Chapter 48

  Xian Yi sat in the carriage and only then remembered who Liang Shi was talking about, it was Young Master Jin Mu Lin. Last year, he said that there would be a door-to-door relationship, and it was Cao Shi, the daughter of the Lang Zhong of the Ministry of Works. Not only did they match their eight characters, but they also sent out betrothal gifts, and were just waiting for this year to bring her into the mansion. If it weren't for Young Master Jin's wedding, Xian Yi thought that he would have used Madame Han's funeral as an excuse to leave the Jin Manor, fearing that there would still be a lot of trouble. Xian Yi had originally thought that Young Master Jin was already married, but didn't expect that the girl was actually ill and had to postpone the wedding date. It's really unknown whether it's Young Master Jin's bad luck or if the girl is really in poor health.

  No matter what, Xian Yi wouldn't take this news lightly. The diplomacy between the ladies was all about gossip and trivial matters, but a clever wife could always find useful information for her husband from these gossips. This was something Jiang Tai Tai had taught her. Otherwise, why would she bother to spend so much time chatting with those narrow-minded women who couldn't even communicate properly? Even Jiang Tai Tai, a woman of noble birth, never showed impatience or tried to shirk her duties. One had to do what was required of their position, as Chen Yao Yao had taught Xian Yi from a young age. Although this was originally meant for being a servant, it still applied in other situations. As a concubine, one only needed to know how to win over the husband, get along with the main wife, and take care of her appearance. But as the main wife, one had to do more than just manage the household, deal with concubines, and resist the mother-in-law. They also had to grasp the family's finances, understand how to make ends meet, and at least not be a hindrance when their husband was socializing outside or dealing with family matters. Moreover, they had to comprehend the importance of diplomacy, even if they weren't clever, and strive to be liked by everyone, or at least not disliked by most people. This was an art, and Xian Yi was only just beginning to learn it.

  In the mansion, Xian Yi's financial situation was that she hadn't yet taken control of it, and she didn't know where Jin Feng Hua's money came from. She wasn't eager to take charge of it either. After all, her relationship with Jin Feng Hua was special, and she could only take action when he allowed her to. It was a bit suffocating to talk about, but Xian Yi didn't think it was right to take a man's money for granted. She had the dowry her mother gave her, and the betrothal gifts Jin Feng Hua prepared for her, which added up to more than what ordinary officials would give their daughters as dowries. This was her own money, and using it made her feel secure. As for the mansion's finances, Jin Feng Hua would regularly deposit money into it, so she didn't have to worry about spending money, let alone bother with those things.

  Returning to the mansion, she knew that Jin Fenghua was tasting tea in the garden and not in the study room. Xian Yi changed into a new set of clothes and came to the garden, looking at the beautiful young man sitting on the stone bench wearing a white robe, and indeed couldn't bring herself to say that this marriage was a loss for her.

  "Today is early." Jinfenghua's originally clear voice had a bit of hoarseness, probably because he was at the age where his voice was about to change. Recently, Xianyi had prepared some throat-soothing tea for him, so as not to ruin such a handsome young man with a broken, rusty voice in the future.

  "They were all the ladies of the book club, and there was nothing much to talk about." The day had already started to get a bit hot, Xian Yi picked up her cup of tea and took two sips to quench her thirst. Since she learned etiquette from Mrs. Jiang, her old habit of drinking tea in big gulps like an ox had never appeared again.

  "It's also true that they're all in their twenties and thirties, yet they can't even get into the Imperial Academy, but they still want to pursue an official career. They're just relying on their family's wealth." Jin Fenghua said indifferently. The number of people in their fifties who were still studying in the academy was not uncommon, so it was no surprise that their wives were also relatively young.

  Xian Yi didn't refute, actually she thought the same as Jin Fenghua, since those who don't have the talent for studying are better off inheriting the family business, and people like this who squander the family's wealth without any prospects are just a waste of food.

  "I heard that the originally scheduled daughter-in-law of the young master, Cao Shi, has postponed her wedding due to illness."

  Jin Fenghua's hand holding the spoon paused, and he turned his head to ask, "Who told you that?"

  "It's Zhang Xuezi's wife, Liang Shi. Her aunt is from the capital and although they're not a noble family, they are an official one. She came back from the capital last month and mentioned this matter." Xian Yi saw Jin Fenghua's expression and knew that he probably hadn't even noticed such a small thing.

  Jin Fenghua put another piece of pastry in her mouth, chewing silently, but thinking to herself, at this time in her previous life, Cao Shi had already entered the Jin family's door, but this time she was unexpectedly delayed due to illness. Was there something wrong here, or was it because she had left the Jin Manor?

  "I know, right? I heard that Yu Ze Tower in the city has just received a new batch of pearl jewelry. You don't like those gaudy gold and silver ones, so when the time comes, I'll have someone bring over the catalog. If you like any of them, I'll have them delivered."

  Xian Yi clearly saw that Jin Fenghua was rewarding himself in disguise, and it seemed that Jin Fenghua found this news useful, so he slightly put his mind at ease. Xian Yi then tentatively asked: "We're getting married so quickly, but the young masters haven't gotten married yet, I'm afraid..."

  Since ancient times, there has been an order between the old and the young. Marrying and giving away daughters all have a certain sequence. Jin Fenghua married Xian Yi in such a reckless manner, not caring about anything, and even before his two older brothers. It's not that no one privately discussed it, but Xian Yi just pretended not to hear on the surface.

  "It's nothing, I'm just a humble commoner, how can I be compared to the noble-born? Moreover, this matter should also be known to the stepmother and the master. Besides..." Jin Fenghua's eyes flickered, and he continued: "Don't worry, it won't affect my future."

  The last sentence was what Xian Yi worried about the most. She didn't care what others thought, as long as it didn't affect Jin Feng Hua's future. She could pretend to be a pig and hum a tune, without being hurt in the slightest. In a way, having a thick skin and being insensitive were essential qualities for Jin Feng Hua's legitimate wife, and Xian Yi happened to possess them. It was hard to say whether this was fate or not.

  "I'm sleepy......" Putting down his spoon, Jin Fenghua stood up and shook his robe.

  Xian Yi was slightly surprised, it was already past lunch break, usually Jin Fenghua would take a short rest... but that was when she was at home. Suppressing the chaotic thoughts in her mind, Xian Yi also stood up and followed Jin Fenghua, saying: "Coincidentally, I'm also tired, and there's no chance to rest outside."

  "En." Jinfenghua didn't say anything else, but just looking at the warm and large hand holding her small hand, she knew that Jinfenghua was in a good mood.

  Jinfenghua, you're not really afraid of sleeping alone, are you?

  In such an era, news spread relatively slowly, so by the time Xianyi learned that Young Master Jinmu Lin had been imprisoned, it was already two months later, and autumn had arrived. When she heard the news, Xianyi was discussing her upcoming hairpinning ceremony with her mother, Chen Shi. Her mother had just come over from their previous residence in the countryside, originally intending to sell the estate and move to Linqing County where Xianyi lived. However, she was persuaded by Jin Fenghua to stay, as he was determined to pursue a career in officialdom and would eventually return to the capital. It wouldn't be convenient for Chen Shi to have to relocate again at that time, so they compromised by having her come over to live with them for a while, which suited both mother and daughter's wishes.

  "Alas, how did things turn out like this?" Even though she knew the mistress was not good to her, she had come out of the Jin Manor after all. After all, she had taken care of Young Master Da, and it would be a lie to say there were no feelings. It's just that as Young Master Da grew older, he didn't get close to her anymore, and on the surface, they became estranged.

  Xian Yi sat beside the table, feeding Yu Ge a bowl of egg drop soup. The little boy was growing up day by day, and although he had only been with them for a few months, he now looked like any ordinary seven or eight-month-old baby boy. It was also fate that Xian Yi, who had brought up children in her past life, didn't particularly like kids or get close to them. So, most of the time, Yu Ge was accompanied by Shi Niang Zi and Hu Po. But what neither Xian Yi nor anyone else expected was that Yu Ge had an unexpectedly strong attachment to this substitute mother of his. Every day when he woke up, he would calm down only after seeing his mother, and every night before sleeping, he needed his mother's presence to fall asleep. Even on days when Xian Yi was busy and didn't have time for him, he would still try to get her attention, as if afraid she would forget about him. Chen Niang even joked that this child was too mature for his age. As a result, Xian Yi really did develop some feelings for him, and in her free time, she would hold him close and play with him, and they got along very harmoniously.

  "Before the head of the household returned, it was said that Young Master had killed someone outside, and that person's family is not a small official, I'm afraid it's going to be tough." Bi Xi had always been relatively mature, plus she had skills, so she couldn't help but have some aloofness. However, after these few months of stable life, she also showed some little girl emotions, and was no longer so restrained with Xian Yi.

  "Do you know whose family it is?" Xian Yi had been in the Jin Mansion since she was a child, and the young master was what kind of person, how could she not know, but if she said that she was wronged, she still believed it, only to keep a few points for herself.

  "It seems like she's the great-granddaughter of some princess." Bixi thought for a moment before saying.

  The fairy's lips were pursed, and in the capital of Pei Guo, there was nothing else to say. The princesses were a big bunch, especially those from previous generations. It was as if they were born one after another. Nobody knew what the former emperor ate to grow up with so many children. He didn't have many sons, but he had plenty of daughters, and their bodies were all healthy. It's said that the former emperor had nine daughters and three sons. As a result, one of the three sons died young, and another was born in his later years. So, the current emperor almost ascended to the throne without any twists or turns. Furthermore, the father of the former emperor had thirteen princesses. Except for those who married into other countries or passed away early, it's said that five or six are still alive today. Adding the nine daughters of the former emperor, the princesses gave birth to children, and their children had more children. In the capital city, there were more children of princesses than princes and dukes. Who knows which young master provoked a princess from which family, ending up getting himself sent in?

  "Born of the first wife or a concubine?" This question can be quite big, after all it's about the princess, if she was born of a concubine, then there is a great possibility that she isn't the princess's child, that would be a good thing to salvage.

  "It's also because the young master has bad luck, saying that he and a legitimate son of another family both took a liking to an antique vase, and ended up fighting. Who knew it would be so coincidental? The legitimate son just happened to pass by, and couldn't help but intervene. In the chaotic situation, the legitimate son suddenly died, and then the young master was accused by someone at the county government office, saying that they saw him accidentally kill someone."

  Xian Yi and her mother exchanged a glance, unable to tell whether it was a sigh or schadenfreude. This was clearly someone else's scheme, and the young master had foolishly become their pawn. In the end, the illegitimate brother became the victim, and he fell for it.