In Lin Ge's courtyard.

  Lin Wan held the hairpin and handkerchief, thinking of that handsome man, his breath on her neck when he hugged her, warm, numb, Lin Wan thought of that feeling, and her face turned red.

  She carefully placed her beloved hairpins and handkerchiefs in the box, then instructed the little servant girl who was clearing away the tea cups: "Go fetch my needlework basket and embroidery pattern book, I want to do some sewing."

  "Miss, it's been a long time since you've done any needlework, and you never liked doing needlework. Why did you suddenly think of doing needlework today?" She said, then suddenly thought of something else, laughed with surprise and said: "Oh, I understand! Miss must be embroidering her own dowry."

  Lin Ge's face turned red as she slapped a palm on Xiao Tong's head, laughing and scolding: "You're too talkative."

  "Congratulations, miss," said Xiaotong with a smile, "you've finally found a good husband." As she spoke, she handed over the needlework basket to Lin Wan with a giggle.

  Lin Ge looked at the pile of silk threads and fabrics in the basket, thought for a moment, the wedding dress had an embroiderer working on it, she just needed to add two more stitches, no need to rush. How about making a pair of shoes instead, for her future mother-in-law, Madame Zhongshan Hou?

  Then thread the needle and pull it tight.

  Xiao Tong glanced at her and said with some concern, "Miss, you think this matter will involve Xia Yiniang? After all, it's Xia Yiniang..."

  Her face turned stern, interrupting her: "She dares. My aunt wasn't sent to Qingliang Temple, but after Father's death, she volunteered to go to Qingliang Temple to mourn and pray for Father's blessings. In the eyes of outsiders, my aunt is a person who is deeply affectionate and righteous towards Father. I'd like to see if she dares to use her own reputation to treat my aunt, Father's widow, in such a way."

  Lin Jin thought of Xia Yiniang's words, after Old Master Hou's death, the Wu Guo Gong Fu would be hers and her son's world. Who would bother to stay in the mansion to suffer her nagging, paying respects to her every morning and evening, living a life under her scrutiny? I'd say that after Old Master Hou's passing, I'd have no desire to live and would ask to enter the Buddhist monastery to pray for his blessings. Then she'd have to continue providing for me, while I'd be carefree and at ease in the temple. Indeed, Yiniang was clever.

  Auntie was right, Li Shi loved to talk about rules and pretended to be noble, as long as she made some moves and left some handles for the Jiang family, Li Shi would naturally agree to this marriage.

  That old witch, she initially said that she would let her enter the palace, but in the end, she still favored her own granddaughter, causing her to be excited for nothing. Since it's like this, can she still obediently listen to her and marry a poor scholar? What right does she have? If she wants to be number one, then she should be number fifteen. She doesn't want her to marry into a high-ranking family, so she should go strive for it herself.

  It's said that the eldest son of Marquis Zhongshan is a sickly person, and it's possible that in the end, the second young master will still inherit the title. Then she would become the wife of Marquis Zhongshan. Thinking about this, Lin Wei felt that her future was full of promise and prosperity.

  On the other side, in Lin Daiyu's courtyard, Lin Daiyu was also talking to Lin Xiangling about Lin Zhen's marriage.

  Lin Yan whispered in Lin Xiao's ear, somewhat mockingly: "The wedding is set for next February, earlier than Biyu and Cheng Gang's. It seems like they're rushing to marry off their daughter, I don't know what she did to make her family want to get rid of her so badly. And isn't the traditional three letters and six etiquettes supposed to take two or three years to complete? But for me, marrying into my own maternal family, it's been over a year and still not done. Yet hers is all settled in less than half a month, from engagement to betrothal, everything is done."

  Lin Di knew more than Lin Yan, but she didn't plan to tell her either. She smiled and said, "Didn't I say that next year only February has a suitable date for San Gu Gu and Jiang Er Gongzi's eight characters? Other dates are either not compatible with the eight characters or clash with each other. And San Gu Gu will be 19 years old next year, Miss's youth can't wait. Although it's a bit rushed, it's also unavoidable."

  Lin Yan glanced at her and said, "These words are used to deceive outsiders, but you're actually using them to cheat me."

  Saying that, he looked at Lin Xiao again, put his arm around her shoulder and smiled: "You must know what happened, tell me and let me tease her."

  Lin Xiao put a peeled pine nut into her mouth, then smiled and said: "What happened? I've been learning the rules of the palace with Mu Auntie these days, and I don't even have time to eat. How would I know what's going on? I was actually going to ask you what happened."

  Lin Yan let go of her, saying discontentedly: "Yuanyuan, I've found that you're becoming more and more insincere lately, and you're pretending to be something you're not. As for me, I've grown up with you since childhood, but sometimes I really don't know what's going on in your mind. You always act like an adult, more mature than us, and deeper in thought. If you weren't my cousin, I wouldn't dare be around you, who knows when you'll sell me out and still have the nerve to count the money for me."

  Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Of course, who would be like you, with everything written on their face? As for selling you out, I wouldn't dare, Eldest Aunt could flay me alive."

  Lin Yan glared at her and continued, "Besides, I've been living in the mansion all along, while you haven't been here for three years. But as soon as you return, it's like you're familiar with everything that's happened in the mansion, whereas I'm often left confused and don't know what the adults are doing."

  Lin Dai didn't say anything else, handed her a pastry and asked: "Want to eat some pastries? Your favorite osmanthus cake."

  Lin Yan said: "Don't deliberately change the subject."

  Lin Xiao looked at the pastry and thought to herself, it seems that the pastry won't be able to shut her up.

  Lin Tan let out a sigh and said to Lin Yan, "Yan Niang, grandmother and elder aunt didn't tell you many things because they wanted to protect you. There are many things you don't need to know. You just need to marry a good man under the wings of the Lin family and live a happy life. But I'm different, I will be entering the palace in the future, the Lin family's wings can't protect me, so I can only rely on myself. That's why the family has different expectations and ways of treating you and me."

  She was well-informed about the events in the Wu Guo Gongfu, not only because she had her own way of gathering information, but also because people like Li Shi, Lin Yong and Lin Ying would not keep things from her. They treated her as an adult, and many times they even came to seek her opinion. Even if it was reluctant, even if it meant helping her grow too quickly, they had to let her mature rapidly in order to survive in the palace, take on the responsibilities of the Lin family, and protect the Crown Prince and the Lin family.

  Lin Yan sincerely said to Lin Xiang: "Xiang Niang, sometimes ignorance is a kind of happiness."

  Lin Yan looked at Lin Xiao for a moment, then fell silent and lowered her head. She understood that her happiness was actually obtained by sacrificing herself.