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墨書 Inktalez
“Seventh Young Lady, don’t be nervous,” Fu Lianyin smiled, “Mother doesn’t mean anything bad, just thinks that Young Lord is a nice person. If you can become friends with him, that would be great.”
Yun Kexin had no response, and Fu Lianyin pretended to ask Yun Xiao, “What did Big Brother buy for you?” “Did you get anything from Xiao Er?” “Does Xiao Er like Big Brother?” and similar questions. “Mother, if there’s nothing else, Kexin will take her leave,” Yun Kexin interrupted coldly.
“Oh, what’s wrong with Seventh Young Lady lately? Why are you being so distant with me?” Fu Lianyin lightly frowned, as if she had been greatly hurt, “You come home late and leave early, is talking to your mother too bothersome?”
Yun Kexin curled her lips in a cold smile: It’s not just bothersome; I wish you would disappear forever.
“Mother misunderstood what I meant,” Yun Kexin said with a faint smile, “I’m just a bit tired today.”
“I know Kexin is tired,” Fu Lianyin chuckled lightly, pulling Yun Xiao closer and saying, “But Xiao Er has been waiting for you. Can’t you spend some time with her?”
Fu Lianyin spoke very gently, but her narrowed gaze was like a whip, fiercely directed at Yun Kexin. Yun Kexin stood her ground without dodging or evading, her eyes flashing coldly as she said, “Mother, it’s all my fault for being so caught up in my own fun that I forgot about Eighth Younger Sister.” She waved at Yun Xiao, saying, “Eighth Younger Sister, come here. Sister will take you out to play.”
“Okay, Seventh Sister,” Yun Xiao smiled and stumbled over, grabbing Yun Kexin’s hand and asking, “Where are you taking me?”
“To the Western Courtyard, I’ll take you to swing.” Yun Kexin smiled as she patted Yun Xiao’s head before walking out.
Initially thinking that Yun Kexin would retort or even refuse, Fu Lianyin had prepared responses but did not expect her to be so “obedient” and follow along without a word. This left Fu Lianyin feeling somewhat panicked as if she had punched cotton and missed; without thinking much more, she quietly followed behind.
At the lawn opposite the Rockery in the Western Courtyard, Yun Xiao held onto the swing ropes with both hands, laughing joyfully. Yun Kexin, standing by to protect her—casually glanced over and noticed that Fu Lianyin had followed them. She smirked coldly: Fu Lianyin, soon I will let you know what it feels like for your biological daughter to be close to someone else. In my last life, my parents suffered this pain; in this life, I will make you taste it too.
Thinking of this, Yun Kexin glanced at Yun Xiao, smiling as she asked, “Eighth Younger Sister, tell sister where did Big Brother take you to play today?”
“We went to the market,” Yun Xiao turned around and giggled, “The whole street!”
Yun Kexin laughed in disbelief: The whole street? He really has that much patience.
“Does Xiao Er like Big Brother?” Yun Kexin gently stroked Yun Xiao’s head a few times while pretending to be very close and eagerly waiting for her answer.
“I like him,” Yun Xiao said with her eyes sparkling, “He’s better than cousin.”
Yun Kexin was taken aback and asked with a smile, "Why is that?"
"Cousin is always saying I can't go here or there, it's annoying," Yun Xiao mumbled, then suddenly smiled, "Seventh Sister, what do you like?"
Yun Kexin countered, "Why did Eighth Younger Sister suddenly think to ask this?"
Yun Xiao shrank her neck and stuck out her tongue with a smile, "Nothing, I just want to give Seventh Sister a gift when I grow up. Quickly tell me, what do you like?"
Yun Kexin recalled the regret of the last time regarding the Seven-Colored Glass Beads and casually said, "Seven-Colored Glass Beads."
Yun Xiao looked at Yun Kexin with a big smile on her round face and said in a childish voice, "Seventh Sister must wait for me to grow up."
"I will, thank you Eighth Younger Sister," Yun Kexin said as she held Yun Xiao's hand that was tugging on the rope and smiled, "By the way, why doesn't Eighth Younger Sister want Mother to accompany you?"
"I like Seventh Sister," Yun Xiao turned her head and gave Yun Kexin a big smile.
Yun Kexin took the opportunity to pinch Yun Xiao's cheek; the two sisters were very close.
Standing not far away, Fu Lianyin could no longer bear to watch. She angrily shook her handkerchief and turned to leave. Yun Kexin caught a glimpse of this scene from the corner of her eye and coldly smiled, dismissing it. Suddenly, an idea struck her: Grandmother! Yun Yang had long been dissatisfied and resentful of Fu Lianyin's "family education" and had been worried that Yun Xiao would turn out to be "like mother, like daughter." She had hinted several times to Yun Kexin, hoping she could help take care of Yun Xiao. Without thinking twice, Yun Kexin directly refused—if it were a child born of some concubine of Yun Yang's, she might have been more willing to fulfill her duty as an elder sister. But since Yun Xiao was Fu Lianyin's child, she had no reason to take care of her enemy's child; it was too ridiculous! What if she recommended Grandmother to her adoptive father? Would that be better? Yun Kexin's bright eyes suddenly turned icy: let Fu Lianyin taste what it feels like to be separated from one's flesh and blood! However, she needed to find an appropriate time so as not to raise Fu Lianyin's suspicions.
"Seventh Sister, I'm not swinging anymore," Yun Xiao suddenly kicked her legs around. "I'm hungry; I want to eat."
Just then, Ruan Ma came over calling them for dinner—
"Seventh Sister, Eighth Sister, it's time to eat. Master and the ladies are waiting in the North Courtyard."
Yun Kexin nodded and let Ruan Ma carry Yun Xiao along to the North Courtyard.
Two days later, when Yun Kexin went to the Second House to find her brother, she saw him looking serious and hurriedly walking past her without noticing as she reached the Southern Courtyard door. The Second Madam also wore a look of sorrow.
"Ke'er, you go see Duke of Wind and tell him to take care of himself during this difficult time... I won't go."
Yun Kexin was shocked: "Condolences?!" Duke of Yan's Residence What happened? Could it be that the Duchess has passed away? She heard Yun Ke speaking to Mother with his back turned to Yun Kexin:
“Mother, don’t worry,” Yun Ke also appeared sad and anxious, “Leave this to me, I will go on your behalf to pay my respects.”
Pay respects? Yun Kexin felt as if her heart had been struck hard, causing her pain that made it difficult to stand: Young Lord has lost his mother!
As Yun Ke turned around, he saw Yun Kexin standing at the door, dazed and seemingly lost.
“Seventh Sister, Seventh Sister,” Yun Ke shook her shoulder gently and called out softly, “Did you hear what Mother and I said?”
Yun Kexin numbly nodded but couldn’t utter a word.
The Yue Clan also stepped forward and said: “Seventh Young Lady, wait for your brother to leave, then Auntie will tell you more.”
Yun Kexin remained noncommittal. Yun Ke continued, “It’s time; I need to hurry over there, I can’t be late,” and hurriedly stepped out the door. After going a short distance, he turned back and said, “Mother, you should talk with Seventh Sister.”
As Yun Ke left, Yun Kexin was still engulfed in her pain: during their last boat trip, Feng Yinxiao had mentioned that the Duchess wanted to see her. Once Mother improved a bit, she would take her to the residence for a formal visit. Who would have thought it would all end in regret?
“Auntie, is the visit to the Duke of E State's Residence just for the Second House?” Yun Kexin asked in a daze.
“No, there are also Master and the Three Elders, who are going,” Yue Ziyun looked at Yun Kexin with some concern and gently stroked her pale, cold face. “Seventh Young Lady, don’t be sad.”
“Aunt, I also want to go pay my respects; can I?” Yun Kexin pleaded.
“No,” the Yue Clan looked at Yun Kexin and said, “Our family rules state that only men can go to pay respects; women must wait two days before visiting.”
Yun Kexin lightly nodded, her thoughts already drifting towards the Duke of Yan's Residence: such a filial person like the Young Lord, I wonder if he can bear the pain of losing his mother...
Those who went to pay their respects returned home only in the evening. Yun Kexin spent the entire day waiting for Yun Ke to come back.
“Brother, how is the Young Lord?” As soon as Yun Ke stepped into the Southern Courtyard, Yun Kexin rushed up to him.
"From the time of the fall of the Duchess until her burial, he hasn't said a word," Yun Ke frowned as he walked, "He seems very affected."
"What happened afterward?" Yun Kexin asked absently.
"He stayed alone on the back mountain," Yun Ke paused, his voice hoarse, "I don't know if he's returned to the residence yet."
"The back mountain? Is that where the Duchess is buried?"
"Yes, he wants to be alone for a while; there's no way to persuade him otherwise."
"I'm going to find him," Yun Kexin said firmly, "Brother, you come up with an excuse to placate Elder at home. I'll have Shanling and the others follow me; we'll go there and back quickly."
"That's fine, but be careful and stay alert. Don't let anyone see you..."
The back mountain is located three miles west of the capital, near the Duke of Yan's Residence. Yun Kexin and her three maidservants called for a carriage and hurried toward the back mountain.
At that moment, a light drizzle began to fall. Shanling Junhou might have already returned to the residence, but whether to turn back or not, Yun Kexin decided to take a look first—her intuition told her he was still there.
The mountain itself wasn't rugged; it had likely been repaired in the past, making it easy to walk, though it was a bit dark.
The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, and the four of them took lanterns and started walking up.
When they reached halfway up the mountain, the sharp-eyed Shanling carefully discerned a figure ahead and said, "Sister, that person in front seems to be Young Lord, judging by his height and silhouette."
"I'll go take a look." Without much thought, Yun Kexin ran forward. "You all keep some distance from me."
"Young Lord—" she called out tentatively as she walked closer. "Young Lord, is that you?"
The tall figure standing in front of the tombstone first froze slightly, then seemed to think he misheard as he tilted his head before turning back again.
"Young Lord—" Yun Kexin took a few more steps forward, raising her voice slightly. "Is that you?"
The tall shadow suddenly turned around. Through the light drizzle, he clearly saw her and exclaimed, “Yun Kexin…”
Just as he was about to run towards her, she was already in front of him, looking at Yun Kexin, who was drenched from head to toe by the rain. Feng Yinxiao felt an indescribable emotion in his heart.
“What are you doing here? At this hour…”
“I came to see you.” Yun Kexin wiped the rainwater from her forehead and replied simply.
In the next moment, she felt herself fall into a warm embrace.
“Yun Kexin, thank you.” A choked voice came from above her head, belonging to Feng Yinxiao.
“Young Lord, have you forgotten?” Yun Kexin nestled in his arms, her face pressed against his broad chest as she softly spoke, “When Second Uncle passed away, you were there for me like this too.”
After she finished speaking, she felt his strong arms tighten around her even more, and she could feel his lips gently touching her head, his warm breath mingling with her hair.
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