After the Double Ninth Festival, the weather gradually cooled down. The capital city had been drizzling with autumn rain for half a month, and it only cleared up in the past two days.

  Lin Yas courtyard had two locust trees, now the trees are bare and dry, with withered branches and leaves scattered all over the ground. Under the eaves were placed several pots of chrysanthemums, which were also wilted and drooping.

  On the windowsill, a blue-and-white porcelain vase was placed on the kang table, with several branches of bright red and pink hibiscus flowers inserted into it. The petals still had dew drops from that morning, which became the only vitality in this room.

  Lin He returned to Beijing on the road and got caught in a rain, as soon as he arrived home, he fell ill, and was bedridden for nearly half a month, until these two days when his condition improved like the weather.

  Lin Xiao couldnt help but sigh inwardly. After living in the northwests windy and sandy land for three years, she returned to the capital only to find herself unaccustomed to the local customs. It was hard to say whether she was being overly sensitive or not.

  Mu Zhi applied rouge and powder on her face to make up, using a thick layer of powder to cover up the sallowness after her serious illness.

  Lin Dai took Mu Zhi and Mu Lan to Fu Ning Tang.

  The old lady of the Wu Guo Gong Fu, Li Shi, was afraid of the cold. The brazier had been lit in the house for some time, and as soon as she entered the room, a warm air rushed towards her face.

  Mrs. Li sat on the beautiful chaise longue in front of the blackwood carved screen, with a kind face, holding a 6 or 7-year-old little rice dumpling. The little dumpling was pulling her sleeve and acting coquettishly, the little girls eyebrows and eyes were curved, her tender voice still had a childish tone, crisp and clear: "······I saw that there are many crabs in the basket in the kitchen, theyre really big, grandma, well steam crabs to eat today, and dig out the chrysanthemum wine brewed by Fu Mu, and also make sauce braised pork belly, Buddha jumps over the wall······"

  "Hey, its not good for you to eat too much crab, the cold air is heavy. Grandma asked the kitchen to make turtle soup at noon, and well also make braised pork belly and Buddha jumps over the wall. We wont eat crab, how about drinking turtle soup instead?"

  The little girl looked displeased, pulling on Mrs. Lis sleeve and pouting as she turned back and forth unhappily.

  Li treated her granddaughter with great affection, but she did not intend to abandon her own principles. She coaxed her in a low voice, but did not satisfy her demands.

  Just then, Mrs. Li saw Lin Daiyu coming in from outside and looked up at her with a warm smile, saying softly: "Yuanyuan is here?" She beckoned to her and said: "Come over to Grandmas side quickly."

  The little ball beside Li saw Lin Daiyu, but hummed and turned her head, obviously unhappy.

  Lin Xiang smiled and went over to pay her respects to Mrs. Li before walking over to her side.

  Mr. Li put down the small bundle, pulled her to his side and sat down, stroking her hand and asking: "Is your body feeling better?" As he spoke, he looked at her face again and said: "Although you look a bit better than before, your complexion is still pale. One illness can weaken you for three years, and youve been sick for over ten days, so Im afraid your body must be very weak. You should take good care of yourself and nourish your body well." After finishing speaking, he looked at the clothes she was wearing again, felt the thickness of the fabric, and continued: "Why are you only wearing this little? The weather is getting cooler now, how can you wear so little?" He frowned, then said: "The maids in your house really dont know how to serve people anymore." Turning his head, he ordered the maid beside him: "Go to my room and find a cloak to put on Fourth Miss."

  "Grandma, Im not cold, besides this room has a heating pipe and its very warm."

  "Your illness hasnt fully recovered yet, its better to wear more and avoid catching a cold again."

  It was a kind intention of Mrs. Li, Lin Daiyu did not say anything else and said with some shame: "Its all because of the unfilial granddaughter that made Grandmother worry."

  Li pulled her hand into her bosom and said, "What are you talking about? Youre Grandmas heart and soul granddaughter. If Grandma doesnt worry about you, who will she worry about? If you say things like that again, Grandma will be heartbroken."

  Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Yes, Yuanyuan knows she was wrong."

  Lin Xiao looked at the little ball sitting on the other side of Li Shi, still turning her head in anger, and smiled: "Youxiao, arent you going to talk to your sister?"

  The little dumpling let out a heavy "hmmph" and said in a crisp voice: "Im not talking to a scammer!"

  Lin Yan regretfully said, "I saw the hibiscus flowers you sent this morning and thought you had made up with my sister. It seems that hasnt happened yet, which really saddens her."

  Xiao Tuanzi listened to her words, and his face relaxed a bit, but he still stubbornly said: "I didnt deliberately send it to you, I hate Wisteria the most, so I sent it to you." He hummed again and said: "Because I also hate you the most."

  Lin Xiao smiled and said: "What to do, but sister likes it very much."

  Xiao Tuanzi is Lin Daiyus youngest sister, whose style name is Lin Li. Because she was the youngest in her family, she had a milk name called "You Yu", meaning like jade and precious.

  The Lin family of the Wu Guo Gong Fu was a military family, and Lin Dangs father, Lin San Ye, had been appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of Shaanxi three years ago to guard the northwest. Lin Dang and her two younger brothers followed their mother, Zhuang Shi, to join their father in his new post, leaving behind only the youngest daughter, Lin Wan, who was taken care of by Lady Li in the capital.

  Zhuangs family was also reluctant to part with their young daughter, but at that time Lin Yun was only three years old. The northwest was a harsh and barren land, and Zhuangs family did not want to take their young daughter there, so they had to leave her in the care of her grandmother.

  Lin Xiang was young and didnt understand her mothers worries, only remembering that her parents and siblings left her behind and walked away, convinced that she had been abandoned, and has held onto this resentment until now.

  "Alright, alright, no need to hold grudges between sisters," said Li with a smile, hugging Lin Yun again. "Didnt you bring gifts for Yu Yu when you came back? Doesnt she love those stone carvings of horses and dogs, as well as the small bow and leather boots? See how much I care about Yu Yu."

  Lin Xuan pouted again, frowning and saying: "Sister doesnt care about me." After a pause, she continued in a melancholy tone: "Father and Mother dont care about me either. They only care about Sister, Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother, not Young Jade. Young Jade wont care about them anymore."

  "Who said that? Your father and mother love you the most, Little Jade," she said hastily. As she spoke, she kissed her little granddaughter again and coaxed, "Little Jade is also Grandmas little heart."

  At this moment, the curtain at the door swayed gently, and the ring of a jade pendant sounded softly. Then two womens slender figures appeared in the doorway.

  It was Lin Daiyus great aunt, Lady Wang and Lin Daiyus elder female cousin, Lin Xiangling.

  Dong Shi was dressed very simply, wearing a moon-white satin jacket with a straight collar and almost no jewelry. Her demeanor was elegant and her face was cold, making people feel that she was not easy to get close to. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her body seemed to be shrouded in a lingering sorrow that could not be dispelled.

  Who would have thought that the woman who was once a brave and daring girl, chasing after her fiancé with a bow and arrow in hand, would end up being a lady waiting to be married?

  It was just Duans enthusiasm for life that gradually disappeared after Lins father and his eldest son died in battle twelve years ago.

  Lin Yan wore a purple skirt with golden embroidery, her hair styled in a beautiful dangling horse tail bun, and on her face, which resembled that of Du Shis by 70%, there was the charm of a young maiden.

  Lin Huan is one year older than Lin Xiang, and at the age of fifteen, she is in her prime. Because they are close in age, they have been emotionally close since childhood. When Lin Huan sees Lin Xiang, she secretly smiles and winks at her with a flirtatious glance.

  Dongs family was slightly surprised to see Lin Xiang in the house, and said: "Yuan Yuan is also here, are you feeling better? I heard yesterday that your illness has taken a turn for the better, but thinking that youve been bedridden for half a month, I thought youd need to rest for a few more days. How did you manage to get out of the house today?"

  Her voice was cold, but Lin Xiao could hear the thick concern in her words.

  Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Thank you, Auntie, for your concern. Im much better now. Besides, its not a serious illness, and staying at home all day is boring. Going out for a walk will actually be good for my health."

  Dong nodded and said no more, leading Lin Daiyu away to pay her respects to Lady Li.

  "Mrs. Li had someone help her up and said in a warm tone, Its been chilly these past few days, I heard your old illness has relapsed, you must take extra care of yourself too. You dont need to come here every day, there are plenty of people to attend to me, taking good care of yourself is the filial piety I desire."

  Dong Shi said: "My mother loves me dearly, I appreciate it, but I cannot rely on my mothers kindness to be lazy and not fulfill my duties as a daughter-in-law."

  Li patted Dous hand and said no more.

  Lin Jia Dazheng Lin Zhong is not a member of the Li family. Before his death, Old Wu Guogong had married two wives from different families. His first wife, Duan Shi, was from the Yue Guo Gong Fu and gave birth to one son, Lin Zhong, and one daughter, Lin Xuan. Lin Zhong married his own paternal cousins daughter, Duan Shi, while Lin Xuan married into the Qing He Wang Fu and became the Qing He Wang Fei.

  The current Madame Li is the second wife of Old Duke Wu, from the prestigious Zhaojun Li clan. She has two sons and one daughter: her sons are the current Duke Wu Lin Yong and Lin Xiaos father Lin Ying, while her daughter was the late Empress Xiaolie Lin Xian.

  Lin Xiansheng had Crown Prince Xiao Tai.

  Lin Xian passed away in the fifth year after Emperor Xiao of Song ascended to the throne, or a year and a half ago.

  The empress dowager has passed away, and the position cannot be left vacant. The selection of her successor is now a hot topic in the imperial court.

  Lin He returned to Beijing under family arrangements, with the goal of becoming Empress and protecting her son and her cousin, the Crown Prince.