After enjoying a proper dinner, Lingzhu and Anjia made up their minds to send the Second Princess and the Third Princess to participate in the selection process at the same time.
"Master, please go to Sister Yang's place and tell her the good news. It will make the Second Princess happy. She's been unhappy for quite a while because of the imperial concubine selection." Anjia took the mouthwash handed to her by Wang Mama, rinsed her mouth, and said with her handkerchief in her hand.
Lingzhu had already cleansed his mouth. After glancing at Anjia, he said, "I'll go talk to her and come back tonight." With that, he led his entourage to Yang's courtyard.
After Lingzhu left, Granny Wang ordered the food on the table to be cleared away, and then helped Anjia to sit on the heated couch. The early spring weather was still chilly in the mornings and evenings, and the heated couch hadn't been taken down yet.
Anjia was reclining on the warm couch, resting with her eyes closed. When she saw Wang Mama personally serving her and massaging her legs, she knew that Anjia had something to say.
"Say what you want to say," she said lazily, a stark contrast to the woman who had just been kneeling and weeping at Lingzhu's feet.
"My lady, I just don't understand why you're so kind to that mother and daughter?" Granny Wang was a maid who came with Anjia when she married into the family, and she was Anjia's most trusted confidante.
"Hmph, doesn't she just want the Dutch to go in? Why don't I do her a favor and send her daughter in? The current emperor is so wise, would he value her daughter? What came out of a lowly woman's belly, no matter how pretty, is just a toy." A chilling glint appeared between Anjia's brows.
Wang Mama was still a little puzzled and continued, "But didn't Master ask Lady A-Ling for help? With the connections that those two ladies in their family have built up, they might really be able to promote the Second Princess."
Anjia slowly opened her eyes and said, "If that day ever comes, I'll take Zheng'er back to my parents' home. Let's see if he can truly favor his concubine over his wife! Anyway, I'm at ease knowing Qin'er doesn't have to go to that deep palace. Even if that girl is truly favored, there are plenty of people in that kind of place who will deal with her for me!"
Granny Wang chuckled and, going along with Anjia's thoughts, said, "Madam, you are indeed very thoughtful. However, I am still a little worried. What if, by chance, our princess catches the emperor's eye?"
These words caused Anjia to feel a pang of pain in her heart. She sat up abruptly and said softly, "That is destiny! However, in recent years, the emperor has favored young and beautiful concubines. That girl from Holland should be more likely to stand out."
Realizing she had misspoke, Granny Wang quickly got up, poured Anjia a cup of tea, and said gently, "Yes, Madam, there's no need to worry. We'll think of a way to make the Second Princess even more outstanding."
Anjia took a sip of tea before gradually calming her slightly agitated mind.
She glanced at Granny Wang standing beside her and whispered, "Tomorrow, take a gift to my brother's house and casually mention my intentions. Ask him to think of a way to make Qin'er lose the selection."
Granny Wang then bowed and solemnly agreed.
After arriving at Yang's courtyard, Lingzhu boasted about how he was considering the Second Princess's future before telling Yang his temporary decision.
Madam Yang was initially very willing to let the Second Princess go. Born of humble origins, and though she had borne Lingzhu a daughter and two sons, she was still a concubine. Her daughter and sons would have to address Madam Anjia as their principal wife. Although she was currently favored by Lingzhu, relying on her beauty to please others was unsustainable. Once she grew old and her beauty faded, the future of her daughters and sons would be entirely in Madam Anjia's hands.
Now, having her daughter, Niohuru Holland, enter the palace or be betrothed to a member of the royal family would increase her standing in Lingzhu's eyes.
After hearing Lingzhu's explanation, Madam Yang immediately showed gratitude and joy, pressing Lingzhu down onto the warm couch and personally massaging his shoulders and back. Although she didn't know exactly why her husband had changed his mind, at least her daughter could participate in the selection!
"Master, is there still time for the Dutch governess and the clothes?" Madam Yang's slender hands, painted with red nail polish, gently massaged Lingzhu's neck.
"Just let Holland learn manners from Lanqin. As for clothes, didn't I reward you with a lot of fine silks? They're the best quality that even the First Madam doesn't have. Why don't you hurry up and take some out to make a few outfits for your daughter!" Lingzhu raised his hand and slapped the small hands that were kneading his shoulder, a smile curving his lips as he muttered under his breath, "So cunning!"
"Oh dear, sir! I was just afraid that the madam would be angry with you!" Madam Yang said coquettishly. She wasn't afraid that Madam Anjia would be envious. Rather, she wanted her daughter to have everything she could, and she couldn't be inferior to Madam Anjia's daughter.
"Alright, Master understands. Tomorrow, have someone come in to take Lan'er's measurements, and make three more sets of clothes for her, based on Qin'er's appearance," Lingzhu said.
Only then did Madam Yang smile and become even more attentive with her hands.
That night, Lingzhu ended up staying at Yang's small courtyard, having completely forgotten what he had said to Anjia.
Anjia seemed to have guessed it all along. After resting with her eyes closed on the warm couch for a while, she took the hand warmer to the small Buddhist shrine on the west side of her house to chant sutras and pray to Buddha. Granny Wang knelt behind her and said somewhat indignantly, "It must be that vixen who has bewitched the master and won't let him go back."
"Alright, go and see Zheng'er in his little courtyard. Tell the nanny and maids who are taking care of him not to let him study too late. Also, tell Shi Shi not to keep bothering him. He's still young, and it's not good for his health if he neglects it." Anjia closed her eyes and began to chant scriptures.
Granny Wang responded with a sigh of helplessness, then got up and left.
Anjia looked up, peered through the window at Yang's courtyard, glared at her resentfully for a few moments, and then slowly closed her eyes again.
As for Lanqin, she had already finished her dinner and was being instructed by Granny Tian to practice calligraphy, which was said to aid digestion and cultivate one's character.
Okay, Lin Mengyao was a history major at the capital university. She had taken a semester of calligraphy classes at school, and her handwriting was passable. However, after transmigrating to the Qing Dynasty where everyone could write calligraphy, her skills were barely adequate.
At first, she diligently practiced calligraphy by copying from model books, but her writing still wasn't as good as the original owner's. She was even scolded by Granny Tian for several days, who said her handwriting was getting worse and worse with practice. To avoid being noticed, she secretly found the original owner's calligraphy and practiced copying it every day behind Granny Tian's back. Now, she can finally write about seven or eight tenths of the original Niohuru Lanqin's style.
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