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墨書 Inktalez
"Meiyue (the maiden name of Chen Family), you are a fortunate person, I envy you," Yue Clan said with a light smile as they walked along the corridor of Southern Courtyard with Chen Family. "Your husband is healthy and so esteemed, and your son is talented; he will surely become a pillar of the nation in the future."
"What pillar of the nation? My precious son is giving me a headache," Chen Family shook her head and sighed.
"What happened?" Yue Clan paused in surprise, turning to her and saying, "Zhichen, although I've only met him once, I can still sense that this child is gentle, sensible, and self-aware—"
"It's for Seventh Sister Yun Kexin!" Chen Family glanced at Yue Ziyun and stated directly.
Chapter One Hundred Thirty-Three
Yue Clan was taken aback, sitting up straight in shock. "For Seventh Young Lady? What? Did Kexin do something wrong? I can have her apologize to Young Master Tong."
"Oh no, that's not it. Look at how you're interpreting this," Chen Family chuckled lightly. "It's that my son has feelings for Seventh Sister. I've actually noticed his intentions for quite some time but didn't say anything."
Yue Clan frowned and asked lightly, "How long has this been going on?"
"I can't pinpoint the exact time," Chen Meiyue linked arms with Yue Ziyun and stepped forward. "At first, I didn't think much of it, but later he started coming home from the palace more frequently to wait for Seventh Sister to attend her classes. That's when I began to suspect something. It wasn't until Seventh Sister stopped attending school that he became so distracted he couldn't eat or sleep that I was sure," Chen Family paused, her voice lowering and becoming choked with emotion. "Seeing him like that is truly heartbreaking."
"Why don't you invite Zhichen over to play?" Yue Clan turned to comfort her. "Seventh Young Lady may have stopped attending school, but she isn't going anywhere."
"It's still because of his temperament," Chen Family sighed and looked up at Yue Clan. "He likes her but feels shy about it; he doesn't even dare to come find her."
"So what does Meiyue mean?"
After thinking for a moment, Chen Family suddenly said, "Yue Ziyun, we've been friends for many years; can you trust me?"
"Is that even a question?" Yue Clan replied reproachfully. "Meiyue, just say it. I will never refuse if I can help."
"Have you made any arrangements to propose to Seventh Sister yet?"
"Not yet. Listening to the Three Elders, the Seventh Young Lady is still too young for marriage."
"That's true. However, at the age of Nine Years Old," the Chen Family paused slightly and then inquired, "I was just asking if she has someone she likes. Is there anyone she has her eye on?"
"I haven't heard the Seventh Young Lady mention anyone," the Yue Clan began to understand the Chen Family's intentions. "What's the matter?"
Chen Meiyue felt relieved, her furrowed brows easing as she stopped and turned to smile, saying, "Then I will propose on behalf of my precious son. Yue Ziyun, what do you think of this marriage?"
The Yue Clan found it difficult; after all, they were childhood friends, and mishandling this could lead to misunderstandings that might affect their relationship. Moreover, how could they politely decline?
"Meiyue, we have been friends for many years. If we can strengthen our ties through marriage, it would surely become a beautiful story," Yue Ziyun said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "But you don't know the Seventh Young Lady's temperament; she seems quite naive about marriage. Perhaps it's due to her age. Previously, the Three Elders and Third Madam tried to arrange a marriage between Han Wangfu and Seventh Sister, but Yun Kexin was completely unwilling, so—"
Earlier, when Yue Ziyun had intentions of marrying into Han Wangfu during her visit to the Third House, the Chen Family had been anxious until they heard that Yun Kexin had not agreed and then felt relieved, though they still appeared troubled.
"In that case, forget it," the Chen Family said with a dim gaze and a forced smile. "I'll go back and talk to Zhichen." She began to show signs of preparing to leave when the Yue Clan quickly responded,
"Meiyue, although I feel this way, it doesn't mean I oppose it. You can often invite Young Master Tong over to our house; the children can play together and get to know each other better."
Chen Meiyue's eyes lit up as if she saw a glimmer of hope in the darkness: "If that's possible, it would be great for him and Seventh Sister to spend time together... By the way, where are the other children in the house?"
"They went out to play," the Yue Clan replied with a smile. "Next time we’ll make sure they invite Young Master Tong along."
Chen Meiyue smiled brightly: "Yue Ziyun, you truly live up to our years of friendship. Your willingness to do this has really helped me out; you don't know how worried I've been about Chen'er lately since he keeps locking himself in his room."
"Actually, it's not much help," Yue Ziyun said. "It's just that the two children are still young, and besides—" The Yue Clan paused slightly and took a deep breath before continuing, "Meiyue, I do have my difficulties. There are many things I really can't say; I can only tell you that everything depends on what the Seventh Young Lady wants."
"It's fine; I'm already very happy that it can be like this," the Chen Family said cheerfully. "I'll go back and talk to Chen'er."
The news of the Chen Family's proposal to the Second House reached Fu Lianyin's ears, prompting a cold snort from her.
"Is the Chen Family blind or what?" Fu Lianyin said, sitting in the rocking chair on the lawn, crossing her legs and cracking sunflower seeds. "Seventh Sister is one of ours from the Third House; if they want to propose, they should come to the Third House."
"I heard from the childhood friend of the Chen Family's Second Madam," Feng Momo interjected lightly, "perhaps that's why she approached the Second House first."
"So it's Second Sister-in-law's close friend!" Fu Lianyin spat out a seed shell, her lips curling in anger as she muttered in a voice only she could hear, "No wonder they look down on me."
She hadn't forgotten how she and Yun Yang had been slighted by the Chen Family when they brought Yun Kexin to Tong Mansion to pay their respects years ago.
"Third Madam, don't overthink it," Liu Xiao said. "The Chen Family might not know that Seventh Sister is from the Third House. The Second Madam must be aware of it. I think she will clarify things with the Chen Family; perhaps they will come to the Third House tomorrow—"
Before Liu Xiao could finish her sentence about the proposal, Fu Lianyin's expression darkened. With a sharp glare, she coldly retorted, "What do you know? Who knows if the Chen Family is genuinely unaware or just pretending not to know, or if they have ulterior motives."
Liu's face froze as she realized she had flattered her at the wrong moment. She quickly lowered her head and said, "I was wrong; I shouldn't have spoken out of turn. Please forgive me, Third Madam."
"It's nothing," Fu Lianyin replied frostily, continuing to crack seeds. "It's no longer your concern; you may leave."
"Yes." Liu retreated cautiously.
Liu was a maid bought after Yu was "assigned" by Fu Lianyin to the North Courtyard to take care of Yun Jinxiu. She was perceptive but suffered in silence under Third Madam's unpredictable moods.
"Feng Momo," Fu Lianyin looked up and asked nonchalantly, "Has Eighth Sister been pestering about finding Seventh Sister these days?"
Feng Momo rubbed her hands together, her lips moved but she hesitated. Seeing this expression, Fu Lianyin guessed nearly correctly and snapped in anger.
"Yes, Third Madam," Feng Momo glanced at Fu Lianyin and said, "She has been causing a scene almost every day."
Fu Lianyin was so angry that her nostrils flared. Ever since Yun Kexin started going to Tian Zhuang "early and late," Yun Xiao had been crying and demanding to see "Seventh Sister," which made her extremely annoyed. She had thought that the distance would lessen Yun Xiao's dependence on Yun Kexin, but to her surprise, it hadn't diminished at all; instead, Yun Xiao continued to fuss and cry. She had previously chosen to ignore it, thinking that if she didn't give in to Yun Xiao's wishes, it might fade over time. However, things had turned out far from what she hoped, and now even "food and fun" couldn't distract her.
"Let her cry as much as she wants!" Fu Lianyin kicked a melon rind nearby and shouted, "Let's see how long she can keep this up..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Ruan Ma came forward carrying Eighth Sister. Seeing her eyes red and puffy from crying like a rabbit made Fu Lianyin feel resentful: what was so good about Seventh Sister that you would go to such lengths for her?!
"Has Seventh Sister not returned home yet?" Fu Lianyin asked, looking at Yun Xiao's trembling figure with frustration.
"Seventh Sister has been coming back home just before dinner lately," Ruan Ma replied with a nod.
"Just before dinner? Hmph, she really knows how to pick her timing," Fu Lianyin scoffed. "From now on, we might as well have someone prepare the meal and deliver it to Tian Zhuang for her; that way, it won't be so exhausting."
"Mother, Xiao Er wants Seventh Sister," Yun Xiao said, shaking Fu Lianyin's hand with a sobbing tone.
Though Fu Lianyin scolded harshly, she still felt love for Yun Xiao, especially after the loss of her first child, which made her almost "give in to every request" from Yun Xiao, except when it came to Yun Kexin.
"Seventh Sister will be back home soon," Fu Lianyin intended to scold but changed her words at the last moment. "Can you wait a little longer, okay?"
"Mother, tell sister not to go out to play," Yun Xiao pleaded. "Or take me with you..."
That depended on whether she wanted to take you along; perhaps she would find you a burden? Fu Lianyin thought bitterly but smiled slightly on the surface. "Alright, Xiao Er, be good. When Seventh Sister comes back, I will talk to her."
****
After finishing their barbecue by the riverside, it was already dusk when Yun Kexin and the others returned home with Feng Yinxiao.
"Seventh Young Lady, why have you been going to Tian Zhuang so often lately?" After finally waiting for Yun Kexin to return, Fu Lianyin inquired.
"Nothing much, Kexin just went to visit Second Uncle, and then spent some time with him," Yun Kexin replied casually. "Is there something you need, Mother?"
Fu Lianyin thought: Why look at the dead when there are still living people at home? Why accompany the dead?!
“No,” Fu Lianyin said, “it’s Yun Xiao who wants Seventh Sister. She was taken to the market by Ruan Ma to play, and it’s about time to return. At first, she didn’t want to go at all; she wanted to wait for Seventh Sister to come back.”
Yun Kexin did not want to face this topic. After a moment of silence with a serious expression, she said lightly, “Understood, Mother.”
After a while, Ruan Ma returned with Yun Xiao to the West Garden Main Hall. As soon as Yun Xiao saw Yun Kexin, she beamed and ran over, shouting, “Seventh Sister… Seventh Sister…”
Yun Kexin calmly reached out to welcome Yun Xiao: “Where did Eighth Younger Sister go to play? Hurry and tell your sister.”
“Seventh Sister, look,” Yun Xiao exclaimed, holding up a windmill and a rattle drum in her hands, smiling, “Big Brother bought these for Xiao Er.”
Yun Kexin was taken aback: Big Brother?
Ruan Ma laughed and said, “It’s Young Lord!” Noticing the confusion on Yun Kexin’s face, Ruan Ma further explained, “On the way back, we ran into him. I don’t know how it happened, but Eighth Sister recognized him.” (To be continued)
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