Offer advice (or suggestions)
The fog had finally lifted in the early morning, and the last market before the New Year was filled with lanterns. Taking advantage of the break from buying New Year's items, Lin Xu also went out for some fresh air.
Zhu Ling, who was traveling with them, was still very much a child at heart, and was overjoyed at everything new and interesting she saw. Zhou Qi and Zhou Quan, with broadswords at their waists, followed beside them, shielding them from the crowds around them.
The wide North Street is lined with tall buildings on both sides, with red walls and green tiles. Vendors are selling bright red couplets, paper-cuts, incense and firecrackers. There are also stalls that sell sacrificial items, allowing people to buy incense, candles and offerings to pray for good weather and peace in the coming year.
After walking only a few steps, a fragrant aroma wafted through the air. A vendor was pushing a cart, and freshly fried fritters were sizzling in the oil, looking incredibly tempting.
Seeing Zhu Ling's eyes light up, Lin Xu said softly, "If you like, go and buy a few to try."
Zhu Ling hurried forward, and Lin Xu took the opportunity to look around. He saw a lively scene all around – there were strong men wrestling in thin clothes in the freezing cold, there were geishas dressed in bright colors selling wine, and there were also very new flowers, birds and other toys.
At the end of the market stood the towering white pagoda of Dinghui Temple, crowded with devout men and women who came to pray for blessings. Red ribbons for making wishes hung all around the temple, swaying gently in the wind, accompanied by the rich aroma of incense.
She glanced quickly until her gaze landed on a beautiful woman with elegant clothes and a graceful face amidst a bustling crowd.
After several months apart, Gao Youyi's appearance remained stunning. Her fair and full face was adorned with exquisite makeup, and her jet-black hair was styled into a high bun like clouds, with a few strands of hair hanging down by her ears, adding to her charm.
Lin Xu was overjoyed and quickly stepped forward, softly calling out, "Mother."
Gao Youyi looked around but saw no one calling out. She thought it was just a lively crowd and that she had misheard. She shook her head to herself.
Lin Xu smiled and took a few steps forward, calling out, "Mother, it's me."
Gao Youyi then noticed Lin Xu standing not far away, walking towards her, and immediately smiled with delight:
"Xu'er! What a coincidence! I thought I must have misheard."
Lin Xu and Zhou Qi behind her all bowed to Gao Youyi. She stepped forward and affectionately took Gao Youyi's arm, saying softly:
"I saw a beautiful woman in the distance just now. I wondered whose wife was so beautiful. It turns out it was my mother."
Xin Tan and Xin Ti stood beside Gao Youyi, also smiling broadly as they curtsied to Lin Xu. Since her marriage, she had not seen anyone from the Lin family, and for a moment, they all felt quite close to each other.
Gao Youyi handed the items she had just selected to the servant beside her, gently patted Lin Xu's hand, and then carefully examined Lin Xu before smiling and saying:
“My daughter is now a wife, and she is so much gentler than before, and she has grown even more beautiful. It seems that the Dou family’s feng shui is quite good at nurturing people, and it’s not a waste to let our beautiful Xu’er be buried in vain…”
The two walked together to a teahouse on the side and sat down for a while. It was rare to find a teahouse that was still open in the dead of winter. The red lanterns hanging high fluttered in the wind, and the place was full of customers resting and chatting.
The shop assistants were quick and efficient, soon bringing over two bowls of the shop's signature lychee juice. The long-fermented juice was rich in rice aroma, accompanied by the fragrance of osmanthus and the harmony of honey, making it very delicious.
Gao Youyi carefully examined Lin Xu, then covered her lips with her handkerchief and smiled, "These days, Master has been thinking of you constantly. A few days ago, the manor received some new longans, each one plump and fresh. Master said that these are Xu'er's favorites."
Finally, she leaned forward and asked in a low voice, "The Dou family... have they treated you well? Have you suffered any mistreatment?"
Lin Xu paused slightly, then suppressed her smile and replied softly, "Mother, don't worry, the Dou family treats me very well. Although their family rules are very strict, they have never mistreated me in any way."
She lowered her head and took a sip of lychee juice. The slightly sweet taste went down her throat, carrying a faint warmth. It was rare to deal with people outside the Dou family, which really made her feel much more relaxed.
Gao Youyi's bright eyes scrutinized her closely, seemingly trying to discern something from her expression. Seeing that Lin Xu's expression remained unchanged, she breathed a sigh of relief. She gently took Lin Xu's hand, saying with a hint of concern:
“I know you’ve always been a man of few words and don’t like to talk about your grievances. But you don’t need to hide it from me.”
Lin Xu knew that Gao Youyi was worried that she might suffer some grievances outside but wouldn't be able to tell her family, so she wanted to support her. She nodded slightly, a gentle warmth appearing in her eyes.
“Mother, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. The Dou family is indeed a prestigious family, and they have their own rules in all aspects, but…”
She paused for a moment, as if considering her words, "However, she is much more lenient with her husband. Although there are still many things to work out, we can still be considered harmonious."
Gao Youyi was relieved and said with a smile, "That's good. I was worried that you were too young and wouldn't know how to handle things since you're newly married. But hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
A moment later, faint noises could be heard outside the teahouse, as if some passersby were talking in hushed tones.
She put down the bowl in her hand, looked up, and just then saw a group of officials walking by on the street, seemingly announcing something important.
Soon, the crowd was dispersed. Lin Xu glanced around casually and then looked away.
Gao Youyi frowned thoughtfully and said softly, "As the year draws to a close, the security in the capital is becoming increasingly tight. I've heard that things are not very peaceful these days. A few months ago, it was said that Prince Mao was almost assassinated in the countryside, but the assassin has not been caught yet. People are very uneasy, and now patrols have been increased several times over everywhere."
Lin Xu's expression remained unchanged, and recalling Duan Jinru's meaningful warning to her not long ago, she said softly:
"...Prince Mao is a very important figure in the court. He is the descendant of a key minister who helped found the Great Yu Dynasty and commands three thousand elite soldiers. Presumably, a mere assassin wouldn't bother him so much. Mother, don't worry. It's probably just the soldiers on their routine patrol."
Gao Youyi nodded slightly, then gently patted her hand and whispered, "That's true. Now that you've married into the Dou family, it's most important to take care of yourself. The Dou family is a prominent family, and recently they've been rising rapidly in status, so you must be cautious in everything you do."
Lin Xu looked up at Gao Youyi, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, and said softly, "Mother is right, I understand."
The two sat and chatted for a while longer. Lin Xu held a warm teacup in his hand, feeling the residual heat rising from the bowl to his palm.
"Speaking of which, Xu'er has been keeping in mind what her mother said in her last letter."
Upon hearing this, Gao Youyi frowned even more.
Lin Xu said slowly, "Qi Shuang'er has been ill for several months since giving birth, and it's fine for her to be bedridden now. But if she were to suddenly fall ill one day... I'm sure her older sister, Qi Rou'er, would react violently and cause some trouble. Mother, do you have any suitable plans for this?"
Mentioning Qi Shuang'er, Xin Tan, who was standing to the side, showed displeasure and couldn't help but blurt out:
"Does Miss know that Qi Shuang'er is indeed ill, but since she fell ill, has there not been a single day that she hasn't made things difficult for our Madam? That Qi Rou'er is even more troublesome. Every day she either cries and makes a scene about the manor refusing to treat her sister, or she complains endlessly about Rong Ge'er being raised by Lan Yue. She even... she even dared to say that this whole thing was our Madam's idea behind it all! She's truly biting the hand that feeds her!"
When Xin Tan got to the point, her eyes turned red, and she repeatedly expressed her indignation on behalf of Gao Youyi.
A hint of coldness flickered between Gao Youyi's brows, but she gently waved her hand, indicating that Xin Tan need not say anything more. She sighed softly:
“Since I married your father, although I have no children, I have always been dedicated to all matters in the household. Even though Qi Shi had been secretly obstructing me in the past, I tried my best to uphold justice. However, since she gave birth, her health has not recovered and she has been bedridden all day. This has allowed Qi Rou’er to take the opportunity to manage the affairs of the household in an orderly manner, as if she were half the master of the house. The two sisters are from the same mother and always speak so succinctly, yet they have repeatedly caused some unclear and complicated incidents.”
Gao Youyi has practiced Buddhism for half her life and is a kind-hearted person. In order not to worry her, she must be hiding something. Therefore, the recent turmoil in the mansion will only be more difficult to quell.
Lin Xu lowered his eyes to look at the remaining ripples in the bowl and said softly:
"My mother's tolerance only emboldened her to take advantage of me more."
Gao Youyi's gaze was cold: "How could I not see through the plans of those two sisters? But if I insist on being forceful, I'm afraid one of them will cough up blood and the other will wail. Sooner or later, they will add fuel to the fire and spread the news to the master, which will only cause more trouble and make the mansion uneasy. The master is already busy with official duties, and I do not want to bother him with these trivial matters."
Lin Xu smiled, her eyes sparkling, but the smile on her lips carried a chilling undertone. She dipped her finger into a small cup of water on the table beside her, then casually wrote a single character on the table.
Gao Youyi stared blankly at the water stains spreading across the wooden table, clearly indicating—
"Remove it".
Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked up to see that Lin Xu's eyes held an even stronger resolve.
"...Since the other party has no intention of letting things go...then Mother, it's time for us to make a decision."
Lin Xu stepped closer to Gao Youyi, leaned down beside her and whispered something in her ear. After a while, he patted Gao Youyi's hand reassuringly.
After hearing this, Gao Youyi's brows furrowed with questions:
"You mean to target Qi Rou'er first and drive her out of the manor? But the two of them are sisters. As long as Qi Shuang'er is bedridden, she will take care of her every step of the way. Why would she abandon the Lin family and seek another way out?"
She paused mid-sentence, as if snapping out of a daze, and exclaimed, "Could it be that Qi Shuang'er...?"
Lin Xu smiled slightly, his face full of confidence:
"Mother, rest assured, I have no intention of taking her life. It's just that the Qi sisters seem to be of one mind, but in reality, what stands between them is nothing more than the word 'profit'."
She raised her eyes and looked at the bustling street scene in the distance, and sighed softly, "As the saying goes, all the world's hustle and bustle is for profit. If Qi Rou'er hadn't been greedy for fame and fortune, she wouldn't have married a merchant back then."
Gao Youyi listened in a daze, gradually understanding what was happening, and sighed:
"Xu'er is indeed thoughtful and considerate. It seems that you are the only one who can share this trouble with me."
The two chatted for a while longer, and as dusk fell, the streetlights gradually brightened.
Lin Xu called Zhu Ling over and whispered a few instructions. Before long, Zhu Ling returned carrying several packages of various sizes, which were filled with all kinds of New Year's goods, including fine silks, spices, some trendy pastries, and exquisite ornaments, all of which she had carefully selected.
Lin Xu smiled slightly: "Mother, these are all my heartfelt wishes to add to the New Year's atmosphere for Father and Mother. Please also convey my greetings to Father. I don't come back to the mansion often, which has made you both worry. I really feel guilty."
The two parted, tears streaming down their faces, their hearts heavy with sorrow. She took Gao Youyi's hand and slowly walked out of the teahouse, only saying goodbye softly after seeing her mother onto the carriage.
Gao Youyi glanced back at her, her eyes filled with reluctance and tenderness. She stood by the roadside, watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance until it vanished at the end of the alley before turning away.
.
As night fell, the sky, as dark as ink, was dotted with sparse starlight. The evening breeze was chilly, and Lin Xu tightened his thin fleece cloak as he slowly walked forward along the pebbly path.
The fragrance of winter plum blossoms wafts everywhere in Yanbo Residence. The cool scent, carried by the slightly chilly night breeze, brushes against one's sleeves, adding to the sense of loneliness.
Upon seeing Lin Xu arrive, the maids in the corridor hurriedly bowed and respectfully greeted her, then quietly withdrew without making a sound. The head maid quickly went inside to report, and soon returned respectfully to lift the heavy curtain for her.
The charcoal fire burned brightly indoors, its warmth dispelling the chill of the winter night. Feng Daizhu leaned against the bed, draped in a pale white veil, her face gentle yet tinged with weariness.
She looked up and saw Lin Xu, somewhat surprised, then a faint smile appeared on her lips, and she said softly:
"Xu'er, why are you coming so late at night? Is there something important?"
"I heard that my sister-in-law has been feeling unwell lately, and I was worried about her, so I prepared some nourishing soup to send over. My sister-in-law is currently six months pregnant, so she naturally needs to take good care of herself. I am just doing my bit, so please don't stand on ceremony."
Feng Daizhu's smile faded slightly, completely devoid of its previous brightness and cheerfulness. She raised a hand to smooth her hair, her smile distant.
“Xu’er is thoughtful. There are many and complicated things to do in the villa. You work hard every day and have to worry about these things. It’s really tiring.”
Lin Xu, however, seemed completely unconcerned by Feng Daizhu's sudden coldness, his smile remaining as gentle as ever.
"Sister-in-law is pregnant, and Mother and Xu'er often worry about her. It is only right that we take good care of her. Although there are many affairs in the household, Xu'er will do her part. Sister-in-law, please rest assured. If there is anything inconvenient, please just let us know."
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