Chapter 286

Lady Fei then asked Yu Jingxiu, "What does the master intend to do about Miss Min's matter?"

Lady Fei, holding an umbrella in one hand and a bowl of almond tea in the other, went to Yu Jingxiu's study.

Hearing Lady Fei's words, Yu Jingxiu sighed inwardly.

Lady Fei then cast a glance at Mozhuan, signaling her to persuade Lady Fan, and said in a low voice, "Eldest Young Madam, I'll go make you some almond tea." With that, she turned and left.

If only that were true!

Mozhuan was furious and opened her mouth to scold her, but then thought better of it, knowing that the Eldest Young Madam was already upset. She swallowed her words and stepped forward to gently persuade Lady Fan: "Eldest Young Madam, the master has important matters... official business." But in her heart, she mused that Lady Fei was always so good at currying favor—she would find an opportunity one day to report her to the Eldest Young Madam, lest Lady Fei get too carried away in front of her and dare to run off without her approval...

Seeing that Yu Jingxiu's tone was quite cordial, Lady Fei's tense nerves relaxed. She boldly said, half teasing and half reproachful, "The master is too harsh with me. Even my polite pleasantries are called out—truly embarrassing!"

Hearing the noise, Lady Fei smiled and looked over. Seeing it was Mozhuan, she was a little surprised, and her smile grew warmer.

As she spoke, Mozhuan had already reached the stove. Seeing that the almond tea was nearly done, she didn't bother calling for the kitchen woman and said, "The Eldest Young Madam sent me to check on things. Once you've cleaned up these pots and bowls, you can go rest!" Noticing that Lady Fei smiled and nodded, seemingly unfazed by the earlier commotion, she couldn't help adding, "Don't go spreading today's business around... The master took two thousand taels of silver and spent it recklessly—it's not something honorable."

Lady Fan, seeing that only she and Mozhuan were in the room, felt a pang of sorrow, and her tears could no longer be held back, falling silently.

The small kitchen was quiet. Lady Fei stood by the stove, stirring the almond tea in the pot with a ladle, while her young maid Cairong tended the fire.

Unwilling to answer Lady Fei's question or offer further explanation, he instructed her, "Stay here and keep the Eldest Young Madam company." Then he said to Lady Fan, "I'm going to the study. If anything comes up, just send someone to relay a message to me." With that, without even glancing at the others in the room, he turned and left the inner chamber.

She held back her tears with great effort, but her body slumped onto the kang in defeat.

Mozhuan naturally didn't believe it. Otherwise, she would have already tried to console Lady Fan, and Lady Fan wouldn't have quarreled with Yu Jingxiu—at least not with such intensity. But seeing the look of hopeful expectation in Lady Fan's eyes, she could only go against her conscience and say, "Perhaps we truly did misjudge the master... Didn't Lady Fei say it too? Five thousand taels' worth of goods, and the master gave them up without a second thought..."

Seeing this, Lady Fei laughed along as well.

Her gaze was calm and sincere as she looked at Yu Jingxiu: "Today's matter, the root of it all is still those two thousand taels of silver..."

For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt weary.

Yu Jingxiu thought of how Miss Min's eyes lit up like bright morning stars whenever she saw him, and how grateful her expression was each time he made progress. He couldn't help but smile wryly and said, "If you're leaving, then leave. Why so many words?"

"You..." Lady Fan watched Yu Jingxiu's resolute retreating figure, her heart aching as if pierced. Such coldness and indifference—she had never seen this side of Yu Jingxiu before... and especially in front of Lady Fei.

Yu Jingxiu said no more.

When Yu Jingxiu heard that Lady Fei had come to bring him almond tea, he hesitated for a moment before having the servant lead her in.

Mozhuan quickly said, "She's gone to make you some almond tea."

Cairong quickly added, "I'll go with you! It's still raining outside!"

Lady Fan took the handkerchief but asked blankly, "Tell me, is the master really just trying to help that Miss Min with her lawsuit?"

He couldn't help but muse, "Miss Min's father is merely a minor county magistrate who got caught up in his superior's troubles—nothing serious. But her father came from humble origins; he was the only jinshi in the family, and he's an upright man. After the incident, more people kicked him while he was down than offered help, so he became the scapegoat and was escorted to the capital. When Miss Min's mother heard her husband had been imprisoned, she was so shocked and frightened that she fell ill. She has only one younger brother, just six years old, too young to be of any help. She had no choice but to sell everything the family owned, entrust her mother and brother to her uncle, and rush to the capital to clear her father's name..." He smiled bitterly as he continued, "Because bribing the jailers cost money, she skimped on food to save silver, surviving on cold water alone. Hungry and frozen, she collapsed in the snow... I couldn't very well watch her die before my eyes, could I?"

Yu Jingxiu was quite surprised by her sudden wit and humor. On reflection, he realized that Lady Fei had indeed just been making polite conversation, yet he had seriously told her to cut the nonsense... At the thought, he couldn't help but laugh.

Mozhuan quickly took a handkerchief and wiped Lady Fan's tears.

Lady Fei listened, and a look of sympathy immediately appeared on her brow. She said gloomily, "I thought I had a hard time as a child, but I never imagined there were people who had it even harder than me." Then she continued, "Eldest Master, you must save Miss Min! If not, it won't just be her life that becomes difficult—her mother and younger brother likely won't survive either." As she spoke, a glimmer of tears shone in her eyes. "You grew up in a honey pot, you wouldn't know... but I, like Miss Min, have tasted that kind of suffering... it's not a good feeling..."

Lady Fan nodded silently.

Lady Fei then said, "Two thousand taels of silver—to you, it might be nothing more than the cost of a few books or paintings, but to an ordinary family, that's likely their entire fortune. Even if you don't take it to heart, you can't assume others won't. Your original intention was merely to help Miss Min, but if she were a man, it would be one thing—unfortunately, Miss Min is a young woman. If others find out, they'll inevitably twist it into something improper. If rumors were to spread because of this, it would not only tarnish your reputation but also make it hard for Miss Min to hold her head up. I have an idea, though I don't know if it would work. Let me put it out there for you to mull over. If it's feasible, you might consider it; if not, just take it as me talking nonsense in my sleep and laugh it off." Without waiting for Yu Jingxiu to respond, she continued, "Given the circumstances, it's not proper for you to keep running to Needle Alley. The best course would be to act in the Madam's name—if anything comes up, have the Madam send someone to speak with Miss Min. If we could even bring Miss Min to stay at the house, that would be ideal—it would silence the gossips, and since Miss Min is alone and helpless, it would also set her mind at ease. However, since you didn't consult the Madam beforehand, and the Eldest Young Madam has already quarreled with you, if you now go to ask the Madam to step in, what would the Eldest Young Madam think? In my view, you might as well ask the Eldest Young Madam to take the lead—make a grand show of visiting Miss Min, send her snacks and fruits every few days. When others see that, they won't have anything to say..." She paused here, then said, "It's just that I don't know what crime Miss Min's father committed. If it's something serious, I wonder whether acting this way might drag us into trouble?" With that, she let out a light laugh and said, "I don't understand these outside matters—that's for you to decide, Eldest Master!"

A glimmer of light flashed in Lady Fei's eyes as she smiled and bent her knees in a curtsy. "It's getting late—you should rest soon, Eldest Master! Lawsuits are the most draining of all. Though you're acting out of righteousness, if you exhaust yourself before the injustice is righted, you'll have the will but not the strength. Miss Min is a woman who traveled all the way to the capital to fight this case—she probably doesn't even know which way the Court of Judicial Review's doors face. Who knows how much grievance and bitterness she's endured. She was fortunate to meet you, a man of chivalrous spirit, willing to guide her. She's probably burned countless incense sticks and prayed to the Bodhisattva countless times, placing all her hopes on you. If you were to wash your hands of it, Miss Min would find no one to turn to—heaven won't answer, earth won't respond..."

Yu Jingxiu sighed inwardly, nodded vaguely at Lady Fei, and took a sip of the almond milk.

Yu Jingxiu listened and thought it was a good idea.

"Miss Mozhuan, rest assured," Lady Fei quickly assured her. "This is a matter within our own household. Outsiders know that when the Eldest Master and Eldest Young Madam are at odds, we servants also lose face."

At this, Yu Jingxiu's brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean by that?" His tone was somewhat displeased, though not carrying the anger it once might have.

If even Lady Fei could understand such a simple matter, why couldn't his wife?

Recalling Lady Fei's earlier remark that "the Eldest Young Madam probably won't be staying in Nanjing long," his heart flared with rage. He asked Mozhuan, "Where's Concubine Fei? Where has she gone?"

Cairong found the reasoning sound and quickly responded with "Yes."

Sweet, with the osmanthus fragrance he loved so much.

He couldn't help but take another large sip.

Mozhuan understood her meaning, acknowledged with a sound, and went to the small kitchen.

Lady Fei produced a small clair-de-lune bowl from somewhere, filled it with more almond milk, then placed it on a large crimson tray decorated with gold-painted crabapple blossoms. She instructed Cairong, "Wait here for me—I'll deliver this bowl of almond milk to the Eldest Master and come right back."

Mozhuan saw the solemn look on her face, nodded, and carried the almond milk to Lady Fan's inner chamber.

Earlier, she had been so distracted that she hadn't noticed Lady Fei.

Lady Fei set the almond milk beside Yu Jingxiu's hand and said with a smile, "I've already sent the Eldest Young Madam's portion over—Miss Mozhuan is attending to her over there." Then, with a teasing purse of her lips, she smiled and said, "Don't worry, Eldest Master. The Eldest Young Madam is just feeling a bit sour at heart, which is why she lost her temper. Once she's had time to think it over tomorrow, she'll naturally be fine."

This way, it would also save his wife from constantly being suspicious and paranoid.

It immediately brought a touch of warmth to the cold, quiet room.

Lady Fan uttered an "Oh," and as she recalled how composed and unhurried Lady Fei had been when speaking before Yu Jingxiu, and how flustered she herself had been, she felt deeply displeased. Unwilling to let Lady Fei continue attending to her, she thought for a moment and said, "Go and take a look. If it's already done, bring it over for me. If it's not ready yet, tell the kitchen maid to finish making it for me."

But Lady Fei said, "Elder Master, please hear me out first."

"No need," Lady Fei said with a smile. "I'll go and come back quickly. In the meantime, you can take the opportunity to help tidy up the kitchen, so the kitchen maid won't grumble and mutter when she gets up tomorrow morning."

Lady Fei felt relieved.

"Why has Mozhuan come?" she greeted the girl warmly. "The almond milk will be ready in just a moment. It's piping hot, and I've added some osmanthus to it as well. Drinking it will help you sleep more soundly..."

Yu Jingxiu listened, the corners of his mouth slightly parting, as if he were about to say something.