chance encounter

Feng Daizhu was clearly distracted. Unlike her usual cheerful smile, she seemed much more sullen. After sitting for a while, she took her leave.

Lin Xu took the cloak and stood in front of the corridor, watching her figure gradually disappear around the corner, a few traces of thought slowly rising in his eyes.

Walking back to the villa amidst the fragrance of plum blossoms, Dou Yanxun, as usual, had already left. Qingmo and Rongwei, along with Nongyu and several former maids from the Dou family, were smiling as they set out breakfast. The sandalwood round table in the side room was already laden with food.

Last night, she spoke rashly, and after only taking a small sip of the goat milk tea she had been longing for, she became anxious and couldn't sleep a wink all night. Now, looking at the table full of fragrant pastries, she felt her stomach growling.

Seeing that she had a rare good appetite, Granny Qin stood beside her and said with a smile, "Madam has always had a small appetite. Even before she was married, she rarely had such a good appetite."

Lin Xu picked up a glistening shrimp dumpling, tasted it carefully, and then said:

"Putting everything else aside, the chefs in the Dou family's kitchen are truly outstanding. Several of their pastries may look ordinary, but they taste better than those from other places."

Before she was married, she discovered that Qi Shuang'er had poisoned her food, and ever since then, she has always been extra careful when eating. After her rebirth, she spends her days scheming how to get close to the Dou family, so naturally she is worried and loses her appetite.

Although the major event is still not accomplished, she has finally married into the Dou family, and can now glimpse a glimmer of hope. Therefore, she is gradually able to relax.

After all, the road ahead is long, and taking good care of one's health and secretly building up strength is the most important thing right now.

Nongyu stood by the window and, upon hearing this, said:

"Actually, Madam, you don't know this, but when the Second Master was alone, he never paid much attention to food. For dinner, a pot of good wine and a small dish of snacks were enough. In the entire Dou family, the chefs in our villa's kitchen had no chance to showcase their skills. So since you came into the family, the chefs have always tried to let you taste different flavors. This is a rare opportunity, and they are showing off their skills in various ways."

So that's how it is. No wonder Dou Yanxun is tall but somewhat thin. In the past, she listened to the rumors and really thought it was because he was young and sickly.

Lin Xu lowered her eyes, took a sip of tea, and then picked up a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth.

After getting married, she inevitably felt bored staying at home alone every day. In addition to reading and practicing calligraphy, she gradually began to learn to read account books.

Back in the Lin family mansion, there was a steward named Zhang who managed all sorts of trivial matters. Gao Youyi later also began to take over some accounts. Now, in the Dou family mansion, Madam Bai is in charge of everything and is very strict. Although everything seems peaceful now, with all sorts of secrets from the past that she has heard, she cannot let her guard down.

If they want to truly gain a foothold in the Dou family in the future and protect themselves in times of crisis, they must start planning for the power of stewardship.

In addition, she actually had another thought in mind.

On the day she got married, her father secretly gave her many house deeds and land deeds. She understood that this was his good intention, just to protect her and ensure that she would not be bullied even after marrying into the Dou family.

But eventually, she'll run out of money. If she wants to run the business long-term, she needs to know how to make money from money and achieve huge profits.

Therefore, if she were to confront Dou Huaisheng and break off all pretense of civility in the future, she would be able to find a hidden and secure way out for herself and the Lin family.

With this in mind, Lin Xu became even more attentive when she started to examine the accounts. She looked at each line of numbers carefully in the morning light streaming in through the window, and the more she looked, the more her eyes welled up with tears.

Lin Fu gave her all of Mu Jing's property: two mulberry orchards, four vegetable and fruit gardens, dozens of acres of farmland, and several vacant shops in Dongwei Town, a neighboring town of Mu Jing. He even handed over two five-courtyard houses in the countryside.

The Lin family had been prominent for generations, but by Lin Fu's generation, the family had gradually declined due to her father's incorruptibility and a lack of capable successors. Upon her marriage, her father entrusted her with the family's meager ancestral wealth, leaving himself no security whatsoever.

Lin Xu felt a pang of sadness and sighed deeply. Just as he was filled with sorrow, he heard footsteps outside the door.

Zhu Ling walked in, her face full of smiles, and said, "Madam, good news! Master has sent you a letter from home. Please take a look."

She quickly straightened up and took the letter that Zhu Ling presented to her. After only a quick glance, the tears she had just managed to hold back surged forth uncontrollably.

These few words, seemingly stern, were actually filled with heartfelt care—truly Lin Fu's consistent style. Lin Xu, fighting back tears, read them again. The calligraphy was elegant and powerful; only her father could write such flowing characters. She felt as if every word spoke a thousand unspoken words.

Seeing her so heartbroken, Zhu Ling quickly handed her a handkerchief and said softly, "Madam..."

Lin Xu took it, wiped away her tears, and shook her head, saying, "Father said everything is fine at home, so I'm relieved."

Zhu Ling gently patted her back, comforting her, "Miss, please don't be too sad. If Master knew that you were so moved by this letter, he would probably worry again."

Lin Xu nodded, turned to the second sheet of paper, and saw that the handwriting was completely different, now a rather delicate and elegant small regular script. It looked unfamiliar, but she glanced at the signature and realized that Gao Youyi had also sent a letter.

She read it quickly. It turned out that although everything in the Lin family had remained the same since she got married, there were still some trivial household matters happening.

Qi Shuang'er's health was deteriorating; she was constantly in a daze. The severe bleeding during childbirth had taken a heavy toll on her health. Gao Youyi secretly consulted the Zhang family physician, who said that Qi Shuang'er was on her last legs and wouldn't live much longer. Rong Ge'er, on the other hand, had just celebrated his one-month birthday a few days ago. Although still young, he was exceptionally affectionate and showed no trace of his birth mother's cruelty, appearing quite calm and quiet. Now, Rong Ge'er was being raised by Lan Yue and was very popular with everyone.

However, the only thing that displeased Gao Youyi was Qi Shuang'er's older sister, Qi Rou'er, staying overnight in the mansion.

Gao Youyi didn't write much in her letter, just a few words, but she couldn't hide her worries. Since Qi Shuang'er gave birth, Qi Rou'er had been staying at the Lin family's house, taking her two children and staying in the side room. As time went on, Gao Youyi was worried that since they weren't blood relatives, it would cause the neighbors to have something to say about it.

Lin Xu frowned. Given Gao Youyi's cheerful nature, she would have restrained herself in the letter to avoid worrying her. Presumably, Gao Youyi must have been quite angry with Qi Rou'er since her marriage. The household must have been in complete chaos long ago.

At the end of the letter, Gao Youyi inquired about her current situation and, at the very end, mentioned some anecdotes from the court that she had recently heard.

The letter stated that Dou Huaisheng's influence in the current court should not be underestimated, and there were even rumors that after Minister Wen of the Ministry of Personnel retires, the current Vice Minister Zou will take his place, and Dou Huaisheng is very likely to succeed him as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The Ministry of Personnel is in charge of personnel assessment and transfer, and it plays a pivotal role among the Six Ministries. This is naturally considered a promotion, and his future career will be smoother. Therefore, Gao Youyi offered his congratulations in advance.

Lin Xu put down the letter in his hand and looked out the window at the red plum blossoms standing tall in the cold wind.

Yang, Gao Youyi's elder sister-in-law, was a second-rank imperial consort and had access to a lot of information in the court. Presumably, she would not have mentioned Dou Huaisheng's transfer without a reason if it wasn't a done deal.

However... if Dou Huaisheng were to take up his post at the Ministry of Personnel soon, then according to his memories from his previous life, he would rise rapidly until, six months after he had settled into his position at the Ministry of Personnel, he would submit a memorial falsely accusing his father of participating in cheating during the imperial examinations.

But if I calculate the time now, it's still the fifteenth year of Yuanzhen. Could it be that the course of this life has been brought forward so much?

She was at a loss for words and could only stare blankly into thought. At least based on her observations of the Dou family, Dou Huaisheng still maintained his respect for his father and treated her, his so-called daughter-in-law, with kindness and friendliness, not at all like someone who had already made a move in his heart.

Moreover, the imperial examinations for the seventeenth year of Yuanzhen have not yet taken place. Even if Dou Huaisheng has ulterior motives, what could he possibly use to distort the truth and make a fuss?

She was filled with worry but had no clue what to do, so she could only carefully put away the two letters and the various accounts she had previously studied.

.

A few days later, the snow cleared and the sun shone brightly again. Mujing North Street returned to its usual bustling state. Lin Xu rode in the carriage, stopping and starting along the way, and finally arrived at the entrance of Baozhen Pavilion.

Dou Zhen had indeed arrived. After leaving Zhiqiong Hall, she went straight to the place where they had agreed to meet, and was currently standing by the flower railing not far away. Seeing Lin Xu alight from the carriage, Dou Zhen waved and smiled at her from afar, "Sister-in-law!"

Today, Dou Zhen was wearing a light blue cloak and walked briskly towards Lin Xu. Her smile was as captivating as the warm winter sun after a snowfall, so bright that it seemed to dispel all gloom.

Lin Xu chuckled softly:

"Third sister arrived early. There were a lot of people today, so you were delayed on the way. Were you getting impatient waiting for me?"

Dou Zhen shook her head and smiled, her eyes full of youthful lightness. She affectionately took Lin Xu's arm.

"Second sister-in-law is joking again. How could I be upset? The weather is so nice today, and the streets are bustling with activity. I just browsed around and was thinking of waiting for you to arrive so we could go in and pick out a few things together."

Dou Zhen was about the same age as her, and was elegant and quick-witted, yet still innocent. She also respected her sister-in-law Lin Xu.

Despite the various trivial matters that have occurred one after another during these days, which often make her feel uneasy, she can temporarily put aside her worries and troubles in front of Dou Zhen and enjoy a moment of peace that belongs only to a young woman.

Although Baozhen Pavilion is not large, its furnishings are elegant and unique. It is a newly opened rouge shop in the capital, with novel and distinctive products. The fashionable face powders are especially popular among the women of the city. Therefore, Dou Zhencai recently invited her to go shopping together and choose a few rouges that she liked.

Upon entering, one is greeted by the faint scent of rouge in the air. A dazzling array of rouge and face powders are displayed on the counter, their vibrant colors attracting women to stop and admire them.

Dou Zhen was clearly in a good mood. As soon as she entered the store, she was immediately attracted by the exquisite boxes displayed everywhere and browsed around with great interest.

Lin Xu stood aside, watching Dou Zhen, who was usually quiet and elegant, show such a joyful expression.

Zhu Ling couldn't help but joke, "The perfumes and powders here are so exquisite and novel, you might get overwhelmed by the choices."

Dou Zhen was completely absorbed in the various rouge and powders, while Lin Xu casually glanced around; she had never been particularly interested in such cosmetics. As she walked, her gaze slowly fell on a distant corner, which made her pause.

Not far away, a tall, elegant man in purple robes stood before the counter, his head slightly bowed, his voice gentle, and a faint smile on his face. Even in profile, his handsome and refined features were evident; without his armor, his scholarly air was even more pronounced.

This incredibly familiar face was none other than Duan Jinru, her former classmate from when she was still studying at Zhiqiong Hall.

It was also on that day at Shaojing Garden that General Duan, who had saved her and Dou Yanxun's lives in a moment of crisis.

Right now, standing beside Duan Jinru was a woman in a light green dress. Her face looked very familiar from afar; she was also an old friend whom Duan Jinru had not seen for a long time.

Perhaps sensing Lin Xu's gaze, the woman turned around first, but a hint of surprise flashed across her face when her eyes met Lin Xu's.

Song Jiaoling pursed her lips, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. She hurriedly let go of Duan Jinru's arm and then looked at Lin Xu.

She hesitated for a moment, then finally smiled and nodded gently at her.

Duan Jinru also turned around at the sound. When he saw Lin Xu directly in front of him, his eyes lit up. He then handed the exquisite rouge box to the servant beside him and walked straight towards her.