The old lady had predicted early on that Grandmother Jia would send her a calling card. She might even be hoping that she wouldn’t want to see her and would refuse, only letting Daiyu and the others go to Rongguo Manor.

That way it would be more convenient for her to act.

But if she truly thought that, she’d be badly mistaken.

According to propriety, regardless of what they truly thought inside, to avoid giving people grounds to criticize the children’s character, as long as Jia Min remained the Lin Manor’s daughter-in-law for even one day, then the Jia Manor was the maternal family for the Lin Manor’s next generation. Surface courtesies had to be observed.

The old lady never intended to prevent Daiyu from ever stepping foot in Rongguo Manor, but how they would go and what would be said once there—that was no longer for Grandmother Jia to control.

Not only would she go, she would go with great fanfare.

The old lady couldn’t help recalling the dream world again. Her granddaughter had come to the Jia Manor and entered through the side gate. She never even met Jia She or Jia Zheng, was thoroughly admonished by Second Madam Wang, and didn’t even have her own independent courtyard.

Every single one of these made the old lady’s heart feel pierced each time she recalled it.

Things were different now.

Daiyu was no longer an orphan.

Behind her stood the Lin family.

This time, she planned to have a good talk with Grandmother Jia about principles.

Of course, even having accepted the card, it wasn’t an immediate matter.

If she went immediately upon receiving the card, that would be giving face to Shi Shi.

After returning, the old lady first carefully examined her son and grandson—both were well.

On her son’s side, the Emperor hadn’t yet given any instructions, but there was no rush. Her grandson had accompanied her son in visiting many households, and several had sent out signals indicating interest in forming marriage ties.

All with legitimate daughters from the main wife.

Though there was no immediate agreement, the implications revealed were enough to make the old lady beam with joy.

These people had good judgment!

When Lin Ruhai and Chen Yu learned of what happened on their journey, they both broke out in cold sweat.

Lin Ruhai once again felt grateful for hiring the escorts. Otherwise, he worried that if something truly happened, regret would come too late.

Upon first receiving the news, he’d decided to give those escorts additional compensation. Now seeing his mother and the others safe and sound, he decided to increase it even more.

This was what they deserved.

“Nothing serious happened—just a false alarm. Our children are all excellent.” The old lady praised them with a smile.

Including Daiyu with her weakest constitution—even after being frightened, she hadn’t fallen ill.

Hearing grandmother’s praise, Ying Yu guiltily lowered her head. She had truly been frightened.

She’d seen dead people, so much blood. If not for so many relatives around her, she might have screamed out loud. Even now thinking about it gave her nightmares. Fortunately Doctor Zhou had prescribed calming medicine, and after drinking it she felt much better.

As for her sister… she secretly glanced at her second sister. When she saw the corpses, she’d been stunned at first, but afterward her expression remained normal. She herself had been scared and leaned close, grabbing her sister’s sleeve, and then wasn’t as afraid.

And Concubine Yun—she’d been very close to Concubine Yun at the time. Concubine Yun’s gaze… how to put it? It felt like Concubine Yun viewed those corpses the same as ordinary objects, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

Thinking of this, she unconsciously looked over. Concubine Yun was still the same—gentle and graceful as she stood there, face bearing a slight smile, nothing unusual apparent.

She was also very impressive, making Ying Yu sometimes wonder if her own courage was too small.

However, when she looked at her own concubine mother, she felt she was overthinking.

It wasn’t that her courage was small—it was that Second Sister and Concubine Yun’s courage was too great.

Her concubine mother had been so frightened she’d gripped her hand tightly, turning her wrist blue-black.

The surrounding maids and servants had also been terrified, huddling together trembling.

And youngest sister—she hadn’t been frightened, probably because the nanny had been protecting her the whole time, so she likely hadn’t seen the corpses at all.

Besides caring for her son and grandson, the old lady also had to worry about whether the household was properly settled.

Next year would be the time for her two granddaughters’ imperial selection. Whether they could avoid it or not, their lifelong matters had to be settled.

Even if her son received transfer orders to serve as an official elsewhere, she wouldn’t follow but would remain in the capital to handle her two granddaughters’ affairs.

If they avoided the selection, next year they would become engaged.

If they couldn’t avoid the selection, they would also become engaged next year.

There were too many matters, and there was also her grandson. After the selection ended, they would look at potential families for him too.

However, in this regard her grandson wasn’t truly urgent. After he earned his scholarly honors, the marriage proposals available would rise another level.

Even if eager to hold great-grandchildren, the old lady wouldn’t neglect the grandson-in-law’s family background.

Which meant she and her granddaughters would be residing long-term in the capital, so naturally the manor’s arrangements had to be properly organized.

Lin Ruhai naturally lived in the main courtyard. The quietest Ningshou Courtyard belonged to the old lady, with the courtyard beside her being Daiyu’s, then the courtyards for Ying Yu and Luo Yu.

Same as before, they were still neighbors, with the three sisters almost in a straight line.

Then came the three courtyards for Yun Shuyao, Concubine Mei, and Concubine Chu.

Among these three courtyards, Yun Shuyao’s was the largest, with arrangements also more refined than the other two concubines’.

Regarding this, Concubine Mei couldn’t muster the energy to object anymore. Who told the other to have good fortune and bear a son?

Luo Yu first accompanied her concubine mother to her courtyard and discovered this must have been arranged by her brother. The layout followed her concubine mother’s usual preferences, and there were already quite a few potted plants and vegetation inside—few in bloom, mostly seedlings.

If they were all in full bloom, her concubine mother wouldn’t like it.

Some items from the first group had already been transported over. The things brought by their final group had also been properly arranged just as they’d been talking.

Looking now, it was the layout and furnishings Yun Shuyao was accustomed to.

Without special circumstances, she didn’t like major changes.

Luo Yu had a caring nature. After inspecting everything, she nodded with satisfaction: “Looks like brother put considerable thought into this.”

To arrange the place her concubine mother was accustomed to living with little difference from before required considerable effort.

Yun Shuyao curved her lips: “If you’d come first, it would be the same.”

Luo Yu smiled until her eyes narrowed: “Naturally.”

Yun Shuyao then went with her to look at Luo Yu’s courtyard. Hers was also arranged according to her preferences.

The courtyard was filled with plants, along with the fish pond and bowl lotuses she loved.

Though the bowl lotuses weren’t in season now, one could still imagine what beautiful scenery it would be in time.

Outside, besides tending flowers and plants, Luo Yu’s hobbies and strengths included painting. Her brush skills were renowned among her friends.

Actually, her hobbies also included horsemanship and archery, but Lin Ruhai didn’t want her to have such a reputation. She would restrain herself in front of outsiders.

Yun Shuyao inspected everything and confirmed it was all proper: “Rest well. No need to see me off—I’ll go back myself.”

After resting for two days and recovering their spirits, the old lady finally responded to Rongguo Manor’s card, selecting a day to visit.

When that day came, they set out with great momentum.

Not only did she go, but her son, grandson, and granddaughters went, even the concubines went.

Didn’t this in-law say she wanted to host a small banquet to welcome them? In that case, she would bring everyone along to properly view this banquet.

Not to boast, but whether son, daughters-in-law, grandson, granddaughters, or even concubines—all were better than those of the Jia family!

Lin Ruhai had wanted to say something, but seeing his mother like this, he swallowed his words.

Forget it. It was nothing anyway, just a small banquet between two families.

Daiyu had no Jia family servants around her. Since being brought to live with the old lady, everything had been personally overseen and arranged by the old lady.

When Jia Min passed away, she was already three years old. She remembered things early and had memories from that time.

At the sickbed, her mother had told her to listen to grandmother’s words, without mentioning the maternal grandmother. She’d vaguely overheard some gossip about the maternal family.

Moreover, as she grew older, she also knew that having no one from the maternal grandmother’s family around her wasn’t quite normal.

Not that the Lin family had no Jia family people at all, but those they did have were responsible for matters that weren’t too important and couldn’t get close to her.

As for the reason, it was said the Jia family had someone who committed a great wrong, so they were held accountable.

Occasionally she would ask grandmother, and bit by bit, she confirmed that indeed the Jia family had erred. Her own maternal grandmother’s reach had been too long—she’d extended her hand into the Lin family’s inner courtyard, causing her little brother’s early death.

So between the two families only surface courtesy remained.

When she learned these things, Daiyu wasn’t without sorrow.

She was very intelligent. Thinking of how her mother lay on the sickbed during those final days, she had a vague premonition in her heart—perhaps… her mother’s illness also had this as part of the reason. Otherwise she wouldn’t have been so full of sorrowful grief.

Her mother’s illness was partly physical, partly unresolved heartache.

Now about to meet her maternal grandmother, she felt somewhat confused, not knowing what she should do.

The old lady perceived her state of mind and drew her into her embrace, comforting her warmly: “Daiyu, don’t worry. You are the only blood of your father and mother, the treasured pearl of our Lin family.”

“Around you, there’s me, your father, your siblings. You have many relatives around you.”

“Your maternal grandmother may show you affection, but you must know that in her heart, your mother and you will never be first. What she cares most about is herself, her authority, and the Jia family’s prosperity or decline.”

“I hope you can understand this point and not be easily deceived by some of her words.”

“Moreover, the Jia family’s atmosphere is quite different from ours. They rose through military merit as honored nobility, with eyes for wealth carved into their foreheads, and servants raised far too high.” The old servants attending Shi Shi actually had more face than legitimate Jia family junior children—this was unimaginable in their family.

Only because they were like this did they gradually nurture such inflated hearts in those people.

“Daiyu is very intelligent—grandmother knows this. Use your eyes to slowly observe, observe very carefully.”

The old lady thought for a long time but still didn’t mention Jia Baoyu.

If she brought up this person and made Daiyu take him to heart, that would instead be bad.

Daiyu listened to grandmother’s words with reddened eyes and softly responded, “Daiyu understands.” She’d thought for a long time in her room, then taken out that scroll she’d preserved in almost new condition.

The person in the painting was her mother—her mother painted by Concubine Yun.

If mother were still here, what would she say to her?

Since mother’s passing, the maternal grandmother who had always seemed like a castle in the air could finally be met.

What would Rongguo Manor and maternal grandmother truly be like?

On that side, the old lady also gave Luo Yu and the others repeated instructions.

To some extent she treated the Jia Manor as a dangerous beast, afraid that one careless moment would see her granddaughters encounter some situation there.

Calculating the age, that Jia Baoyu was only seven now. Perfect to use the rule that boys and girls don’t sit together after seven years to refuse him getting close to the granddaughters.

Before departing, the old lady specifically instructed the three concubines to dress beautifully and bring out their best qualities.

Dress beautifully?

This request was indeed strange. When Concubine Mei heard the maid’s message, her face became somewhat distorted, suspecting she’d heard wrong.

Ever since the old lady mentioned having them go along, she’d felt it was odd.

Going to an ordinary family’s banquet was one thing, but that was Jia Min’s natal family.

For them to dress flamboyantly and go over—was that appropriate?

Moreover, that was after all a Duke’s manor. Concubine Mei felt uncertain inside, so contrary to her usual self, when that day came, she dressed quite plainly.

Even Ying Yu was somewhat surprised. Her concubine mother’s aesthetic had been consistent for decades—she loved golden glitter. No matter how many times she’d said otherwise, it fell on deaf ears. Today’s attire even delighted her.

Yun Shuyao also didn’t dress ostentatiously—same as her usual outings, nothing at all exceeding propriety.

She knew this time she was just going as background scenery. She just needed to watch the show.

Even without looking, she knew Dream of the Red Chamber was a tragedy—the female lead died, the male lead seemed to become a monk. In short, none of the endings were good.

Now it was different from the original. The Lin family could be said to be completely changed, and the relationship between the two families was also delicate. The old lady bringing them along—could it be to display an affectionate relationship with the Jia family?

Impossible.

The group rode in sedan chairs streaming out from Lin Manor. Arriving at Rongguo Manor, naturally this group couldn’t enter through the side gate.

The main gate ordinarily didn’t open without major events, but this time, it opened.

The visitor was a super-rank Marquis’s wife, the Lin family head. For them to use the side gate would be inexplicable.

Jia She and Jia Zheng received them in the main hall. When everyone arrived, they were led to the old lady’s quarters.

Old Lady Lin’s gaze swept once through these carved beams and painted rafters, seeing the richly dressed Shi Shi. She appeared somewhat more aged than in the dream world.

Probably because she’d had more unpleasant things than in the dream world. Served her right.

Compared to Old Lady Lin’s happiness, when Grandmother Jia looked at Old Lady Lin, her heart felt stabbed by something.

From a person’s face you could tell whether their days were good or not.

Xie Shi’s wrinkles were all smoothed out. She looked considerably younger than herself. It seemed the Lin family had good days these past years.

The old lady took the initiative, still smiling on her face, but the words she spoke had an off taste: “Long time no see. Seeing you as I imagined, I’m relieved.”

The smile on Grandmother Jia’s face immediately stiffened slightly. These words seemed to say her current appearance was what she deserved.

Grandmother Jia glanced at Xie Shi. Her gaze looked directly at her. Grandmother Jia instinctively withdrew her gaze, looking toward the small figure standing beside her. Focusing her eyes, she seemed to see young Min’er in a trance, staggering forward a few steps: “This must be my poor Daiyu. Maternal grandmother finally gets to see you. Among so many children, I loved your mother most. Pity she was unfilial and heartless to abandon you and me and go like this. Did she ever think how heartbroken we would be…” Grandmother Jia cried with genuine feeling. Daiyu had a sensitive nature. With this crying, remembering her mother’s care when alive, her eyes also reddened: “Maternal grandmother…”

The old lady embraced Daiyu and laughed coldly: “In-law, don’t rush. Mention it a few more times and she’ll come see you. Then you mother and daughter can properly pour out your feelings.”

Wang Xifeng beside them opened and closed her mouth, closed and opened it again. She’d always been glib, but this time no matter how she listened, it seemed this Old Lady Lin had implications in her words.

She didn’t dare speak rashly.