A Misty Night, With A Crystal-Clear Moon - Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Shadow of the Past
Yu Linglong meticulously tidied her room and then cautiously came out to have dinner with the Lang Qiyou family. She paid attention to every detail, observing that her aunt did not seem to be favored by Lang Qiyou. Furthermore, few of the household staff, apart from her personal maid, took her seriously. Linglong was very puzzled. She remembered her father telling her that her aunt had married a man who loved her very much. Although the man’s family was not wealthy, he was hardworking, studious, and intelligent. Her aunt loved him and married him in Shanghai despite her grandfather’s objections. However, her grandfather still provided a large dowry. Given this history, Lang Qiyou should have cherished Yu Tianmei, yet he not only took a second wife but treated Tianmei with such coldness.
She looked around at everyone at the table and felt something was missing. She suddenly remembered that Yu Tianmei was supposed to have a daughter. She asked, “Auntie, Father told me I have a very beautiful cousin. I brought a gift for her too. Is she ill?”
Yu Tianmei’s face instantly clouded over, filled with sadness. Lang Qiyou merely said flatly, “She is already married and naturally is not in the residence.”
“Oh? I didn’t realize my cousin was already married. I wonder if I’ll have a chance to see her someday?”
“Hmph! Are we still allowed to eat? This child is truly disruptive.” Lü Qiao grumbled as she scraped a piece of meat out of little Bao’s mouth. Seeing her fierce look, the boy immediately burst into tears, creating a terrible fuss.
“See? He wants meat, so you should give it to him. But look how big the piece is; he has to be able to chew it,” Lang Qiyou scolded.
Yu Linglong knew Lü Qiao was indirectly aiming her complaints at her and realized her cousin was a sensitive topic. Though filled with doubts, she could only swallow them and decide to ask her aunt later.
When night fell, Cui Xin grumbled as she lit the oil lamp, “They are so stingy! All their rooms have electric lights, but ours still uses this kind of oil lamp. And the room is so small. How are we supposed to live here?”
Yu Linglong sat quietly by the window, gazing at the crescent moon, saying nothing. Cui Xin continued, “Miss, I truly feel upset for the First Madam. Why should she let a concubine order her around? I heard that woman came from a brothel, but our First Madam is from a distinguished family! I really don’t understand.”
“Even if you don’t understand, you must pretend to. You must never let anyone else hear such talk, lest it cause trouble for Auntie.”
“Yes, Miss. Are you going out?” she asked, seeing Linglong put on her coat.
“I’m going out for a bit. You stay here and don’t leave.”
Yu Linglong quietly wandered alone through the courtyard. She’d been there a day, and Lang Qiyou hadn’t bothered to have someone show her around—not for anything else, but for her convenience in getting around later. The courtyard was quiet and empty. After walking through many long corridors, she heard sounds of an argument. Following the direction of the voices, she realized it was Lang Qiyou and Yu Tianmei and stopped to listen closely.
“I am Tianqi’s sister, and Long’er is his only daughter. Since something happened to him, how can I not help?”
“Hmph! Even if you want to help, you need to consider what kind of situation it is! Yu Tianqi was famously unscrupulous in business. He was ruthless and cunning in the business world, quickly accumulating wealth, and full of ambition. Let alone the Jiangsu Governor, he dared to play tricks even on Commander Cao. He was clever enough, though, to handle his own affairs in advance, only leaving his daughter to be dumped onto me. It’s not that I’m heartless and refuse to help him, but the people he offended are not ordinary people. Even General Feng has intervened in this matter. I am merely a small Police Commissioner; how dare I openly take in his descendant?”
“Qiyou, I beg you. Tianqi only has this one heir. We must take her in somehow.”
“What heir or not? A woman who marries belongs to another family, doesn’t she? Tianmei, I know your bond with your brother is deep, but I am in a very difficult position. This Yu Tianqi somehow managed to offend Young Master Mu (Mu Shao), and he has been sending people to search for Linglong’s whereabouts. His relationship with the Commander is extraordinary. I can’t afford to do this.”
Young Master Mu? Linglong’s heart tightened. Who was this Young Master Mu? Her mind was in turmoil. She heard the discussion continue:
“Do you want me to be the villain then? Is a daughter who marries truly like spilled water? I cannot do it. I must keep Long’er here no matter what. We can give her a different name. In short, I must take good care of her until she marries.”
“You! Alas, fine. I’ll look for a suitable family tomorrow. There are plenty of wealthy families in Shanghai, and plenty of socialites, but who would look favorably upon the daughter of a rebel?”
Rebel? He actually referred to her father that way. A chill went through Yu Linglong’s heart. Regardless of what her father had done, he was still her brother-in-law, a relative by marriage. How could he be so cold-hearted? Linglong was furious. She glared intensely in the direction of Lang Qiyou and quietly returned to her room.