There was a lot of noise outside the courtyard gate, as if something big was happening. The sounds of greetings, maids welcoming and seeing off guests, and the women from each room busy setting up the banquet gave Aunt Qiao a headache.
The day before yesterday, Lin Hairu and Luo Chengzhang had breakfast, and Lin Hairu asked her to wait on him. She stood for a long time without being allowed to sit down. Aunt Qiao hadn't been treated like this in years, and her face turned black. But in front of Luo Chengzhang, she was her usual weak and pitiful self. How could she sit down without her mistress's order? She held the maid's hand to show that she was exhausted. But Luo Chengzhang was worried about his nephews' studies and was so distracted that he didn't notice her at all.
After Aunt Qiao came back, her face was gloomy. She claimed to be sick and did not go out the next day. In the afternoon, she actually caught a headache.
She was now leaning back on the chaise longue, barely feeling comfortable with the jade pillow as her head rested. A young girl knelt beside her, dabbing some cooling oil on her temples and massaging them gently. The noise outside only made her headache worse.
"What are you doing outside? Why is it so noisy?" she asked a little girl who had just come in.
The little girl replied, "Auntie, our young master has passed the imperial examination. The palace is busy celebrating. I heard that many high-ranking officials have come."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Qiao closed her eyes wearily, feeling completely exhausted. "He passed the imperial examination, so what? Isn't Luo Huaiyuan's passing the imperial examination a sure thing? Why did you bring the fuss to our side? It's not such a big deal..."
The little girl said with a smile, "Auntie, they're celebrating our Third Young Master's success, not the Eldest Young Master. I heard that the Third Young Master won first place in the provincial examination. Just now, the Second Madam had the servants distribute copper coins and candy at the door, and I heard that many little girls ran to collect the money!"
When Aunt Qiao heard this, she suddenly opened her eyes. Her laziness disappeared, and she looked at the little girl coldly: "What did you just say? Who passed the imperial examination?"
The little girl had never seen Aunt Qiao's stern eyes before. She was so frightened that she stopped laughing and stammered, "It's our Third Young Master... who passed the imperial examination. I also heard it from Hong'er in the Second Madam's room..."
"Such a big thing, and no one came to tell me!" Aunt Qiao didn't feel tired at all, her forehead was throbbing. She stood up and said gloomily to the girl who was massaging her, "Go and call Bi Yi to come to me!"
Bi Yi was the eldest maid who served her.
After the girl ran out, Aunt Qiao walked up and down the room, her heart pounding.
When she heard the news that Luo Shenyuan was adopted by Lin Hairu, she didn't feel anything. He was just a bastard, what big deal could it be? Besides, Luo Chengzhang didn't take this bastard seriously.
Because of Luo Shenyuan's vicious biological mother, everyone always looks at him a little strangely.
Aunt Qiao closed her eyes.
How come Luo Shenyuan suddenly passed the imperial examination and even became the top scorer!
If he had passed the imperial examination, it would have been fine. If he had passed the examination before, she might have sent him some gifts, asking him to help her brother Xuan when he had a smooth career. However, it happened after he was adopted by Lin Hairu.
Aunt Qiao was very anxious.
Biyi came over quickly. She was also frightened after hearing the news. If she didn't tell Aunt Qiao about such a big thing in time, she would definitely not let her off easily.
She knelt down immediately after entering, but Aunt Qiao remained silent for a long time with a cold face. After a while, she gently asked, "Has the Second Master returned?"
"Someone has already delivered the message, and it should be arriving soon." Bi Yi replied quickly.
Aunt Qiao took a deep breath and ordered, "Go call my sister over, have her dress up nicely, and go with me to the old lady. Then bring Xuan brother up too."
Bi Yi quickly agreed.
Outside, the guests were bustling with activity. Yining and her friends weren't idle either. Madam Gao, who lived in the same alley, had come to visit with her daughter, Gao Xian. Chen brought them to see Madam Gao. The women also set up a banquet in the hall. Madam Gao didn't usually interact with the Luo family, and even less with Lin Hairu, but now she was chatting with her, laughing.
Madam Gao and Chen were from the same family. She was from Jiangnan, and her father had been a scholar-official to the emperor. She asked Lin Hairu and Luo Shenyuan what they read and whether they had arranged a marriage...
Lin Hairu was completely out of sorts, and said in a daze, "I don't care what kind of education he has. I don't think he has any relatives."
Yi Ning came back to her senses when she heard this. Madam Gao's question...sounded like she had some ulterior motive.
She couldn't help but glance at Gao Xian, who sat beside her. She was also a renowned daughter of aristocratic family in Baoding, and her looks were comparable to her fourth sister's. Fourteen years old, tall, and graceful, she possessed a voice as captivating as a young woman, and spoke with a timid yet dignified manner. Even more so than Luo Yiyu, she possessed the refinement and demeanor of a noble lady.
The young champion, no wonder Mrs. Gao is so impatient. As the saying goes, those who are close to the water get the moon first. What if the moon is taken away by someone else?
Old Mrs. Luo had just returned from the front yard, and Mrs. Gao stood up to greet the old lady.
Mrs. Luo looked a little tired, so she smiled and asked her to sit down. Mrs. Gao was thinking about Lin Hairu, the clueless person who didn't know anything, and now it was the perfect time to ask Mrs. Luo about it. But Mrs. Luo pushed it back with a Tai Chi-like gesture, neither agreeing nor refusing.
At this time, the maid came to tell her that Aunt Qiao had come to pay her respects with Xuan Ge'er.
Mrs. Luo's expression darkened.
Aunt Qiao brought Xuan'er in, but Xuan'er threw himself into the old lady's arms, calling her "Grandma" sweetly.
Mrs. Gao, standing by, smiled and praised, "This must be Brother Xuan, he's really chubby and very cute!"
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