Chapter 805: 338 Four Seasons
When Yueyao left the Marquis’ household, she was still in a daze. Although it was said she was to be the Marquis Jingning’s foster sister, it also meant an additional layer of protection.
Yueyao felt dizzy for a better part of the day, until finally she asked Xiang Wei, "Marquis, why do you want to take me as your foster sister?" This was clearly a show of support, but Yueyao couldn’t understand why Luo Shao would go to such lengths to help her.
Xiang Wei smiled and said, "I’ve always said that the Marquis is a person of deep feelings and righteousness who repays kindness. He has noticed the kindness you’ve shown to Mingzhu. Now that you are in trouble, of course the Marquis would help." Of course, Xiang Wei had never imagined that the Marquis would actually adopt the young Lian lady as his foster sister. But this was good; with the backing of Marquis Jingning’s Residence, no one would dare to target the young lady anymore.
Yueyao felt she didn’t deserve this kindness. Her initial good treatment of Mingzhu had been with ulterior motives.
Xiang Wei smiled and said, "You’re not the Holy Mother, it’s normal to start with ulterior motives. But your later kindness to Mingzhu came from the heart, without any ulterior motive, and we’ve all noticed this." Not only had she noticed, but even the Marquis had as well.
Yueyao did not deny it; after getting to know her, she genuinely came to see Mingzhu as a sister, which is why she did so much for her—she wanted Mingzhu to have a good life.
Xiang Wei smiled and said, "Mingzhu would certainly be very happy to know this."
A hint of a smile appeared on Yueyao’s face.
When the evening came and Ma Chengteng returned, Yueyao told him the news: "Uncle, I have already agreed to the Marquis and Madam."
Ma Chengteng was somewhat surprised but also very happy. Since they wanted to adopt Yueyao as their foster sister, they would certainly hold a banquet. This also showed how much the Marquis’ household valued Yueyao, "Has the Marquis mentioned a specific date?" With the current ridiculous rumors circulating outside, alleging that Yueyao had killed several people, letting people know that Yueyao had the Marquis Jingning as her foster brother would certainly quell the rumors.
After thinking for a moment, Yueyao said, "Uncle, let’s just keep this between us for now. We’ll wait for the Marquis’ household to release the news!" Yueyao was concerned that if they spread the news from their end and something changed, it would be embarrassing. Although Yueyao thought the chances of a change were basically zero, it was always best to be prudent.
Ma Chengteng smiled and nodded, "Alright."
The Marquis’ household did not spread the news that Luo Shao was going to adopt Yueyao as his foster sister. Luo Shao was in charge of the household now, but he still had to inform his father, the Old Marquis, before he could officially adopt a foster sister.
After stepping down, the Old Marquis lived in retirement in a separate residence. He was very surprised when he heard that Luo Shao wanted to adopt a foster sister, and he immediately returned to the Marquis Jingning’s Residence when he learned that Luo Shao intended to adopt Yueyao.
When the Old Marquis found Luo Shao he said, "Your foster sister is also my foster daughter, right? Send out the invitations and say that I want to adopt the Miss Lian as my foster daughter." Adopting Mr. Yu Shan’s Closed-door Disciple as a foster daughter, what an honor! And the next time he sought out Mr. Yu Shan, the Great Painter would surely find it difficult not to meet him.
Luo Shao’s adoption of Yueyao as his foster sister was also a way to support her. Now that his own father was willing to adopt her as his foster daughter, that was even better. Adopting a foster daughter made the act even more justified, "Father, since you wish to adopt Yueyao as your foster daughter, there’s something I won’t keep from you anymore. Yueyao is actually the Hermit in the Wild whose name was much talked about these past few years."
The Old Marquis laughed heartily: "I knew this child must have extraordinary talents, and here it is! Good, I never expected to adopt a Great Painter as my foster daughter; excellent, excellent." Who Mr. Yu Shan was, no one knew better than the Old Marquis. If Yueyao possessed merely exceptional painting skills, how could she have caught Mr. Yu Shan’s eye? Now it all made sense.
Yueyao was dumbfounded. She had known Mingzhu for many years and had never once met the Old Marquis, yet now he wanted to adopt her as his foster daughter, a bewildering turn of events.
Xiang Wei chuckled: "Young lady, the Old Marquis adopting you as his foster daughter makes it all the more proper." Essentially, the effect was the same.
Yueyao smiled: "It’s just a little puzzling to me."
Xiang Wei didn’t have much understanding of the Old Marquis either, and those in their profession were wary of prying into their masters’ privacy, so she really didn’t know much about the Old Marquis: "The Old Marquis adopting you as his foster daughter is definitely not a bad thing for you."
Yueyao was full of questions.
Marquis Jingning’s Residence sent out invitations for a banquet to celebrate the Old Marquis’ adoption of a foster daughter, inviting families they were close with. The arrival of these invitations set off a stir in Capital City. Just on the heels of the rumors about Yueyao’s abduction, the news that the Marquis Jingning’s Residence wanted to adopt Yueyao as a foster daughter was thought-provoking indeed.