When Princess Fu’an returned, this was the scene she witnessed. She found Qin Shuying’s faint smile inexplicably grating and mocking.
This Qin Shuying was acting as if nothing had happened at all!
Just an orphaned daughter who relied on parental arrangements and matchmaking, relying on having some beauty, yet dared to intimidate her! Let her be proud for a while longer—there would naturally be plenty for her to deal with later!
Princess Fu’an snorted through her nose, lifted her neck, raised her head, and walked past not far from Qin Shuying, following behind Princess Yongjia onto the platform.
Madam Rong announced the rankings of the top ten in the peach blossom gathering on the spot. None of the Qin family daughters were included, but Lin Zilan had achieved tenth place.
The young ladies who received rankings accepted their prizes from serving maids amid everyone’s envious gazes, bowing as they received them.
Princess Yongjia spoke some words of encouragement and good fortune, then announced the start of the banquet.
Lin Zilan was extremely delighted. Qin Shuying and the others all congratulated her, and Madam Lin was also beaming with joy. Only Fourth Miss Lin snorted through her nose, both jealous and disgusted.
Lin Zilan received a jade ruyi scepter. Though not large, it was exquisitely crafted and very interesting. Lin Zilan couldn’t put it down.
The princess’s residence had prepared a banquet, still in this flower hall, with the ladies and young misses taking their seats according to rank.
Where Qin Shuying and the others sat was really too far from Princess Fu’an. Several ladies of noble status accompanied the three princesses nearby, and people in Qin Shuying’s position couldn’t hear what they were saying at all.
Dong Shi, accompanied by three young ladies and getting along well with Madam Lin, made everyone eat happily. Ziteng and the other maids stood to one side serving.
Only Fourth Miss Lin kept a long face throughout. No matter what Lin Zilan said, she always had to make some sarcastic remark, but while Lin Zilan had a good temperament, she wasn’t soft.
Fourth Miss Lin said, “Third Sister, this jade ruyi is translucent and exquisite, refined and gorgeous. Grandmother’s birthday is approaching—if you gave it to her, she would certainly be very pleased.”
Madam Lin’s expression became somewhat unpleasant. She had spent these years in Yunzhou serving her parents-in-law. Her father-in-law had passed away several years ago, and when her husband returned home for mourning, he left Fourth Miss Lin and her mother in the capital. Three years ago, when her husband resumed his post, he left their mother and daughter still in Yunzhou to serve his mother, only because the mother-in-law said her husband was buried in his hometown and she couldn’t leave.
This year, her mother-in-law had finally relented and agreed to come to the capital, so their mother and daughter could finally come to the capital. However, upon arriving in the capital, she discovered that Fourth Miss Lin’s concubine mother had become the de facto mistress of the capital household. It took her several months to barely establish a foothold in the capital. Even so, her mother-in-law still disliked her and constantly put on airs as an elder.
For the sake of her daughter and son, she endured it all. Especially since Lin Zilan had reached marriageable age—if they returned to Yunzhou, it would delay her daughter’s marriage prospects.
Coming out today, she had been forced by her husband and mother-in-law to bring Fourth Miss Lin along. This Fourth Miss Lin, relying on her grandmother’s favor and her father’s indulgence, didn’t regard her legitimate mother at all. Or rather, her attitude toward her legitimate mother was one of obvious disdain.
Even over such a jade ruyi, Fourth Miss Lin wouldn’t let it go and insisted on disgusting her.
Just as Madam Lin was about to speak, Lin Zilan glanced at her, and Madam Lin held back. She understood her daughter’s meaning—as the legitimate mother, some words were ultimately inappropriate to say, lest she gain a reputation for being harsh to concubine daughters.
Lin Zilan’s expression was calm as she said, “Sister speaks very correctly. Actually, even without sister saying so, I was originally planning to give this jade ruyi to grandmother as a birthday gift. It’s just…”
Lin Zilan frowned slightly, appearing somewhat troubled.
Fourth Miss Lin was delighted. She wasn’t actually jealous of this jade ruyi—she had many better things in her possession. She just couldn’t stand seeing Lin Zilan receive awards, acting like some legitimate daughter and talented woman in front of her when she was just a country bumpkin.
“Oh my, dear sister, are you unwilling to give it to grandmother? If you’re unwilling, just say so directly. Sister will intercede with grandmother for you. After all, if it were me, when I have good things, the first person I’d think of would definitely be grandmother—that’s what filial piety as a granddaughter means. But since sister is reluctant, grandmother wouldn’t dare accept it, otherwise wouldn’t she fear you’d resent her secretly?”
Qin Yue frowned, and Qin Lulu couldn’t help but show a disgusted expression. This Fourth Miss Lin was truly degrading.
Qin Shuying took a bite of food and looked toward Lin Zilan with a smile, as if confident she would perfectly counter-attack.
Lin Zilan glanced at Qin Shuying, a trace of smile appearing on her calm expression as she said to Fourth Miss Lin, “Sister, let me finish speaking. What I mean is, having only the jade ruyi without a box to contain it really doesn’t show proper respect. I remember sister has an agarwood box there, roughly the same size as this jade ruyi—it would be perfect for containing the jade ruyi. It’s just that the wooden box belongs to sister, so I couldn’t directly mention it. Since sister is so filial, sister should bring out the wooden box to contain the jade ruyi. It would perfectly represent the filial hearts of us two sisters, and grandmother would certainly be very pleased. Let’s settle it this way—when I return home, I’ll report to grandmother.”
Fourth Miss Lin’s face alternated between green and white, quite a spectacular sight.
Only then did Madam Lin breathe a sigh of relief, saying, “Usually, your father says Fourth Sister is a filial good child, and it turns out to be true. Let’s settle it this way then. Lan’er, when you return, you must properly praise Fourth Sister’s filial heart before the old madam. After all, without Fourth Sister’s agarwood box, your jade ruyi would look rather bare and unsightly when presented.”
Fourth Miss Lin held her breath in her chest, her face flushing red as she said, “I, I… then…”
Lin Zilan said, “Fourth Sister is so filial, no wonder grandmother likes you.”
Fourth Miss Lin couldn’t say another word.
Qin Yue couldn’t help wanting to laugh but couldn’t. She picked up some food with her chopsticks and put it in Qin Lulu’s bowl, saying, “Fifth Aunt, this dish is delicious. You should eat more.”
Qin Lulu also couldn’t suppress her amusement and laughed out loud, unable to help saying, “Ah, Yue’er is still the most filial to her aunt.”
After saying this, she couldn’t hold back and laughed heartily twice.
Fourth Miss Lin’s expression became even more spectacular.
Dong Shi coughed and said to Qin Yue, “Enough, your Fifth Aunt has her own favorite foods. You just take care of yourself.”
Qin Yue suppressed her laughter and said, “Mother, I understand.”
Qin Shuying smiled with pursed lips. This Lin Zilan was quite interesting.
Agarwood was the finest quality of aloeswood, more expensive than gold and priceless in the market. For Fourth Miss Lin, merely a concubine daughter, to possess such a fine item showed how much Lord Lin favored her.
It was probably meant to be kept at the bottom of her dowry chest, but now Lin Zilan had cleverly tricked it out of her with just a few words. Who knew how she would make a fuss when she returned home.
Thinking back to how Lin Zilan had shown goodwill toward her despite knowing her reputation, combined with what she had observed during their half-day together, Lin Zilan was indeed worth befriending.
She was also someone who wouldn’t suffer losses.