Chapter Six Interrogation

  The next day, the heavy snow that had been falling for two whole days and nights finally stopped.

  The sunlight passes through layers of fog and shines directly on the snowy ground, refracting dazzling light.

  Lin Zhaoyan was still being served by Man Shuang as usual when he got up and washed, his mind still thinking about what had happened yesterday.

  The empress dowager wants to select a few girls to enter the palace as companions, and there must be some intrigue and struggle in the mansion. Wan Niang and Lin Xingyan are already eager to try, and they didn't leave the Xiao Xiang Guan until last night at 11:45, who knows what they're plotting.

  Also last night, she seemed to have vaguely heard some crying and wailing sounds. Since she had always been indifferent to trivial matters in the household, none of the maids went to investigate, so it was unclear what exactly happened.

  As she thought so, Man Shuang, who was braiding her hair, suddenly leaned in and whispered: "Miss, do you know? I heard that last night, the tenth daughter of the fifth house fell into the pool, it's said that the ninth daughter pushed her, and Gui Niang went to Hui Niang's place to make a scene!"

  Lin Zhaoyan was taken aback, "What time last night?"

  "It wasn't long after the young lady had gone to rest." Man Shuang replied honestly: "It was Man Hua who went to ask for flower patterns from Ziying's sister early this morning, and she said it was a big deal, but fortunately, Mrs. Hou came over to settle things down, almost alarming Old Lady!"

  Lin Zhaoyan's lips curled up with a hint of coldness. This news that had just been learned yesterday, yet the various rooms were already impatient!

  "Miss, do you know how this matter was handled in the end?" Man Shuang asked mysteriously while taking a hairpin with a haitang flower tassel from the dresser to fix Lin Zhao Yan's hair.

  Lin Zhaoyan shook her head, but in her heart, she thought that Madame Hou and Lu were just like Lin Xingyan - both were people who could get along with anyone. Even if they hated someone to the extreme, they would still be polite on the surface. Having managed the household for so many years, she had a good reputation and had never openly offended anyone. This time, it was probably also handled leniently, and then she would show respect by reporting to Old Madame. The ninth and tenth sisters, who didn't get along with each other, shouldn't think about entering the palace to serve the empress dowager again.

  Who would have thought that Man Shuang would say: "Miss, you definitely can't guess. It's said that this time, Madame Hou severely scolded the Ninth Young Lady and the others, deducting half a year's allowance from them, and also forbidding them from leaving their rooms for three months!"

  "Is it?" Lin Zhaoyan furrowed his brow, feeling a sense of wonder in his heart.

  "Ah!" Man Shuang's hands moved quickly, and she took out a small amount of fragrant ointment from the iron box with a floral pattern, applying it to Lin Zhao Yan's face. As she gently rubbed it in, she replied: "Man Hua said that Madame Hou looked terrible last night, her whole face was pale, and these Ninth Young Ladies just happened to run into them!"

  Look at Man Shuang speaking with flying eyebrows and colorful language, Lin Zhao Yan couldn't help but let out a "heh" of laughter, the evenly applied perfume on her face emitted a faint fragrance of jasmine flowers, refreshing the heart.

  Jiuniang and Shiniang were both from the Fifth House, and they usually followed Lin Ruhai around, bullying her and speaking sarcastically to her, as they had never gotten along with Sanfang.

  Man Shuang is gloating over her misfortune!

  "Never mind, it's none of our business anyway, hurry up and get dressed to pay respects to Mother!"

  Although she also found it strange that Lu's style was so decisive this time, what did it have to do with her?

  Man Shuang responded with a smile, sniffing the faint scent of jasmine in the air, and couldn't help but curve her lips. "This box of fragrant cream was brought back by Master from Jiangnan last time, it's really good to use, I wonder what Master will bring for Miss this time when he returns from Yiling."

  Mr. Lin San loves calligraphy and painting, recently there was an exhibition in Yiling, he took a leave from work and went to Yiling with some friends, it has been more than four months since they left.

  This time the Crown Prince and Sixth Princess died young, whether as a subject or as the uncle of Sixth Princess, he had to return in advance.

  As soon as Lin Zhao mentioned her father Lin Kun, her heart felt warm and fuzzy. In the entire Hou Mansion, probably the only person who didn't have any prejudices against her was this father of hers.

  Only when she was by his side could she feel a little warmth between relatives.

  Just then, Manhua came in with an uneasy expression, "Miss, Cui Ling sister who is beside the old lady asked you to go to Rong Shou Hall, saying that the old lady has something to find you."

  Unlike Liu's severity, Old Lady Lin had always been cold towards Lin Zhaoyan, basically adopting an attitude of not hearing and not asking, not managing or caring. Privately, she had never summoned her before, so this time, it was probably nothing good, no wonder Manhua was so tense.

  Lin Zhaoyan was also taken aback for a moment, but quickly calmed down and asked: "What else did Cui Ling say?"

  Manhua shook her head, "No, but I heard that she also called Fifth Young Miss over." She then worriedly said: "I hope she's not still resenting you for causing her to fall into the lotus pond?"

  Lin Zhaoyan hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, "It won't work."

  After being together for eight years, Lin Ruoyan was very familiar with her personality. Since she had already agreed to forgive you, she wouldn't make any trouble behind your back.

  I'm afraid it's because of the argument with Lin Jingming yesterday.

  Rongshou Hall was also located on the west side of Houfu, not far from Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Lin Zhaoyan followed Cui Ling and arrived at the front door of Rongshou Hall's main house in about half a stick of incense time.

  "Wait for me outside the door, I'll take you to the west wing later." Cuiling stopped in her tracks and looked at Manshuang, who was following Lin Zhaoyan, with a expressionless face.

  Man Shuang was somewhat at a loss, usually she followed Lin Zhao Yan, but this time they were separated, could it be that something really happened?

  She subconsciously cast her gaze at Lin Zhao Yan, "Miss..."

  Lin Zhaoyan gave her a look, indicating that she should calm down, but in his heart, he was even more convinced of his previous idea. Yesterday, Man Shuang was also present, probably to prevent them from colluding with each other, so they were interrogated separately.

  The two of them calmed down and stood quietly at the door with their heads bowed.

  Cui Ling lifted the silver-red woolen curtain and invited Lin Zhaoyan to enter, passing through the main hall and the marble-painted Jiangnan landscape screen with misty water, stopping outside the east warm pavilion, saying respectfully: "The old lady is waiting for you inside."

  Lin Zhaoyan nodded slightly.

  As soon as the curtain was lifted, the warm air in the house rushed out, and Lin Zhaoyan immediately saw two slender figures kneeling in the center.

  It was San Guniang Lin Jinming and Wu Guniang Lin Ruoyan.

  Madam Hou and Third Madam Liu stood beside them, their faces looking quite unpleasant.

  The old lady in a plain dress sitting on the purple sandalwood chair with a lingzhi pattern was Lin Lao Tai Tai, the mistress of the Hou Mansion.

  Perhaps it was the events in the palace that had taken a toll on Old Lady Lin, for she looked unlike her usual spirited self, with a few strands of silver hair added to her temples, and her eyebrows furrowed as if she had aged ten years.

  Lin Zhaoyan sneered inwardly, don't look at the painful and regretful appearance now, in the future, it will still be possible to enjoy the honor and wealth brought by Jing Fei to the Hou Mansion as if nothing had happened.

  "Pay respects to grandma." Lin Zhaoyan gathered his thoughts and slightly bowed.

  Thank you Sunflower889 and Qianlian for the fragrant sachet rewards!

  Thank you Tiankongyimianlan for the two peace symbols and five PK votes! However, please don't vote for this month's PK.

  Recommendation: "Yuan Niang" by Xiao An