Chapter Nineteen Various Calculations

  Zhen Guo Gong Han Wei is the husband of Shang Zhu, and Ning Hua Chang Gong Zhu is the younger sister of the current emperor. She is also the aunt of Ding Hou's mother, Da Zhang Gong Zhu. Therefore, Zhen Guo Gong Fu and Ding Hou Fu are closely related. Su Yu Xuan grew up in front of Da Zhang Gong Zhu since childhood and is familiar with several princes and princesses in Zhen Guo Gong Fu, so entering Zhen Guo Gong Fu is a familiar path.

  Today's host of the Chess Society is Han Ming-hwan, the legitimate second daughter of Duke Zhengguo and Grand Princess Ninghua.

  The eldest daughter of the King, Han Mingyan, Princess of Hanyang, dared to marry the eldest son of the Governor of Zhili last spring before the Empress Dowager passed away. At that time, this marriage was a bit hasty, but the Empress Dowager's intention was to see her beloved granddaughter get married before she closed her eyes.

  Han Minghe followed her husband to Zhili, and in the Town National Gongfu there was a legitimate second daughter, as well as two illegitimate daughters of the Town National Gong's legitimate younger brother, Minglang and Minglei. Today, Second Auntie invited the noble ladies from various royal and aristocratic families who were around the same age to come to the mansion for a gathering, so naturally, Minglang and Minglei also had to come over to help with the arrangements.

  Su Yu-heng accompanied Yao Yan-yu to meet the Han sisters, and it wasn't until then that she discovered that the names of the legitimate and illegitimate daughters of the Zhen Guo Gong Fu had their own stories. The name of the legitimate daughter was derived from fire, the same as the princes, while the name of the illegitimate daughter was derived from jade.

  Xiang Su Yu Heng and her own name are both derived from the direct line of the legitimate daughter, Ding Hou Fu's legitimate daughters and concubine daughters are all humble, while she and Sanmei's names also come from Rui Niao, only distinguishing between them in a subtle way: the legitimate daughter is Feng, the concubine daughter is Yan Que.

  It seems that the rules of Chang Gongzhu are indeed more stringent than those of Ding Houfu and Zongdu Fu. Therefore, Yao Yanyu was even more determined to be careful and cautious in Zhen Guo Gongfu, and could not afford to make a single mistake, or she would be caught off guard, making it even harder for her to move forward.

  Han Mingxuan is indeed as Yao Fengge said, with a gentle and generous temperament, similar to Su Yuhuang's personality, both are not petty people.

  This Korean girl is slightly inferior in appearance, not as charming as Su Yuxuan. Moreover, there is a scar on the left side of her chin, which, although not very obvious, has indeed ruined her looks.

  It's precisely because of this that her generous personality and elegant demeanor are even more precious. After being in contact with her for a short while, Yao Yanyu secretly thought to herself, indeed the daughter of the Duke and the Eldest Princess, her bearing is absolutely not comparable to that of ordinary noblewomen.

  This time, many people came, including the eldest daughter of King Cheng, the eldest daughter of King Yan, a concubine's daughter, the eldest and second daughters of Jing Hou, the second daughter of An Guo Gong Fu, a concubine's daughter, the eldest daughter of Fen Yang Bo, the second daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion, a concubine's daughter, etc. They all gathered in the most spacious place in the back garden of Zhen Guo Gong Fu, the Huan Yue Ting, where they chatted and laughed together, creating a lively atmosphere.

  Su Yuheng pulled Yao Yanyu over to introduce her to the various young ladies from different families, a whole bunch of sisters and younger relatives.

  Yao Yan was dizzy from the smell of rouge and powder, wanting to run out to find a quiet place to get some fresh air, but could only endure it, patiently smiling as she followed Su Yu Xuan's side and greeted each of these young ladies one by one.

  As the saying goes, a thousand people have a thousand different personalities, ten thousand people have ten thousand different tempers.

  Han Mingcan was a magnanimous person, but that didn't mean the girls from various departments were also magnanimous. When Su Yuxuan pulled Yao Yanyu to greet Yunyao Junzhu, the eldest daughter of Cheng Wang, Yunyao just smiled faintly and didn't even look at Yao Yanyu.

  Su Yu Xuan slightly furrowed her brow, didn't argue, pulled Yao Yan Yu to turn around, and quietly grasped her hand.

  Yao Yan spoke with a sideways glance at her and smiled faintly: Never mind, why be unhappy about these things.

  Su Yu Xuan also smiled, pulling Yao Yan Yu to the banana tree in the courtyard to watch a pair of birds playing together, and whispered: "She is a princess, it's normal for her to be a bit proud."

  Yao Yan nodded: "I know. It's okay." What about the princess? I don't need to provoke her, and I won't be able to get what I want from her anyway. As long as we can coexist peacefully, that's fine.

  On this side, Yao Yanru was socializing in the Zhen Guo Gong Fu, but she didn't know that her elder brother and sister were discussing her in the Qi Xiang Yuan.

  Yao Yan listened quietly as Yao Feng told the whole story from start to finish, playing with his teacup for a long time without speaking.

  Yao Feng softly asked, "What I'm now hesitant about is whether to let her leave the Hou Manor or stay. If I let her leave, my heart will be uneasy - she saved my life, yet it seems like there's no room for her here. But if I don't let her leave, Third Master's intentions towards her are as clear as day; I'm afraid that sooner or later, something scandalous will happen."

  Looking at Yao Yan Yi's contemplative silence, Yao Feng Ge continued: "She followed Third Master, to me it's just one more person adding trouble, anyway my house is already full of women, so what's one more? But our family's reputation is not good after all, how will Third Sister marry in the future? After she gets married, with a sister who serves as someone else's concubine, how can she interact with the madams and ladies from various manors?"

  Yao Yanyi nodded: "Sister, you're absolutely right. Father once said that our Yao family's daughters, even if they are born out of wedlock, cannot be given to others as concubines. Otherwise, when you're chatting with those young madams over tea in the future, and there's a sister at home who was given to someone as a concubine, where would your face be? Not to mention causing trouble for you by staying here."

  "But let her go to the Zhuangzi Temple..." Yao Fengge was both unwilling and afraid of illness.

  "It's not necessary to go to Zhuangzi." Yao Yan thought for a moment, then asked incredulously: "Is her medical skill really that good?"

  Yao Fengge smiled bitterly: "Brother, you still don't believe me? Can't you see my situation and understand? What was I like when big brother brought her here last time? How many days has it been since then? To be honest, I also can't figure out how she learned to be so capable. She's always been a low-key person who doesn't like to speak much or show off."

  "This matter is somewhat suspicious, but not particularly strange. You said she used acupuncture to treat your illness, I vaguely remember a servant at home saying that the second young lady's courtyard raised many cats, dogs, chickens and rabbits, and every day they were poked with silver needles by the second young lady."

  Yao Yan Yi's fingers carelessly pointed at the several cases, previously they didn't take this younger sister seriously, now it seems they really underestimated her. If they had known she had such skills, perhaps Father would not have sent her to Ding Hou Fu. However, if she hadn't come to Ding Hou Fu, their own legitimate daughter might already be dead.

  Thinking of this, Yao Yan Yi couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. In the world, these things are always destined to be.

  Yao Fengge was momentarily speechless. Could it be that her own second sister had used the acupuncture techniques she had practiced on those cats, dogs, chickens and rabbits to treat her own illness?

  After some thought, Yao Yan Yi finally had an idea: "We have an old house in the capital city, why not just get someone to clean it up and let Yan Yu move there? Anyway, when she entered the Hou Mansion, she didn't make a big deal about it outside, we can just say that because of your illness, we called her over to take care of you for a few days. Now that you're better, if she doesn't want to stay here, she can bring the servants and maids back home. With you in the capital city taking care of things, there shouldn't be any big issues."

  There was another meaning that Yao Yan didn't say, but Yao Fengge also understood a little. Yao Yuan's two Jiang governors have been reappointed for eight years, although this is an extremely beautiful and rich position, but after all, it is far away from the capital city, which is the center of power, and many things are not convenient.

  If he can be called back, with his political achievements in the past few years, he will definitely be able to enter the cabinet. When that happens, a whole family in the capital city, wouldn't it be even better?