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Yun Kexin hurriedly pushed against his chest, scolding, "We're outside, be more careful."
Feng Yinsiao lifted her chin, smiling faintly in a tone only the two of them could hear, "Every night from now on, I will prove to you whether I have any complaints about you."
Yun Kexin's face flushed, and she glared at Feng Yinsiao while poking his chest with her delicate fingers, saying, "If you keep talking nonsense, I'll seal your mouth."
"Oh? How will you seal it?" Feng Yinsiao gazed at her charming face, then lowered his eyelids, his gaze drifting to her glistening lips, asking in a suggestive manner.
"Forget it, I'll settle the score with you later," Yun Kexin couldn't stand his blatant teasing and pushed him away, focusing on walking ahead. "Ling Lang might be awake; let's hurry back."
Feng Yinsiao mischievously curled his lips and caught up with her, wrapping an arm around her slender waist as they walked down the mountain together.
Finally welcoming great joy, Feng Yinsiao took his wife to the Duke of E's residence. At this time, Feng Yiling was already seven months old and filled with curiosity about the outside world. She usually enjoyed being carried around by the nanny or maid. This time, she was greatly satisfied but was also quite shy, clinging to Feng Yinsiao and his wife, not allowing anyone else to hold her.
Sun Rulan and Yue Ziyun tried various methods but couldn't manage to get close to her. They praised the child for recognizing family. Yun Kexin could only smile bitterly; she really wanted someone to help hold her so she could find an opportunity to chat with her sister-in-law.
First, she didn't see her because she was covered with red silk and only witnessed the lively atmosphere. It wasn't until she returned to her maternal home that she finally met her long-awaited sister-in-law—Qi Shihan, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Liang. Young and beautiful, gentle and amiable, Yun Kexin immediately took a liking to her at first glance.
Most importantly, she noticed that her sister-in-law respected her mother very much. Unlike the eldest daughter-in-law of the First House—Yun Jie’s wife Yu Shi—who seemed fine at first glance but turned out to be like a tigress after getting along; even the usually formidable Sun family had to yield to her demands. Yun Jie didn't dare say much.
In short, the marriage arrangement pleased her more and more. The more she looked at it, the more invested she became. After Qi Shihan recognized family members, Yun Kexin spoke with her during the evening before Feng Yinsiao came to pick her up in the Southern Courtyard of the Second House.
"Yun Kexin, Ling Lang is no longer shy around you," the two women walked hand in hand through the garden. Qi Shihan smiled as she watched Yue Clan carrying Ling Lang ahead. "I remember just a few days ago she was still clinging to you."
"Children are like us adults; they can also be shy and need time to get familiar," Yun Kexin replied with a smile. "That's why my husband and I often return to the Second House—to help Ling Lang get acquainted with our family members and recognize the elders of the Duke of E's residence. At first, she may not want to interact much, but over time she'll become familiar."
Qi Shihan seemed to understand Yun Kexin's implied reassurance that when entering a new environment and meeting people for the first time there might be some distance initially, but things would improve with time. She thought this sister-in-law was truly understanding and considerate; no wonder Yun Ke cherished her so much.
"To be honest with you, Seventh Sister," Qi Shihan gently glanced at Yun Kexin and said softly, "Before entering this household, I did have some worries because a good friend of mine married into a prominent family and faced many issues between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law or sisters-in-law that made me anxious."
Yun Kexin envied Qi Shihan for marrying into the Duke of E's residence after it had been cleared of internal strife; she couldn't imagine how Qi Shihan would have felt in a previously chaotic living environment.
"Don't worry; there were many unhappy events in this household before, but they are all in the past," Yun Kexin said calmly. "Sister-in-law, I can't guarantee anything specific but I know my brother will be a good husband and my mother will be a good mother-in-law. You two will surely get along well. As for sisters-in-law, Fourth Sister and I are both married now and have our own families to care for; even if we haven't left our homes yet," she paused briefly before looking at Qi Shihan's smiling eyes again. "Sister-in-law, do I seem like someone who stirs up trouble?"
Qi Shihan immediately shook her head lightly and said without hesitation: "Of course not; I've heard about both Fourth Sister and Seventh Sister from my husband and know your situations well; but most of what I've heard is about Seventh Sister."
"I?" Yun Kexin, who had already turned to the side, turned back in surprise and asked, "Did my brother mention me to Sister-in-law?"
Recalling her brother's words that he would only marry after she found happiness, she felt a warmth in her heart, wondering if the understanding Sister-in-law was very angry at that time.
"Yes, before I entered the door, my husband often talked about you," Qi Shihan said gently, her gaze becoming increasingly kind. "Seventh Sister, I won't go into details; they are all heart-wrenching matters that have passed."
"But didn't my brother make Sister-in-law wait for so many years without any resentment?" Yun Kexin couldn't help but voice her curiosity. "Actually, both Mother and I have advised him, but it didn't have much effect."
"No resentment," Qi Shihan seemed not to hear the latter part of Yun Kexin's explanation. Her eyes looked toward a large tree in the distance as she reminisced. "My husband never asked me to wait; he even made it clear to me. At first, I was indeed jealous of Seventh Sister for having Eldest Brother's protection. Before this, I had never seen such a person. My own brother respects me as an elder sister, but it wasn't to this extent. Later, I no longer felt jealousy; I only felt fortunate because someone who cares for their family has a sense of responsibility and is a true man. His family must be wonderful too. I like such families, so I waited without regret."
At that moment, Yun Kexin fell silent, her eyes glistening with tears—she didn't know what Qi Shihan would be like in the future, but at this moment, she liked and respected her. Sister-in-law deserved her brother's devotion and formal marriage; they would be happy, and the Second House would thrive.
After a while, the sound of Ling Lang crying came from nearby; perhaps he was hungry and was calling for his mother. The Second Madam quickly stepped forward to take Ling Lang and handed him to Yun Kexin.
"Yun Kexin, the child is hungry. Where is the nursemaid? Did she come along?"
"No need for a nursemaid," Yun Kexin replied with a slight blush. "I can do it myself."
The Yue Clan and Qi Shihan were astonished as they led her into the room. When Yun Kexin earnestly fed Ling Lang, they were pleasantly surprised and asked how she suddenly wanted to nurse the child herself.
Yun Kexin's face turned even redder as she had to briefly explain Feng Yinxiao's thoughts in a gentle manner. The Yue Clan sighed that Seventh Uncle truly had no words for his own daughter and kin. Qi Shihan also praised her brother-in-law for being more family-oriented than many men.
Before sunset, Feng Yinxiao came to pick up Yun Kexin and their child, bidding farewell to the Yue Family as they returned to Duke of Yan's Residence.
****
Five years later, cries of a child came from Feng Yinxiao's study while several servants stood behind them, not daring to breathe.
"Mother, please stop hitting! Son knows he was wrong," Ling Lang sobbed with his chubby hands outstretched. "I won't do it again."
"Won't do it again? How many times has Mother told you?" Yun Kexin waved the bamboo stick in her hand angrily. "There are many important documents in Father's study that cannot be touched carelessly! You didn't listen last time when you tore up an official document; do you remember?!"
She waved at his chubby palm; in truth, it was just thunder with no rain—Yun Kexin couldn't bear to hit her son but was so exasperated that she had to "intimidate" him a little.
"I won't do it again, Mother! I'll be very careful," Ling Lang cried pitifully while trying to play innocent. "Look! I haven't broken anything these past few days."
"Still daring to talk back!" Yun Kexin lightly struck his palm again. "Why do you love playing in Father's study so much? Isn't this courtyard enough for you to play in?"
Suddenly remembering something, Yun Kexin's face darkened. "Also, last time when the Crown Prince came to our house, Mother told you to hide inside, but you didn't wait for him to leave before running out. You made Father and Mother so embarrassed. Do you know that you're a bad egg?"
Ling Lang, who was pretending to cry "realistically," suddenly stopped upon hearing this and wiped his tears. Raising his chin, he said, "Mother, I refuse to accept that."
"What do you refuse to accept?" Yun Kexin glared at him with wide eyes.
Unexpectedly, Feng Yiling blinked a few times and pouted, "I don't look worse than the Crown Prince, and my studies are better than his. Why should I hide from him? If this gets out, people will think I'm an ugly monster, which would be such a disgrace to Mother and Father."
Yun Kexin was instantly amused: looking at her proud and adorable son, she recalled how the Emperor had repeatedly declined Feng Yinxiao's requests for a transfer over the past five years for various reasons while continuously promoting him. Strangely, he had never mentioned the two unfinished matters but had become a "frequent visitor" to the Duke of Yan's residence, coming by for no particular reason to see the old Duke while subtly suggesting that Ling Lang should be the Crown Prince's companion reader. He even brought the Crown Prince into their home so they could become "good friends" first.
Fortunately, Feng Yinxiao and his wife had informed Duke Feng about what happened five years ago early on, which allowed Duke Feng to politely refuse the Emperor's request on the grounds of the children being too young. However, the Crown Prince had since taken a liking to Ling Lang as a playmate, leaving both Feng Yinxiao and Yun Kexin feeling awkward and helpless. They then devised a way to "avoid" him, but after doing it several times, Ling Lang refused to comply anymore.
Yun Kexin snapped back to reality and waved the bamboo stick in her hand, looking sternly at Ling Lang. Meanwhile, Feng Yiling inexplicably broke into a grin and joyfully jumped around behind Yun Kexin, shouting, "Father is back! Father is back!"
Yun Kexin turned around and indeed saw Feng Yinxiao hurrying over. Ling Lang wanted to run up and "cling onto his leg," but he was scared back by a glare from Yun Kexin.
"What’s wrong with Ling Lang? Did you make your mother angry again?" Feng Yinxiao squatted down in front of his son, ruffling his hair with a smile. "Didn't I tell you that when I'm not home, you're a man who must protect your mother and not make her unhappy?" (To be continued)
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