Chapter 729: Gap

Translator: Atlas Studios    Editor: Atlas Studios

Yu Youyao picked up the small bowl. Just as she picked up the spoon, she paused. “Did Cousin send it over?”

Before Nanny Xu could answer, she saw Yin Huaixi lift the curtain and enter.

Yin Huaixi glanced at Nanny Xu.

Nanny Xu lowered her eyes and left the house with her head lowered. She also instructed Chun Xiao to guard outside and not allow outsiders to disturb her.

Yu Youyao quickly put down the small bowl and asked, “Why are you here? Have you eaten dinner?”

“I heard from Chun Xiao that you didn’t have much for dinner, so I came to visit you.” Yin Huaixi picked up the small bowl in front of her and stuffed it into her hand. “Eat more. I’ve already had dinner.”

Yu Youyao ate her porridge obediently.

Yin Huaixi supported his forehead and watched as she ate slowly and elegantly. No matter how he looked at it, it was pleasing to the eye.

Such good etiquette was the result of Nanny Xu’s meticulous training for more than three years.

His gaze was deep. Yu Youyao had difficulty eating under his gaze. She forced herself to finish the porridge before asking, “Why are you looking at me?”

“You’ve lost a lot of weight.” Yin Huaixi leaned closer to her and lifted her chin with one finger to study her carefully. “You’ve taken a lot of medicinal cuisine to nourish your mind, but you’re getting thinner and thinner?”

The first seven days of Old Madam Yu’s funeral had pa.s.sed, and a lot of her sadness had dissipated, not to mention that Yu Youyao was not someone who was obsessed with sadness.

She was watched as she finished the medicinal cuisine that was sent over every two hours.

Yu Youyao was not used to being sized up by him like this. She tilted her head and avoided his finger. “Nanny Xu said that I became taller, so I look thin.” This time, she had indeed grown a little taller.

Did she grow taller or really lose weight? How could he not have such discernment?

Thinking of how many things had happened in the Yu Residence during this period of time, Yin Huaixi’s heart ached. ‘You didn’t discuss the haircut with me.”

Yu Youyao nodded. “I just wanted it to go more smoothly. The clan doesn’t want to bear the bad reputation of forcing the eldest daughter of a legitimate branch to be a Buddhist nun. They’ll restrain themselves in the future.”

A large part of the reason why the old clan master did not want to get involved later was because she had threatened to cut her hair and become a nun, making the clan worried that she would cause trouble.

In addition to being a daughter of the Yu Clan, she had also been conferred the t.i.tle of an imperial relative.

Yin Huaixi was silent for a long time before saying, “Whether it’s a man or a woman, they can only trim their hair and not cut it. The only time they cut their hair in their lives is on the day of their wedding. On the day of the wedding, both men and women have to cut a bundle of their hair and tie them together. They have to place it in a sachet filled with red beans. It means that they have become husband and wife. They have to be loving and not doubt each other. They will not be separated like their hair. It’s like their hearts are tied together. After the couple dies, the sachet will be buried together with them.”

Long hair couldn’t be cut. Hair could only be trimmed.

The Zhou wedding etiquette had to be done.

Although it was not popular in the Great Zhou Dynasty, there were still many loving couples who tied their bundles of hair together on the day of their wedding.

Therefore, when the bundle of hair was cut from her head, it hurt his heart.

The only time in her life when she cut her hair was not at a wedding, but under the pressure of her clansmen. Did this reflect his incompetence?!

Yu Youyao was stunned for a moment, feeling an indescribable feeling in her heart.

As if he also felt that these words were a little inappropriate, Yin Huaixi quickly changed the topic. “Prepare everything to leave the capital. When

Matriarch is buried, I’ll send you to Quanzhou.” He held Yu Youyao’s soft hand. “Don’t be afraid. Quanzhou is a port city. Trade is smooth, and it receives guests from all directions. It’s more open-minded than the capital. There are also women doing business. You should be more at ease there.”

Leaving the Yu Residence and leaving the capital was her dream.

However, on this day, she realized that the furthest place she had been in the past was in the Tongzhou clan. However, Tongzhou was less than a day’s journey from the capital.

Now, she was going to Quanzhou, which was thousands of miles away.

It was a completely unfamiliar place.

After arriving in Quanzhou, she had to start over from scratch. Family ties, social connections, businesses, and so on.

Yin Huaixi seemed to know what she was thinking.

Yu Youyao nodded. “Most women are restricted their entire lives and are trapped in the backyard, not able to see the vastness of the world. I’m also lucky to have the chance to leave the Yu Residence and walk out of the capital to see the colorful scenery outside the courtyard of the deep residence.”

For some reason, Yin Huaixi felt that her words were a little insincere. “Quanzhou has always been a place for business. The Xie family has a very high status in Quanzhou. You’re the daughter of an official, and you’ve even been conferred the t.i.tle of County Head of Shaoyi. With the protection of the Xie family, you can almost do whatever you want. Moreover, Quanzhou is very abundant in seafood and takes in all the delicacies in the world. There are lots of fresh seafood that can’t be eaten in the capital. You should like it very

much.”

Yu Youyao was silent for a moment before saying, “1 want to observe mourning for Grandmother for three years. For the next three years, I won’t eat meat or drink fish, I won’t interact with my neighbors, I won’t partic.i.p.ate in banquets, and I’ll live in seclusion.”

Logically speaking, a grandchild only needed to observe mourning for a year, but Yu Youyao had been raised by Old Madam Yu since she was young. It was only right for her to observe mourning for two more years and do her best for her grandmother.

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent.

An unfamiliar gap was felt between them.

Yin Huaixi pursed his lips and suddenly realized that although Yu Youyao was looking forward to returning to her mother’s family, she wasn’t that enthusiastic or happy.

She seemed to have many things on her mind.

This time, when he left the capital, he had missed too much of Yu Youyao’s joy. After all, they were in different positions.

He was happy that he had obtained Old Madam Yu’s token. Yu Youyao had also left the Yu Residence and was getting closer to him bit by bit.

However, she was sad that her grandmother had pa.s.sed away. Her eyes were closed and she did not look happy.

Yu Youyao suddenly realized that her att.i.tude was not right. She quickly said, “l just suddenly remembered that after my family member pa.s.ses away, I can’t leave for three years. After Grandmother’s funeral, I’ll have to leave the capital. I’m already very unfilial.”

Yin Huaixi said, “Your grandmother left her last words and the clan agreed, so no one thinks that you’re unfilial. If you feel uncomfortable, it’s fine to copy a few more scriptures for your grandmother.”

Yu Youyao nodded.

Yin Huaixi sighed softly and changed the topic. “After sending you to Quanzhou, I’ll probably stay there for a while.”

However, unlike the Xie Residence, they probably couldn’t see each other all the time.

Yu Youyao suddenly looked up, and her tense heart suddenly relaxed. However, she continued to ask. “What should we do about the North? Harmon isn’t the only leader in the North. Won’t the other leaders invade the North to s.n.a.t.c.h supplies?”

Yin Huaixi could clearly feel that her att.i.tude had changed. “Harmon is the strongest branch of the Northern Barbarians. The other tribes aren’t enough to be afraid of. Yin Yi can handle it.” At this point, he looked at the little girl’s thin face and his heart ached. “I’m more worried about you being in Quanzhou for the first time and leaving you there alone.”

She had suddenly lost her family and had to stay away from a place she had been familiar with since she was young.

He couldn’t let go of the North but he certainly couldn’t let go of her.

Yu Youyao was overjoyed and said softly, “I’ll be fine. The Xie family is my external family..”