Lin Ze's words were cut short as a servant lightly knocked and announced, "Master, the Minister of Personnel requests an audience."
He nodded and said to Lin Yanxi, "Zhaozhao, you should go back first. What you just said to your father is enough, never mention court matters to anyone else."
"Oh, and listen, don't get too close to Shen Muzhou. But if you hear any rumors from the Prince Mu's estate, tell your father immediately."
Lin Yanxi pouted. So her father was using her as an informant. She wanted to say something more.
Lin Ze led her to the study door and said, "Don't worry, your father will consider everything you said. You don't need to fret about it, just be good."
----
For the next two days, Lin Yanxi was listless. She felt like her bones had been removed, lying limply on the swing, lacking any spirit.
Shen Muzhou hadn't come to the Grand Tutor's mansion in the evenings either these past two days, probably due to his injury.
She wondered if his wounds had healed.
She didn't know if her father had taken to heart what she had told him. She hoped he would change his mind and spare Shen Muzhou's life.
Siyue brought back plenty of food and playthings from outside to cheer her up.
She didn't even look at them. "Siyue, where did you get the money? Don't just buy things recklessly."
A flicker of something unusual crossed Siyue's eyes, then she scratched her head and said with a simple smile, "I took a ruby from the pendant of the earring Miss gave me last time, and it fetched a lot of money. There's some left."
"Keep it for yourself. There will be plenty of places to spend money in the army camp."
Siyue really didn't know how to cheer Lin Yanxi up. After thinking for a moment, she continued, "Miss, you don't need to worry too much. I heard the Ninth Prince is in charge of issuing passes. Ordinary citizens just need to report their reason for leaving the city to the court and they'll be allowed to pass. It's very timely and hasn't affected the lives of the people."
"However, when Madam tried to get passes a few times, the Ninth Prince refused, citing various excuses and rejecting them one by one."
"With the Ninth Prince there, Miss shouldn't be leaving for Shangchi anytime soon."
Lizhi, overhearing this, chimed in, "That's right. If Miss acts obediently in front of Madam these days, Madam might be pleased and forget about it."
Lin Yanxi looked at them listlessly and managed to force a weak smile.
Tangchao held an umbrella to shield Lin Yanxi from the sun. "Miss, I think Lizhi's suggestion makes sense. You and Madam are mother and daughter, how could she truly bear to let you go? Why don't you choose a gift for her to resolve the distance between you?"
"When I was a child, I was naughty, and my mother threatened to beat me. I used my savings to buy a sugar cake for my mother, and she was so happy she cried. She didn't even remember punishing me."
Lin Yanxi's interest was suddenly piqued, but then she deflated again. "Mother doesn't seem to lack anything, nor does she have any particular preferences."
She couldn't think of anything to give her mother.
Tangchao suggested, "What about rouge, face powder, or a gold hairpin?"
Siyue smacked her head. "Do you think Madam is like you, liking such superficial things?"
"Then what do you suggest we give?"
Siyue stroked her chin. "How about something handmade? It represents your heart and is a priceless treasure."
Lin Yanxi's eyes lit up instantly. She pinched Siyue's face and said, "Siyue, you're so clever!"
A blush crept onto Siyue's dark face.
When Lin Yanxi was still an imbecile, her mother, seeing her often staring blankly at the embroidery frame, thought she liked embroidery and taught her for two days. At that time, she hadn't recovered her senses, so she naturally didn't respond.
Even though it was only two days, she now recalled it as a precious memory. Her mother had been gentle and patient, teaching her stitches over and over.
No sooner said than done, with needle and thread prepared, Lin Yanxi locked herself in her room for an entire day. Her fingers, pricked by the embroidery needles, were almost full of holes, and her neck was stiff and sore.
Looking at the four crooked characters embroidered on the sachet, "Health and Longevity," she let out a satisfied smile.
In her previous life, she had been forced to marry the Crown Prince. It was probably around this time that her mother's illness worsened, and she passed away from melancholy. Now that she had avoided that calamity and refused the marriage proposal from the Crown Prince, her mother's illness didn't seem as severe as in her past life. Her mother's health and longevity were what she desired most.
"Second Miss, Third Miss is returning to the mansion today. Her carriage has arrived outside the manor gate."
A servant's announcement came from outside the door.
Lin Yanxi's spirits instantly lifted. It was Ruoyan, her little sister was back!
Lin Yanxi clutched the sachet in her hand and excitedly got up to go to the door to find Lin Ruoyan to give the sachet to her mother.
As she got up and went out, she accidentally knocked over a support pillar of the screen in the room.
The screen frame wobbled and crashed directly towards her.
Lin Yanxi had no time to dodge. She instinctively raised her hand to block, letting out a cry, "Ah!"
Miraculously, a talismanic formation appeared out of nowhere on her hand, and the screen froze in mid-air, not falling as expected.
However, the talismanic formation was very fragile. It had just formed a rudimentary shape in the air before dissipating and vanishing.
Fortunately, Lin Yanxi reacted quickly and dodged before the formation broke.
Without the stabilizing spell, the screen collapsed with a crash, hitting the ground with a 'clatter.'
Tangchao, who heard the commotion from outside the door, rushed in. "Miss, Miss, are you alright!"
Lin Yanxi stared at her palm blankly. Her fingers were empty. Without her soul ring, could she still cast talismans?
She had practiced according to the ancient texts for so long without any success, how could she suddenly form a spell?
Tangchao called for servants to move the fallen screen out of the room, then said to Lin Yanxi, "It's good that Miss is unharmed. Let's go and welcome Third Miss. I'm afraid if you're not present when Third Miss returns, people will gossip."
Lin Yanxi came back to her senses and nodded, holding up the sachet. "Look, my gift is ready too. I'll give it to Mother in a moment."
"This time, I will be able to mend my relationship with Mother. I certainly won't make her angry again. I'll obediently listen to her and accept as many female tutors as she wants to hire."
---
Grand Tutor's Mansion, Wanxin Pavilion.
Jiang Wan's courtyard was crowded with people. Servants stood on both sides, with boxes of gifts placed at their feet. The members of the second branch stood in the open courtyard, peering inside.
When they saw Lin Yanxi arrive, their eyes showed a hint of schadenfreude.
Madam Xu, seeing Lin Yanxi approach, swayed her ample waist over to her. "Some people constantly anger Madam. Fortunately, now that Ruoyan is back, Madam can feel a bit more at ease."
Zhao Yinyin rolled her eyes and taunted, "Tsk tsk, Ruoyan and Madam truly look like a mother and daughter. Madam was actually crying when she saw Third Sister alight from her carriage."
Lin Yuan covered her mouth with a handkerchief and let out a snicker, her eyes filled with unconcealed triumph.
Every word of this reached Lin Yanxi's ears. Unexpectedly, she didn't care and didn't respond, walking lightly towards the house.
What they said was inherently wrong. Ruoyan and Mother are mother and daughter, why the need for "look like"?
Lin Yanxi couldn't be bothered to argue with them. Today, Ruoyan's return was a joyous occasion. Looking at them any longer would only bring bad luck.
Zhao Yinyin glared at her. Seeing that she was ignored, it felt like punching soft cotton. "Forget it, forget it. They're having a family reunion, what are we doing here watching the show."
Madam Xu also found it uninteresting and left with Zhao Yinyin.
Only Lin Shibai's eyes showed a hint of playfulness when he saw Tangchao. He remained in place.
Inside the room, two wooden doors were open, facing each other. Lin Ze and Jiang Wan stood inside, talking with a little girl with smiles on their faces.
Lin Ruoyan was wearing a light pink ruqun, adorned with some blue and white glazed fragments on the hem, giving the entire dress a softer, more textured look.
She nestled in Jiang Wan's arms and pouted, "Mother, I'm not leaving again now that I'm back."
Jiang Wan hugged her tightly and gently stroked her hair. "Good, you're not leaving. If you don't want to go anywhere, then you won't."
Lin Ruoyan sniffled, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes. She looked back and saw her second sister standing in the courtyard.
Lin Yanxi waved excitedly to greet her. Lin Ruoyan was one of the people she cared about most in the Grand Tutor's mansion.
Lin Ruoyan also broke into a smile and was about to say something when Jiang Wan pulled her around. "Let Mother see if you've lost any weight during your trip!"
Jiang Wan turned and instructed Jade Aunt, "Jade Aunt, please clear out the side room for Ruoyan to stay in my courtyard. If you need anything else, just tell Mother, and Mother will get it for you."
Lin Yanxi's smile froze on her face. Her investigative gaze fell on Jiang Wan. Ever since she had regained her senses, her mother had always been cold and unusually stern.
She thought her mother's nature was just like this, a distant and indifferent cold beauty to everyone.
But clearly, what those people outside had said was correct. Lin Ruoyan and Jiang Wan were what a normal mother and daughter should be like.
Lin Yanxi watched them quietly, a flicker of hurt flashing in her eyes. She clenched her hand, gripping the sachet, her lips trembling, but she said nothing.
Jiang Wan didn't even notice her, not even a glance.
"Ruoyan, how was everything outside? Were the female tutors good to you? Did you eat enough and wear warm clothes? It's my fault, I didn't take good care of you."
Jiang Wan's eyes were full of guilt. In the past, she had focused her energy on Lin Yanxi. She worried about the Jiang clan, worried about investigating the murderer of her brother, and worried about Lin Yanxi, but she had neglected Ruoyan.
As a result, she hadn't even noticed when her youngest daughter was sent away by someone with ill intentions.
Lin Ruoyan was not a pampered or delicate person. She had a cheerful and lively disposition, with smiling eyes that bore some resemblance to Lin Yanxi's, making her very endearing.
Looking at Lin Ruoyan, Jiang Wan, in a daze, saw the way Lin Yanxi smiled.
If Zhaozhao were as Ruoyan was, how wonderful it would be. If she were just an ordinary young lady, even if she wasn't as obedient and well-behaved as Ruoyan, even if she was a little rebellious.
"Mother, I'm fine. And I saw many interesting things when I was out. I'll tell Sister everything!"
"Only to Sister, not to Mother?"
"Of course I'll tell you. I'll stay with you every day, Mother."
A faint, bitter smile touched Lin Yanxi's fair face. She lowered her gaze to the sachet in her hand, which was now creased from being clutched. She carefully smoothed out the fabric and gently brushed it off with her small hand.
She glanced at her third sister acting spoiled in her mother's arms, and for a moment, she lost herself in it, as if she were the one in her mother's embrace.
Lin Yanxi suddenly smiled, then her expression turned lonely. She quietly placed the sachet on the table and slipped away.
As she came out, she happened to see Lin Shibai take a small lip balm from his sleeve.
"Little girl, Inyin injured you that day. This lip balm is my apology to you."