Chapter 99 People who are not from the same family will not enter the same door...

The people of Rongguo Mansion were becoming increasingly panicked.

Earlier, Wang Xifeng had spread the word that she would be choosing a dowry for Lin Daiyu, and at that time it would only be two or three hundred taels.

When Grandmother Jia first brought Lin Daiyu out to meet people, the family that gave Yuanyang the most money received gave her six hundred taels of silver.

But now the Ningguo Mansion is about to be demolished and rebuilt, Ningrong Street has become Ding'an Street, and the Jia family's downfall is only a matter of time. In the past, with Miss Lin's marriage, where would she find a good opportunity to jump ship?

That very evening, Yuanyang received 1,200 taels of silver.

There was no other way. Although these servants knew that handing over money was definitely risky, and Yuanyang was Jia Mu's confidante, Miss Lin would definitely need a dowry when she got married. Besides, they didn't know anything else.

Yuanyang showed the silver notes to Grandmother Jia, and the plan worked. Grandmother Jia regained some confidence and transformed back into the shrewd and in control old lady.

"Xiren's room has two thousand taels of silver. Although she manages the silver in Baoyu's room, which of these managing women has less than her?"

Yuanyang offered a few words of flattery, and then Grandmother Jia asked, "How well do they manage the household?"

"The second young lady has already moved back. I asked her to come over whenever she's free, so she can learn how to manage the household. However, Madam Xing made a few sarcastic remarks, saying that the second young lady should calm down. A girl who is about to get married still has a lot of dowry to embroider. Putting aside everything else, you can't ask others to do the veil and pillow."

Grandmother Jia sneered twice: "Do I not know her? She clearly doesn't want to spend any money, and just gave Yingchun plain cloth to do it herself."

The base material costs one price, but adding embroidery will at least double that, and there's no upper limit. It's not uncommon to find embroidered pieces worth tens of thousands of taels of material.

When Yuanyang heard Grandmother Jia say this, she thought that she was going to offer something in return, but after waiting for a while, Grandmother Jia did not speak, so she had to continue: "Third Miss is full of ambition, but she is still young after all, and she uses some harsh methods. Her voice became hoarse in two days."

Grandmother Jia nodded, indicating that she had heard.

Yuanyang then said to Xichun, "Fourth Miss comes every few days, saying that painting cannot be stopped, otherwise the skill will become rusty. And Baochai, I always feel that she is a bit absent-minded."

Upon hearing this, Grandmother Jia laughed: "What do you mean by absent-minded? Just tell me the truth, she's just jealous. She's jealous that my Yu'er found such a good husband. Doesn't she even know whose blood Yu'er is?"

This was one of the few things that could give Grandmother Jia some confidence. Yuanyang didn't say anything, and only after Grandmother Jia's excitement subsided did she say, "There are many drinking and gambling things nowadays, even worse than when their housekeeper was in charge last time."

This is exactly what Grandmother Jia wants—to have a reason to send people away. This is for the sake of the Rongguo Mansion's reputation, not because the Rongguo Mansion is broke.

"Where is Yu'er? Her room must not be in disarray, and the old woman who keeps watch over her at night must not be neglected in the slightest."

Need I say more? The entire Rongguo Mansion now wishes they could worship Miss Lin, and they all want to kneel on the ground so that Miss Lin can step on them to avoid getting their shoes dirty.

But Grandmother Jia must not know this at all. Even if she could guess, she must pretend to be stupid. Yuanyang said, "Don't worry, Grandmother, I go there every day. I keep a close eye on the people in her room and will make sure they don't neglect Miss Lin."

"Where is Sister Feng?" Grandmother Jia asked again.

That was Yuanyang's way out, so naturally she had to protect her. She hesitated and said, "Second Madam's room is a bit messy. Madam You and Qiutong are arguing non-stop every day, and Second Master is so annoyed that he has to avoid it."

Grandmother Jia was satisfied, and everything went smoothly.

Najib also had a smooth journey.

The two matchmakers started by making an excuse to go out and watch the wild geese, giving the two of them a chance to have a private conversation.

This time, Lin Daiyu wasn't too nervous. Her bright eyes looked at Mu Chuan with joy and anticipation.

"Third Brother is so majestic, so many girls are throwing handkerchiefs at him." Pshaw! That wasn't what she meant to say in the second half of her sentence. "I meant he's tall and mighty, making the enemy tremble with fear."

This is terrible; it's more like a cover-up.

Mu Chuan smiled and took out the handkerchief that Lin Daiyu had thrown to him that day, along with the silver ingot wrapped inside: "I only accepted this one. Do you want to check it?"

Lin Daiyu glanced at him with a slight upturn of her lips, then, feeling a little shy, didn't dare to look him in the eye. She simply reached out to grab the handkerchief.

She didn't look, but Mu Chuan did, and even reached out to stop her, before Lin Daiyu grabbed him.

"Oh dear!" Lin Daiyu quickly withdrew her hand. "Third Brother is so annoying."

Mu Chuan smiled as he carefully put the handkerchief away, saying, "This is a token of the young lady's affection; I can't show it to you."

Lin Daiyu's face ached from laughing so much.

"As for asking the name, besides asking the woman's name and date of birth, the betrothal gifts and dowry are also discussed at this time," Mu Chuan said with a smile. Of course, he didn't need to worry about this matter. His Majesty said that the Jia family would give a dowry of two million, so it would definitely be two million.

"This is a preliminary list of betrothal gifts. Take a look."

Lin Daiyu remained silent, and Mu Chuan felt that people's hearts had changed, and the girls were no longer taking the bait.

"His Majesty originally intended to give you a set of pure gold dressing tools, but I refused. Later, His Majesty had a set made of wood, which was also heavy, but it was difficult to refuse again. You'll have to make do with it... just keep it."

Lin Daiyu chuckled twice, and Mu Chuan then mentioned that his godfather's family had also received some new items.

Laughter from the two matchmakers could be heard outside.

“Miss Lin, you’ve raised these geese very well. Look, it’s only been less than a month, and the pair in front are already plump.”

"Who says otherwise? Even if the wings weren't clipped, it still wouldn't be able to fly."

No matter what she said, Lin Daiyu's face flushed red instantly.

"You and my mother must have a lot to talk about," Mu Chuan teased. "My mother raises chickens very well; the chicks are extremely tender, and the soup made from the old hens is incredibly fragrant."

"I've never raised chickens before." What kind of talk is this! Lin Daiyu immediately lowered her head. Her third brother was too awful.

"When you marry into our family, I'll have my mother teach you," Mu Chuan said slowly.

"You're marrying me so I'll raise chickens for you?" Lin Daiyu was completely speechless. What happened to her not being nervous? What had she even said?

Fortunately, she still had a remedy. Lin Daiyu quickly pushed over the ointment she had bought the other day: "I'll put this on your body to remove the scars. It's said to be from an old brand in Beijing. Try it and see if it works."

Mu Chuan opened it and smelled a strong Chinese medicine scent, as if ginseng had been added. He rubbed a little bit in and it seemed to contain pearl powder as well.

"I can't reach it from his back," Mu Chuan sighed regretfully.

Lin Daiyu laughed a few more times: "Alright, I'll wipe it for you after I get married."

Mu Chuan's eyes suddenly lit up with eagerness. He said, "My mother also said that getting married in the city is such a hassle. What should have been a day can be dragged out for months."

"You always call her 'Auntie,' but what about yourself?"

"If it were me, I would have snatched you away the first time we met."

Lin Daiyu lowered her head and chuckled softly twice: "The two ladies are trying to talk serious to you, but you insist on spouting nonsense."

“There are indeed some serious matters.” Mu Chuan sat up straight and adopted a more serious expression. “His Majesty sent people to Suzhou, and I also sent people there. We have found all the servants of the Lin family from back then.”

Lin Daiyu was slightly taken aback, but to be honest, these people had become a psychological burden for her to some extent.

Before Lin Daiyu could speak, Mu Chuan continued, "You haven't seen them for over ten years. They were sold off by Jia Lian and served in other households for over ten years. If you're interested, I'll have someone bring them back. As for the others, how about we release them from their status?"

Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, but she was not as frank as Mu Chuan, so she asked indirectly, "They are servants in other families. It must cost a lot of money to redeem them, right?"

"No problem," Mu Chuan replied readily. "With the eunuchs from the Imperial Textile Bureau as guarantors, we can just ask the Jia family for the money. After all, they took money that they shouldn't have taken in the first place."

"When I came to the Jia family that day, I only brought two people with me, Granny Wang and Xueyan. Where are their families?"

Mu Chuan said, "We've found them all."

Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief: "Then let them all go."

After hearing this, Lin Daiyu became somewhat listless, so Mu Chuan said, "I won't come for Naji in a couple of days. When the two ladies come to deliver Naji's gifts, I will go home and put our birth dates in the ancestral hall."

Lin Daiyu wasn't in a good mood, so she decided to nitpick with those close to her: "Two days? Can we really arrange the auspicious date in two days?"

Mu Chuan actually thought about it. When he looked at that list last time, although there was no auspicious day two days later, most people wouldn't ask for a name and then have the auspicious day taken two days later. Besides, there are twelve two-hour periods in a day, so there can't be no auspicious time at all.

Lin Daiyu laughed: "Alright, I know His Majesty favors you, and he will agree to whatever you say."

"Sigh." Mu Chuan sighed regretfully, "I thought you really wanted to marry me soon."

"Go and invite the two ladies in quickly," Lin Daiyu nudged him.

The two matchmakers came in, also wanting to talk about Najib.

"Ordinary families usually offer sacrifices to their ancestors for three days. Even if they are very solemn, they generally cannot exceed seven days. Especially in wealthy families, there are often hundreds of people, servants, and relatives who depend on the family. How can they not have headaches or fevers? If they really offer sacrifices for a month, something will definitely happen. In fact, it is a hint that the engagement is broken off."

"How many days does the Earl of Zhongyong plan to make offerings?"

Mu Chuan smiled and said, "Three days. If someone really has an accident in these three days, then their family must be incompatible with mine, and we will no longer be of the same clan."

The two matchmakers were taken aback, and at the same time teased Lin Daiyu: "Miss, you're definitely going to be the wife of the Marquis of Zhongyong."

"Where can you find such a wonderful husband?"

Lin Daiyu, who thought she had been through something and would no longer be shy, blushed once again.

After finishing her story, Lin Daiyu saw the group out of the courtyard. When she returned, she realized that she remembered the servants of the Jia family had forgotten to tell her third brother.

Lin Daiyu hesitated for a moment, then, in a fit of desperation, instructed Xueyan: "Go and invite Uncle Zhongyong back to the same place as last time. I have something to say to him."

Xueyan chuckled twice and quickly went out.

After dinner that evening, Grandmother Jia said, "Yu'er, don't go yet, I have something to tell you."

Lin Daiyu guessed that her maternal grandmother was going to teach her how to be a good wife of the Marquis of Zhongyong again, and it turned out to be quite valuable, even though it was the opposite of what she expected.

She lowered her head slightly, feigning shyness, still the most stereotypical Lin Daiyu in everyone's memory.

Grandmother Jia smiled and said, "Your Lin sister is getting married. When you get married, I will have some words to teach you."

Yingchun's spirits immediately dimmed. Tanchun stepped forward, took her arm, and pulled her out.

Although Yingchun no longer lived here, Madam Xing still asked her to come over every morning and evening, making her meaning very clear: "My niece used to live in your room, and you know what kind of situation my family is. You've kept the old lady company for over ten years, so I can't just leave you with nothing. I don't have any money, and besides, I'm not your biological mother; I'm just a second wife."

"Second sister," Tan Chun hesitated for a moment, "you should pay more attention to managing the household."

Tan Chun could actually see that the steward was acting strangely this time, but she couldn't do anything about it. She wanted the steward and always felt that the Jia family could still be saved.

If we lay off some servants and simplify things at home, how can we not make ends meet?

Yingchun was still a bit out of the loop, and Tanchun hesitated for a moment. Since they had grown up together, she simply spoke more bluntly.

“The old women are all richer than you. I know you’re short of dowry. Come and give me your orders these next few days, and I’ll help you fend off Miss Xue. They should have some money to give you as a token of their respect.”

Yingchun looked at Tanchun in shock. Tanchun pursed her lips and stammered, "When I go to pay my respects to Madam, I always sit in her room and get some information. And Auntie... although they always quarrel, I can also get some news from her. Second sister, the maids and servants in your room are actually not short of money. They can win several taels of silver in one night, while our monthly salary is only two taels."

Yingchun was still a little confused, but in all her years of life, she had never taken the initiative before. She subconsciously said, "I need to think about it. Let me go back and think about it carefully."

Tan Chun took her arm and helped her into the carriage.

In the inner room, Grandmother Jia pulled Lin Daiyu to sit down and said with a smile, "You're about to get married, and I'm really a little reluctant to let you go."

Lin Daiyu spoke first: "When my mother got married, my maternal grandmother was just as reluctant to part with her as she is now, wasn't she?"

There's nothing wrong with what she said, but it sounds strange in every way, let alone from the perspective of Grandmother Jia, who has something to hide.

"It is indeed hard to part with you, but what can we do? We can't just stop you from getting married," Grandmother Jia sighed.

Lin Daiyu's words slightly disrupted her rhythm. After all, Grandmother Jia was old, so she stopped and thought for a moment before smiling and saying, "Although I don't want you to get married, I'm afraid the Earl of Zhongyong over there wants you to marry into his family as soon as possible."

Remembering what Mu Chuan had said during the day, "My mother said it can be done in a day," and "If it were me, I would snatch it back for you that very day," Lin Daiyu's face flushed: "We can't let him have his way with everything."

Grandmother Jia then asked casually, "When was it said that Naji was to be taken?"

"I didn't say that, I only said that the birth date and time would be kept in the ancestral hall for three days."

“The date was a little short and not formal enough, but that’s how it is in the countryside.” Grandmother Jia secretly added, “But even if he’s from the countryside, he’s still your husband, your future parents-in-law.”

In comparison, Lin Daiyu still preferred what her third brother said: "Anyone whose family dares to have an accident at this time is no longer a member of my clan."

"I know," Lin Daiyu replied. Although she had never met her father-in-law, her mother-in-law... was quite nice.

“When I married into the Jia family, I started as a great-granddaughter-in-law.” Grandmother Jia sighed and recalled the past. “Although my family is a marquis, the Jia family is a duke, and there are more rules than the Shi family. Fortunately, the Earl of Zhongyong’s family only has his parents-in-law, so you can have a little more freedom.”

Unlike last time, Lin Daiyu now dared to say anything, relying on her third brother: "Alas, the Earl of Zhongyong also has a younger sister, and a niece—"

I even named her, and her toys are quite fun too.

"This is inevitable," Grandmother Jia sighed.

Although the two are not on the same wavelength, anyone who listens to them would agree that they have a good conversation.

"You're going to marry into the Marquis of Zhongyong's household. You must be filial to your parents-in-law and respect the Marquis of Zhongyong. I know their background is a disservice to you, but you have to endure it." Grandmother Jia patted her hand as if she felt sorry for her.

“Look at your sister Feng, she doesn’t do these two things very well. She was alright in the early years, but look at her now. You can see for yourself.”

Wasn't Sister Feng sick because she was overworked, with all the family's affairs weighing on her shoulders?

Even though Sister Feng is the kind of person who can't sit still, does that mean she should blame herself for exhausting herself like this?

"You need to be observant and proactive, especially in front of your mother-in-law. You have to do the work while she's idle."

"That's it," Lin Daiyu thought. The first time she met her future mother-in-law, she was sweeping the floor—or at least pretending to sweep.

"Don't go ahead of the Marquis of Zhongyong, follow behind him."

It's too late to say this now; I've already left countless times.

"Grandmother, the Jia family's rules are indeed quite...rules." You must have had a very hard time back then.

Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "Without rules, there can be no order. Look at your second aunt, she does the best."

Lin Daiyu was genuinely surprised. She had always thought that her maternal grandmother and second aunt were only superficially friendly. Did her maternal grandmother actually prefer the style of being polite to her face but malicious behind her back?

That's true... Lin Daiyu always felt that the Jia family valued face very much. Thinking about it this way, they really are not family.

So the reason why her second aunt dared to openly and secretly belittle her was because she could get along with her on the surface?

Fortunately, she was about to get married. Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Grandmother, don't worry. I will definitely live a good life after I marry into the Zhongyong Marquis's family."