Seeing that Madam Feng, Feng Zhongyi, and Madam Shen seemed to have something to discuss, Zhou took the children and walked out.
As they walked out of Madam Feng's courtyard, Feng Ruosu's youngest daughter, Song Yunyin, pouted and said unhappily to her older sister, Song Yunqin, "Why does Second Aunt cry every time she sees us? Is this for Great-Grandmother's benefit?"
Song Yunyin's older sister is named Song Yunqin. She is already fifteen years old, but she has not yet been engaged. Originally, she wanted to become a concubine of the Third Prince, but unfortunately, the Third Prince did not take a liking to her. Instead, he took a liking to his cousin Feng Wan'er and even caused such a big incident in his own home. Because of this, their mother, Feng Ruosu, was disliked by her maternal grandparents and was not allowed to return to her parents' home. Fortunately, she and her younger sister had loved to run to their maternal grandparents' home since they were young, so they shamelessly came over, and no one stopped them.
Song Yunqin gently tugged at Song Yunyin's sleeve and said, "Shut up! Don't you even know where you are before spouting such nonsense?"
Song Yunyin was the youngest girl in the family. She had a sweet tongue and was loved by her family members. This also fostered her spoiled and unwilling-to-be-taken-loss-prone nature. When she heard her older sister scolding her, she retorted, "How am I talking nonsense? I saw it very clearly!"
When Zhou's two illegitimate daughters heard Song Yunyin's words, they both turned around to look. Zhou herself did not turn around, but she sneered inwardly. Her sister-in-law had done such a thing, and she herself could not go back to her parents' home. She always sent these two children to come over with shamelessness. Who did they not know why?
The two illegitimate daughters beside Madam Zhou had naturally heard what the Song sisters said. Both illegitimate daughters had grown up with Madam Zhou. According to the rules established by Old Madam Feng, all children in the family, whether born of the principal wife or illegitimate, should grow up with the principal wife. Boys would move to the outer courtyard when they reached the age of seven, while girls would learn etiquette and household management from their stepmother. Old Madam Feng came from a prestigious family and understood one principle: regardless of whether the children in the family were born of the principal wife or illegitimate, if they were well-educated, they would become an asset to the family in the future. It was absolutely forbidden to do anything to suppress illegitimate children, as doing so would be the root of ruin for the family.
Zhou led the four girls to the flower hall in the garden and said with a smile, "You sisters can play here for a while. I'll have someone bring you lunch later. You can eat here and rest here after you finish eating, as it will be cooler."
Song Yunqin quickly thanked Zhou Shi with her younger sister. After Zhou Shi settled everyone in, she hurried towards Madam Feng's courtyard, listening to the servants report some things to her as she walked.
As the head of the household, Zhou Shi managed all the affairs of the inner courtyard. She had more than twenty stewardesses under her command, who would come early every morning to receive their duties and report on their work from the previous day. This was just the routine. If the household was going to hold a flower show or poetry gathering, Zhou Shi would have to prepare for it several days in advance.
Beside Zhou was an old woman from the inner courtyard who was in charge of the night shifts for the various households. As they walked, she whispered, "The second master and the second mistress entered the house this morning. The second mistress went back to her own courtyard to wash up, while the second master went to the master's study and stayed there for more than an hour before going back to his own courtyard to wash up. Only then did he go to the old lady's courtyard."
Madam Zhou nodded, indicating that she understood, and said to a servant woman beside her, "Go to the kitchen and make arrangements to prepare a few dishes that the Second Master and Second Mistress like to eat, and send them to the Old Madam's room. The Old Madam will probably invite the Second Master and Second Mistress to stay for lunch."
The old woman agreed and was about to leave when she remembered what Zhou had said in the flower hall and asked, "Madam, what are the arrangements for the flower hall?"
Mrs. Zhou frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Just arrange a table casually. They're just relatives' children visiting, so let's not be impolite."
The old woman agreed. Zhou stood at a distance, thought for a moment, sighed to one of the old women who served her closely, and said, "Let's go over there for now, and go over when it's time to eat."
Upon hearing this, the old woman lowered her head and softly replied, "Yes." After thinking for a moment, she said, "Madam, will the Second Master and Madam really stay in the mansion for quite a long time after they return?"
After a long pause, Zhou replied, "How would I know? I don't even know when your uncle will be back."
The old woman said, "Last time we sent someone over, the master said he would only be able to return when he went back to the Ministry of Personnel to report for duty after the New Year."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou sighed and said, "It's such a pity about Wan'er. Such a good girl, gone just like that. Alas, Second Master and Second Madam were such a loving couple, yet there was always this unfulfilled matter."
The old woman sighed a bit. Back then, when Feng Wan'er's incident happened in the mansion, many people said that Feng Wan'er was unlucky and died from a cold. If she had survived, she could have been taken to the Third Prince's mansion. The Third Prince was the current emperor's favorite child. If she had inherited the throne in the future, with Feng Wan'er's talent and, most importantly, her family background, she could at least have been granted the title of Imperial Concubine.
These were all just things said behind her back. Zhou herself knew very well that if the Second Master and Second Mistress heard these words, they would probably tear the person who said them to pieces. Those two were doting fathers, and Feng Wan'er was truly raised in the palm of their hands.
The old woman dared not say anything. Seeing this, Madam Zhou sneered inwardly, thinking that although she was in charge of the household, many people in the mansion still cared too much about the Second Master who was away from home all year round.
Zhou stood in the shade of the trees outside the garden for a while, and when she saw that it was about time, she got up and went to Madam Feng's courtyard.
Madam Feng had been talking with Feng Zhongyi and Madam Shen for quite some time. When Madam Zhou entered the room, she saw that Madam Feng had a smile on her face, a smile that was genuine and heartfelt. Madam Zhou could tell at a glance.
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