Chapter Seven Each with Their Own Thoughts
Yao Yanyu felt that she couldn't stay in front of this couple anymore, and if she stayed any longer, who knows what they would say. So she slightly bowed her head, smiled and said: "Sister is in a good mood today, why don't you chat with brother-in-law for a bit? I'll take my leave first."
"Ah——" Su Yuxiang hastily said: "At this time, what are you going back for? Why not have someone bring the breakfast over here as well, and we can eat together."
Yao Yan thought to herself, "You want me to have breakfast with you at the same table? You really think I'm your concubine, don't you?" So she smiled and declined: "I've already had a bowl of porridge before coming over, Third Master's kindness can only be appreciated in my heart." Yan Yu took her leave.
Yao Fengge leaned against the bed, coldly staring at Yao Yanyu's avoidance of Su Yuexiang, and was puzzled in her heart. When did her husband offend this younger sister? She actually preferred to live in the villa rather than face him.
But this is also good, it just shows that Yan Yu has no heart for her husband. In that case, even if Father blames me, I will have something to say for myself. My sister doesn't want to, can she be forced like a cow drinking water with its head held down?
Yao Yan walked out of Yao Fengge's house and went back to her own room, after entering the door, she instructed Cui Wei: "I'm not feeling well, I want to lie down for a while, let the little maids keep a distance, don't disturb me."
Cui Wei busily responded and dispersed the people in the house, then brought over a bowl of purple yam congee that had been prepared long ago, softly advising: "Miss, you should at least eat something before sleeping."
Yao Yan naturally wouldn't harm her own body, so she ate a bowl of porridge and two pieces of corn cake, rinsed her mouth, and then lay down on the couch to read a book. She had made up her mind not to go out today. Because she knew that Su Yu Xiang would definitely ask the imperial physician to come and take Yao Feng Ge's pulse now that her condition was improving, and the imperial physician would definitely give her another prescription. So it was better for herself not to show up and avoid any unnecessary trouble.
Su Yuxiang had said he would eat at Yao Fengge's place, so he couldn't just leave because Yao Yanyu wasn't there.
The dishes were brought up, and Yao Fengge was too weak to get out of bed, so the small table was placed on the bed. The couple simply had breakfast, and Su Yuxiang said: "Your spirit is not bad, and you can see hope. Wait a while and ask Dr. Zhang to come and adjust the prescription again. Take your medicine obediently and take care of your body."
Yao Fengge nodded with tears in her eyes: "I've been ill for so long, and Third Master has suffered a lot."
"What are you talking about? We're husband and wife. Husband and wife are one, sharing honor and shame." Su Yuxiang grasped Yao Fengge's hand and let out a gentle sigh, "Your illness is due to overthinking, your sister has come to keep you company and chat with you, it'll be fine once you relax."
Yao Fengge nodded again: "Yes, Yan Yu's words are meticulous and considerate. I have benefited a lot from her care."
"Ah, you sisters are close, this is your good fortune and also hers." Su Yu Xiang smiled, seemingly thinking of something: "Right, seven days later General Ping Xi will return to the capital, the Crown Prince will replace the Emperor to go out and welcome him, many nobles' sons and daughters in the capital will all get a glimpse of General Han's iron cavalry's splendor. Your second sister has been here for some time now, always cooped up at home feeling bored, why not let her go out with Yu Heng and the others to take a stroll?"
Su Yuhuan, a 14-year-old concubine-born daughter of the Su family's second house, is a renowned beauty in the capital city known for her exquisite calligraphy and exceptional piano skills.
Su Guangcong's younger brother Su Guangkuai was sent to Guangning a few years ago, and the family members of the second house all followed. When they left, Su Yuheng happened to have chickenpox, and Empress Dowager Ci Xi pitied her granddaughter and kept Su Yuheng by her side.
Although she was a concubine-born daughter, the Su family's jade-character generation girls were indeed too few. The main house only had one legitimate eldest daughter, Su Yuhe, who had already married, and the second house only had two daughters, Su Yurong followed Su Guangqian to Guangning and had also settled her marriage there, and everything was done in Guangning. Now the family only has Su Yuheng as the youngest. Even if she was born out of wedlock, she might be more noble than the legitimate daughters of ordinary official families.
Su Yuxiang suggested that Yao Yanyu go out and play with Su Yuheng, Yao Fengge's heart was filled with thoughts, then smiled and nodded: "What you said is very right. If I wasn't sick, I should have taken my sister out for a walk long ago. Speaking of which, Father has always been away on official business, she didn't even follow him when she was young, it's actually her first time entering the capital. It's just that, I'm afraid she..."
Su Yuxiang smiled and interrupted Yao Fengge's words: "What's there to be afraid of? There are a lot of servants at home, and that day Jinlin Army was under the command of Second Brother, and he was also following Xiang'er. Who would dare not show respect to her? You're being too cautious."
"It's all right, don't bother about it anymore." Yao Fengge knew she had said too much already. Besides, she had been sitting up for so long and was getting tired. After all, she was a person who had been ill for a long time and didn't have the energy to think about these things.
"You rest first, I'll go and ask someone to invite Dr. Tai." Su Yuxiang helped Yao Fengge lie down properly, and then reminded Xuanhu and others to take good care of her before leaving.
Yao Fengge lay on the bed with her eyes closed, but her mind was in a mess.
Coral and Amber tidied up the house, and Mrs. Li came in with a jade bowl, looking at Yao Fengge's face which didn't look good, so she asked worriedly: "How do you feel, Master? You looked fine this morning, why does your face look so bad now? Did Sir say something to you?"
Yao Fengge slowly opened her eyes, seemingly oblivious to the silent words, and muttered to herself: "Third Master must have taken a liking to Second Sister."
"Don't worry, Master." Li's wife hastily advised: "Even if Second Miss doesn't have that kind of thought towards Third Master, even if she does, there's still the period of national mourning. The Grand Princess and the Mistress won't tolerate any sand in their eyes, so it's useless for Third Master to harbor thoughts. After the New Year passes, your illness should be mostly recovered, by then Second Miss will have already gone to the estate."
"Haven't you heard of 'openly repairing the plank road, secretly crossing the Chen warehouse'?" Yao Fengge sneered.
"It won't come to that, Second Miss would never be so disrespectful as to do something like this." Li Mama patiently advised.
Yao Fengge's mind was already bewildered by a bowl of vinegar, coldly laughing: "What's the big deal? Since I didn't die, she can only be a concubine anyway. What's all this talk about respect or not?"
Li's wife sighed softly and advised: "My good master, think carefully, if she had a crush on the third master, why would she bother to save you? Besides, I think Miss Er's temperament is high, she will not be willing to be a concubine."
Yao Fengge fell silent for a moment, let out a sigh, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "I'm also overthinking. No matter what, I need to get better first. If I continue to be so weak and half-dead, even if San Ye has a hundred hearts, they'll all be snatched away by others."
"It's just like that." Li Ayi handed over the medicine bowl to Yao Fengge: "This is a medicinal meal personally stewed by Lao Nu in the small kitchen."
Yao Fengge listened and had to muster up the spirit to eat again. The breakfast just now was arranged according to the portion, completely catering to Su Yuxiang's appetite, she didn't eat anything at all.
Su San Ye returned to his room to have breakfast with Third Granny, and in an instant, the news spread throughout the entire Hou Manor.
Mrs. Lu had just finished her breakfast and was rinsing her mouth when she heard a whisper from Lian Mama, after which she shouted out the mouthwash tea for half a moment without moving. After spitting out the mouthwash tea into the spittoon, she slowly took a handkerchief to wipe her mouth, furrowing her brow as she looked at Lian Mama. Lian Mama nodded slightly again. Mrs. Lu tossed the handkerchief in her hand lightly to one side and hummed almost inaudibly.
Lian's mother took two steps forward and helped Mrs. Lu up from her seat, then slowly entered the inner chamber with her.
"When is the imperial physician coming?" Madam Lu slowly sat down and asked casually.
"The person has been invited, now it's time for the speech."
"After a while, the imperial physician will arrive, and we'll go take a look together." Madame Lu said, then hummed in disgust: "This illness of Third Brother's wife is truly unpredictable."
The old woman stood beside him with her head lowered and didn't dare to speak.