Chapter 56: Attacking the Heart is Paramount

  Ever since Su Ying confirmed that Wei Yiniang had changed, she hadn't thought of how to deal with it yet, when she encountered the series of annoying things that happened on Fu Mu's birthday, Su Ying threw Wei Yiniang out of her mind.

  Although the people below knew that Wei Yiniang had done those things that were unreasonable in their eyes (going to confront Fu Mu was almost pointing at Fu Mu's nose and saying she was vicious), but the people in the main courtyard were happy to see Wei Yiniang suffer, and Su Ying was ill and not in high spirits for a few days, so they didn't tell her about this matter in time.

  When Su Ying finally came to her senses and recovered from her illness, she remembered Wei Niang, who had transformed into a Holy Mother Flower. As soon as they clashed, Wei Niang was spiritually attacked, and even Su Ying felt the pressure was enormous.

  Mint stared blankly, pouting: "Madam, you don't think Wei's wife became mentally unclear because she bumped her head, do you?"

  Lü Huì glanced at her and said, "Don't talk nonsense, I think Wei Niang is more pleasing to the eye than before."

  Su Ying twitched the corner of her mouth. If it weren't for that damn task, she wouldn't have put Wei Niang in her heart either. Since she could use Chen Fu Ren and Fu Mu's hands to crush a Xiu Pei, she could naturally also control the truly kind-hearted Wei Niang.

  Like an amber, is a true traversing woman or a brainless traversing woman. Even if Su Ying wasn't behind the scenes stirring up trouble, she would still end up getting herself killed sooner or later. A nameless concubine with no status, whose life contract was in Chen Furen's hands, actually dared to challenge her master. Although Chen Furen isn't very intelligent, she has Fu Mu backing her up. In Fu Mu's eyes, someone like Like an amber is nothing more than an ant that can be dealt with at any moment.

  Although Amber didn't get to fully shine her light and warmth, her death was not in vain. Before long, Chen Wanqiu appeared from outside, someone who had also been experimenting with glass, and there were others from her hometown that she wasn't even aware of. Now, a Saint Mother flower has arrived here, it can be expected that such fellow townspeople or other non-native species will pop up from time to time.

  Su Ying wiped her fingernails, and for a moment, some confusion arose in her heart, but she quickly firmed up. "Nan Yuan, you let people take a closer look, after all, you are the elder sister's birth mother, considered half a mistress."

  Lü Huì looked puzzled and raised her eyes to glance at Sū Yǐng, who nodded slightly in response. Only then did Lü Huì answer with a "yes".

  Fu Yiyang arrived early at the Zhengyuan, and Lu Hui let out a sigh of relief, exchanging a smile with Bohe. Now there was nothing stronger than the reconciliation between the old master and mistress.

  Fu Yiyang didn't expect to see Wei Niang at Su Ying's place. Since Wei Niang bumped into the pillar, Fu Yiyang hadn't seen her again. She leaned in close to Su Ying. The clothes she wore were no longer as resplendent as before, and the overall feeling she gave people was that of eerie tension.

  Su Ying let out a sigh of relief. Facing Wei Niang was really too much pressure for her. She smiled at Fu Yi Yang, "I'm back."

  After this, the couple's feelings seemed to be even more intimate than before. Fu Yeyang, who had originally frowned when facing Su Ying, also relaxed and his expression became milder than before. He responded with a gentle "hmm".

  The next moment, Wei's timid gaze at him, and even when she bowed to greet him, made Fu Yeyang feel strange, as if she was resentful towards him.

  This feeling made Fu Yiyang slightly furrow his brow. In his heart, he couldn't help but wonder, thinking back to the other day when she suddenly ran up to the top floor and collided with Madam Fu, what exactly was going on that would make her behave so differently? "Abnormality is a sign of evil," Fu Yiyang thought of the maid from the second house who had been burned to death a few days ago. His heart skipped a beat as a bad premonition swept over him.

  When he looked at Wei Yiniang again, he brought scrutiny with him. Wei Yiniang was made to feel uneasy by his cold and icy gaze, thinking that the man in front of her was terrifying. The piercing gaze seemed to see right through her, leaving her nowhere to hide. She couldn't help but shrink back, turn her body sideways, furrow her delicate eyebrows, and look at Su Ying with tears in her eyes for help.

  Su Ying: "......"

  Su Ying sat at the top, from her position just right to take in Fu Yiyang's projected gaze and Wei Niang's reaction. To others, it was just Wei Niang shamelessly flirting with Fu Yiyang under Su Ying's nose, and finally, Wei Niang even threw a triumphant glance at Su Ying.

  Fu Yiyang was originally impatient, but when he saw Wei Niang's style, his expression changed and his gaze fixed.

  Su Ying's gaze was clear and discerning, but later on, a hint of displeasure even welled up from the bottom of her eyes. Su Ying cast a sidelong glance at Wei Niang, and the corners of her lips curled up into an amused smile - it seemed that Master really had a keen sense of awareness, and his personality was quite suspicious, with a tendency to "love him and want him to live, hate him and want him to die".

  If it were in the past when Wei Yiniang was still favored, Fu Yiyang's reaction would not be displeasure but rather pity and fondness.

  Su Ying had enough of the good show, so she came out to mediate. Wei Niang and she were destined to be together, coughing, at this stage, it couldn't just end in vain sacrifice. Su Ying slightly turned her body, coincidentally blocking Fu Ye Yang and Wei Niang's "romantic gaze", as if she hadn't noticed the undercurrents earlier, her smile unchanged: "Wei Niang come over here, let's discuss naming the big girl together, we were just talking about it when you came back, perfect timing to make a decision."

  After finishing speaking, he didn't go to see Fu Yiyang, but turned around and said to Wei Niang: "You're not feeling well, go back and rest first. When there's news, I'll let the servants tell you."

  Wei Yiniang immediately agreed and didn't dare to look up at Fu Yeyang's face, retreating like a quail.

  Su Ying covered her twitching mouth with a handkerchief, or else people would misunderstand and think she was possessed by a ghost.

  Xiao Yatou poured tea, and Fu Yeyang held the tea cup. At this moment, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Su Ying picked up a silver spoon and took a sip of the sweet ice sugar swallow's nest congee, made with the blood swallow's nest that Fu Yeyang had sent over earlier. It was a rare delicacy, with a hint of sweetness from the added ice sugar.

  To say that swallow's nest is actually Su Ying's identity, it's not hard to eat, but Su's cautious nature doesn't want to give others a chance to gossip. Just look at the decorations in this house, they can't compare to Fu Mu's golden and jade carvings, let alone Chen Fu Ren's luxurious and extravagant furnishings.

  Now that Su Ying is here, she doesn't have the same cautious and careful nature as Su Shi - being afraid of offending someone in a higher position. Now she can let go more, and with Fu Ye Yang taking care of her, her quality of life has improved by more than one level compared to before.

  Fu Yiyang didn't speak, and Su Ying didn't let the atmosphere become silent again. They had just made up, and it had been many days since they last saw each other, so there must be a lot to talk about. She handed him a piece of paper on the kang table, "Originally, we didn't give her a name because she was weak and might not grow up." Back then, they hadn't given her a name because they were afraid she wouldn't live long due to bad luck. "Now it's time to give her a name, you can't just keep calling her 'big girl' all the time."

  "I originally came to talk to you about it, but I forgot." Su Ying slowly swallowed a spoonful of porridge in her mouth. This sentence was somewhat deliberate. If Pei Mu hadn't brought it up, she really wouldn't have remembered this matter.

  "Like this," Fu Yiyang's face showed a hint of embarrassment, apparently he hadn't taken this matter to heart either. He took the paper that Su Ying handed over to him and looked at it, the words were written by Su Ying. The original owner had written in good handwriting. Su Ying had also pondered for a while before writing out the words that were almost identical to what the original owner had written before. After some deliberation, he pointed to one of the names, "Let's go with Yu Yu."

  Looks quite careless at first glance.

  Su Ying finished the bird's nest congee spoon by spoon, then took a handkerchief to wipe her mouth. Speaking of this name, Wei Yiniang really put her heart into it. Su Ying had just told her about it, actually just teasing her, but unexpectedly she took it seriously and came over in the afternoon to discuss with Su Ying.

  However, the names mentioned by Wei Yiniang are quite dreamy, such as Xinyue and Xiahe. These kinds of names sound like they belong to a singing girl from the Qinhuai River. The eldest daughter of the Hou Mansion can't have such a melancholic and sentimental name.

  So the name Su Ying wrote on the paper for Fu Yeyang to see was naturally not one of those mentioned by Wei Niangniang, fortunately Wei Niangniang couldn't recognize traditional characters and Fu Yeyang returned in time, thank goodness.

  "Madam Wei has been ill recently and her temperament has become much more gentle. She is very considerate of Big Sister, but it's just that she doesn't like to see Big Sister every day. Previously, she even personally made clothes, socks, and shoes to send to the upper house." Su Ying thought that giving Madam Wei a change in personality was finding a more reliable excuse for her, and also mentioning her big change in character to Fu Ye Yang here would make it less abrupt, let alone something like amber that involves "ghosts" is very taboo. If it weren't for Madame Chen being too eager for quick success, she absolutely wouldn't have spread the rumor of "borrowing a corpse to return a soul".

  Fu Yiyang listened somewhat absent-mindedly, without commenting on Su Ying's words. Su Ying couldn't gauge what he was thinking, so she dropped the subject.

  Fu Yiyang looked at the red agate bracelet on Su Yinghao's wrist, which was still sent by him before. It set off her skin even more crystal clear, and with her movements, it swayed back and forth, making Fu Yiyang's heart feel itchy too.

  Su Ying spoke slowly, and finally discovered his abnormality. She scolded him in her heart, thinking that she had just been playing the lute to a cow earlier. She still felt a bit proud and vain in her heart, after all, women always have some vanity, even if they pretend not to care on their face.

  Fu Houye was a serious person and had never done anything improper during the day, but at night he would unleash all his pent-up energy.

  The hot water in the small kitchen had been prepared long ago, but no one came to fetch it. The noise continued, and the night watchman could only continue to guard, but no one complained. According to the rules of the main house, all those who kept watch at night received a duty fee that was twice as much as usual.

  It wasn't until the second half of the night that the housekeeper finally called for hot water. The servant girl who carried the hot water didn't dare to linger, but in her heart she thought that the mistress was still formidable. In such a short time, she had been able to quietly make Wei Niang submit to her, and also win over the old master. Who would dare to oppose her now? Just look at how cautious the servants in this courtyard have become, they all say that the mistress treats them with kindness and generosity, and her reputation will only be better than before.

  It wasn't until the second half of the night that they finally settled down, and later on, Su Ying really couldn't take it anymore and begged for mercy again and again, barely avoiding another round. Even bathing was a hurried affair with Fu Ye Yang holding her and roughly wiping her down before embracing each other and falling asleep together.

  A good night's sleep, with his hand resting on her plump shoulders, was just getting sweet when he heard the aloe vera outside say that Li Yue had come to pay her respects. Fu Yeyang frowned and woke up, somewhat displeased. Su Ying, who was nestled in his arms, hummed softly and unconsciously rubbed against Fu Yeyang's broad chest, almost sparking a fire.

  Fu Yiyang took a deep breath, and his dissatisfaction disappeared. He held Su Ying's face, with the tip of his tongue gently sucking and kissing her, and woke her up with his mischievous thoughts. However, he didn't move anymore. Su Ying hit him on the chest with a bit of force, but it was like a gentle scratch from a cat's paw to Fu Yiyang.

  Su Ying woke up, but her legs were tied up by that person who was taking advantage of his long legs and great strength, pretending to be innocent with closed eyes lying on the bed. Su Ying had seen this person's rascal side, her face red with anger, pinched him on the waist, only then was she let go, lifted her legs and got out of bed.

  Su Ying finished washing up and went out first, but didn't see Liu Niang. She and Li Yue usually came to the main courtyard together, never leaving each other's side. What happened today?

  Su Ying hadn't spoken yet, but the maid following Liyue's side had already knelt down on the ground, with tears falling: "Madam, my aunt is ill, I've come to ask for your instructions, can we invite a doctor to take a look?"

  Su Ying's smile faded, she heard the movement of Fu Yeyang getting up inside, her eyebrows furrowed, and her voice was gentle: "What's going on? Have you been uncomfortable for the past few days, or did your body suddenly feel unwell today?"

  Su Ying glanced at Li Yue. Li Yue's heart was racing as she quickly curtsied to Su Ying. Su Ying didn't call her, and she didn't dare stand up straight. "Sister Liu wasn't feeling well today, and I only just found out about it now. When I asked, I learned that she hadn't been feeling quite right before, but didn't think much of it and didn't want to trouble the mistress with such a small matter. Who knew that today she would be bedridden? I didn't dare take matters into my own hands, so I brought Sister Liu's personal maid to report back to the mistress."

  Liu Yiniang's personal maid, Shi Li, knelt on the ground: "Madam didn't intentionally conceal it, but she didn't want to trouble you, who would have known..."

  Su Ying's eyes completely turned cold, and she said slowly: "It's useless to say these things, hurry up and ask the doctor to come and take a look." Originally thought it was honest, now it's making waves again. Su Ying sneered in her heart, being disturbed so early in the morning. It's really speechless.

  Fu Yiyang frowned impatiently upon hearing the commotion outside, feeling discontent that Su Ying would bother him with such a trivial matter. The old master's mind was not on the inner courtyard, and if it weren't for someone subtly hinting at him, he really wouldn't have caught the underlying implication.

  It was getting late when he looked at the time again. He quickly lifted the curtain and came out, seeing Su Ying supporting her waist with a slightly pleased look on her face, but still clearing her throat to say to Su Ying: "The time is not early, I'll go first."

  Su Ying didn't care about Li Yue and Shi Liu anymore, and ordered the kitchen to prepare some ordinary pastries that Fu Ye Yang usually eats, packed in a food box and handed over to Fu Ye Yang's servant.

  After Fu Yiyang left, Su Ying was helped by Lu Hui to sit crookedly in a soft chair and asked Shi Liu: "What's going on with your master? How did he suddenly fall ill? From what was said earlier, it wasn't just one or two days. What's the point of saying that it's not good to disturb her as the mistress? For something like this, sending someone to the main courtyard to say a word would be enough, could she have stopped them from inviting a doctor?"

  Su Ying raised her eyelids and took a look at Li Yue, who was being extremely obedient. Had she joined forces with Liu Niang? And was she willing to be used by Liu Niang as a pawn? Comparing Li Yue to Liu Niang was like comparing her to Hupo - her life was in their hands, yet she dared to come and cause trouble for them, truly unbelievable.

  The doctor came soon and diagnosed the result as overwork and lack of rest, which led to fainting.

  Report here to Su Ying, Su Ying's eyebrows slightly raised: "Is this tired? What made her tired?"

  Mint hummed from her nose: "The slave asked the little maid in Liu Niang's room, saying that she did needlework and lit candles every day until midnight, and only fell asleep when she couldn't bear it."

  "Oh?" Su Ying's smile gradually faded, "Does she know what she's doing?" What Mrs. Liu is doing now may not be just to give her a hard time, thinking back to when Fu Yiyang went to Mrs. Liu's place once before, although nothing really happened, it was also because the second house had a flood at that time and Fu Yiyang had to go help.

  If it weren't for the second wife's meddling, who knows if Fu Yeyang would have done something substantial with Liu Niangniang. Just thinking about this made Su Ying involuntarily curl her lip, and now she had a newfound appreciation for those concubines.

  "It's like embroidering Buddhist scriptures," Mint said with a pursed mouth, "I wonder if it's embroidered to please the old lady?"

  "Ever since the mistress fell ill, and with what happened in the manor, there are people who can't wait to come and bother her, making her feel uneasy. What's the point of having a personal maid if she can't even do needlework? The maids below her just eat and do nothing. It sounds like it's been going on for more than a day or two. Besides, whenever someone is unwell, they should be seeing a doctor and taking medicine. Calling in a physician wouldn't be a bother at all. But instead, this whole ordeal has come about, as if to torment her."

  Wei's wife fell down, Liu's wife stood up.

  Buddhist scriptures? Su Ying still thought of Fu Mu punishing her to copy Buddhist scriptures ten times, really having a fate. Su Ying didn't ask more questions, turned her head and asked Bai Zhi: "Don't worry about it for now, bring another bowl of porridge from earlier." She wanted to see how big a wave the Liu Niangniangs could stir up.

  Old Lady Gui's words suddenly reminded Su Ying: "The old ancestor's death anniversary is in half a month."

  It's like a bolt of enlightenment striking one's head.

  Su Ying suddenly understood what Liu Yiniang was up to. Fu Ye Yang had been following his grandmother since he was a child, and the two had a very close relationship. Liu Yiniang had originally served under Fu's grandmother and had common ground with Fu Ye Yang in this regard. Liu Yiniang's embroidery of Buddhist scriptures was just an attempt to catch Fu Ye Yang's attention and evoke his sympathy by using his grandmother's memorial day as leverage.

  Since it's like this, then it would be a waste if Fu Yiyang didn't know about the painstaking efforts that went into this. Wouldn't that be a pity?

  So Su Ying told Fu Yeyang about it, "I heard from the servants that she was embroidering Buddhist scriptures until midnight every day and didn't rest. She was also very stubborn and insisted on not saying anything, even when the servants advised her to stop, she wouldn't listen. That's why she fell ill. Fortunately, it's nothing serious, just drink a few doses of medicine and rest for a few days."

  Fu Yiyang didn't say anything at the time, but the next day he had someone send over some medicinal herbs. It seems that Fu Yiyang knew that Liu Niang's embroidered Buddhist scriptures were for praying for blessings for his grandmother.

  This curve-saving method is still quite useful for people like Fu Yiyang who are sensitive and lack love, Aunt Liu's idea is good, but this matter is overdone.

  Liu Yiniang was so pleased with herself that she originally wanted to invite Fu Yiyang to share her merits, and took the opportunity to roll over and propose a more sincere and thoughtful idea. She wanted to recite scriptures and pray for blessings for their ancestors. Fu Yiyang didn't think so much about it, and estimated that he was quite moved, and readily agreed.

  Su Ying knew about it and expressed strong support, and also arranged for a small Buddhist temple, with everything prepared, including the Buddha statue, incense burner, and cushions. When doing things, one should do them thoroughly. After Liu Niang's illness was cured, she went to the small Buddhist temple to recite scriptures and pray for blessings. From morning till night, she stayed in the temple, even holding a lantern, and still had to kneel while reciting scriptures. This time, let's see if Liu Niang still has the energy to jump around.

  Su Ying also specially instructed the people below to serve Liu Niang with all their heart, not to be stingy with big fish and meat, and must let Liu Niang come back, not eating enough where is the energy to recite scriptures. Fu Yeyang's favorability towards Liu Niang has also increased a lot, and the rewards have gradually increased.

  Su Ying seemed to have no change, as if she didn't put the ancestor's taboo day in her heart. At first, there was a contrast with Liu Niang's piety, and Fu Yeyang couldn't help but feel some dissatisfaction. However, gradually, he discovered something unusual.

  The decorations in the house have been replaced with more elegant and simple ones; unintentionally, I smelled the scent of sandalwood again; there are more vegetarian dishes on the table, if he hadn't come to eat, no meat dishes would be placed on the table; a stack of Buddhist scriptures with beautiful handwriting, it doesn't look like something that can be written in just a few days...

  In this way, Fu Yeyang's heart was even more deeply moved by the silent and subtle memorial service for Fa Zi. Moreover, Su Ying had never complained or boasted in front of him before, nor had she made a scene that everyone knew about. It seemed as if it was originally something she should do, and she did it with sincerity and wholeheartedness.

  Fu Yiyang observed these and thought of his original wife who also didn't say anything when doing things, now looking at her felt especially lovely. When he went to Liu Niang's place, the table full of big fish and meat, Liu Niang's rosy complexion, comparing the two sides, it was clear which one was better.

  Fu Yiyang turned and left, and Liu Yiniang was stunned. She had no idea what she did to offend Fu Yiyang. After the little maid found out that Fu Yiyang went to the main courtyard after leaving her place, Liu Yiniang's carefully trimmed nails dug into her flesh without her even noticing, and her normally charming face looked particularly ferocious due to its twisted expression.

  When Fu Yiyang went to the main hall, Su Ying was in the small Buddhist temple, with incense wafting gently. As soon as she entered the room, a cold fragrance hit her face. Su Ying inserted the three lit incense sticks into the incense burner, gazing at the Guanyin statue in the Buddhist altar, muttering to herself.

  Su Ying didn't originally believe in these things, but if doing so could make herself feel more at ease, Su Ying was also willing to do it, for the sake of her original family, for that unborn child, and for her past self.

  Fu Yiyang stood outside the door and heard her words, suddenly feeling as if his throat was blocked by cotton balls, guilt and pity were hooked out again, mixed together and gradually fermented.

  ps：

  The update is a bit late~