Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 200 - 81: Compensation_2

Chapter 200 -81: Compensation_2

As soon as Yueyao finished speaking, Ma Chengteng and Ma Peng walked in.

Having been through the ordeal of the imperial examination, Ma Chengteng was filled with gratitude towards his niece. His son would not have achieved what he had that day without her.

Although a Juren could acquire a title through donation, his prospects would be limited, with a Fourth-rank official being the ceiling. But now, not only had his son passed the Palace Graduate level, he had also entered the Hanlin Academy and secured a good match in the Zhuang Family. As long as there were no mishaps, his future was assuredly bright, and all this was thanks to Yueyao’s contributions. If it wasn’t for Yueyao guessing that the dream her aunt had was about the examination topics, Peng’er would not be where he was today.

Ma Peng was even more grateful. He knew his own limitations and considered becoming a Juren to be a pleasant surprise. Passing the Palace Graduate examination was entirely due to his aunt’s blessing. His father had told him to treat his cousin as if she were his own sister, but even without his father’s words, he would have treated Yueyao as his own sister anyway.

Yueyao approached them, “Uncle, cousin.”

Ma Chengteng looked at Ma Linlin; he had heard everything just now and thought about how his daughter had grown in the past six months, which pleased him greatly.

Yueyao talked with Ma Chengteng and Ma Peng for a while, and seeing Ma Linlin standing on one side, well-behaved, she realized that Ma Linlin’s visit was not just about simple affection.

Ma Chengteng had something to say to Yueyao alone, so he said to Ma Linlin and Ma Peng, “You both can go back now.” He still had things to discuss with Yueyao.

Ma Peng really wanted to cherish Yueyao as his dear sister, as his father had said, but the two were not familiar with each other and had too much of an age difference to share common topics, “Cousin, if you ever need anything, you can come to me.” It was, in truth, a promise.

Yueyao smiled, “Okay.”

Ma Linlin, where Ma Chengteng couldn’t see, glared fiercely at Yueyao. Normally, her elder brother was indifferent towards her but, to her surprise, he seemed to have exceeded that for Yueyao. She was his own sister, while Yueyao was from a different branch of the family. It seemed to Ma Linlin that this girl was nothing but a curse.

Yueyao responded to Ma Linlin’s unkind expression with a dismissive smile, not taking it to heart at all.

In the study, only the two of them remained, and Ma Chengteng couldn’t help but ask, “Yueyao, besides these things, did your mother say anything else?”

Yueyao was speechless inside; this was human nature at its worst, having taken a shortcut once, one always wants to take shortcuts, “No, my mother has only visited me in a dream once. If Yu Zida’s reputation hadn’t been so renowned, I wouldn’t have had this suspicion.” Lately, Yu Zida’s name had filled Capital City with praises of having a photographic memory and quick wit, receiving flattery that made others blush with shame.

Indeed, Yu Zida was worthy of praise; as far as Yueyao knew, Yu Zida had climbed to a Second Rank position within a mere twenty years, becoming one of the Emperor’s close ministers. Without sufficient means and strategies, this would not have been possible.

Ma Chengteng was somewhat disappointed, but he quickly concealed these emotions and pulled out a deed paper from his sleeve, “Yueyao, uncle doesn’t have much to give you, but take these things.”

Yueyao looked at it and saw it was a deed for twenty acres of land and two shops. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; was this supposed to be a thank-you gift?

Ma Chengteng, of course, knew that compared to his son’s career, these gifts were minor, “Yueyao, this is just a small token of your uncle’s appreciation, take them.”

But if really measured, it was certainly not enough, “Uncle, I won’t accept these things. However, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Ma Chengteng immediately replied, “Tell me.” He would certainly not refuse anything within his power.

Yueyao voiced her plan, “Uncle, when the time is right, I hope you can help me retrieve my mother’s dowry. I want to manage it myself to be at ease.” Yueyao meant that, once her grandmother passed away, she wanted to manage the finances herself, as leaving them in Lady Mo’s hands would be like throwing meat buns to a dog—gone, never to return.

Yueyao remained aloof, but unlike in her past life, she no longer treated wealth as worthless. Having money could make things happen, and she would need to live at Lian Mansion for several more years with expenses but no income. It was true that she had money at hand, but she had no plans to use the large coins; relying only on consumption without income was always inappropriate. Based on what Yueyao knew, her mother’s dowry included four manors and more than twenty hectares of land, with four shops and two additional residences. Just the annual rent from these properties alone was enough to cover all expenses.

After thinking for a moment, Ma Chengteng said, “How is Old Madam’s health?”

Yueyao’s expression grew somber, “The doctor said she probably has only a year or two left.” Old Madam’s health was already poor, and the trauma of outliving her child had severely weakened her.

Ma Chengteng asked with some concern, “Can you manage it all?” Even if Old Madam passed away two years later, Yueyao would be only eleven. He seriously doubted that an eleven-year-old child could handle such a large dowry.

Yueyao gave a slight smile, “I remember when my cousin-in-law began managing Madam Zhuang’s dowry at the age of eight. If I don’t understand something by that time, I plan to ask her for guidance.”

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Ma Chengteng was well aware of how astute and capable his future daughter-in-law was, and it was precisely because of this that he was even more pleased. Neither he nor his son were involved in clearing up domestic affairs, and Lady Cheng was known only for her extravagant spending and for using her husband’s family’s wealth to support her own family: “Good, when the time comes, Uncle will help you reclaim your dowry to manage on your own.” If all else failed, by renting out all the shops and residences, and adding the harvest from the Tian Zhuang estate, there would be a considerable annual income even if not managed by the greedy Lady Mo.

After talking with Ma Chengteng for a while, Yueyao said, “Uncle, Grandmother’s health is getting worse, and I would like to spend more time with her now.”

Since Yueyao wanted to fulfill her filial duties, Ma Chengteng naturally did not object.

As soon as Yueyao boarded the carriage, she saw a rosewood rectangular box. A box this valuable and refined could only contain fine items.

Opening the box, Yueyao was taken aback. Inside the box were a Green Jade Orchid Corner Pen Holder, Green Jade Water Holder, Green Jade Washer, Green Jade Inkstone Bed, Green Jade Beast Head Paperweight, Official Kiln Twined Lotus Pattern Porcelain Inkstone, Carved Ivory Pen Holder, Purple Hair Calligraphy Brush…

Yueyao picked up a pen holder and turned it upside down, then shook her head. Uncle had really been extravagant this time; had she known beforehand, she definitely wouldn’t have accepted it.

Nanny Deng, however, felt it natural for Yueyao to accept these items. Without her, how could the Young Master have achieved success? Considering his promising future, what were these things worth? Nanny Deng genuinely thought Yueyao was overthinking.

Yueyao glanced at Nanny Deng, “This entire set of items are antiques from the former dynasty. I think they must be Uncle’s beloved possessions that he usually keeps stored away and seldom uses.” It wasn’t about the value of the items, but rather that they were undoubtedly cherished by her Uncle.

Grasping Yueyao’s expression, Nanny Deng said no more.

Unaware of the real weight of the situation, Hua Lei said with a smile, “Uncle Master truly adores our Young Lady. This is a set of very valuable items!”

Yueyao returned a faint smile.

Upon returning to the Lian family, Yueyao naturally went to the Upper Chamber first to pay her respects to Old Madam and stayed with her for half an hour before returning to her Lanxi Courtyard.

Old Madam, learning of the valuable gift Ma Chengteng had given to Yueyao, didn’t think much of it; she merely took it as an uncle’s affection for his niece. But Lady Mo thought differently: “The Ma Family seems too generous towards Yueyao; I wonder what they’re up to.” Lady Mo’s intuition suggested that Yueyao had handed over her family’s wealth to the Ma Family.

But Granny Lau disagreed: “Madam, I think the Third Young Lady is extremely cautious nowadays and unlikely to entrust her money to the Ma Family. The Ma Family, with their vast holdings, would hardly care about the Third Young Lady’s small fortune.” The fact that the Ma Family sent silver and so many valuable items to the Third Young Lady was proof of their substantial means and that they would not covet the silver in her possession.

Lady Mo didn’t make a sound, and what she really thought, no one knew.