Taking the Bait
"What an outstanding girl! No wonder the Old Madam kept her hidden away and was reluctant to let us see her!"
As soon as the Madam from the family with whom they had a long-standing friendship opened her mouth, the women in the room burst into laughter.
Lin Yunwan lowered her head and pursed her lips slightly.
Just as they were chatting and laughing, they heard a maid say, "Old Madam, the Second Madam has arrived."
The maid led Zheng Shi in to pay her respects to Old Madam Lin. Then, she pretended to walk up to Lin Yunwan, took Yun Wan's reddened fingers, and said with concern, "Yun Wan, why didn't you put on the hand cream I gave you?"
When did Zheng Shi give her the hand cream?
Lin Yunwan smiled faintly. She didn't want to cause trouble in front of the Old Madam, so she didn't expose Zheng Shi and went along with the conversation, saying, "Ointment can damage the strings of a zither, so it shouldn't be applied."
How can someone be so unaware of something like this? Do they truly care about their stepdaughter?
The Madam Young Madam in the house smiled without saying a word.
Zheng Shi continued earnestly, "When you're not practicing the zither, you must apply it. A young lady's hands are like her second face; you must take good care of them."
Lin Yunwan curtsied and said, "Yes." This was considered a greeting.
Old Madam Lin's expression remained indifferent ever since Zheng Shi entered.
The Madam of the West Lin Residence were very perceptive and took the lead, saying, "Alright, we've been here long enough. I'm afraid our Eldest Sister-in-law must be bored waiting in the Flower Hall. Let's all go over there!"
Nanny Fan also came out and said, "Old Madam, it's time for you to take your medicine."
The guests then dispersed.
Zheng Shi wasn't familiar with the Madam Young Madam of the West Lin Residence, so she was the last to leave. She and Lin Yunwan had just left the Old Madam's Courtyard when they ran into Lin Huabin, who had come to pay his respects.
"Sir, what brings you here?"
Lin Huabin said, "My Elder Brother said that the Old Madam woke up early today, and I thought my sisters-in-law should be leaving soon, so I came to pay my respects."
He arrived at the perfect time.
Zheng Shi said, "Then please go inside quickly, the Old Madam needs to take her medicine."
Lin Huabin nodded and quickly went inside... He came out in the blink of an eye.
"So fast?"
Zheng Shi's eyes widened; she feared she was about to be scolded.
Lin Huabin didn't seem to have been scolded at all; his expression was very gentle. "The Old Madam was taking her medicine, so I just greeted her and came out."
"Let's go quickly, don't disturb the Old Madam."
Seeing that Lin Yunwan was still standing to the side, Lin Huabin remembered to ask, "Where's Jiao'er? Why didn't she come to pay her respects to the Old Madam?"
Zheng Shi looked very uncomfortable.
She touched her hair and said, "... Jiao'er had a stomachache this morning, so I told her to come later. That way she won't offend the Old Madam, right?"
Lin Huabin didn't see anything wrong with it and said kindly, "You'll come eventually, no matter how late you are. Today is a big day for the Eldest Branch's family, with so many relatives watching."
"Yes, I understand."
Zheng Shi's attitude was very good.
Lin Yunwan found it laughable to watch the couple speak so cryptically.
Did the master really not see through the Madam's intentions at all?
If she didn't have any ill intentions, why wouldn't Madam allow Lin Yunjiao to come and pay her respects? She was simply letting go of such a good opportunity to show filial piety.
"Yun Wan, I'm going to the Flower Hall to see your Eldest Aunt and your Third Aunt. Could you go and pick up your Maternal Aunt Wen for me?"
Suddenly, Zheng Shi said...
Lin Yunwan sneered inwardly. After waiting for so long, it's finally here.
Lin Huabin was a little surprised. "Why did you bring her along?" He was also a little dissatisfied. "... She's a new face, aren't you afraid the Old Madam Eldest Sister-in-law will be unhappy?"
You're unhappy, aren't you?
So what if they look down on my family's relatives?
Zheng Shi hesitated for a moment, then smiled gently and said, "Wenhai came with you, didn't he? My younger female cousin said she wanted to pay her respects to the Old Madam, and that she'd never seen what the Lin Residence's grand Garden looked like, so I brought her here to take a look."
"It is only right to pay my respects to the Old Madam."
Lin Huabin's expression softened a bit. He thought about how Wen Mu felt after seeing the Lin Residence's Flower Garden —it was like a country bumpkin going to heaven. Feeling better, he stopped caring.
He was puzzled. "If it's a greeting, why isn't she here?"
Zheng Shi said with annoyance, "Isn't this exactly the kind of thing we were going to do to get Yun Wan to take her back? She twisted her ankle halfway through our walk, and when I asked the maid to take her home, she said she couldn't move. I suggested we ask Physician to come and take a look, but she was too embarrassed to do so herself."
"They're just distant guests; why make such a fuss in the Eldest Branch?"
"I came through the Flower Garden from that gate, eager to pay my respects to the Old Madam, so I left her by the Lotus Pond in the Garden."
In front of Lin Huabin, Zheng Shi urged, "Yun Wan, I'm in a hurry to congratulate your Eldest Aunt Eldest Sister-in-law. You should go and pick up your maternal aunt and bring her back to our residence."
Lin Yunwan glanced at Zheng Shi and said slowly, "Madam, I'll have the maid go. There are so many guests; it wouldn't be good if my sister and I weren't by your side."
Xiruo stood behind her.
Zheng Shi sneered, "What's wrong with that? She's your maternal aunt, your elder. You can't even run an errand for her?"
Lin Yunwan glanced at Lin Huabin.
Such a clumsy tactic!
She refused to believe that the old man couldn't tell at all.
Lin Huabin's expression remained good. "Yun Wan, you should go."
He knew, of course, that his wife wanted to bring Yun Wan Wenhai together.
Who knows, Wenhai's mother might become Yun Wan's mother-in-law in the future!
If we don't seize this opportunity to curry favor with Wenhai's mother now, when will we?
Lin Huabin smiled and echoed the same sentiment, "After all, they are your elders. It's alright for the young ones to be diligent Filial Piety."
Lin Yunwan had nothing more to say.
He knelt and walked away.
Lin Yunwan and Xiruo walked together toward the Garden. The Third Branches of the Lin Residence were all connected, but they were separated by doors.
The side doors are usually closed, but today, with the banquet, all the doors are open.
The side gate of the Flower Garden leads directly to the Second Branch of the Lin Residence. As you walk over, you'll see Cuiqin waiting under the pavilion overgrown with soapberry trees.
Upon seeing Lin Yunwan, Cuiqin quickly stepped forward and said, "Second Miss has arrived with her maid!"
Lin Yunwan said calmly, "Go and tell the Second Miss— "
What are you saying?
Let's talk about what Zheng Shi and she said.
"Madam has said they are elders, it's only right that we, as juniors, should see them off. It's also appropriate for Second Miss to go and see them off."
As for what will happen after she finishes delivering the goods, she has no idea.
Cuiqin nodded and said, "This servant understands!"
She turned around and went to find Lin Yunjiao. She was good at pretending. When she ran in front of Lin Yunjiao, she was flustered and panicked, as if some terrible disaster had happened.
"Second Miss, the Concubine Madam has twisted her ankle!"
Lin Yunjiao, who had dressed up carefully and smelled of perfume, frowned and asked, "So what if you sprained your ankle? What does that have to do with me? Am I supposed to carry you back?"
Then I thought again, after all, she's Wenhai's Cousin's mother; it wouldn't be right for her to just sit idly by...
Lin Yunjiao blushed slightly and looked at Cuiqin, suddenly asking, "Huh? Aren't you her maid? What are you doing here?"
"Things are acting really strange today."
Lin Yunjiao sensed something was wrong.