Lin Xiao looked out at the sky which had already completely darkened and wondered: "Why have you come at this time?"

  Guī Māma was originally a maid of the Zhuāng family, later becoming her wet nurse. However, she only served Lín Huì for ten years. When Lín Huì turned ten, Guī Māma's older brother came into some small fortune and redeemed their freedom.

  Guī Māma also had a daughter about the same age as Lín Xiǎo, and in the past Zhuāng Shì had asked her if she wanted to let her daughter serve alongside Lín Xiǎo, but Guī Māma refused.

  Guimei's mother was not born in the mansion, but was sold into servitude as a young girl due to poverty. As a result, she has some pride in her heart. Lin Daiyu understands that Guimei feels like she is someone who serves others, but doesn't want her daughter to become a servant of others as well.

  Lin Xiao had never been very close to her wet nurse since childhood, but they still shared a bond as mother and child. Moreover, although Gui Mama was somewhat arrogant, she wasn't a bad person and served Lin Xiao wholeheartedly.

  Lin Daiyu instructed Mu Xi: "You go and invite Nai Nang in, will you?"

  Muzhi said yes, then left. Before long, a middle-aged woman with a bun followed behind her. She was dressed very simply, but she had an advantage in that everything about her was neat and tidy, probably because she was going out to see guests, and on her hair bun, she also wore a silver hairpin.

  She saw Lin Di sitting in the chair, first lowering her eyes, then kneeling down and kowtowing three times, before opening her mouth to say: "Fourth Miss, it's been many years since we last met, I didn't expect you'd grow up so big."

  Lin Di and her have not seen each other for almost five years. Unlike others who were ransomed out of the house, Gui's mother would occasionally return to visit her master, hoping to maintain a good relationship with the Lin family. However, after leaving, Gui's mother never came back even once.

  Lin Daiyu helped Mu Chui up and smiled: "I haven't seen you for many years, Nanny. How have you been all these years?"

  "Thanks to the good fortune of Madam and Miss, it's all right, all right."

  Lin Xiao smiled and asked Mu Zhi to move a stool for her, but Gui Mama refused to sit down and insisted on standing.

  Lin Yan also did not force her, and asked her: "Nanny came to find me, is there something?"

  Guimei stood there with her eyes downcast, not speaking for half a day. Her face showed a few hints of hesitation and struggle, as if she was thinking about something very difficult. After a while, her expression returned to normal, and she raised her head to smile slightly, saying: "It's nothing big, I just heard that the fourth young lady's marriage has been settled, and I wanted to come to the mansion to pay my respects to the fourth young lady."

  "Four Miss, I didn't serve you with all my heart when I was serving you. My mind was always on leaving the house. It's just that Madam and you are kind and forgiving, so you didn't blame me. Now that you've finally found a good family, I'm very happy for you. I'm an unrefined person, and there's nothing valuable on my body to give to you. Now, I'll kowtow three times to thank your kindness, and I wish you peace and happiness all your life."

  Lin Dai hastily helped her up with her own hands and said: "I'm already very happy that you, Nai Nang, can come see me, what's the point of saying these things?"

  "Since I've already paid my respects to the young lady, I can now put this matter at rest. I still have some family matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." With that, she hastily bid farewell to Lin Daiyu and left.

  Mu Zhi hastily caught up with her and sent her out.

  Lin Xiao called Mu Lan over and instructed her: "You go to the wet nurse's house early tomorrow morning to see if anything has happened at the wet nurse's house."

  If it were really just a courtesy visit, why come to the mansion at night? It's likely that there's an urgent matter that needs to be requested of someone, but after entering the mansion, it can't be said out loud, so a pretext is found.

  It was the second day.

  The ladies of the Lin family, including Li Shi, Qi Shi and Zhuang Shi, were all dressed in their finest attire, wearing the ceremonial robes. Lin Daiyu also dressed up carefully.

  Qī Shì gazed at her niece before her, wearing a crimson-purple embroidered silk jacket with plum blossoms, underneath which was a fiery red twelve-pleated skirt from Xiang, draped over a sable fur-lined cloak with auspicious peonies embroidered on it. Although her figure had not yet fully developed and her posture was not particularly straight, she gave the impression of being an extraordinary beauty, elegant and refined, independent and unapproachable.

  The red fox fur collar set off her small face, which was exceptionally rosy, with curved eyebrows and a perpetual smile. Her eyes were sly and cunning, as if they could see right through everything, so nothing could ever get into her heart. When you're with her, you can never treat her like a child, but unconsciously, you'll end up treating her like a mature adult.

  At this time, Mr. Qi also had to admit that his niece might have been born to be an empress, and marrying into an ordinary family, which man could suppress the nobility and excellence emanating from her inside?

  Lin He walked over and paid his respects to Li Shi, Qi Shi, and others.

  "Every day I see you, I always feel that you are different from yesterday, and yesterday is different from the day before. Yuan Yuan, you always surprise me."

  Lin Xiao smiled slightly and didn't say anything.

  Zhuang's wife then pulled her daughter's hand and said, "Wait a minute, you come with me in one carriage." She then went to check the temperature of her hand again, and instructed Mu Zhi, "Bring another hand warmer for your young lady."

  Lin Ying walked over from the other side, saw her daughter, and was also taken aback. She reached out to touch her head and smiled: "The more you grow up, the more you look like your mother."

  Zhuang glared at him, Lin Ying touched his nose somewhat awkwardly, then said: "Hurry up and get on the carriage, if we're late, the road might be congested."

  Lin Ying and Lin Yong also had to enter the palace. They were going to attend the Winter Solstice Grand Court Assembly in front, while Lin Dai and others went to the back palace to receive a banquet.

  Mr. Qi and others nodded, then got on the carriage under the service of the maidservant. Li and Mr. Qi sat in the front one, while Lin Di and Zhuang sat in the back one, Lin Ying and Lin Yong etc. rode horses outside.

  Although they didn't start late, they still got stuck on the road for a while. By the time they arrived at the palace gate, it was already 10 o'clock (around 10 am).

  At the entrance of the palace, an imperial guard came to greet them. One led Lin Ying and Lin Yong to the front court, while another led Lin Xiao and others to the rear palace. When they arrived at the gate of Changkun Palace, they were handed over to a slightly older palace maid.

  Changkun Palace was the residence of the empress and also where banquets were usually held. However, since there is no empress in the palace now, according to seniority, Wu Guifei should naturally be the one supporting the Winter Solstice banquet, so it's natural that this palace maid should also be Wu Guifei's person.

  The palace maid smiled and measured Lin Daiyu with a glance, then respectfully saluted Li Shi, Qi Shi and others, politely saying: "Mrs. Lin, Madame Wu Guogong, Mrs. Lin San, Miss Lin Si, you have finally arrived, the noble concubine has been waiting for you for a long time."