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墨書 Inktalez
Fu Lianyin watched as Yun Kexin disappeared at the door, her smile fading instantly, fast enough to make one doubt whether she had truly been smiling or just lifting the corners of her mouth.
"Come with me," Fu Lianyin said to Dai Chun Ni.
The two of them returned to the inner room of the Third House, one after the other.
"Sister, I'm sorry, it's all my fault..." As soon as they entered, Dai Chun Ni spoke first, "I made you come for nothing."
Fu Lianyin sat in a rosewood chair with a black lacquer finish and a crimson cushion, picking up a white jade cup and leisurely playing with it in her hand.
"Substitute Concubine, you should know better by now," Fu Lianyin lifted her eyelids and turned her gaze towards Dai Chun Ni, "Can you use your brain a bit more when doing things in the future?"
"Yes, it's all Chun Ni's oversight."
"You should have gone to grab that bowl when you saw it. Look closely," Fu Lianyin slammed the white jade cup onto the tea table, her tone suddenly rising, "Instead of making wild guesses before seeing it and putting me in an awkward position along with you."
"When I saw Seventh Young Lady holding it like a treasure and unwilling to show it to me, I became suspicious," Dai Chun Ni explained dejectedly, "I didn't expect it was just a bowl of Mandarin Orange Jelly."
"Hmph, even if it was Mandarin Orange Jelly, you should have snatched it and pretended to drop it on the ground," Fu Lianyin's gaze was icy as she struck the tea table with her hand painted in pink lacquer, causing the white jade cup to clatter loudly. "The Second House thinks they can win over Seventh Young Lady with some food and playthings; they are really dreaming!"
"I just didn't dare to act rashly," Dai Chun Ni looked up, rolling her eyes helplessly. "You know how hard it is to manage Seventh Sister as she grows up. Plus, Master favors her; who would dare to do anything to her? I'm just afraid that if I'm not careful, I'll end up suffering."
Fu Lianyin sneered: "You have times when you're afraid too."
"I'm afraid of implicating you, Sister." Dai Chun Ni smiled. "Thinking back to that slap a few years ago, it's really both infuriating and frustrating."
Fu Lianyin felt a rush of blood surge to her head, her whole body heating up as if on fire. The figure of Yun Yang flashed before her eyes, making her feel as if she had suddenly plunged into an Ice Cellar.
"I don't believe the master will just sit back and watch his child, whom he has raised for years, turn against him," Fu Lianyin said, pulling at the corners of her mouth, her phoenix eyes glinting coldly. "I'll handle this matter; you just remember that next time you encounter the Second House, throw away everything that the Seventh Sister uses or eats. If anything happens, I'll take care of it."
Dai Chun Ni sneered inwardly: Let you take care of it? That's easier said than done. When the time comes, you'll probably slip away faster than a rabbit. I won't be foolish enough to be your pawn!
"With my sister's words, what does Chun Ni have to fear?" Dai Chun Ni smiled. "Next time, I definitely won't be so soft-hearted; perhaps I can even achieve a 'two birds with one stone'." Her words were laced with cunning.
"Alright, go on now. We can laugh later when things are accomplished," Fu Lianyin said with a stern face, mocking her. "Just don't end up like last time, lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot, making things difficult for yourself."
"You are right, sister," Dai Chun Ni replied with a smile, "From now on, I will listen to you."
In the blink of an eye, it was early autumn in the lunar calendar's eighth month, just a few days before Yun Ke participated in the autumn examination.
At this moment, Yun Kexin was sitting in the noodle shop near the Western Courtyard, resting her hands on the back of her chair and staring blankly at the sky—
She didn't know what Fu Lianyin had said to Yun Yang; ever since then, Yun Yang had been reluctant to let her go out. Yet she couldn't understand why; after all, girls should stay at home when they grow up, studying and practicing music and painting.
This meant that for more than half a year she had very few opportunities to visit the First House and Second House. But she really wanted to see her brother and encourage him!
Yun Kexin propped her chin on her hands, lost in thought. The idea that Fu Yihang would come to the Duke's residence shortly after the autumn examination filled her with displeasure.
If only there were a way to avoid that pestilence! It would save the people from the Third House from mistakenly thinking she had feelings for him.
After the autumn examination? Suddenly, Yun Kexin's heart jolted: Third Uncle's birthday was also around that time; Fu Yihang coming then would truly be timely! She couldn't help but mock herself inwardly.
Immediately after that, she inexplicably thought of Grandmother Zhou. Since that "Welcome Young Master Fu" dinner in the North Courtyard hall last time, she could sense her grandmother's strange attitude towards Third Uncle—watching coldly from the sidelines yet inadvertently helping the Second House. Why was that?
In her past life, Yun Kexin could always feel something was off from her grandmother's dim gaze, as if there were many things she wanted to say but found it hard to voice them.
In addition, the birthday of Third Uncle is approaching, and everyone in Duke's Residence is discussing how to celebrate it for him.
Only Grandmother's indifference is unexpected; she dismisses those who seek her opinion with a few words, saying that they will celebrate as they have in previous years.
Could it be that there is some resentment between Grandmother and Third Uncle? Might it have something to do with Fourth Uncle, who has yet to marry?
Yun Kexin decides to visit Grandmother.
The North Courtyard is where the elders of the Yun Clan reside. Apart from the ancestral hall facing south, the other three rooms are occupied by Grandfather and Grandmother, Second Uncle's family, and Third Uncle.
However, not long after Grandfather passed away, Grandmother moved to the Haitang Pavilion behind the ancestral hall and rarely goes out—Haitang Pavilion is actually a garden named for the blooming crabapple flowers throughout.
As Yun Kexin enters Haitang Pavilion, she sees Zhou, dressed in plain clothes with silver hair, taking a walk under the crabapple trees with the help of a maid.
"Grandmother!" Yun Kexin calls out cheerfully.
Zhou and the maid turn around simultaneously. Seeing a young girl with symmetrical hair buns wearing a light blue pleated skirt standing at the entrance, they both smile: "Sister Xin? What brings you here?"
"I came to visit Grandmother." Yun Kexin floats into the garden like a beautiful flower and smiles at Zhou.
She looks up and observes that Grandmother has more gray hair and wrinkles than last year, but her health seems relatively good. Although she still gives off an air of indifference, she is not unpleasant.
"Let's talk inside," Zhou says with a faint smile, signaling to the maid. She then takes Yun Kexin's hand and leads her into the main room while murmuring along the way, "What brings you here? Are you looking for something from Grandmother?"
"Not at all," Yun Kexin replies as she sits down on a chair, looking at Zhou with a smile. "I just enjoy how peaceful it is here."
"Oh? How is it peaceful?" Zhou asks as she takes a banana from the maid and peels it for her.
"Recently, everyone at Duke's Residence has been talking about Third Uncle's birthday, it's a bit annoying," Yun Kexin said, taking a bite of her banana, frowning with an innocent and carefree expression.
Upon hearing this, Zhou's face, which had no smile to begin with, suddenly turned as cold as if it had just snowed.
Seizing the opportunity, Yun Kexin walked over, moved a stool to sit on Zhou's lap, and looked up with a dazed expression, asking, "Grandmother, why aren't you speaking? Did Kexin do something wrong to upset you?"
"No," Zhou replied with a faint smile, lowering her head to gently pat Yun Kexin's head. She murmured, "Some people just love to show off, as if they're afraid others don't know how impressive they are. Let's just treat it as watching a show."
Yun Kexin was taken aback: Grandmother really does have a grudge against Third Uncle! But where did it stem from?
Right, the Haitang Pavilion is quiet; why not take the opportunity to accompany Grandmother here and copy scriptures together... Perhaps over time, Grandmother would open her heart to her.
"Grandmother, Kexin wants to come here often to keep you company and maybe you can teach me how to copy scriptures?" Yun Kexin asked sweetly.
"Sure, Kexin can come whenever you want," Zhou agreed without much thought.
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