Orchid Garden.
Rong Ma told Lin Shi the truth about Lin Qingwan's situation. There were very few girls that she could praise, which surprised Lin Shi.
I thought Lin Qingwan was stubborn and that learning the rules would be a hassle, but it went so smoothly.
On the other hand, Madam Lin felt relieved, for she was, after all, her own flesh and blood. Hearing that the Cheng couple had hired a tutor to teach her calligraphy, she felt a deeper sense of emotion.
Seeing her moved, Rong Ma said, "Madam, Miss Qingwan has been away for fifteen years. She has longed to see her family countless times. She didn't know that you were thinking so far ahead, and she thought you didn't like her, which is why she was angry with you."
"After Qin Ma explained the reason, Miss Qingwan seemed like a completely different person," Rong Ma couldn't help but say. "If she had grown up in the manor, she would definitely have been able to elevate the reputation of the Lin family to a higher level."
After a moment of silence, Madam Lin had someone take a pair of bracelets out of the cabinet. "I'll go to Ningsi Garden to take a look."
Aunt Rong chuckled, "I wonder if Miss Qingwan's knees are uncomfortable, she had a lot of trouble getting up."
"She broke out in a cold sweat while practicing the kneeling ceremony, but when I asked her, she said she was fine."
Lin thought about how she had knelt on the cold floor tiles for two or three hours that day, how could she not have been injured?
"Alright, I know you went too far that day." Madam Lin glanced at Rong Ma, but her tone was not accusatory. "Summon the physician to take a look at her, and also the frostbite on her hands. The ointment prepared in the manor is always better than that from outside."
Rong Ma nodded in agreement.
In the afternoon, the mansion was very quiet.
On their way to Ningsi Garden, Madam Lin and Rong Ma overheard two old women gossiping behind the artificial hill.
"Miss Qingwan is no simple woman. That day, she seduced Prince Jing without even raising her head and received so many rewards."
"That should have been given to Miss Yan Wan."
"The Prime Minister and the young master both said they couldn't afford that dragon scale cloak, but when the Prince asked her, she actually dared to ask for it! Who knows if she's resentful and will use it to challenge the Prime Minister and his wife in the future."
"But that very night, Mu Xue delivered all the gifts bestowed by the Prince to the Prime Minister's study."
"You don't know, Miss Qingwan left several bottles of ointment. This is a betrayal of the Prime Minister's mansion, ignoring her old wounds! It's a public slap in the face to the Prime Minister and his wife."
When Rong Ma noticed that Lin Shi was trembling with anger, she immediately gave a signal to have the two old women tied up.
Lin said nothing and returned to Lan Garden by the same route. Later that evening, she went to Jiang Su's study and selected the finest begonia jade hairpin from the jewelry bestowed upon her by Prince Jing, giving it to Jiang Yanwan.
"Mother, isn't this..." Jiang Yanwan was both surprised and delighted.
Lin's expression remained calm. "Yesterday, your father asked me to choose one, and I think this hairpin suits you well."
Lin Qingwan delivered the items to Jiang Su, and since Jiang Su didn't explicitly state that they belonged to the Prime Minister's mansion's storeroom, there was nothing wrong with Lin selecting items from the storeroom for Jiang Yanwan.
"I am deeply grateful for Mother's kindness. But if Qingwan finds out, she will be unhappy." Jiang Yanwan carefully removed the jade hairpin.
Mentioning Lin Qingwan, Madam Lin's face darkened. "This is not her concern. What's given to you is yours."
Jiang Yanwan was overjoyed inside, but on the surface she reluctantly replied, "Yes."
She was afraid Lin Qingwan wouldn't know, so she took some things to Ningsi Garden that afternoon.
"Apologize?" Lin Qingwan had just finished practicing a calligraphy set when she heard Jiang Yanwan come to apologize, and her beautiful brows furrowed slightly.
Mu Xue didn't understand either, "That's right."
Lin Qingwan took a sip of hot tea. "Please invite her in."
Mu Xue was afraid of being taken advantage of again like last time, so she couldn't help but remind her, "Miss, please try to control your temper and don't fall for another trick. The young master will be off duty soon."
If she causes trouble again this time, Jiang Zhenlin will definitely sell her to a slave trader.
Seeing that Mu Xue was still in shock, Lin Qingwan felt sorry for her having been scolded so much because of her, and nodded, "I know."
Jiang Yanwan noticed that Lin Qingwan was different as soon as she entered.
Her clothes could only conceal her poverty, and her obsequiousness before Prince Jing that day also masked her recklessness and lack of manners.
But these are just superficial. Lin Qingwan's unease and awkwardness from fifteen years away from home still lingered in her eyes, making her seem worlds apart from the noble ladies of aristocratic families.
But now, Lin Qingwan's eyes were bright and deep, and she exuded a calmness that was inconsistent with her girlish appearance, yet it perfectly matched her aloofness.
Jiang Yanwan inexplicably tensed up.
Lin Qingwan immediately noticed the begonia jade hairpin in her hair and knew what was going on. She asked in a calm tone, "Are you feeling much better?"
Jiang Yanwan hesitated for a moment and was thus outmaneuvered.
If she says she's not better, then whatever happens is her own fault. If she says she is, then she won't be able to cause trouble later.
She smiled slightly, "It's alright. I felt really guilty last time for causing my mother to misunderstand you."
Lin Qingwan didn't give her a chance to act, saying, "If it's about what happened last time, there's no need for that."
Jiang Yanwan suppressed her displeasure and frowned, saying, "A talkative servant said a few things that my mother overheard, and today she gave me this begonia jade hairpin."
"I find it hard to refuse my mother's kind offer. But I know this is a gift from the Prince to you..."
"Please, for your mother's sake, consider this a trade between me and you, these gold hairpins, okay?"
Xia Yan stepped forward from behind Jiang Yanwan, carrying five heavy, golden hairpins on a tray, all in excellent condition.
Lin Qingwan added, "These were all made by craftsmen at my mother's request for my birthday. Although they are not as good as the prince's, they are still a token of my affection."
“You’ve just returned home and are short of money, so you’ll need these things.”
She seemed to be thinking of Lin Qingwan's best interests, and every word she spoke implied that Lin Qingwan had loving parents and endless money, and that any amount of it would be enough to satisfy her.
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