nanyuan was about to go wake up Grandmother Lin, intending to send Zhao Yiniang away and have her return to her hometown in Jiangnan, forbidding her from bullying Tong Nanxia anymore.

"Third Sister!" Tong Nanxia urgently called out.

Lu Lingyun also spoke up at this moment, "Nanyuan, sit down first."

Tong Nanxia's voice didn't stop Tong Nanyuan, but Lu Lingyun's did.

Tong Nanyuan stopped and turned to look at Lu Lingyun, "Cousin, you don't know how annoying Zhao Yiniang is. She takes advantage of having given birth to several young misses, and my parents give her some face, so she bullies Nanxia all the time."

"My mother originally planned to take all the sisters into her courtyard to be raised, but Zhao Yiniang clung to Nanxia and refused to let go, insisting on raising her herself. She raised her well, but she also bullied her like this!"

Tong Nanxia listened to Tong Nanyuan's words, "Mother didn't bully me, Third Sister. I'm fine."

"You're such a pushover! You don't even know when you're being bullied!" Tong Nanyuan scolded her angrily.

Lu Lingyun watched from the side, saying nothing.

At this moment, Zhao Yiniang came out of Grandmother Lin's room, "Grandmother said she's very tired today, perhaps due to the change in climate. She wants to rest for a few days. The young misses don't need to wait for her for meals today. Feel free to eat and play as you like."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun said, "I'll arrange for someone to attend to Grandmother. Zhao Yiniang, you go and rest."

"No need, young mistress. I attend to Grandmother daily. You can leave her to me. No need to trouble yourself!"

"Cousin Lingyun, let's go," Tong Nanyuan stood up, "Zhao Yiniang loves attending to Grandmother the most."

"Yes, yes," Zhao Yiniang quickly smiled, "Grandmother only needs me by her side."

Hearing this, Lu Lingyun didn't say more. Tong Nanyuan and Tong Nanxia were daughters of the main branch and would return to Jiangnan in a few days. As the hostess, she should take them around. She instructed An Mama and the other maids in the courtyard, "Make sure to take good care of my grandmother and Zhao Yiniang. Don't neglect them."

"Yes, young mistress."

After making arrangements for the staff, Lu Lingyun went into the room to check on the tired grandmother, then took Tong Nanyuan and Tong Nanxia out.

As they were leaving, Zhao Yiniang called out to Tong Nanxia, "Where do you think you're going? Stay here and attend to Grandmother."

"Zhao Yiniang, are you done yet? Nanxia isn't a servant. Does she need to attend to people like you?"

"Third Young Miss, I just think she's not worthy of going out to play with you. She's just a concubine-born daughter, she doesn't deserve..."

"Shut up! Who are you to decide what she deserves!"

"Forget it, Third Sister, I don't have to go," Tong Nanxia quickly said, seeing that they were about to argue.

"No, you're coming with us," Tong Nanyuan firmly grabbed Tong Nanxia and took her out.

Seeing this, Zhao Yiniang said, "Nanxia, you're lucky. Your sisters care for you. When you go out, make sure to attend to your two sisters well."

Tong Nanyuan was so angry with this woman. After getting into the carriage, she said even more gloomily, "Zhao Yiniang is used to being a servant herself and wants to make Nanxia a servant too. Nanxia, don't listen to your mother's nonsense."

Tong Nanxia hung her head, nodding meekly.

"It pains me to see you like this," Tong Nanyuan looked up at Lu Lingyun, "Cousin Lingyun, why don't we help Nanxia together?"

Lu Lingyun's eyebrows lifted slightly, "How?"

Tong Nanyuan's eyes sparkled with mischief, and she immediately came up with an idea, "When we get back, let's say Nanxia is afflicted by evil spirits, and her mother needs to copy scriptures a hundred times in seclusion to drive them away. This will keep her occupied and allow us some leisure time."

Before Lu Lingyun could react with a smile, Tong Nanxia hurriedly said, "No, no."

"Why not? When we get back, you just act sick! Leave the rest to me!" Tong Nanyuan was determined to save Tong Nanxia from her plight.

"Third sister, but..."

"If you don't agree, don't call me third sister anymore, and I won't care about you in the future!"

Tong Nanyuan's assertiveness silenced Tong Nanxia, who dared not speak.

Lu Lingyun observed the sisters, a faint smile playing on her lips as she shook her head.

Soon, after a tour around the renowned streets of the Imperial City, they returned to the mansion.

As the carriage stopped, Tong Nanyuan looked at Tong Nanxia, "Quick, act sick, and from now on, don't say a word."

"Third sister..."

"No more nonsense!"

Tong Nanxia reluctantly nodded.

"Liuying, Feishuang, you two carry the Fourth Miss."

"Yes!"

Tong Nanyuan instructed the servants to hurry Tong Nanxia back to the courtyard, while Lu Lingyun watched their antics from behind. She typically avoided meddling in others' affairs but found amusement in the ensuing chaos.

She watched as Tong Nanyuan made a big fuss and led everyone into her courtyard.

"Aunt Zhao, Aunt Zhao!" Tong Nanyuan called out.

Aunt Zhao, busy inside the house, immediately came out, "Young miss is back, oh, what's wrong?"

"Something terrible has happened! Just now, while we were out shopping, Nanxia suddenly fell ill on the way back. A Taoist priest told us that she had offended some evil spirits on the road, and her closest relative needs to copy scriptures a hundred times in seclusion to make her better!"

Hearing this, Aunt Zhao quickly looked at her daughter, "Nanxia, what's wrong with you?"

"Aunt Zhao, don't touch her, let Nanxia rest quietly, you go back to your room and copy the scriptures a hundred times!" Tong Nanyuan said.

Aunt Zhao, hearing this, was filled with hesitation, "How can this be? The old lady is still waiting for me to serve her."

"Is Nanxia more important or is serving others more important?"

"Third Miss, this can't be compared..."

"Why can't it be compared! There are plenty of people to serve my grandmother, one less won't make a difference, but Nanxia only has you as her closest relative, what are you hesitating for!"

Aunt Zhao looked at the suddenly ill Tong Nanxia, suspiciously, "Maybe I should invite another master to exorcise the evil spirits? I don't think she's that sick."

"Stop talking nonsense, I'm asking you now, do you choose Nanxia or my grandmother?"

Under the pressure, Aunt Zhao said, "Nanxia is just a daughter, not a son, how can she compare to the old lady, the old lady can't do without me."