In a short while, Xiu Xia returned to the main courtyard carrying a food box. Lin Wanji watched as she carefully arranged several hot dishes from the box. Although the dishes were in accordance with the portion sizes for the young ladies of the house, they appeared more lavish, suggesting she had pulled some strings.

After arranging the dishes, Xiu Xia’s eyes shone brightly as she presented them, “Miss, you’ve just arrived, and the servants in the mansion are known for being opportunistic and flattering those in power. I couldn’t let them slight you. I’m acquainted with a few cooks in the kitchen, and I specially asked them to prepare these dishes. I hope they suit your taste. If you don’t like them, I’ll privately tell the cooks and have them prepare according to your preferences.”

Lin Wanji, seeing the exquisite dishes, knew Xiu Xia had put in considerable effort. She nodded and smiled, “You’re so thoughtful, I’m relieved to leave the task of managing the household affairs to you. These dishes are excellent, and I’m sure you’ve used some of your connections.”

She then turned to Ying Shi, “Ying Shi, we’re new here, and we owe a great deal to Xiu Xia’s hard work. Take some money from the box and give it to Xiu Xia to give to the kitchen. If we want to eat something specific in the future, we shouldn’t always rely on Xiu Xia’s connections.”

Ying Shi nodded understandingly and quickly took out several silver ingots from the inner room, handing them to Xiu Xia.

For simply fetching a food box, she received two months’ worth of wages. Xiu Xia was overjoyed. She had thought that the third master, who came from Yangzhou, was not the old madam’s biological son, and the third madam came from a merchant background.

Even the first madam’s family, though often gossiped about by the servants, was still a respectable official family. The third branch would definitely be inferior to the other two. Unexpectedly, the third miss was so generous, showing her considerable wealth. Now, she had also gained the favor of a powerful person…

Thinking of her future prospects, Xiu Xia secretly rejoiced at her choice, her happiness evident on her face, and she became even more sincere towards Lin Wanji, “Thank you, third miss! If you hadn’t taken pity on me and brought me back to the courtyard, I wouldn’t know what kind of life I’d be living! It’s truly heaven’s blessing that I’ve met such a kind mistress. Just command me, miss, I’ll listen to you and Sister Ying Shi!”

During the conversation, Lin Wanji and Ying Shi exchanged a subtle glance, understanding each other perfectly. When she finished speaking, Lin Wanji also smiled at her, “I truly haven’t misjudged you. With such a quick wit, you’ll be a great help in managing things in the mansion.”

Xiu Xia’s happiness grew even more, she bowed, “I’m a servant of the miss’s courtyard now, if you need anything, just command me.”

Since the courtyard had been unoccupied for a long time, Lin Wanji instructed the maidservants to clean it thoroughly. She then helped Ying Shi and Xiu Xia unpack their luggage from Yangzhou. Half a day passed, and as the sun set, she saw Zhou Mama, the old madam’s personal maid, enter the small courtyard.

Lin Wanji stopped her work and hurried out to greet her, “Mama, you’ve come. My courtyard is a mess right now, I apologize for the sight. Is there something wrong at the grandmother’s side? I apologize for troubling you to make a personal trip.”

Ying Shi, quick-witted, followed Lin Wanji to offer Zhou Mama a seat. Seeing this, Xiu Xia quickly brought out a cup of tea from the desk.

“Third Miss is too polite. The old madam asked me to deliver a message. I won’t drink this tea,” Zhou Mama noticed the actions of the two maidservants. One of them looked unfamiliar, likely brought from Yangzhou by the third miss, and the other was indeed Xiu Xia, likely sent by the second madam.

Without changing her expression, Zhou Mama withdrew her gaze and smiled at Lin Wanji, “Miss, you’ve just arrived. The old madam thought that it was the first day for the third master’s family to return to the mansion, and she wanted to call the younger generation of the family to have a meal together. But as you know, the old madam is getting older now, and her health isn’t good.

She was happy to see you today, and after being lively for half a day, she’s tired now and says she doesn’t have an appetite, afraid of spoiling everyone’s mood. After a few days, when the old madam’s health improves, she will invite you to have a meal in Shou’an Hall.”

Except for festivals or when there are guests, the Anping Marquis Mansion usually allows each courtyard to take back their food boxes for meals. The old madam loved her grandchildren, often calling them to Shou’an Hall for meals. Lin Wanji had heard of this before entering the mansion. Now, for the matter of a meal, the old madam even sent Zhou Mama, a highly respected maid in the mansion, to deliver a message—although it’s called a message, it’s clearly used to let everyone in the mansion understand how much the old madam valued this new granddaughter.

But she has no blood relation with the old madam, and her father’s background is… Does the old madam really have no resentment towards their family? If she’s kind, the old madam is too kind to this unexpected granddaughter. Lin Wanji recalled the hairpin from that morning and felt even more strange.

“Is grandmother sick?” Lin Wanji showed concern, “Grandmother’s health is not good, I, as a granddaughter, should be serving her in Shou’an Hall. I’m truly unfilial to have troubled Mama to come.”

Zhou Mama, seeing Lin Wanji’s proper and generous demeanor, and that although her maternal family was merchants, she was no different from the well-bred young ladies of the capital, became even more satisfied, “The old madam is fine, she’s just very tired today, and she’ll be fine with more rest. It’s nothing serious, but the old madam misses you, so she asked me to inform you.”

“Granddaughter is unworthy of grandmother’s love,” Lin Wanji smiled, then seemed to remember something, turning to whisper to Ying Shi. Ying Shi understood and quickly found several boxes of incense from the chest.

“These are from my home in Yangzhou. My mother was afraid that the journey would be bumpy and I wouldn’t sleep well, so she specially asked a perfumer to make this calming incense. It’s very effective. Grandmother is tired, and as a granddaughter, I just want to show my filial piety. I hope grandmother and Mama won’t dislike it.”

Zhou Mama took the incense box, “Oh my,” she said, “Third Miss is so thoughtful. I’ll go and report to the old madam. I won’t disturb your meal and rest today. I hope you’ll come to Shou’an Hall more often to chat with the old madam.”

“Of course,” Lin Wanji nodded, “Xiu Xia, take Mama out.”

Xiu Xia responded and escorted Zhou Mama to the courtyard gate.

After dinner, Lin Wanji and Ying Shi and Xiu Xia tidied up several boxes of clothes, and the hall finally had a more lively atmosphere. After washing up, she went to bed. Her first night in the Marquis’s mansion was more peaceful than she had expected.

Two days passed, and Lin Wanji gradually became familiar with her daily life in the Marquis’s mansion. Xiu Xia, although a newly assigned maid, was a home-born servant and was quite capable. In addition, Lin Wanji had given extra gifts to everyone in the courtyard, so the maidservants and old maids all worked diligently, and the courtyard gradually became united.

The old madam practiced Buddhism, so the wives and grandchildren were exempted from daily morning and evening greetings. Unless there was something urgent, they only needed to pay their respects at Shou’an Hall on the 15th and 30th of each month. Today was the 15th, and since the third branch’s family returned to the capital two days ago, today was the day Lin Wanji should pay her respects to Shou’an Hall.

She got up early, washed, and changed into a light green dress. Lin Wanji sat in front of the bronze mirror, watching Xiu Xia style her hair into a loose bun. Soon, the bun was loosely tied, with a few strands of hair hanging down her neck, making the girl’s skin appear even whiter.

Lin Wanji looked at herself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction, “Xiu Xia is truly skilled, and she understands the latest styles in the capital. You must teach Ying Shi well, don’t let you do all the work.”

Xiu Xia giggled, “I’m clumsy, I’m afraid you’ll dislike me. It’s not that my skills are good, our miss has such a beautiful appearance, no matter what hairstyle she has, she looks like a fairy.”

Lin Wanji gave her a playful look, took the warm stove from Ying Shi, and after dressing up, she straightened her sleeves and stood up, “Alright, let’s go quickly. We can’t keep grandmother waiting.”

The two maidservants responded and left the courtyard, heading towards Shou’an Hall. Although Crimson Flower Pavilion was located in a secluded part of the mansion, it was very close to the old madam’s courtyard. It was said that the eldest miss often enjoyed the scenery and stayed here before her marriage.

In less than a quarter of an hour, they arrived at Shou’an Hall. The maidservants standing by the door quickly lifted the curtain and announced their arrival.

“Third Miss has arrived.”

When Lin Wanji entered the main hall, she saw the second madam, Yu, and the fourth miss, Zhao Hui, already seated. After exchanging greetings, the old madam sitting at the head smiled and beckoned, “Third girl, come and sit. It’s getting colder now, it’s hard for you to come so early.”

Lin Wanji responded and sat down next to Zhao Hui. She saw a maid placing two porcelain plates in front of her.

The old madam, holding her rosary beads, asked kindly, “Have you had breakfast? I had the small kitchen prepare two bowls of milk cakes, your favorite, you and Zhao Hui can have some.”

“I got up in a hurry and haven’t had breakfast yet. Thank you, grandmother, for your consideration.” Lin Wanji didn’t refuse and took a bowl. Seeing Zhao Hui also reaching for one, their eyes met, and they couldn’t help but secretly smile at each other.

Just as they were talking, she saw her mother, Lu, arrive, followed by the Marchioness Jiang and the second miss, Zhao Fu. Lin Wanji glanced at the second miss, who was wearing a red dress, very eye-catching—but the most eye-catching was the dazzling headdress she wore, with several pearl hairpins on both sides of her temples. Although the pearls were luxurious, they were piled on her head, looking cluttered and complicated.

Lin Wanji sighed at her cousin’s aesthetic sense, and then saw a hint of displeasure flash across the old madam’s face, and she immediately understood. Although the old madam loved her grandchildren, she had been a Buddhist for many years and preferred simple colors. Therefore, Lin Wanji wore a light-colored dress and didn’t wear many hair ornaments when she paid her respects today, and the fourth miss, Zhao Hui, also wore simple clothes.

Although the old madam was displeased, she didn’t show it, but she also asked the maid to give them seats and tea. For a moment, no one spoke. The second madam, Yu, seeing the silence, quickly smiled at the old madam, “Now that the third brother’s family has returned to the mansion, our family is reunited, and it just happens to coincide with the ancestor’s birthday banquet, it’s going to be lively for a while.”