Chapter 71 The Empress wants to see Miss Lin! Telling the whole truth certainly...

Madam Shen quickly came up with an idea: the general must be from the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion, so she could pretend to be a member of the Lin family.

Madam Shen quickly put on her vest, applied some perfume, put on a gold bracelet, and wore a jeweled hairpin and earrings.

"General, I'm all better now."

The convoy soon arrived at Rongguo Mansion.

Don't be fooled by the Rongguo Mansion's servants' habit of flattering the powerful and belittling the weak; from another perspective, it's actually a sign of their good judgment.

Everyone knows how to fool their master so they can get a reward without getting into trouble.

Seeing that Uncle Zhongyong and Mama Shen—no, Mama Liu—were acting distant, the servants in the front yard immediately split into two groups. One group took Uncle Zhongyong to the main hall, while the other group invited Mama Liu to the side hall.

The old woman from the second gate ran quickly to deliver the news.

They had just finished breakfast, and the opera had already started. Everyone was waiting in the main hall of Grandmother Jia's courtyard, with gongs and drums playing and everyone smiling. It was very lively.

Lin Daiyu was sitting inside when the old woman found Yuanyang and whispered, "Uncle Zhongyong and Granny Liu have both come and want to see Miss Lin."

Yuanyang had a look on her face as if to say, "Are you crazy or am I crazy?" Everyone knows what's wrong with Aunt Liu.

How could there be a second time?

Are they from the Rongguo Mansion who are easy to bully or what?

Yuanyang only dared to think this in her heart. She walked to the main seat inside and whispered in Lin Daiyu's ear, "Miss Lin, the Marquis of Zhongyong has arrived."

The old lady was right next to Miss Lin, so she simply didn't mention Liu's mother.

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Hurry up and go. After this warm-up performance, it'll be time for the play you requested."

Lin Daiyu apologized and got up. Yuanyang accompanied her out and said with a subtle expression, "Mother Liu has also come."

Lin Daiyu couldn't suppress the smile on her face, but to actually laugh out loud would be incredibly disrespectful.

During the master's birthday banquet, several head maids from Xiaoxiang Pavilion also took a break, and even the old women who looked after the house took turns coming to watch the play.

When Xueyan saw the young lady get up, she was about to follow her when Zijuan pulled her back and said with a smile, "I'll go. Since you call me sister, I'll let you rest today."

Zijuan had already made up her mind. Xueyan was caught off guard and reacted a little slowly. By the time she stood up again, Zijuan had already followed her.

Grandmother Jia glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, and her already drooping lips curled up slightly. She didn't believe that the Marquis of Zhongyong could take Yu'er away today.

She wasn't trying to sow discord.

Even between husband and wife, one cannot always give in to the other's wishes; there must be a time to say no. Today, she taught Yu'er how to say no. Once the first "no" is spoken, how far away is the second?

The Earl of Zhongyong came from a farming background and had a smooth life. He must have a stubborn and uncompromising personality, which also taught him that not everything could be done according to his whims.

Even though the Earl of Zhongyong looked down on the Rongguo Mansion, she wanted to show him that she wasn't just a duchess for nothing.

None of the Duke's concubines could bear him a son, and she deserves much credit for the Duke's mansion's continued existence.

Lin Daiyu quickly arrived at the front yard, looked around, and with a slight smile, went to the main hall first.

The side hall's door faced the main road directly, and Madam Shen immediately realized she had made a mistake.

Lin Daiyu went in and called for her third brother. Mu Chuan smiled and said, "Today is your birthday. I've been thinking about it and realized that you're a young lady now, so I'm bringing you some jewelry."

These words were spoken very seriously, making Lin Daiyu feel that her third brother was like an elder again.

She looked at the three large, flat wooden boxes stacked on the table. They were clearly complete sets of jewelry, including matching bracelets.

"Why would I need so many?" Lin Daiyu said with a laugh as she counted. "Third Brother, look at me. I only have one head. It's not appropriate for me to wear a whole set of jewelry; it would be too formal."

“You can wear them in combination,” Mu Chuan said. “The last few times we went out, I saw that you only had those kinds of headdresses. I even asked Li Chengwu about it, and he said that his two sisters could wear different headdresses every year. You have to have what others have.”

Lin Daiyu opened the box and looked at it: "Couldn't it be that I just like those two pieces of jewelry?"

"I don't care, you can continue wearing those two things, but you have to have the items."

"Third Brother is so domineering." Lin Daiyu opened them one by one and looked at them. There was a set of pure gold inlaid with small red agate and jade, a set inlaid with pearls, and a set of sandalwood. All of them were exquisite and the styles were suitable for young girls to wear. They looked very lively and not overly formal.

"Thank you, Third Brother," Lin Daiyu said with a smile.

Mu Chuan then asked her, "Would you like to eat Wu Yue Restaurant's dishes again? Or Cantonese cuisine?"

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "There is a banquet at the manor today, and there is an opera performance right now, so I won't keep you any longer."

Mu Chuan didn't mention that he came from the military camp. He stood up and said with a smile, "I also met Liu Mama from the Lin family at the gate? She's a very cheerful old woman. You should go and meet her."

“It’s Mother Liu.” Lin Daiyu looked at her third brother meaningfully. “I wonder what she brought.”

Mu Chuan cleared his throat and said seriously, "How would I know? I guess they're some local specialties or food?"

Lin Daiyu saw Mu Chuan out, and Mu Chuan said, "Don't see me off anymore. Hurry up and go see Mother Liu and then go back to watch the play. It would be too painful if you missed a part."

"No, they will definitely wait for me to get back before they start singing."

Mu Chuan nodded, thinking that the masters of Rongguo Mansion had finally learned their lesson.

Lin Daiyu went to the side hall, and sure enough, she saw the familiar yet unfamiliar Liu Mama as soon as she entered.

“Miss,” Madam Shen hurriedly bowed, “These are things that my master specially instructed me to send. This is rice cake, and these are ink sticks and paper for you to use when writing. My master also said that he met someone who just came from Suzhou a few days ago, and that it’s fashionable there to eat roast suckling pig on birthdays, so he prepared one for you as well.”

Madam Shen pointed to the wooden box on the table: "It's already pickled. The Rongguo Mansion should have a larger oven, right?"

Lin Daiyu was still wondering what the largest roasted food she had ever eaten was when Zijuan laughed and said, "How come the Rongguo Mansion doesn't have an oven? This mother doesn't need to worry so much."

"That's good." Lin Daiyu instructed, "Zijuan, take some people to the main kitchen and tell them to bake it immediately, we need it for lunch."

Zijuan went out, and Mama Shen also got up to say goodbye. When she got to the front yard, she ran into her own general again. After the caravan left Rongguo Mansion, Mama Shen said, "Rongguo Mansion is really a strange place. Judging from their expressions, they know who I am. They all act more naturally than I do."

As Mu Chuan was instructing Shen Mama on matters, another palace-style carriage arrived. The eunuch driving the carriage saw Mu Chuan, stopped, knocked on the carriage, and said with a smile, "We've met the Earl of Zhongyong."

The carriage was steady, and another eunuch got off. Mu Chuan greeted the eunuch, who smiled and said, "I am a eunuch from Kunning Palace. Her Majesty the Empress wishes to see Miss Lin and specially sent me to pick her up."

Mu Chuan thought the emperor was a good person, but he couldn't help but worry, so he added, "It's Miss Lin's birthday today."

The eunuch nodded with a smile: "Your Majesty knows, she has wanted to see you for a long time, and specially waited for this day."

The emperor is such a good person! Mu Chuan stretched out his hand and handed over another red envelope.

The eunuch laughed and said, "Everyone in the palace says that your method of handing over the red envelope is exceptional, and I've certainly learned something new today. I won't delay you any longer, please come in."

However, Mu Chuan was still worried, so he added, "This is Miss Lin's first time entering the palace, and she knows nothing. If you have time, you should tell her what needs to be told."

As the two parted ways, Lin Daiyu leisurely returned to Grandmother Jia's courtyard.

On stage, a storyteller was performing. When Grandmother Jia saw her return, her smile grew even brighter: "Come quickly, I specifically told them to wait for you before starting the performance."

But before the play was even finished, the old woman from the second gate came in again.

This time, she was not only panting, but also looked terrified: "Grandma, someone from the palace has come! They say Her Majesty the Empress wants to see Miss Lin, and the carriage is waiting in the front yard!"

Grandmother Jia practically jumped to her feet: "Quickly!" she shouted, "Prepare—stop the play!"

The room immediately fell silent. Lady Wang, who was sitting to one side talking to Aunt Xue, glanced at Grandmother Jia, not understanding what was going on.

Grandmother Jia looked Lin Daiyu up and down: "Your clothes are fine today, you can go to the palace. As for your hair—if someone has hair oil on them, comb it neatly for her, there can't be a single stray hair. You don't know, there are many rules in the palace, you can't make a single mistake."

Lin Daiyu had never heard her third brother mention these things. When he occasionally talked about the palace, he would only mention how delicious the food in the imperial kitchen was, how kind and benevolent the retired emperor was, and how wise and compassionate His Majesty was.

"Don't use too much," Lin Daiyu said, stopping Yuanyang's outstretched hand. "If the fragrance is too strong, what if it offends the Empress?"

"Alright, hurry up and go." Grandmother Jia didn't dare to delay at all and urged her repeatedly, "Remember, be extremely cautious and respectful in the palace. I told you before how I entered the palace. You should remember that you can never be too careful in the palace, because everyone there is a master."

Grandmother Jia then carefully examined Lin Daiyu's clothes and accessories, and even made her turn around twice to look at them: "Also, after you come down from the North Gate, you'll have to walk by yourself. Remember, if the eunuch leading the way walks too fast, it means he wants money. Don't argue with the eunuch about this, or he might take you on a long detour and displease the Empress."

What did my maternal grandmother encounter in the palace?

As Grandmother Jia finished speaking, Yuanyang handed over several red envelopes containing fifty taels of silver notes.

The other girls held their breath and dared not speak, and even Jia Baoyu was frightened by Grandmother Jia's attitude and shrank back.

Lady Wang suddenly said, "Please give my regards to the Imperial Concubine."

Grandmother Jia frowned, about to scold her, when she saw Lady Wang's pleading expression, her eyes seemingly implying: "Yuan Chun is your own granddaughter. The honor and disgrace of the Rongguo Mansion, and Bao Yu's future, all rest on her shoulders. Your granddaughter has entered the palace; shouldn't you help inquire about her whereabouts?"

Grandmother Jia closed her eyes briefly, then spoke with a firm decision: "Go ahead. The Imperial Concubine is your cousin, so there's no need to panic. If the Empress allows it, you should also go and pay your respects to your cousin."

Madam Wang already had a smile on her face. Wasn't this a plan to kill two birds with one stone?

If the Empress's anger has subsided, then this sickly girl will naturally be able to see Yuan Chun if she just asks. If not... she's surnamed Lin, not Jia, so what does her offending the Empress have to do with the Rongguo Mansion?

Besides, the Rongguo Mansion raised her to this age, and she consumed several catties of ginseng from the Rongguo Mansion every year. She was able to live in the Grand View Garden thanks to Yuan Chun, so it was only right that they shared joys and sorrows.

Lin Daiyu saw all of this and said softly, "Then I'll go."

Yuanyang had already ordered a sedan chair to be prepared, and four nimble old women carried it quickly to the front yard.

Yuanyang helped Lin Daiyu down and handed the red envelope to the eunuch. Her method was not as skillful or as captivating as that of the Marquis of Zhongyong.

However, the thickness was quite satisfactory. The eunuch smiled at Lin Daiyu and said, "Please, young lady. Your Highness just wanted to ask a few questions. When I came over just now, I saw the Earl of Zhongyong. The Earl of Zhongyong also instructed me to take good care of you, young lady. Please rest assured."

Lin Daiyu got into the carriage, and the eunuch went to sit with the driver on the carriage shaft outside.

When the Empress summons someone to the palace, they must enter through the North Gate. The Rongguo Mansion is located in the southeast of the Imperial City, which is quite far. However, the palace carriages can travel around the Imperial City, so they are quite fast.

Upon arriving at Bei'an Gate, the carriage was replaced by a sedan chair. The eunuch leading the way stood to the side and said with a smile, "The sedan chairs in the palace are all without curtains, in case someone hides inside."

There was a sedan chair for her to ride in, and the eunuch was there to tell her this, so it was clear that he didn't intend to make things difficult for her. Besides, the eunuch had mentioned her third brother when they arrived—thinking of her third brother made her feel less afraid.

Lin Daiyu then asked, "Not even in winter?"

The eunuch nodded: "Not to mention winter, even His Majesty's imperial carriage has to have its covering removed in the palace."

Lin Daiyu really wanted to ask if someone had infiltrated the system to make this rule possible, but she felt it was inappropriate, so she thought she would ask her third brother next time she saw him.

Lin Daiyu remained silent, but the eunuch still remembered the instructions given by the Marquis of Zhongyong.

"Young lady, you're a junior, so there's no need to give any tips or anything when you come in." What else?

The eunuch thought for a moment and said, "Her Majesty only asked a couple of questions. She knows it's your birthday today. That's all. Is there anything you don't understand? Oh, there are maids to lead you inside. Just follow them. You don't need to kowtow; a simple curtsy will suffice."

The eunuch thought for a moment, but couldn't figure out what he had overlooked. However, since it was the first time someone had entered the palace, they really didn't know anything. So, he simply recounted all the procedures from the moment he entered Kunning Palace, and then said with a smile, "This is worthy of the red seal given by the Marquis of Zhongyong."

What's there to be nervous about?

Lin Daiyu asked, "Your Excellency always mentions the Marquis of Zhongyong. Does he often visit the palace?"

"Of course," the eunuch sighed. Of course, what he admired most was his ability to please both the Emperor and the Emperor Emeritus—something he couldn't say aloud, so he settled for second best—

"The way the Marquis of Zhongyong gives red envelopes is superb. I never expected that someone with such a burly build would have such nimble hands. Everyone in the palace has been learning this technique lately. Miss, ask the Marquis of Zhongyong to show you later. Nobody dislikes this."

Lin Daiyu laughed and said, "I don't believe it. There are so many people in the palace, how could they all be inferior to him?"

The eunuch became even more polite when he spoke of the Marquis of Zhongyong in such an intimate way: "There are a few magicians who can match the Marquis of Zhongyong's skills, but their attitude is not as natural and open as the Marquis of Zhongyong's, so it is still possible to tell the difference."

The two chatted all the way and soon arrived at Kunning Palace.

The eunuch asked Lin Daiyu to get out of the sedan chair, and then a junior eunuch went to report the news. Soon, a palace maid who looked to be around thirty years old came out of the palace and led Lin Daiyu inside.

The palace maid spoke very crisply: "Go in and follow me. When I stop, give me a curtsy. Would you like water or tea?"

Lin Daiyu said, "Warm water."

The palace maid led her inside, and Lin Daiyu followed her instructions. After bowing, she heard the Empress above laughing and saying, "Come here and let me see you. My two nieces saw you once and went back saying they saw a fairy. They haven't forgotten about you since. Today, I finally have a chance to see you."

Lin Daiyu raised her head and took two more steps forward. The Empress extended her hand, and Lin Daiyu helped her up, sitting down beside her with the Empress's support.

"It is indeed beautiful." The Empress smiled. "My two nieces said they wanted to invite you to play, but their studies are really not going well, and they are catching up on their homework at home. In a couple of days when it gets warmer, I will invite them to the palace, and you can go play in the West Garden."

Of course, these are all just the surface reasons. The real reason is... The Emperor said that the Earl of Zhongyong has not yet told Miss Lin that he wants to marry her, but the Empress's niece already knows, and he is afraid that they will let it slip.

The Empress glanced at Lin Daiyu again. She was indeed an unparalleled beauty, someone who was so delicate that one would be afraid to hold her in the palm of one's hand or let her melt in one's mouth. No wonder the Marquis of Zhongyong was so cautious.

If she were the Marquis of Zhongyong, she would probably be even more cautious than him.

After the Empress spoke at length, Lin Daiyu's nervousness eased slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I also miss the two Miss Songs very much. The epiphyllum they gave me last time did indeed bloom in the middle of the night."

The Empress smiled and said, "Your birthday is quite a coincidence, it just happens to be the Flower Festival—Chi Lan, bring me that set of velvet flowers made according to the twelve flower goddesses."

Lin Daiyu stood up, but halfway up, she thought, "This isn't for me, what should I do?" The Empress saw her like this and laughed: "It's normal to be like this the first time you enter the palace, so restless and conflicted. You'll be fine after a couple more times."

A palace maid quickly brought over a wooden box. The Empress pushed it open and showed it to Lin Daiyu as well: "Now you can thank her."

Lin Daiyu's cheeks flushed, and she stood up slightly awkwardly, but she tried to remain calm and express her gratitude. The Empress immediately thought that the Marquis of Zhongyong was a bit too rough.

"It's your birthday today, so I won't keep you any longer. I'll call you in again in a couple of days." The Empress smiled and said, "The Marquis of Zhongyong showed His Majesty your calligraphy, and His Majesty thought it was very good. He then showed it to me. It just so happens that Xining and Luojia are nine and eleven years old, respectively, and it's time for them to learn to write properly. It's a good opportunity for you to teach them."

Lin Daiyu was somewhat apprehensive, and felt that she could never repay her third brother for treating her this way. So she stood up again: "Your Majesty, I will definitely teach the two princesses their calligraphy well."

"Sit down quickly." The Empress pulled her hand, applying slight pressure, and then noticed that Miss Lin seemed rather thin.

"You were just talking about me, how come you become so nervous and act like a subject? There's no need for that. Try a couple more times, and write when you're not nervous anymore, otherwise I'm afraid your hand will shake." The Empress laughed as she spoke, "Don't worry, you won't be any harder to teach than the Marquis of Zhongyong."

Lin Daiyu was nervous, but she knew how to be tactful and joking: "The Earl of Zhongyong has lofty ambitions; he's aiming for Wang Xizhi."

The Empress smiled again: "Xi Ning and Luo Jia are probably not up to the task. As long as they can write neatly and have a little bit of style, I will be satisfied."

Lin Daiyu nodded and said, "That is indeed easier than the Marquis of Zhongyong."

The Empress was satisfied. Although her voice was still a little weak, she was already able to laugh and joke, which showed that the girl adapted very quickly. How did she end up being taken by the Marquis of Zhongyong?

"You're still too thin. Chi Lan, where's that tea the imperial physician sent last time to regulate your spleen and stomach? Bring some for Miss Lin." After instructing the palace maid, the Empress said to Lin Daiyu, "Don't worry, it's for the little princesses and princes in the palace. It's very mild and can not only stimulate the appetite but also aid digestion. The taste is also quite good, sweet and sour. I've tried it myself."

Lin Daiyu said shyly, "Actually, I have a good appetite now. I used to be much thinner, and the bones in my arms were protruding. Thanks to Uncle Zhongyong for finding a good prescription and taking me to eat a lot of hometown delicacies. Look at these clothes, they were all made this year. The ones I wore before don't fit anymore."

This was the longest she had spoken since entering the room, and she was still talking about the Marquis of Zhongyong. The Empress smiled knowingly, which showed that the Marquis of Zhongyong was not just enthusiastic on his own.

Since both of them are willing, then it's all about romance.

"It's just a young girl's thoughts," the Empress smiled knowingly. "I didn't expect the Marquis of Zhongyong to be so thoughtful."

Speaking of her third brother, Lin Daiyu was indeed no longer nervous. She said, "At first, I couldn't tell. After going out a few times, he took very good care of me."

After saying a few more words about the Marquis of Zhongyong, the Empress laughed and said, "Alright. Your arm is still stiff, so you're still holding back. I'll have them send you back. It won't delay your lunch. We'll pick you up again in a couple of days."

Lin Daiyu then said, "On the sixth day of each month, you should teach the Earl of Zhongyong to write characters."

The Empress's smile grew even more ambiguous: "I know, it certainly won't delay that. His Majesty is also waiting for the Marquis of Zhongyong to become a master calligrapher."

Your Majesty will have to wait a while.

Lin Daiyu bowed and took her leave, and the same eunuch escorted her back.

Seeing her exhausted appearance after the tension, the eunuch knew she didn't have the energy to talk, so he didn't disturb her, only reminding her occasionally, "It's time to get in the carriage" and "We've arrived."

Upon returning to the familiar Rongguo Mansion, Lin Daiyu instantly perked up. When the old women in the front yard saw her return, some came to fetch her things, some went back to the back yard to report the news, and others carried her sedan chair over.

The eunuch who escorted her back was not satisfied; this was clearly a sign of neglect. Besides, this was the Rongguo Mansion, a source of income for the palace eunuchs. Today, he wanted a big one, to let those little brats in the palace see who was the most capable.

He gave a forced smile, and with the cold, sinister voice that people usually associate with eunuchs, he sneered, "The Rongguo Mansion is truly audacious. I've visited many noble families, and none of them are like yours. Your daughter enters the palace, and not a single master sees her off; when she returns, no master is waiting for her. What? Is it that the Empress is unworthy, or that our family is unworthy?"

Lin Daiyu subconsciously looked at the eunuch, only to see him wink at her.

"Alright, that's not for her." Lin Daiyu then reminded the old women, "Is Second Master Lian here?" She knew she couldn't count on Jia Baoyu, implying he wouldn't understand, and explicitly stating his lack of comprehension, "Where is the Master?"

At the gate, it would be faster to go back and report to the old lady than to find the master. At that moment, someone went next door to look for Jia She. The eunuch politely said to Lin Daiyu, "Miss, please go back. The Empress instructed that you be properly sent back."

Lin Daiyu didn't try to keep her any longer. She got into the sedan chair and instructed, "Go to the old lady's courtyard. The banquet shouldn't have started yet."

Of course, the banquet hadn't started yet, and everyone in the room was so nervous that they kept drinking tea. Lin Daiyu had been gone for less than an hour, and the oldest person, Grandmother Jia, had already changed her clothes three times.

When Lin Daiyu entered the main hall, she was greeted by a sea of ​​eager eyes.

The old woman had already come to report, and as soon as Grandmother Jia saw Lin Daiyu enter, she exclaimed, "Why so fast!"

Lin Daiyu realized that she and her maternal grandmother had not entered the same palace.

My maternal grandmother entered the Forbidden City as seen by the world, but what she experienced was the word "forbidden," the strict rules, and the supreme imperial power.

The door her third brother opened for her led her to the royal palace, where she felt a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Lin Daiyu lowered her head slightly: "After entering and exchanging greetings, I only said seven sentences in total." The Empress spoke more than me, and she was kind and gentle.

"...Not a single eunuch was willing to accept my red envelope." My third brother gave it to them, and he even made arrangements for them. Presumably, the Empress had given instructions as well, so they dared not accept it.

"...We didn't even get to drink tea." They drank warm water. The water from Yuquan Mountain was indeed different from the well water or aged snow water they usually drank.

Grandmother Jia sighed, her gaze towards Lin Daiyu filled with both superiority and pity.

Lin Daiyu also sighed, realizing that this was what it felt like to tell the truth.

—It's all Shen's mother's fault!