Xie Yan was worried about Concubine Rou, so he quickly bid farewell and left.
After walking out of the Marquis Mansion, he picked up the sachet in his hand and took a sniff. It did smell of mint and borneol. But he still remembered what Chen Tingfeng had said, "Stay away from her." He lowered his eyes and thought for a moment. "Take this sachet to Imperial Physician Liu for a check."
If there was nothing wrong, that would be the best. But if there was really something added... Since Chen Tingfeng, as his cousin, couldn't do much, he would handle it himself.
With that, he strode into the night.
Inside the Marquis Mansion, Fu Zhen's shy look disappeared. She carefully recalled Xie Yan's expression just now in her mind.
If she wasn't mistaken, Xie Yan's first reaction when he saw her wasn't surprise but vigilance.
He was sizing her up.
Everything had been fine when they were watching the fireworks. But after staying in Chen Tingfeng's courtyard for a while, he became vigilant.
Fu Zhen closed her eyes and gritted her teeth secretly.
Chen Tingfeng!
I didn't plan to deal with you this lifetime, so why do you have to make things difficult for me?
Cui Huan gently supported Fu Zhen. "Miss, there's still one sachet left to give away."
Fu Zhen had prepared the sachets long ago. There was one for the marquis, one for the madam, one for Chen Tingfeng, and one for Xie Yan.
Now only Chen Tingfeng was left to receive his sachet.
The thought of being secretly schemed against by Chen Tingfeng and still having to give him a sachet made Fu Zhen's anger rise.
She stood there and took a few deep breaths, trying hard to suppress the nameless anger. Then she resumed her usual gentle look. "Let's go. Let's go and give the sachet to cousin."
When they reached the door, Fu Zhen gently knocked on the courtyard gate. The door was immediately opened. When Yuanbao saw it was her, he quickly bowed. "Greetings, Second Miss. Please come in, Second Miss."
Fu Zhen quickly stopped him and said softly, "Cousin is busy. I won't go in. It's nothing important anyway."
"I made a sachet as a New - Year gift for cousin. Please trouble Steward Yuanbao to pass it on for me. I wish cousin a successful result in the imperial examination and to be on the list of successful candidates next year."
"Hey, this servant will surely deliver the gift and your words. Please rest assured, Second Miss!" Yuanbao said respectfully while taking the sachet.
Fu Zhen looked at him and smiled. "I also wish Steward Yuanbao a happy New Year and good health next year."
Yuanbao's face immediately broke into a big smile. "Thank you, Second Miss! With Second Miss's kind words, this servant will surely have a smooth year next year without any illness!"
"Yuanbao." They heard a call from inside the house. It was Chen Tingfeng's voice.
Fu Zhen didn't want to see this villain who had spoken ill of her to Xie Yan behind her back at this moment. So she said to Yuanbao, "Then I'll leave first."
"Take care, Second Miss!" Yuanbao bowed and watched her leave. Then he rushed to the bedroom door and knocked. "This servant is here. What are your orders, Young Master?"
Chen Tingfeng came out with his semi - wet long hair loose. He looked at Yuanbao calmly. "Where have you been?"
Yuanbao grinned. "This servant was just at the courtyard gate. Second Miss came just now and gave a sachet to the Young Master."
Saying that, he raised his hand and showed the sachet in front of Chen Tingfeng. "Second Miss also wished the Young Master to be on the list of successful candidates next year!"
Chen Tingfeng lowered his eyes and looked. The sachet for him was a dark blue one with bamboo patterns. The bamboo was embroidered with silver thread, and the falling bamboo leaves seemed to be frozen in mid - air. It was embroidered vividly.
She had learned the embroidery skills from a rural embroideress, but she could embroider as well as the embroideresses in the capital. She was indeed quite capable.
He took the sachet and played with it in his hand. A cool breath came over. He lowered his head and sniffed. His black hair fell on his cheeks, making his features look even more handsome.
"Peppermint leaves, borneol, patchouli..." he murmured, naming the various spices in the sachet.
Few people knew that his sense of smell was extremely sensitive.
In just a short while, he had named all the spices in the sachet. He played with it for a while and then threw the sachet back to Yuanbao. "Find a place to put it away properly."
It was just another of her little tricks to win people over. He didn't think much of it.
When the firecrackers went off at dawn, the new year officially began.
Although the relatives of the Marquis Mansion didn't interact much on weekdays, it was the Chinese New Year after all. In the past few days, people came to pay New - Year visits and send gifts from time to time.
Madam Bai would occasionally call Fu Zhen over to meet the guests. The relatives she met were all good - tempered, and there were even gifts for Fu Zhen among those they brought.
As for those ill - tempered relatives, Madam Bai didn't even want to see them herself. She just did some superficial courtesy and then asked the servants to see them off.
Among them, Chen Huanyun's family was the most noticeable.
No one knew what Chen Huanyun had said when she went home last time, but this time when they came to pay a visit, Fu Zhen's nominal fourth uncle also came.
When they came, Fu Zhen was having breakfast with Madam Bai. Before she could finish a bowl of bird's nest porridge, the gatekeeper rushed in to report. "Madam, the Fourth Master's family is here."
Madam Bai frowned as soon as she heard this. She asked the servants to remove the food on the table and told them to wait in the reception hall. Then she stood up and asked the maid to tidy up her hair and dress. "Their family is the most annoying. Zhenzhen, you can just sit here. You don't need to go and see them."
Fu Zhen still remembered the glare Chen Huanyun had given her last time. Now that she had come, how could Fu Zhen sit still? She quickly said to Madam Bai, "Since they're annoying, Zhenzhen should accompany aunt even more. Zhenzhen is not the kind of person who runs away at the crucial moment."
Madam Bai was amused by her. "You little rascal! Well, since you want to go, then go with me. It's good for you to meet your fourth uncle and know what he looks like. In the future, you can avoid him when you see him on the street."
Her words were full of disdain for this fourth younger brother.
Fu Zhen thought about this person. He didn't seem to have appeared in her past life. Most likely, he was an unimportant character.
When they arrived at the reception hall, they saw Chen Yi with a sullen face.
When he saw Madam Bai, he immediately started to mock. "Haven't seen you for a few years, but Big Sister - in - law's temper is still the same."
Three years ago, Chen Yi saw Chen Tingfeng in a brothel once. He thought Chen Tingfeng was also a dissipated young master. For some unknown reason, the next day he brought a brothel girl to the mansion and said he wanted her to be Chen Tingfeng's concubine.
Madam Bai was so angry that she scolded him in front of the servants in the Marquis Mansion for being shameless. She scolded him so severely that he lost a lot of face.
Maybe he had held a grudge against her in the past few years and never came to pay a New - Year visit. Who would have thought that he would come this year.
Madam Bai slowly sat on the upper seat. She calmly glanced at him and let out a meaningful snort. "Doesn't Fourth Brother, a scholar, even know the principle of 'guests should follow the host's wishes'?"
"You!" Chen Yi was immediately enraged and was about to scold. Seeing this, Chen Huanyun quickly stopped him and gave him a look.
Chen Yi doted on his daughter to some extent. Besides, he hadn't achieved his goal for this visit yet, so he reluctantly held back his anger. He flicked his sleeve and sat down on the chair.
Chen Huanyun stepped forward, looking apologetic. "Just now, my father's words were inappropriate and offended aunt. Huanyun is here to apologize to aunt. I hope aunt will forgive me."
Madam Bai had long known what kind of person Chen Yi was. If she got angry with him every time, she would have been angry to death long ago.
She picked up the tea and took a sip. She didn't respond to Chen Huanyun immediately. After putting the teacup on the table, she finally smiled. "Huanyun is still sensible. Don't just stand there. Sit down."