RPAGF Chapter 224 The Lin Family Mother and Daughter Visit
Chapter 224 The Lin Family Mother and Daughter Visit
Since returning from Xinglong County after the New Year, Lan Zhi hadn't seen Madam Lin. Why did she suddenly appear today? And why did she bring Lin Yuwei with her?
Even if she disliked them, she still understood the principle of treating guests as guests, and there was no reason for her to refuse to see them when they came.
Thinking of this, she deliberately fiddled with the small bells at her waist. When she was sure they were still there, she raised an eyebrow and, with the help of Ah Qi and Xiang Xiu, stepped out the door and walked towards the main hall.
The main hall of the Crown Prince's residence
Lin Yuwei fiddled with the jade bracelet in her hand, letting out a disdainful snort.
"Mother, I'm about to marry Prince Xun and become Princess Xun. Why should we come here to curry favor with her?"
“Silly girl, this isn’t about ingratiating yourself, it’s about building a closer relationship. After all, she’s the Crown Princess, and you’re a Princess. Although you’re sisters-in-law, there’s a huge difference in your status. While she still gives me some face, you have to cultivate a good relationship with her.”
"We keep to ourselves and don't interfere with each other. Is it really necessary to make things so complicated?"
"You should always listen to your mother."
At this moment, Madam Lin looked up and saw Lan Zhi walking in. She quickly pulled Lin Yuwei forward to bow, saying, "Greetings, Crown Princess."
Lan Zhi gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
"Madam Lin, please don't stand on ceremony, please have a seat."
She then instructed the maid outside:
"Our distinguished guest has arrived, why haven't you served tea?"
After saying this, she tugged at the hem of her dress, and the small bell at her waist instantly made a 'jingling' sound. Upon hearing this, Madam Lin's calm brows furrowed instantly, and her expression turned very ugly.
Lan Zhi noticed all of her unusual behavior.
She casually took the pair of small bells from her waist, played with them in her hands, and murmured:
"By the way, Mrs. Lin, you asked me last time if you wanted to order a pair of identical little bells. Have they been made?"
Mrs. Lin swallowed nervously, then shook her head awkwardly.
"No...no, my eldest daughter-in-law thinks this thing makes noise and is afraid it will disturb the children..."
Lan Zhi raised her hand, took the small bell in her hand and shook it. Listening to the tinkling sound, she smiled softly:
"I think this sound is very pleasant, crisp and not bothersome, so how could anyone find it noisy?"
As Mrs. Lin looked at the pair of small bells, she thought of her deceased daughter, and her eyes dimmed.
At that moment, she really wanted to rush over and snatch the two little bells back, but she silently told herself that she had to restrain herself and not act impulsively.
She nodded with a forced smile.
"These little bells...they do have a beautiful sound. I wonder if the Crown Princess would be willing to part with them and sell them to me at a high price?"
Lan Zhi smiled slightly, completely unconcerned.
“My Crown Prince’s residence doesn’t seem to be so poor that we have to sell things to make a living. Besides, a gentleman does not take what others love. Although Madam Lin is a woman, she should know that things that do not belong to you, even if taken by improper means, will not last long and will eventually be returned to their rightful owner.”
She seemed to be implying something, which Lin Yuwei didn't understand, but Madam Lin knew exactly what she meant.
She seemed a little guilty, twirling the handkerchief in her hand and giving an awkward laugh.
"That's true. Some people think that things belong to them, but actually... they belong to someone else."
Their eyes met, and their conversation left Lin Yuwei completely bewildered.
She shifted her body slightly in annoyance, then raised her handkerchief to cover her mouth and coughed softly.
"mother……"
Madam Lin then realized the purpose of her visit and quickly changed her tone, saying:
"Look at me, I'm getting old and my memory isn't what it used to be. I brought Yuwei here today so that the Crown Princess would take good care of her in the future, since she's getting married to Prince Xun next month."
Ok?
Is Lin Yuwei really going to marry Prince Xun?
Lan Zhi frowned slightly, but still smiled and offered her blessings to Lin Yuwei.
"Wishing Miss Lin and Prince Xun a loving and long-lasting marriage."
Lin Yuwei, however, rolled her eyes at her without any appreciation, then smiled disdainfully.
"Your Highness, please rest assured, Prince Xun and I will definitely be loving and affectionate for a hundred years."
"That would be wonderful. I'm sure the Crown Prince would be happy to hear about it and wish you all the best."
"Your Highness is so busy with state affairs, how could you possibly have time to wish me well!"
"..."
Seeing that the two women were speaking in a somewhat stiff tone, Madam Lin quickly tried to smooth things over.
"From now on, you two will be sisters-in-law. You should help each other out when needed. Yuwei is young, so please be understanding if she says or does anything wrong!"
Lan Zhi touched the teacup in her hand, twirled it around on the table, and then nodded with a light smile.
"That's natural, but since Miss Lin has a powerful family to support her, I should ask Miss Lin to help her more."
"Your Highness is too modest. By the way, I brought you a small gift today..."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and a maid brought a jewelry box to Lan Zhi. Madam Lin quickly introduced it:
"Here is a purple jade bracelet. I originally had two identical ones, which were part of my dowry when I married into the Lin family. I gave one to Yuwei and the other to you, hoping that you two sisters-in-law could get along as well as real sisters."
She didn't know why she inexplicably wanted to give the bracelet to Lan Zhi, but she just wanted to do it, for no reason at all.
Madam Lin's unexpected attempt to curry favor made Lan Zhi feel somewhat uncomfortable.
She glanced at the bracelet placed in front of her and felt a little resistant.
Lin Yuwei initially wanted to share Wei Jianning equally with her, but now that the matter is about to be settled, Madam Lin has given them both a pair of bracelets, which shows that her motives are not pure.
She, the wife of a high-ranking imperial censor, is capable of petty theft; what else is she incapable of doing?
She inexplicably came to curry favor; who knows what her true intentions were?
Thinking of this, she blinked her long eyelashes and shook her head in refusal.
"This bracelet looks to be of good quality. It's really not appropriate for Madam Lin to give me one. I'd better keep it for Miss Lin as part of her dowry!"
Lin Yuwei immediately waved the handkerchief in her hand and murmured:
"See? I told you long ago, she's the Crown Princess, why would she care about your little favors? You just had to try and win her over, and now look what happened, you've been slapped in the face, haven't you?"
Madam Lin's face immediately flushed red with embarrassment, and she then looked at Lan Zhi.
"Does the Crown Princess really not want to accept it?"
Without a second thought, Lan Zhi shook her head again.
"I cannot accept such a valuable gift from Madam Lin. Besides, I don't like wearing the same things as others."
At this point, she raised her hand, closed the jewelry box, and pushed it towards Madam Lin, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam Lin, please take it back."
Hearing this, Lin Yuwei became even angrier.
Her face flushed red as she glared at Madam Lin, gritting her teeth and angrily rebuking her:
"Although she comes from a humble background, she is now the Crown Princess. She wouldn't even look at your little trinket, nor would she deign to wear the same thing as me, a princess. It would only lower her status!"