Yun Yuan hadn't yet figured out Yan Yu's meaning, but Fang Yun immediately understood. So, Fang Yun said to Yan Yu, "Princess, this servant will accompany you to the Fujin's place."
Seeing that she was trying to take over her job again, Yun Yuan couldn't help but retort, "Princess, this servant understands."
Seeing the two maids vying for credit in front of her, Yan Yu smiled and said, "Tell me, what do you mean?"
Yun Yuan still didn't understand. Just now, she was angry that Fang Yun kept trying to take her job in front of Yan Yu, clearly wanting to replace her.
"Gege wants to have more opportunities to meet the master at the Fujin's place. Also, by returning the red fox fur, you can show the master that you respect the Fujin."
After listening to Yun Yuan's explanation, Fang Yun smiled slightly and said, "The reason why you returned the red fox fur is twofold. First, you did not want to accept anything from the primary wife. Red has always been reserved for the primary wife. If you use red, I'm afraid it will displease the master. Second, if you were to have a miscarriage while out, do you think it would worry the master? Then it would be perfectly reasonable for you to bring up the snow fox matter again."
Yan Yu looked at Fang Yun with admiration; this girl had almost guessed all her thoughts correctly.
"Alright, Fangyun, come with me. Yunyuan, go and take that ferret pelt to the tailor shop and have them make some hats and gloves for the two princesses and princes. The end of the year is approaching, so consider it a New Year's gift for them."
Yun Yuan was unwilling, but there was nothing she could do. She could only watch as Fang Yun draped a cotton cloak with red fox trim over Yan Yu, then took the leather and went out with a gilded flat-bottomed hand warmer in her hand.
Outside, the snow was still falling heavily, and everything in sight was covered in white.
"Princess, watch your step. It's been snowing heavily for two days now. It looks like we won't make it through," Fangyun said.
“This princess loves snow the most. Did you know that snow is a sign of a bountiful year? And if a hot spring appears on a snowy day, it is definitely an auspicious sign!” Yan Yu said thoughtfully.
“Of course,” Fangyun replied, “hot springs are extremely rare, and if they appear in winter, it’s even more extraordinary. Moreover, according to the elders in my hometown, hot springs are an auspicious sign, foretelling the arrival of a noble person.” Although Fangyun didn’t know why Yan Yu suddenly mentioned hot springs, she knew that this princess was very ambitious and would never be satisfied with her current position. Although she didn’t know what Yan Yu was thinking, she was certain it was related to her and the child in her womb. Therefore, Fangyun deliberately said the second half of her sentence.
Sure enough, Yan Yu's face lit up upon hearing this, and she asked, "Fangyun, where is your hometown? Who else is in your family?"
Yan Yu had long seen that Fang Yun was capable and had feelings for her, but she couldn't compare to Yun Yuan, who had been with her since childhood and knew her inside and out. However, Yun Yuan's cunning was no match for hers.
"I am from Shandong. I have an older sister and an older brother. My father was a perfume maker and my family was quite well-off. But one year, our hometown was flooded and suffered a disaster. That's why my parents had no choice but to sell me into slavery." Fangyun knew her chance had come when Yan Yu asked her these questions, so she immediately told her about her family background.
"If you are loyal to me, I can help your father open his own perfume shop. Otherwise, I will make you experience the pain of your family dying because of you." Yan Yu said to Fang Yun with a smile on her face.
Outside the umbrella, heavy snow was falling, and Ren, who could see the mistress and servants from afar, thought they were admiring the beautiful scenery created by heaven.
Fangyun thought for a moment, then made up her mind and said, "This servant is willing to do anything for my master and will never have any disloyalty." She was originally unwilling to be a slave, and she didn't really care about her family. Her parents had sold her to survive and didn't want her anymore. Everything she was doing now was for herself.
Yan Yu smiled with satisfaction and said, "Tomorrow, under the pretense of buying rouge and face powder for me, go to my elder brother's residence in my place."
Fangyun obediently agreed, knowing that she had begun to become the person Yan Yu relied on most.
The two, mistress and servant, walked for quite a while before finally arriving at the Princess's place. When Li Mama saw Yan Yu's cloak covered in snow, she immediately picked up a brush and went to greet her, smiling, "Princess, it's freezing cold, why did you come all this way?" As she spoke, she brushed the snowflakes off Yan Yu's cloak.
"It's been a long time since I've visited my elder sister. I was bored today, so I came over. I hope I've disturbed you?" Yan Yu said calmly.
Granny Li glanced at the bundle in Fangyun's hand, which seemed to have been taken by Chunliu, and she understood what was going on.
"What is elder sister doing?" Yan Yu helped Fangyun walk towards the main room, with Granny Li following beside her.
"The Princess Consort is taking measurements for winter clothes for the two princesses. She also said she would make one for the little prince in the princesses' wombs," said Granny Li.
"Elder sister is so thoughtful. I don't even know if the baby in my belly is a boy or a girl, how can I make clothes for it?" Yan Yu said with a faint smile.
The Fujin (principal wife) had been informed and was now standing at the door, watching Yan Yu approach.
"Sister, why did you bring that leather back again? Don't you like it?" The Fujin saw from afar that the bundle she had Chunliu deliver was now in Fangyun's hands.
“Sister, I think this leather suits you perfectly. How could I possibly accept it?” Yan Yu approached and took the hand that the Fujin was extending, which was adorned with openwork pure gold nail guards.
The two sisters held hands and talked, and anyone who didn't know them would think they were truly the best of sisters.
The princess pulled Yan Yu into the room and asked about the baby's condition, to which Yan Yu answered truthfully.
"How is my sister's appetite lately?" the Fujin asked.
"Still the same, sister, have you noticed that I've gotten even thinner?" Yan Yu has become thinner day by day since she became pregnant.
"You should ask Doctor Zhou to prescribe some digestive medicine for you." The Fujin noticed that Yan Yu was only four months pregnant, but her belly was already quite large, and she vaguely felt that this might be a sign of twins.
"Master has already had Doctor Zhou prescribe it. After drinking it, her appetite has improved, but my sister is getting thinner and thinner. I wonder if the baby in her belly is going to eat a lot," Yan Yu said with a light laugh.
The Fujin recalled the time when she was pregnant with the eldest prince, which was also the only time the Fourth Prince treated her with such care and affection. Looking at the shy expression on Yan Yu's face, the Fujin felt somewhat uncomfortable.
"My lady, the master sent someone to say that he's coming over for dinner," Xia He reported to the Fujin as she entered the room.
Granny Li glanced at Xia He, leaving the latter confused, unsure of what she had said wrong.
The princess was slightly taken aback, but said gently, "Why don't you keep it and use it with us, sister?"
Yan Yu, however, did not say as usual, "Sister is used to the meals from the small kitchen, so I won't bother you any longer."
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