Chapter Ten As Expected

  Yuan Dai slowly said: "My affairs, you don't have to worry! If I'm not mistaken, before the end of this year, someone from the manor will come to take me back!" She actually knew about all those things that Zhou Niang and Wang Shi did, but she had never bothered to ask. From start to finish, the Ling family had never given her a sense of belonging, and they were not even good to Zhou Niang, so Yuan Dai had always been indifferent towards the Ling family. As for how the Ling family viewed her, she didn't care in the slightest.

  However, today, Ling Yuqing's performance has made her attitude change slightly. Although this slight change is not enough to make her feel a sense of belonging to the Ling family, it is enough to make her willing to correct some shameful behavior.

  Although Wang was intimidated by her, he suddenly heard her words and still felt that something was not right. After a moment of awkwardness, he finally mustered up the courage to say: "I shouldn't have doubted your words, Miss, but your words came out of nowhere, it's hard for people to put their minds at ease!"

  Although Yu Dai had expected that she wouldn't understand, hearing her say it out loud still made him feel slightly impatient. He took another sip of tea before casually mentioning: "Miss Shi will be getting married next year, won't she?"

  Wang was taken aback, but still couldn't make head or tail of it, and muttered to himself: "Tenth Miss? Married?" It wasn't until he said the two words "married" that he suddenly realized what was going on, and exclaimed in surprise: "How could I have forgotten Tenth Miss!"

  The tenth young lady of the Ling family, Ling Yuexuan, is the legitimate daughter of the third house. Mr. and Mrs. Ling had three sons and one daughter together, with the eldest son being Ling Zhao, the biological father of Yuandai. After Mr. Ling's death, Ling Zhao succeeded to the marquisate as Ning Marquis.

  The second son, Ling Hui, is mediocre in temperament and not fond of reading. With the help of his family, he barely passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi. He was appointed to an official position outside the capital for several years and is now serving as a langzhong in the Ministry of Justice. He is considered to be average and has not shown any outstanding abilities.

  The youngest son, Ling Yun, on the other hand, has been intelligent since childhood. At the age of eight, he entered school and was already a top scholar by the time he came of age. He passed the imperial examination with high honors and became a jinshi. He is now serving as the Salt Distribution Commissioner for the Two Huai regions and is considered to be an outstanding official in the current dynasty.

  Ling Yuexuan was the youngest daughter of Ling Yun, but she had been betrothed since childhood. Due to the groom's filial piety, it was delayed until now and they were not yet married. Although there is no law in Dazhou, it has always been a custom that marriages follow a certain order between older and younger siblings. Without any unexpected events, it would be impossible for a younger sister to get married before her older sister. The Ling family was a renowned aristocratic family in Dazhou, how could they bear the criticism of others on such a small matter? Therefore, Yuexuan had long expected that by the end of the year at the latest, someone from the Ling manor would come to take her back.

  She was slightly moved by her words, and Wang's eyes suddenly lit up. He smiled and said: "It's still Miss who thinks things through, I didn't think of these things. Don't worry, Miss, I'll take care of the auntie's place, I guarantee it won't give you any more trouble!"

  Yan Dai saw that her words were hinting that everything she had done recently was under the orders of Zhou Yiniang, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation in her heart. She didn't intend to say anything more, so she slightly nodded and ignored her, calling out instead: "Wenping!"

  Wenjing and Cailian, who were waiting outside, heard her call and quickly walked over. Earlier, when Yuandai sent the maids away, she had already given them a signal to wait outside and not let anyone approach. Wangshi was also a perceptive person and saw that Yuandai had already intended to drive the guest away, so he hastily bid farewell and left. It wasn't until he left that Yuandai slightly shook her head.

  Wenping had been standing outside all along, and she heard everything that Yuandai and Wangshi said inside. However, seeing that Yuandai seemed to have no intention of discussing it with her, she tactfully didn't bring it up. Cailian looked at Yuandai with a hint of surprise on her face.

  Yan Dai glanced at the two of them and suddenly said, "Today's matter is only known to you two, don't mention it randomly to others!" After seeing the two nodding, she added another sentence: "In these days, if you have time, you can also pack up in advance, don't wait until then to be busy and noisy, disturbing people's hearts!"

  Ling Yuexian's affairs, the reason why no one remembers, is because Ling Yun has been serving as an official outside for many years, so his family members are all following him due to his duties. Ling Yuexian has been in the capital since childhood, and the servants of the Ling Mansion rarely pay attention to the movements of this tenth young lady.

  But Ran Dai knew these things because of Yuan Zhen.

  Ling Yun's family matters were exactly what Yuan Zhen told her. And Yuan Zhen inquired about these things, not to pry into Ling Yun's family, but simply out of habit collected some information related to Yuandai and then told Yuandai. This information included the likes and habits of the people in the Ling family, whether they were in the capital or not, as well as all the events that took place in the capital.

  These things were very natural to Yuandai and Yuanzhen, and Yuanzhen rarely put these things down on paper. Only every now and then, when she came to visit Yuandai, would she casually mention a few sentences, seemingly unintentional, but actually meticulous. It was precisely because of this that although Yuandai was in Miaofeng Mountain, the information was still extremely smooth.

  At this moment, she didn't let Wenping and the others spread the news randomly, just because she didn't want others to know that she actually knew everything. Some things, when they fall into the eyes of people like Wenping, may not be taken seriously by anyone, but when they fall into the eyes of someone with a mind, it's different.

  Wenping and Cailian were both surprised by this, but they didn't think much of it and just nodded in agreement.

  …………

  Things have turned out even earlier than Yu Dai thought, and by mid-October, people had already arrived in the capital.

  That person was a second-class maid of the Ling family, surnamed Jia. Maid Jia came to the other courtyard and paid her respects to Yuandai. After exchanging greetings, she asked a few questions about Yuandai's well-being, with an attitude that could be considered humble and polite.

  Yuan Dai responded with a few bland words. As soon as she saw Jia Yucun, she knew that Jia Yucun must have come to take her back. And she also understood that in the Ling family, whether she was well or ill, it was time for her to go back anyway.

  As expected, Jia's mother said after hearing the words: "Although Miss's body is not very well now, Madam has already ordered to take Miss back to Beijing! Firstly, it is not good for family members to live in two places, and it is better to live together; secondly, it is more convenient to see a doctor and take medicine in Beijing, which is also good for Miss's body!"

  She said this and couldn't help but glance at Yu Dai with her eyes.

  Daiyu's expression was calm and indifferent, sipping the tea in her hand, not even bothering to respond to what she said. Jia Yucun saw that she was like this, and his words were interrupted, he didn't know how to continue speaking.

  Mrs. You's maid, seeing her mistress embarrassed, hastily intervened: "We understand what you mean, nanny. Since this is something the madam has entrusted to us, we naturally won't disobey. We just don't know when the people from the mansion plan to come and take her away."

  Jia's wife heard Wen Screen's words and, for some unknown reason, felt a slight relief in her heart. She hurriedly smiled and said: "The mistress has already sent someone to choose a date and said that the 24th of this month is an auspicious day. If Miss is convenient, we can arrange for someone to come and pick her up on that day!"

  Yuandai listened, and on the 24th, she couldn't help but slightly frown, taking a long time to respond faintly: "Since Madam has already decided, then it will be that day!" As she spoke, she put down the teacup in her hand, turned her head and instructed Wenshu: "I've been feeling mentally exhausted and physically tired these past few days, so I'll leave all matters related to returning to the manor to you and Jia Mama to carefully discuss."

  Xiangyun responded with a "yes" and was about to get up and head towards the inner room when Jia's nurse hastily called out, "Young lady, wait!"

  Daiyu suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Jia's mother. Jia's mother had already smiled and stepped forward, saying: "When I came, the sixth master sent someone to call me over and ordered me to bring a letter for you, miss!" As she spoke, she took out the letter from her sleeve.

  Yuandai slightly raised an eyebrow, took it over, and after a casual glance, slowly said: "Thanks to the nanny!" After finishing this sentence, she didn't stop for a moment, stepped forward and went straight into the inner room. After sitting down on the kang, Yuandai took out a small knife and opened Lingyuqing's letter.

  The letter was a bit thick, and when it was opened, Yuandai only knew that there was another letter inside. The letter was written by Xiao Chengyan, saying that she had originally planned to come over in October to see her, but since the Ling family had sent someone to pick her up, she would wait a few more days and meet again after Yuandai returned to Beijing. At the end, she didn't forget to ask with concern whether the swallow's nest that was sent by someone a few days ago had been received and if it tasted good. Looking at this letter, Yuandai couldn't help but smile slightly, and her heart felt warm.

  Xiao Chengxian's letter was put aside, and Yuandai picked up Ling Yuancheng's letter again, scanning it briefly. Ling Yuancheng's letter only asked her a few questions in passing, with the main focus still on Ling Yun. It turned out that Ling Yun had been promoted from his position as salt control commissioner of the two Huai regions to become the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and would be returning to the capital around October 28th to report for duty.