Chapter 262 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

Chapter 262:

New Years Eve

"It's New Year again!"

The capital was covered in heavy snow, making the roads difficult to traverse. Servants and maids from wealthy households were reluctant to venture outside.

Lin Yunwan and Qi Lingheng waited for visitors to come and pay their New Year respects. As for Qi Zaijun, he had gone to the palace to accompany Emperor Jing Shun and Empress Zhao instead.

"We're running out of 'fu'[1] characters written on New Year's Eve."

Lin Yunwan picked up her brush again and wrote another stack of characters on red paper with golden ink.

© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Qi Lingheng helped beside her and remarked, "No wonder everyone treasures your 'fu' characters."

Lin Yunwan chuckled, "Well, I'm the mistress after all." Even if the servants didn't like them, they would still pretend to appreciate them.

Qi Lingheng continued to grind ink and asked, "Have you sent them to Lin Yunyi?"

Lin Yunwan replied, "If Yunyi hadn't sent a big pile over this morning, it would have been enough for today."

"Why does Yunyi need so many? Does he want to paste them all over the Lin family?"

Lin Yunwan smiled and looked down, saying, "... Maybe he wants to give them to Chang Gong."

As soon as Lu Chang Gong was mentioned, Qi Lingheng couldn't help but think about how cold and desolate the Lu family must be now.

After the funeral, Lu Chang Gong moved out with Zhuqing and others.

"Is the two-compound house too small?"

After being generous with the servants, Zhuqing took Muer to find Lu Chang Gong.

The family had just experienced a funeral, and everyone was dressed in plain clothes. She didn't even wear rouge, but now she looked much younger.

Lu Chang Gong was in the study reading when he put down the book and walked over to Mu'er and Zhujing, asking, "Do you think the house is not big enough?"

Men and women were separated, so they lived in different quarters.

Lu Chang Gong wasn't sure how Zhuqing had arranged her rooms, but if they weren't enough, he could rearrange his own rooms to accommodate them.

Zhuqing sighed, "Muer and I are fine, but I'm worried that it won't be enough when you marry."

Lu Chang Gong smiled faintly, "Aunt is thinking too far ahead."

The mourning period had just begun.

Thinking about it, Zhuqing realized it was true. She called Lu Chang Gong to look at the couplets pasted on the window, excitedly saying, "Young Master, look at these characters. Don't they look like the ones our Big Madam used to write?"

These couplets were all brought back by Lu Chang Gong from Lin Yunyi's place.

He smiled and told Zhuqing, "Aunt has a keen eye."

Zhuqing was taken aback, "Indeed..."

Lu Chang Gong nodded, turned around and went into the study. He took out several red packets and two wooden boxes, saying, "These are entrusted to me by Uncle Yunyi to pass on to you, as well as for Muer."

Zhuqing was very surprised, "This..."

She hadn't expected to receive gifts herself!

Muer was delighted, "Mother, does Muer have one too?"

Zhuqing opened the two wooden boxes. Inside hers was an exquisitely crafted hairpin, a masterpiece. However, it wasn't an official item; judging by the craftsmanship, it was the work of a skilled artisan from the common folk.

For Mu'er...

Zhuqing widened her eyes, "So many gemstones? This, this whole big box!"

Red, blue, and green gemstones, all present.

Lu Chang Gong said, "Uncle Yunyi said, since Muer was born, the...," he had to get used to changing his wording, so he continued, "the princess has never given a gift in person. This is Muer's gift."

"This is too precious!"

Zhuqing covered her chest, looking at the sparkling gemstones. She said, "This would be enough to buy another large courtyard."

Lu Chang Gong smiled gently, "This will be Mu'er's dowry in the future. Auntie, please keep it."

Zhuqing was already very tempted. She smiled and said, "I originally wanted to return it, but there's no way to return it now. So, I'll just keep it for Muer for now."

The mother and daughter returned to the rear courtyard together.

Zhuqing, accompanied by the maids Xiliu and Tongliu, went to the kitchen together.

Now there were no servants left from the mansion, except those who had served closely in the past and those she trusted.

During lunchtime, there were both meat and vegetable dishes on the table.

Smelling the delicious aroma, Muer asked, "Mother, didn't you say we couldn't eat meat?"

Zhuqing replied irritably, "I clearly said we should tell others that we're observing mourning and don't eat meat in front of them!"

Muer nodded understandingly, "I see. We can eat at home."

"You're smart," Zhuqing praised.

Muer grinned, "Mother, it smells so good!"

"It does! Mother has saved up a lot of secret money. In the future, you and your elder brother can enjoy delicious food every day," Zhuqing said.

Zhuqing didn't let Muer start eating yet, saying, "Go and call your elder brother over, and also your grandfather, Qiao Da. He's guarding the gate in the front yard and must be starving too."

Muer nodded and got off the table. She took Tongliu's hand and said, "Aunt, come with me."

Tongliu held her hand and went to call someone to have the meal.

Lu Chang Gong and Qiao Da both smelled the aroma of meat and felt hungry.

Observing mourning for three years without eating meat was tough at the beginning. They endured it for a while, but as the New Year approached, their resolve weakened.

Qiao Da, unable to resist any longer, grabbed a bowl of pork trotters and went to the adjacent room to indulge himself.

Zhuqing served Lu Chang Gong some dishes, but he declined, saying, "Aunt, there's no need. I can just have the same as usual."

"Alright," Zhuqing replied, then served Lu Chang Gong a portion of vegetarian dishes.

Lu Chang Gong enjoyed his meal, then said, "Aunt, Muer, I'm going to the study."

"Sure, young master. Just focus on your studies. If you need anything, just let us know," Zhuqing assured him.

Lu Chang Gong nodded. "If there's anything, I'll ask Qianru to inform Aunt."

After he left, Zhuqing looked at the empty bowl and sighed, "The young master is truly a person of integrity."

The three years of mourning for the elders of the Lu family would be sincerely observed, without any pretense.

Both Tongliu and Xiliu agreed.

Zhuqing smiled again. "This is what it means to achieve great things." She lowered her head to stroke Muer's face. "From now on, Muer, we'll have someone to rely on."

Muer's lips were oily from the meal.

In the past, she wouldn't have been like this. It was just that children couldn't help being hungry, especially after so long without meat, they couldn't resist filling their stomachs when they finally had the chance.

At the Lin residence.

This year, the Lin family was bustling with activity. Ever since Lin Yunyi passed the imperial examination, the Lin family's doors were constantly visited by guests.

Madam Lin looked at the relatives and friends in front of her, many of whom she didn't even recognize.

"Who is this?"

A delicately beautiful, yet unfamiliar young lady appeared.

Mrs. Lin couldn't recall when she had seen her before.

Her cousin-in-law chuckled as she introduced her, "This is my distant niece, don't you remember? You even held her when she was two years old. And your son Yunyi also held her!"

Madam Lin awkwardly smiled, "I really don't remember."

It was over a decade ago, who could tell if it was true or not?

The cousin-in-law pulled her niece in front of Madam Lin and said, "Take a look at this little girl. She also comes from a scholarly family. I'm not exaggerating..."

Someone impatiently interjected, "Just say less! Who doesn't have educated daughters?"

The cousin-in-law glared back, and it seemed like they were about to argue.

Madam Lin quickly intervened, "Let's have some tea! This year's new tea, Yunyi specially asked me to serve it to all the ladies."

Mentioning Lin Yunyi calmed the cousin-in-law down a bit. Her eyes, however, continued darting around, and she grinned, "Yunyi has grown up, and so has his arrogance. How can he not come to pay respects to his elders during the New Year?"

Madam Lin smiled and replied, "He's just afraid of imposing on you ladies."

Everyone chuckled and said, "We're all family, there's no need to worry about that."

Madam Lin then said, "I'll have someone fetch him right away."

With so many unmarried young ladies suddenly appearing among the relatives, it would be good for Yunyi to come and meet them.

•••

[1] Fu Character: In Chinese culture, during the celebration of the Lunar New Year (also known as Spring Festival), it is a tradition to decorate homes with various auspicious symbols to bring good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. One of the most common decorations is the Chinese character "福" (pronounced "fu"), which means "good fortune" or "blessing." This character is often written on red paper or banners and displayed prominently in homes.

During New Year's Eve, families typically gather to have a reunion dinner and engage in various activities to welcome the new year. Writing the character "福" on red paper during this time symbolizes the wish for blessings and prosperity in the coming year. It's believed that displaying this character prominently in the home will attract good fortune and ward off evil spirits.

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Chapter 262 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

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