Chapter 26: Hindsight is 20/20

  Su Ying entered Wei's mother-in-law's room, and Wei's mother-in-law was holding her eldest daughter and crying sadly. As soon as Su Ying came in, she quickly wiped away her tears and stood up to greet her. These past few days, Wei's mother-in-law had been suffering from anxiety, fearing that she had already fallen out of favor. Her face didn't have any makeup on it, looking pale and yellowish, with red and swollen eyes, which made her look even older than she was.

  To tell the truth, Wei's aunt is actually a bit older than Fu Yiyang, but she usually dresses up in a fresh and tender way, which doesn't seem to be her age at all. On the other hand, Su Shi, in order to show off as the lady of the house, dresses herself up in a dignified and steady manner, and with her daily hard work, she looks even older than Wei's aunt.

  Now Su Ying has arrived, and after more than two months of nursing, plus the nourishment of Jiuhua Yulu and Fu Dajie's diligent farming, her face is rosy, her complexion is vibrant, and standing next to Wei Niang, it can finally be seen who is older.

  The big girl was held by the wet nurse and sobbed, the wet nurse put down the big girl to let her pay respects to Su Ying, the big girl was timid, Wei Yiniang grasped her hand, tears fell again: "Madam please forgive me, the big girl is crying badly."

  Su Ying wouldn't normally make things difficult for a little girl who was less than three years old, but she insisted that the child give her greetings and pay respects to her as the legitimate mother. To be honest, after Su Ying learned to speak, she would also be carried by her wet nurse to greet Madam Su, which wasn't wrong at all. However, as for a big girl like Su Ying, this legitimate mother of hers hadn't received many proper greetings from her before. Was it because the big girl was weak and couldn't bear to see people? But seeing Wei Yiniang still doing this even at times like these, Su Ying raised an eyebrow in her heart, truly not knowing what to say about her. However, thinking about it, she estimated that it was just a habitual behavior, and for now, it wouldn't change anytime soon.

  Su Ying's expression didn't change, but her tone was somewhat light as she said: "The eldest girl's body wasn't good to begin with, why make her worry and grieve again." This was naturally said for Wei Niang's benefit; a three or four year old little girl wouldn't understand anything, who was this maternal show being put on for?

  Wei's aunt's face was somewhat embarrassed, and her tears were not wiped away. Jasmine was pulled away by Gui's aunt, and the big girl cried like a kitten, while the wet nurse hugged and comforted her, but would not help Wei's aunt speak up.

  Wei Yiniang's lips moved twice, her hand holding the handkerchief tightened, and she stammered: "I really can't bear to part with my elder sister..." Before she finished speaking, she was glanced at by Su Ying's sharp eyes and felt guilty, closing her mouth without saying another word.

  Yesterday evening, Wei Yiniang deliberately made a scene at the usual time when Fu Da Guanren returned to Zhengyuan, using this reason, but it didn't soften the heart of the old master. Wei Yiniang originally thought that Fu Ye Yang hadn't come back, but soon after, a maid from Zhengyuan came hastily to call Su Ying back, saying that the old master had arrived.

  Wei Yiniang's heart was lifted at that time, originally thinking that Fu Yeyang would come back to see and visit her elder sister. At the time, she lowered her posture and used the excuse of her elder sister leaving her to keep Fu Yeyang from leaving. As long as she could keep him this one time, she didn't believe she couldn't pull Fu Yeyang's heart back again.

  Wei Yiniang waited and waited, but by the third watch, Fu Yiyang still hadn't arrived. Her heart had grown cold, and she sat stupidly until dawn, her tears unable to flow out. Without thinking, she wiped away her tears and thought of going to the main house to find Fu Yiyang. But she had completely forgotten that Fu Yiyang had told her to rest in the south wing. As a result, she hadn't even left the door of the south wing. Only then did Wei Yiniang finally realize that she might have truly fallen out of favor.

  So Wei Yiniang had Gui and Baohe come to let her pack up the clothes and personal items of Dagu, in her heart there was a bit of genuine reluctance, but she still wanted to take advantage of the situation to slander Su Ying again, secretly implying that she was jealous and couldn't tolerate Yiniang and Shu'er, best if it could be passed on to Old Lady.

  Wei Yiniang was clattering away on her abacus, but Su Ying completely ignored her and waited until she finished speaking before saying: "If you're concerned about Big Sister, then you should go take a look at the accounts of the people below to see if there are any discrepancies."

  The big girl who had stopped crying softened her tone: "Grandma is waiting for you to go over, she's a very kind old lady, the more people love you, the better, okay, big girl?"

  Listening to the soft and weak voice of the big girl, Su Ying pursed her lips in her heart, really didn't know what Wei Niang had been tossing about, even the biggest burden was raised by her as a sickly person. Now that this hot potato Fu Mu has taken over, hopefully nothing unexpected will happen later on.

  Wei Yiniang said that she couldn't bear to part with her eldest daughter, but in fact, all the things her eldest daughter used had been packed and were almost ready. The maids who served her eldest daughter also followed them. Su Ying's severe gaze swept over them: "Serve your mistress wholeheartedly."

  Wei Yiniang was seen by Su Ying with a heart of palpitations, staring at the big girl who had also been taken to the upper house. She now lacked confidence and didn't dare to be as arrogant as before, holding her handkerchief and standing aside, secretly wiping away tears. Until the big girl was carried out of the south courtyard by the wet nurse, Wei Yiniang couldn't hold back anymore, saying "My poor big girl" and fainting like a noodle on the corridor, coincidentally putting her arm on Su Ying's shoe heel.

  She was startled at first, but quickly calmed down and looked down to see Wei Niang fainting on the ground. Gui Yatou came forward and asked, "Madam, you weren't frightened, were you?"

  Su Ying shook her head, and Gui Yatou turned around to shout at the foolish-looking Jasmine: "Hurry up and get your aunt up!"

  Mo Li's wails were all scared back by Gui's stern shout, and several other young maids carried the fainting Wei Niang back to bed.

  Su Ying furrowed her brow: "Go and invite a doctor to come."

  Mint walked over and supported Su Ying, "Madam, I see that your complexion isn't very good. The doctor said not to let you worry too much or work too hard. There are people serving Charwei here, so I'll take you back to the main courtyard to rest instead."

  Su Ying rubbed her brow and said to Gui Nainai: "Mother will trouble you to stay here for a while, wait until Wei Niang wakes up and have a good talk with her, after all, the body is important."

  Gui's mother nodded in understanding, and Baohe took Su Ying's hand from the south wing to the main hall, saying: "That jasmine is also too unaware of the rules." Baohe and several maids looked at the people in the south wing with disdain, and even Jasmine dared to make some small movements in front of Su Ying, really don't know where she got the courage, it's true that she was favored by Wei's wife.

  Su Yingxin smiled, this irregularity is good, if Wei Niang rules, where would there be so many troubles, such a handle to grasp one by one, unlike Liu Niang and Luyu, Luyu has become a wooden person.

  Thinking about it, Fu Yiyang's concubines only add up to three, unlike the second house where there are many aunts and concubines in one room. According to Fu Yiyang, there are also several pretty maids in the study next door.

  Madam Chen is not like Madam Su, who can truly endure. Moreover, Madam Chen has only been married for a short time and thinks of her mother-in-law as her own aunt, so she is fearless. Just the other day, didn't she just get rid of several concubines? Yet no one in the Hou household says that Madam Chen is jealous.

  Looking back at the main house, Madam Fu had been plotting from the start. Knowing it wouldn't work to make a move on Fu Yiyang directly, she used all her underhanded tactics on Su Shi instead. If not for Su Ying, Su Shi would have died two months ago. Later, they could marry off Fu Yiyang to another woman of lower social status as his second wife and smoothly take back control of the household. The main house would be left without an heir, so later they could adopt one from the second house, and in the end, the title would still fall into the hands of the second house. What a wonderful plan!

  The system really helped her find her identity.

  Su Ying originally didn't take these annoying things to heart, but that was because she thought one day she would return after all. Now it's different, she can't go back, and from now on she can only live with her current identity. Since that's the case, then there's no hobby of enduring humiliation without fighting back.

  Fu Yiyang returned from the government office and first went to pay his respects to Madam Fu. Madam Fu didn't have a good expression, but she wouldn't lose face in front of the maid, so she just said indifferently: "Go take a look at your sister-in-law, she's moved over today."

  Lü Huì saw Fu Yeyang enter and hastily greeted him. Fu Yeyang nodded slightly: "What are you doing here?"

  Lu Xiang replied respectfully: "Because of the urgency, Madam asked me to follow you carefully and see if there's anything that doesn't meet Miss's requirements, so as not to trouble Old Madam. I'll report back to Madam later and let her know what's going on."

  Talking without doing is foolish, Su Ying naturally isn't foolish. Since she's done it, she should put it out in the open. From yesterday's situation, you can tell that Fu Yeyang, although not saying anything, must be eating this set in her heart. Moreover, there are some things she doesn't find convenient to say, but aren't there subordinates? Indeed, as soon as Lu Hui said so, Fu Yeyang slightly nodded and went into the green silk room to take a look at the young lady.

  Fu's mother let the servants clean up the house, which was naturally not shabby. Even if she didn't particularly like this granddaughter in her heart, now that she had taken the initiative to raise her, she wouldn't give others a chance to gossip.

  Fu Yiyang only recently began to pay attention to the eldest girl, asking a few questions and gazing at the delicate trinkets arranged on the green silk shelves. They were all exquisite and elegant, unlike the gaudy golden decorations outside. He pursed his lips, understanding Su Ying's intentions.

  It's clear that you're really concerned about it.

  She turned to see the delicate face of her niece, frowned and could only take good care of her. Fu Yeyang didn't stay in the boudoir for long, when he walked out, he saw the servants moving a large fish tank with a hand-painted pastel-colored base into the room. Lu Hui smiled and said: "Madam said to raise some fish to amuse the young lady."

  Fu Yiyang nodded and pointed to the place where things should be put, looked around and felt it was about right before leaving the upper house. He didn't return to the main courtyard but instead went to the outer study. As soon as he sat down, he heard a commotion, with the noise continuing nonstop.

  Fu Yiyang frowned in displeasure and loudly rebuked: "What's going on?"

  A voice came from outside: "Master, it seems that something has happened in Second Master's study."