Chapter Nineteen Visiting

  Suddenly, Luo's family was going to bring Ling Yuexian over for a visit. After being surprised, Yu Dai didn't want to lose her manners either. She slightly tidied up her makeup and calculated the time before heading to the west wing entrance to greet them. Just as she had just stood at the west wing entrance, she saw Luo's family and Ling Yuexian coming over with a group of maids and servant girls, smiling and chatting.

  After exchanging greetings, Yuandai turned around and invited Luo to enter the courtyard. Luo examined Yuandai from head to toe, then smiled and took her hand, walking towards the inner courtyard while asking warmly: "I heard that Aunt Zhou caught a cold a few days ago, has she recovered now?"

  Yan Dai replied in a gentle voice: "Don't worry, Auntie Liu! The madam's illness is not severe, and with a few more days of rest, she should be fine!"

  Lu nodded and said, "Come to think of it, I haven't seen Aunt Zhou for four years either. Today, I have some free time, so I'd like to see her!" Although Aunt Zhou's status as a concubine didn't warrant a personal visit from the first wife, Lu couldn't ignore her since she wanted to maintain a good relationship with her distant cousin. Besides, this western courtyard was still Aunt Zhou's residence after all.

  She had said that, and naturally Daiyu would not object. The crowd then went to the main house first, where they saw Aunt Zhou. Earlier, Aunt Zhou knew that Luo's wife was coming, and she was originally going to welcome her together with Daiyu, but was stopped by Daiyu from sending Wen Screen over. Firstly, now everyone in the family knows that Aunt Zhou is not feeling well, there is a ready-made reason for not welcoming her, and it would be a waste of effort to come out. Secondly, Luo's wife came with ulterior motives, and there were still things to be discussed.

  Although Yan Dai stopped Zhou Niang from going out to greet her, she couldn't dispel the unease in Zhou Niang's heart. As soon as Wen Ping left, she hastily called Hongying and others to serve her in washing up, and changed into a dress for receiving guests. If not for Hongying and others' firm disapproval, she would have even applied some makeup to slightly conceal her sickly complexion.

  When everyone came into the house, Aunt Zhou was sitting on the bed, looking up and seeing that Luo Shi had indeed arrived. She hurriedly wanted to get out of bed, but Luo Shi quickly stepped forward to hold her down, laughing and saying: "You're not feeling well, so don't get up, just lie back down!"

  Madam Zhou was even more unwilling, struggling to get up. Lu Shi finally pressed her down: "If Madam continues like this, I'll leave!" Madam Zhou heard her say that and finally stopped forcing herself to get up, but tears flowed from her eyes again.

  Luoshi saw her like this, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Ling Yuexuan was indeed clever and had already come over, smiling and greeting Zhou Niang with a bow, startling Zhou Niang into a flurry of avoidance. Luoshi smiled and comforted her for a few moments, then instructed her to take good care of herself while ill before taking her leave.

  Although Luo had not been living in the Ling Mansion for several years, she did live there for a few years after marrying Ling Yun. Seven years ago, when Old Master Ling passed away, Ling Yun returned to Beijing for mourning and she also stayed at the Ling Mansion for three years. Therefore, she was acquainted with Madame Zhou. She came from a family of scholars and officials, but compared to the noble families like the Ling Mansion, her family background was still inferior. As a result, she was known in the Ling Mansion for being gentle and kind, rarely conflicting with others, and had a relatively good relationship with Madame Zhou.

  As soon as they left the main house of Aunt Zhou, Luo's group entered the western wing where Yuan Dai now lived. They had just sat down in the inner room when Hui'er brought tea over. Yuan Dai beckoned to Hui'er and asked her to come over, then personally took a cup of tea from the tray and presented it to Luo: "Thank you, Aunt San!" Her words were not without a hint of gratitude, but this gratitude was not for herself, but for Aunt Zhou.

  Luoshi saw her like this, but also couldn't help but sigh, raised his hand to take the tea: "You're a filial child!"

  Yuandai smiled slightly: "Third Aunt, you're overpraising!" She herself didn't know how far she was from being filial. From Hui'er's hand, she took another cup of tea and handed it to Ling Yuanshuang: "Tenth sister, try this tea and see if it suits your taste?"

  Ling Yuexuan hastily reached out to take it and smiled: "Thank you, Ninth Sister!"

  Lu took a sip of tea and nodded in approval: "Good tea! This is top-grade Tieguanyin, isn't it?"

  Yan Dai smiled slightly and nodded in response: "This tea is indeed Tieguanyin!"

  Ling Yuexuan, however, was straightforward and outspoken. After taking a sip, he smiled and praised: "Sister's tea is fragrant with orchid scent, rich in flavor, mellow and smooth, with a lingering aftertaste that lasts forever. I think it's even better than the top-grade Tieguanyin that Lord Han gave to Father last spring!"

  Yan Dai's expression changed slightly, and she smiled: "Really? This tea was originally given by someone else, but I didn't know it was so precious!" During her years in the Ling manor, all the tea she drank, except for what she made herself, were sent by Yuan Zhen. She had never thought about whether this tea was precious or not.

  Luoshi gazed at Yuandai with a thoughtful expression, but suddenly smiled and turned to face Lingyu Xuan, saying: "Xuanner, yesterday you were clamoring to see your ninth sister, why now that you've seen her, you're not speaking?"

  Ling Yuexian smiled and immediately went forward to pull Ling Dai's hand, saying: "Ninth sister, the other day you sent me Tianxiangtangbing, I tried it, but the taste is even better than my mother's secret recipe. I don't know how you did it?"

  Yan Dai was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. It wasn't until now that she finally understood the reason behind Luo's mother and daughter coming here.

  Luoshi was taken aback by her daughter's straightforward words, and after a moment, she raised her hand, pointing at Ling Yuanshan with a smile and scolding: "You reckless girl, even if you're my own sister, you should be more reserved. What kind of logic is this?" Her words seemed to be blaming Ling Yuanshan, but the phrase "my own sister" also made it clear why Ling Yuanshan was being so blunt.

  Yuan Dai didn't mind these things, but after hearing this, she also smiled: "Since it's my own sister, it's better to speak directly! The prescription you want, I'll just copy a copy and send it over to you when I get back!"

  Ling Yuexuan's heart was filled with joy, and she shook Ruo Dai's hand excitedly, saying "Thank you so much, sister!" As she spoke, her gaze naturally fell on the chessboard to one side. She raised a hand and pointed, asking "Sister, do you also enjoy playing chess with others?"

  "It's just something to pass the time!"

  This remark struck a chord in Ling Yu's heart, and she nodded hastily, complaining: "Isn't that the truth! In the past when I was in Jianghuai, my mother would sometimes take me out for walks. Now that we're back in Pingjing, I'm stuck inside the mansion all day." As she spoke, she walked over to the chessboard, picked up a handful of pieces from the box and began to play with them, saying: "But now that I've met my sister, things are looking up! In the future when I'm bored, I'll come over to your place and chat with you, and we can play some chess!"

  Yan Dai was delighted by Ling Yuanxuan's sincerity, and upon hearing her words, she nodded and smiled: "I only hope that my sister won't think my chess skills are not refined!"

  Ling Yuexuan didn't mince words either and immediately said: "This is nothing, my mother always loses to me too."

  Seeing her so blunt and straightforward, Luo's family on the side could only smile wryly.

  Yuan Dai, however, didn't mind: "If tenth sister doesn't think my place is too simple, just come over and that's it. My place has always been quiet and deserted, to have sister as company would be the best!" This time, she spoke with sincerity.

  Two people were talking, the inner house's screen moved, Wenping had already brought in some dim sum. Yuan Dai smiled and said: "The things here are rough, Aunt San and Sister Shi must not be disgusted!" While speaking, she invited the two to sit at the table.

  They had afternoon tea together and chatted for a while, seeing that it was getting late, Luo's family strongly pulled Ling Yuexuan to get up and bid farewell. Yuan Dai stayed behind for a while before sending the two out the door. Ling Yuexuan still reluctantly bid farewell, after all, they had promised to meet again, and then left with Luo's family.

  The mother and daughter walked out of the Western Courtyard and turned a corner in the corridor before Luo Shi asked Ling Yu Xuan, "What do you think of your Ninth Sister?"

  Ling Yuexuan thought for a moment before saying, "Ninth sister seems rather pitiful, and so is Madame Zhou!"

  "Did you think that your Ninth Sister is pitiful?"

  Ling Yuexuan nodded thoughtlessly and said, "The West Wing is already small and remote, and it's already harsh to have only Madame Zhou living there. Now, to make Ninth Sister live with her as well, Eldest Matron has really gone too far!" She was born sweet and lovely, and had a gentle disposition, but she was by no means an unrefined person. At this moment, when speaking of Madame Lu, her face was filled with anger.

  Lu didn't expect her to say that, and quickly covered Ling Yuexuan's mouth with one hand, while turning around to glance at the crowd following behind, saying in a cold voice: "Today's words, Miss hasn't said, you haven't heard, but all of you understand?"

  After Luo's death, the crowd was also a group of understanding people, and there were those who knew how to play along. Upon hearing this, they immediately laughed and said: "Just now, did Miss Ten say anything? We didn't hear anything at all!" As soon as these words came out, the crowd immediately echoed in agreement.

  Lu nodded slightly and turned back, but glared at Ling Yuexuan. Ling Yuexuan pouted and didn't say anything else.

  As for Yu Luo, she was not afraid of Mrs. Lu, but she also didn't want to offend her. After all, Mrs. Lu was still the eldest daughter-in-law of the Ling family. The old lady hadn't even spoken about the matter with Zhou Yiniang and Yuan Dai, so why would she go out of her way to be the bad person?

  Because of Ling Yuexuan's outspokenness, Luo Shi never spoke to her again on this trip. As soon as the mother and daughter entered Ling Yuexuan's current residence, Qingfangzhai, someone came up to greet them, bowed to Luo Shi, and said with a smile: "The third madam has arrived!"

  This person has fair and delicate skin, with a few white moles on her egg-shaped face, looking lovely yet also showing a sense of elegance. It was Du Ruo who stood in front of Xiao Lao Tai Jun. Hurriedly stepping forward to help Du Ruo up, Luo Shi smiled and said: "It's rare that you're not by Old Lady's side today, come quickly and let's chat!"

  Du Ruo stood up and smiled: "To tell the truth, Old Lady asked me to come over and invite Third Madam to go over and talk!"

  Luoshi was taken aback and looked at Ling Yuexuan, asking: "Was it just to summon me for something in the past?"

  Du Ruo smiled and said: "The old lady has spoken, this time it's an invitation for Third Madam to go over and discuss matters!"

  Lu still felt strange in his heart, but he knew that Du Ruo would not be willing to say more, so he didn't ask again. He nodded and said: "Since it's the old lady who called me, let's go over there!"