The Dowry List
"Old Madam."
Lin Yunwan went in to pay her respects to the Old Madam.
Lin Huabin glanced at Lin Yunwan, smiled gently, and feeling guilty, he didn't want to stay any longer, so he bowed to the Old Madam.
"Mother, I'll take my leave now."
Old Madam Lin nodded, and after he left, she didn't hide anything from Lin Yunwan, saying, "Your Madam wants Yun Jiao to marry at the same time as you."
Lin Yunwan smiled slightly.
"It 'Madam my parents' decision; I can't control when they decide to marry Yun Jiao off."
Old Madam Lin said, "Don't worry. I know your Madam... she's definitely up to no good."
Lin Yunwan smiled.
The Old Madam can be quite straightforward at times.
Then I heard her say, "If we don't let her have her way this time, who knows what kind of trouble will happen in the future."
"Since she wants Yun Jiao to marry along with you, then let her marry you!"
It seems the Old Madam has seen through what Zheng Shi is up to.
Lin Yunwan had nothing more to say.
Old Madam Lin smiled kindly, "Good child, rest assured and wait for your marriage."
He patted Lin Yunwan's hand affectionately, and as she left, he said, "The people from the Ministry of Rites have already come to ask for her name. Now we just need to wait for the horoscopes to match, then we can exchange betrothal gifts and set a wedding date. Once the betrothal gifts are given, everything else will be quick."
"You'll be busy from now on. Nanny Wang will be coming over to teach you manners. Nanny Fan, come over whenever you have time, otherwise don't bother. Don't tire yourself out."
Lin Yunwan nodded.
Old Madam Lin, feigning kindness, said, "I see you only have two maids who always follow you, and the other one is not even old enough to be of marriageable age, she's too young. I'll keep a few more mature and experienced maids in mind for you, so you won't be caught off guard."
It really is a place to stuff people.
Lin Yunwan declined, saying, "Old Madam, these two maids are already very capable, especially Cuiqin. Although she is young, she is very steady. I can't manage any more than that."
In truth, the maids chosen by the Old Madam didn't need any discipline at all.
Those have all been trained.
Old Madam Lin didn't force her, and said kindly, "I'll do as you say. If you ever feel you don't have enough maids, just come and tell me anytime."
Thank you, Old Madam.
Lin Yunwan had dinner with the Old Madam and returned to the Bixi Hall after dark.
She was making a purse under the lamp.
Cuiqin came in and lit several lamps.
Xiruo down and asked, "Miss, Madam wants to marry off the Second Miss along with you. Aren't you worried?"
Lin Yunwan's needle and thread never stopped.
"The Old Madam knows what she's doing, so I have nothing to worry about."
She smiled faintly, "Madam is no match for the Old Madam. If it weren't for the fear of harming the innocent, the Old Madam wouldn't have agreed to Madam marrying into the family back then."
"Now there's no need to worry about the consequences."
The Old Madam had a very clear sense of which was more important, Lin Huabin or the entire Lin Clan.
Cuiqin yawned, but she tried her best to hold it in, afraid that Lin Yunwan would see it.
Seeing the tears in her eyes, Lin Yunwan said, "Alright, go back and rest. You must be tired after watching over the Courtyard all day."
Cuiqin was very embarrassed.
Xiruo up and said, "Sister Cuiqin, you should go back now! I'll take over serving you tonight."
Cuiqin didn't want to leave, Xiruo said, "You can come earlier tomorrow, I don't want to get up early."
Cuiqin readily agreed.
Xiruo closed the door, Lin Yunwan sighed softly, saying, "Right now, the only thing on my mind is Miss Lin's matter..."
A few days later, Lin Yunwan happened to hear about something.
"Nanny Fan not here?"
When she went to find Nanny Fan, she overheard Nanny Fan's maid saying, "Reporting to Miss, Granny Fan has gone to fulfill a vow. She won't be back for three or four days."
Lin Yunwan didn't say anything and went back with Xiruo.
Why did Nanny Fan leave at this time?
Xiruo felt that something was wrong.
Lin Yunwan and then said, "Having been with Nanny Fan for so long, I've never heard of her going to offer incense and fulfill vows alone."
"The Lin Residence is going through a lot of trouble right now. The Old Madam's health isn't very good, and the Eldest Madam can't make many decisions, so Nanny Fan has to help her out."
"It seems that Nanny Fan is doing something for the Old Madam that she has to do but can't make public."
Xiruo asked, "What is it? Can't the Old Madam even let the Eldest Madam know?"
This is the matriarch of the Lin Residence.
Lin Yunwan said calmly, "It's between me and Miss Lin."
Xiruo understood.
A few days later, Nanny Fan returned. Lin Yunwan went to learn the zither and smelled a strong incense scent on Nanny Fan.
As Nanny Fan left Granny Fan's place, Xiruo asked, "Granny, you smelled too strong."
Lin Yunwan said, "Not only is it too strong, but it also smells like paper money..."
Xiruo recalled the smell from earlier, lowered her head to sniff, and shook her head, saying, "This servant couldn't smell it."
Lin Yunwan sense of smell; she can tell what's coming from just a faint scent.
She said with certainty, "Nanny Fan went to perform a ritual for Miss Lin on behalf of the Old Madam lady."
Xiruo paused for a moment, then said, "Will Miss Lin be able to rest in peace like this?"
"No way."
Lin Yunwan returned to the Bixi Hall in silence before speaking softly, "If the Lin Residence truly cares for her, they should return what belongs to her mother to the Su Family."
Is simply performing a religious ceremony to give the deceased a place to rest in peace truly effective?
She doesn't think so.
A few days later, the Prince Huan's Residence sent over the results of the compatibility analysis.
Needless to say, Nanny Wang beamed, "They match perfectly!"
The Lin Residence was also very satisfied and happily saw off the people from the Prince Huan's Residence. Old Madam Lin then made the decision, saying, "If anyone else from the Prince's residence comes, it means they're going to formally propose marriage. Let them all come to my place and discuss Yun Wan's dowry."
Lin Huabin and Zheng Shi exchanged a glance, each harboring their own ulterior motives.
Lin Yunwan couldn't listen to this. She stayed behind the screen, which was permitted by the Old Madam. She had to avoid discussing the dowry.
"Let's go back."
She whispered to Xiruo that she would go back and give Xiruo the embroidered purse, saying, "Give this to the Prince."
"Go and see Master Su again for me."
Xiruo didn't return for a full half day this time. She first told Lin Yunwan about Master Su's matter, "The dowry list from back then has all been compiled."
"Master Su also said that he has prepared everything that needs to be prepared. He told the young lady not to worry."
Lin Yunwan had just nodded Xiruo looking very troubled.
"What's wrong?"
Xiruo said, "His Prince instructed me to tell you in advance that you and His Prince do not need to return to the capital for your wedding."
Lin Yunwan asked in surprise, "If we don't go back to the capital, where will we hold this?"
Returning to Beijing now would definitely be very troublesome, as it's still too soon for her to "die."
She frowned and said, "But when a prince gets married, he must offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and pay respects to the Emperor and Empress. The Emperor and Empress cannot leave the capital."