Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Yun Yang glanced at Shan Ling, said nothing, and then swept his gaze over the other two before finally resting his eyes on Yun Kexin.
"Seventh Young Lady, you go down with them to have a meal. I will find you later to talk," he said.
Yun Kexin noticed the seriousness on Yun Yang's face, nodded in agreement, and after taking her leave from the elders, she exited the hall with the Three Maidservants.
"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, the Seventh Young Lady is still young," Yue Clan couldn't help but speak up for Yun Kexin. "She may act impulsively and lack discretion; you both need to worry about her more."
Since Yun Ran revealed last time in the North Courtyard that Yun Kexin was adopted under the pretext of "sleep talking," the Second House had already caught wind of it. However, they pretended not to hear anything and continued their lives as usual. In front of the Third House, they no longer spoke so cautiously and felt emboldened—able to openly express concern for the Seventh Young Lady without needing to "hide." Meanwhile, Yun Ran had been hoping for a situation where the Third House would "cause trouble," but that never happened. Yun Yang was internally grateful for the virtue and tolerance of the Second Sister-in-law, while Fu Lianyin merely felt "nervous" for a moment before reverting to her old ways, treating everything as if the Second House was "weak and easily bullied." However, she only acted this way internally; on the surface, she remained respectful and restrained, even "hiding her sharpness," giving off an illusion of wanting to coexist harmoniously with the Second House.
"Second Sister-in-law, look at you," Fu Lianyin smiled. "Children are playful by nature, but after all, the Seventh Young Lady is a girl. My husband and I fear that some of her actions might give others something to gossip about and damage her reputation."
"That's exactly right. I hope Second Sister-in-law won't misunderstand the intentions of the Third House," Yun Yang lightly agreed.
"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law, as parents yourselves, you understand," Yue Clan said with a gentle smile. "Raising children requires your effort; all I do as an Auntie is speak a few words. Please don't mind..."
"Kexin, Yan'er," Yun Yang said to Yun Kexin and Yun Yan with a smile. "You are also Kexin's older brother and sister. When you have time, take the Seventh Young Lady along and chat with her so that she doesn't have too many thoughts bottled up... only able to go to the fields."
Both Yun Kexin and Yun Yan were taken aback, including Yue Ziyun who couldn't believe these words came from Yun Yang: Did this mean that the Third Master had made a clear statement regarding the true identity of the Seventh Young Lady?!
At this moment, any prejudice that Yun Kexin had against Yun Yang vanished in an instant. He stared at Yun Yang for a while before saying, "Nephew thanks Third Uncle; I was just planning to talk with Seventh Sister."
"That's good, that's good," Yun Yang nodded repeatedly with a smile.
Fu Lianyin seemed to have lost all hope as she sat there with a forced smile on her face while nodding in agreement. Yun Ran wore a solemn expression and remained silent in frustration, increasingly looking down on her Legal Wife: Others were almost bullying them right in front of them, yet she could still manage a smiling face.
As Feng Yin returned quietly along his original path just before dawn and lay down on his bed to rest his eyes for two hours, he opened the study door at the hour of the rabbit (5-7 AM) and saw Zhuo Min waiting at the door with a maidservant holding a bowl behind her.
"Aunt Zhuo, why are you still here?" Feng Yinxiao rubbed her eyes and asked knowingly.
"Xiao'er, did you sleep well last night? I hope I didn't disturb you," Zhuo Min said with a smile, her red lips painted with rouge curling up. "I know you have a habit of waking up early, so I had the maid prepare some red date and silver fungus soup."
She then looked behind Feng Yinxiao and asked, "Has that girl woken up?"
Feng Yinxiao smiled and replied, "I'm sorry, Concubine. Last night, the girl suddenly insisted on going back, so I let her leave as she wished."
Zhuo Min was taken aback, looking at Feng Yinxiao with suspicion. After leaving yesterday, the Jiangyin Marquis had intended to send someone to monitor everything here. However, when that person returned, they saw Feng Yinxiao's most capable attendants, Xu Da and Ma Minghao, wandering around the study, vigilantly watching every corner. Even a bug flying by would be hard to escape their notice. Thus, they had to turn back and report that they could not monitor the Young Lord's study, leaving Zhuo Min unaware of everything that had happened in this area last night.
"She left?" Zhuo Min feigned anger with a hint of reluctance. "Why did you let her go? Wasn't she supposed to show herself to Concubine this morning?" Then she glanced at Feng Yinxiao and teased, "Could it be that Xiao'er was shy and intentionally hid her away? Don't be embarrassed; we're all family. Let Concubine see her."
Aunt Zhuo then entered the study on her own. Feng Yinxiao merely smiled coldly and let it be.
However, to Zhuo Min's disappointment, the bed was empty; there was nothing in the messy quilt. Her heavily made-up face turned dark red in an instant, but when she turned around to face Feng Yinxiao again, she quickly put on a smile.
"Xiao'er, did you really send her away?"
Feng Yinxiao scratched her ear and chuckled, "Concubine, it wasn't me who sent her away; she wanted to leave on her own. Besides, I thought about it carefully. If the girl from Wanhua Pavilion were brought into the household, it would tarnish our reputation. I feared my parents would scold me, so I went along with her wishes."
At this point, Zhuo Min could not continue to press for more details. She feigned a few complaints before insisting that Feng Yinxiao finish a large bowl of red date and silver fungus soup. Afterward, she asked the maid who cooked breakfast and the maid who cleaned the garden if they noticed any strangers coming or going last night until this morning. All the servants replied "no," so Zhuo Min had no choice but to give up.
Feng Yinxiao instructed the attendants still guarding near the study before going to knock on her parents' bedroom door. The maid on watch informed her that the Duchess was much better now and was currently taking a walk in the back garden with the Duke of Wind.
"Father, Mother..." Feng Yinxiao called out gently while waving from outside the flowerbed.
The Duke of Wind and Duchess both turned around simultaneously with smiles on their faces. "It's Xiao'er! Come here!"
Feng Yinxiao approached, greeted by the fragrant flowers and grass in the garden. After bowing, he looked at his mother for a moment and said:
"Mother is indeed improving, but she still needs to rest and recuperate."
Ling Chen nodded with a smile, extending a hand to Feng Yinxiao while stepping forward, saying, "Xiao'er is filial, which comforts me greatly. However, with the martial examination approaching, you must not be distracted and should focus on doing well for the Emperor."
"I have already taken care of it," Feng Yinxiao took the hand of the Duchess respectfully and said, "Mother must not worry herself over me. I have grown up and know what is important."
The three entered the pavilion when Duke Feng suddenly stopped, looking at Feng Yinxiao with a serious expression:
"Xiao'er, I have heard some discussions that you brought a girl from Wanhualou back to the residence last night?"
Ling Chen looked at Feng Yinxiao in astonishment, unable to believe it. "Xiao'er, is this true? When did this happen?"
Feng Yinxiao raised his head and glanced around to ensure no one was nearby before turning back to his parents and asking:
"May I ask how Father came to know of this matter?"
Feng Hongrui angrily puffed out his cheeks and said, "The news has spread throughout the residence early this morning. Xiao'er, how could you be so reckless? Have you forgotten how I usually educate you..."
"Father, please calm down," Feng Yinxiao said lightly. "I assure you with my integrity that this is absolutely untrue—"
"Absolutely untrue?" Duke Feng glared at Feng Yinxiao, still angry. "Then how did this rumor spread? Your uncle saw you last night in your room, witnessing you wrapped in a blanket with a woman. You yourself said she was from Wanhualou... Also, what happened with the assassin breaking into the Concubine Courtyard last night?"
Feng Yinxiao narrowed his eyes: Wasn't Uncle supposed to keep last night's events from reaching their parents?
"This matter is serious; I am unsure how to explain it to you," Feng Yinxiao nodded and said with difficulty, "But I guarantee that the so-called 'girl from Wanhualou' is merely an excuse. I... have my reasons."
Ling Chen and Feng Hongrui exchanged glances, then turned to Feng Yinxiao and said, "So, there was indeed someone hiding in your room last night, but you cannot reveal who that person is." She paused slightly, suddenly widening her eyes and inhaling sharply, "Could it be the assassin who broke into the mansion last night?"
"No, mother, it's not an assassin," Feng Yinxiao had to explain tactfully, "but rather a friend who is familiar with me. However, please forgive me for not disclosing any further details at this time."
"You always have your own thoughts and opinions when you do things," Feng Hongrui saw that the situation was becoming clearer and no longer pursued the matter. "But Yinxiao, remember to be self-disciplined in everything and think more about your parents."
"Yes, father," Feng Yinxiao replied. "I returned to the mansion early yesterday to visit you both. Now that I see mother in good spirits, I feel relieved. I still need to go to the training grounds to prepare for the martial arts examination."
"Go ahead," the Duchess smiled. "The earlier you go, the earlier you can return."
Feng Yinxiao took his leave but suddenly turned back a few steps away from the pavilion and looked at his parents:
"Father, mother, please remember not to disclose today's conversation to anyone."
"Anyone?" The Duchess was taken aback. "Including Aunt Zhuo?"
Feng Yinxiao's elegant lips formed a cold line as he accurately uttered one word: "Yes!" After a brief pause, he added, "I do not want a fourth person to know about this matter."
Feng Yinxiao's unprecedented seriousness and coldness made both Duke Feng and the Duchess realize something, so they silently nodded in agreement.
****
At the same time, Yun Ke and Yun Yan were leading Yun Kexin across the lawn of the Southern Courtyard. She had just spoken with her adoptive father and was now called over by her brother and sister.
"Seventh Sister, I heard that you refused to meet Young Lord?" Yun Ke said as he stepped on the grass and suddenly looked up.
"Whose?" Yun Kexin retorted without thinking.
"Don't worry about whose it is, just tell us the truth," Yun Yan said, holding Yun Kexin's hand and probing, "It can't be because of me, right?"
Yun Kexin hesitated, "It's not entirely because of Fourth Sister; at that time... I had my own difficulties too."
"At that time?!" Yun Ke asked with a smile in his eyes, "Seventh Sister, you met again."
Yun Kexin's face turned slightly red, her gaze shifting to the grass as she said, "We met."
"When?" Yun Yan pressed.
"Yesterday, at the farm," Yun Kexin silently prayed for forgiveness for her lie.
"It seems that in the days to come, I can relax a bit," Yun Ke exaggeratedly laughed again, "Sister Seven, did you know? A few days ago, I was so worried about someone’s frowning face that I was scared."
"But what about Fourth Sister?" Yun Kexin wasn't as optimistic as her brother; she still couldn't let go of the matter of Yun Yan being 'breached' in the agreement. "The Duke of Yan's residence just 'breached' like this..."
Comment 0 Comment Count