She didn't believe that a concubine who barely knew any characters would be so obsessed with attending school; someone must have put her up to it.
It seemed the household had been lax in its precautions, and some unrest was brewing.
After resolving the disturbance, Feng Jinyao felt tired. She bid farewell to her elder sister-in-law, Madam Wen, and strolled back to Ning'an Courtyard.
Before leaving, she glanced at Yun Xu, who quickly understood her intention.
Using the excuse of feeling unwell and needing to relieve herself, she secretly followed Concubine Linlang back to her small courtyard under the cover of night, hiding in an inconspicuous spot to eavesdrop.
"My son, did today's events frighten you?"
Concubine Linlang, who was overbearing outside, was very affectionate towards her own son.
Feng Yunli extended his chubby little hand to rub Concubine Linlang's knees, his eyes filled with concern and sincerity.
"Aiyi, you must have worked hard. Your knees must hurt a lot. I will definitely study hard in the future and bring you honor!"
"Good, good, my son has great ambitions. As your mother, I naturally want to help you ascend the path to success. Don't worry, the main wife is just putting on a show. We'll give her a little taste of hardship. Regarding your studies, I already have a plan. In a few more days, your maternal uncles will also come to Dongdu. With them supporting us, and Madam Wen being so frail, won't this backyard be our domain, mother and son?"
"Maternal uncles? I've never met them before."
Feng Yunli's chubby little face was full of curiosity and confusion.
Since birth, the most people he had seen were his concubine mother, his father, his elder brother, and his elder sister-in-law.
Even his paternal grandparents were only seen during daily greetings. Not to mention his second uncle, who was often away from the estate, and his paternal aunt, whom he didn't know well.
Therefore, this was the first time he had heard of his maternal uncles.
Concubine Linlang felt a pang of heartache when she heard him say this.
She was the youngest in her family, with three elder brothers. Unfortunately, her parents were just ordinary farmers.
The family was already supporting her eldest brother's studies, and they had no other choice but to sell her to the Feng estate.
Because she was fair-skinned and had served her elder brother with ink and brush at home, she possessed a bit more scholarly air than ordinary maids. This caught the eye of Feng Jinxu, who arranged for her to serve in the study.
Over time, a romantic affection naturally developed.
The eldest master was kind and took good care of their mother and son. He often stayed in her courtyard, paying less attention to Madam Wen.
It was precisely because of this that she developed the ambition to contend for her position, even to replace her!
"This time, your maternal uncle has gained the favor of a noble person and is coming to the capital. He is on the path to success. Rest assured, with him here in the future, no one will ever question your background again."
Concubine Linlang took a deep breath, as if to vent years of dissatisfaction from being a slave and a concubine.
Hearing this, Yun Xu also had a plan. The rest was just idle chatter, so she quietly left to report back.
In Ning'an Courtyard, Feng Jinyao dismissed everyone.
"Maternal uncles? Does she have family members?"
Feng Jinyao asked Yun Xu curiously after hearing her report.
Yun Xu shook her head. "I'm not familiar with the maids in the eldest master's courtyard. This matter might require asking Mama Bai."
Investigate!
It was good that her maternal brother had prospered, but for some reason, she couldn't shake off a sense of unease. Her intuition told her there was a problem behind this.
Recalling the various events in her elder brother's chambers in her previous life, Feng Jinyao had to make preparations in advance.
After a moment of thought, she instructed Yun Xu.
"Tomorrow, send a few capable young servants to guard Guiyuan Hall. As soon as you find any trace of Divine Doctor Zhang, report back immediately!"
"Divine Doctor Zhang? Is Miss worried about Madam's condition?"
"Yes, the end of the year is approaching, and Mother's illness has been dragging on for a long time. Elder sister-in-law's headaches also recur frequently. If we could invite Divine Doctor Zhang to the estate, perhaps he could work miracles. Then these troublesome matters in the estate would naturally be resolved."
Yun Xu found this reasonable and immediately replied, "Yes."
The night grew deeper, and Feng Jinyao looked towards her elder brother's courtyard, her mind formulating another plan.
The first snow had fallen all night. The once clearly visible Dongdu was now cloaked in white.
In Ning'an Courtyard, red plum blossoms contrasted with the white snow, creating a beautiful scene.
Just after Zhengyuan (7-9 AM), the small kitchen became busy. Smoke curled upwards, and Xiuqiu kept urging the cooks to make the food soft and tender.
"Today we've invited the eldest master, the second master, and the eldest young master for breakfast. Please make plenty, and pay extra attention to the eldest young master's diet."
"Miss Xiuqiu, please rest assured, we know what we're doing." The speaker was Chef Lin, who managed the small kitchen and had been in charge of Ning'an Courtyard for several years without any mistakes.
Soon, the father and his two nephews arrived at the courtyard.
The weather was uncooperative today, with thick snow falling. Despite their deerskin boots, the men had already gotten quite damp.
As Feng Jinlin lifted the curtain, he smelled a faint scent of jasmine. "You really know how to live, girl. This fragrance is exquisite."
Feng Jinyao coughed behind her sleeve, reminding him to be mindful of his elder brother's presence and to refrain from speaking of such romantic matters, lest his elder brother accuse him of being unmotivated.
"To invite you all for a meal on such a cold day, were you cold on the way, Yunhe?"
"Thank you for your concern, Aunt. Mother prepared some winter clothes for me, so I am warm and not cold."
Feng Jinyao looked closely and indeed, Feng Yunhe was wearing a sapphire blue robe embroidered with cloud and thunder patterns, trimmed with rabbit fur. It was both warm and bright, perfectly suited for a child of his age.
It was evident that Madam Wen had put effort into raising her child.
However, Feng Jinxu beside him frowned slightly and murmured, "A doting mother spoils her son."
Yunhe's eyes dimmed instantly, though his expression remained calm.
Feng Jinyao felt indignant. It was good that her elder brother was strict in raising his legitimate son, but he shouldn't hurt his feelings so much. Wasn't he afraid that Yunhe would grow up to be just like him?
Feng Jinlin, standing nearby, was also displeased. He pulled Yunhe closer. "I think he's very adorable. Our eldest young master is handsome and well-taught. If you inquire around Dongdu City, there are few who can compare. Isn't that right, A'yao?"
"Exactly. Elder sister-in-law's headache flared up again yesterday, and she was even contradicted by a concubine. Now she can't even get out of bed, let alone properly teach our eldest young master."
Feng Yunhe was surprised that his aunt had immediately complained to his father. He looked at his father with anticipation, waiting to see his reaction.
"Contradicted? What happened?"
Feng Jinxu frowned, a hint of disbelief on his stern face.
Unexpectedly, he was still like this, wanting to gloss over it as usual. Feng Yunhe was extremely disappointed.
But wanting to stand up for his mother, how could he let such a good opportunity pass? Thus, he began to accuse.