Lin Wanji was momentarily speechless. She had only been in the Marquis’s mansion for a few days and didn’t know much about many things, and she couldn’t think of anything to comfort her. After all, she had only met this sister, who was born and raised in the capital, a few times, how much could she possibly understand her?

Seeing the silence in the pavilion, Lin Zhao Hui quickly adjusted her mood, took out a silk handkerchief, carefully picked up a sweet cake from the porcelain bowl on the table, and placed it in Lin Wanji’s hand, “Sister, try this. It’s a new osmanthus and chestnut cake from the kitchen today, my favorite. Grandmother doesn’t usually like sweets, and the mansion doesn’t usually serve snacks, so Third Sister can only eat such delicious cakes here with me today.”

Lin Wanji smiled and agreed, taking the handkerchief and taking a bite. The fragrant osmanthus and the sweet taste of the chestnut paste were rich and smooth, her eyes lit up, “It’s indeed delicious. I’m truly fortunate today, thanks to Sister Hui.”

Lin Zhao Hui also picked up a small piece from the bowl and put it in her mouth, teasingly saying, “Sister, if you really want to thank me, just a few words won’t do. Third Sister has eaten my cakes, if Hui’er wants to ask about poetry again, Sister can’t refuse because of this osmanthus and chestnut cake.”

Lin Wanji looked at her round little face, her mood also improved. After carefully wiping the crumbs from her mouth, she tapped her forehead, “Little glutton, how could Sister refuse you? If you want to read any books, don’t be shy, just come to my Crimson Flower Pavilion to get them. If they’re idle books, be careful not to be discovered by Second Aunt.”

The two sisters played around in the pavilion for a while, Lin Wanji talked to her about poetry, and seeing that it was almost noon, she was about to leave. Lin Zhao Hui instructed the maid to carefully wrap the remaining cakes and gently handed them to Ying Shi, then pulled Lin Wanji and said, “Sister, be careful on your way back. If you encounter Second Sister again, don’t argue with her, and don’t be angry with her. Second Sister is a bit foolish, but her heart is not bad. If you are upset by her, just come to Hui’er.”

“You,” Lin Wanji couldn’t help but laugh, tapping her forehead, “You dare to say bad things about your Second Sister in front of so many people, aren’t you afraid that I’ll tell on you?”

Lin Zhao Hui snorted softly, her expression as cute as a kitten, making people want to tease her, “Third Sister, that’s unreasonable. Who gave Sister the cold shoulder when we paid our respects earlier, and who helped Sister out? Sister is ungrateful, forget it, forget it, if you don’t return the osmanthus and chestnut cake quickly, I won’t let you go.”

Before she finished, even the maidservants behind her couldn’t help but giggle. Lin Wanji looked at her childish words and also laughed, “Hui’er, that’s unreasonable. Since it’s a gift, why would you want it back? If Second Sister hears this, she’ll definitely laugh at you.”

At this time, Lin Zhaofu, who was being discussed by the two, was sitting in her Jade Hibiscus Studio and suddenly sneezed. Thinking of her encounter this morning, her already irritable mood worsened, and she slammed the gold hairpin on her head heavily on the table.

Jiang was about to enter when she heard the dull sound on the table, she was startled and quickly walked to her daughter, putting the hairpin back into her hair, and then softly persuaded, “My child, what’s wrong? Did the girl from the second branch provoke you, making you so angry? No matter how big the matter is, you can’t smash the hairpin like this. If your father finds out…”

Lin Zhaofu saw her mother’s weak and gentle appearance, her anger intensified, and she said sharply, “I am the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s mansion, yet I have to live cautiously! Forget the second branch, what is Lin Wanji, why does she have to surpass me! I am the eldest sister’s closest sister, now, now…”

Lin Zhaofu became angrier and angrier, her voice choked with tears, “Mother, you saw it too, Grandmother favors her, even the eldest sister likes her, and wants to give her such a good marriage, and me… Why, she is clearly an illegitimate daughter from an outside relationship, she’s just a dilapidated household from the countryside, this is her first time in the capital, why does everyone favor her?”

Jiang subconsciously covered her daughter’s mouth, panicked, “Fu’er, what did Mother tell you? Don’t say such rebellious words, if your father and grandmother find out, they will be even more displeased…”

Lin Zhaofu threw Jiang’s hand away and sneered at her, “Mother, everyone in this mansion laughs at me. If you could manage the household like Second Aunt, who wouldn’t respect me as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’s mansion? Even the girl from the third branch, who just arrived, has the eldest sister arranging a marriage for her, but me?”

Jiang lowered her eyes and sighed softly, whispering, “Fu’er, your father still has you in his heart. He has chosen a very good marriage for you. The boy from the Chen family is promising, although his status is a little low, but as long as you are willing to wait, after you marry him, as long as you wait, there will always be good days…”

Lin Zhaofu looked coldly at Jiang, sarcastically laughing, “Mother, are you afraid that I’ll forget my unbearable marriage and want to constantly remind me of my pain?”

Jiang flinched, tears streaming down her face, repeating the same old words over and over again, “It’s all my fault… Fu’er, if you don’t try to win the favor of your father and grandmother, and now there’s the girl from the third branch, I’m afraid no one will care about your marriage in the future…”

Speaking of Lin Zhaofu’s marriage, Anping Marquis Lin Yansong and Grand Tutor Chen had a good relationship in the officialdom, and the two families were very close and had once arranged a marriage between the eldest daughter, Lin Zhao’er, and Chen’s eldest son. However, after Lin Zhao’er married into the East Palace, this marriage naturally fell to the second daughter, Lin Zhaofu.

The Grand Tutor’s wife only had one son, and he had married a few years ago, so this matter had to be dropped. However, Grand Tutor Chen still had a nephew from a concubine branch, Chen Shaoyan, who was about the same age as Lin Zhaofu. Although young, he was mature, very intelligent, and talented in his studies, becoming a Xiucai at the age of twelve or thirteen.

Chen Shaoyan’s father had died early, and his mother had passed away a few years ago. Due to mourning, he did not participate in this year’s rural examination. Although he was a commoner, he was quite famous in Shanglin Academy, and he would strive for fame in the next autumn examination. Lin Yansong appreciated his talent and discussed with Grand Tutor Chen, wanting to arrange a marriage between his second daughter, Zhaofu, and Chen Shaoyan.

Lin Yansong had many considerations. Although he disliked it, it was his own daughter, and he would not push her into a fire pit, damaging the Anping Marquis Mansion’s reputation. First, his second daughter had a reputation for being arrogant, and finding a husband was not easy. If she married into the Chen family, without in-laws and the rules of a wealthy family, she would be much more relaxed; second, Chen Shaoyan was talented at a young age, and he was the nephew of the Grand Tutor, relying on the Chen family’s power in the court, he would definitely have a bright future, and this marriage would not be considered humiliating for the Lin family.

Because Chen Shaoyan was still in mourning, the two families had not formally exchanged birth charts to arrange the marriage, but they had private interactions, and both families tacitly agreed to this matter. Although Jiang was dissatisfied with Anping Marquis’s choice of marriage for her daughter, she was used to being submissive and her mother-in-law disliked her, so she couldn’t argue, only urging her daughter to make a fuss.

Lin Zhaofu had been raised by her mother to be competitive, feeling that she deserved to marry into a wealthy family and be the mistress. Learning that she would marry such a man, she was naturally very reluctant and repeatedly argued with Lin Yansong and the old madam, making everyone dislike her even more.

Lin Zhaofu looked at her mother’s weeping appearance and couldn’t help but sneer, “A nameless and penniless poor scholar, Father actually dares to let me marry him, not afraid of sullying the Marquis’s mansion’s reputation and making people laugh. The eldest sister can marry a prince or nobleman, why can’t I?”

Jiang’s sobbing grew louder, hugging her daughter and crying. Lin Zhaofu impatiently pulled away, “Mother, you’re always like this, no wonder Father dislikes you. If crying worked, you’ve cried all your tears over the years, but Father hasn’t shown you any affection!”

Lin Zhaofu clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh, her anger intensifying, “The eldest sister favors her, Grandmother favors her, I will let everyone in this Marquis’s mansion see what kind of person she is!”

Two more days passed, and it was the birthday of Anping Marquis’s old madam, Shen. The mansion was brightly decorated, and a grand banquet was prepared.

Lin Wanji got up early, and while washing up, she saw her mother, Lu, rushing into the courtyard. Lu Yanyong was dressed properly today, wearing a dignified and grand crimson dress, with gold necklaces around her neck, looking exactly like a noble lady in the capital.

“Today is your grandmother’s birthday banquet, and many families in the capital are invited. I have to help your Second Aunt manage things, and your father needs to entertain the guests, and he won’t have time to take care of you. You must be careful not to offend anyone, just follow your Fourth Sister.”

Lin Wanji nodded, holding Lu’s hand and acting coquettishly, “Mother, I know. Mother has worked hard today, tomorrow I’ll ask Xiu Xia to prepare some of Mother’s favorite Huaiyang dishes in the kitchen.”

“You little girl,” Lu Yanyong looked at her reproachfully, her gaze glancing at the maid standing beside Ying Shi, her small face was very pretty, but her expression was a little restless, showing a bit of restlessness.

Lu quickly shifted her gaze without a trace, carefully examining her daughter’s clothes, and after pondering for a moment, said, “Wan’er, change this dress. Today is Grandmother’s happy day, you are a granddaughter, and there are guests, you should wear something festive.”

Lin Wanji looked at her light green dress and agreed, then turned to Ying Shi and found a water-red pearl-buttoned jacket, paired with a light grey moonlit skirt. The outfit made the girl’s skin look white and fair, dignified yet charming. Lu carefully looked at Lin Wanji’s ornaments before nodding in satisfaction, “The hairpin Grandmother gave you a few days ago is perfect for today, it matches this outfit.”