Chapter 21 Why is the Marquis of Zhongyong here again! "The young lady is the most sensible..."

Mu Chuan has been back in his hometown for four days.

Wang Gou'er gasped as soon as he woke up. The reason? Pain.

He was beaten six times in four days, but this only made him more convinced of what his mother-in-law had said: "The Rongguo Mansion must have intervened." After all, they could have beaten him to death, so this was nothing compared to death.

"Ouch—" Wang Gou'er gasped, "That fucking hurts! Bring me the wine."

"Drinking so early in the morning?" Liu complained, but then quickly poured hot water to warm the wine: "It's the dead of winter, don't drink it cold."

"What can I do if I don't drink?! You try it, it hurts like hell!"

After drinking the wine, the pain lessened a bit, so Wang Gou'er went for a walk in the yard; he really didn't dare to go out.

Not only did he dare not go out, he didn't even dare to open the front door, after all, his dignity was too shameful.

Wang Gou'er peered through the crack in the gate at the commotion outside. His family had been officials in the capital years ago, a world apart from the country bumpkins in the village. So the old house left by the Wang family was not only close to the main road, but also in a very good location, so he could hear the comings and goings very clearly.

Sure enough, a group of people just passed by the door.

"Am I right? The emperor really did use a golden hoe to hoe the ground!"

"The adults also said that next spring, the village chief should use this golden hoe to make the first hoe, and our harvest next year will definitely be very good."

The person at the very edge stared blankly at his hands: "I'm not washing my hands."

The others laughed at him, saying, "The master said we can touch it if we want, and he even told us to leave our hoes with him so we can be influenced by the imperial golden hoe."

The man chuckled foolishly, "I didn't hear it. I touched the golden hoe, and it felt like I saw a god."

Everyone laughed together, filled with anticipation for a better future.

Through the crack in the door, Wang Gou'er's eyes grew even fiercer.

He turned to his mother-in-law and asked, "They didn't ask me to help with the repair of the ancestral hall or the road. They didn't ask our family to contribute any manpower or money. Why do you think that is?"

Granny Liu had been annoyed by his questions these past two days: "Just wait a minute, you'll have to learn a lesson before you know your place. Later, they'll ask us for money, and it'll be a lot of money. Then you'll complain that they cheated you."

Wang Gou'er was relieved, but he was only at ease for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Someone knocked on his door and, without waiting for him to open it, shouted from outside, "Move your ancestral tablets out of the ancestral hall, or we'll throw them in the wild."

Just as Wang Gou'er was about to explode, Liu Shi hurriedly pulled him back: "Everyone needs to be invited out to repair the ancestral hall."

"I understand," Wang Gou'er said loudly, but he was hesitant to go out, worried that he might get beaten up again.

Mu Chuan was looking at Lin Dashan at that moment, and he found it quite amusing.

The village chief had been grinning foolishly while holding the golden hoe for over half an hour. The hoe was already quite heavy, not to mention that part of it was made of gold.

He truly doesn't mind being tired.

Mu Chuan thought about it again. He didn't really believe that things used by the emperor could bring good luck. Besides, the land in the village would be under his name in the future, and the villagers would also be transferred to his name as tenants. In any case, they would all be his own people and things.

"Once the ancestral hall is repaired, we will enshrine this golden hoe in the ancestral hall."

Lin Dashan was stunned, then jumped three feet high with the golden hoe in his arms, and ran out.

"The master said that the ancestral hall should be repaired well, and a good ancestral hall should be built to enshrine the golden hoe bestowed by the emperor!"

A chorus of howls erupted outside, and Lin Dashan quickly returned with his golden hoe: "Ten days, I'll definitely fix it within ten days!"

There's no need to be so proactive.

He placed the golden hoe in the ancestral hall, but when he returned home, his father seemed rather unhappy.

Huang Guihua couldn't stand Mu Dazhuang's behavior and slapped him on the back again: "The other day, Old Lin said that you're good at farming, so you'll be in charge of all the land in the village from now on. Can't you be a little more capable? This is our family's land!"

Mu Dazhuang was still a bit confused. Who was Old Lin? The village chief had suddenly become Old Lin?

Mu Chuan said, "I've left someone to look after that piece of land by the mountain. Once things are more or less settled, we'll go back together. It's too cold in the village, and we need to find a doctor to check on Uncle's leg. At least we can spend the New Year in the capital. If we don't like living there, we can move back once the house is built."

"I've lived for almost fifty years and I've never been to the capital," Huang Guihua remarked.

“The capital is quite nice. Father—” Mu Chuan called out, “Many things in our house were bestowed by the emperor, including the house we live in, and the oil that Mother and Second Aunt have been using these past few days. I’ll get you an imperial tobacco pipe later, and you can use that to hit people. They’ll thank you for letting them get a bit of the emperor’s aura.”

Huang Guihua burst out laughing, and although Mu Dazhuang was a bit slow to react, he also chuckled helplessly twice.

At noon, just after lunch, the messenger from the capital arrived.

"General, General Li said he wants to hold a banquet on the third day of the twelfth lunar month. He also said that it's better before the New Year. Everyone prepares valuable gifts before the New Year, but after the New Year, we won't be able to take advantage of this."

Mu Chuan chuckled twice: "I also think the third day of the twelfth lunar month is good, so let's set that date. Oh, and prepare two more blank ones for the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus in the palace. I'll write them down myself and send them over."

That's not all. "This is a letter from Miss Lin of the Rongguo Mansion to you. The return gift also includes a plaque that reads 'Abundant Wealth and Gold,' a large plaque that hangs on the wall. It was too heavy, so I didn't bring it."

Mu Chuan took the letter, opened it, and frowned as soon as he saw it.

The writing is polite yet awkward, perfectly fitting the stereotypical image of a well-educated and refined lady from ancient times, making it seem unreal.

Moreover... although the paper is the same as before, it has lost its faint fragrance.

When was it delivered?

"Yesterday afternoon."

Mu Chuanyue felt that this was most likely not a gift from Miss Lin. Why would Miss Lin send him a plaque? This was the same style as when she sent him vegetables; it was clearly the work of the Jia family.

He sneered. The Rongguo Mansion was quite bold, trying to fool him now.

And this sentence: "Since it's inconvenient for me to go, will my cousin do it for me?"

Keep dreaming.

So... Miss Lin didn't fail to return the gift, so the Rongguo Mansion secretly replaced it?

What had Miss Lin originally prepared for him?

Mu Chuan glanced at the sky and saw that it was not yet Shenshi (3-5 PM). He could ride back on a fast horse in about an hour.

"Forget it, I'll go back myself. I'll decide on the date myself; it'll be more respectful to the old general."

Because General Li came to inquire about setting a date, the person who came to Linjia Village to deliver the message this time was the head steward, Miao Zhenchuan, who had known Mu Chuan for quite a while. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"The old general? Miss Lin?"

Mu Chuan, exposed without any shame, patted Miao Zhenchuan on the shoulder instead: "You, who are arranged into marriages without your knowledge, have your wives picked out by others. You can't control these kinds of things."

Miao Zhenchuan immediately changed the subject: "I don't mind resting a little longer, but the horse will take a while."

Mu Chuan then went to tell his parents, "I need to go back to discuss the banquet. I'll be back the day after tomorrow."

As soon as it got dark, Mu Chuan and Miao Zhenchuan rushed back to the capital.

General Li was indeed pleased to see him return, and he asked him to have a few more drinks with him before he stopped.

The next morning, Mu Chuan went to check on the progress of the new house.

"It will definitely be better before the New Year. It's just that some flowers, plants and trees are not easy to transplant now, we have to wait until spring."

Mu Chuan was quite satisfied and took the box of rattles he had prepared beforehand to the Rongguo Mansion.

The Jia family usually didn't have any guests, and since no master had given any prior instructions, the servants in the front yard were as busy as headless flies.

Mu Chuan didn't stand on ceremony at all. Standing at the gate, he instructed the Jia family servants to open the gate, rode his horse inside, and sat down in the main hall where he had returned before, giving instructions one by one.

"Serve some tea, what are you standing there for?"

"Go and bring two more braziers here, the kind that burn brightly."

"Go and invite Miss Lin. Otherwise, what do you think I'm here for? To have some tea?"

The news quickly reached Grandmother Jia.

"Lord Zhongyong is here again, wanting to see Miss Lin!"

The servant spoke urgently, and Grandmother Jia was equally concerned: "Where is Lian'er? Tell Lian'er to go and keep him company!"

"With the New Year approaching, Second Master Lian went out to run some errands."

"Then go and call the master—" No, the master won't do. If we don't tell him beforehand, he'll be drunk all day. "Go and call Baoyu!"

After hesitating for a moment, Grandmother Jia instructed Yuanyang, "Go and see if Daiyu is feeling better. If she is, have her go see her. Keep an eye out, and if she brings up the matter of the plaque, you can help her put in a good word for her."

Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu both lived in the same courtyard, so they were basically on the same route. Yuanyang took care of both of them all by herself.

She went to Yihong Courtyard first, but Jia Baoyu was not there. While Xiren was tidying up Jia Baoyu's formal clothes and accessories for going out to meet guests, she pretended to chat and complained, "I don't know why, but Miss Lin is giving Master Bao a hard time again. He has been sulking and sighing these past two days. Every day he gets up and goes to Xiaoxiang Pavilion to sit."

“It’s understandable that Miss Lin is sick, but you can’t take it all out on Master Bao. Look around, besides Master Bao, who else visits her every day? They’re all afraid she’ll throw a tantrum and embarrass herself. But Master Bao isn’t afraid. He’s just as unafraid of getting over his illness.”

Time was of the essence, and there was a First-Class Earl waiting outside. Although Yuanyang was on good terms with Xiren, she didn't have time to pay attention to her complaints at the moment. She said, "Take the things and come with me. Hurry up and get Master Bao dressed. We can't keep the Earl of Zhongyong waiting too long."

The two quickly arrived at Xiaoxiang Pavilion.

Lin Daiyu was recuperating in the inner room. Because of her age and disheveled appearance, and with a nanny watching over her, Lin Daiyu did not agree to it. Jia Baoyu was sitting outside and talking to Lin Daiyu through the lattice door.

Yuanyang found it amusing and said, "Miss Lin has caught a cold; she's uncomfortable even if you say a few more words."

Zijuan brought over tea. Yuanyang had been running all the way and was a little thirsty. She picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. She then instructed Xiren to help Baoyu change his clothes and went into the inner room herself.

"Sister Yuanyang," Lin Daiyu called out.

The room was warm and cozy with charcoal burning inside. Lin Daiyu leaned against the soft couch by the window, reading a book in her hand.

If you can lie on the soft couch, you can naturally get up. Although your face looks a little pale and haggard, your voice... if you speak softly, you can't tell anything. It's normal to catch a cold in winter.

"Are you feeling better, young lady? Lord Zhongyong is here. He wants to see you."

Lin Daiyu was stunned. The letter she wrote the day before yesterday had been sent out by Zijuan, who said that the Earl of Zhongyong was in his hometown and had arrived today.

The messengers from the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence were not delayed for a single day, nor was the Marquis of Zhongyong himself.

For a moment, her eyes welled up with tears.

People are always a little vulnerable when they are sick. Lin Daiyu had never wanted to see the Marquis of Zhongyong so much. She nodded: "I can move now. Zijuan, come in and help me change my clothes."

But when he spoke loudly, he sounded a bit hoarse and coughed several times before he felt better.

After Yuanyang and Zijuan had taken the clothes, they asked her to go out so that Yuanyang could help Lin Daiyu get dressed.

Although the old lady asked her to help smooth things over, she didn't think it was that much trouble.

Miss Lin has always been a very perceptive person and would never cause trouble. In all these years, when has she ever caused a scene?

Zhou Rui's wife trampled on her; the Xue family spread rumors everywhere; Xiren told everyone she met that she wasn't from the Jia family and was an outsider; the Third Miss even said she didn't remember her birthday; not to mention Miss Shi, she even compared Miss Lin to an actress.

As for Miss Lin, at most she just throws tantrums, and that's only directed at Master Bao.

"The old lady felt that the gift the girl gave was not appropriate, so she asked her to change it to a plaque with the inscription 'Abundant Gold and Jade'."

Lin Daiyu felt dizzy and disoriented, as if she were about to lose consciousness at any moment.

So the Marquis of Zhongyong didn't come for the table screen she gave him? But for the plaque that read "Gold and Jade Abundance"?

By the time Lin Daiyu came to her senses, she was already dressed and sitting in front of the mirror applying makeup. Yuanyang had already said countless things.

"The young lady is very sensible; she certainly won't make things difficult for the old lady, will she?"

Lin Daiyu looked at herself in the mirror. Her cheeks were already rouged, making them look rosy and radiant. The lip rouge on her lips was even more vibrant than usual, completely concealing her sickly appearance.

In her confusion, she saw herself in the mirror and nodded: "I'm young and my manners are not perfect, so I'm afraid I'll offend the guests. Luckily, my grandmother helped me."

Yuanyang hummed in agreement and said softly, "I've called for a sedan chair. I'll accompany you to the front, young lady."

Jia Baoyu had already bowed to Mu Chuan and was now sitting in the chair opposite him.

However, given Jia Baoyu's personality, he rarely received guests, especially after Jia Zheng was transferred to a post outside the capital. He even rarely left the Grand View Garden. When he did meet people, he would naturally be as nervous and awkward as a quail, not knowing what to say.

Mu Chuan was neither nervous nor embarrassed. He was bored while waiting for Miss Lin to arrive, so he began to torment Jia Baoyu.

"Your clothes are festive today." He looked Jia Baoyu up and down. Although he didn't want to be Lin Daiyu's elder, Jia Baoyu didn't care.

Besides, if Jia Baoyu calls him uncle, then wouldn't he have to call Miss Lin aunt?

Thinking about it this way, Mu Chuan felt a little hopeful.

"Nephew, you must be fifteen by now?" Mu Chuan asked.

Jia Baoyu was dressed in red today, with his sleeveless outer robe embroidered with gold thread and his belt inlaid with jade.

He wore a purple-gold crown and a headband with two dragons playing with a pearl.

This outfit makes you look very childish.

The purple-gold crown, in particular, was originally a ceremonial crown for feudal lords. Later, like the phoenix crown and embroidered robe, it could also be worn by commoners. However, due to its exaggerated design, it was mostly used to amuse children or by opera singers.

Needless to say, what healthy adult male would wear a forehead band?

Either the child is sick, or the child is afraid of getting a draft on their head.

The outer robe also features embroidery with double lion patterns, which is also for children.

He was wearing a necklace around his neck, with his jade pendant hanging from it.

Well, it's quite normal for a five-year-old to be like that.

In addition, Jia Baoyu ate and slept well, and his baby fat had not yet disappeared, making him look even more like a child.

"Nothing to fear," Mu Chuan thought.

Although Jia Baoyu had his head half-lowered, he was still made uneasy by Mu Chuan's blatantly malicious gaze, let alone answer the question.

"Your Excellency, I am seventeen this year—soon I will be eighteen."

"You should be sensible by eighteen." Mu Chuan earnestly lectured him: "How are your studies going? When are you going to try your hand at martial arts? How much weight can you draw with a bow? You should be able to draw a two-weight bow, right? What! You can't? Sigh... What about horseback archery? How many rings can you hit in horseback archery? Can you dismount while the horse is moving?"

Jia Baoyu was speechless, but Mu Chuan hadn't finished asking his question yet.

When Mu Chuan asked him what job he had taken, what he planned to do in the future, and how much he would earn each year, Yuanyang dragged Lin Daiyu in.

Jia Baoyu was finally freed from these suffocating questions. He hurriedly stood up and said, "General, please sit down. I'll go see if the tea and snacks are ready."

Mu Chuan turned his head to look at the four kinds of pastries and the tea that had just been served on the table, without saying a word.

"Miss Lin—is she ill?"

Lin Daiyu's eyes reddened instantly. Yuanyang applied a lot of powder and rouge to her face, but Third Brother could still tell.

Maybe he really wants a younger sister, or at least he truly does now.

She said softly, "I caught a chill a couple of days ago, but I'm all better today."