Chapter 719: Chapter 501 Guilty Conscience
Hongji’s father… now they are all very secretive, and I feel it’s inappropriate to ask anything. Wouldn’t it be even more awkward if I asked about him swapping children?
Although he has raised his eldest son, he should feel no guilt!
However, as Housekeeper Ye had mentioned last time, swapping children is a crime, punishable by imprisonment, which has left him in fear to this day. Now he dares not meddle in any family matters!
Aunt Lai kept dropping hints and speaking softly. Seeing that the Old Master did not seem moved by her words, she grew anxious, feeling the old man was utterly useless!
Unbeknownst to Hongji’s father, Aunt Lai dared to curse him behind his back!
After eating, she beckoned her sisters and concubine and returned to her own room.
Aunt Lai… this old man… is beyond help!
Ye Daidi pulled her grandmother away after eating, now very afraid of Aunt Lai!
She had wanted to play with Ye Fengqi, but there were guests today. Her niece didn’t have time to play with her!
Wenjie went to play by himself after eating!
Ye Fengqi entertained Si Ma Roumei, and they went to her room, winding up in secretive conversations!
The maids served tea, and according to Si Ma Roumei’s maid, they shouldn’t serve the Lady chilled, refreshing tea or even chilled fruits!
Their maids stood by their Ladies, ready to serve at any moment!
They also fanned them, standing quietly as if they were invisible!
The maids from both families wore different uniforms, and even the ornaments in their hair varied.
They were all maids, but only their masters knew if their skills were the same.
The maid by Si Ma Roumei’s side knew horse riding and archery; she had even picked up a few other skills.
The maid by Ye Fengqi was specially trained in Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting, Martial Arts, and accounting.
Ye Fengqi picked up a glass of iced honey watermelon juice from the table, feeling a refreshing chill.
That was when she noticed again, a faint smell of blood which she had been sensing since her time at the estate, but her attention had not been focused on it before!
“Si Ma Roumei, are you hurt?”
Ye Fengqi asked such because while riding a bicycle, one might get scraped and bleed from even a slight injury!
Si Ma Roumei, questioned thus, blushed immediately, becoming shy and hesitant!
Normally forthright, she seemed to struggle with some issue right now, moving her lips but unable to speak such secretive words!
Ye Fengqi…? What’s going on? With her secretive demeanor, could she really be hurt?
“Si Ma Roumei, where are you hurt? Let me check.”
Ye Fengqi looked anxious, examining Si Ma Roumei from head to toe as they were sitting next to each other.
She even grabbed Si Ma Roumei’s hand, as if intending to examine her whole body!
“No, I’m really not injured!” Si Ma Roumei responded anxiously, unable to clarify explicitly.
Ye Fengqi, looking at Si Ma Roumei’s flustered expression, didn’t quite believe her at first glance, then turned her gaze towards her maid and asked, “Is your Lady really alright?”
Knowing her mistress was shy, Si Ma Roumei’s maid understood that many girls are embarrassed about these things, perhaps even unable to discuss them with close friends in such moments.
It seemed that Fourth Miss Ye was still too naive to understand the situation!
“Fourth Miss Ye, our miss is not injured; she is on her period!”
Ye Fengqi…? What does that mean?
Unaware of the implication, she could only look towards her own maid!
Ye Fengqi’s maid was about her age, but being trained in Martial Arts, her body had developed a bit earlier. Some hadn’t confronted this situation yet, but between the maids, Secrets were shared to some extent.
The maid who knew the secret whispered softly into the Lady’s ear!
Ye Fengqi listened to what the maid had told her, slightly confused but did not inquire further!
After Si Ma Roumei saw Ye Fengqi questioning the maid, she seemed to understand something and did not pursue the matter further, feeling a sigh of relief in her heart!
“Ye Fengqi, I need to go back now. If you really go to the Capital City, you must write to me!”
“Leaving so soon? Let’s talk a bit more. Won’t you come to see us off tomorrow?”
Ye Fengqi felt somewhat reluctant, her tone filled with a sense of difficulty in parting!
Si Ma Roumei was also reluctant for her to go to the Capital, where they could at least meet once a month. Maybe she would go to the Capital City too, but that would be months later!
“Ye Fengqi, take care of yourself. I’ll see how things are tomorrow. If I can’t come to see you off, be careful on the road, you and everyone else!”
Determined to leave, Si Ma Roumei reassured her with a few words and, supported by the maid at her side, walked out of Ye Fengqi’s room!
Mrs. Li and Hongji were also coming out of their room, seeing off Li Zhijun!
Ye Fengqi faced her parents and uncle, curious whether the uncle had explained things clearly to her parents.
She looked into her uncle’s eyes, seeking affirmation!
Li Zhijun nodded at her.
Mrs. Li and Hongji, facing the interaction between their younger daughter and Li Zhijun, were utterly helpless.
Ye Fengqi, undeterred by her parents’ reluctance, happily escorted Si Ma Roumei to the carriage, hopping and skipping along, hardly behaving with the decorum expected of a lady of a wealthy family!
Mrs. Li, finding her liveliness strange, glanced at her then followed to see off Si Ma Roumei!
“Miss, do visit us whenever you have the time!”
Under the polite insistence of the hostess, Si Ma Roumei nodded, “Mrs. Ye, if there are any new local fruits or products, make sure to let me know first!”
Mrs. Li smiled and agreed.
Si Ma Roumei, supported by the maid, boarded the carriage. The courtesy just now was merely for the sake of formality. The officials or wealthy families in their county, with their own estates producing fruits and vegetables, wouldn’t specifically come here to buy goods!
Rather, it was their own produce that was sold elsewhere; the crops they grew were also sold to others!
Having added a few more estates, their residence had become a significant local feature. People from nearby counties or major cities, once they knew the benefits of their family’s food, traveled from miles around to purchase it!
Li Zhijun boarded the carriage and left. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝙣𝙚𝙩
Hongji also rode out on his bicycle!
“Mother, you’re really wonderful!” Ye Fengqi, after her mother had given her a reproachful glance, hastened her steps and embraced her mother’s arm, acting coquettishly.
“Hmph, go pack your bags now!” Mrs. Li helplessly glared at her daughter.
“Okay, hee hee hee!” Ye Fengqi, carefree, set about packing her bags with the maid by her side.
Mrs. Li shook her head as she watched her daughter’s retreating figure. Just now, Li Zhijun and her husband had spoken, initially opposing their daughter’s decision to go to the Capital.
The Capital City was much more complex and dangerous compared to their rural home!
Li Zhijun had persuaded them, arguing that if they caused a fuss here, it could damage their niece’s reputation.
Besides, several girls from their family had already gone to the Capital, and with other relationships there, it was unlikely they would stay in their hometown forever.
Children need to soar, and as parents, their role was to pave the way, not block their path!
Hongji and his wife knew well what the family ties Li Zhijun mentioned meant!
Recognizing their ancestry might be inevitable, and that was something they couldn’t refuse.
Maybe it was just for these few years. Despite not wanting to move far from home, they wished to stay close to their children!