Chapter 15 (1/2)

Feng Yu Heng turned around, put her hand on Zi Rui’s head and pet it: “It’s nothing. Let’s go.” Then asked granny Sun, “How much further to Willow courtyard?”

Granny Sun pointed to a small road ahead and replied: “It is through this moon gate 1, along a walkway, past a small pond, through a small garden, then another 300 steps behind the garden.”

Feng Yu Heng couldn’t help but laugh. The Feng family must really despise them. Not to mention their new residence being so far, the servant that was to lead them did not appear. It was a good thing granny Sun knew the way. Otherwise, they would inevitably need to lower their heads and ask.

The reasoning behind the name Willow courtyard is not because there was a weeping willow. According to Yao shi, “Many years ago, this courtyard did have one. The manor’s young master Feng Zi Hao, at the age of 13, had fallen in love with a girl named Liu’er. At the time, Feng Zi Hao was still just the son of a concubine, while Liu’er could be considered a member of a branch family at best. They had no right to open a courtyard in the manor. However, Feng Zi Hao truly doted on Liu’er and begged Chen shi to ask your father. In the end, your father agreed and allowed Chen shi to spend her own money on the construction of a courtyard. He granted her a stable in a far corner of the manor grounds. Unfortunately, Liu’er’s life was fated to be short. Before she could move in to the courtyard, she drowned.”

“Speaking of that matter, the way in which Liu’er died was odd.” Granny Sun recalled the happenings of that time. “I remember that year, the young master told Liu’er that he was giving her a courtyard to live in. Liu’er was ecstatic. Every day, she would go help at the courtyard and would help for the full day if it was busy. The young master and eldest young miss are blood relatives and naturally very close. One day, the young master had to attend a banquet and would return late, so the eldest young miss would bring Liu’er dinner. After Liu’er finished eating, she continued to help for a while. When she was returning that night, it was already late. When she passed by the small pond, she missed her step and drowned.”

Feng Zi Rui was frightened by the story, his tiny fists clenched tightly in Feng Yu Heng’s hands.

“Afraid?” She asked Feng Zi Rui.

The child raised his face to look at her. His eyes clearly showed fear, but he shook his head and replied, “Not afraid.”

“Very good.” She patted him on the back of his hand. “Zi Rui, remember well that you are a child of the Feng manor. Your development and growth is destined to be a harder one than that of other children. Older sister can’t always give you prosperity. I also cannot stick to by your side at all times in any place to protect you; however, do not be afraid. Just because it is trying does not mean it is necessarily a bad thing. If you want to survive in such a ruthless place, you must be able to handle the hardships.”

She did not comfort him. Instead, she took a direct approach and told Feng Zi Rui that his future path would not be easy.

For a six year old, while he would not understand everything she said, she had to at least provide him some defense for his heart and some crisis awareness. This way he would not be caught unprepared when an enemy appeared.