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墨書 Inktalez
Zheng nodded, sitting uneasily in her seat and rubbing her hands together. In fact, she had not arranged any "childhood engagement" for Yue Yanbin; she was concerned about the Second House wanting to use her son as a pawn.
If it were a legitimate engagement, it would be one thing, but this kind of "scramble" was troubling. What if her son truly developed feelings for Seventh Sister, while the girl was wholeheartedly interested in the Fu Family's nephew? Wouldn't that break her son's heart?
Moreover, the fact that Yun Kexin, who was raised by Fu Lianyin, had previously been associated with Bochao pricked at her like a thorn. She feared that once Seventh Young Lady entered the family, she might be as formidable as Fu Lianyin, leaving no place for her in the household.
"Master," Zheng He raised her head and decided to take a softer approach. She smiled and said, "Consort is afraid that 'when two tigers fight, one will surely be injured.' I worry that Bin Ge'er might suffer and end up heartbroken if he is not favored by Seventh Sister."
"You are overthinking," Bochao shot Zheng a glance and his tone softened considerably. "Sister and Brother-in-law are not planning any engagement for the children; they are still so young. It's just to have Yue Yanbin and Shuzheng frequently visit the Duke's residence to play with Seventh Young Lady, so she won't be surrounded by the Fu Family's nephew. Isn't that just what Third House wants?"
Zheng forced a smile. "As you wish, my husband."
Yun Kexin sat on the swing in the Western Garden Lawn, gripping the swing's ropes as Fu Yihang pushed it forward and then steadied it back into her hands. She was not inclined to think too much about Fu Yihang's actions; instead, she focused on how to break free from the trap set by Third House this time.
From their previous conversations, she could sense her parents' insistence on the "adoption conditions." Therefore, she was not worried that her parents would "give in," but Fu Lianyin would certainly not let things rest and would come up with more tricks and traps.
She keenly realized that Third House was pinning their hopes on Fu Yihang and her, foolishly wishing for her to develop feelings for Fu Yihang over time, so they could find an excuse to intervene in her marriage without raising suspicions.
This was evident from how Yun Yang and Fu Lianyin frequently cast glances at them.
She had once considered whether to play along and make Third House believe she truly had feelings for Fu Yihang. Then she could turn the tables later and leave Fu Lianyin empty-handed.
But soon, Yun Kexin dismissed such thoughts: in her past life, it was precisely her childhood friendship with Fu Yihang that had been seen by her biological parents, hurting their desire to protect their little girl.
Her parents could not reveal the hardships and secrets behind this situation to her; they could only watch helplessly as she grew closer to Fu Yihang while feeling powerless. In the end, those "adoption conditions" became meaningless...
No, she couldn't create illusions for her parents; it would only make them sad and even desperate. There had to be a way; she was sure she could think of another method to break this situation!
Yun Kexin swayed on the swing in the cold wind of early spring, her face flushed from the chill, her body rising and falling as countless thoughts dissipated in Yun Ran's noisy voice:
"Brother Fu, let Seventh Sister down; I want to swing too. I want to play for a while..."
Fu Yihang ignored her and continued to push Yun Kexin on the swing, occasionally asking, "Seventh Sister, do you want to go higher?"
Yun Kexin couldn't be bothered to respond. Yun Ran waved her arms again, screaming like it was a matter of life and death. Tired of the noise, Yun Kexin was about to ask Fu Yihang to stop when she noticed Fu Lianyin and Dai Chun Ni standing on either side of Second Matriarch Qian Hanqiu near the rockery, not approaching but peering in this direction with strange smiles on their faces. Before long, the three of them left.
Yun Kexin felt suspicious: What was Fu Lianyin bringing Qian here for? And why were they being so sneaky?
"Cousin Fu, let me down quickly," Yun Kexin called out. "Let Elder Sister Five have a turn; she's been waiting for a while. I'm tired of playing and need a break."
Only then did Fu Yihang slow down until the swing came to a complete stop. Yun Kexin jumped off the swing, and Yun Ran eagerly took her place.
Old Madam Feng approached from another direction in the Western Courtyard—
"Young Master Fu, Seventh Sister, Eldest Sister, the master and mistress sent me to call you for dinner."
Before Yun Kexin could respond, Yun Ran shouted, "Seventh Sister, you go with the madam first; Brother Fu and I will play for a while longer."
I can't be bothered with your nonsense! Yun Kexin thought.
"Cousin, you play with Seventh Sister. I'm hungry and going to eat."
With that, she pulled Grandma Feng's hand and left. Behind them, Yun Ran's laughter echoed: "Brother Fu, higher, higher, it's fun!"
However, not long after, Yun Ran shouted, "Brother Fu, where are you going? It's so high, I'm scared."
It turned out that Fu Yihang had thrown Yun Ran high up on the swing and then ran off to chase after Yun Kexin. "Cousin Kexin, wait for me—"
In the North Courtyard Hall, the maids had already set the table with dishes and chopsticks. Everyone from the Yun family was present except for the three children from the Third House.
As Yun Kexin entered, she felt the concerned gazes of her parents and Harm to Biological Parents and Siblings. Yun Ke and Yun Yan even invited her to sit beside them, but she chose to sit next to Fu Lianyin, with Fu Yihang naturally taking a seat beside her.
"Xiner, where is Elder Sister Five? Didn't she come with you?" Yun Yang asked.
"Elder Sister Five wanted to play on the swing; she'll eat later," Yun Kexin replied.
"This girl is still so playful," Fu Lianyin said, changing the subject. She glanced at Fu Yihang and smiled at Zhou and Qian. "Mother, Second Aunt, this is Consort's nephew Fu Yihang."
Fu Yihang knelt on his chair and smiled. "I've met Grandmother and Aunt."
"Oh, such a sensible boy," Qian Hanqiu praised repeatedly, though her smile seemed a bit forced. "He looks quite handsome; he really resembles our Xiner—" She paused here and looked at Yun Kexin with a smile. "Seventh Young Lady, I heard you had a chance encounter with Young Master Fu at Ling Mountain Temple. Is it true that he picked up your sachet containing Geng Tie?"
Is this an attempt to open up the "pocket"?
Yun Kexin smiled innocently and said, "Yes," immediately sensing the tension from the First House and Second House, and the excitement from the Third House. Yun Jinyu was confused, while Yun Jinxiu chuckled, stroking his graying goat beard, and said, "Isn't this precisely the 'predestined marriage' of the Substitute Concubine? I think so!"
The last three words sounded authoritative, as if sealing the matter with a hammer.
"I think so too," Second Matriarch Qian said, her eyes crinkling with wrinkles as she smiled.
Only Grandmother Zhou remained silent, watching coldly.
Yun You and Yue Ziyun felt their hearts rise to their throats, sorrow and despair slowly overflowing from their eyes. Yet, they heard Yun Kexin's childish yet calm question:
"Brother Fu, I heard from Mother and Father that you were going to the Duke's residence. Why did you end up at Ling Mountain Temple instead?"
"It was Aunt who informed Mother and Father in advance that there was a temple fair at Ling Mountain Temple, and since you were also there to pay respects, Mother and Father went to Xiang Wang Mansion as guests, so I went on my own," Fu Yihang replied with a smile.
"Oh, so Brother Fu was already waiting for us there. No wonder we had a 'chance encounter,'" Yun Kexin said with her big bright eyes, laced with sarcasm yet maintaining a silly expression. "By the way, usually it's the maid who ties my Sachet for me, and it has never fallen off. This time Mother personally put it on me but it ended up lost. I suppose it's because it was Mother's first time doing this and she was nervous," she glanced at the Third House and asked, "Mother, is that right?"
Yun Yang and Fu Lianyin felt like they were sitting on pins and needles, too embarrassed to lift their heads. After a long pause, Fu Lianyin finally forced a smile and said, "Mother was worried that the string of the Sachet was tied too tightly and that Kexin would be uncomfortable..."
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