Chapter Fourteen: Borrowing a Knife to Kill

  Yao Fengge's illness has recovered, Yao Yanyu suggested that she can go out and move around more, it is not good for her body to recover if she stays in the house all the time. As the saying goes, life lies in exercise, like before, she didn't have any serious illness, but day and night, she slept on the bed with incense sticks lit, putting all her organs to sleep. Of course, these words were just thought by Yao Yanyu in her heart.

  This autumn heat has entered August, and the weather still doesn't seem to be cooling down. Yao Fengge took Yao Yanyu for a stroll in the Hou Mansion's rear garden, with the two sisters chatting idly as they admired the scenery along the way.

  After all, she had just recovered from a serious illness and her body was still weak. Yao Fengge wore a light green silk cloak on her body and lay in bed for more than half a year. She became so thin that she almost lost her shape, but she was born with a beautiful face and good complexion, which now showed a bright beauty, and also had a delicate and pitiful appearance that attracted people's sympathy. With the support of Xianglian's hand, she walked slowly, just like 'a weak willow in the wind, suspected to be lifted by its sleeves, a cluster of orchids wrapped in dew, as if wiping away tears, smiling alone with a hint of sadness'.

  Yao Yan mentioned old things again and brought up going to Zhuangzi's place once more.

  Yao Fengge was tired from walking and sat down in a pavilion, pulling her hand and sighing: "In a few days it will be Mid-Autumn Festival, even if my sister doesn't like it here, she has to wait until after the festival to leave. Moreover, I received a letter saying that my second brother will enter the capital in these few days. Don't you want to see him?"

  Yao Yanyu nodded after hearing this. Thinking about it, although her parents in this life weren't overly doting on her, they had at least allowed her to grow up without worrying about food and clothing, and with good health. People all have feelings, and Yao Yanyu wasn't an ungrateful person.

  Two sisters sat in the pavilion chatting, Xianghu carefully ordered someone to bring hot tea and snacks early, Yao Yan was just hungry, so she took a piece of coconut cake without hesitation.

  Behind the dense forest, a string of cheerful voices and laughter came with the gentle breeze. Yao Fengge, holding her tea cup, slightly paused, and a hint of coldness flashed in her eyes.

  The visitors were the Crown Prince's wife, Madame Feng, and Madame Sun who accompanied her. The two little children in front were five-year-old Su Jinyun and three-year-old Su Jinxiang, Madame Sun's son. The group of over a dozen people, including wet nurses and servant girls, walked by this way, chatting and laughing.

  Su Jinyun and her younger brother Su Jinxuan ran ahead, and were the first to see the Yao sisters in the pavilion by the water. Su Jinyun immediately ran over, and obediently called out: "Third Aunt." Then she looked at the pastry in Yao Yanyu's hand.

  Yao Yanyu smiled and put the half piece of cake in her hand into her mouth, then handed a coconut cake to the little girl. Nurse Zhu saw this and quickly ran into the pavilion, hugged Su Jinyun and looked at Yao Yanyu with a forced smile, saying: "Thank you, Second Miss. Our sister has not been feeling well for a few days, she vomited after drinking two mouthfuls of rice porridge just now, and it's windy now, so I don't dare to let her eat anything in the wind."

  Yao Yan's outstretched hand slowly withdrew. Yao Fengge gave Zhu Shi a cold glance, but said nothing.

  Feng and Sun had already walked over with a smile, Yao Fengge took two steps forward to greet them, smiling and calling: "Sister-in-law, second sister-in-law."

  "Your complexion is getting better. Just now, we were just talking about it, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, our whole family can finally sit together and have a meal." Feng held Yao Fengge's hand, took a glance at Sun, and smiled.

  Sun immediately smiled and said, "Yes, last time at the residence of Princess Dachang, Princess Dachang mentioned my younger sister several times. Fortunately, heaven blessed us, and my younger sister's illness finally got much better."

  Yao Fengge smiled lightly: "I've been ill for these days, and I've worried Second Sister-in-law to death."

  The three sisters-in-law said, and they all sat down one after another.

  Coral had already ordered someone to bring two tea cups, and Yao Fengge personally poured tea for the two of them. The teapot was taken by Sun Shi and handed over to her personal maid Xiujuan: "You've just recovered from a serious illness, your body is weak, do we still need to observe this etiquette between sisters-in-law? Let the maids pour it instead."

  A few people chatted idly, and Fang Shi boasted a few more sentences about Yao Yan's good language, good temperament, and good looks. Sun Shi also chimed in with some praise, and seemed to have a hint of regret when she said: "It's a pity that our family doesn't have Fourth Master anymore."

  Yao Yan's expression suddenly became somewhat awkward, and she smiled faintly, lowering her head to drink tea. Li Nai Nai, who had been standing beside her all along, hastily stepped forward to advise Yao Feng Ge, who was holding a salted plum: "Grandma, you said your stomach wasn't feeling well this morning, so don't eat this sour thing now."

  Yao Fengge immediately put the plum back and softly scolded: "You're always like this, controlling me all day, saying this won't do and that won't do."

  "Please calm down, Master. I was thinking of your well-being and forgot my place for a moment. Please punish me."

  Yao Fengge suddenly smiled: "What penalty? You have been loyal to me, don't I know?" After that, she waved her hand, indicating that Li Nian's mother should withdraw.

  "Yes, this humble servant thanks Master's kindness." Li Mama hastily bowed again and stood behind in an orderly manner.

  Feng smiled and said: "You're being too harsh, I think she's good to you. You've been ill for so long, it's thanks to the care of a few kind people by your side."

  "Big sister is right." Yao Fengge smiled and said: "This wet nurse of mine is naturally loyal and devoted, she's a household slave born in the Yao family, all her aunts and sisters are in the Yao family, so it's natural that she doesn't have a second heart for me."

  Feng and Sun nodded after hearing this, Yao Fengge's words were naturally correct.

  Yao Fengge fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and said: "When I was young, I stuck to my wet nurse all day long. My mother was busy every day and didn't have much energy to take care of me. Later, when I got sick, my mother pitied me and let me sleep in her room at night. But I couldn't fall asleep and had to follow my wet nurse around, crying and throwing a tantrum for my wet nurse."

  "These years I entered the Hou Mansion, it's been over two years since I've seen my mother. Fortunately, there's Nai Niang (wet nurse) here, so I don't miss home that much." Yao Feng Ge said, turning her head to glance at Zhu Shi standing behind Fang Shi, and added another sentence: "I think Jin Yun's wet nurse is also a good one, taking care of Jin Yun very thoroughly. In the future when Jin Yun gets married, she'll probably have to follow along as a dowry too. That way, elder sister can be more at ease."

  Yao Feng's words poured out in a smooth and melodious flow, full of emotion and expression.

  Sun didn't think much of it, but Feng's smile on his face had already faded a bit.

  Yao Yan was somewhat perplexed, she thought Yao Fengge wasn't a talkative person, so why would he say such things in front of the Fens and Suns? She felt that Yao Fengge must have had an ulterior motive, but no matter what, she couldn't guess it.

  A few people had a cup of tea, and then Mr. Feng said: "You are a person who has been ill for a long time, your body is weak. This place is by the water, the damp air is too heavy, it's better not to sit for too long."

  Then the three sisters-in-law stood up one after another. Su Jin declared loudly that she wanted to go boating, and Su Yun heard it and also followed to make a fuss. Fēng Shì had no choice but to order someone to call the boat girl to let the nurse take the two younger ones to go boating.

  Yao Fengge then used physical fatigue as an excuse and took Yao Yanyu back.

  Two days later, Feng's family took advantage of Zhu's heavy sleep at night and sent someone away under the pretext that she was sleeping soundly. Yao Yanyu's wet nurse, Feng Popo, whispered with a smile: "Third Madam has finally stood up for her mistress."

  Yao Yan suddenly realized the meaning of Yao Feng's words in front of Fang Shi at that time. For a moment, she was deeply moved and felt that her own elder sister was indeed a master of house fighting, borrowing power to attack, borrowing a knife to kill, provoking discord and whatnot, all of which were done with great skill!