Her gaze held a hint of "disdain" as she looked at Feng Jinxu, leaving the couple amused and exasperated.
Feng Jinyao, sensing the mood, stepped forward to support Madam Feng and said, "Then let's have dinner at Yunhai Courtyard. Big Brother and Sister-in-law can bring Yunli over to chat then."
"Understood," Feng Jinxu replied indifferently.
After they both left, Madam Wen quickly ordered servants to heat water and prepare dishes. After much fuss, the once handsome and stern eldest son of the Feng family finally returned.
Word was gradually spread among the servants in the outer courtyard that the master's illness had greatly improved and he could now receive visitors.
Having been warned and cautioned repeatedly, the servants, despite their doubts, dared not speak of anything outside their duties, simply focusing on their tasks.
Since the mole in the courtyard had been apprehended, Madam Feng and Mama Bai finally felt at ease.
While chatting and laughing with Feng Jinyao, a servant announced, "Madam, Third Miss, Second Master has returned with Eldest Brother and Young Master Yin. They said it's a holiday before the imperial examinations."
Madam Feng was overjoyed, "What a good day this is! Ah Xu is back, Second Brother is back, and my Yunhe is back too! Quick, Mama Bai, go instruct the kitchen to prepare more of their favorite dishes. We won't eat in Yunhai Courtyard today; let's set up a banquet in Jiuyatang!"
Jiuyatang was the place the Feng family always used to entertain guests. With so many people in the family now, larger tables would naturally be needed to accommodate them.
Mama Bai, also delighted, hurried off to give instructions.
However, Feng Jinyao suddenly remembered something she needed to discuss with her second brother. She turned to Madam Feng and said, "Mother, I'll go welcome Second Brother."
"Go on, go on. I know how good your sibling bond is," Madam Feng said, smiling as she watched her daughter lift her skirt and head out.
Mama Bai, who had just entered, smiled at Madam Feng and said, "Miss will be coming of age at the end of April. Madam, have you found a suitable match for her?"
The sudden mention of this matter made Madam Feng a little troubled.
There were many young gentlemen of similar age in the capital, but none caught her eye. They were either dissolute youths or those who inherited ancestral positions and only knew how to indulge in pleasure. Su Cheng, who was often in contact with Xiao Er, was one of them.
Thinking of this, she felt a headache coming on.
Mama Bai, however, offered a suggestion, "This Young Master Yin, in my humble opinion, is quite good. His family background being a bit weak is not important. What matters is that he is upright and diligent. He will surely succeed in the upcoming spring examinations! Perhaps he will be the next Grand Secretary Xu! Madam, what do you think?"
Mama Bai's words gave Madam Feng pause for thought. What she said was not unreasonable.
Moreover, ever since Yin Canwen voluntarily offered to take care of Yunli, she had already begun to regard him as one of their own.
His appearance, temperament, talent, and character were all impeccable.
The more she thought about it, the more suitable he seemed!
It didn't matter if his family background was modest; they could support him. This way, her daughter would not suffer in her husband's family. It was indeed a good match.
So, composing herself, she said, "Yes, I will ask the Master another day and see what he says. If he also finds it suitable, then I will mention it to A'yao. However, Young Master Yin must first achieve success in the examinations. Otherwise, wouldn't it delay my daughter's life!"
She was not a malicious mother-in-law who judged people by their status, nor did she look down on Yin Canwen's background.
It was just that if he couldn't even succeed in the path of becoming an official through the imperial examinations, it would be difficult for him to even survive, let alone have a future.
Given his kindness in helping Yunhe, the Feng family would naturally be grateful and take care of him for life, but not by gambling with their daughter's marriage as a favor.
As Madam Feng and Mama Bai were speaking, Feng Jinyao had already hurried towards the entrance of their home.
She waited and waited, but no one came, which she found a little strange.
Her second brother's personality was the most impatient.
The message had been sent, but the person hadn't arrived. Someone must have detained him.
Yun Xu suddenly pointed to a carriage at the street corner and Feng Jinlin, who was riding a horse in front, and said, "Miss, it's Second Master and them."
Feng Jinyao smiled sweetly and was about to go and greet them when she saw that there was indeed a "plague god" next to her second brother.
Wen Mengsheng, he truly was shameless.
However, thinking that the Wen family would soon face great misfortune, she couldn't help but smile as she looked over.
Feng Jinlin, who was about to lose his temper with Wen Mengsheng, suddenly saw his sister standing at the entrance of their home and knew she had come to welcome them.
He quickly rode his horse to the front, dismounted, and said to her.
"Why did you come out? You should have waited in the courtyard. You're dressed so thinly; aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
Second Master Feng's concern for his sister had truly reached the point of blindness. Feng Jinyao was wearing an extra layer of clothing compared to ordinary people, yet in his eyes, she was still thinly dressed. For a moment, Feng Jinyao and her maid didn't know how to respond.
"Third Miss Feng, what a coincidence."
"Young Master Wen?"
Wen Mengsheng was surprised that Feng Jinyao was looking at him directly for the first time.
Had he regained some charm after spending some time at the academy, or was this Third Miss, who was soon to come of age, showing him more courtesy?
Regardless of the reason, he approached her with a smile to greet her.
"I heard about Prime Minister Bai's serious illness at the academy and was very worried. I originally wanted to give Brother Feng some family heirloom medicine, but Brother Feng refused to accept it. Now that the academy is on holiday, and my Wen family's residence is in the same area as the Feng family, of course, we have to return together. I just don't know why Brother Feng always brings Young Master Yin along, disregarding the reputation of the Feng family's women."
Hearing his words, Feng Jinyao sneered inwardly. In her past life, what had she seen in him? Was it his superficial good looks? His honeyed words? Or his corrupted heart and foolishness?
However, she maintained a calm facade and replied with a smile.
"Young Master Yin is a distinguished guest of our household, so it's normal for Second Brother to bring him along. As for Young Master Wen's kind intentions, I thank you on behalf of my maternal grandfather. I hope Young Master Wen will display great skill in the spring examinations and achieve excellent results, so that you and Lord Wen can serve in the same court as father and son, which would be a beautiful story."
Hearing Feng Jinyao's words of praise, Wen Mengsheng fell into her trap.
When someone who had always shown him animosity suddenly spoke so gently, he didn't think about any hidden agenda. He only felt that he was exceptionally talented and came from a prominent family. Perhaps the Feng family was already choosing a son-in-law, and perhaps that candidate was him, which was why she had changed her attitude.
Second Master Feng didn't understand why his sister was behaving this way, but he had been annoyed by Wen Mengsheng all the way.
If it weren't for Yunli and Yin Canwen in the carriage, he would have galloped away long ago, why would he have to endure his nagging all this way.
He cracked his whip on the ground, and a deep white mark soon appeared on it.
"My apologies, Young Master Wen. This whip of mine is disobedient; it likes to lash out at people for no reason. You'd better stay away, lest I draw blood from you, and you have to go back to your tutor and father to complain."