As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.
She had once helped Yunhe change his dressing and seeing the child's skin, devoid of any smooth flesh, had pained her deeply as a mother.
To now learn that this was not a natural disaster but a man-made tragedy, how could she not hate the culprit?
"If there were a knife before me, I would stab her to death and be done with it, a life for a life! I would never let the one who harmed my son live on!" For the first time, her hatred for Linlang ran bone-deep.
Feng Jinxu sighed and pulled her into his embrace, whispering words of comfort, "How could I not know your pain? I am Yunhe's father, and seeing him suffer so much pains me as well. However, the Feng family comes first, and we are both caught in this situation. We had no choice but to send her to Ying Tian Fu. Rest assured, her crimes will be brought to light. With three charges combined, she won't be able to survive."
Hearing his words, Madam Wen felt a little better. She didn't know if this child would be a boy or a girl. She had no pregnancy discomforts, her cravings were bizarre, and she cried easily, tears flowing at the slightest discomfort.
Gently wiping the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, Feng Jinxu held her slightly cold hand, offering constant reassurance.
When the two had calmed down and emerged, they were somewhat surprised to see Hehuan standing in the hall.
"Why have you come over? You should be resting. I heard the maid attending to you say you often have headaches," Madam Wen said immediately, echoing Zhu Jin's earlier "complaint."
Hehuan, grateful for Madam Wen's kindness, had come specifically to express her gratitude. With a smile, she said, "Thank you, Madam, for your concern. This servant is much better. I heard Sister Yue Gui say you are pregnant, so I came to offer my congratulations."
Seeing Hehuan's improved complexion, Madam Wen's recent unpleasantness vanished. Indeed, with her two children by her side and another on the way, why dwell on the past? It was better to look forward.
"Get up. You should also take care of yourself. It's cold in winter; try not to go out too much. I heard your brother say he has found a good place for you to live. You can leave the manor in the spring, and things will be easier then."
With that, she asked Zhu Jin to fetch a small box from inside and handed it to Hehuan. Inside were her deed of sale and servant registry.
Hehuan was so surprised to receive these documents so easily that she was momentarily at a loss.
"Your brother works diligently in the manor and takes good care of the young master. The incident last time was ultimately my fault for implicating you, causing you to lie ill for so long. So, take this deed of sale and go live a good life after leaving the manor."
The box also contained a hundred taels of silver notes, enough for an ordinary family to live on for half a lifetime.
"Madam..." Hehuan didn't know what to say at that moment. She had lost her mother at a young age, and her stepmother had always been indifferent to her. If not for her brother, she would have no family left in this world.
After entering the manor, the entire courtyard was filled with kind people, and no one had ever bullied her. Only Concubine Linlang had come to cause trouble, but she had been taught a lesson.
Madam was gentle and generous to her subordinates. Sister Zhu Jin, Sister Yue Gui, and He Hua were all close to her. Although her time here was not long, she had experienced a long-lost sense of affection and did not wish to leave.
Thinking of this, she immediately knelt down, her face resolute, and said, "Please, Madam, do not send me away. My brother is my only family. Since entering the manor, you and the sisters have taken great care of me. I do not wish to leave you."
Normally, a maid receiving her deed of sale would jump for joy. But she was different; not only did she buy her freedom, but she was also reluctant to leave. It was truly a strange occurrence.
However, everyone had witnessed her conduct in the courtyard during these days, and they all liked her. Since Concubine Linlang was no longer in the manor, if she truly wished to stay, it was not impossible.
"Discuss this matter with your brother again. I see he hopes you will leave the manor soon."
"I will speak with my brother. I implore Madam to reconsider her decision."
With that, she pushed the box containing the deed of sale back into Zhu Jin's hands, which made Madam Wen feel both amused and exasperated.
She gave Zhu Jin a look, signaling her to help Hehuan up, and then turned to Feng Jinxu, who had been silent beside her, and asked, "What do you think, Master?"
Taking a sip of tea, Feng Jinxu had no interest in whether Hehuan stayed or not. He was merely concerned that Madam Wen, being pregnant and having to care for two children, would be more at ease with an extra capable person by her side.
He said, "Let her take care of Yunhe. That courtyard is close to yours, and it would be convenient if Fu Yi wanted to see his sister."
Madam Wen's courtyard was for the female residents, and Fu Yi could not easily enter unless Feng Jinxu accompanied him.
However, Yunhe's courtyard was much more accessible. Moreover, Hehuan was inherently meticulous, making her suitable for caring for Yunhe.
"That's a good idea. But don't overexert yourself. If you feel unwell, come back and rest, understand?" Madam Wen instructed. Although Yunhe had someone looking after him, having Hehuan there would give her even more peace of mind.
Hehuan was overjoyed to receive a task that did not require her to leave the manor!
Serving in the young master's courtyard would not only alleviate her brother's worries but also allow her to work harmoniously with everyone and see the young master. Such a good opportunity made her eager to kowtow her thanks and then rush off to take care of him. It was Yue Gui who told her to slow down from behind.
When Fu Yi saw Hehuan, he knew that the matter of her leaving the manor could not be resolved and sighed.
"Brother, don't be angry. You said I would be living alone after leaving the manor, and I might not see you often. Now, in the young master's courtyard, you can visit me when you have time. Isn't that great? You know the character of Madam and the young master. With them here, who would dare bully me? Besides, that concubine is in prison now, so don't worry."
"Alas, you've always been stubborn since childhood. You insist on doing things you're told not to. Fine, serving in the young master's courtyard is acceptable. We'll talk about future matters later."
With that, he pressed a few pressure points on her body. When Hehuan realized what had happened, she looked at Fu Yi with surprise and joy.
"Brother, you're letting me practice martial arts?"
He reached out and scratched her hair. She had secretly practiced martial arts when she was younger. Although her skills were not exceptional, she could defend herself. He actually regretted sealing her acupoints, otherwise, she wouldn't have been so severely injured when Concubine Linlang attacked.
"Recover first and practice the moves you remember. In a deep and large manor, knowing some martial arts for self-preservation will put my mind at ease when I'm outside."
Hehuan nodded vigorously. She had wanted to learn martial arts since childhood, but after her brother discovered it, he completely abandoned her aspirations. Now that her acupoints were unsealed, she wouldn't be afraid even if she practiced diligently every day.