Chapter 7 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 7:
Pattern
Upon returning to the Marquis of Wu Ding's residence, Lin Yunwan did not rush to attend to household matters. Instead, she took out writing materials and began copying a written text by the window.
She continued this practice for three days.
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Pingye entered to assist her in grinding ink, asking softly, "Madam, it's been a long time since you practiced calligraphy like this. These past few days, you've been copying 'Zhu Zhi Tie.' Are you planning to personally teach the two young masters how to write?"
If it were in her previous life, Lin Yunwan might have indeed considered such an idea. However, she hadn't forgotten that when she proposed such a notion, they suspected her of being reluctant to spend money to hire a tutor for Young Master Qing Ge'er.
"No," Lin Yunwan replied in a calm voice.
She would never teach Young Master Qing Ge'er again.
Ping Ye sighed in relief and vented a bit of frustration, saying, "Young Master Qing Ge'er has been staying with the Old Madam all this time, not even coming to pay his respects properly. His behavior is not proper, and it's good that Young Madam isn't teaching him."
However, Lu Chang Gong was innocent.
Ping Ye sympathetically added, "If you could only teach Young Master Chang Gong, that would be much better. Regardless of whether you have the time to see him or not, he comes to pay his respects every day. It seems he is a filial and sensible young man."
She sighed again and continued, "Surely, the household treats everyone equally. How could you only teach one young master?"
Lin Yunwan simply replied, "This set of calligraphy exercises is prepared for Chang Gong. He will find it useful."
As she finished transcribing a piece of prose, she put down her brush and lowered her head to scrutinize the characters she had just written. In her past life, as she focused on managing the Marquis of Wuding's residence, she had forgotten many of the skills taught by her father and teacher.
Looking at her current handwriting, if her father were to see it, he would probably be so upset that his beard would stand on end.
Indeed, there were too many unfamiliar aspects.
But at the endpoint of her past life, these skills were the only things that truly belonged to her, and no one could take them away.
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As she wrote until the sun set behind the mountains, a message came from Yu Shou Tang, "Madam, the heir has brought Miss Bao'er back, and the Old Madam requests your presence."
Qing'er's birth mother, Ge Bao'er, had finally arrived at the Lu family!
Lin Yunwan put down her brush, rubbed her slightly sour wrist, and curled her lips, saying, "I understand."
Ping Ye helped her change into a new outfit. In her heart, she was actually indignant and muttered quietly, "What Miss Bao'er, daring to delay Young Madam's return to the residence. She's definitely not a good person!"
Lin Yunwan arrived late, and in Yu Shou Tang, they were already having a pleasant conversation.
Surprisingly, Ge Bao'er was sitting next to the Old Madam, and Madam Wei was also by her side, wearing a pleasant expression. As for Lu Zhengliu, he didn't need to be mentioned; although he didn't participate in the women's discussion, his expression was much milder and happier than usual.
"Old Madam, the Young Madam has arrived."
The conversation inside abruptly stopped. Ge Bao'er quickly stood up, came over to bow to Lin Yunwan, and greeted her, "Greetings to the Young Madam."
In the eyes of outsiders, she was a distant relative from the town near the Old Madam's hometown. She naturally dressed simply and cleanly. Her slender figure was draped in a light green jacket, and two small white flowers were pinned near her temples. Although she wore a white veil covering half of her face, her eyes were lively and spirited when she blinked.
Originating from the countryside, she possessed the pure and charming appearance of a lotus emerging from clear water. Her character also seemed simple and obedient.
How could such a woman not be likable?
Not to mention the Old Madam and Madam Wei, even in Lin Yunwan's past life, she had been deceived by this appearance!
"Bao'er, this is your sister-in-law, Yunwan."
The Old Madam led Ge Bao'er to Lin Yunwan.
"Bao'er greets Cousin."
Ge Bao'er bowed and couldn't help but raise her head to scrutinize Lin Yunwan. Suddenly, she was stunned.
It was evident that Lin Yunwan hadn't deliberately dressed up to meet her. She wore a simple yet elegant dress, displaying luxury in subtle details. Her attire was refined, and the noble aura emanated from her. Her complexion was delicate, resembling jade, and her glossy black hair cascaded like silk.
From head to toe, every aspect exuded the demeanor of a mistress of the house. Especially her eyes, graceful and imposing, truly captivating and mesmerizing!
Leng Yunwan also addressed her, saying, "Cousin Ge."
Ge Bao'er felt a complex mix of emotions as she lowered her head.
Although Lu Zhengliu had mentioned that the Lin family pressured him to marry Lin Yunwan, thinking she was just good at managing household affairs, she never expected Lin Yunwan to be so beautiful.
Seeing Ge Bao'er lost in thought, Lin Yunwan suddenly asked sharply, "Cousin, why are you wearing a veil?"
Madam Wei, still unaware of the situation, added, "It's almost summer, isn't Miss Bao'er afraid of feeling stuffy?"
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Ge Bao'er's heart raced. Of course, it was to avoid arousing suspicion. Although she had prepared reasons in advance, she felt anxious and dared not answer candidly.
"She has developed a rash on her face and it may take some time to heal. Yunwan, you don't need to worry about her for this trivial matter," the shrewd Old Madam Lu quickly intervened on Ge Bao'er's behalf.
Lin Yunwan seemed to have no suspicions and politely replied, "Cousin Ge is our guest, coming from afar. I was indeed late, causing some negligence. It's only natural to show concern for her."
Old Madam Lu followed up with a teasing remark, "Since you acknowledge the negligence, hurry up and get a couple of yards of fabric to make clothes for your cousin to wear."
"Old Madam Lu is right, I will remember that," Lin Yunwan responded politely.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the small hall became unexpectedly harmonious, and Ge Bao'er secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"But..." Leng Yunwan looked at Ge Bao'er's embroidered shoes and said, "Cousin Ge seems to like the cloud pattern fabric just like the young master. Unfortunately, I don't have any fabric with that pattern in my place."
Everyone followed her words, first looking at Ge Bao'er's shoes and then at Lu Zhengliu's. Ge Bao'er wanted to retract her feet but was too late!
Not only were the patterns identical, upon closer inspection, it seemed like they were embroidered by the same person.
Madam Wei, oblivious to any issues, chuckled and said, "What a coincidence!"
After speaking, she felt something was odd. A young girl and her son wearing the same pattern... Could Ge Bao’er have done it on purpose? She really thought Ge Bao’er was a well-behaved girl. Madam Wei's impression of Ge Bao’er took a sharp downturn.
Old Madam Lu's face changed, and Lu Zhengliu's heart sank as well. Why would she choose to wear such shoes among many prying eyes?
Ge Bao’er knew she had messed up. Pale with fright, she subconsciously looked towards Lu Zhengliu, but he didn't dare to meet her gaze.
She felt a sense of isolation and helplessness.
"If you don't have that fabric, then forget it. I have a lot of sandalwood-colored fabric here. Although it looks a bit old-fashioned, it's enough for her to wear only in my courtyard," Old Madam Lu said coldly.
Old Madam Lu spoke without the warmth from before, and Lu Zhengliu's expression also changed.
"Why not let everyone disperse? It's getting late," Old Madam Lu tiredly dismissed the guests. She then spoke to Lin Yunwan alone, "Come over tomorrow morning. The two children have been in the mansion for some time; it's time for them to read some proper books. Let's discuss and establish some rules."
Her attitude and tone seemed much less cordial than before.
"Alright. Daughter-in-law bids farewell," Lin Yunwan responded.
As she exited, she faintly heard Ge Bao’er's crying from inside.
Lin Yunwan gave a cold, disdainful smile.
Being able to stay under her watchful eyes for twenty years, just waiting for her to die and then seizing the position of the Madam. How could such a person lack ambition?
And ambition, much like a cough, is something challenging to conceal.
© 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.
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