Chapter 12: Returning to the Capital (Part 2)

  Yan Dai's words had barely left her lips when Ling Yuanqing couldn't help but burst out laughing. After glancing around, he suddenly asked, "Sister, what happened to all the flowers and plants that were originally in your room? They're all gone now?"

  Yuan Daiyuan had seen him lose his smile earlier and was already somewhat perplexed. Now, upon hearing the question, she couldn't help but feel even more astonished: "Why would Sixth Brother ask about this?"

  Ling Yuancheng didn't mind and replied straightforwardly, "Nothing much! Someone has taken a liking to your sister's few potted plants and asked me to ask her about it!" He clearly didn't put this matter in his heart, and when speaking, he also had some nonchalant tone.

  Yan Dai's heart skipped a beat as soon as she heard this, and after a moment, she said, "I wonder who has taken a liking to it?" As she asked this question, the image of Baili Yi suddenly appeared in her mind. It could be said that since moving to the other courtyard, only four people had come to visit her: Ling Yuanqing, Xiao Chengxian, Xiao Chengyan, and Baili Yi. And in her opinion, among these people, only Baili Yi was interested in flowers and plants.

  As expected, as soon as the words came out, Ling Yuancheng smiled and said: "Of course it's Baili!" He seemed to have hesitated for a moment before continuing: "Sister should know that the surname Baili... is the national surname!"

  This remark was a reminder of Yuan Zhi's identity as Baili Yi.

  With a somewhat helpless shake of her head, Yuandai finally spoke up: "Thanks for the reminder, Sixth Brother!"

  Ling Yuancheng saw that she had already understood, so he didn't say much more, just smiled and said: "Today I've brought a lot of people, sister, if there's anything you want to take away, just order them and they'll do it!"

  After a faint smile, Yuandai said: "The things have been packed up and are now placed in the outer house. It's just a matter of having several women move them onto the carriage! However, some flowers and plants need to be handled with care, so be careful not to touch them!" As she spoke, she turned her head and called out Wenshu, Cailian, and Hui'er, ordering them to stand by and assist.

  Ling Yuancheng seemed to have made preparations earlier, and this time he not only brought several strong women but also brought a few maids from his own home who were meticulous and thorough in their work. Yuan Dai put down her heart after taking a look at them. At the end of October in the north, the weather had turned cold, but fortunately, the weather was extremely good on this day, and the small courtyard around Yuan Dai's house was full of flowers and grasses, standing in the sunlight, still warm.

  Without any lingering attachment, she took a look at the small courtyard where she was now. Yuandai unconsciously let out a light sigh. Having lived here for over two years, almost every blade of grass and tree in this courtyard had been planted by her own hands. If she said there was no attachment, how could that be possible? Her gaze inadvertently fell on the old plum tree inside the courtyard, and Yuandai seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. After a brief moment of contemplation, Yuandai finally opened her mouth and called out: "Sixth Brother!"

  Ling Yuancheng stood quietly by her side, gazing at the busy maidservants in the courtyard, when he suddenly heard her call out and naturally responded with a smile, asking: "Sister, have you thought of something again?"

  When he asked this, Yuandai couldn't help but smile slightly. The warm winter sun shone on her face, casting a translucent glow on her originally pale complexion due to illness, covering up many of the signs of sickness. It was just an ordinary smile, but in Ling Yuancheng's eyes, it inexplicably gave him a dizzy feeling, and his heart even unexpectedly floated up with a thought: It turned out that this Ninth Sister wasn't as ordinary as he had always thought.

  Ling Yu's mind was wandering, but then he heard Yuan Dai ask: "Sixth Brother, are you usually fond of drinking?"

  "What?"

  He was taken aback, but seemed to be unaware of it. He simply raised his hand and pointed at the plum tree, saying: "Last autumn, I had some free time, so I brewed three jars of fruit wine according to an ancient recipe. After brewing, I buried them under that tree. Sixth Brother, if you like it, I'll give it to you!"

  Ling Yuancheng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said: "This wine is made by my sister, it must be a rare product. Calculating carefully, I think I got the better deal!" He volunteered to come to Miao Fengshan to pick up Yuan Dai this time, but in fact, it was somewhat dissatisfying to Mrs. Lu.

  However, he still came. This point, although Ling Yuancheng didn't mention it, Yan Dai couldn't help but know in her heart. Zhou Yiniang was not favored to begin with, so let's not talk about her. As for Yan Dai, she was the daughter of the Ling family, but she wasn't raised in the Ling mansion since childhood. Just this one layer, and there were already many people gossiping behind her back. Not to mention the thinning of familial bonds due to years of separation, making it difficult for her to integrate into the Ling family.

  Now that the prefecture is finally going to take her back, how could there be a lack of onlookers. If the Ling family only sent a steward or someone of similar status to pick her up, then the status of this Ninth Miss would be obvious, but if it was Ling Yuqing who came to pick her up, that would naturally be entirely different.

  After a faint smile, Yuandai said: "Sixth brother's words are too serious! Sixth brother's care for my mother and me, I will never forget!"

  Ling Yuancheng waved his hand and said, "We're all family, why say such distant words? Don't say it again in the future!"

  While they were talking, the lotus picker had already hurried over and, after bowing to the two of them, said: "Madam has sent someone to invite Sixth Master and Miss to come over!"

  Yuandai nodded slightly, just about to say something when Ling Yuqing had already spoken up: "Speaking of which, Aunt and sister's things should also be moved out by now! If there's anything else you want to entrust, do so again. Later, after meeting with Aunt, don't come back here again, just accompany Aunt to the carriage and head back to the manor first!"

  Yan Dai nodded slightly, then looked at Cai Lian and instructed: "On this journey, you and Wen Ping will only take care of my potted orchid, other things will be taken care of by Hui Er and the others!" After seeing Cai Lian respond, she left with Ling Yuanqing.

  Zhou Yiniang's place was already tidy and clean, seeing the two of them coming over, she hurriedly came out to greet them.

  Ling Yuancheng also saw Aunt Zhou, and only gave her a simple salute, calling out "Aunt". There was no other conversation. Aunt Zhou saw him, even more nervous, didn't know where to put her hands and feet, let alone exchange pleasantries.

  It wasn't until she got into the black lacquer carriage that had been parked at the entrance of the courtyard that Madame Zhou finally let out a long sigh: "Yesterday, your aunt was worried about who would come to pick you up today, but unexpectedly Sixth Master himself came!" Her tone was both surprised and delighted.

  She cast a deep glance at Madame Zhou, and let out a helpless sigh. Towards her own mother, she felt both sympathy for her misfortune and hatred for her lack of fight. It wasn't that she hadn't thought of guiding her before, but alas, it's easy to change the world, but hard to change one's nature. In the end, she could only give up. Gently patting Madame Zhou's hand, Yuandai said softly, "Mother, you're thinking too much!"

  Zhou Yiniang was about to say something else, but after glancing at Yuandai, the words that had reached her throat suddenly turned into a long sigh. For a good while, she still couldn't say a word. Yuandai noticed her self-reproach and felt a pang of sympathy in her heart. She comforted Zhou Yiniang in a soft voice: "Don't think too much about it! In the past when I wasn't here, it was okay, but now that I'm back, I won't let you suffer anymore!"

  Zhou Yiniang did not expect her to suddenly say this, and after a moment of stunned silence, she couldn't help but tear up again. Yuan Dai's temperament had always been indifferent, and she wouldn't comfort people, so seeing this situation, she silently handed over the handkerchief in her hand.

  The black lacquer carriage traveled along the smooth official road, and the two people inside were silent, not saying another word. From Miaofeng Mountain to Pingjing Road, although the distance was not considered far, they had spent some time in another courtyard earlier, so when they arrived at the Ling Mansion, it was already late noon. The coachman drove the carriage around the main gate of the Ling Mansion and went to the west corner door, where he asked Madame Zhou and Yuandai to get off the carriage.

  As soon as the two of them got off the carriage, they saw Ling Yuanqing also getting off his horse and walking towards them. At the corner gate, a woman who looked like a housekeeper was already waiting with several maids. After greeting the three of them, she smiled at Ling Yuanqing first and said: "Sixth Master is back! Early this morning, Master sent someone to look for you everywhere, and when he found out you weren't home, he instructed that as soon as you returned, you should go see him!"

  Ling Yuancheng nodded slightly and said, "I'll just go then!" He said, and then turned to Zhou Yiniang and Yuan Dai: "Auntie and sister, please rest first. Now that I'm back, we'll be seeing each other often from now on!" With a bow, he left.

  The servants in the Ling mansion, however, were not fools. Upon hearing Ling Yuancheng's words with ulterior motives, they each became vigilant in their hearts. The woman who seemed to be in charge then stepped forward and smiled: "Please follow me, Lady and Ninth Miss!" Her attitude was quite respectful.

  Just at this moment, Hongying and Zilu, who were beside Aunt Zhou, hurried over to support Aunt Zhou and Yuandai into the side door. Aunt Zhou smiled at the woman who seemed to be in charge and politely said, "Thank you, Sister Li!"

  Mrs. Li smiled and said, "The old lady had already made arrangements! Auntie used to live in the west wing, and now she still lives in the west wing. Ninth Miss also lives with Auntie. The old lady originally said that Auntie and Ninth Miss would live together in the west wing, but it might be a bit cramped. However, in just a few days, Third Master's family will return to Beijing, and the inner courtyard space cannot be rearranged for the time being. We can only ask Auntie and Ninth Miss to put up with it for a few days first, and we'll discuss it further later!" As she spoke, Mrs. Zhou also nodded in agreement.

  As they walked for a while, Aunt Zhou suddenly felt that the direction seemed to be wrong and hesitantly asked: "Sister Li, shouldn't we go pay our respects to Madame first?"

  Mrs. Li's smile remained unchanged, but she said: "Because of Third Master's matter, the mistress has been busy for several days and can't get out of her body. It's cold today, and Madame Wang and Ninth Miss are not feeling well either. If you let them wait in the courtyard, it would be even more inappropriate to catch a cold. Therefore, the mistress has already instructed that these few days will be exempt from asking for peace, and we'll talk about it again after Madame Wang and Ninth Miss have settled down!"

  Yuan Dai couldn't help but secretly laugh at these words.

  Li's words seemed to be all considerate, but after the two returned home, Mrs. Lu didn't even see them, and what's more, she even exempted them from future greetings, which clearly revealed her extremely unfriendly attitude towards the mother-daughter pair.

  It seems that Ling Yuancheng's insistence on going to the other courtyard to pick them up has finally offended Mrs. Lu after all.