Chapter 65 Her shy and blushing appearance is so cute. "How could this be..."

Lin Daiyu hurried as fast as she could and finally managed to prepare the enormous purse before heading to the charity sale.

"I never imagined needlework would be so tiring." Lin Daiyu looked at her work with satisfaction: the stitches were delicate, the embroidery exquisite, and the colors harmonious, better than her previous needlework.

Moreover, it has a large purse, making it very suitable for Indians.

It is clear that Qingwen was a good teacher.

Thinking this through, Lin Daiyu called out, "Zijuan, send another jar of hand cream to Qingwen. Also, send her a box of the silver ingots made according to the twenty-four solar terms that the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion sent last time. I'm thinking of having Wan'er and Chunmei follow her around from now on, and don't give her any other work."

Zijuan took the things and delivered them, though she was a little worried.

To be honest, there's only so much work to do in the house, and we definitely don't need twenty maids. Besides, Zijuan is different from most of the maids in the Rongguo Mansion. While other maids are thinking about how to be lazy and not do any work, Zijuan is thinking about doing more and serving the young lady more.

The young lady promoted Qingwen, so Xiaoxiang Pavilion now has three head maids.

But Qingwen was someone from Bao Er Ye's household, and it was initially agreed that she would stay for three months and then go back.

But that's nothing. If you really want to be picky, Xiren is still in the Madam's quarters.

Zijuan was worried, but she didn't show it in front of Qingwen. She only said, "Although it's dark, I still think it's best to thank you properly in front of the young lady."

"You go first, I'll pack my things and head over," Qingwen said with a smile. "No need for her to say anything."

Zijuan nodded and went back first. She didn't think Qingwen was being presumptuous; things given by a young lady should indeed be kept safe.

Especially the set of twenty-four silver ingots, the four silver ingots for the beginning of spring, the beginning of summer, the beginning of autumn and the beginning of winter are all two taels, and the rest are one tael.

Twenty-eight taels of silver was neither a large nor a small sum for a respectable maid in the Rongguo Mansion. With enough exposure to her master, she might earn less than half a year's worth of rewards.

But that set of silver ingots wasn't just silver; it was actually miniature carved with scenes from all four seasons, which made it valuable. If you were to exchange it for silver, you could get two or three times the price.

No sooner had Zijuan returned than Qingwen arrived, carrying a small bundle in her hand. She smiled and said, "This is a dignified robe I made for you, Miss."

Qingwen opened the bundle, inside were two rainbow-colored pieces of crimson, one dark and one light.

The "palace crimson" garment is actually the same as the "forbidden step," especially in spring and summer when the skirts are thinner and the wind is strong. Something is needed to weigh down the skirt so it doesn't get blown away.

Therefore, the palace robe also needs to be adorned with heavy items such as jade pendants or gold and silver ornaments, and for aesthetic purposes, there are tassels at both ends.

Qingwen was naturally skillful, and her color matching and aesthetic sense were also top-notch.

Lin Daiyu liked it at first sight.

Qingwen was also very happy to see the smile on her face.

She has been at Xiaoxiang Pavilion for over a month. She doesn't have to do chores or keep watch at night. She sleeps and eats well, and her temper has improved a lot.

She no longer had to listen to Xiren and Bao Erye doing things every now and then, nor did she have to argue with people or sternly rush the maids to do their work. She hadn't raised her voice at all during her stay.

There were also various fragrant balms given by Miss Lin, which really made one look brand new after applying them.

She had met Xiren a couple of days ago. Xiren looked much more haggard. Although she was a few years older than her, she hadn't looked that different before, but the last time she met her, Xiren really looked like an older sister.

Qingwen was very grateful to Miss Lin for pulling her out of the mire. Even if she went back three months later, she would know what to do.

Qingwen didn't know how to do anything else, but she did needlework, and that was the only thing she could use to thank Miss Lin.

“This lighter one will be ready to use in the spring,” Lin Daiyu said with a smile. “Go and get my jade.”

Zijuan went inside and brought out the box where Lin Daiyu kept her jade ornaments. Lin Daiyu then took the warm jade that her third brother had found a few days ago and hung it up: "The colors match quite well."

"And this too." Qingwen opened the small wooden box, inside which were two butterflies with outstretched wings, as if even the slightest breeze could make them flap their wings.

"How was this made? It's so exquisite!" Lin Daiyu exclaimed. "Even the phosphorescence on the wings is so lifelike."

No one can resist her praise.

Not to mention teeth, Qingwen smiled so hard her gums showed: "This is also pinned to Gong Jiang, just in time for spring. First, the pattern is cut out from extremely thin paper, then embroidered on top with the finest needle and thread, all over. Then it's soaked in water until the paper is mushy, then the pulp is washed out, and finally, it's sized with extremely thin paste. The wings are held in place with silver wire so they can flap."

Although she spoke lightly, Lin Daiyu knew it wasn't that simple. Just take the phosphorescent dots on the wings, for example. Whether it was embroidered, washed, or starched, if it was done too roughly, and the embroidery thread got rough, the luster would be gone.

Lin Daiyu stood up and tied the gong jiang around her waist again. Qingwen came over and pinned a butterfly on her waist and then added a jade pendant.

Lin Daiyu walked a few steps in the room without looking up, just watching the butterfly flutter its wings.

"It looks so good, I'll wear this tomorrow." She twirled around again, her smile never fading.

Qingwen said apologetically, "This isn't very sturdy either. It won't light up after a few uses. And it won't hold the wings in place very firmly when they flap, so it might fall off after a while. You can't press it down either."

"It's already very good." Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "The Marquis of Zhongyong gives me all sorts of clever little things to use every day, but none of them are as skillful as yours."

Qingwen laughed so hard her teeth showed.

On the third day of the second lunar month, Mu Chuan got up early and chose a light purple, narrow-sleeved, round-necked long robe, over which he wore a spring-green long cloth armor.

The long cloth armor is actually the same style as the long armor, but the cloth is thicker, providing slight protection and being more upright.

Mu Chuan stood in front of the mirror, looked at himself, and then picked out a clear blue Gongjiang cigarette and tied it on.

"I used to wear dark colors to appear more mature, but now—" He looked at himself in the mirror again. Didn't he look like a promising young man?

"Let's see who dares to call me Third Uncle now."

Not to mention himself, even his tall horse had its tail and mane braided.

Mu Chuan rode his horse, tall and imposing, all the way to the Rongguo Mansion.

Not only were the servants of the Rongguo Mansion stunned by his appearance, but even Lin Daiyu was taken aback.

"Third Brother, you—" Lin Daiyu smiled and glanced at him, clearly doing it on purpose.

Mu Chuan was also a little stunned, because Lin Daiyu's outfit today was really beautiful. This was not to say that she was not beautiful yesterday, but that the two of them were dressed very similarly.

She wore a light peach-pink stand-up collar long gown underneath, and a light green horse-face skirt underneath, which looked like the one he had given her last time. Over it, she wore a pale yellow long vest.

Both the long robe and the horse-face skirt were plain, but the vest was embroidered with many patterns, just like his.

Moreover, the items tied around their waists were all made of imperial red.

"Your outfit today looks just like springtime," Mu Chuan complimented her.

The two were dressed almost identically, and Lin Daiyu felt that he had ulterior motives in giving her the green satin, as if he wanted to wear the same color as her today. Suddenly, she blushed and felt flustered, unsure of what to say, and even threw the purse into his arms.

"I embroidered this purse for you." He tossed it over, then realized it was inappropriate, as it sounded like he was being coquettish, and Lin Daiyu blushed even more.

She tried her best to comfort herself, reminding herself that she had always acted coquettishly with her third brother before, so nothing was different.

Isn't this just dating? Mu Chuan deliberately asked, "Why don't you even call me Third Brother anymore?"

Third brother is annoying!

"Third...Third Brother." As soon as she uttered the word "Third," Lin Daiyu felt her voice was a little weak, and she even started to stutter. She quickly shut her mouth, took a deep breath, and said with a strong sense of composure, "Take a look, and if there's anything you don't like, I'll have someone change it."

Mu Chuan kneaded the purse in his hand and asked, "Didn't you make it yourself?"

Her tone was so strange, and Lin Daiyu's face flushed crimson and then flushed again: "I made it! I made it myself!" she said through gritted teeth, "If you don't like it, I—"

"I like it," Mu Chuan said with a smile. "I like everything you make. Come to think of it, this is the first time I've received a piece of your handicrafts."

Lin Daiyu was at a loss for words. She stormed into the carriage, her force so great that the curtain slammed against the wooden frame with a loud thud.

What are you doing?

Lin Daiyu had just sat down when the curtain was lifted, and half of her third brother's very strong, large, and imposing body entered. She panicked a little.

Mu Chuan's voice carried a hint of amusement: "There's another compartment in the purse."

Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, but then felt a little ashamed of herself. She controlled herself and said, "I can put things away separately."

Perhaps he was trying too hard to control himself; his speech was a bit slow, so slow that it seemed like he was trying to cover something up.

"Oh, I see. Should I put the silver ingot here or the gold ingot here?"

"How would I know?" Lin Daiyu looked away and said evasively, "I'm hungry, I didn't eat anything this morning."

"Shall we try Cantonese dim sum?"

Let alone Cantonese dim sum, even if he said we should go eat stir-fried pork with chili and fish head with chopped chili, Lin Daiyu would agree.

She nodded hurriedly: "Hurry up, hurry up!"

Although the curtain was drawn, Lin Daiyu could still seem to hear her third brother's laughter.

"Third Brother is so annoying!" Lin Daiyu complained softly. Although she said "annoying," the corners of her mouth turned up. "Third Brother is annoying."

The carriage started moving along, and the rhythmic sound was very helpful in calming her mind. Once they were almost out of Ningrong Street, Lin Daiyu was able to relax enough to think about other things.

Especially the conversation we had just had in the heat of the moment, without thinking at all... that can't be considered anything else.

"This isn't my first handicraft," she whispered. "There's also an embroidery of 'Man Jiang Hong'."

She has now completed about a quarter of the embroidery. Although she is slightly behind schedule, she will get faster as she becomes more skilled.

I'll definitely finish embroidering it before my third brother's birthday... Well, even if I don't finish it by his May birthday, I'll definitely finish it by his August birthday.

Thinking about it this way, my third brother's two birthdays are actually quite nice.

Lin Daiyu chuckled twice, then suddenly felt something was amiss.

Her face flushed instantly.

When I was the older brother, giving an embroidery was nothing, but now... it feels like a return gift after betrothal.

...The few needlework pieces the woman made herself showed that she was skillful and capable of managing a household...

Ugh! I can't think about this anymore.

Think about the handwriting of Third Brother!

Think about Wang Xizhi again!

Thinking about it this way, Lin Daiyu really calmed down.

Although she had calmed down, the servants in the front courtyard of the Guo Mansion, as well as the maids and servants who had come out with her today, were not.

Although these people didn't see much, even that little bit was enough for them to imagine.

The servants in the front yard had been thoroughly tricked by Master Bao, and the servants of the Rongguo Mansion were known for holding grudges. Moreover, apart from those who were beaten and sent to the estate to farm, the servants had their bonuses deducted.

Cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents; they'll remember this grudge.

So although everyone in the Rongguo Mansion said that Master Bao and Miss Lin were a couple, the people in the front courtyard basically didn't want Master Bao to be happy.

Furthermore, the Second Master lost his official position because Zhou Rui's family offended the Earl of Zhongyong, and this was a minor punishment as a warning.

These days, everyone in the Rongguo Mansion is in a state of panic. News has spread from the back courtyard that staff will be laid off. Who wants to leave the Rongguo Mansion?

There's not much work to do, and there's even a tip.

Judging from the current situation, Miss Lin has already gotten together with the Marquis of Zhongyong. So... if they become a family, wouldn't the Second Master's official position be restored? They would still be servants of the Rongguo Mansion and be able to live comfortably.

"The Marquis of Zhongyong is better."

"Yes, they said he was forty. I don't know who couldn't stand to see him doing well. I mustered up the courage to take a look today. Although he looks a bit fierce and powerful, he's at most thirty."

"He's not even as old as Master Lian, yet he became a first-class earl at such a young age. He definitely needs to present himself as mature and composed. Besides, why would Miss Lin choose a good-for-nothing playboy over the position of head of the family? Is she crazy? And what does Master Bao have to compete with the Earl of Zhongyong? The Earl of Zhongyong has connections everywhere. Would our Master Bao—go mad?"

His words made everyone laugh.

"To be honest, Master Bao is too... well, it's hard to say about the master, but he needs to change. Even Miss Bao knows how to handle things."

Another old woman scoffed, "Do you all remember the year before last... around the time when Master Bao was beaten, Master Bao had a protégé named Fu who sent his own old woman to pay her respects?"

"I remember, how could I not remember? His younger sister was already twenty-three back then, and she still wanted to marry Master Bao. She must be twenty-five this year, right?"

"It was their family. I saw those two old women off when they left. I vaguely heard them say something like, 'They have nice faces, but it's a pity they're stupid.'"

"If you put it that way... then indeed, we never heard of him ever wanting to marry his sister off to us again."

"And last year, when Mrs. Zhen brought her daughter to the capital, four old women came to look at Bao Erye, but none of them took a liking to him."

One of the servants, who was listening to the gossip, asked in confusion, "Didn't they say that Miss Lin and Master Bao are a couple? Then why is Master Bao still so—cough, I'm dumbfounded!"

"Miss Lin has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel."

"Master Bao—" Serves him right!

It's different from the enthusiastic conversations with the people in the front yard.

Xueyan and the two old women in the carriage did not speak.

The old woman wanted to say something, but in front of Miss Lin's personal maid, she dared not utter a word and could only exchange glances with her.

Even just exchanging glances made them excited, occasionally letting out a chuckle. I don't know how they started "chatting".

Xueyan thought about many things, but in the end, only one thought remained: I can finally leave the Rongguo Mansion.

The carriage arrived at the Yue Lai Guild Hall. Mu Chuan lifted the curtain and felt a little disappointed; his Daiyu didn't seem so flustered anymore. Sigh...

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "I said I would come last time, but I ended up going to the Wuyue Guild Hall. I have to have a good taste today."

Mu Chuan was unwilling to give up. He looked at Lin Daiyu and asked, "Is this the jade I gave you?"

It seems that Yu also had some kind of romantic connection with Yu.

How much did her third brother deceive her, using his brother's name to make her accept things she shouldn't have?

Lin Daiyu's eyes darted away again, and Mu Chuan was satisfied. However, he knew he couldn't go too far; if she got used to it, he wouldn't be able to see her adorable, shy, and blushing expression anymore.

The waiter led the two to a quiet courtyard. When they sat down, Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment. Originally, the two were sitting next to each other, but... after feeling guilty and having others find out, she felt it was inappropriate to sit anywhere.

As the waiter went out to place the order, Mu Chuan asked, "Aren't you tired of sitting so upright?"

Lin Daiyu glanced at him: "You only look at the jade on my body, but you didn't see the other butterflies on my palace robe? You can't touch these things."

Well, they can't be proper siblings anymore anyway. Mu Chuan can't say he's completely open, but he can still say something meaningful in every sentence.

"Even though we're siblings, it's not right to keep staring at a girl's skirt, is it?"

Lin Daiyu didn't know what she was feeling. She forced herself to remain calm, picked one, and placed it on the table for Mu Chuan to see: "It was made by my maid."

The butterfly's wings trembled slightly. Mu Chuan carefully picked it up and examined it closely: "Truly skillful." Then he took off the purse from his waist. "I still prefer this one."

Lin Daiyu chuckled: "Third Brother is indeed eloquent. But this isn't just skillful; it's exquisite craftsmanship. It's a pity this maid isn't mine; I'm only borrowing her for three months."

Mu Chuan offered her a suggestion: "What's so difficult about that? Just buy it. What's the maid's name? I'll have someone go and buy her."

“You’re so domineering,” Lin Daiyu said. “The Rongguo Mansion isn’t short of money. Besides, I’ve been here for over ten years and I’ve never seen them sell a single servant.”

“There has to be a first time for everything.” Mu Chuan sighed earnestly. “Besides, do they really not lack money? You said last time that the Rongguo Mansion’s expenses are too high and simplification is urgent. I went to buy a maid from the Rongguo Mansion. It may seem like I was abusing my power, but in reality, I was helping them find an excuse to cut costs. Everything is difficult at the beginning. I helped them take the first step. In fact, they should thank me properly.”

Although she didn't know the newly appointed Grand Secretary Li, Lin Daiyu felt the same way he did. No one could beat her third brother's mouth.

That's true, without a physique like that, you can't develop a mouth like that.

“That maid’s name is—” No, Lin Daiyu suddenly shook her head, “I still need her, let’s talk about it in a few days.”

If Third Brother really buys Qingwen, even if he returns her to her, Qingwen will still have to stay at the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion for a few days. Third Brother might find out about her embroidery of "Man Jiang Hong".

I really didn't want him to know.

Mu Chuan sighed again: "That's true. If I buy it and then give it to you, it would offend people too much. The Rongguo Mansion would probably hate me."

"What?" Lin Daiyu was taken aback, then quickly nodded and said, "That's right! That's exactly what I was thinking. I still live in the Rongguo Mansion."

Mu Chuan chuckled twice at that tone, and Lin Daiyu covered it up by saying, "Let's eat something first, Third Brother, aren't you hungry?"

“Of course I’m hungry,” Mu Chuan said. “You said you’d teach me idioms last time, and I suddenly thought of one that’s fitting for the occasion.”

Lin Daiyu cleared her throat: "Go on."

What does "beauty is pleasing to the eye" mean?

Pooh!

Lin Daiyu didn't even dare to turn her head, and said solemnly, "This poem says that beauty is so beautiful that one forgets hunger when looking at it, not that beauty is edible."

Since she was acting serious, Mu Chuan also acted serious: "So that's how it is. It seems I've been using it wrong all this time."

Lin Daiyu nodded: "Idioms are easy to misuse, Third Brother should read more books in his spare time."

What to do? I also really like her pretending to be serious. It's so awkward... but her voice is so nice.

Mu Chuan enjoyed a comfortable meal while surrounded by beautiful scenery.

It's a little sweet, but it's really sweet.

The two "sweet"s mentioned above do not mean the same thing; this will be on the exam.

After the meal, Lin Daiyu got into the carriage again, and the two went to the charity sale at the Chongwenmen Tax Office.

The charity sale invited many dignitaries and was held in a large mansion with five courtyards and a garden. All kinds of items were neatly arranged according to their uses. Since it was Mu Chuan's first time there, Lord Qi specifically told him, "Donate everything, including this mansion."

Not only that, Lord Qi also gave him a set of plaques: "Put them up if you like them."

Mu Chuan exchanged a few polite words, and Lord Qi didn't say much more. Today was the first day of the charity sale, and it was easy to guess the guests' identities. Lord Qi was also busy.

"Do you like the house?"

Mu Chuan's question left Lin Daiyu speechless. She paused for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Who wants this? Alright, Third Brother, I know you're quite wealthy."

But after hearing this, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but wonder, why was he leading me to think about the family property?

"Shall we start by looking at the main house at the back? The things inside might be better."

"Let's go to the side room first," Lin Daiyu said with a smile. "My maternal grandmother has prepared five hundred taels of silver for me. I'd like to buy some trinkets for Miss Yousheng. What does she like?"

To be honest, Mu Chuan didn't know much about it.

When the original owner left, his younger sister Chun Tao was not even ten years old. After Mu Chuan came back, he was busy, and in fact, he spent less time with You Sheng than with Lin Daiyu.

Besides, didn't he find out what Lin Daiyu liked back then? He still relied on a gift-giving strategy, sending her all sorts of things.

So Mu Chuan said, "When her father was still alive, her grandparents disliked her because she was a girl. After her father died, her grandparents forced my sister to marry their eldest son, who was mentally challenged. She suffered a lot during childbirth. Even now, she is still timid and doesn't dare to say that she likes to eat meat. Give her more toys; there's bound to be one she likes."

Although their experiences were different, their situations were relatable to each other. Lin Daiyu said, "Then let's give her more toys. More toys always make her happy." Just like her.

Thinking about it, Lin Daiyu glanced at Mu Chuan again.

Mu Chuan thought it was a fun thing to do, and he liked it very much.

The two walked along the covered corridor towards the backyard, encountering several people along the way. Although Mu Chuan didn't recognize them, everyone in the capital knew him. They exchanged names and positions, and that was it for the two of them to become acquainted.

When we meet again next time, we can have a more in-depth conversation.

Lin Daiyu sighed, “No wonder Third Brother said he wanted to find someone who could make his own decisions. I see that many of the talented young men in this room came here with their elders.”

Why was she still thinking about promising young men? Mu Chuan glanced at her unhappily, but then he saw Lin Daiyu looking at him with a smile on her lips.

"I understand," Mu Chuan sighed. "We should have brought Jia Baoyu along. You said last time that he was clueless about household affairs. If he doesn't recognize the five families, don't let him leave."

“Then he won’t be able to get out.” Although she blushed a little when she said this, it was really exciting. Lin Daiyu’s heart was pounding. She continued, “During the New Year, my grandmother asked him to learn how to entertain guests. I heard that he hid behind the door and watched.”

At this point, Lin Daiyu casually asked, "He was also beaten, does Third Brother know?"

Mu Chuan was quite serious—pretending, he thought for a moment and said, “I might… I probably do know about this. I heard that the Xue family lad who’s staying at the Rongguo Mansion isn’t a good person. Last time there was a play, he stared at the actor they were supporting and said some very offensive things. How could the young men of the capital swallow that? So they beat him up. That day, Jia Baoyu was with him too. When you fight, it’s usually the pageboys.”

Lin Daiyu nodded in acknowledgment.

Now that things had come to this point, Mu Chuan frankly admitted, "Last time you came to my house, I had someone harass him and drive him away. The fact that the two of you came together is already infuriating enough, and I don't want the two of you to go back together. He's really not a good person; how could he be someone you could entrust your life to?"

Mu Chuan had said this many times, but hearing it again now carried a different meaning. Even the times he had heard it before now evoked different feelings.

Lin Daiyu's ears burned. With people coming and going, how dare he say such a thing?

"I told you he's from a prominent family, and he's learned proper etiquette—" Lin Daiyu paused, and after saying those two perfunctory words, she felt less nervous. She continued:

"However, his maternal grandmother also taught him how to treat people. He has always grown up in favorable circumstances. His third brother created some adversity for him, which was probably for his own good. He should thank his third brother."

Wait a minute, that sounds familiar. Didn't Third Brother just say that the Rongguo Mansion should thank him?

Honestly, it's hard to learn good things, but it only takes a moment to learn bad things!

Lin Daiyu glared at him again and quickly walked into the front room.

Mu Chuan was still savoring the look in her eyes when he heard Lin Daiyu say from inside, "Ahem, this isn't a boudoir; it's been turned into a Buddhist shrine."

Mu Chuan followed him inside and took a look. There were Buddha statues of all sizes inside, the smallest of which was made of white marble, but that one was very large, sitting cross-legged and taller than a person.

"Just look at this stuff," Mu Chuan said softly. "Religion has absolutely nothing to do with being realistic."

Unexpectedly, he had such insight. Lin Daiyu said, "My second aunt... claims to be a very devout Buddhist and wants to be a compassionate person."

“When noble families believe in Buddhism, it’s mostly for show.” Mu Chuan shrugged. “She’s probably the most deceitful person in the Rongguo Mansion. When she gets ruthless, she can even deceive herself.”

The two glanced at the Buddha statue and then left, going to the opposite wing. This time, it was truly decorated like a boudoir, with everything inside exquisitely crafted.

Lin Daiyu picked out three small trinkets and placed them on the plaques bearing Mu Chuan's name.

Mu Chuan said, "Then the rest are for you?"

Lin Daiyu laughed out loud: "Third Brother, we can't spend money like this, and besides, I don't like it. Let's go to the study and I'll pick out a few calligraphy books for you."

“You’ve already done very well,” Mu Chuan said, catching up with him. “I was referring to the calligraphy practice book.”

Lin Daiyu mustered up her courage and asked, "Am I not good enough?"