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墨書 Inktalez
Yun Yang entered the Second House's Southern Courtyard, where a maid guided him into the Main Hall while informing him that the Second Madam was inside.
“Second Madam, the Three Elders have arrived…” the maid reported as she entered the hall.
The Yue Clan looked up, paused from peeling peanuts, and smiled, “Third Brother, what brings you to the Second House? Please sit down,” and then turned to the maid, saying, “Serve tea to the Three Elders.”
The maid complied and left.
Yun Yang sat across from the Yue Clan and helped peel peanuts, though he appeared somewhat distracted.
“Second Sister-in-law, where is Yun Qi?” Yun Yang asked casually.
“She went to school with a neighbor's child,” Yue Clan replied with a slight smile. Noticing Yun Yang's heavy demeanor, she asked, “Third Brother, do you have something on your mind?”
“Second Sister-in-law, I have important matters to discuss today,” Yun Yang said. “Let’s wait until the maid serves tea and snacks.”
Yue Clan nodded. Once the maid brought in tea and fruits, the Second Madam asked the servants to step back as she had matters to discuss with the Three Elders. When only the two of them remained in the hall, Yun Yang finally spoke:
“Second Sister-in-law, to be honest, I came for the Seventh Young Lady.”
Yue Clan immediately showed signs of caution and said, “Third Brother, this matter regarding the Seventh Young Lady's marriage was settled long ago. Why is it being brought up again—”
“No, Second Sister-in-law,” Yun Yang waved his hand. “You misunderstand me. Many years ago, I instructed Kexin to listen to the Second House from now on. What I’m worried about is the Seventh Young Lady and Qingyuan Marquis…”
“Qingyuan Marquis? Feng Yinxiao?” The Second Madam instinctively asked, “What happened between him and the Seventh Young Lady?”
“Second Sister-in-law, please stop pretending,” Yun Yang said with concern. “It's obvious to anyone with eyes that their relationship is no longer just a simple 'friendship,' but according to Second Brother's last wishes—”
The Yue Clan seemed to understand Yun Yang's thoughts and furrowed her Willow Brows, saying, “Third Brother is worried that Seventh Young Lady's current feelings may conflict with Master’s arranged Marriage?”
“Yes!” Yun Yang replied in a low voice, his tone heavy as his gaze fell on a plate of peanuts on the table. “I think that if Second Sister-in-law insists on following Second Brother's last wishes, then you should remind Seventh Young Lady or Feng Yinxiao as soon as possible. It cannot be allowed to develop further; it’s better to deal with it quickly rather than prolong the pain. There is still time.”
The Yue Clan's expression softened; she finally let down her guard against Yun Yang and showed some emotion—he truly cared for Seventh Young Lady as if she were his own Daughter.
“Three Elders, I once told Kexin,” Yue Clan said with a faint smile, leisurely, “if she has feelings for Feng Yinxiao, then the Second House must find a way to support them no matter how difficult it may be!”
Yun Yang looked up, a glimmer of light crossing his eyes as he held his breath and asked, “Second Sister-in-law, are you serious?”
“Of course, Third Brother can ask Seventh Young Lady if I have ever said this to her,” Yue Clan replied with a smile.
But then Yun Yang recalled the last time Fu Lianyin had him probe the Second House for information and felt a mix of joy and sorrow. He recounted the situation to Second Madam and asked if it would bring trouble to the Second House.
Yue Clan thought for a moment and calmly smiled, “Third Brother, there’s nothing wrong with your response to Third Sister-in-law because if you really came to me about this, I would answer you the same way.”
“Second Sister-in-law, there's something I don't know whether I should ask,” Yun Yang ultimately couldn't suppress his long-standing curiosity and decided to clarify. “In the Brocade Box that Second Brother used to arrange the engagement for Seventh Young Lady, which family was Kexin promised to?”
Yue Clan looked at Yun Yang for a long time before suddenly saying two words: “None.”
Yun Yang's eyes widened in shock, disbelief washing over him as he stammered, “None? What does this mean, Second Sister-in-law?”
Facing Yun Yang's astonishment and confusion, Yue Clan remained calm and explained, “The Second House did indeed place Kexin's Marriage in a Brocade Box; it just did not specify which family.”
"Not specified?!" Yun Yang felt increasingly lost in a fog, eagerly wanting to know more. He spoke sincerely and quickly, "Second Sister-in-law, if you still trust Third Brother, please share more."
"I and Master may not specify which young master," Yue Clan glanced at Yun Yang, as if immersed in the past, and slowly began to speak, "but we have decided Kexin's lifelong matters in a special way. For many years, I have been observing Kexin's thoughts, and now I know what to do—if her heart truly lies with Qingyuan Marquis, then before opening the Brocade Box, I will have Kexin convey a message to him."
Seeing Yun Yang's earnest gaze, Yue Clan finally revealed, "Seventh Young Lady belongs to the Rabbit zodiac and her element is Wood."
Yun Yang was taken aback: "Just this? To tell the other party that Seventh Young Lady is a Rabbit?"
Yue Clan nodded affirmatively and hurriedly interjected before Yun Yang could ask again, "Third Brother, Second Sister-in-law can only provide this much; I'm sorry for the rest."
"No, no, no, Second Sister-in-law," Yun Yang appeared somewhat excited. "I am already immensely grateful for what you have shared. The remaining mysteries can wait until Seventh Young Lady comes of age." He then displayed a warm smile reminiscent of a caring father. "Kexin is thirteen this year; it won't make much difference. As long as Seventh Young Lady is not wronged, that's all that matters."
After chatting with Yue Ziyun for a while, Yun Yang left Third House feeling refreshed and contemplated how to probe Seventh Young Lady's true feelings. However, before he could put his thoughts into action, a shocking event occurred in the palace that left everyone flustered.
One day, Yun Kexin was outside on the lawn with Yun Xiao and Water Lily holding Yun He while basking in the sun. During their casual conversation, they noticed Tong Zhichen entering the Western Courtyard with a tense expression. Even from a distance, they could hear him desperately shouting, "Yun Kexin! It's bad! It's bad..."
"Young Master Tong, what happened?" It was rare to see Tong Zhichen so flustered and disregarding etiquette. Yun Kexin guessed something must be wrong and said, "Take your time; don't rush."
He gestured for her to step aside for a moment. After asking Shan Yue and others to take care of Yun Xiao, she followed Young Master Tong away.
"The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince..." In the attic, Tong Zhichen spoke incoherently with a pained expression. "He wants to shave his head and become a monk; no one can stop him."
Yun Kexin was stunned: "The Crown Prince wants to shave his head and become a monk? Why?"
"For Zhen'er."
"What happened to Zhen'er?" Yun Kexin's heart raced as an ominous premonition enveloped her deeply.
In recent years, in order to prevent Grandmother and Consort Xiang from targeting her and the Crown Prince again, she had already cut off all ties with the Crown Prince. Even when Consort Xiang extended an intentional or unintentional "invitation," Yun Kexin pretended to be ill and stayed at home to avoid it, so she knew nothing about the Crown Prince's matters.
"Zhen'er has been given the death penalty—she drank the imperial poison in front of the Civil and Military Officials," Tong Zhichen said with a pained expression, his voice growing lower and more choked, "The Crown Prince has collapsed."
"Given the death penalty?" Yun Kexin's voice trembled, her lips quivering, and her watery eyes widened to their fullest, "Why? Even if Zhen'er cannot be made Empress, she is a good girl. Why must she die?"
"…The officials believe the Crown Prince has been bewitched by a 'demonic woman' from the commoners," Tong Zhichen said with righteous indignation and sarcasm, "They refuse to make Consort Qin the official consort and do not want any palace maids. This is a great taboo for the royal family; only by executing Zhen'er can they eliminate the Crown Prince's 'heart demon'..."
"Nonsense!" Before Tong Zhichen could finish speaking, Yun Kexin suddenly flicked her sleeve and shouted angrily.
"Yun Kexin, can you accompany me to the palace?" Tong Zhichen looked at Yun Kexin and said, "The Crown Prince does not want to see anyone right now; he is holed up in Chengqi Palace and has declared he wants to become a monk. I had no choice but to come find you."
"If the Crown Prince does not want to see anyone, how could he possibly want to see me alone?" Yun Kexin smiled sadly.
"I just want to give it a try. I've looked for everyone I could, but even Father cannot move the Crown Prince," Tong Zhichen said helplessly. "Yun Kexin, considering our friendship as classmates back then, even if you don't persuade him, it would be good just to see him..."
"Alright," Yun Kexin replied softly, "Young Master Tong, please wait a moment."
Yun Kexin went to inform her Three Personal Maids but instructed that apart from Second Madam and the Three Elders, no one else could accompany her. She then turned back to her bedroom to retrieve the treasured Hetian Jade Ring that had been kept for many years—the gift from the Crown Prince—hoping it would be useful later.
Under Tong Zhichen's guidance, Yun Kexin smoothly entered the palace. Coincidentally, outside the Crown Prince's Chengqi Palace, she unexpectedly ran into Feng Yinxiao.
"Yun Kexin, how did you come into the palace?" He seemed surprised to see her there, a faint smile appearing in his deep eyes.
"I came to visit the Crown Prince," Yun Kexin replied with a calm expression.
With a frown, Feng Yinxiao quickly composed himself and said in a low voice, "Does Yun Kexin also know about the Crown Prince?"
"Young Master Tong told me at Duke's Residence," Yun Kexin glanced at Tong Zhichen beside her and then turned back to say, "Young Lord, may I go in to see the Crown Prince?"
"I'll go inform him, please wait a moment, Yun Kexin." Feng Yinxiao nodded and left.
He ascended the steps and cautiously said outside Chengqi Palace, "Crown Prince, someone wishes to see you."
Soon, Feng Yinxiao heard something being thrown against the door from inside, followed by the Crown Prince's furious roar: "Not seeing! Not seeing! Not seeing! How many times must I say it: I will not see anyone!"
Feng Yinxiao walked down the steps and shook his head in front of Yun Kexin and Tong Zhichen. Yun Kexin then took out the Hetian Jade Ring from her pocket and asked Feng Yinxiao to try again, hoping to let the Crown Prince see it. If the Crown Prince still refused to meet her, they would have to think of another way.
Feng Yinxiao took it in confusion: Could this ring really make the Crown Prince willing to see Yun Kexin? Doubtful, he went back to the entrance of Chengqi Palace to inform them that someone had an important item for the Crown Prince. A eunuch's head poked out from inside, took the Hetian Jade Ring, and then closed the door. To Feng Yinxiao's surprise, not long after, the Crown Prince's voice came from within Chengqi Palace: "Let Seventh Sister in."
Feng Yinxiao waved to Yun Kexin below the stone steps. Understanding his gesture, she stepped forward with Tong Zhichen accompanying her. The doors of Chengqi Palace swung wide open. She glanced at him; he nodded, and she walked steadily into the hall.
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