These words startled the two women present, as well as the maids and elderly nannies in the room, causing them all to widen their eyes in disbelief. How could this be!
Yan Changfeng sighed to herself, "Maternal Grandmother said that Eldest Sister's birth chart is too weak, and a prestigious household like the Song Guogong Mansion needs a Wife of the Heir with a more robust fate. Therefore, their marriage is simply not possible. However, the marital alliance between the two families cannot be abandoned. As for me, my temperament has never been to Maternal Grandmother's liking. She said I am not suited for a high-ranking family, so that won't work either. That leaves only Third Brother. The Duke of Song has a legitimate daughter, so Maternal Grandmother wanted to inquire about Third Brother's birth date and time."
Lady Yao, upon hearing that the marriage was off, was already feeling unsettled. When she heard the latter part, she knew Second Miss was talking nonsense, because she was aware that her mother would never inquire about Third Sister's marriage.
Yaoniang's composure, however, was thrown into disarray by this. She hurriedly declined, "This is likely inappropriate! Changqing is of humble origins and may not be worthy of a noble lady from such a prestigious family!"
Her words sounded like she was mindful of her status and dared not aim too high, but her reaction seemed a bit too hasty. Yan Changfeng did not believe that a mother could be completely indifferent to her own flesh and blood's future.
Logically, precisely because Third Brother was of humble origins, he would need to marry into a higher status. Marrying a legitimate daughter of a duke's mansion would be akin to changing his destiny. Such an opportunity would be impossible for anyone to remain entirely unmoved by.
Unless she believed her son had an even brighter future ahead.
If, as Eldest Sister had said, this mother and son would eventually take control of the Yan Family, with its immense wealth ensuring a lifetime of comfort, that would indeed be a hundred times better than bowing and scraping in a high-ranking household.
"What you say does make sense. Whether marrying up or marrying down, the lesser party always faces some dissatisfaction." Yan Changfeng did not press her at all. "Since you are unwilling, I will simply relay this to Maternal Grandmother."
Yaoniang breathed a sigh of relief, her expression returning to its usual composure as if nothing had just happened. "Thank you for your trouble, Second Miss. I know my place and dare not aim too high."
"Let's talk about something happier." Yan Changfeng abruptly changed the subject. "I just received news from Father. He said he will make it back in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival."
Upon hearing this, Yaoniang's figure stiffened abruptly. Her once fluid and graceful posture instantly became forced, as if a pillar of confidence within her had collapsed, leaving her unable to maintain her surface calm. She could only feign composure with a rigid stiffness.
Yan Changfeng took in her expression and smiled. "Father loves crab the most. This year's crabs are plump and delicious. I'll have more sent over. Yaoniang is the best at cooking crab, so it's up to you."
"Thank heavens! Before the master left, he said he likely wouldn't make it back for Mid-Autumn Festival. I was quite regretful about it, but now it's turned into a pleasant surprise." Yaoniang's face lit up with a smile, her delight overflowing. "I'm not skilled at much else, but I am good at preparing a few small dishes. Just hand over however many crabs there are to me."
Yan Changfeng had to admit that Yaoniang was very adept at controlling her emotions. If she weren't already suspicious of her intentions, she might have been completely fooled by her masterful performance.
She also smiled along. "Then this year, thanks to Yaoniang, we'll have a treat to enjoy!"
Afterwards, the three of them discussed a few more matters regarding the Mid-Autumn Festival dishes before Yaoniang left.
Once she was gone, Yan Changfeng's smile faded. She summoned the steward, Nanny Feng, to ask, "Nanny, has Yaoniang gone out these past two days?"
Nanny Feng replied, "The day before yesterday, she went to Yuhuchun to have tea and listen to music with Concubine Zhang."
Yan Changfeng nodded, "I'll have to trouble you to keep watching. From when the inner gate is locked tonight until it's unlocked tomorrow morning, keep an eye on everyone coming and going from her courtyard. Note who they contact and what they deliver—be sure to inform me of everything."
Nanny Feng acknowledged, "Rest assured, Second Miss."
As soon as Nanny Feng left, Lady Yao couldn't hold back any longer. "Xueyi, what exactly are you keeping from me?"
Yan Changfeng didn't answer directly, instead handing Lady Yao the letter from the Grand Princess. "Maternal Grandmother is sharp. She asked how Eldest Sister has been lately—she might have sensed something amiss."
Lady Yao quickly skimmed the few lines in the letter, rubbing her brow anxiously. "Your grandmother hasn't heard anything about Pei Yu's improper conduct either. She only mentioned he already has two concubines in his quarters. But almost every young master has concubines—how can we judge whether he'll neglect his wife for his concubines in the future based on that? Without proper grounds, and with your sister showing no signs of improvement day by day, what are we supposed to say?"
"If it's hard to explain, then tell the truth. Do you still expect to hide it when Eldest Sister is in this state?" Yan Changfeng's earlier probing had already convinced her eighty percent that Yaoniang was involved. That made her even more determined not to gamble with her sister's lifelong happiness.
Lady Yao opened her mouth, her emotions in turmoil. On one hand, she revered the gods and spirits; on the other, she clung to hope. If the Pei family's young master turned out to be fine, wouldn't it be a pity to cancel such a good marriage?
Besides, if word got out that Changying had gone mad, her entire future would be ruined!
Yan Changfeng understood her mother's thoughts perfectly but didn't press her. She simply said, "Mother, there are some things I can't tell you right now. Perhaps by tomorrow, you'll have made a decision."
Yan Changfeng didn't sleep that night.
Yaoniang's obvious panic upon learning that Father had narrowly escaped death proved she hadn't expected him to return alive—meaning she had a hand in the attempt on his life.
But as a woman, she clearly couldn't have managed it alone. There must be accomplices, and upon learning the plan had failed, she would surely rush to consult with the mastermind behind it. Either before the gates were locked that night or as soon as they were unlocked the next morning. Yan Changfeng feared she might oversleep.
Sure enough, as soon as the inner gate was unlocked in the morning, news came from Yaoniang's side.
"Second Miss!"
Nanny Feng arrived hurriedly, draped in the early autumn morning dew, her voice hushed outside the room. "Are you awake?"
Yan Changfeng sprang from her bed, pulling on her outer robe as she opened the door. "What happened?"
Nanny Feng covered her mouth and whispered, "This morning, a maid from Yaoniang's room went out to empty the chamber pot and secretly slipped a letter to the night soil collector. I intercepted it."
As she spoke, she handed Yan Changfeng the letter hidden in her sleeve.
"Did anyone notice?" Yan Changfeng unfolded the letter, her eyes flickering slightly.
"Don't worry, no one saw. The night soil collector was just doing a paid job. Now that he's been caught, he wouldn't dare oppose the Yan family. Besides, even if he tried to help Yaoniang, he couldn't enter the estate before tomorrow. I saw the letter sets a meeting for noon today."
Yan Changfeng refolded the letter exactly as it was and handed it back to Nanny Feng. Yawning repeatedly after a sleepless night, she said, "Return it to the night soil collector. Tell him to deliver it carefully to the intended recipient. As long as he keeps his mouth shut, I'll grant him the most profitable night soil route in Yangzhou Fu. But if he dares to act smart and inform on us, tell him Yangzhou Fu doesn't lack families like his. No matter what powerful backer he turns to, I can still toss his entire family to the ends of the earth."
Nanny Feng shuddered at her stream of yawns. "Yes, I'll go right away!"
Three quarters of an hour before noon, Yan Changfeng waited with several people in a tavern across from Yuhuchun.
It was still early for the time Yaoniang had arranged. Sitting by the window, she glanced idly at the opposite side from time to time, her mind filled with the words her eldest sister had said.
Now it was basically confirmed that Father was in danger. Assuming everything she said was true, she claimed Father was gone, and then Mother followed him in death—this was entirely possible. Although Mother was a delicate young lady who couldn’t handle anything, she was fiercely loyal in matters of the heart. This could be seen from how she defied Maternal Grandmother back then and insisted on marrying Father.
Then Yaoniang and Third Sister seized the family property and drove the two sisters out of the house. This point, however, Yan Changfeng found a bit hard to believe.
Although she didn’t manage the household, she was confident she still had a say in the family. From the shopkeepers outside to the servants and old maids inside, far more people listened to her than to Third Sister. So how could Yaoniang take control of the entire Yan Family in such a short time? This was something she couldn’t figure out no matter how hard she thought.
"Second Miss, look!"
At that moment, a follower suddenly reminded her to look across the street.
Yan Changfeng focused her gaze and saw an inconspicuous sedan chair stopping at the entrance of Yuhuchun. From it descended a master with a plump and greasy appearance. With such an excessively wealthy physique, there was no second person like him in all of Yangzhou Fu.
It was none other than Zhang Mingshun, the head of the Zhang Family.
Well, having tea with a concubine of the Zhang Family? Yaoniang really knew how to lie with her eyes wide open. Where could the Zhang Family afford to keep such a plump concubine!
Yan Changfeng narrowed her eyes, watching Zhang Mingshun enter Yuhuchun, and ordered the followers beside her, "Send two clever brothers to follow him."
"Yes, Second Miss!"