The carriage slowly rolled to a stop in front of the Marquis Mansion.
"Third Master, First Lady, we've arrived at the Marquis Mansion," the coachman called out from outside.
Hearing this, Wen Yuanning inside the carriage paused for a moment. He nodded slightly at Lan Miao and then stepped out of the carriage first.
"Xue'er, come here," Wen Yuanning stood beside the carriage and gently lifted Xue'er, who was about to jump out, into his arms.
"Thank you, Uncle Third."
When Lan Miao was about to get out, Wen Yuanning reached out his hand, indicating that she could hold on to it. But Lan Miao didn't even look at him. She grabbed the carriage door and jumped out on her own.
"Third Brother, thank you for this trip," Lan Miao said with a gentle smile on her face, exuding a peaceful and elegant air in her speech and manner.
A look of disappointment flashed across Wen Yuanning's eyes. He withdrew his hand and resumed his usual dignified and reserved demeanor. "Sister-in-law, you're too polite. It's what I should do."
They stood at the entrance, chatting like an ordinary uncle and sister-in-law.
The group entered through the main gate. Wen Yuanning walked in the front, while Lan Miao and Xue'er walked half a step behind. Before they could reach the back courtyard, Nanny Li led a few maids and came towards them with unfriendly looks.
"First Lady and Miss are back. Please go to the Chunxi Hall. The Old Madam is waiting to see you and the Miss," Nanny Li said in a sarcastic tone. It was obvious that this was not going to be a good thing.
Lan Miao was already used to this. She had a countermeasure in mind. She nodded calmly and took Xue'er's hand, following Nanny Li and the others towards the Chunxi Hall. Seeing this, Wen Yuanning also started to follow, but Nanny Li reached out her hand to stop him. She said with a fake smile, "Third Master has been on a long journey. There are many matters waiting for you outside. You don't need to go and pay your respects to the Old Madam."
"You..."
"Please listen to the Old Madam, Third Master," Nanny Li said persuasively. Wen Yuanning had no choice but to stop.
At that moment, Nanny Li bowed and turned around. In front, Lan Miao and Xue'er, surrounded by the maids, had already walked a long way. Her slender and frail figure stood out like an orchid among the crowd. He stared greedily at her back for a long time, but in the end, he didn't follow.
---
In the Chunxi Hall.
Inside the hall, a beast-headed Boshan censer was placed on a rosewood table carved with cloud patterns. Thick sandalwood incense from pear wood was burning, and the fragrance filled the air, blending with the faint tea smoke, creating a refreshing aroma.
When Lan Miao and Xue'er entered, Old Madam Wen was drinking tea with Madam You.
When they saw Lan Miao coming in, the two exchanged a subtle look.
"Your daughter-in-law pays respects to you, Mother," Lan Miao said.
"Xue'er pays respects to Grandmother and Second Aunt," Xue'er said.
After they finished paying their respects, Lan Miao stood up, and Xue'er instinctively went to wait under the window on the inner side of the hall.
Madam You lowered her head to drink tea, waiting for the show with a sly look in her eyes.
The hall was extremely quiet.
At this moment, the Old Madam put down her tea cup heavily.
With a cold look on her face, she started to pick on Lan Miao. "You've climbed up the social ladder and come back. I can't bear your respects."
"Your daughter-in-law wouldn't dare," Lan Miao replied in a slightly trembling voice. Under the Old Madam's cold gaze, her expression instantly became panicked. She looked around at the servants and there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "Your daughter-in-law has something to say. It's about the palace..."
This took them by surprise. Old Madam Wen and Madam You were stunned.
The aura they had before to suppress Lan Miao suddenly weakened. Old Madam Wen rolled her cloudy eyes and after a moment of thought, she said in a low voice, "All of you, go out."
As soon as the Old Madam gave the order, Nanny Li and the other maids who were waiting around left.
After they closed the door.
"Alright, there are no outsiders now. Just say what you have to say," the Old Madam raised her eyebrows and looked at Lan Miao coldly.
Lan Miao nodded nervously, and her voice became softer and softer.
"The Empress Dowager kept your daughter-in-law in the palace to test her jade carving skills. I heard that during this period, the Empress Dowager has found many jade carvers. Some who sneaked into the palace were driven out by the Empress Dowager. Your daughter-in-law passed the test. But the thing the Empress Dowager wants to carve is too complicated. Your daughter-in-law is afraid of bringing shame to the Marquis Mansion..."
"Did you refuse?" Madam You thought of Lan Miao's behavior in the palace and almost spat out the tea in her mouth. She looked terrified.
"No... Your daughter-in-law promised the Empress Dowager, but privately, I'm not completely sure. Your daughter-in-law still needs to find some suitable tools. Maybe I have to go to the jade workshop often. So I won't be able to take care of all the matters in the Marquis Mansion."
Before the Old Madam could say anything, Madam You answered first.
She stared with wide eyes and her eyebrows shot up.
"When did the matters of the Marquis Mansion need you to take care of? It's most important that you handle the Empress Dowager's task well. Don't mess things up and bring trouble to the Marquis Mansion."
Lan Miao lowered her head and didn't say a word. She pursed her lips.
Madam You was still chattering on. The Old Madam gave her a cold look. "That's enough." After Madam You stopped, she turned to Lan Miao. Her narrow eyes squinted like a venomous snake. "Since you've taken on the Empress Dowager's task, don't bring shame to the Marquis Mansion. If you need anything, just say it. Don't mess things up. If there's a chance, try to get on good terms with the Empress Dowager. Do you understand?"
"Your daughter-in-law understands," Lan Miao nodded nervously.
A huge weight was lifted off her heart.
Sure enough, for the sake of the Empress Dowager, the Old Madam had restrained herself a lot.
Although taking on this task was not her original intention, if she could make good use of the complicated relationships and maximize the benefits, it would still be a good thing.
"Even if you've taken on the Empress Dowager's task, you can't neglect your filial duties," the Old Madam changed the subject and started to lecture Lan Miao.
"Mother, please rest assured. Your daughter-in-law will never neglect the morning and evening greetings," Lan Miao promised seriously. With a calm expression, she said respectfully, "Xue'er will go to the Wenya Hall in the palace in a few days. Your daughter-in-law wants to prepare well for her in these few days."
Hearing her name, Xue'er skipped over from the inner side.
She walked to Lan Miao's side, and Lan Miao stroked her head.
The mother and daughter smiled at each other.
Madam You looked at Xue'er's lively appearance and was envious. When would her children be so lucky?
The Old Madam glanced at Xue'er with a look of disgust. Although she didn't like this little girl always hanging around her, since she had become the princess's companion reader, it was a matter of pride for the Marquis Mansion. So she said stiffly, "When you go to the palace in the future, don't cause any trouble. Take good care of the princess and say some good words for your cousin. Make a good impression for the descendants of the Marquis Mansion."
"Xue'er understands. But cousin is very smart. He will definitely be able to enter the Wenya Hall without Xue'er's good words," Xue'er said with a big smile. This made Madam You's face turn black.
She didn't know how to retort.
Using the excuse of preparing for Xue'er to enter the palace and start school, Lan Miao and Xue'er took their leave first. After this incident, the Old Madam and Madam You couldn't find fault with her anymore. Lan Miao was even more determined to finish carving that piece of jade.
She held Xue'er's hand and walked towards the Pinglan Courtyard lightly.
When they passed by the moon gate at the corner, she almost bumped into someone.
Lan Miao quickly took a step back.
She was caught in time by Xue'er beside her.
The person who almost bumped into them walked steadily but in a hurry. His face was ashen. Lan Miao looked over and saw that it was the current Marquis Yongyi, Wen Hongxin.
He was still holding a prominent yellow jade pendant in his hand.