叔父 shufu – father’s younger brother, uncle
At dinner, Li shi sent some yatou to lead the three sisters to the old madam’s house. At the moment, Yun Yi Heng had already brought his brother and sister to spend family time with the old madam. When Yun Qian Meng and the others entered, they each exchanged greetings. Only, in comparison to their attitudes to Yun Ruo Xue and Yun Yan, the three brothers and sisters treated Yun Qian Meng with even more warmth; even Yun Yi Heng had given Yun Qian Meng a rare smile!
The old madam nodded with satisfaction at the three siblings’ behavior, then allowed Li shi to help her to the main seat at the dining table. Leaving the first seat on the left for Yun Xuan Mo, the rest of them took their places according to age.
Yun Qian Meng carefully took everything in with her eyes, and recalled the old madam’s attitude against Yuan Qing Zhou, and seemed to come to an understanding within her heart. She pursed her lips up into a smile, not allowing others to see through her inner thoughts!
As they quietly waited, the sound of footsteps came from outside the door. When the curtains at the door were pulled apart by yatou, Yun fu’s master, Yun Xuan Mo set foot into the room with a pale face!
“Paying respects to dad!” “Greetings to shufu!”
The six juniors immediately stood up and bowed, yet Yun Xuan Mo only lightly nodded, then with a slight cough, took Li shi’s support to walk before the old madam and stooped and bowed with his hands clasped in front, “This son pays respects to mother!”
The old madam seriously took a look at her son’s complexion. Her smiling eyes flashed with a trace of worry, but she maintained the appropriate poise, smiling, “Today, you’re quite late, Meng’er and the girls have waited for a long time!”
After Yun Xuan Mo heard this, he smiled and turned towards the three sisters who were standing. His warm eyes carried a slightly apologetic expression, “I’ve made my nieces wait for a long time!”
Yun Qian Meng and the others didn’t dare to be arrogant, and immediately bent down to refuse, “What is shufu saying? We are juniors, waiting for our elders is natural!”
Li shi saw that everyone didn’t stop exchanging pleasantries in front of the dining table, and immediately covered her mouth with a slight laugh. She then looked towards the old madam and said playfully, “laotaitai, these pleasantries aren’t any pressing matters, we should hurry and start the banquet, otherwise the dishes will get cold!”
Everyone heard her and showed knowing smiles. After waiting for the old madam and Yun Xuan Mo to sit, the juniors gradually sat down; while Li shi stood at the left of the old madam, serving the food and soup to her!
Throughout the banquet, other than the slight sounds of Li shi picking dishes, there wasn’t much noise. Yi Heng and his siblings showed etiquette that didn’t lose out to Yun Qian Meng and her sisters. This inevitably caused Yun Ruo Xue and Yun Yan to feel some astonishment!
Yet Yun Qian Meng had already observed these particulars from the start, and partook in the dinner with a natural expression. Calmly eating until she was seven parts full, she put down the cutlery and received a cup of tea from a yatou to rinse her mouth. She then wiped away the traces of water from her mouth, and waited for everyone to finish and follow to the old madam’s warm room!
It was until the old madam had taken a newly steeped cup of hot tea when she spoke, “Meng’er, I have discussed a little with your shufu. Your dad still doesn’t have a male heir until now, and serving as an official by himself for these years really wasn’t easy. Why don’t we take this opportunity, and let Yi Heng and Yi Jie follow along? In the future, when they pass the Imperial Examination, they can also lend a helping hand to your dad!”
Hearing this, Yun Qian Meng’s lowered eyes flashed with coldness, and couldn’t help but smile coldly in her heart!
It seemed, that the sentimental words the old madam had said before were actually just her attempts to pave a path for her grandsons!
While she wanted to use the old madam to suppress Su Qing, she was afraid that the old madam also coveted Fu Guo gongfu behind her, making preparations for her grandsons to take official posts!
Gently twirling her cup in her slender fingers and carefully skimming the tea dregs on the surface, Yun Qian Meng gracefully took a sip, then slowly put down the teacup. She was just about to speak when Yun Ruo Xue rushed over, “zumu, daddy only instructed shunnü to take you back to the xiangfu!”
At her words, the old madam and Yun Xuan Mo both had a sliver of coldness flash in their eyes. The old madam’s lightly smiling expression momentarily sank, and spoke while showing extreme displeasure, “Your dajie is here, when did it become your turn to speak? Just a shu daughter, still dares to speak before the di daughter. How does Su yiniang teach her own daughter?”
The old madam had put considerable emphasis when she had said ‘yiniang’, momentarily causing Yun Ruo Xue’s eyes to redden. However, with her status in open display, she couldn’t find any words to refute, and could only bite down on her lip and hatefully glare towards the lightly smiling Yun Qian Meng!
Yet Yun Qian Meng didn’t seem to notice the hatred Yun Ruo Xue was directing at her. Her graceful brows slightly knitted because of her sister’s lack of propriety, then gently said, “zumu don’t be angry, meimei doesn’t have any other meaning! From what Meng’er has seen, Yi Heng tangge is truly a talent amongst men, trust that even father will like him when he sees him!”
From her words, the old madam and Yun Xuan Mo understood, Yun Qian Meng was already agreeing to their request on behalf of Yun Xuan Zhi. Both of them looked towards Yun Qian Meng with eyes full of praise!
Yet Yun Qian Meng was cautiously examining Yun Xuan Mo. She only saw that his complexion was pale, his cheeks protruding, and his stature thin and gaunt, seeming to have suffered from a long-term illness. Remembering the past events that Mi mama had told her, she wore a face of concern to say, “Meng’er sees that shufu’s expression is haggard, still hopes that shufu will take care to nurse your body!”
These seemingly caring words, unexpectedly caused the old madam and Yun Xuan Mo to glare at Yun Ruo Xue with hatred!
That year, if not for Su Qing kicking them out of the fu without regard for the frozen ground and the heavy snow, Yun Xuan Mo wouldn’t ended up with a body stricken with disease. On top of that, the proud and arrogant him could never swallow this insult, causing these illnesses to only get worse. These years, he could only count his days as they passed!
If not because he knew that he didn’t have any prospects for the future, he wouldn’t once again return to seek aid from Yun Xuan Zhi!
Yun Ruo Xue also knew from Su Qing’s side how the old madam tried to supplant her own mother. If Su Qing had not taken action, then she was afraid that the old madam would have put her to death. Hence, facing the old madam right now, Yun Ruo Xue didn’t have any good feelings either!
Yet the concern from Yun Qian Meng just now, not only aroused the Yun family’s mother and son’s hatred towards Su Qing and her daughter, but also caused Yun Ruo Xue to harbor a grudge against them!
Yun Qian Meng however appeared not to perceive the atmosphere in the warm room, smiling to say, “zumu, since everything has been decided, we should get moving shortly, so that father doesn’t worry!”
Due to Yun Qian Meng’s earlier promise, the old madam was currently very pleased with this granddaughter. After exchanging a look with Yun Xuan Mo, she nodded, “If that’s the case, we will depart the day after tomorrow, all of you can go back to rest for the night first!”
Yun Qian Meng saw that the old madam had something to discuss with Yun Xuan Mo, then brought Yun Ruo Xue and Yun Yan to first withdraw from the warm room!
“Humph! So you know how to play the good guy!” On the road, Yun Ruo Xue’s expression was extremely ugly. In the end, she couldn’t hold it in and spat these words from behind Yun Qian Meng!
Yun Qian Meng heard her but didn’t get angry, and only slightly slowed her steps. Her eyes cold, she said with a stern voice, “meimei, don’t forget the reason we came here! This issue was proposed by Su yiniang, if meimei doesn’t let zumu return to the xiangfu over some other matters, then father wouldn’t forgive meimei just for yiniang. Which is heavy and which is light, meimei should ponder for herself!”
Finishing, Yun Qian Meng didn’t continue, and brought Mi mama to return back to Die Ying Yuan. Seeing that only Mu Chun and Mi mama were left in the room, she then quietly asked, “Have you found that person?”
Mi mama understood, then immediately stepped forward and whispered, “Already sent people to bring her over from Ye city. nubi personally arranged for her to stay in a tavern, waiting until we return to the xiangfu before bringing her to see xiaojie!”
Yun Qian Meng saw that Mi mama’s expression seemed slightly disturbed, and understood in her heart that the person must have suffered miserably. However, now was still not the right time to meet. They could only be patient, and put the matter off until they returned to the xiangfu!