Grandma Lin smiled and said, "These two look like real sisters."

Eleventh Lady laughed and said, "Our two families live next door to each other, I didn't expect that they would have a connection."

"Who said it wasn't!" Grandma Lin responded with a smile, and went to Mrs. Lin with Eleventh Lady and Zhen Jie'er.

Mrs. Lin was wearing an amber-colored Hangzhou silk jacket and was waiting in the hall. When she saw the two men come in, she greeted them with a smile.

Eleventh Lady hurriedly took Zhen Jie'er to kneel and pay respect to Madam Lin.

Madam Lin took Shiyi Niang's hand and said, "You are a rare guest." She looked at Zhen Jie'er and said, "I haven't seen you for two months, but you seem to have grown taller!"

Sister Zhen's face turned slightly red.

Madam Lin and Eleventh Lady have gone to the inner room.

Everyone sat down according to their priorities. The maid brought tea and snacks. Eleventh Lady brought a few handkerchiefs. Madam Lin asked about the Madam's condition and served tea: "Come for lunch later."

Eleventh Lady replied respectfully, "Yes," and took Zhen Jie'er to see Grandma Lin.

Grandma Lin brought some Mingqian Longjing tea to entertain Shiyi Niang.

Eleventh Lady was drinking tea and talking to Grandma Lin about the gift from Hui Jie'er: "...I've only heard that Hui Jie'er is good at calligraphy and painting, but I didn't expect that she could also make Sichuan fans. The fans she gave to our Zhen Jie'er are probably just like this even if they were tributes. Especially the picture of the jade hairpin on a moonlit night. Not only is the idea new, but the picture is of the jade hairpin flowers blooming in the middle of the night. If you don't observe carefully and imagine it out of thin air, you can never draw a fan like this." As she said this, she looked at Hui Jie'er with a smile, "You are really thoughtful!"

Hui Jie'er was the pampered daughter of the family, so she was naturally carefree in doing things, unlike Zhen Jie'er, who would be doomed to failure at the slightest disturbance. She originally encouraged Zhen Jie'er and Hui Jie'er to hang out more, hoping that Zhen Jie'er would have a playmate of the right age.

What she feared the most was that both of them were ignorant and accidentally did something inappropriate, which was then deliberately and unintentionally ruined by others' reputation...

Thinking of this, Eleventh Lady looked at Hui Jie'er with a bit of scrutiny.

Grandma Lin listened to Eleventh Lady praising her daughter and said modestly, "She just likes to mess around."

But Hui Jie'er felt guilty.

Under Eleventh Lady's gaze, her face suddenly turned red.

Zhen Jie'er thought Hui Jie'er was embarrassed, so she looked at her with a smile, and her expression showed a bit of pride.

Eleventh Lady understood clearly. She remained calm and said to Grandma Lin with a smile, "I came here today because I have something to ask Huijie."

Grandma Lin was quite surprised and asked, "I wonder if Madam Xu needs Sister Hui for anything?"

Eleventh Lady smiled and said, "I think the painting of the lily of the valley is really good. I would like to ask Huijie to draw another one for me to embroider as a model - I want to embroider a lily of the valley screen." After saying that, she looked at Huijie and smiled, "I wonder if Huijie has the time to do this?"

When Grandma Lin heard this, she became very interested.

She knew that her daughter was a good painter. If Eleventh Lady could embroider it into a screen... maybe she would become famous because of it.

Therefore, before her daughter could speak, she repeatedly asked, "She is fiddling with all sorts of things at home every day. How can she not have free time?" She then instructed her daughter, "You can paint another one based on that fan!"

Hui Jie'er looked embarrassed, her face flushed, and she said after a while: "Well, that fan was not painted by me..."

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Hui Jie'er looked embarrassed.

"I, I was planning to get up in the middle of the night, but I overslept." She stammered, "Then it rained a few more times... Cousin Zhongran found out and painted a picture for me... I was planning to copy one. But I asked a eunuch from Fangjie'er's family to make the fan bones. It required repeated application of paint. The sun was good those days, and if I didn't finalize the fan, it would be too late. And you like lilies the most, so I..." She looked ashamed, "I, I didn't mean it..."

Grandma Lin was a little stunned.

Eleventh Lady heaved a sigh of relief. Her heart was relieved.

Zhen Jie'er was a little surprised at first, but she soon got relieved. She comforted Hui Jie'er: "That's because you overslept! Otherwise, you would have painted a fan with lily flowers for me!"

Hui Jieer felt even more uneasy. She lowered her head and explained, "Cousin Zhongran's painting is so good. Even if I was copying it, I wasn't completely sure. That's why I came up with the idea at the last minute..."

Zhen Jie'er hurriedly said, "It's okay. It's okay. The fan is indeed beautiful. Not only you, but I like it too." When she said this, she became worried about Shiyi Niang, afraid that she would think Hui Jie'er was insincere and get angry. She looked at Shiyi Niang anxiously, with some pleading in her eyes, "Mother likes it too!" as if she was pleading for Hui Jie'er.

Not to mention that Zhen Jie'er was trying to find a way out for Hui Jie'er, even if she didn't find a way out for Hui Jie'er, Shiyi Niang herself would have to give Hui Jie'er a way out.

"I also think that the painting on the fan is good." She smiled, "I'm planning to ask Sister Zhen for that fan!"

Seeing that Shiyi Niang had no intention of blaming her, Zhen Jie'er breathed a sigh of relief and started laughing.

When Hui Jie'er saw that Shiyi Niang and Zhen Jie'er did not pursue the matter and comforted her, a trace of gratitude flashed in her eyes. She said shyly: "Then Aunt Xu, please wait for me for a few days - I will paint a picture of the jade hairpin. It may not be as good as cousin Zhongran's, but it won't be too bad."

She probably thought of replacing someone because she was not good at painting the lily of the valley and she wanted to please Zhen Jieer!

How could Eleventh Lady make things difficult for her?

Thinking of what Zhen Jie'er said about Hui Jie'er planting crabapple flowers in her yard, she smiled and said, "The fan painting with lily of the valley flowers is so popular because of its novel concept. In terms of painting skills, the other fan paintings are equally good. How about you help me paint the crabapple flowers? I really like crabapple flowers myself."

After hearing this, Zhen Jie nodded repeatedly.

Hui Jieer felt even more embarrassed and whispered, "I promised Zhen Jieer to paint the lily of the valley flower, so I'll just paint the lily of the valley flower!"

Eleventh Lady wanted to persuade her a little more. But Grandma Lin, who had been sitting next to her without saying anything, suddenly smiled and said, "Let her paint the lily of the valley! It's her fault for being lazy." She added, "The fan should also be repaired for Zhenjie."

Sister Hui nodded in agreement.

Grandma Lin smiled and greeted Shiyi Niang: "Have tea, have tea. The best Mingqian Longjing tea." She interrupted the topic.

Eleventh Lady brought the teacup with a smile, but saw Grandma Lin looking at Hui Jie'er thoughtfully.

She nodded secretly in her heart.

Grandma Lin is worthy of being the daughter-in-law in charge of household affairs in the Weibei Marquis's Mansion.

She should have realized something too!

In this case, it is better to say some things as soon as possible. Otherwise, I am afraid that Grandma Lin will think that I am resentful and come here just to question me.

Eleventh Lady took a sip of tea and said to Grandma Lin with a smile, "We adults are talking here, and they are so reserved - let them talk about private matters!"

Hui Jie'er was already a little embarrassed, and when she heard what Shiyi Niang said, she immediately stood up and pulled Zhen Jie'er to leave.

Grandma Lin smiled and said, "It's rare for your Aunt Xu to come. Where are you going if you don't stay to serve her?" Then she ordered her, "Accompany Zhen Jie to sit in my inner room!" She didn't even let them leave and insisted on watching them.

Hui Jieer pouted when she heard this.

Grandma Lin’s eyes darkened.

Eleventh Lady was even more certain.

The last bit of worry disappeared.

With Grandma Lin watching over us, I don't think there will be any more trouble.

Hui Jie'er did not dare to go against her mother's wishes, so she bowed to Shiyi Niang and went to the inner room with Zhen Jie'er.

Eleventh Lady whispered to Grandma Lin, "I embroidered this screen for Zhenjie - she is getting married in the next two or three years. I thought I should give her something that she can remember by. It so happened that Huijie painted this fan with lilies of the valley, and Zhenjie's favorite is lilies of the valley. That's why I came up with the idea. I didn't expect to put Huijie in a difficult position." As she spoke, she began to laugh.

She smiled brightly, without showing any resentment at all.

Grandma Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

First I went to propose marriage, then Hui Jieer sent the fan. Even if there was no such intention, there was such an intention.

She was secretly annoyed at her nephew's reckless behavior, and was grateful to Eleventh Lady for giving her this way out.

"That's why I wanted to marry her to Cangzhou." Grandma Lin sighed, "This child, if you say she's stupid, she can learn anything. If you say she's smart, she's the least thoughtful. I had no choice but to ask her parents to look after her. Only the closest relatives will not discuss these things with her."

It can be considered as an apology to Eleventh Lady.

Eleventh Lady said hurriedly: "She is still young. We were also so impetuous when we were young. She will be fine in a few years!"

Grandma Lin looked at her face, which was as pure as a magnolia flower, and couldn't help laughing: "You are only a few years older than our Hui Jie'er!"

I forgot about this!

Eleventh Lady blushed slightly and smiled awkwardly.

Grandma Lin covered her sleeves and smiled.

The atmosphere became cheerful.

A little maid reported through the curtain: "Grandma, the young master is here!"

When Grandma Lin heard this, her expression froze.

Could this cousin be the “cousin Zhongran” that Huijie mentioned?

Eleventh Lady was secretly shocked.

Was it accidental? Or did he do it on purpose because he knew that Zhen Jie'er and I were guests here?

She stood up and said with a smile: "Since there are guests, I will step aside!"

Grandma Lin then stood up.

"This time my younger brother brought several of his family members to Beijing. First, for Mingyuan and Huijie'er's marriage, and second, to get some connections in Beijing in preparation for next year's martial arts exam. Third, he brought the younger generation to broaden their horizons so that they wouldn't be at a loss when they take the exam. Zhongran is smart and calm, and he doesn't have to participate in next year's martial arts exam. So my father specifically asked him to help my younger brother run errands. I don't know what he came to see me about?"

With that said, even if Shao Zhongran did it on purpose, it became unintentional.

Grandma Lin was obviously afraid that she would misunderstand.

Eleventh Lady smiled and nodded: "I think it's urgent."

Accepted Grandma Lin’s explanation.

Grandma Lin nodded slightly.

Eleventh Lady hid in the inner room.

Huijie'er and Zhenjie'er were sitting side by side on the big kang by the window, whispering to each other.

When Hui Jie'er saw Shiyi Niang come in, her face turned red and she called out "Aunt Xu".

Seeing that the inner room had glass windows, Eleventh Lady smiled and sat on the kang, saying, "Your cousin is here. I'll come in to take shelter."

※

We held a staff meeting today and I was awarded the advanced prize!

Hehehe…