The old madam nodded, also cheerfully saying, “Huai Shu will be getting married soon, our mansion will be very lively. It’s tiring for you, my sister-in-law, to be busy with all this. I’ll have Huai Shu thank you properly later.”

Lin Huai Shu, the heir of the Anping Marquis Mansion, was the younger brother of the Crown Prince’s concubine. He currently served in the Imperial Guard in the capital. With his status as the Marquis’s heir and his youth and talent, he was outstanding among the young noblemen. If he were to marry, it would undoubtedly be to a woman from a prominent family.

Lin Wanji knew nothing about this future sister-in-law. But if there were to be banquets and visits… she glanced at the Marchioness opposite her, still with that reserved and taciturn demeanor. Although Jiang was the Marchioness, she was a stepmother, and now the second wife managed the household…

“Oh, Grandmother, no need for thanks. I’ve been looking forward to Huai Shu’s marriage so that I can hand over the household management to the new daughter-in-law.”

Yu chuckled softly, then seemed to remember something and said to Lu beside her, “Grandmother’s birthday banquet is in three days. We’ve invited several families with close ties to our mansion, families with whom we have had some kinship in the past. Sister-in-law, you should take this opportunity to get to know them better. Also, it will be busy that day, and I need your help to entertain the guests. After all, the eldest sister-in-law’s health…”

Yu trailed off, seemingly waiting for Jiang to respond. Seeing the conversation turn to her, Jiang quickly waved her hand, “My health has been poor for years, as Second Sister-in-law knows. Sister-in-law has the talent for managing the household, so you will have to work hard with the family affairs.”

Yu received the expected answer and nodded, but still humbly said, “Eldest sister-in-law, please rest well. If the courtyard lacks any supplements or medicines, just tell me. I don’t have the good fortune like the eldest sister-in-law, I’m just born to work hard.”

“You, you’re always so smooth-talking. Why do you say you don’t have good fortune? Our mansion would be lacking without you?” The old madam was amused by Yu’s words, her mood improved, and she chatted with her daughters-in-law and granddaughters for a while before waving her hand, “I’ve always been quiet and simple, I’m afraid you young ladies won’t be used to it, so I won’t keep you for dinner.”

Everyone responded and paid their respects to the old madam. Lin Wanji was about to leave with Lu, but she saw the second madam pulling her mother towards the storeroom, apparently discussing preparations for the birthday banquet, so she didn’t interrupt.

Just as she left Shou’an Hall and was about to return to Crimson Flower Pavilion, she caught sight of a flash of red beside her, and a figure quickly walked in front of her, the ornaments on her headdress jingling as she moved.

Lin Wanji looked up and saw Lin Zhaofu with a displeased expression. Knowing the other’s intentions, she still pretended to be harmless and smiled, “Second Sister, is there something you need?”

Lin Zhaofu looked at the bright-faced girl in front of her. Although she was half a head shorter, her demeanor was not at all inferior. Already irritated, she still forced a smile and said sharply, “Of course, I have something for Third Sister. Third Sister has just entered the mansion, and this is our first meeting. As the mistress of the mansion, I should give you a housewarming gift. I was in a hurry that day and didn’t have time to give it to you, so I’m giving it to you today.”

Lin Wanji heard her emphasize the words “mistress of the mansion,” and couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. Before she finished speaking, she directly took a hairpin from her hair and placed it in Lin Wanji’s hand, sneering, “Third Sister is from Yangzhou, you probably haven’t seen the luxury of the capital, you might mistake pearls for something else. This hairpin is newly made by Ruyi Workshop, Third Sister, please appreciate it and keep it well.”

Lin Wanji was speechless, holding the hairpin in her hand.

If Lin Zhaofu wanted to be friendly, her words and actions clearly showed disdain; if she wanted to make things difficult for her, who would deliberately cause trouble and give away good things? Although Lin Wanji didn’t lack gold and jewelry, she wouldn’t refuse good ones.

Thinking that this cousin, who was about the same age as her, inexplicably disliked her, yet still gave her jewelry, Lin Wanji felt cheerful, and even looked at her favorably.

Behind them, a “pfft” sound was heard, and Lin Zhao Hui came from the courtyard, covering her mouth and laughing, her laughter was very clear, but it was a little irritating to Lin Zhaofu.

“Fourth Sister, what are you laughing at? Are you envious of my new hairpin and want one too?” Lin Zhaofu had often been overshadowed by this cousin from the second branch in the mansion, and they often clashed. Lin Zhao Hui was sharp-tongued, which made her furious.

“Second Sister’s hairpin is nice, but…” Lin Zhao Hui’s voice was still smiling, her tone rising slightly, with a hint of schadenfreude, “Second Sister, don’t you know that Ruyi Workshop is now owned by Third Aunt in the capital? Third Sister has seen all the fashionable styles in Yangzhou, she probably doesn’t care for the clothes and jewelry in the capital!”

Lin Zhaofu’s face turned pale. She had only heard that the third branch’s maternal family was merely merchants, how could they be so powerful, and even have shops in the capital! She had just shown off, only to make a fool of herself, and let Fourth Sister see her joke!

Just as she was filled with resentment, she saw Lin Wanji holding the hairpin tightly, nodding and smiling, “Second Sister’s gift is precious, I’ll accept it. If Ruyi Workshop has any new styles in the future, I’ll have someone send a set to Second Sister.”

Lin Zhaofu was even more angry, seeing that both of them seemed to be laughing at her, she snorted coldly and hurried away.

Lin Zhao Hui looked at her quickly departing back and couldn’t help but laugh again, then asked Lin Wanji, “Sister, if you’re free, why don’t you come to my Lin Yin Xie? I’ve heard that Third Sister is talented and knowledgeable in poetry, would you be willing to give me some guidance? Hui’er has been looking forward to your visit.”

Lin Wanji nodded and agreed, humbly saying, “I only know a little, how can I dare to give guidance, it’s fine if Sister doesn’t mind.”

Lin Zhao Hui playfully pulled her into the courtyard of Lin Yin Xie, instructing her personal maid to take a collection of poems from the bookshelf. After they both sat down, she sweetly said, “When I first met Third Sister, I felt very close to you, making me want to get closer. I also heard that Sister studied with the boys in Third Uncle’s academy since childhood, I’m very envious. Hui’er doesn’t understand poetry very well, and my two brothers don’t often come home, there are a few things I don’t understand, could I ask Sister for help?”

Lin Wanji took the collection of poems and looked at it according to Lin Zhao Hui’s finger, it was Yan Xiaoshan’s poems, which she had heard the teacher talk about in Qingya Academy before, so it wasn’t unfamiliar, so she explained it carefully to her. Lin Zhao Hui listened with bright eyes, nodding constantly, her smile revealing charming dimples on her cheeks. Lin Wanji explained to her while smiling.

“Mother didn’t lie to me, Third Sister is knowledgeable and talented, a famous talented woman in Yangzhou City!”

Hearing Lin Zhao Hui’s praise, Lin Wanji couldn’t help but smile, and asked, “Hui’er, where did you learn your poetry and songs? Does the mansion have a school?”

Lin Zhao Hui’s bright eyes dimmed, but she still explained, “Third Sister, you know, there are few girls in our mansion. The eldest sister is a few years older than us, and before her marriage, Grandmother personally invited palace maids and officials to teach her. Second Sister and I also studied with the tutors hired by our family when our three brothers were young, but we only learned to read and write. Later, the tutor found another job, and Mother sent me to my maternal grandmother’s house to study with my cousins.”

The capital city was not as prosperous in literature as the south of the Yangtze River, and noble ladies were often burdened by rules, raised as future mistresses from a young age, needlework, housekeeping, finance, managing servants, there were too many things to learn, and reading seemed secondary. When the young masters reached the appropriate age, they would go to the academy to study and take exams. In a mansion like the Anping Marquis Mansion with few daughters, they wouldn’t hire another tutor, but would study together with families with whom they had connections.

The second madam, Yu’s maternal family, was also from a scholarly official background, and the tutors they hired were certainly no worse than the Lin family’s, but Lin Zhaofu… Lin Wanji thought of the Marchioness Jiang’s appearance again, and couldn’t help but sigh, she probably didn’t have such good luck.

Seeing Lin Wanji silent for a moment, Lin Zhao Hui quickly said warmly, “Besides going to my maternal grandmother’s house to study every day, Hui’er also listens to Mother’s teachings and learns housekeeping skills, it’s really boring. What did Third Sister learn in the academy? Yangzhou must be more unrestrained than the capital, it must be more interesting.”

Lin Wanji looked up, put the book down on the desk, and smiled, “Qingya Academy admits both men and women, regardless of their family’s status, as long as they are willing to study hard. When the teachers teach, they are together, only separated by screens, the subjects are not limited to poetry, classics, history, astronomy, geography, anything the teacher is willing to teach, the students are willing to learn.”

Lin Zhao Hui’s eyes lit up, filled with uncontainable envy, “I’ve heard that Uncle’s academy in Yangzhou has many students. After hearing Sister’s words, I know it’s such a wonderful place. If… if I have the chance in the future, Hui’er also wants to go to the academy to listen to lectures…”

Before she finished, Lin Zhao Hui shook her head, as if mocking herself, and chuckled softly, “I’m afraid I won’t have that chance. Next year, when I come of age, Mother will arrange a marriage for me, and she’ll urge me to learn housekeeping even more.”

In the Jingyi era, when a woman turned fifteen, the wealthier the family, the less urgent it was to marry early, they would stay at home for another two or three years, and many girls got married at seventeen or eighteen. In the capital, under the emperor’s feet, a place of officials and nobles, unless families had arranged marriages from a young age, most families would start looking for matches after their daughters came of age.

Lin Wanji saw her slightly dejected, and quickly comforted her softly, “It’s alright, Sister is still young, even if you come of age, what’s the matter? If Sister Hui’er has something she wants to do, Second Aunt doesn’t seem unreasonable…”

Lin Zhao Hui pursed her lips, hesitating, but still said with a wry smile, “My mother is very warm in front of others, but if I have some unruly thoughts, it’s absolutely impossible.”