Chapter 237 Birthday Celebration
The princess wanted to object, but Shen Wan shook her head at her. The princess frowned and said, "No one in the palace has ever given such a large gift."
This was a rejection of the Third Madam and also said to Shen Wan.
The Third Lady said, "There must be a first time for everything."
The princess said, "I can only ask the Duke to pay 5,000 taels. If that's not enough, I have to ask the prince for permission."
She knew that the princess was easy to talk to. The third wife said, "If it's still not enough, I will use my dowry to make up for it, and I won't embarrass my sister-in-law anymore."
After the princess agreed, the third wife left with a smile on her face.
After the third wife left, the princess looked at Shen Wan and asked, "Why did you let your mother agree to the public to pay this money?"
Chen Wan said, "The Duke of the Palace only said that each party would pay half, but there is no fixed amount. If Mother doesn't agree, the Third House and the Old Madam will definitely try to persuade Mother until she agrees. I don't want Mother to waste her energy on such a small matter. This is a good opportunity to ask Father to make up for it. It cannot exceed three thousand taels. Then there will be no such problems in the future."
Not knowing whether Zhao Lanxuan had spies from the old lady and the others, Shen Wan didn't dare to tell the princess the truth.
Thinking of how difficult the old lady and the third lady were, the princess knew that Shen Wan was doing this for her own good, so she didn't say anything else.
Knowing that Chen Wan was going to the Lin Mansion, the princess said, "Please congratulate Old Madam Lin on my mother's birthday. When my mother is better, I will go to pay my respects to her."
Shen Wan nodded in agreement.
Shen Wan returned to Zhaolanxuan, and then left the house with Xie Jingyu and took a carriage to Lin Mansion.
Ever since the death of Princess Jin, Old Tutor Lin and Old Madam Lin have never held a birthday party again. Without sending invitations, no one would remember Old Tutor Lin and Old Madam Lin's birthday, and naturally no one would come to congratulate them.
The Lin Mansion was as deserted as usual.
But Shen Ji and Yun Shi remembered their birthdays, and every year on this day, they would bring Shen Wan to pay their respects to Old Madam Lin early in the morning.
When Shen Wan and Xie Jingyu arrived, Yun and Ye Caiwei had just arrived and met them at the gate.
Xie Jingyu saluted Yun, Ye Caiwei saluted Shen Wan and Xie Jingyu, and then entered the mansion.
There was no birthday atmosphere at all in the house.
Seeing the Yun family leave, Mrs. Lin's eyes welled up with tears, "It's hard for you to celebrate my birthday and the old master's birthday every year..."
Yun said, "Without you and the old tutor, there would be no Duke today. How could we forget your birthday?"
"There's something going on in the military camp today, and the Duke has to go to court. He'll be here later."
Old Tutor Lin did not attend the morning court today. He and Old Madam Lin depended on each other for survival. He had no children or grandchildren, so he had to accompany Old Madam Lin to prevent her from feeling sad.
Yun presented a birthday gift, which was a set of skirt and blouse made by herself, just like the one in her previous life.
The Lin family had everything they needed, and Madam Lin especially valued Yun's kindness. Yun said, "If you like it, would you mind changing it later?"
Madam Lin choked up, "Okay, I'll change it in a moment."
Shen Wan said, "Then my headband is perfect for the dress that my mother gave me as a filial gift."
Madam Lin said, "Put them on together."
Mother Chen simply helped Old Madam Lin to the inner room to change.
After changing clothes, she looked like she was celebrating her birthday. Yun helped Old Lady Lin and said, "I have invited the opera lady to come into the mansion. She has your favorite opera."
Madam Lin said, "Thank you for your trouble."
Yun said, "This is what I should do."
Yun helped Madam Lin to the stage. Old Master Lin said to Xie Jingyu, "Go and listen to two performances too."
Although Shen Ji respected Old Madam Lin as his father in his heart, he was not really a son. He could not really hold a birthday party for Old Madam Lin as a son. He could only come to celebrate Old Madam Lin's birthday with his family.
However, there were quite a few people in the Lin Mansion, and the servants also came to listen to the opera, so it was just as lively.
Madam Lin was both happy and sad. As she was listening, a servant came hurriedly over and said, "Old Master, please go to the front yard..."
Old Master Lin asked, "What's wrong?"
The servant said, "The Emperor is here."
Old Master Lin, “……???”
Shen Wan, “…???”
Why is the emperor coming?
This didn’t happen in my previous life.
Old Master Lin and Xie Jingyu stood up to greet the Emperor. Shen Wan wanted to go, but Xie Jingyu said, "No need for everyone to go."
Chen Wan raised his butt and then put it back down.
Xie Jingyu and Old Tutor Lin went to the front yard. Before they reached the second gate, they saw the emperor and Shen Ji coming over. The emperor was not wearing a dragon robe, but an ordinary brocade robe, which reduced his majesty.
Old Taifu Lin was about to kneel down to pay his respects to the Emperor, but the Emperor quickly helped him up and said, "No need to be so polite."
Old Taifu Lin asked, "Why would the emperor come to this old minister's residence?"
Shen Ji said, "After the morning court session, the emperor asked me to discuss matters. After the meeting, he asked me to play chess with him. I hurried to come to celebrate the old lady's birthday. When the emperor found out, he wanted to come with me, and I couldn't stop him..."
Old Taifu Lin said, "It is too dangerous for the emperor to leave the palace."
The emperor laughed and said, "I decided to leave the palace on a whim, and I was with Shen Ji. Are you still worried?"
Hearing the emperor address him as "you", Old Tutor Lin felt a little frightened. Although the emperor had addressed him like that before, that was many years ago.
Now that the emperor has come, we cannot send him away. Moreover, it is such an honor for the emperor to come and celebrate the birthday. Old Tutor Lin invites the emperor to the stage.
Knowing that the emperor was coming, Mrs. Lin was also surprised and quickly stood up to salute the emperor.
The emperor helped Madam Lin up and said, "You are the birthday girl today. You are the oldest."
Madam Lin was terrified, "This is really embarrassing for me..."
Not only did the emperor come, he also sent a birthday gift, and that gift looked unusually familiar.
It is a jade carving of a deer that Prince Qing presented to the emperor not long ago.
The emperor said, "I remember that the Lin family once raised a deer. You should like this jade carving."
Madam Lin said, "This is too valuable."
"As long as you like it."
The emperor didn't have any imperial airs about him, and Xie Jingyu was a little uncomfortable with it.
Old Tutor Lin invited the emperor to take a seat. With the emperor present, there was no noise as before, but the atmosphere was different.
There are so many civil and military officials in the court, but no old lady has ever celebrated her birthday. The emperor came in person to congratulate her. This is a unique favor for their Lin family.
Old Madam Lin's eyes were red. When she saw the Emperor and her daughter feeding deer together, they looked like a perfect match. She had wanted to marry her daughter to the Emperor, and Old Grand Tutor Lin had agreed. Unfortunately, the Prince of Jin had taken a fancy to her daughter and had begged the late Emperor, who granted the marriage. If her daughter had not married, the Prince of Jin might not have died of poisoning on their wedding night...
If Qingyin were to marry the emperor and have a few more children, she would be so happy to have her grandson come to celebrate her birthday today.
The emperor came to congratulate Madam Lin on her birthday. He not only accompanied her to watch a play, but also had lunch with her before returning to the palace.
Shen Ji and Shen Li escorted the emperor back to the palace.
As soon as they left, the manager of the Lin Mansion who had gone to check the jewelry returned home.
Madam Lin had been sitting for a long time and felt a little tired, so Shen Wan and Xie Jingyu were about to say goodbye. Just as they were about to leave, a maid came in quickly, "Madam, Manager Zhao is back..."
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