Chapter Thirty-Three Helpless

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun's interest was clearly piqued, and she couldn't help but laugh: "You'd better say a few more things for me to hear. If what you say is good, I'll have them go find some evening primroses to cultivate tomorrow!"

  Yan Dai slightly tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then said: "If the old lady really wants to listen, then she must first talk about this ephemeral flower!" She said, and then smiled at Xiao Zhengyan again, saying: "Sister Xiao is quite skilled in medicine, I suppose you should know that ephemeral flowers are also a kind of medicinal material!"

  Xiao Chengxian didn't expect Yuandai to suddenly ask such a question, so she lowered her head and thought for a moment before smiling: "Sister doesn't say it, I almost forgot, this Epiphyllum is indeed a medicinal herb, the medical book says its nature is slightly cold and taste is sweet and light, can clear lungs, stop coughing and dissolve phlegm!" Although she had studied medicine since childhood, due to her identity, she only learned but didn't have a chance to practice, so she wasn't very familiar with Epiphyllum, this rarely used medicinal herb. This conversation was somewhat disjointed, and from time to time, she had to bow her head and think for a moment.

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun laughed and said: "No wonder people often say that a long illness makes a good doctor, our Jiu Mei, isn't it just like this!"

  Yan Dai didn't deny it, but only pursed her lips and smiled. After a moment, she continued: "This hibiscus can be used to make soup, stir-fry, or stew with silver ear fungus, lotus seeds, and bird's nest. Its flavor is refreshing, smooth, and fragrant, far surpassing the ordinary. Old lady will know once she tries it!"

  The old lady nodded repeatedly, with a look of interest. Ling Yuexuan smiled and said: "Ninth sister didn't say anything, but now that she's started talking, it makes me drool! I'm hungry now! Ancestor, please give Xuan'er some snacks to eat first!"

  She said this with a hint of playful teasing, but it made the old lady burst out laughing. She pointed at Ling Yuexian and said: "You little girl, you're getting more and more cunning! Luckily your sister is here, otherwise others might think that our family has become so poor that we can't even feed our young mistress properly, and that's why she came to my place to freeload!"

  Xiao Chengxian couldn't help but laugh: "How dare I laugh at Sister Shí! To tell the truth, I'm feeling a bit hungry right now and was thinking of asking Auntie for some snacks to fill my belly. I was too embarrassed to speak up, but since Sister Shí has spoken up, I have no choice but to follow suit!"

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun heard this and laughed even more warmly: "In the end, it's still because of Jiu Meizhi's sharp tongue! Don't mention you two, even I feel like my appetite has opened up today!"

  She was about to order someone to prepare some refreshments when Du Ruo happened to bring in a food box with a smile. Xiao Lao Tai Jun couldn't help but point at Du Ruo and laugh, saying: "You girls all come take a look, this girl is truly the worm in my belly!"

  Everyone burst out laughing, Du Ruo smiled and bowed, then took out the various pastries from the food box and neatly arranged them on a nearby table. There were eight plates of pastries. He said: "Just now, Ninth Miss was talking about how to use evening primrose in cooking, I saw Old Lady's fingers itching to move, thinking that it's already afternoon, and it's rare for the ladies to gather with Old Lady, so I should prepare some pastries to entertain them. I quietly went out, and now it seems I guessed correctly!"

  Ling Yuexuan smiled and said: "The old ancestor has already spoken, you were originally the tapeworm in her belly, how could there be any reason for not being accurate?"

  Everyone laughed and sat down at the table, where a maid had already brought hot tea. After having some refreshments, Old Lady Xiao looked at Yu Dai and suddenly remembered something, so she asked: "I heard that you caught a chill when you went to see the flowers the other night, and your body hasn't recovered yet?"

  Yuan Dai replied: "Yes! I coughed severely when I got up early, and took medicine twice in the morning. By now, it has improved a lot!"

  Xiao Chengxian knew that she was faking her illness, and now seeing her expression unchanged, responding as usual, he couldn't help but secretly laugh.

  "Come to think of it, my Chunhui Garden is actually the warmest in the mansion. Although Huicui Pavilion is nice, it's not as good as here. Since you're already here, why don't you just stay at Qinfang Zhai for a few more days? When next year arrives and it warms up, you can move to Huicui Pavilion then!" She said this without waiting for Yuande to respond, and instead smiled at Lingyu Xuan: "Shi'er, I'm entrusting your ninth sister to you!"

  Ling Yuexuan was overjoyed and hastily responded in a series of successive voices, making it difficult for Yuan Dai to say anything further.

  After bidding farewell to Old Lady Xiao, the three of them left Yanhui Zhai and slowly made their way along the white stone path towards Qinfang Zhai. Ling Yuexuan's mood was greatly improved, and she couldn't help but smile: "It's still the old lady who loves me, knowing that I love lively places, Ninth Sister must accompany me for a few more days!"

  Yuan Dai had not yet spoken, when Xiao Chengyan smiled and said: "I think the young lady's intention is that she doesn't want her sister to live in Huancui Pavilion!" Yuan Dai nodded slightly. She had already roughly understood Mrs. Xiao's meaning from Luo Shi's words earlier, so it was not unexpected. However, she did not expect that Xiao Chengyan would also understand Mrs. Xiao's meaning from just a few words today.

  Ling Yuexuan smiled and said, "My mother had already told me that Old Lady intended to move Ninth Sister into Chunhui Garden to keep me company. However, now Eldest Maternal Aunt has preempted Old Lady, and Old Lady cannot refuse her face. But looking at it like this today, it seems that Ringui Pavilion is destined to be out of Ninth Sister's reach!" She was straightforward and outspoken, and these words had slipped out of her mouth, leaving Xiao Xian stunned.

  Yuan Dai also felt helpless and hastily changed the subject: "Where you live, it doesn't make much difference after all, you can't stay for long!"

  Ling Yuexuan was taken aback for a moment, and before she knew it, she blurted out: "How can you live forever?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she suddenly remembered the reason why, and her expression revealed a few hints of confusion, her voice trailing off into silence.

  The three of them exchanged a glance, each with their own thoughts, but none of them spoke again. For the time being, they returned to Xinfangzhai, bid each other farewell, and Yuandai took Cuiyi into the west wing. Xinfangzhai was now dominated by Ling Yuexuan, and the two side houses were occupied by Xiao Chengyan in the east wing and naturally given to her in the west wing. With a hint of fatigue, she sat down in the room and only then did Yuandai open her mouth to instruct: "Cuiyi, go tell Wenshuang to put aside what she's doing for now and bring over those flowers of mine first!" Her tone was bland, with a hint of faint helplessness.

  Cui Yi didn't ask much, and after hearing this, she nodded and quickly retreated. After Cui Yi left, the only one left in the room was Yuan Dai. She let out a gentle sigh and cast a slightly tired glance around the room she was in.

  Undoubtedly, Xiangfang Pavilion is far superior to the Western Wing in many ways, whether it's the external environment, the spaciousness of the rooms, or the furnishings and utensils inside. However, as for Yuande, she only felt helpless.

  She actually has a bit of a habit of being particular about her bed, and apart from Yu Zhen, even Wen Ping doesn't know about it. Due to this habit, unless absolutely necessary, she is extremely unwilling to move around. From Miaofeng Mountain moving back to the Ling manor, just getting used to the environment of the west wing, yet again moved here, waiting to get used to here, yet again don't know where to go next.

  Yuan Dai was somewhat distracted in thought, and after a long time, she let out a soft sigh.

  Last time at Miaofeng Mountain, she had briefly discussed with Yuanzhen about selecting a son-in-law. Time flies fast, but it's not too slow either. She needs to find an opportunity to meet with Yuanzhen as soon as possible and settle the matter early, so as to avoid any unexpected twists and turns.

  She was thinking silently, when a maid's voice came from outside: "Ninth Miss!" Yuandai hastily responded with a sound, and then a 16- or 17-year-old pretty maid walked in: "Ninth Miss, our miss has sent Bitao to invite you over!"

  Yuan Dai heard this and immediately got up. Bi Tao was also quick-witted, seeing that there was no one by her side, she hastily went forward to support her hand. The two had just walked out the door when they saw Xiang Xianying coming towards them. Seeing Yuan Dai about to leave, she couldn't help but laugh and say: "Little sister, where are you going?"

  Yan Dai stopped in her tracks and pointed at Bi Tao, laughing: "Tenth sister just sent Bi Tao to invite me over for a chat!"

  Xiao Chengyan didn't mind, and said: "I originally came to invite you to my place to taste my newly made Sui Han San You, also good for pointing out. Never mind, we'll go together to Shi Mei's place and invite her to taste it too!"

  Yan Dai heard this and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "You and I are both making tea according to the recipe, where is there any room for 'pointing' or 'directing'? However, since it's a tea made by sister's own hands, I must try some!" The two of them chatted as they walked out of the western wing, heading towards Ling Yuan Xuan.

  Two people walked into the main room, Yuandai raised her eyes and took a look, and couldn't help but pause for a moment. It turned out that Luoshi was already inside at this time. She was about to go forward and pay her respects, but Luoshi had already smiled and stopped her: "Forget it, forget it, in the future we'll just nod when we see each other, no need to be so polite!" Yuandai heard her speak with courtesy, couldn't help but smile, and stood up.

  Xiao Chengxian had also seen Luo Shi before, and now that she saw her again, she went forward to greet her. Bi Tao stood by with a smile. After Hou Yuan Dai and Xiao Chengxian sat down, Luo Shi's eyes moved, and she saw Bi Tao standing steadily by the side, couldn't help but laugh and scold: "You little girl, seeing the two young ladies come over, why are you still standing there like a wooden stake, completely losing your usual cleverness, hurry up and brew some tea!"

  Bixia didn't fear her, and smiled: "Just now Miss Xiao said that she had made a new kind of tea and wanted to invite Ninth Miss and our miss to try it! I'm standing here right now, waiting for the good tea personally made by Miss Xiao!" As soon as these words came out, Xiao Xianyun couldn't help but laugh. She turned her head and gave a slight hint to her maid Cailan, who understood and quickly took out a small green porcelain bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Bixia. Bixia hastily accepted it and thanked Xiao Xianyun before hurrying down.

  Lu looked at her departing back and couldn't help but shake his head, laughing: "These girls, I've spoiled them so much that they don't even know their place!" He scolded with a smile on his face.

  Xiao Chengxian let out a "heh" and laughed: "Don't be modest, Third Aunt, my mother often complains like this at home too!"

  Luo smiled and said: "It can be seen that your mother is also a kind and easy-to-cheat person like me!"

  …………

  There is still one more chapter tonight, the time has not been determined yet.