Chapter 500: The Young Couple's Night Talk in the Ancestral Hall (Part 2)

  On the twentieth day, Madame Wang got up early in the morning to dress and adorn herself. Jin'guan'er was just inserting a Funiu Wangyue golden hairpin into Madame Wang's coiffure, praising as she did so: "The master truly dotes on you, madam - only someone like you could bring out the elegance of such a fine pin."

  Mrs. Wang was overjoyed and immediately took out a gold hairpin from her dressing box to reward Jin'guan, who was so delighted that her eyes curved like crescent moons. Although Mrs. Wang looked kind and gentle, she wasn't particularly good to the young maids around her; occasionally, when rewarding them, it would only be with a string of copper coins or some old clothes from previous years, never anything as valuable as gold jewelry like today.

  It's just that these two days are different. Jia Zheng stayed in her room for two nights, and Wang Fu Ren was naturally delighted, and his words and deeds were exceptionally harmonious.

  Jin' er knew that her mistress had received the golden hairpin from her master the night before, so she brought up the topic as soon as she came to do her hair early in the morning.

  Mrs. Wang's attendant, Zhou Ruijia, hastily entered the upper house, and Caiyun, who was watering flowers under the corridor outside, smiled and greeted her: "Sister Zhou, what are you in such a hurry for? The mistress is still combing her hair."

  Zhou Ruijia stopped in her tracks, pulled out a handkerchief from her bosom and wiped the sweat on her forehead, saying: "I have something important to report to the mistress, I won't chat with you for now." She lightly lifted the curtain and stepped inside quietly. Wang Furen and Jin Chuer were chatting idly. As soon as they saw Zhou Ruijia, they asked: "Why did you come so early today? Didn't you say yesterday that your son-in-law's antique shop was going to open, and you took a leave of absence to help with the preparations?"

  Zhou Rui's family didn't say a word, and instead used their eyes to glance at Jin Dian'er. Jin Dian'er, knowing the hint, quickly said: "Madam, I had a new pair of shoes made for you, let me show them to you?"

  Jin'guan'er came out of the house, and Madame Wang asked: "Tell me, what happened?"

  "Madam, I got up early today and was about to go visit my daughter when I saw a large number of horse-drawn carriages in front of the Lin family's house. There were dozens of boxes on top of them, and more than 30 strong men guarding them. I watched from the corner of the street, and it seemed like they were transporting something valuable. The same little Tang who came last time was leading the group. I tried to use the excuse of visiting Miss Lin to sneak in through the back door, but I was stopped and told that the Lin family had a banquet to attend today and asked me to come another day. Madam, do you think Miss Lin and Mr. Lin would be visiting anyone in Beijing when they don't know anyone here? And why did they bring so many things?"

  Mrs. Wang thought for a while, but couldn't come up with any leads. However, she had an idea and told Zhou Ruijia, "You immediately go to the West Wing now, and must intercept Lin Niang before she leaves. Tell her that Old Madam has urgent business to discuss with her and Master Lin. I'll head over to Old Madam's place right away, hurry!"

  Zhou Rui's family received an order and responded with a single voice before heading out.

  Madam Wang again called out to Caiyun, who was waiting outside, and told her to check if Third Sister had gone to pay her respects to Old Madame. If she hadn't, she should go immediately.

  Although Mrs. Wang couldn't guess where Lin's siblings had gone, she knew that such a large number of gifts must be intended for some noble and wealthy family. The young master of the Lin family might have established connections with the Seventh Princess's household, and who knows, maybe through the princess he would get to know other aristocratic families in the capital.

  Although Tan Chun is not her own daughter, in the future San Ye Tou can marry a noble son and also pull herself up with Yuan Chun in the palace.

  Mrs. Wang thought of this and couldn't sit still anymore, so she took Jin'guan'er and Yu'guan'er to Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

  Lady Wang was discussing with Madame Wang the arrangements for entertaining the families of Duke Zheng and Duke Ning when she saw Mrs. Wang rush in, looking flustered, as if something serious had happened. "What's wrong, old lady?"

  "Old lady, it's like this. Early today, Zhou Ruijia came to tell me that our family's Lin Niang and Lin Dage seem to be going out. My daughter-in-law thought, these two children have just arrived in the capital, who do they know? Don't let them get cheated by others. It's better for old lady to ask herself." Madam Wang spoke with a sincere attitude, and no one could find any fault with it.

  Lady Jia nodded after hearing this and said, "If that's the case, just have someone go call Yu'er and Lin Daiyu over."

  Before he had finished speaking, a young servant girl outside reported that Mr. Lin and Miss Lin had arrived.

  Lin Daiyu's face was filled with urgency, mistakenly thinking that something had happened to Grandmother Jia, and she hastily called out to her. "Grandmother, is there some major event at home?"

  Grandmother Jia saw her granddaughter's flushed face and felt a little embarrassed herself. She also noticed that she was wearing elegant but subdued clothing, which reminded her of her own daughter, Lady Xing, in her youth. Grandmother Jia felt guilty towards her daughter and so spoke to Daiyu with an increasingly gentle tone, "Daiyu, come sit here with me. It's not a big deal, but you rushed over as if it were urgent. I heard from the servants that you and your brother are going out today? Why didn't you tell your grandmother about it? Whose house are you going to?"

  Lin Daiyu's hanging heart was put down by half, she heard Grandma Jia ask this, but couldn't answer herself, so she turned around to look at her brother Lin Zhiyuan.

  Lin Zhiyuan hastily stepped forward to pay his respects to Lady Jia, saying: "I'm returning to the capital with my sister to visit an elder relative's home, and someone has entrusted us with some special products from Jiangnan to bring along."

  "Ah? Lin Er is really good at socializing, so busy as soon as he arrived in the capital. You two are still young and can't hold your own in social situations. Tell me, which family did Xue Pan's second brother visit, presenting our Rongguo Mansion's card? Wouldn't that be more dignified than you two going alone?"

  Lin Zhiyuan thought this old lady was being too garrulous, but in short, she just wanted to meddle, "It's the residence of Princess Chang."

  "The residence of Princess Long?" Not only were Madame Wang and Lady Phoenix shocked, but even Old Madam almost didn't dare to believe her own ears.

  Mrs. Jia calmed herself and said: "If that's the case, we won't delay you two siblings any longer. Don't keep Lady Xing waiting for too long, go quickly."

  Lin Zhiyuan and Daiyu came out of the room door and happened to bump into Tan Chun who was coming to pay her respects.

  "Big Brother Lin, Sister Lin, where are you two going in such a hurry?" Tan Chun asked, unable to help herself as she watched the brother and sister rush by.

  "San Yaotou, come in!" Grandma Jia's voice came from the inner room. Tan Chun smiled apologetically at Lin Daiyu and her brother, but didn't hear any response, and lifted her feet to enter the upper house.

  Daiyu flashed a sly smile at Lin Zhiyuan, and the siblings simultaneously turned around to look at the curtain behind them before quickly walking away.

  Tanchun entered Grandmother Jia's chambers and saw that Lady Wang looked displeased, while Xifeng had a strange expression. She hastily stepped forward: "Tanchun pays her respects to Grandmother and Mother."

  Mrs. Jia glanced sideways at Mrs. Wang, who was sitting in the first place on the left, and then said to Tanchun: "Third sister, look at your brother Baoyu, I don't know what's wrong with him yesterday, he came back with a listless expression, no energy at all."

  It was strange that she had just found her own colorful clouds, but now she was in a hurry and couldn't help it. How did she end up at the old lady's place, and what was this different scene? Although she didn't understand, she had no way to ask questions, so she simply followed behind.

  Mrs. Jia dismissed the maidservants who had been attending to Yuanyang and only kept Lady Wang and Xifeng with her.

  "Listen up, old chap! Today's events have made things clear. From now on, you'd better treat Yuer and his siblings well. Don't ever try to use those despicable tricks again."

  Madam Wang's face was full of grievances. "Ancestors, I also had good intentions, fearing that Lin girl and the others would not know the depth and offend the young master."

  "Alright, alright," said Mrs. Jia coldly, "since you're so kind-hearted, why did you call San Xiang'er over? And why didn't you also call Er Xiang'er and Si Xiang'er, as well as your precious niece? Don't think I don't know what's going on in that mind of yours."

  Mrs. Wang's face turned bright red with shame, "Old lady Zong Mingjian, San Yazi is not my biological daughter, but I have never treated her unfairly. This child is clever and kind, and she looks beautiful. As a mother-in-law, I hope she can see more of the world, so why didn't you ask San Yazi to follow Lin's daughter together? This opportunity is hard to come by!"

  Mrs. Jia sighed and said, "If it were another family, I wouldn't hesitate to let Xiangling follow along, and bringing San or Er Ya with her would be fine too. However, the Longyu Palace is a different matter - our family isn't familiar with them after all. If we rashly go there, we'll only invite ridicule. The Longyu Princess is no ordinary person, you know that as well as I do - she has a terrible temper. If those children say something wrong, it will reflect poorly on our entire household. Why don't we just let Lin's son go first and take a look? If the two families can be connected, then we won't have to worry about not being able to borrow their influence."

  Madam Wang nodded in agreement. The three of them chatted a bit more about inviting the Shi family to dinner, and didn't disperse until noon.

  Mrs. Wang led the maids back to her own courtyard, where Zhou Rui's family was eagerly waiting. As soon as she saw the second lady, she hurriedly came forward and said, "Madam, you're back." Zhou Rui's family personally helped Mrs. Wang change her clothes and washed her face with water before asking, "Madam, how did things go? I just saw Lin's daughter and Mr. Lin leaving from the back door."

  Mrs. Wang felt weak all over, and leaning on Zhou Ruijia, she lay down on the large kang by the window, "From now on, every time you pass by the back door, keep a close eye on those two siblings of the Lin family, and also instruct others that no one in the house is allowed to bully Lin Daiyu."

  Zhou Ruijia was startled and asked in a low voice: "Madam, should we remind the kitchen again?"

  Madam Wang waved her hand and said, "Just let the women in charge of the kitchen know that from now on, the three meals a day for Xikua Courtyard will be the same as those for Lihuang Courtyard."

  Zhou Ruijia saw that Madame Wang had fallen asleep, and quietly slipped out. In the courtyard, she grabbed Jin'guan's hand and pulled her under a nearby pomegranate tree.

  "What is Sister Zhou pulling me to do?"

  Zhou Ruijia saw the little maids playing with parrots under the veranda, and quietly asked Jin'guan: "Today, did Madam get into some trouble at Old Madam's place?"

  Jin Dian'er pouted and shook her head.

  "Did Mr. Lin and Miss Lin say where they were going? They ran into Third Sister when they left?"

  Jin Dian'er replied, "We did bump into them, but Master Lin and Miss Lin were in a hurry to leave, and we didn't hear them say anything. My sister Yu Dian'er and I were both serving outside, so we don't know what happened inside. Sister Zhou, is something wrong?"

  "Nothing's wrong, you go in, Madam will call you if she needs anything." Zhou Ruijia turned around with a thoughtful expression and left the courtyard.

  PS: I'm desperate to write, but unfortunately my dad keeps fighting with me for the computer, so annoying.

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