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The "Dining Hall Incident" passed just like that. Yun Kexin returned to the Summer Palace, but she couldn't calm down for a long time; her mind was filled with scenes from what had just happened. Feng Yinxiao noticed her unusual demeanor and approached her with a knowing look.
"Yun Kexin, are you still thinking about Yulu?"
Yun Kexin glanced at Feng Yinxiao and, unable to deny it, nodded. Her expression was serene yet tinged with worry.
"Is it that Yun Kexin disagrees with this marriage, or—" Feng Yinxiao asked tentatively, "or is it that you are unwilling to have any 'entanglement' with Fu Shizi?"
Yun Kexin smiled lightly, "You understand me well, Feng Yinxiao," but then her smile faded as she frowned and said, "However, I am more interested in what else might be hidden behind this."
"Indeed, I was thinking along the same lines. I also feel there is something suspicious about this," Feng Yinxiao gently reassured her. "At least based on my understanding of Han Wangfu Heir Apparent, I find it truly perplexing." Suddenly, Feng Yinxiao raised the corners of her lips slightly and said, "But let's not dwell on that for now. How about we take a walk outside, Yun Kexin?"
"Outside?" Yun Kexin blinked and smiled.
"Don't forget, you promised to accompany me to offer incense at Mother's Grave on the back mountain," Feng Yinxiao raised an eyebrow and playfully pinched her cheek, asking affectionately.
"I haven't forgotten; I've been waiting for you to choose a time," Yun Kexin replied with a bright smile. "Shall we go now?!"
However, Feng Yinxiao didn't say much; she simply smiled slightly and took her hand as they walked out the door. Some maids and an Attendant wanted to follow them, but Feng Yinxiao quietly waved them off and pointed to Shanling and the others behind them, signaling the servants to retreat discreetly.
The atmosphere felt a bit gloomy; the sun was hidden behind the clouds, withdrawing its usual heat, making it refreshing and cool.
Shanling led the way ahead while Shining and Shan Yue protected them from behind with umbrellas. However, Yun Kexin didn't need one; she enjoyed the mountain breeze.
It was still the familiar back mountain—though not high, the paths were crisscrossed with trees and grass. The trail was unexpectedly clean; there were no fallen leaves or weeds in sight. Yun Kexin was somewhat surprised by this situation, and so was Feng Yinxiao.
"Young Lord, Madam, I know what's going on," Shanling stopped and turned to face her masters with a smile. "This is all thanks to Miao Yu. It's not just today; she comes here every ten or fifteen days to visit the Duchess. She has been doing this for several years."
Feng Yinxiao showed a slight change in expression while Yun Kexin pondered: Miao Yu was indeed loyal to Ling Chen. In her previous life, regardless of whether Feng Yinxiao was famous or facing great difficulties, she never left or abandoned her. Could it be that there was some last wish of the Duchess involved here—
"Indeed, we only changed our view of Miao Yu after learning about this by chance," interjected Shan Yue. "Initially, we thought she was disrespectful to Madam and were quite angry. But then we wondered if there might be some reason behind it; otherwise, a mere maid in a household wouldn't dare act like that even if she had ten times the courage."
"That makes sense," Feng Yinxiao said, one hand resting on Yun Kexin's waist while the other gently held her side as they walked, deep in thought. "Father also advised us to talk to Miao Yu and to find an opportunity to speak with her in the future."
As they spoke, the five of them arrived at Lingchen Tomb. Shanling crouched down and placed the incense burner she had prepared earlier in front of the grave. Shining removed the food box from her right arm, opened the lid, and set out several dishes. Shan Yue then laid down a handful of fresh flowers. Afterward, she lit two sticks of incense and handed them to Feng Yinxiao and Yun Kexin. The two accepted them, gently inserted them into the burner, and then bowed their heads.
"Mother, I see you have come," Yun Kexin said, facing the gentle mountain breeze with a solemn expression. "Your daughter-in-law is unfilial for only coming to visit you now. I hope you can forgive me from beyond the grave."
"Mother will not blame you," Feng Yinxiao said as he tidied Yun Kexin's hair that had been tousled by the wind. He then draped his arm over her shoulder and spoke softly, "She knows you will be a good wife and daughter-in-law."
Yun Kexin smiled faintly, though there was a hint of sorrow in her expression. With Father harmed and herself absent, her mother-in-law had always wanted to see her but never had the chance. This was likely an imperfection that life often presented; even with rebirth, not everything could be changed by one's own efforts. She could only hope that such imperfections would be fewer in number. She absolutely could not lose any more family or her husband... As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Yun Kexin leaned slightly closer to Feng Yinxiao, feeling a bit uneasy. He smiled gently, brushing his cheek against her hair in silent understanding.
Seeing this scene, Shanling and the others turned away with soft smiles, unwilling to intrude. Moments later, they spotted someone walking toward them from the woods; upon closer inspection, it was Miao Yu. They quickly turned back and said:
"Young Lord, Madam, Miao Yu is here."
Feng Yinxiao and Yun Kexin turned simultaneously and indeed saw Miao Yu approaching with a food box in hand. At that moment, Miao Yu noticed them as well; her steps paused in surprise before she regained her composure and walked over leisurely. When she got closer, she said:
"Young Lord, Madam, what brings you here?"
"My husband accompanied me to pay respects to my mother-in-law," Yun Kexin replied with a smile.
Miao Yu had initially thought to say "You should have come earlier," but upon seeing Yun Kexin's sincere smile, she simply returned a polite smile instead and said, "I'll be right back."
Upon reaching Lingchen Tomb, Miao Yu noticed everything neatly arranged in front of the grave. Feeling moved, she quietly set down the food box she had brought and knelt before Feng Yinxiao and his wife with a faint smile.
"Young Lord, Madam, I was rude a few days ago and offended you, Madam. I know I was wrong; please forgive me."
"Get up," Feng Yinxiao said. Although he appreciated what Miao Yu had done, he still harbored some resentment and spoke rather curtly. "If we hadn't forgiven you, do you think you would still be able to speak before us?"
Miao Yu slowly rose and nodded. "Young Lord is right; however, I do not regret it."
Feng Yinxiao was taken aback and furrowed his brows in anger. "Miao Yu, you..."
Yun Kexin secretly held Feng Yinxiao's hand and calmly smiled at Miao Yu:
"Miao Yu, if you have any dissatisfaction or ill will towards me, it seems it is not just because you mistakenly think I cannot bear children, right?"
Miao Yu suddenly looked up, a hint of joy crossing her eyes as she said, "Madam, you truly possess the qualities of an elegant and wise person." She paused slightly before lowering her head and continued, "Yes, it was because of the unusual way you looked at me on the second day after you entered. Whether it was friendly or inquisitive, it made me misunderstand and become wary of you. It was simply because we had just met, and without exchanging a single word, your gaze made me feel like you might be trying to curry favor with a servant for future use—"
Feng Yinxiao showed a mocking expression and replied coolly, "Miao Yu, you think too highly of yourself."
Yun Kexin gently smiled and said, "Miao Yu, my friendliness towards you has its reasons. After all, having a loyal servant is better than anything else, isn't it?"
Miao Yu looked up in surprise but countered, "How can Madam be so sure that I am loyal?"
Yun Kexin raised the corners of her lips: this Miao Yu was indeed meticulous and quick-witted.
"Look at this," Yun Kexin pointed to the clean ground around them and the absence of any weeds on the grave. "Everything you have done for the Duchess."
Miao Yu rarely smiled so brightly; she even showed a hint of emotion as she said, "The Duchess treated me with great kindness; my life and death belong to her."
"Then you should not be disrespectful to Madam, should you?" Feng Yinxiao's expression softened somewhat, and her gaze was no longer so sharp. "You are a maidservant yet act rudely towards your master. How will Yun Kexin establish herself in the household in the future? Everyone in the house is counting on her to manage things."
"I know I was wrong," Miao Yu knelt down again, raised her eyes sincerely and said, "The Duchess once instructed me to come to her grave after you have given birth to children to pay my respects. I was too anxious."
Feng Yinxiao suddenly recalled what Father had mentioned about Miao Yu being "anxious," and her ears turned red. She glanced at Yun Kexin beside her and also shyly lowered her head.
"Miao Yu, we understand your loyalty to Mother," after a moment, Feng Yinxiao finally smiled lightly and said, "But we will handle such matters with discretion in the future. You must not act disrespectfully towards Madam again because of this."
"I dare not," Miao Yu stood up and solemnly assured them, "From now on, I will obey Young Lord and Madam's orders without hesitation."
Yun Kexin put away her shyness; she actually wanted to use Miao Yu to understand whether there were any conflicts between the Former Duchess and Zhuo Min. She also wanted to know if Zhuo Min had any real connection with the Fu Family. However, thinking it over, since Miao Yu had just begun to let go of her wariness towards her, she decided not to rush things. She turned to Feng Yinxiao and smiled, "Husband, let’s go offer incense to Mother and bow."
After dinner, Feng Yinxiao took Yun Kexin for a walk in Yihe Garden. He would be busy the next day with military affairs in the palace and might not have time to accompany her like this again. He led her around, asking what she liked, and when he took out money, Yun Kexin smiled and declined, saying there was nothing lacking in the residence.
By the time Feng Yinxiao and his wife returned to Yihe Garden, night had fallen. The Duke of Yan's Residence was lit up, and servants holding glass lanterns came to greet them. Some brought snacks while others prepared the bedding for the night.
After bathing in the washroom, Yun Kexin returned to her bedroom, changed out of her starfruit-colored butterfly-patterned nightgown, and put on embroidered satin slippers. She walked to the window and opened it to gaze at the night sky.
"Yun Kexin, what are you looking at?" At some point, Feng Yinxiao, now dressed in a moon-white nightgown, stood behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and whispered, "Still thinking about this morning?"
Yun Kexin turned around, wrapped her arms around Feng Yinxiao's neck, and playfully smiled, "Nothing can be hidden from my husband. I just wanted to enjoy the night and relax a bit."
"I'll join you," Feng Yinxiao lowered his head and captured her soft lips, greedily kissing her. "But my lady must not forget about 'business.'"
Yun Kexin's face turned red in an instant as she playfully punched Feng Yinxiao's chest and shyly said, "You're so annoying! I don't know what 'business' you're talking about."
"Your husband will let you know," Feng Yinxiao smirked mischievously, his warm palm caressing Yun Kexin's graceful curves. "Yun Kexin, I really want to see."
Yun Kexin lowered her gaze in silence. Feng Yinxiao smiled slightly and suddenly picked her up horizontally. She was startled and blushed with a mix of embarrassment and laughter as she playfully hit him with her fists. He treated it as a way to exercise her body as he slowly walked toward the big bed.
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