Still asking for the best? Dream on.
Chen Tingfeng ignored the man and only looked at Lady Bai, nodding slightly at her.
Lady Bai naturally knew he had his reasons, so she said, "In that case, Huan Yun can stay. She'll live in the Begonia Pear Courtyard. Nanny Li, take the maids to clean it up first."
There were few people in the Marquis Mansion, and several of the back - yard courtyards were unoccupied. Although maids occasionally went to clean them and check for insect damage, they were not thoroughly cleaned, and it was probably covered in dust.
Chen Huanyun was overjoyed. Seeing Lady Bai's calm look, she quickly suppressed her joy, but a hint of it still showed in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. "Yes, Auntie."
Seeing Chen Tingfeng keep the girl, Xie Yan was a bit confused, but then he remembered that Chen Tingfeng had just extorted three hundred taels with a few words. He couldn't help but give him a thumbs - up.
If this guy went into business, he'd surely be a notorious unscrupulous merchant.
Chen Yi was quite proud when he saw his goal achieved.
If his daughter could really get in with the powerful and even become a princess consort of a prince, he'd surely have his day of glory.
By then, he'd trample on the Marquis Mansion and anyone else!
The commotion of cleaning the courtyard was quite loud. Fu Zhen was practicing calligraphy in the study. She faintly heard the noise and lost her concentration. A heavy stroke ruined the whole calligraphy work.
She frowned involuntarily. "Cui Huan, what's going on?"
Cui Huan was standing under the eaves outside the study. Hearing this, she opened the door and replied, "Nanny Li is leading people to clean the adjacent Begonia Pear Courtyard. They said Miss Huanyun is going to live there."
Fu Zhen was stunned. She immediately remembered Chen Huanyun, who had glared at her on Chinese New Year's Eve. She raised her eyebrows. Was she going to move in?
She gradually realized that Chen Huanyun probably had the same intention as her, trying to climb up the social ladder through the Marquis Mansion.
"Do we still have the silk cords I made?"
"Yes, Miss. There are three left, but no jade stones are attached to them," Cui Huan thought for a moment and replied.
Sometimes when Fu Zhen got tired of reading, she would make a few silk cords to pass the time. They were just casually made, and she planned to give them to the maids as rewards someday. So she only tied a few small silver bells on them.
It would be too shabby as a gift.
But Chen Huanyun was so hostile to her. Why should she offer good things to her? After a brief thought, she said, "Go to the storeroom and find a jade stone. It doesn't need to be too precious, just make sure there are no flaws on the surface so that it's suitable for gifting. After you find it, ask Biyu to attach the jade stone. Send it to Chen Huanyun as soon as she moves in."
Cui Huan answered and withdrew.
Fu Zhen looked at her ruined calligraphy work and suddenly felt restless.
In the front yard.
Chen Huanyun followed Chen Yi home to pack her things, and the Second Prince also left. After seeing only the two of them left in the yard, Lady Bai couldn't help but give her son a sidelong glance. "Tell me what your intention is in keeping her?"
What was his intention? Chen Tingfeng lowered his eyes and stroked the sachet. He didn't really have any deep - seated intention. He just wanted to make things uncomfortable for a certain two people.
"That family is so annoying. I might as well give them a little sweetness," Chen Tingfeng said calmly. "Besides, don't you always complain about being bored?"
He was going to use Chen Huanyun as a bird to be toyed with.
Lady Bai intuitively felt that he wasn't telling the whole truth, but in her opinion, it wasn't a big deal to have one more female member in the Marquis Mansion, so she didn't press further.
"The banquet will be held tomorrow. I'll have someone send you the guest list later. Check it carefully to see if there are any omissions. If there are, write the invitation cards and send them out quickly to avoid being impolite tomorrow," Lady Bai instructed.
She actually had a lot of things to do. Sending the list to her son to deal with would also relieve her of some burden.
Chen Tingfeng nodded. "Thank you, Mother."
In the carriage.
Chen Yi leaned against the carriage wall, sipping from a wine flask from time to time. He was shaking his head and feet, looking like a smug little man.
Chen Huanyun couldn't stand his behavior. She gave him a disdainful look. "Father, Uncle is right. Mother has worked so hard to support the family, and you still spend money recklessly. Look at what you've become!"
"Hey!" Chen Yi sat up abruptly and scolded, "Are you lecturing your father now? If it weren't for me just now, do you think you could have entered the Marquis Mansion?"
Chen Huanyun's face darkened. "If you weren't so useless, we wouldn't have to kowtow to the Marquis Mansion!"
"Uncle and you have the same father. How come he can inherit the Marquis Mansion while you're driven out to live in a small courtyard and struggle to make ends meet?"
Chen Yi slammed the wine cup down. Chen Huanyun was so frightened that she let out a scream. "Dad, what are you doing!"
Chen Yi sneered, his face distorted. "Since you like your uncle so much, should I give you to him as an adopted daughter? Let you enjoy the blessings of a noble girl from the Marquis Mansion? Huh?"
Chen Huanyun looked at him fearfully, afraid that he might hit her. Although she still thought he was useless, she didn't provoke him anymore. She just comforted him, "You only have me as a daughter. Do you really want to give me away? Who will take care of you in your old age?"
Maybe it was because he had spent too much time in the entertainment district and drunk too much dirty wine. Over the years, besides his daughter Chen Huanyun, he couldn't have any other children.
Chen Yi had suspected that it was his wife who couldn't bear children, but the doctors all said she was healthy. And he had concubines in his house, but still no children were born. Only then did he realize that it might be his own problem.
His face looked ugly, but thinking that he still had to rely on his daughter for a better life in the future, he snorted and lay down again.
"Your grandfather thought I was a concubine's son and useless. He hardly ever looked at me since I was a child. No matter how hard I studied, I could never compare to that brute!" Chen Yi said bitterly. "If it weren't for the suspicion that your mother couldn't give birth to a son, I wouldn't have taken concubines into the house even if I had spent all my time having fun outside."
"A concubine's son will always be inferior!"
He suddenly looked at Chen Huanyun, staring at her intently. "So, Huanyun, our whole family's hope is on you. You must never, ever be a concubine!"
Chen Huanyun pursed her lips. Chen Yi shouted, "Do you hear me!"
"I understand, Father," she replied.
Seeing that she had agreed, Chen Yi's expression softened. He returned to his lazy and slovenly look. "Drop me off at the brothel later. You can go back to the mansion by yourself."
Chen Huanyun frowned. "Father, won't you accompany me there?"
"You're not a baby anymore. Besides, none of the people in the Marquis Mansion will give me a friendly look. Whoever wants to humiliate themselves in front of them can go. I'm not going," he said, shaking his legs. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have visited them these few times. So, Huanyun, if you ever become successful in the future, don't forget your old father!"
Chen Huanyun was annoyed by his irresponsible attitude. She angrily pulled her handkerchief and looked away, thinking out of sight, out of mind.