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墨書 Inktalez
After returning to the Third House, Yun Kexin expressed to Yun Yang and Fu Lianyin her desire to stay by her grandmother's side.
"Father, Mother, I want to go to my grandmother's place every two or three days to copy scriptures," Yun Kexin said after finishing her meal. "What do you think?"
"You've already discussed it with your grandmother, so why are you asking us?" Fu Lianyin said coldly, reluctantly adding, "Why didn't you consult Mother and Father before making this decision?"
Oh, if I had asked you first, would I still be able to go? This is called acting without permission! Yun Kexin sneered inwardly.
"That's not it," Yun Kexin feigned ignorance of Fu Lianyin's displeasure and said innocently, "I just thought my grandmother spends all day alone in Haitang Pavilion without anyone to talk to, so I took the initiative to keep her company! What's wrong, Mother? Do I need to discuss going to accompany my grandmother with the family?"
Fu Lianyin's face flushed with anger and then turned pale: After months of finding excuses to keep her tied to the Third House, waiting for her nephew to come back to the capital and "develop feelings" with her...
Unexpectedly, just as things were looking up, she found another reason for her to "run out." How could this Seventh Young Lady be so slippery like an eel?
"Regardless, you should inform Mother and Father," Fu Lianyin said with a forced smile. "What if something happens and your father or mother needs you? Also, Eighth Younger Sister has been calling for Sister Xin..."
Again with Yun Xiao! Yun Kexin was truly furious—taking care of Yun Xiao should be your responsibility as her mother. What are all the maids and servants doing?!
For months, in order not to let you shoot arrows at the Second House again and affect Yun Ke's exam preparations, I have been "cooperating" by taking care of Yun Xiao and playing with her.
But I never intended to be her wet nurse or maid following her around all day!
"Mother, it's fine. Ran'er can take care of Eighth Younger Sister," Yun Ran interjected at an inappropriate time, smiling sweetly. "I also like Eighth Younger Sister."
Before Yun Ran could finish speaking, she was silenced by a glare from Fu Lianyin.
"Xin'er is right; accompanying grandmother is only natural," Yun Yang finally spoke up with a gentle smile. "There's no need for further discussion. However, before you go, you should inform Mother and Father or the servants so that if anything comes up, they can find you. As for Xiao'er, Xin'er can play with her when she has time; there's no need to follow her around all day when there are maids and servants available."
At that moment, Yun Kexin was truly grateful for having such a foster father. Regardless of whether he acted out of selfishness or not, he had helped her out.
"Thank you, Father. I'll go this afternoon," Yun Kexin said gratefully with a smile. She then mischievously winked at Fu Lianyin and added, "Don't worry, Mother. When I'm not at Haitang Pavilion, I can spend time with Eighth Younger Sister."
Fu Lianyin tugged at the corner of her mouth as if to agree, but Yun Kexin felt a sinking sensation in her heart from the fleeting shadow of a smile in her eyes—
Whenever Fu Lianyin had something scheming in her mind, this expression would appear. What was she planning now?
In the afternoon, puzzled, Yun Kexin went to Haitang Pavilion to find her grandmother.
In the study, in front of a four-panel nanmu screen with a light green glaze, there was an ancient bronze incense table made of rosewood. Yun Kexin sat at the desk copying "The Inner Instructions," one of the "Four Books for Women."
Zhou was on the other side, personally teaching her how to copy and recite, explaining the content of the book in detail, and correcting her grip on the pen as well as the strokes and order of writing.
"Well done," Zhou praised as she watched Yun Kexin concentrate on her writing. "You are very diligent."
"Thank you, Grandmother," Yun Kexin paused her pen and looked up at Zhou with a shy smile. "But I feel like my hand still shakes when I hold the pen, so my 'vertical' strokes are always crooked."
"That's because you lack strength in your hand," Zhou said patiently with a gentle smile. "As for your poor 'vertical' strokes, that's just a matter of practice; you need to practice more."
"I understand, Grandmother," Yun Kexin replied with a compliant smile before lowering her head to continue copying.
"I'll show you what your Fourth Uncle wrote."
Zhou stood up and walked to the northwest corner of the study where there was a bookshelf several layers high. She took out some papers filled with writing and returned to place them in front of Yun Kexin, softly saying:
"Seventh Young Lady, take a look at your Fourth Uncle's writing. Isn't it much more beautiful than yours?"
Yun Kexin set her pen down beside the inkstone and picked up one of the slightly yellowed papers filled with characters—its edges showed no signs of creases or curled corners, indicating her grandmother's care.
Yun Kexin gazed at the neat and orderly characters that floated like clouds and danced like startled dragons before her, deeply impressed.
In her previous life, she had seen Fourth Uncle Yun Cheng; he resembled her father but was somewhat unruly and indifferent to others. She never expected that this taciturn Fourth Uncle could write such beautiful characters.
"Grandmother, are you joking with me?" Yun Kexin pouted and said with an embarrassed smile, "Even if I wrote for ten years, I couldn't write as beautifully as Fourth Uncle."
"Everything is practiced," Zhou said, revealing a rare smile upon hearing her granddaughter's praise and humility. "Your Fourth Uncle couldn't even hold a pen properly before. Your grandfather corrected him multiple times before he got it right. After that, it was under my 'pressure' that he completed one piece of calligraphy after another. Otherwise, how could he write so well?"
Zhou's approachable and amiable demeanor in Qiyun City was something Yun Kexin had never seen before: the weight of Fourth Uncle in her grandmother's heart was truly remarkable.
"Grandmother, why doesn't Fourth Uncle come home often?" Yun Kexin asked innocently but with a hint of sharpness.
It was as if an invisible hand wiped away Zhou's smile; she stood there in a daze, her face tense and silent.
Yun Kexin quickly said, "It's all my fault for asking the wrong question. Please don't be angry, Grandmother."
Zhou glanced at Yun Kexin and smiled faintly. "What wrong has Xin'er done? Even if there is a mistake, it isn't yours," she sighed and said in a strange tone, "It's because I don't let him return to the house."
Yun Kexin was taken aback: Grandmother doesn't allow Fourth Uncle to come home? What does that mean?
Seeing her confusion and bewilderment, Zhou's eyes darkened, and with a cold laugh, she said, "I'm afraid that if he returns home, he will kill that old man..."
Yun Kexin's eyes widened in shock as she gasped and exclaimed, "Grandmother..."
"That scoundrel truly wants to ruin my Fourth Room's lineage..." Zhou became completely immersed in her memories, speaking to herself and choking on her tears.
Ruin the lineage? Yun Kexin held her breath: How could Grandmother use such serious words!
Has Fourth Uncle's resentment towards Third Uncle reached this extent? She only remembered that in her past life, Fourth Uncle always ignored Third Uncle and never stepped into his room whenever he returned home. What could be the reason behind this?
Zhou's sobs interrupted Yun Kexin's thoughts. She quickly took out a handkerchief from her sleeve to wipe away Zhou's tears and comforted her:
"Grandmother, let's not talk about this anymore. It's all my fault for making you sad. I'll continue practicing my calligraphy."
But now Zhou had no mood to teach Yun Kexin how to practice calligraphy. The matters of Fourth Room and Yun City had always been a hidden pain in her heart; just mentioning him would leave her breathless.
"I never expected that among so many grandchildren, the Seventh Young Lady would be the most considerate," Zhou stopped sobbing, holding Yun Kexin's hand, seemingly feeling guilty. "If you ever find out anything in the future, please don't resent your grandmother..."
Yun Kexin pondered: Is she referring to the matter of being adopted? Did grandmother agree to adopt her to Third House for some hidden reason? Did grandmother from my previous life always want to say these things but found it difficult to express?
"Kexin won't blame grandmother," Yun Kexin smiled gently as she held her grandmother's hand back. "Grandmother, don't think too much about it."
"Seventh Young Lady, remember what your grandmother said today; you must not speak a word of it outside," Zhou instructed.
"Grandmother, don't worry," Yun Kexin replied obediently.
Only then did Zhou fall silent.
For several consecutive days, Yun Kexin arrived on time at Zhou's Haitang Pavilion to practice calligraphy and copy scriptures.
Until the night before the autumn examination, Yun Ke suddenly ran to Haitang Pavilion and was surprised to see Yun Kexin there.
He had previously sent Yun Ran to Second House to inform that Yun Kexin had arranged to meet Yun Yan at the night market in Qinghe City to buy writing supplies. The person was already waiting there, and since Yun Yan left early in the morning and hadn't returned yet, he sensed something was wrong and came to check on his grandmother...
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