Hello Xiao Bao
Feng Yuheng’s expected voice caused Fendai’s arrogance to quickly die down. The once arrogant girl was stunned from hearing her second sister’s voice. The hands that were resting on her hips dropped to her sides, and her shouting came to a stop. She just stood there in a daze with her back facing Feng Yuheng for a long time.
Just when Huang Quan was about to lose her patience and ask her what she was doing, Feng Fendai turned around and faced Feng Yuheng. Feng Yuheng saw that her complexion was not too good, but it was not a result of sickness. It seemed as though she had not been able to sleep well for a few days, as there were dark bags under her eyes.
“What sort of fuss are you causing?” Her tone had also calmed down. Two lives of experience had allowed her to see that Feng Fendai’s mood had already begun to change in the other direction since her arrival. That sort of direction was not fear. Instead, it was a bit of emotional and a sort of sad and dreary feeling that came from a change in the situation.
Feng Fendai had not seen her second sister for a long time. Even after Feng Yuheng returned to the capital, the two had not met once. When Feng Yuheng had just spoken, she felt that this second sister was still the same second sister as before, and she was still pushy and overbearing while also refusing to give people a way out. Even after getting married, she still maintained that same fierce attitude as when she was in the Feng manor. But what of herself?
Why did she feel as though she had gotten old over just a few years? If this was in the past, when Feng Yuheng spoke like this, she definitely would have done everything possible to fight back. Even if she knew that she could not win in the slightest against her second sister, she would still want to get a word in. In the past, she only did things for the sake of a thrill, and she did it without any concern for the ramifications. As long as her temper flared up, she would dare to offend anyone. But now, she knew fear and knew how to weigh the pros and cons. She also knew what sort of person she could afford to offend and which ones she could not.
Looking again at Feng Yuheng, all of the memories from her time in the Feng manor flashed through her mind, and she could not help but smile bitterly, as she gently muttered: “Past me, just how much confidence did you have that you would actually think that you could defeat her?” After saying this, she looked at Yao An and still said with some reluctance: “Shopkeeper Yao, unable to handle this yourself, you went to call for reinforcements.” She was Feng Fendai. How could she just accept her loss without saying something? Straightening out her posture, she then turned to Feng Yuheng and said: “Second sister, I did not come today with the intention of causing a commotion. I just wanted to take back my younger brother and hope that second sister will help accomplish this.” After saying this, she quietly lowered her gaze and softened her tone a great deal: “You also know that there aren’t many people left in the Feng family. The current residence is under his name, and I don’t want to live there. His Highness the fifth prince arranged another place for me, and I will be moving there tomorrow. I also found the deed for that Feng residence in father’s study.” While she spoke, she pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Feng Yuheng, “Now, you are the eldest sister. It will be handled however you want! Whether it’s sold or kept, I don’t have any opinions. But you must let me take that child away. Just treat it as taking pity on me. I don’t want to be all alone.”
Her tone was miserable, and though there was a faint look of hatred on her face without the slightest trace of familial love, these sorts of words made Feng Yuheng feel emotional. Ever since she was young, this child refused to admit defeat and was never reconciled with her position as a daughter of a concubine; however, she never knew how to change this situation in a proper way. Even getting engaged to the fifth prince was not enough to satisfy her vain heart. Instead, it caused her to become even prouder. She did not know how to advise against it. Perhaps this was the foundation of the Feng family, and Fendai’s personality was the same as that of the Feng family’s, while Xiang Rong was closer to An shi. That was why she could give Xiangrong a hand but was powerless to help Fendai.
Continuing to look at this younger sister with an indifferent gaze, Feng Yuheng said: “If you say it like this, I can agree to it, but that child is over two years old. Whether he leaves or stays and whom he lives with, we must ask for his opinion.” After saying this, she said to the clerk from Hundred Herb Hall: “Go and call the granny to bring the child out.” After saying this, she looked at Feng Fendai and said after a bit of a thought: “I know that there are some things that you will refuse to listen to, and I don’t have any intention of saying them to you often, but since we have run into each other today, I will tell you a bit. In the end, who told me to be your second sister. Fendai, you’re also growing up and need to know what sort of things should and should not be said. You also need to know what sort of actions to take to fit the situation. Only like this can you act more suited to your status. What you want to become like is up to you to decide. I don’t believe that the late Chen shi was particularly great, nor do I feel like Chen shi was someone worthy of praise. If you have the heart, take good care of His Highness the fifth prince. Only like that can you have someone to rely on for your entire life. Even if you learn from your mother and become able to capture a man’s heart, it’s better than copying Chen shi.”
“Second sister is lecturing me.” Fendai shrugged and laughed, “You feel that what I said when you just stepped in was very unpleasant, right? But that’s just who I am, a daughter of a concubine who cannot be presented. How could I possibly compare to someone as noble as you? If this was not the case, why would I have bothered coming here today to ask you in such a meek tone?”
While she spoke, the granny had come out with a two-year-old boy. The young child still had dark skin; however, he was much sturdier than before. The granny needed to trot along behind him to keep up.
Feng Fendai tried to see some of Feng Jinyuan’s features in the boy’s face, but she had no choice but to give up after trying a few times. They really did not look alike!
Who knew if it was a matter of blood ties, but the child arrived in the hall and looked all around before his gaze landed on Feng Fendai. Letting go of the granny’s hand, he happily ran over to Fendai. Without saying a word, he just rubbed his round and chubby little face against her leg.
Fendai’s heart melted, as she squatted down to pick the child up, asking: “Do you want to go home with big sister? Do you want to live together with big sister?”
The child nodded with a smile. Thinking a little bit, he said with a very baby-like tone: “Yes.”
Once this was said, even Feng Yuheng had no choice but to feel completely convinced. In the end, this was a matter of blood relations. That sort of bond was something that someone so young could not ignore. Looking at Fendai, she also had a completely earnest expression, thus she did not continue to advise against it, only saying to Fendai: “He’s your younger brother. You can take him away if you want!”
Fendai nodded then pulled out a banknote from her sleeve and handed it to Feng Yuheng: “You’ve raised him for such a long time, so I should provide you with some compensation. I don’t know if this bit is enough. If it’s not enough, would second sister be magnanimous and not argue with me.”
Feng Yuheng shook her head and did not accept it. Fendai waited for a long time and saw that she truly would not accept it, thus she took it back and self-mockingly said: “That’s right, it’s a measly banknote worth 500 taels of silver. It’s natural that you would not even think anything of it.” She pinched the child’s cheeks then asked: “Did you come up with a name for this child?”
“No.” Feng Yuheng said: “The people of Hundred Herb Hall have been calling him Xiao Bao*. If you want, come up with a proper name for him then add him to the register! Since you want to raise him, raise him properly. As you said, treat him like a partner.”
Fendai nodded and did not say anything else. Standing up, she began to walk out with the child. When she passed by Feng Yuheng, she quietly said: “Thank you.” She then climbed into the carriage waiting outside without looking back.
At this time, the people gathered around seemed to have understood something, as someone recalled: “Isn’t that child the bastard that was born in the Feng family a while back?”
“That’s right! When their residence was hosting a half-month party, I went to visit. It was a child born from a concubine and an actor. He’s not one of Prime Minister Feng’s children.”
With the discussion about the Feng manor’s scandal, the people really were able to connect many different points. Feng Yuheng just stood inside Hundred Herb Hall to listen. The comments were not scathing, but they did cause her heart to ache a little.
When the people finally realized that saying these things in front of Feng Yuheng was not too great, they quickly changed the subject: “Who knew that the child had been raised by Princess Yu this entire time. Princess really is a benevolent person.”
She did not know if she was benevolent or not, but she felt that it was a life. Since she saw it, she could not just watch it pass.
Today, the Feng residence was very messy. All of the servants were busy tidying up. The fifth prince had arranged a new residence for Feng Fendai. It had been named “Shui Jing” and had been tidied up. It was just waiting for Fendai to move into it.
There were many servants that would be let go today, and Fendai returned their contracts to them. She also provided them with severance pay, only keeping ten to move with her.
When she led Xiao Bao back to the residence, the servants that had been let go had just left. Housekeeper He Zhong would naturally be kept. He saw the child and immediately recognized it, thus he stepped forward and said to Fendai: “Should a couple grannies be brought in? The little young master has returned home. He can’t be left without a granny to take care of him.”
Fendai nodded and specifically advised: “Bring in two of the best. Paying them a bit more is fine. They must be good and must be kind. They must be honest. You must make sure they are not the type with bad personalities, understand?”
He Zhong only heard just these few sentences and knew that Feng Fendai was fond of this child, thus he quickly complied but said: “This servant will buy back those that are skilled and able to build good bonds. As for their character, that will need young miss to inspect and consider.”
Fendai did not say anything else, dismissing He Zhong to go and buy a granny. She then squatted back down to play with the child for a bit; however, the child suddenly began to cry.
She was a bit flustered and did not know how to coax him. She just repeatedly consoled: “Xiao Bao, don’t cry. Elder sister will play with Xiao Bao. Xiao Bao, don’t cry!” She had the patience, but she was truly lacking in experience.
The maidservant, Dong Ying, also joined in the coaxing, but no matter what was done, the child would not stop crying. A faint trace of fear could be seen in the child’s eyes. Dong Ying immediately managed to react, probing: “Xiao Bao, do you not like this place?”
The child nodded and said through sobs: “Xiao Bao is scared, very scared.”
Fen Dai was puzzled, “What are you scared of?”
Xiao Bao was too young and could not explain it; however, Dong Ying was able to guess, thus she explained to Fendai: “The little young master had once lived in this residence. It might be that he had been frightened at that time, and that image has been haunting him!”
“How long ago was that?” Fendai was stunned then hesitantly said: “Also, how young was he back then? Could he remember anything?”
Dong Ying said: “He might not remember anything, but there might be some impression that was leftover from that time?”
Fendai waved her hand, “Forget it. Either way, we will be moving. If it really is like that, moving to the new residence will make things better.” After saying this, she coaxed the child a bit more, “Xiao Bao, don’t cry. We will be moving tomorrow. Elder sister will bring you to an even better place. It will be 100 times better than this place.”
It seemed as though the child understood, as he forcefully nodded then dove into Fendai’s embrace a bit more. He continued, however, to mutter: “Scared, scared.”
A warm feeling spread through Fendai’s chest. She felt that while her younger brother was scared, he knew to get closer to her, thus she was this child’s only pillar of support. This sort of feeling was one that she had never experienced before. She felt that this was a little like Feng Yuheng and Feng Zirui. She had envied that sibling relationship quite a bit in the past. Now, she finally had a younger brother of her own! But…
*TN: Pretty generic thing to call a child, like dear or darling. The direct translation would be little treasure.