Seeing this stranger, the three Lin sisters exchanged glances. Lin Daiyu spoke up to inquire: “Who is this elder sister?”

“This is Sister Xiluan from Second Sister-in-law Lian’s family. She happened to be visiting the Jia household, and she’s someone who loves flowers. When she suddenly learned we were coming, she came along to view the chrysanthemums.”

Ying Chun was tongue-tied and couldn’t speak. It was Tan Chun who answered.

Wang Xiluan smiled somewhat embarrassedly, “Elder Sister Lin, Younger Sister Lin, I was presumptuous in disturbing you. I also heard from Sister Tan Chun and the others that the Lin family sisters are all the most approachable people, and your flowers are famously outstanding. I couldn’t restrain my love for them, so I truly imposed upon you.”

She formally presented gifts and performed a courtesy bow to apologize. As the saying goes, one doesn’t strike a smiling face. Since she had apologized like this, the Lin sisters couldn’t very well hold onto this point and say anything more.

Although… her words just now seemed to imply that if they took issue with it, they wouldn’t be approachable.

Originally, there was nothing here they couldn’t show people. As for other matters, there would be time ahead—first, they would see what her actual purpose was.

The Zhou sisters had some speculation. Generally speaking, those who came to the door so rashly all had certain purposes. They had seen people who came specifically for the brothers in a household, but the Lin family’s current situation was that all the men had already gone out.

So she simply came to view the flowers?

One couldn’t say this was completely impossible. After all, the Wang family had a marriage relationship with the Jia family, not with the Lin family.

Previously, when the Lin family held banquets, they hadn’t sent invitations to the Wang family.

If the Wang family hadn’t given advance notice, they indeed wouldn’t invite them over.

However, if relatives wanted to come view the chrysanthemums and gave word, naturally invitations would be sent to them. Could it be that the relationship between the Wang family and Lin family was actually already poor?

The three Lin sisters had planned today’s activity to be viewing flowers, then composing poetry or painting, or doing needlework together.

All themes related to flowers.

Now with one more person, the plan remained unchanged. Regardless of what purpose Wang Xiluan came with, so far what she had shown was not someone who couldn’t communicate or was unreasonable.

Wang Xiluan’s visit this time was also a spur-of-the-moment decision.

She wanted to meet this pair of sister flowers from the Lin family. If nothing unexpected happened, they would participate in the imperial selection together. She had heard her cousin’s praise of these two people, which made her somewhat indignant.

She was the younger sister, yet she hadn’t seen much praise directed at herself.

Coming today and meeting them, the Lin sisters somewhat surprised Wang Xiluan.

The elder sister was considerably shorter than the younger, and their appearances hadn’t quite reached the level of peerless beauty.

Their temperament was indeed good, but it was just that.

As for the youngest, Daiyu—when she grew up, she might possibly become a famous beauty. However, she was too young now. By the time she grew up, Wang Xiluan herself would probably already have children.

They wouldn’t become competitors.

There was another purpose. Wang Xiluan came this time also wanting to see what kind of family the Lin household was. She had secretly overheard her mother and father’s conversation and knew that Father had once thought about betrothing her to the Lin family’s eldest young master.

She was told that although he was a son born of a concubine, there was no difference from legitimate children, and most importantly, he was an only son—though not a legitimate son, he was still a legitimate son.

Wang Xiluan knew Father hadn’t given up on this idea.

If she wasn’t selected, the Lin family’s eldest young master would likely become her betrothed, which inevitably aroused her curiosity.

What kind of family was the Lin family?

Seeing them today, they were not as wealthy as the Wang family after all. She didn’t know what Father saw in the Lin family.

When the three sisters hosted young lady friends at their home to liven things up, Yun Shuyao didn’t join in every time. The first time the Jia sisters came over, Yun Shuyao had indeed made a special effort to look at the Three Springs.

She didn’t know who the Twelve Beauties of Jinling in Dream of the Red Chamber were specifically, but these Three Springs were certainly among them.

However, they were too young now. One could see some personality tendencies, but nothing else could be discerned, so she quickly lost interest. Today when she heard an extra guest had come, she thought it was Shi Xiangyun.

It turned out it wasn’t—it was Wang Xifeng’s cousin, Wang Xiluan.

Wang Ziteng’s daughter.

She knew of Wang Ziteng, the head of the Wang family.

But this name Wang Xiluan left no impression on her whatsoever, so she made a special trip under the pretext of delivering refreshments to take a look.

She should be slightly younger than Ying Yu and Luo Yu, with a delicate face and a temperament somewhat similar to Wang Xifeng’s.

But not as outwardly displayed as Wang Xifeng.

As for her scrutiny of the two sisters… was this her purpose in coming?

Yun Shuyao looked carefully. When the sisters Ying Yu and Luo Yu were to make their public appearances, the Old Madam had made certain preparations, so although they had met quite a few people, their reputation for beauty hadn’t spread far, precisely because special styling had been done.

Hairstyles, attire, and also makeup.

This way, originally very outstanding features could be made slightly less impressive.

Originally nine or ten points of beauty, through skillful hands, became seven or eight points, not much different from other women whose six or seven points of beauty became seven or eight points through makeup and grooming.

Yun Shuyao gently shook her head.

This Wang Xiluan must be favored at home and wasn’t very good at concealing herself.

When facing the Lin sisters, it was still alright. Although the two were daughters of concubines, the Old Madam had raised them according to legitimate daughter standards.

The two Zhou sisters were also properly legitimate daughters, but the two Wu sisters were not.

They were daughters of concubines, and they were also typical examples of being raised by their concubine mothers.

Why were those raised by concubine mothers criticized? One reason was bearing, another was vision and capability.

For example, at the first meeting, when the Zhou sisters saw Wang Xiluan, they were poised and composed, but after the Wu sisters saw Wang Xiluan, they became somewhat constrained and much more silent than usual.

The reason for this wasn’t that Wang Xiluan was particularly overbearing, but rather her adornment.

Her attire had quite the style that Concubine Mei favored. The items worn on her head and body could be seen at a glance as extraordinary, expensive in price, and not necessarily obtainable even with money.

As for the study companions Lin Xiao and Lin Zheng, their fathers were both scholars, not officials. Apart from a polite smile, Wang Xiluan never again initiated conversation with them.

Tan Chun secretly apologized to Lin Daiyu.

Originally, according to age, Ying Chun should have spoken up, but Tan Chun understood her temperament—she couldn’t say it, so Tan Chun took the initiative instead.

Daiyu shook her head, indicating she didn’t mind.

She knew the sisters couldn’t make their own decisions, so naturally she wouldn’t blame them.

When Tan Chun heard her understanding, her eyes grew hot. She blinked firmly, pushing back that wave of heat.

Actually, when going out today, Baoyu had also clamored to come along. He had said several times at home that Sister Daiyu always forgot about him and didn’t invite him over.

He himself didn’t dare say it.

Men and women were different. Baoyu was seven years old—he should pay attention to the separation between men and women. Moreover, this was originally a gathering among girls, so naturally they wouldn’t invite him, a boy.

However, Baoyu was accustomed to mixing freely in the inner quarters. He didn’t have this concept. Was there anywhere in the Jia household he couldn’t go?

He never avoided the separation between men and women.

But outside wasn’t the Jia family—they wouldn’t indulge him.

If the Lin family invited him over, it could only be Cousin Chen Yu inviting him, and he wouldn’t be allowed into the inner quarters.

Fortunately, today the Master had assigned lessons that he hadn’t completed. Fortunately, fortunately, Baoyu still had people he feared, otherwise if he really made a fuss about coming regardless, and the Old Ancestress always indulged him, that would truly be shameful.

However, once Jia Baoyu set his mind on something, it was very difficult to change it.

After Jia Zheng gradually relaxed and no longer supervised him daily, Jia Baoyu couldn’t wait to sneak out. He arrived at the Lin residence and said to the Lin household’s gatekeeper: “I’ve come to find Sister Daiyu to play together. Let me in.”

Gatekeeper: ???

If not for seeing this young master’s extraordinary clothing, and that their family’s Third Young Miss was also not very old and could be considered children’s foolishness, otherwise it would easily lead to unpleasant associations.

After learning his identity, the gatekeeper temporarily invited him into the flower hall, then went to report to the Old Madam.

The Old Madam didn’t see him at all, nor did she let Daiyu know that Jia Baoyu had come. She had people properly “escort” him back, feeling that previously she had too little prompting done in Jia Zheng’s ear, which was why Jia Baoyu had so much free time. It seemed she still needed to intensify efforts.

When Jia Baoyu was “sent” back to the Rong household like this, Jia Zheng naturally knew. He felt that all his face had been lost by this son!

His face flushed crimson red. With one hand he grabbed the discipline ruler, ready with imposing momentum to teach him a good lesson and prevent him from going out to embarrass them again!

Seeing the Master like this, quick-witted servants had already run to spread the news. The Second Madam arrived fastest. She felt like grinding her teeth to powder—it was because of the Lin family again. Could it be that the Lin family specifically countered her Baoyu?

Seeing Baoyu lying prone on a stool crying out, while the Master held the discipline ruler with imposing momentum, she threw herself over to take the punishment in his place.

Jia Zheng had no choice but to stop: “Move aside! I must properly discipline this wretched son!”

“I told him to study well, relaxed slightly, and he secretly ran out. Is this how the servants around him attend to the young master? Come, beat them all!”

Second Madam Wang had no objection to disciplining the servants. She also felt it was dangerous for her son to sneak out like this, but she disagreed with disciplining her son. She blocked the Master from continuing to beat him and cried about her eldest son, “You’re so strict with him—have you forgotten how our Zhu’er passed away? I only gave birth to these two in total. Master, you’re trying to force us mother and son to death!”

Hearing her mention Jia Zhu, Li Wan, who had hurried here, held Jia Lan as her eyes also reddened, tears falling one by one.

Grandmother Jia received the news and also rushed over in a panic. Seeing this scene of misery, her walking stick struck toward Jia Zheng: “I knew you found this old woman an eyesore. One day I’ll take my dear grandson back to Jinling and fulfill your wish!”

How could Jia Zheng bear such words?

He hastily threw down the discipline ruler and knelt down: “This son absolutely has no such intention!”

The Jia household was in complete uproar.

Hearing that Jia Baoyu had been beaten, only then did the Old Madam smile with satisfaction. If Jia Baoyu came once more, he would be beaten once more.

She refused to believe that she couldn’t sever this karmic bond between them!

Not only were the various masters of the Jia household unhappy because of this incident, but somewhere else, Jinghuan saw this scene and was also angered half to death.

She had expended so much effort to bring the Lin family to the capital, yet after the two met once, there had been no progress.

This Old Madam of the Lin family was truly too much of an obstacle!