Lin Wanji took the oil-paper package and carefully opened it. The aroma of butter wafted out, the layers of lotus petals were as thin as cicada wings, overlapping and opening, enclosing a golden core, looking very exquisite. She gently took a bite, it was crisp at first, then soft and dense, it was indeed the familiar taste of lotus cakes from her memory, and she couldn’t help but curve her eyebrows.

After Xiao Shiyan left, he immediately mounted his horse and asked the guard beside him, “Is Instructor Wang on duty at the hunting ground today?”

Chongzhou, the guard beside him, was muttering about the Crown Prince’s unusual behavior today. The Lin family was just a fifth-rank civilian official, and they had no personal relationship, let alone a prominent family, even in front of the Emperor, when had he ever seen the Crown Prince being so attentive?

And inexplicably asking him to buy lotus cakes from Qianji, no, no, this is too unusual.

“Chongzhou, I’m asking you a question!” Xiao Shiyan’s eyes glared, Chongzhou shuddered, finally coming back to his senses, “Yes, yes, it’s indeed Instructor Wang on duty.”

“Go and have a look at the hunting ground.” Xiao Shiyan clamped his legs against the horse’s belly, “If you’re not more attentive, you won’t be needed tomorrow, just stay in the Western Suburbs Camp.”

Hearing this, Chongzhou put away his inquisitive thoughts and hurriedly apologized, “I dare not.”

Xiao Shiyan didn’t speak again, galloping along with his horse, thinking of the familiar face he had glimpsed earlier, he couldn’t help but purse his lips.

It’s good, before she got married, she was such a lively and naive girl, and now everything has finally returned.

Seven years ago, in a fierce battle against the Northern Di, their Xiao family army was defeated, with countless casualties, and the court was filled with curses. But it was clearly because there were traitors in the army, and reinforcements were delayed, their troops were trapped for three days, and their supplies were exhausted.

The emperor was far away, and the Emperor didn’t want the Xiao family to hold military power, so he came up with such a vicious plan. In order to sleep peacefully on the dragon throne, he would rather lose the city in the north, and make the Xiao family defeated and return in disgrace.

Poor Xiao family, full of loyal and righteous people, but ended up being suspected by the emperor and attacked from both sides. His father, as the commander-in-chief, naturally could not escape the blame. The old General Xiao was disheartened, and took the initiative to hand over his military power, and since then he no longer paid attention to court affairs, and had no contact with prominent families, only saying that he was recuperating in the suburbs.

But Xiao Shiyan was still young, their Xiao family had suffered such grievances, he couldn’t bear it. The Emperor hated the Xiao family, but there were no generals in the court, and the Northern Di were aggressive, frequently invading, he had to reuse himself. Every achievement Xiao Shiyan made in the north, every city he recovered, was making that person gnash his teeth in jealousy.

But this was far from enough. He wanted the person on the dragon throne to clear the Xiao family’s grievances from years ago, and if he couldn’t, then someone else would take his place.

Xiao Shiyan was reborn. In his previous life, he conspired with the Crown Prince, defeated the Northern Di, and helped the East Palace ascend the throne. The new emperor announced to the world, and finally the truth came to light, clearing the Xiao family’s name. He was ennobled and became the Emperor’s most trusted close official.

In his previous life, Xiao Shiyan held a high position, but there was one thing that became his lifelong regret.

His wife, was the most intelligent and kind woman in the world. They were young lovers, deeply in love, and they thought they could grow old together, and stay together for life.

It was a snowy night, the snow in the capital that year fell so early. He hurriedly mounted his horse, about to go to the border, and bid farewell to her in the snow.

“Ayan, I’ll wait for you to come home.”

She kissed him lightly on the forehead, and put the finely sewn amulet into his bosom. The sound of horses’ hooves gradually rose, at the end of his peripheral vision, he looked at her, gesturing for her to go back early.

No one ever imagined that it would be their last farewell.

But later… while he was away from the capital, those people dared to do that to her. In just half a month, when he and the Crown Prince plotted to defeat King Liang, he returned to the capital and only saw her skeleton.

He killed King Liang, he killed the princess, he killed everyone who had ever bullied her, but he was blinded by rage, and could only hold her cold body, regretting his actions.

Xiao Shiyan took a long breath, fortunately, heaven was merciful, everything returned to its original state. This time, he would not let anyone have the opportunity to hurt her again.

She loved to laugh, she should be the happiest and most unrestrained woman in the world.

As for other things, he would take care of them.

The next morning, Lin Wanji woke up leisurely, seeing the bright sunlight outside, she felt very happy. After washing up, she saw Lin Yanqing and Lu Shi already waiting in the hall of the inn.

“When we enter the Marquis Mansion today, you must be careful.” Lu Shi saw her daughter, who was usually a naive and lively girl, but the Marquis Mansion was different from their own mansion, the prominent families always had some rules to follow.

“Mother, I will definitely be careful in my words and actions, you can rest assured.” Lin Wanji held Lu Shi’s arm and acted like a spoiled child, when they walked out of the inn, the carriage sent by the Marquis Mansion was already waiting outside.

The old nanny waiting by the carriage was looking at the Lin family’s demeanor. Lin Yanqing was wearing a dark green long gown, with pine and bamboo embroidered on the collar and cuffs, the person was like his clothes, showing a scholarly demeanor; Lu Shi beside him was also wearing a light green dress, her hair was neatly done, her brows and eyes showed a gentle demeanor, the two stood together, like a perfect couple.

Looking further back, she saw the girl behind them wearing a goose-yellow silk dress, with apricot eyes and peach cheeks, her eyes sparkling, she came gracefully, her every move was elegant and graceful.

The Lin family saw that the old woman’s stature and demeanor were extraordinary, and they already had more respect in their hearts. A little maid immediately whispered in their ear, this was Zhou Mammy, the most capable nanny beside the old Madam, everyone in the mansion respected her very much.

“This servant greets the Third Master and Third Madam.” Zhou Mammy smiled and nodded, bowing, “The old Madam has been thinking about you every day, and now she has finally waited for you to come to the capital.”

“Thank you, Mother, for your concern.” Lin Yanqing dared not neglect, and helped Zhou Mammy up.

Seeing this, Lu Shi hurriedly asked the attendant to hand over a bag of money, “My husband and I have just arrived in the capital, and we are favored by the old Madam and the Marquis, but we are still a little shallow, our actions may have many shortcomings, please give us more guidance. This money is for you to have tea, please accept it.”

Zhou Mammy glanced at the bag of money, but didn’t make any move, only bowing, “This is my duty, Third Madam is too kind. It’s still half an hour’s journey from the inn to the Marquis Mansion, let’s set off quickly, don’t keep the old Madam waiting.”

Seeing everyone agree, Zhou Mammy paused and said, “Third Madam must have many things she doesn’t understand about the capital and the Marquis Mansion, I will take this opportunity to tell you.”

“Thank you, Mammy, for your guidance.” Lu Yanyong said, and smiled and beckoned to Lin Wanji, the group got into the carriage.

Lin Wanji understood, as she helped Ying Shi into the carriage, she saw a handkerchief on the small stool, embroidered with several orchids. After picking up the handkerchief, she bowed and lifted the curtain, and saw Lu Shi and Zhou Mammy already sitting inside.

Zhou Mammy glanced at the handkerchief in Lin Wanji’s hand and smiled, “I’m getting old, my eyesight is not as good as before, I didn’t even notice that I lost something, but thanks to Miss’s sharp eyes. This is the Third Master’s daughter, right? I’ve heard that she is elegant and beautiful, and today I see it for myself, it’s true. I think the water and soil in Yangzhou nourish people, she’s not inferior to the girls raised in our Marquis Mansion.”

Lin Wanji said, and hurriedly handed the handkerchief to Zhou Mammy. Lu Shi said humbly, “Mammy is too complimentary, my husband and I only have one daughter, she grew up spoiled in Yangzhou, she doesn’t know any rules. When we arrive at the Marquis Mansion, I don’t know what kind of jokes she will make, I hope Mammy will give us more guidance.”

Zhou Mammy shook her head, her gaze towards Lin Wanji was even more kind, “At this age, girls should be lively, the old Madam is not a person who restricts others, the several young ladies in the mansion are all like this.”

Zhou Mammy paused slightly, as if she thought of something, and asked, “I don’t know the birthday of the Third Master’s daughter, she seems to be about the same age as the Second Miss.”

Lin Wanji said, “I was born in the eleventh year of Zhangjing, my birthday is in July, and I’m fifteen now.”

“Then she’s a few months younger than our Second Miss, you will be the Third Miss in the mansion.”

Zhou Mammy cleared her throat and sat up straight, “There are four young ladies in our mansion now, the eldest and second young ladies are the daughters of the eldest son, the fourth young lady is younger, she is the daughter of the second master.”

Lin Wanji understood, she had heard her mother talk about these things in Yangzhou before. The Anping Marquis Mansion had a good family style, men over forty years old could only take concubines if they had no sons, so the grandchildren in the mansion were all legitimate children. The late Marquis Lin had three sons, except for the youngest son, all of them were the old Madam’s sons.

Thinking of this, Lin Wanji felt a little embarrassed, because the illegitimate youngest son was her father.

In the past, the old Marquis secretly kept a concubine, and the concubine gave birth to a child without anyone knowing, and was kept in a separate courtyard. Unfortunately, the concubine was short-lived, she died young, leaving behind a young child, only a few years old.

The old Marquis had to take the youngest son back to the Marquis Mansion, recognized him as his son, and regarded him as a legitimate child. I heard that the old Madam didn’t make a fuss at that time, she took the child to her room to raise, but since then she had been estranged from the Marquis, and never had any other children.

If it were someone else, they would have thrown the child to the countryside to fend for themselves, or spoiled him, but perhaps the old Madam was kind-hearted, she really raised the child as her own. Lin Wanji thought of this, and felt even more curious about the old Madam.

“Let’s talk about the Marquis’s family first.” Zhou Mammy took the teacup handed by the maid, took a few sips, and then said, “The Marquis is the old Madam’s eldest son, he married Miss Li from the Hengyang Bo Mansion, and gave birth to a son and a daughter.

The eldest Miss Zhao Ru is now twenty-two years old, and she entered the East Palace five years ago, and is now the Crown Prince’s concubine; the eldest Master Huai Shu is twenty years old, he inherited the title of Crown Prince, and is now in charge of the Jinwu Guard.

Unfortunately, Madam Li died young, so the Marquis remarried, she is the current Madam Jiang. The Jiang family is far away in Muyang, she was the Marquis’s second wife when he was stationed in Muyang, she only gave birth to one daughter, who is the Second Miss Zhao Fu.”