Chapter 49: Marriage Matters

  "It's true, my grandson thinks of his grandmother every day." Yin Ruofei smiled and tried to please the old lady, then turned her head and asked the little servant waiting outside the door to bring in the melon. "This melon was bestowed by the empress dowager, my grandson couldn't bear to eat it, so he brought it back for his grandmother."

  "Good fortune to the old lady!" Zhang's mother flattered. "Seventh Master has been in the palace for several days and brought back gifts from the Empress Dowager."

  "I'm even happier than when I received the imperial edict with my golden grandson's melon." The old lady patted the hand she was holding.

  "Grandma, from now on we will get better and better." Yin Ruofei said softly.

  "The flying son is fine, and the grandmother will be fine." The old lady said, thinking of her granddaughter who had just returned. "Biyu, hurry up and invite the second miss over, saying that Old Seven has come back."

  "Ah." Biyu responded with a crisp voice and quickly left.

  "Gu Erjia's family, you go and arrange some good dishes, they must be good!" The old lady reminded Gu's mother.

  "Don't worry, old lady, I'll make sure to help you get the meat back on Seventh Master's face." Gu Mama said and went to the kitchen to start preparing. Zhang Mama also couldn't stay idle and said she wanted to show off her skills too, the old lady smiled and nodded in agreement.

  Yin Ruofei and the old lady had only exchanged a few words when Second Miss Yin Ruiqi rushed over, and before Biyu could lift the door curtain, she was already inside.

  "Little Fly!"

  "Second sister!" Yin Ruofei hastily stood up.

  Yin Ruiqi's appearance resembles her father, with long eyebrows and big eyes that exude a heroic spirit. Not only is her temperament different from other women, but even her height is slightly taller than average. Even Yin Haicheng, who has never been very attentive to his daughters, is particularly fond of this second daughter, and even sought out a female martial artist to instruct her.

  However, as a daughter, Yin Haicheng was afraid that she would be too skilled in martial arts and have a tough personality, making it difficult for her to get married in the future, so he stopped teaching her when she was around 10 years old. Yin Ruiqi usually just practiced what she had learned before, exercising every day to strengthen her body, but not to the point of being too hard.

  Actually, according to Yin Ruofei's meaning, it's not bad for her sister to be tough. She was born in the Wujianghou Mansion and would know some martial arts skills, which would save her from being bullied in the future.

  At this time, Yin Ruiqi was in the prime of her youth, and that unique temperament, which was completely different from the general young ladies, made her particularly eye-catching.

  Pulling her sister's hand to sit down again, Yin Ruofei thought of the man her second sister had married.

  After Mother left, Second Sister was heartbroken. Father Yin Haicheng pitied her and sent her to the home of his concubine-born aunt and uncle to take her mind off things.

  This aunt, although born out of wedlock, was indeed raised by the old lady herself, and is only a few months younger than her brother Yin Haicheng. Her birth mother was a maid brought over from the old lady's natal family. Only after she became pregnant was she given a face and promoted to be a concubine.

  Unfortunately, she had a difficult labor and struggled to keep the child, entrusting the elderly lady to take care of him before her death.

  Although not biological, but only separated by a layer of belly skin, the relationship between them is indeed mother-daughter, and they are very close to several children of her brother Yin Haicheng.

  Yin Ruofei remembered that his aunt's family had a cousin who was a few months younger than his second sister. He had good writing skills, good character, and most importantly, he was warm and kind-hearted, and got along well with his second sister since childhood.

  It was precisely because of the previous relationship that after Yin Ruiqi's three-year mourning period, she married her original fiancé, but someone behind the scenes stirred up trouble, causing her husband's family to suspect and be dissatisfied with Ruiqi.

  Less than a year later, Yin Ruofei was expelled from the mansion. In the following two years, Ruiqi repeatedly left the mansion to send silver and goods to Yin Ruofei, which made her husband's family restrict her freedom, and eventually she didn't see either of them again.

  Yin Ruofei didn't know that at the time, Yin Haicheng had led his troops to battle due to the war in the front lines. Since Chen Shi married into the household, she either had a miscarriage or couldn't raise her children for more than a few months. Adding to this, Xiao Linshi frequently used various underhanded tactics, causing Chen Shi to become disheartened and lock herself in her room, ignoring the affairs of the household. With Xiao Linshi dominating the household alone, the atmosphere was gloomy and tense. Not to mention the married-out daughters, even seeking help from their natal family was impossible. The experience of this second sister was not any better than that of his younger sister.

  Yin Ruofei had disliked that second brother-in-law from the start, a family that held themselves high and mighty, but were actually rotten to the bone. Especially that narrow-minded and dark-hearted person, how could he be worthy of his second sister who was such a straightforward and carefree woman?

  Yin Ruofei's eyes rolled around, since she knew the other party, this matter would not be able to be messed up. It was better to follow her aunt's cousin, although their family background was a bit thinner, it was still much stronger than following that kind of despicable person.

  The sister and brother have always been close, especially now that Yin Ruofei has started practicing martial arts, Ruiqi's eyes lit up, and she can't wait to go out and practice with her brother.

  Yin Ruofei's face suddenly turned bright red, he had only practiced for a few days, and even if Er Jie was a female master, she still had many years of foundation, especially with her heavy hands. It was impossible to win by luck, and if he lost, his face would be even more unbearable.

  The old lady looked at Yin Ruofei's expression and almost couldn't breathe from laughing, hurriedly stopping Ruiqi, "Second sister, quickly stop bullying your younger brother, looking at the many fun things he brought for you from the palace, spare him."

  "What good things did you bring?" The old lady indeed understood her. As soon as she said this, Rui Qi immediately shifted her gaze and began to look around.

  "Second sister, you go first." Yin Ruofei moved all the rewards over and let Rui Qi choose for herself. Although these things were moved here to Old Madame's place, they were all new trinkets given by the Emperor, as well as fabrics and miscellaneous items bestowed by the Empress Dowager.

  The old lady still uses the fabric, but nothing else is suitable. And neither he nor Rui Qi are interested in the fabric, they think those things are better.

  The sister and brother were carrying things, discussing with each other, Zhang's mother had already cut the watermelon, personally brought it over. The honey-colored pulp, sweet and enticing fruit fragrance, elegantly filled the entire room.

  "This melon is so sweet." Rui Qi took a bite and felt the sweetness overflowing in her mouth, she couldn't help but praise it and take another bite.

  The old lady also liked it, but after eating one dish, she refused to eat any more.

  Grandmother.

  "Grandma is getting old and can't eat that much." The elderly lady shook her head, lovingly watching her grandchildren eat.

  "Xiao Fei, is this melon a gift from His Majesty?"

  "It's the Empress Dowager." Yin Ruofei smiled and said, "This was originally sent as an attack, both the Empress Dowager and Ze Wang had some, but Ze Wang loved to eat it, so he went to the Empress Dowager to beg for one. The Empress Dowager saw that I also liked it, so she rewarded me with one too."

  "You're so arrogant." Rui Qi hummed triumphantly. She had rushed back from her aunt's house, bringing many things for her grandmother and siblings, but compared to the gifts from the Emperor and Empress Dowager, they suddenly seemed insignificant, leaving her feeling somewhat disheartened.

  "Second sister, you've been living at your aunt's house for so long, but you're back now." Yin Ruofei secretly smiled to herself and pretended to be dissatisfied as she pulled on Ruiqi's sleeve. "Did you bring me anything?"

  Rui Qi looked at her little brother's appearance, and her heart ached. When her mother passed away, she was so grief-stricken that she didn't eat or drink for several days. Her father and grandmother saw her like this, and they sent someone to discuss with her aunt about sending her over to live with them for a while.

  She only thought of herself at the time and agreed. It wasn't until she arrived at her aunt's house that she realized, with their mother gone and their father too busy to care for them, how was her little brother supposed to manage on his own?

  Although I thought of having a grandmother, the grandmother did not take care of the house and almost never left Fushouyuan. If someone is neglectful and slow, what should my younger brother do?

  Thanks to her aunt's consolation, she was able to calm down and settle in, but from time to time, she still couldn't help worrying. When she arrived home, upon hearing the maid talk about what had happened over the past year, she felt both anxious and angry, resenting herself for leaving home at such a time.

  She is just a 15 or 16 year old girl, always so careless and big-headed, even if something happens, she may not be able to prevent it in advance.

  She was originally disappointed that the gift she brought was compared unfavorably, but when she heard her brother's coquettish words, all her concerns were thrown away.

  "Wow, so many delicious ones!" Rui Qi counted on her fingers one by one for Yin Ruofei.

  Her uncle Shang Rong is working outside and may not return to the capital for another two years. This time, apart from the gifts she personally selected, there are also many that her aunt and uncle brought for the people of the Hou Mansion.

  Yin Ruofei's eyes widened as he listened, and although the things his second sister brought back were not as impressive as what he had brought back, each and every one of them made him drool with envy.

  The place where my uncle Shang Rong works is a state capital that must be passed through by Huihe merchants and those who come to the court for business. Horses, coral, jade, amber, glassware, ivory, and fragrant medicines are partly used as tributes, and some are also brought to the capital by merchants for sale. More of them are exchanged with merchants in Linchao at the place where Shang Rong works, and then the silk and porcelain from Linchao are taken back.

  Too many, too expensive, I don't dare bring them, but if they can make Yin Ruofei's heart move, then it's still no problem.

  Yin Ruofei's eyes sparkled as she pulled Ruiqi's hand to go and see.

  Rui Qi had no choice but to take him along. The old lady instructed them to hurry back and have lunch here at noon.

  The two of them responded and hurried off. When they arrived at Rui Qi's room, they found that it was indeed filled with all sorts of miscellaneous items, and several of Rui Qi's personal servants were checking through them one by one.

  Those good things, Yin Ruofei started picking without hesitation. After all, this house is his father Yin Haicheng, grandmother, and him, others? Probably just the older sister who got married, the younger sister at home can still be thought of by the second sister, others don't even think about it.

  Even if Xiaolin was favored again, Ruiqi had never been hypocritical to her and always spoke directly. Xiaolin had also complained in words, but Yin Haicheng just liked the two women's character like this, saying that he was straightforward and didn't blame them.

  Yin Haicheng likes this kind of talent, no matter what, but looks down on them and nothing goes smoothly.

  Yin Ruofei picked up quite a few things, including sachets of various exotic styles filled with fragrant herbs; coral-made accessories; small ivory carvings; and those amber-like trinkets. Of course, the most important ones were those exotic-style foods.

  These are not what he wants to eat. He is now following Ze Wang, and this time he has also received rewards from the Emperor and Empress Dowager. When he returns, Ze Wang will not give him fewer things. Now that he has new toys, he must return some. Although the emperor's gift to his minister does not require a return gift, he is now admiring Cui Jingze and wants to get along with him and learn more skills.

  Yin Ruofei rummaged through the trunk, and Rui Qi looked at what he picked out and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. "What are you taking those accessories for? I was saving them for my sisters!"

  "I'm saving it for my future wife." Yin Ruofei wrinkled her nose.

  "How old are you, anyway?"

  "Seventh Master, Second Miss, the old lady has sent someone to hurry you along to go eat!"

  "Good."

  Ordered someone to send things to his own courtyard, Yin Ruofei followed Ruiqi back to Fushouyuan. As soon as he entered the door, he saw that Yin Haicheng had already sat in the first place.

  The author has something to say: Read carefully, sprinkle flowers well, if it's written well, I permit you to take off your pants in front of me...