Lin Qingwan dragged her tired body back to Ningsi Courtyard. She changed the hot water bottle in her arms three times before she slowly regained feeling in her body.
She never expected that the rare trinkets that Prince Jing mentioned were actually priceless jade ornaments.
From large white porcelain jade vases to small snuff bottles, and several exquisitely crafted hairpins and jade hair ornaments, there were more than twenty items in total. Several thumb-sized bottles of ointment even caught Linlin Qingwan's eye.
One of the bottles contains a hibiscus cream that can regenerate skin and prolong life! The others are also excellent for scar removal and moisturizing, and are extremely rare and valuable.
Lin Qingwan guessed that Prince Jing still valued the Jiang family. The dragon-scale cloak was a token of respect, while these other gifts were a favor.
However, even if Prince Jing doesn't reward Jiang Zhenlin, he should reward Jiang Yanwan; it's not her turn at all.
The cool hairpin reminded Lin Qingwan of the heat emanating from Prince Jing. These ointments were so targeted because he had seen the red chilblains on the back of her hand.
Lin Qingwan dared not think that way, but she couldn't help feeling that everyone could see it except her family.
"Muxue, take the things to Father and let him handle them."
After Lin Qingwan finished speaking, she caught sight of Granny Lai outside and her eyes flickered. "I'll keep these bottles of medicine; I'll need them."
Mu Xue nodded in agreement, then handed a clean cloth to Lin Qingwan, saying, "This servant has washed it."
Lin Qingwan's eyelashes trembled slightly as she recalled the image of herself embroidering this handkerchief day and night. At that time, she was filled with joy and anticipation, afraid that it would be too shabby and her mother would not like it, and also afraid that the stitches would not be done well and that others would laugh at her.
The scene shifts, the cloth falls to the ground, and Madam Lin doesn't even glance at it before stepping heavily on it. Even the patterns on her embroidered shoes are better than those of Lin Qingwan.
Just like Jiang Yanwan, let alone the fact that her kindness to Cheng Shi could bind her mother for life, even without that kindness, Jiang Yanwan was like the pattern on Lin Shi's shoes—exquisite and beautiful, a source of pride in public.
I am just a coarse cloth, no matter how sincere I am, I am not presentable and cannot be seen by others.
The Prime Minister's residence has no need for genuine affection between blood relatives.
She understood.
Mu Xue delivered the items to Jiang Su, who didn't say anything.
The next day, Lin Qingwan woke up late, but was still awakened by the argument between Muxue and Granny Lai.
"Madam said that Miss should rest well these two days!" Mu Xue glared at Granny Lai.
Granny Lai wasn't angry. "I meant well. Miss is going to start learning manners from Rong Ma today, so it's better to get up early to prepare."
"You're here to atone for your sins, not to supervise Miss Mu Xue," Mu Xue said in an unfriendly tone.
Back then, Mu Xue refused to listen to Granny Lai's advice to promote her nephew in front of the young master, which led Granny Lai to gossip to the madam, and Mu Xue was sent to work in the outer courtyard.
Granny Lai gave a sneer, "I'm doing this for your own good, Miss. Yesterday, Prince Jing rewarded you, so you should be even more careful in your actions. Otherwise, it would be troublesome if people said you were arrogant because of his favor."
Lin Qingwan pressed her temples; for a moment, she wanted to leave the Prime Minister's residence.
However, she was penniless and could not leave the city. Even if she did, she would either freeze to death or die from poisoning.
She is now very unwilling to die.
Lin Qingwan called Muxue in to help her wash and change. Granny Lai brought in breakfast: a bowl of wontons, a plate of meat buns, and two side dishes.
"I wonder if it suits Miss's taste?" Granny Lai asked with a smile, trying to serve Lin Qingwan some food, but Mu Xue pushed her away.
"Go wait outside. Miss can come in and clean up after she finishes her meal."
Granny Lai was living a life of luxury in Jiang Zhenlin Garden, practically a mistress, but she suffered a lot of disdain from Lin Qingwan.
She gritted her teeth and endured it, only feeling relieved when she saw Lin Qingwan take a bite of the bun just before leaving the house.
After she left, Lin Qingwan pushed the wontons aside and said, "Bring over a bowl of millet porridge."
Mu Xue also became suspicious, looking at the wontons in front of her, "There's something in here..."
Lin Qingwan interrupted her, "Don't make a fuss, just say I still want to drink millet porridge."
Mu Xue solemnly said, "This servant will personally go to the kitchen to fetch it."
"Um."
Lin Qingwan only needed to smell it to realize that something had been added to it. It wasn't poison, but something that made people feel uneasy, lethargic, and irritable.
Jiang Zhenlin didn't have that kind of intention; it was most likely Jiang Yanwan's doing.
She suffered two setbacks upon her return, and her relationship with her mother and younger brother became very strained. If she wanted to turn things around, she would have to endure some hardship.
Huaguang Institute.
Jiang Yanwan's eyes were a little swollen. When she learned that Lin Qingwan had eaten wontons, she smiled coldly and said, "Xia Yan, go and tell Rong Ma that Mother has high expectations for Qingwan and that she must strictly discipline her."
"Yes." Xia Yan covered her mouth. "To put it bluntly, she's a wild girl. Madam gets very angry after saying a few words to her. Rong Mama is notoriously picky. Let's just wait for them to make a scene again."
Jiang Yanwan's expression was cold. "Don't underestimate her. Her seductive manner in front of the prince yesterday actually made him grant her a cloak!"
"No matter what the prince's purpose was, that thing should not be given to her!"
Xia Yan's eyes darted around. "Is it easy for Miss to get the Prince's cloak?"
Jiang Yanwan raised an eyebrow, "You have a way?"
Xia Yan smiled and said, "Young Master can't stand seeing you suffer."
Ningsi Garden.
Lin Qingwan had barely taken a couple of sips of millet porridge when Rong's mother arrived.
“Miss Qingwan, I have been teaching you manners these past few days. I am carrying the expectations of the Prime Minister and his wife, and I am doing this for your own good. So I may have to be a little harsh and say things that are not pleasant to hear.”
"Please forgive me, Miss."
Madam Rong was brought from the Lin family. The Lin family had produced an empress in earlier years. Madam Rong's grandmother was a female official in charge of the palace attendants by the empress's side. The Lin family women were quite famous among aristocratic families for their manners and etiquette. Many daughters of officials and noble families had received their education in the Lin family.
Madam Rong had every right to be proud and arrogant, and her expression was cold as well.
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