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墨書 Inktalez
She really wanted to tell him that things were not as complicated as he thought, but the words turned around in her mouth several times and still did not come out.
Feng Yinxiao saw that Yue Clan was frowning and remained silent, thinking she was still troubled or even displeased about the matter. He hurriedly said, "Second Madam, actually my mother intended to come personally to explain the situation, but since this matter arose because of me, I should explain it myself to show my sincerity. Moreover, my mother has not been feeling well lately, so she couldn't come to the residence for a visit. I hope Second Madam can understand."
"Don't misunderstand, I'm fine," Yue Clan said with a light smile. "I can understand Young Lord's intentions; I just fear that in the end, I might disappoint your good intentions." She paused for a moment before realizing something. "By the way, how is the Duchess's health now?"
"Still recuperating, thank you for your concern, Second Madam," Feng Yinxiao replied seriously. "My mother repeatedly instructed me to treat the Second House well and not let you misunderstand, so as not to ruin the friendship between our families."
"Young Lord should tell the Duchess that Consort holds no grievances and should not worry. Please take care of your health."
"Yes, thank you again, Second Madam." Feng Yinxiao finally showed a respectful smile. He then turned to Yun Kexin and asked, "Yun Kexin, how is your preparation for the martial arts examination going? I've been quite busy lately and haven't had a chance to ask you."
"In response to Young Lord, 'Everything is ready except for the east wind,'" Yun Kexin replied. "Now we are just waiting for the martial arts palace examination; there are no problems."
"That's good," Feng Yinxiao nodded. "Before the martial arts examination officially begins, I will come find you again. Remember that besides martial skills, military strategies are also important; neither can be neglected."
"I understand," Yun Kexin nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Young Lord."
However, Feng Yinxiao raised his hand to stop Yun Kexin's polite remarks with a smile. Just then, a servant came in to report that Wei Qianhu and Young Master Tong had arrived, and Master Yun Ci had also returned from the palace.
"Let's go see them together," Yue Clan stood up and called for Yun Kexin and Yun Yan. She then asked Feng Yinxiao, "Young Lord, would you like to join us?"
"Sure," Feng Yinxiao responded. "I want to visit Seventh Sister and see if she's feeling any better."
When they arrived, Yun Ci was sitting on the edge of the bed checking Yun Kexin's pulse and inquiring about her injuries. Wei Qing and Tong Zhichen stood behind Master Yun listening—this was Tong Zhichen's first visit to the Duke of E's residence.
The Yue Clan, Yun Ke, and Yun Yan first paid their respects to Wei Qing before inquiring about Yun Kexin's condition.
"Big Brother, how is the Seventh Young Lady's condition?"
"It's true that her dizziness was caused by the horse being startled and the bumpiness," Yun Ci turned to Yue Clan and said, "but the Seventh Young Lady also has a weak heart and suffers from asthma. She should avoid strenuous activities, remember that."
Yun Kexin felt it made sense; she indeed had a weak heart, and any excessive running would lead to asthma attacks, even causing her head to feel heavy at times, making it hard for her to stand.
Feng Yinxiao felt a sinking feeling: a weak heart? Asthma? If he had known this earlier, he should have stopped her from riding.
"Yun Kexin, I'm really sorry," Tong Zhichen said, looking at Yun Kexin with guilt. "I didn't know you were unwell. If I had known, I would never have suggested you go to the Riding Ground."
"It's fine; I forgot about my own issues," Yun Kexin smiled. "Young Master Tong doesn't need to blame yourself." She turned her head and saw her mother and siblings' worried expressions and added, "Auntie, Cousin, don't worry. I'm really fine; I'll be better after some rest."
"Ah, it's Second Sister-in-law," Fu Lianyin entered with a maid carrying a bowl. Upon seeing the Yue Clan, she quickly said politely, "Why didn't anyone inform me? I was in the kitchen preparing a calming soup for the Seventh Young Lady..."
"It's nothing; we are all family; there's no need for such formalities," Yue Ziyun replied with a faint smile. "I came to see how the Seventh Young Lady was doing after hearing she had some trouble."
"Then you are also Second Sister-in-law; these servants really lack manners," Fu Lianyin placed the bowl on the table and turned to reprimand Feng Momo and Cui who had followed her. "Don't think that just because Second Master is gone, you can disregard Second Madam. Second Sister-in-law is still in charge of the household affairs; you should be more sensible." It sounded like she was protecting them, but upon closer inspection, it was easy to hear the sarcasm in her words.
Yun Kexin frowned; Fu Lianyin was once again airing family grievances in front of outsiders, making it seem like there was discord within the Duke of E State Mansion. It was one thing for her to embarrass herself, but it was unfair for her mother to suffer such indignities. Yet Yue Clan did not even furrow her brow; she calmly retorted:
"Servants have their difficulties too; they must listen to their masters. Third Sister-in-law shouldn't blame them."
Fu Lianyin was taken aback, realizing her underlying meaning had been exposed. She forced a smile and changed the subject: "Second Sister-in-law, please sit down. Let me feed the Seventh Young Lady some soup before we chat."
She let the maid carry the calming soup to the edge of the bed, looking at Yun Kexin with a familiar expression: "Come, Seventh Young Lady, try the soup that I personally made for you." She gently scooped a spoonful and brought it to Yun Kexin's lips, coaxing softly, "It's very delicious. This is the soup your Uncle once instructed me to make for Master. It's quite good..."
Yun Ke's first reaction was to pull Yue Clan away from this "place of gossip"—Third Aunt was clearly doing this to provoke Mother, intentionally pricking at her heart. However, Yue Clan stood still, gazing at Yun Kexin with a slight smile, showing no signs of feeling insulted.
Yun Kexin felt more nauseous than swallowing a fly. She turned her face away and coldly said, "Mother, I have grown up and can drink by myself."
She reached out to take the soup bowl from Fu Lianyin's hand but was sidestepped by Fu Lianyin, who smiled and said, "That won't do. You're weak right now; how can you manage without someone to attend to you?" Fu Lianyin's words were laced with sarcasm, making one feel like they were sitting on pins and needles. "We can't let outsiders see us making a fool of ourselves."
The one making a fool of herself is you; please don't drag me into this! Yun Kexin rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Daughter is unfilial and has troubled Mother to take care of me personally," she pushed Fu Lianyin's hand holding the bowl and spoon away again, her tone filled with disdain and mockery. "But I'm just a bit uncomfortable; I'm not at the point where I can't hold a bowl or spoon. Besides, I don't have much of an appetite right now. Kexin thanks Mother."
Fu Lianyin turned pale then flushed red again but ultimately suppressed her anger and forced a smile: "Seventh Young Lady is becoming more filial as she grows up; it's a blessing for us as parents. In that case, Mother will put the soup on the table. Kexin can take it whenever she wants." She then instructed the maid to take the soup bowl away and apologized to Yue Clan and others on her own accord: "Seventh Young Lady was carried back home by several maids earlier; she was still unconscious at that time. I was quite frightened. Now that she's awake, although she's a bit weak, we shouldn't disturb her rest. Everyone should disperse."
"Wait!" Yun Kexin turned back and glanced at Fu Lianyin with an icy demeanor. "I have matters to discuss with my friends," she then shifted her gaze towards Yue Clan, Yun Ke, and Feng Yinxiao, calmly saying, "Auntie, Cousin San, Kexin will come find you another day... Young Lord, please forgive my rudeness; you should also leave."
Feng Yinxiao was surprised that he wasn't included in Yun Kexin's "friends" and was thus dismissed. He felt somewhat disappointed; initially reluctant to leave, he then remembered that Mother was still ill and left with Second Madam, Yun Ci, Yun Ke, Third Madam, and several servants.
"Wei Qing, Young Master Tong," Yun Kexin said, "How is the Crown Prince? Has Zhen'er’s matter reached the Empress?"
"No," Wei Qing finally understood that Yun Kexin had dismissed many people because of this matter. "When I escorted the Crown Prince back to the palace, the Empress was still in the East Palace accompanying the Empress Dowager. It was His Highness who ordered the Imperial Medical Office to come immediately to check on your health," Wei Qing paused for a moment before realizing something. "By the way, I only learned today that Lord Yun is Seventh Sister's Uncle; Duke of E State Mansion indeed has hidden talents."
Yun Kexin smiled ambiguously and said, "The 'Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers' are all ancestors and elders of the Yun Clan. I am just an 'unknown person'," she paused and then asked Tong Zhichen, "Young Master Tong, I almost forgot to ask, you weren't injured at the Riding Ground before, were you? Are you alright?"
"Wei Qianhu's riding skills are exceptional; he saved my life," Tong Zhichen looked at Yun Kexin and said self-deprecatingly, "Otherwise, I would have probably fallen and hurt myself badly."
"Not saving Seventh Sister, what good are those riding skills?" Wei Qing also joked while feeling a bit guilty, "Thanks to Young Lord arriving in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"That's right, Seventh Sister, you didn't see it," Yun Yan sat by Yun Kexin's bed and animatedly recounted, "At that time, Young Lord and I were chatting down on that hillside when suddenly your horses flew past us like the wind. Young Master Tong and Wei Qianhu's loud shouts made Young Lord immediately understand what was happening. Without a second thought, he jumped on his horse and rushed forward. Just as you were about to fall to the ground, Young Lord quickly dismounted and stretched out his arms to protect you..."
"Yes, it left me dumbfounded too," Shan Yue clapped in praise, "Young Lord's skills are truly remarkable; it's a pity Seventh Sister couldn't witness it herself."
Only then did Yun Kexin realize where those "arms" had come from. However, since Young Lord was about to marry Fourth Sister, was it appropriate for him to act like that? Just thinking about it made her uneasy.
"Let's not dwell on that for now," Yun Kexin glanced around and remembered her purpose for keeping Yun Yan behind. She smiled slightly and asked, "Fourth Sister, what do you think of Young Lord's character?"
Yun Yan was taken aback and didn't understand why Yun Kexin asked that question but still answered honestly, "Well, he is an outstanding man—smart and capable."
Hearing Yun Yan praise Feng Yinxiao like this made Yun Kexin even more excited; her enthusiasm was hard to contain. She almost directly asked when the Duke of Yan's Residence would send a marriage proposal in front of so many people but thought it would be better to ask privately. So she held back her question. After waiting for Wei Qing and Tong Zhichen to say their goodbyes, she could no longer contain herself and finally asked the question she had been holding onto. Unexpectedly, after sitting quietly for a while, Yun Yan calmly smiled at Yun Kexin and said, "Seventh Sister, our Second House will not be forming a marriage alliance with the Duke of Yan's Residence..."
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