Chapter 27: Muddying the Waters

  Fu Yiyang had just returned to the front yard, and it was almost two watches into the night. He truly felt exhausted, and on his way to the main courtyard, he was intercepted by Liu Niang as soon as he turned a corner - in the past, this kind of thing would have been done by Wei Niang, using the eldest daughter as an excuse to pull the old master into the south courtyard, and after seeing the child, she would naturally keep the old master there. Now, Wei Niang had the heart but not the strength - Liu Niang's demeanor was very humble, her words full of concern for Fu Yiyang's health, and her speech was carefully measured.

  Finally, she presented him with a bowl of chicken soup that she had personally stewed, which was still warm in the food box. It seemed like it had been waiting for a while. Fu Yeyang looked up and saw Liu Niang's face, as beautiful as a peach blossom. Unlike Wei Niang, Liu Niang didn't pretend to be weak. After Fu Yeyang finished drinking half of the chicken soup and put down the lid, Liu Niang happily retreated. The silhouette of her elegant figure under the cow horn lamp was vague, but unfortunately, Fu Yeyang's troubled mind didn't allow him to appreciate it, and he walked forward without even stopping.

  Liu Yiniang couldn't hide the loss in her heart, it shouldn't be like this. She had done the same thing before, and she didn't think that Wei Yiniang's chicken soup would make Master Lai uncomfortable about this aspect. Although Liu Yiniang knew a bit about what happened that day, the details were still unclear to her.

  Look at Fu Yiyang's footsteps, which didn't hesitate at all. The main house is so big and there are only a few women, where else can the old master go? It's clear at a glance. Madame Liu frowned, very surprised, and said to the maid Shiliu in front of her: "The old master has been staying in the main courtyard for several days in a row, it's really strange."

  Pomegranate didn't know how to respond, and on the other side, Lihua's maid peeked over here with her head, it was clear that she was one step later than Liu Niang. Seeing Pomegranate looking over, the maid shrank her neck and turned around to run away quickly.

  "Pomegranate scolded with a mouthful: 'Really is an unruly little girl, seeing people don't even know how to ask for courtesy.'"

  Liu Yiniang glanced at Liyue's house and curled her lip in disdain.

  Fu Yiyang arrived at the main courtyard, Su Ying was still awake, propping up her eyelids, looking not too great. Seeing Fu Yiyang return, she let out a sigh of relief, "You're back? Are you hungry? I heard from them that you didn't eat well for dinner, so I had the kitchen prepare something for you. If you hadn't come back, I was going to have them send it to the front courtyard."

  As soon as she got close, she smelled a chicken soup flavor. Su Ying raised an eyebrow and pretended not to smell it. Seeing Fu Yeyang nodding, she said: "This time the pickled rose petal goose is quite flavorful, and there's also a dish of wine-steamed duck that tastes good, you should try it?"

  Fu Yiyang's expression softened and he said, "Mm, let the girls go and busy themselves, you sit."

  Su Ying smiled and turned to instruct Bai Zhi: "Let them bring the dishes up, first a bowl of bird's nest congee. Just came in from outside and got some cool air, drinking hot congee will warm up my stomach." The latter sentence was said to Fu Ye Yang, when the congee arrived, she finished it in a few mouthfuls, looking like she was really hungry.

  Su Ying wasn't idle either, leaning against the headrest and fiddling with a few needles and threads. Originally in the game, Su Ying's embroidery skill was at max level, but that was just a useless pile of data. If she had to actually embroider something, she could only stare blankly.

  Su Shi was different, though not comparable to Embroidered Girl, but making clothes and embroidering a purse were no problem for her. Su Ying had been ill for some time and hadn't touched needle and thread, now that she was better, she picked up the embroidery work again, all of this was done for Fu Ye Yang to see.

  Fu Yiyang looked up at her, wearing a light orange satin jacket with embroidered orchids and a loose bun, only lightly inserted with a pearl hairpin. Her whole person seemed gentle and warm, his face unconsciously softened, and he asked: "What are you doing?"

  Su Ying pursed her lips, looking a bit embarrassed, and said: "I originally said I'd make a headband for the old lady, and I had already knitted a few stitches before. But during this time, I was sick and didn't have the energy to continue. Now that my spirits are better, I remembered it again. However, I had originally planned to give it to her for winter, but now that the weather is gradually warming up, I'll have to take it apart and remake it into a spring version."

  It's just short of being made into a rag doll.

  Fu Yiyang paused, he really didn't know that Su Ying had made things for his mother before, and from her tone it wasn't the first time either. He hadn't heard anyone mention it before, but thinking about the brocade robe she had worn earlier, and how thoughtful she was in considering his older sister's feelings, he naturally wouldn't really think that whether they were born to a wife or a concubine, they were all children of their mother. Now that he thought about it carefully, these were all because of him, he hadn't noticed before, but now that he did, his heart softened unconsciously. He lightly coughed: "You're straining your eyes under the lamp, if you want to do it, why not wait until daytime? Besides, aren't there people in the needlework room downstairs? Mother doesn't lack these things."

  For some reason, Fu Yeyang turned his head and said: "I remember that there is a glass lamp in the warehouse, it's bright, I have one in my study room, tomorrow I'll let the housekeeper take it out for you."

  Glass lamp? Su Ying's heart skipped a beat, could it be that another one has come? But she wasn't sure in her heart either. The system hadn't reminded her about this matter, so she put down the embroidery that she had barely started working on and smiled warmly: "After all, it's our filial piety as younger generations." She seemed to mention casually, "Has the previous matter been resolved?"

  Whenever this matter is brought up, Fu Yiyang's face would fall, as if someone owed him money. He let out a heavy hum and said, "As an older brother, I shouldn't interfere with my younger brother's family matters. Let mother worry about the trouble he's stirred up."

  Su Ying raised an eyebrow, she really didn't expect that there were others who crossed over here, and even crossed into the Yongwu Marquis's estate, what a huge coincidence was this?

  What's going on here? It all started this afternoon when the system enthusiastically told her that there were other crossers in the Yongwu Marquis' residence.

  Su Ying's eyebrows jumped, a crosser? She really didn't think that there would be other crossers. [Is this crosser also from the game like me?]

  "Of course, it's not the same! The system said proudly, "I've told you before that crossing over with a system is very rare. Others don't even have this opportunity. If I hadn't discovered the fluctuation, you wouldn't know about the existence of other outsiders either. Now do you know how useful I am?"

  Su Ying said perfunctorily: "Yeah, it's really useful. So why are you telling me this? Do you want to play a guessing game with me? I'm not interested."

  Aren't you afraid of being exposed?

  "Isn't it you too?" Su Ying said faintly.

  The sentence obviously pleased the system, which chuckled twice and then issued a side quest. [Ding - Triggered side quest. A stranger has appeared on the main map, please investigate her identity as soon as possible. Task deadline: Three days; Task reward: Antidote x1. Task failure penalty: None.]

  Is it just necessary to find out who she is?

  You can try to expose her if you want, just like killing monsters in a game. You can gain experience and drop equipment, why not? Good luck.

  To be honest, Su Ying was indeed moved. The Poison Bead and the Golden Threaded Robe were both limited edition items and very practical.

  Unexpectedly, before dusk, the second house became lively. One of Chen's maidservants actually hooked up Fu Xueyang and Chen's wife to fight each other. Pitifully, she took the maid to the front study room. Chen's wife was anxious and furious, rushing to the front study room to make a big scene.

  This is also why Fu Yiyang was worried and anxious, after all, it's just a matter of Fu Xiyang's family affairs.

  Su Ying had a hunch that there was something fishy going on, otherwise why would they bring up outsiders and then stir up this kind of thing, although it's also possible that Fu Xueyang really did have a soft spot for women.

  Fu Yiyang had just mentioned that the matter was handed over to Mrs. Fu for disposal, and then Dujuan's voice rang out: "Master, madam, old lady asked you to go upstairs."

  "Isn't it late? Has something happened?"

  "Second Master and Second Mistress had a quarrel," said Du Juan with a bitter face, "and it reached the old lady's ears. Second Master even said he wanted to divorce his wife!"

  Fu Yiyang and Su Ying had to rush hastily to the upper house, but before they reached the upper house, Su Ying heard a sentence "If two people are meant to be together for a long time, why should they be together every morning and evening?" She couldn't help but narrow her eyes, this is really good writing.

  Take a closer look at the woman kneeling on the ground, crying, with a pear blossom pressing down on her hairpin. This one glance was enough to confirm it, and there's no other reason than that this woman is wearing all white, which is truly impressive. As the saying goes: "To be beautiful, wear mourning clothes." This plain white long gown and padded skirt suits her perfectly, making her waist look even slimmer, almost as if it could be encircled by one hand.

  Although she was bare-faced, her eyebrows were like paintings, and her eyes were beautiful and charming. What's more, her slender eyebrows were slightly furrowed, her eyes were filled with tears, and her snow-white teeth bit tightly on her lower lip, showing an indescribable pitiful and lovely expression.

  Add this "filial piety" and it's no wonder Fu Xuyang was fascinated so quickly.

  Su Ying smiled and said, "This is not a natural face, but rather a bare makeup that only modern people would have. This outsider really has talent."

  Su Ying confirmed her identity with a calm expression.

  Fu Xueyang was still pointing at Madame Chen and scolding: "Jealous woman, you should be divorced!" Madame Chen covered her face with a handkerchief and cried loudly, shouting: "Auntie, you must stand up for me! If my cousin speaks to me like this, I'll have no face left to live!" She then tried to throw herself against the wall, startling the maids.

  Fu's mother slapped the table and shouted: "Quickly hold on, what are you doing! Second Master, you also shut up!"

  The scene was in complete chaos.

  Su Yingcai didn't want to get involved in this, so she pulled Fu Yiyang's sleeve and whispered: "I'll go take a look at Big Sister, don't let her be scared by all this commotion."

  Fu Yiyang also felt a headache, and after listening to Su Ying's words, he nodded: "Go ahead, with you there, she can rest assured."

  Su Ying was supported by Lu Hui as she walked towards the eldest daughter's house. As they turned a corner, she glanced back at the woman in white who was crawling on the ground and sobbing, her mouth curling up slightly.