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"Seventh Young Lady, are you ready—" Fu Lianyin's eyes darted around as she rubbed her hands together, feeling uneasy. "What about Father?"
Although Yun Yang's affection for Yun Kexin was evident to everyone, if the Seventh Young Lady went to help "persuade" him, it would surely have an effect. However, she was just a ten-year-old girl and it was uncertain whether she could get to the point. She worried that instead of reconciling the couple, Yun Yang might mistakenly think that it was her, as the "mother," who had incited the child, leading to even greater resentment.
"Don't worry, Mother," Yun Kexin seemed to see through Fu Lianyin's concerns and smiled. "Xin'er knows what to say and will not say anything unnecessary." She paused, then continued with words that struck at Fu Lianyin's soft spot. "I will do my best to persuade Father to go to bed in the bedroom tonight..."
A faint blush appeared on Fu Lianyin's heavily made-up face; for the first time, she felt immense gratitude towards Yun Kexin.
"Thank you, Xin'er. Mother... truly hasn't loved you in vain." Fu Lianyin said with a warm smile. "When Xin'er grows up a bit more, I will definitely find a good match for you."
Yun Kexin couldn't help but want to laugh: What is this? Are we negotiating? Is Fu Lianyin being too eager?
"Considering Mother," Yun Kexin replied, "as children, how can we bear to watch Mother and Father quarrel? We must find a way to mediate."
"Seventh Young Lady, so obedient." Fu Lianyin realized she couldn't find any meaningful words for Yun Kexin and could only speak dryly. Perhaps she didn't expect that she would also seek help from the Seventh Young Lady. "Much more sensible than Ran'er."
Yun Kexin didn't respond further; she just smiled. The two of them exchanged a few more pleasantries before Fu Lianyin left with Yun Xiao.
That evening, in the study, Yun Kexin pleaded with Yun Yang to return to the bedroom and "share a bed" with Fu Lianyin. At first, Yun Yang was very stubborn, but he couldn't withstand Yun Kexin's persistent persuasion—she was determined that tonight he must be convinced to go back to the bedroom with Fu Lianyin so that she could gain Fu Lianyin's complete trust.
"Xin'er, why do you insist on having Father sleep in the room? I'm fine here," Yun Yang sighed helplessly.
"Father. Daughter knows you still have some grievances against Mother," Yun Kexin said. "But there's a saying: couples shouldn't hold grudges overnight. It's better to resolve things before going to bed."
"But I've already gotten used to it..." Yun Yang remained obstinate.
"Father, I just want," Yun Kexin's gaze flickered as if she had thrown out a trump card. "Your 'backyard' cannot do without Mother's 'management.' If you take a concubine, gaining Mother's support is better than anything else."
Yun Yang was taken aback, nodding in a daze as if he understood but didn't fully grasp it. He only heard Yun Kexin's eyes dim slightly as she seemed to speak to herself: "No matter how unwilling you are, before you take Water Lily into the Third House, you'll have to put up with it for now."
This sounded somewhat calculating, and Yun Yang almost thought he had misheard—especially coming from the mouth of a ten-year-old girl. It left him feeling somewhat incredulous.
But Yun Yang temporarily set aside his surprise and began to think about Yun Kexin's words. In truth, he understood the meaning behind the Seventh Young Lady's words; it was just that he had long been estranged from the Fu Family, having lived apart for so long. The thought of facing them again, especially sharing a bed, made him feel awkward and unsure of how to handle the situation.
"Well, let's not dwell on it," Yun Yang said, taking Yun Kexin's hand and gently stroking her head with a loving smile. "The Seventh Young Lady is right; after all, the Fu Family is the legitimate family, and we should give them some respect."
Upon hearing this, Yun Kexin seized the opportunity and said, "Daughter will escort Father back to his room."
When the father and daughter appeared at the bedroom door, Fu Lianyin could hardly believe her eyes—Yun Yang had actually returned to his room. She glanced at Yun Kexin beside him, feeling both envy and jealousy.
Yun Kexin cleverly pushed Yun Yang into the bedroom. It was getting late, and she needed to rest as well. She hurriedly bid farewell, closed the door behind her, and left.
The reason she was in such a hurry to say goodbye was that a troubling thought lingered in her mind: Feng Yinxiao had been granted the title of Qingyuan Marquis for half a year now, and in her previous life, he had been expelled from the Yan Duke's residence less than half a year after receiving his title... She wondered if the difficulties from her past life would return to him. Remembering their last parting when her Uncle Feng Hongwen wanted to speak with him made her anxious and restless.
Yun Kexin's worries were not unfounded; at that moment, the Yan Duke's residence was enveloped in a heavy atmosphere:
Jiangyin Marquis Feng Hongwen was holding a memorial ceremony to deal with his nephew Feng Yinxiao!
At this moment, Feng Yinxiao was bound tightly to a stool in the center of the memorial hall, looking at his uncle Feng Hongwen—the person he had admired since childhood—with confusion in his eyes.
"Uncle, why?" Feng Yinxiao asked briefly. Although he did not understand why his uncle had suddenly decided to hold a memorial ceremony against him, he maintained some composure.
"I am here on behalf of your father and sister-in-law, as well as the ancestors of the Feng family, to deal with you, this unworthy descendant!" Jiangyin Marquis said coldly while staring straight ahead.
"Unworthy descendant?!" Feng Yinxiao exclaimed in shock. "Uncle, how can you use such harsh words?"
"Is it not true?" Feng Hongwen turned his gaze toward Feng Yinxiao, his tone sharp. "Your sister-in-law died because of you—do you understand?"
"Died because of me? No!" Feng Yinxiao shouted as he struggled desperately against the bindings. If it weren't for the thick leather straps holding him down, they would have snapped by now. "My mother passed away due to illness; it was not because of me."
"Not because of you?" Feng Hongwen suddenly stood up and approached Feng Yinxiao menacingly, glaring at him with wide eyes. "You unworthy descendant! While your mother was suffering from a serious illness, you still went out chasing after pleasure and even brought a girl from Wanhualou into the residence—hiding her in your study for your own desires—"
Feng Yinxiao inhaled sharply, his handsome face turning pale in an instant. "No, Uncle, it's not like that. Let me explain," he hurriedly tried to defend himself, but suddenly stopped as a charming figure flashed through his mind. His thin lips parted as if many words were about to spill out, but ultimately he closed them.
"What's wrong? Not coming out?" Seeing Feng Yinxiao looking as weak as a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, Feng Hongwen smirked and spoke in an even colder tone. "You've been delaying marriage, repeatedly defying your elder brother and Sister-in-law. 'Of the three unfilial acts, having no descendants is the greatest.' Don't you know? Your own actions—hasn't Sister-in-law been driven to her death by you, her unfilial son?!"
"No—" Feng Yinxiao went mad, roaring like a trapped beast in anger. "I didn't kill my mother. No—" His hoarse voice could not suppress the sorrow, pain, and despair within him. "Father and Mother have always understood my reasons for delaying marriage. They both know—Uncle, if you don't believe me, just ask Father—" Feng Yinxiao shook his head vigorously, struggling to kick and break free. "Where is Father? I want to see him. Where is he?"
"You still dare to ask about your elder brother?" Feng Hongwen's gaze suddenly turned fierce. His jaw clenched tightly. "Sister-in-law died because of you, and your elder brother has fallen ill from missing her." Seeing Feng Yinxiao's shocked and helpless expression, he pressed on relentlessly. "He no longer wishes to see you, his unfilial son, and has asked me to inform you that he has severed all ties with you. You are no longer a member of the Yan Guogong family."
"It's not like that. It's not—" Feng Yinxiao shouted with veins bulging on his forehead, his dark eyes filled with a murderous light. His originally fair and handsome face turned even paler in horror as he gasped for breath. Suddenly calming down, he used all his strength to shout, "Uncle! Where is Father? I want to see him! I want to see him!"
Jiang Yin Hou laughed coldly: Truly unbelievable. Even now he wants to see his father!
"Come here!" Feng Hongwen's eyes swept over the row of attendants standing guard inside and outside the ancestral hall. He spoke slowly and deliberately, "Family Law! Teach this unworthy descendant a lesson."
As soon as he finished speaking, four burly men stepped forward—two carrying a long bench, one wielding a whip, and one holding a staff. After placing the long bench in the center of the hall, two of the men grabbed Feng Yinxiao and forced him face down onto the bench.
"Beat him!" Feng Hongwen glanced at Feng Yinxiao, who looked like fish on a chopping board, and coldly ordered.
In an instant, accompanied by the heavy thud of the wooden staff falling down, the whip struck Feng Yinxiao's legs and back like raindrops soaked in saltwater, shredding his robes wherever it landed.
At first, Feng Yinxiao could still feel the fiery pain from the alternating blows of the staff and whip; his handsome face turned a deep purple. But as thoughts of his missing father and deceased mother surged within him, the suffocating worry gradually overshadowed the physical pain. He numbly endured it all; he spat out blood and turned his head slightly to fix his dark gaze on Feng Hongwen—
"Uncle, why is this happening? I want to see Father..."
Feng Hongwen maintained a stern expression as he turned away.
Feng Yinxiao clenched his teeth tightly and repeated insistently: "I didn't kill my mother! I want to see Father... I didn't kill my mother! I want to see Father..." His voice grew fainter until it fell silent; his head hung heavily...
****
"Young Lord—" Yun Kexin called softly as she suddenly woke from her dream, sitting up in alarm and glancing around at the pitch-black room, a wave of immense worry and fear surging within her.
"Sister, what happened?" Hearing the commotion outside the door, Shan Ling, Shan Ying, and Shan Yue rushed in with a lantern. After closing the door, they approached the bed and were startled to see Yun Kexin with tears in her eyes.
"Did you have a nightmare?" Shan Yue asked with concern as she sat on the edge of the bed and tugged at Yun Kexin's sleeve.
Yun Kexin's face was pale as she shook her head and then nodded slightly, seeming uncertain.
"Seventh Sister, don't be afraid. We're all here," Shan Ying said kindly, placing her hand on Yun Kexin's thin shoulder and gently comforting her. "If you're really scared, we can stay in your room with you, okay?"
Yun Kexin turned her face towards the three maids and whispered urgently, "I dreamt that Young Lord was in trouble."
"What? You dreamt that Young Lord was in trouble?" Shan Ling paused for a moment before laughing. "It's just a dream, and Seventh Sister is overthinking it. Young Lord has sharp instincts and exceptional martial skills. No one in Great Taihe can compare to him—"
"I know that," Yun Kexin interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. She seemed thoughtful as she continued, "But no matter how strong a person is, they are always defenseless against their loved ones."
Shan Yue widened her eyes in surprise and licked her lips. "Sister, do you know something? Or are you just overthinking it?"
"Shan Ling, Shan Ying, Shan Yue, I need you to do something for me," Yun Kexin said, ignoring their questions as she looked directly at the three maids. "Find a way to sneak into the Yan Duke's residence and gather information about what's happening there. I have a feeling that Young Lord is in serious trouble..." (To be continued)
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