Lin kept Jiang Yanwan and gave her a ruby pomegranate hairpin.
Jiang Yanwan was flattered and overwhelmed. "This is my mother's dowry. I feel unworthy to receive it."
Madam Lin personally inserted the hairpin into her hair. Jiang Yanwan had almond-shaped eyebrows and a delicate temperament, which did not quite match the pomegranate hairpin. Instead, it seemed to suppress her complexion.
“After Qingwan came back, she has wronged you in many ways. She has no manners, and it is my fault for not teaching her well.” Madam Lin held her hand and spoke frankly to her.
Jiang Yanwan said, "If Mother feels that Yanwan is being wronged, then she is treating me like an outsider."
Upon hearing this, Madam Lin's face was filled with relief and tenderness, and she couldn't help but hug the person in her arms. "Don't take the rumors outside seriously. You are my and the Prime Minister's daughter, the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, and the face of the Prime Minister's mansion."
Some things can't be rushed. Be patient.
Lin didn't spell it out, but her intention to appease her was very clear.
Jiang Yanwan's expression changed as soon as she left Lan Garden. She ripped off the pomegranate hairpin from her hair and returned to Huaguang Courtyard with a dark face.
"She's trying to steal my engagement with a hairpin!"
"What do you mean by 'the eldest daughter of the Jiang family' and 'the prestige of the Prime Minister's residence'? They just want to curry favor with the Prince and marry Lin Qingwan into his household!"
Jiang Yanwan was so angry that her lungs felt like they were going to explode. For a moment, she didn't know whether to hate Lin Qingwan, Jiang Su and his wife, or her birth mother, Madam Cheng!
"Xia Yan, is everything arranged?" She exuded a chilling murderous aura.
"Don't worry," Xia Yan added, "Miss Gao had heard that you were bullied by Lin Qingwan. If it weren't for the busy preparations for the old lady's birthday, she would have come to the Prime Minister's residence to see you long ago."
Jiang Yanwan took a deep breath. "Okay."
Tomorrow, in front of everyone, I will make sure Lin Qingwan can't hold her head up in the capital!
Ningsi Garden.
After soaking in the medicinal bath, Lin Qingwan sweated and felt incredibly comfortable.
The medicine given by the Crown Prince also came with a prescription, but the joy lasted only three seconds, as several of the ingredients were reserved for the Imperial Hospital.
What a disappointment!
However, Lin Qingwan was also open-minded. She would use the medicine if she had it, and if not, she would still use her own formula to suppress it. Although a dead end was terrible, as long as she was not dead, there were more ways to live than to die.
Thinking of this, she asked Muxue, "Has Lai Xiao'er returned?"
She entrusted the clinic owner to send her nephew out of the capital with a medicinal herb merchant, promising to help her find Mr. Ruan. It had been about ten days since then.
Mu Xue said, "I received a letter the other day saying that I had found some clues and went south."
Mu Xue couldn't help but worry, "Could this kid have tricked us and run away?"
Lin Qingwan said, "My poison is not incurable, but his parents are still in the capital. Even if he is not afraid of me, he is still afraid of being silenced by Jiang Yanwan."
"That's true." Mu Xue helped her dry her hair. "Let me help you to sleep. You need to get up early tomorrow."
"good."
Because of the medicinal bath, Lin Qingwan slept soundly and dreamed of Mr. Ruan. The man was lean and handsome, teaching her to recognize characters and read, and telling her many stories about what was happening outside. Because she listened so intently, she was punished more severely by her adoptive mother several times for coming home late.
Mr. Ruan saw this and said, "Qingwan, you shouldn't let her waste your life."
"Would you like to come with me and see the world?"
Mr. Ruan gave her freedom of thought and ambition. She worked hard washing clothes for the wealthy man's family and saved two taels of silver to leave to Cheng.
Unfortunately, on the early morning of the day she left, she ran into her adoptive father, who had hired thugs and hunting dogs. Mr. Ruan pulled her along, running as fast as he could, but they couldn't outrun something with four legs.
Ruan Sheng was beaten, and Lin Qingwan had no choice but to compromise.
"Qingwan, don't go back!"
"Don't go back with him!"
Lin Qingwan's pillow was soaked with tears. She opened her eyes and gasped for breath, slowly suppressing the despair and regret in her dream.
If she had been a little more resolute and persisted a little longer, perhaps...
Ah, there's no such thing as "maybe" in this world.
Because of this dream, Lin Qingwan had little appetite in the morning and looked listless.
When Jiang Yanwan saw the dress she was wearing, her dignified expression froze slightly, and her nails dug deep into her flesh.
Jiang Zhenlin's brows furrowed immediately. "Who are you trying to impress with that long face so early in the morning?"
Lin Qingwan ignored him.
Jiang Zhenlin chased after the carriage, his voice low, "Who told you to dress like that? Is this color appropriate for the dead of winter? Are you doing this on purpose?!"
Lin Qingwan coldly replied, "Father had it done."
Jiang Zhenlin choked, his eyes changing repeatedly, and he tried to speak several times but no sound came out.
Lin Qingwan was surprised. Turning around, she met his incredulous expression, and her heart tightened slightly. "What's wrong with these clothes?"
Jiang Zhenlin swallowed, then suddenly turned his back, "N-nothing."
Although Lin Qingwan sensed something was wrong, she thought Jiang Zhenlin was a madman, so she didn't take it seriously and went straight into the carriage.
Jiang Yanwan wanted to get on, so she lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and said, "My back hurts, you should take another carriage."
Jiang Yanwan's smile hadn't even fully faded before she was struck dumb, as if by lightning. She blinked in astonishment. Lin Qingwan actually dared to kick her out directly?
“Sister, you ride in my car, I’ll ride a horse,” Jiang Zhenlin said through gritted teeth, “so you won’t get covered in all that stinky stuff.”
Jiang Yanwan's complexion improved after that.
There were many guests lined up in front of the Minister's mansion. The Minister's wife, Madam Yang, greeted the guests with her eldest son, Gao Wei, and her legitimate daughter, Gao Ying.
When the sedan chair from the Prime Minister's residence stopped, many eyes turned to it.
As soon as Madam Lin came down with Jiang Yanwan, Gao Ying came up and took Jiang Yanwan's hand, saying, "Madam and Yanwan must be tired from your journey. Please come in and sit down."
After bowing, Madam Yang said, "Madam Jiang's presence is an honor to my humble abode."
Madam Lin smiled and said, "You're too kind, Madam."
Lin Qingwan got off the carriage and walked behind Lin Shi. Just as she was about to bow, Gao Ying raised her voice and said, "Yanwan, when did you get a skinny girl? And she's dressed so tackyly."
Jiang Yanwan was overjoyed, but Madam Lin frowned slightly.
Madam Yang scolded Gao Ying, "You have no manners."
"Madam Jiang, this must be Miss Qingwan. She is truly beautiful. Everyone was curious before, but now we can see her in person."
Lin Qingwan curtsied, "Greetings, Madam."
Madam Lin said calmly, "I had no choice but to raise him outside, so he's become a bit unruly and not very likable. Please forgive him, Madam."
The Prime Minister's wife had never been so humble before. As everyone thought about the rumors about Lin Qingwan during this period, their gazes toward her became increasingly mocking.
Lin Qingwan smiled bitterly, feeling that taking her out was a disgrace to her mother.
Gao Ying deliberately said, "So it's Miss Qingwan. Forgive my poor eyesight. I thought she was a new maid from the Prime Minister's residence."
Everyone smiled slightly, pursing their lips.
Lin Qingwan remained calm and said, "It's alright, I didn't recognize Miss Gao either."
Gao Ying's expression changed, but fortunately Madam Yang invited Lin and the others into the mansion in time to avoid an awkward situation.
Gao Ying whispered in Jiang Yanwan's ear, "She's really not someone to be trifled with. No wonder you get bullied."
"Wait until I avenge you."
"She'll have to be lucky enough to steal your title as princess!"
Jiang Yanwan's eyes flashed coldly. "Then thank you very much, Miss Gao. Once I become the Princess Consort of Jing, I will definitely speak well of Uncle Gao and Miss Gao to the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing the words "Crown Prince," Gao Ying's cheeks flushed slightly.
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