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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Seventy: Coping
Upon returning to the Duke's residence, Yun Kexin's first thought was to go to the Second House to discuss today's events with her parents. However, she found Fu Lianyin already waiting at the handcraft corridor, so she had to give up on that idea. Seeing the large bags in their hands, Fu Lianyin smiled with satisfaction and said, "Xiner, you've worked hard. Come back with me quickly; Eighth Younger Sister has been clamoring for Seventh Sister all morning."
Yun Kexin shook her head slightly; it was clear that Yun Xiao was truly Fu Lianyin's favorite, almost getting everything she wanted. One could only wonder how spoiled she would be when she grew up.
Yun Kexin forced a smile to show that she had heard.
"Seventh Sister! Seventh Sister!" As soon as Yun Xiao saw Yun Kexin appear in the Western Courtyard, she slipped out of the Nursemaid's arms and ran over giggling. "Mother, did you go to the market?"
"Yes," Yun Kexin replied with a faint smile, taking Yun Xiao's hand and walking toward the main hall.
At the same time, she was mentally preparing for how to respond when Fu Lianyin questioned her about the items she had bought.
However, Feng Mama and Jin Xiu were not as optimistic as Yun Kexin. The former had served Third Madam for many years and knew her temperament well, while the latter had only recently joined the Third House but could easily imagine Third Madam's reaction based on her spending habits, especially regarding Yun Xiao.
Sure enough, when Feng Mama and Jin Xiu began to present each item one by one, Fu Lianyin initially smiled and nodded. However, as they continued, her expression grew darker and more serious.
"Feng Mama, Jin Xiu," Fu Lianyin casually picked up a paper bag containing medicinal herbs, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and scanned the three of them with her eyes before finally resting on the two servants. "How much is this?"
"Fifteen wen," Feng Mama replied nervously.
"And this?" Fu Lianyin asked coldly while shaking a rattle drum in her hand.
"Three... three wen," Jin Xiu said hesitantly, furrowing her brow.
"What's this thread and needle?" Fu Lianyin asked, suppressing her anger.
"Two wen," Granny Feng bit her lip.
"What about the cloth?"
"One... one wen." Jin Xiu hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to meet Fu Lianyin's gaze.
With a loud crash, all the neatly arranged items on the table were swept to the ground. Fu Lianyin trembled with rage, her chest heaving as she coldly asked, "Well, this is great! Everything is cheaper than the last! Are you buying things or collecting scraps?"
Granny Feng and Jin Xiu also knelt down with a thud as the crash echoed. Jin Xiu spoke with a choked voice:
"Third Madam, please calm down. This... this... all of this was bought according to Seventh Sister's instructions. We servants... it's not good for us to disobey, Third Madam."
"Seventh Sister?" Fu Lianyin was momentarily taken aback, incredulously asking, "Xin'er, did you choose all these things?"
"Yes, Mother." Yun Kexin looked at the furious Fu Lianyin without a hint of panic and calmly said, "This has nothing to do with Granny Feng or Jin Xiu."
"Why?" Fu Lianyin suppressed the questions that were about to burst from her throat and asked coldly.
Yun Kexin initially wanted to point out that the Second House receives monthly allowances for each household, while only the Third House consistently overspends and has to ask the accounts office for more funds. However, she realized that such reasoning would not be understood and would only deepen Fu Lianyin's jealousy towards the Second House and intensify her desire for revenge.
"Mother, I just think that if something can be bought for five wen, there's no need to spend an extra wen," Yun Kexin said with a naive smile. "Father also advocates frugality."
"Oh? 'Frugality'?" Fu Lianyin laughed dryly as if hearing something absurd. Mimicking Sun Rulan's tone from years ago when speaking to Dai Chun Ni, she said, "Seventh Young Lady, we are a dignified Duke's residence, not an ordinary household. What’s wrong? Do you think our Duke's residence has fallen so low that we need to tighten our belts to get by?"
"Mother, that’s not what I meant," Yun Kexin said, momentarily stunned, her surprised eyes wide. "I just thought everything is the same; why must we choose to buy the expensive ones? Is there really any difference?"
"I can tolerate the cheaper needles and threads, but this embroidery, this handkerchief," Fu Lianyin said, pinching a rough handkerchief made of coarse fabric, "do you see this as something for people to use? And the cheap needles and threads are not good for embroidery..."
Yun Kexin suppressed her laughter, her eyes filled with indignation and grievance. "Oh, Mother, I really didn’t think about these things. I usually see you being frugal and just wanted to save a bit for you! It’s all my fault for not stepping out of the Third House; I’ve ended up knowing nothing and made a fool of myself in front of you."
Fu Lianyin's lips moved but she couldn't find a word to respond.
Yun Kexin sneered inwardly: Fu Lianyin, for years you have treated me like a pig, 'raising' me in the Third House. Not allowed to go here or there, aside from people from the Third House, it’s best if I don’t meet anyone else. Well then, as you wish, let me be this 'pig' and embarrass you now; let’s see if you’ll still restrict me in the future.
"Then it’s all my fault," Fu Lianyin forced a laugh and shot Yun Kexin a glance, speaking in a strange tone, "truly ‘if a daughter is not taught, it is the mother’s fault.’"
"I wouldn’t dare!" Yun Kexin replied with a sly smile, her words dripping with sarcasm. "As children, how can we say our parents are at fault? It’s just that Kexin is too inflexible; anyway, it’s all money from the accounts. What should be spent will be spent. After all, Mr. Mu keeps track of how much each house overspends every month. Why should I worry about Mother? I'm afraid Mother spends money like water and treats the accounts as if they belong to the Third House..."
Fu Lianyin's heart sank as she stared at Yun Kexin in shock. Her gaze sharpened as she trembled and asked:
"Whose? Who spends money like water and treats the accounts as their own..."
Yun Kexin calmly smiled and said, "Mother, these are just rumors from vendors who can’t get business on the street. They see that our servants from the Third House never buy their cheap goods and are just bitterly making comments... Mother, please don’t take it to heart," Yun Kexin paused before expressing her regret. "I only wanted to give them a little 'sweetness' to shut them up; I didn’t expect it would make you feel embarrassed. It really was a case of good intentions leading to bad outcomes."
Fu Lianyin had been startled by Yun Kexin's words but was unwilling to concede defeat. She chuckled lightly:
"Kexin has really grown up and become more sensible. Not only do you share my worries but you also think of me. Since we bought so many cheap goods today, there must be quite a bit left over; where is it?"
Fu Lianyin opened her palm in front of Yun Kexin, her delicate fingers seeming to imply that if Yun Kexin couldn’t produce anything, she would be ready to slap her at any moment.
Yun Kexin thought to herself that it was bad; all her remaining money had been spent on the Seven-Colored Glass Beads. If she still had that string of beads, she wouldn't be afraid, but she had generously given it to Tong Zhichen before returning, leaving her truly speechless. After thinking it over, Yun Kexin decided to tell the truth.
"Mother, I used all my remaining money to buy the Seven-Colored Glass Beads..."
"The Seven-Colored Glass Beads? What is it? Let me see," Fu Lianyin said skeptically.
Yun Kexin couldn't produce them and didn't know what to do, standing there making eye contact with Fu Lianyin.
"What’s wrong? Can’t you take them out?" Fu Lianyin noticed something hidden in Yun Kexin's hesitant demeanor and felt uneasy. She coldly said, "Did you use the remaining money for something else, or did you consider your Auntie and return it to the account? Or," Fu Lianyin's expression turned fierce, her gaze sharp, "did you buy that string of Seven-Colored Glass Beads for the Second House?"
"Neither," Yun Kexin steadied herself and replied honestly, "Mother, the Seven-Colored Glass Beads were for Grandmother; they have a Buddha statue on them, and Grandmother likes them."
"Let me see them?" Fu Lianyin insisted, staring straight ahead.
"But before I came back, I gave them to a young gentleman—"
"Haha," Fu Lianyin suddenly turned around and laughed loudly, "Seventh Young Lady, did I hear you right? Your thriftiness was just to buy something pretty to please others? I haven't seen you care this much about Father, Mother, or Eighth Younger Sister," Fu Lianyin grew more irritated, her eyes darting toward the ceiling as she sarcastically remarked, "Seventh Young Lady, can't you share some of your kindness and good intentions with us?"
Yun Kexin bit her lip and smiled lightly, saying, "Mother, things are not as you imagine. Xiner didn’t give away the Seven-Colored Glass Beads for no reason. I would like to explain the specific reason clearly when Father returns home."
"Seventh Young Lady, I must warn you," Fu Lianyin was infuriated by Yun Kexin using Yun Yang as a shield again. She shot a piercing look at Yun Kexin and said, "Although your father dotes on you, it doesn’t mean he believes your lies," she sneered coldly, "and he certainly won't tolerate a daughter who turns against him!"
Yun Kexin understood Fu Lianyin's implication perfectly and calmly countered:
"Mother, Xiner has absolutely not lied. It indeed concerns a young gentleman's special identity. I need to verify this with Father; if you don't believe me, you can just listen when the time comes."
Having reached this point, Fu Lianyin had nothing more to say. She addressed the kneeling Feng Momo and Jin Xiu:
"This time, buying these items is an order from Seventh Sister. I will spare you for now. First, pick up the things on the ground. Send the medicinal herbs to the kitchen, and for the rest, keep your eyes wide open to see what can be used and what cannot. Throw away anything that cannot be used."
"Yes, yes, yes," the two servants who had been kneeling there anxiously trembled as if they had just heard a verdict. Upon hearing that Third Madam did not blame them, they felt a sense of relief and nodded vigorously, saying, "Thank you for your mercy, Third Madam."
Feng Momo wanted to throw away the windmill and doll bought for Eighth Sister, along with a bag of candy and ice cream, but Yun Xiao clutched them tightly in her arms and refused to let go.
"No, this is what Seventh Sister bought. I want to take it..." Yun Xiao stammered.
Feng Momo looked to Fu Lianyin for help. She knew very well that Third Madam looked down on what Seventh Young Lady bought for Eighth Sister because she never bought anything that cost less than a tael.
"Forget it, forget it. If Eighth Sister wants it, then let her keep it," Fu Lianyin waved her hand impatiently.
At the same time, a sudden alarm went off in her mind: Would Yun Xiao's dependence on Yun Kexin be exploited by Seventh Young Lady in the future? She took a deep breath, her suspicious gaze lingering on Yun Kexin for a long time...
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