Housewarming Banquet

You weren't even born then.

Madam Lin spoke to her son about how Grand Tutor Lin had taught Qi Lingheng.

Because of the pain, she only spoke a few words before her brows furrowed, and she seemed somewhat sleepy.

Lin Yunyi stood up, bent down, and whispered in her ear, "Mother, you rest first, I'm going out."

Madam Lin closed her eyes, responded to him, and after Lin Yunyi left, she lay down, oblivious to everything outside the window.

"Your Prince, we've kept you waiting."

Lin Yunyi out to see Qi Lingheng. Although he was young, he was very considerate in his words and actions. He had a servant come and change the tea. He chatted with Qi Lingheng, mostly expressing his gratitude. "It was really too much trouble for you to personally pick up Physician Li. Next time, please send someone to deliver a message so I can go pick him up myself."

Qi Lingheng said, "Yun Yi, don't be so polite with me."

He smiled slightly, "Let me do something for my teacher's wife."

Lin Yunyi did not refuse again and said to him, "Your Prince, my mother just mentioned you. She said that my father liked you very much when he was alive."

Thinking of his deceased teacher, Qi Lingheng's eyes dimmed slightly. He picked up his teacup, lowered his gaze, and said softly, "Grand Tutor Lin was truly a good teacher. It's a pity that I wasn't in the Capital when he passed away, and I didn't even have time to offer my condolences."

Lin Yunyi comforted him, "People from your household have also come to offer their condolences, so you don't need to worry about such a small matter."

Qi Lingheng was not reminiscing about the past.

He took a sip of tea, stood up, and said, "I have official business to attend to. Master Li, please have your family escort you home."

Lin Yunyi got up to see him off, saying, "Let me see you off."

Qi Lingheng nodded, and the two of them left the hall together.

As they stepped outside, the steward of the Lin Family was carrying a bundle on his back, hurrying out.

Qi Lingheng glanced at the steward, looking somewhat curious.

Lin Yunyi thought Prince Huan was a good person, so he talked to him a bit more about his family. "He made a trip to Zhongzhou for my sister's sake."

"Your sister came by?"

Qi Lingheng looked at Lin Yunyi calm eyes, yet his gaze seemed unfathomable.

Lin Yunyi didn't notice his change and said in a light tone, "Yes, my sister just came by in person. It's quite a coincidence, you arrived with Physician Li right after my sister left."

Qi Lingheng curled his lips into a smile.

"That's really unfortunate."

His voice was low and hoarse, Lin Yunyi didn't hear him clearly, so he asked, "What did you say?"

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly and said, "It's nothing." Then he said to Lin Yunyi, "Alright, you stay here and go back to take care of your mother."

Lin Yunyi stood inside the gate, bowing as he saw him off.

Qi Lingheng nodded, and the servant observantly led his horse over. He rode away on horseback, while A Fu followed in a carriage, politely bidding Lin Yunyi.

The door closed, Lin Yunyi breathed a sigh of relief.

The servant even asked him, "Young master, why are you so nervous?"

Now that he no longer had to face Prince Huan, Lin Yunyi regained some of his youthful liveliness. He said, "Prince Huan is a good person and easy to talk to, but he is, after all, of noble status and cannot be offended. I'm afraid of saying the wrong thing and offending him."

The servant smiled and said, "But you were so proper just now."

"I learned it all from my sister," Lin Yunyi muttered to himself. "If only my sister were here..." In truth, he still longed to rely on his sister, but unfortunately, she was already married.

His mother was already asleep, so he went to prepare thank-you gifts for the Prince Huan's Residence and Seventh Master Li, as instructed by his sister.

He instructed the servant, "When you escort Physician Li back to his residence later, ask the people serving him Physician has any preferences."

The servant agreed, then asked Lin Yunyi, "What will be sent to the Prince Huan's Residence?"

Lin Yunyi said, "Need I say more about the Prince Huan's Residence? What good things hasn't the Prince seen?"

"Give them whatever you have at home that you can afford, and add two rare books left by my father. I'm sure Your Prince will understand the Lin Family's intentions."

Such thoroughness was something even Lin Yunwan would praise him for.

As expected, the Lin Family sent wine to Seventh Master Li and a string of beads and two rare books to Prince Huan's Residence, which pleased both sides.

"Sir, this is a return gift from the Prince's residence."

Qi Lingheng was generous, giving several precious items and some good medicinal herbs, all of which Madam Lin could use.

Lin Yunyi picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Lin Yunwan, explaining everything that had happened at home in detail.

When Lin Yunwan received the letter, she was very pleased. "Yun Yi has really grown up."

Both the Ping Ye and the Tao Ye were very proud.

"Madam, you don't need to worry about the Lin Family anymore. Young Master is there to support you." Ping Ye smiled and put away the letter for Lin Yunwan.

Lin Yunwan was still somewhat worried. "With so many things going on at home, I wonder if it will affect his studies. His Academy is far away, and it's not a good idea for him to keep going back and forth."

Ping Ye said, "Aren't the teachers at the Marquis's Residence School very capable? Why don't we let Young Master Yi study Marquis's Residence School first? It would be more convenient for him to Gu family."

Tao Ye also said, "Young Master Yi is still young and cannot be engaged yet. There is no mistress in the family. I think Ping Ye's idea is good."

Lin Yunwan did not agree.

She instructed, "Take a gilded landscape painting, a set of writing implements, and the pearl-inlaid headband from my storeroom. Send them to the Xia family tomorrow."

Tao Ye took the key to the storeroom and went there.

The next day.

Lin Yunwan and Wei Shi went to the Xia family to congratulate them on their Housewarming. The Wuding Marquis Residence sent two gift lists, one from the Lu family and one from Lin Yunwan on behalf of the Lin Family.

"You silly child, you're being so polite with your own family."

Old Madam Xia held her hand affectionately, her eyes still fixed on Jin Run's landscape painting.

It seems the gift was the right choice.

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "A family should be even more generous."

Wei Shi chimed in, "Yun Wan is right, my dear in-law. It would be too formal for you to be so polite."

Old Madam Xia smiled, but Wei Shi suddenly asked, "Where is Jia'er? Where did she go?"

On occasions like this, Lu Jia, as the eldest daughter-in-law and Physician of the Xia family, is obligated to attend.

Old Madam Xia's expression immediately turned cold, and she casually said, "She's not feeling well, so I let her rest first."

Wei Shi didn't think much of it, Lin Yunwan felt it wasn't that simple.

A Matron rushed in and whispered a few words in Old Madam Xia's ear. Madam Xia's expression changed again, and she got up to instruct the other daughters-in-law to take care of the guests, saying that she had to go out for a while.

Ping Ye quietly walked to Lin Yunwan's side and said, "Madam, I just heard that Matron mention Eldest Aunt Jia."

It's easy to guess that something must have happened to Lu Jia.

Lin Yunwan said meaningfully, "It seems every family has its own troubles."

I wonder if Lu Jia would be as magnanimous as she was when she was advising her, given that her husband was keeping a mistress and her mother-in-law was biased towards him.

Wei Shi was very concerned about Lu Jia. She stopped eating her melon seeds and whispered to Lin Yunwan, "The people here only talk about music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I don't understand them. Let's go see your eldest Eldest Sister Jia."

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "Okay."