Upon hearing this, Madam Lu breathed a slight sigh of relief. These days, her young mistress's demeanor had become increasingly poised and elegant. After all, she was born to the madam; at only twelve years old, she was already so composed and mature. The two illegitimate daughters always seemed too eager and couldn't compare to her at all!
Thinking of Yingniang and Yaoniang, Mama Lu frowned again: "Miss, the eldest young lady and the third young lady are having a competition in our Jinrong Courtyard, you..."
Although Yingniang and Yaoniang haven't been visiting Jinrong Courtyard as frequently as before, they're still competing with each other in everything. Aunt Chen and Aunt Xu seem to have agreed to ignore them, turning a blind eye and a deaf ear. They're probably testing Jinrong Courtyard's attitude by deliberately indulging their daughters.
Miss is the legitimate daughter of the family! How can we let two illegitimate daughters be treated like this!
Xiao Jin remained calm and composed. She showed no shame or anger, and said peacefully, "I know Mother meant well. But if you think about it carefully, Mother, if I insist on arguing and bring it up with Father, then I'm the one in the wrong!"
"Let them fight it out, I've benefited from it all!" Xiao Jin chuckled nonchalantly, waving her hand and saying, "I assure you, I won't be so easily manipulated by them!"
A hint of surprise flashed through Madam Lu's mind. Her young mistress had actually guessed what she was truly worried about! Although her young mistress was the legitimate daughter of the scholar's family, her food, clothing, and daily necessities were far inferior to those of the concubine's daughters, and she had far less experience than the concubine's daughters!
The young lady is still only twelve years old, and she fears that she might be blinded by these things. Money and silk are tempting, and if the young lady is raised astray because of this, she will have no way to face the afterlife!
"It was my fault for being so naive! Please forgive me, Miss." Madam Lu relaxed considerably, and a hint of approval unconsciously appeared in her eyes. "You are a legitimate daughter, of noble birth, naturally different from them!"
Xiao Jin smiled but remained silent.
"Mom, about Zhao Ruizhu..." Seeing that Lu's mother seemed relieved, Xiao Jin changed the subject, "How's the investigation going?"
Madam Lu nodded and said, "The news that she was going to marry the master has not been spread, which has preserved the dignity of both families! I heard that the family she is engaged to is the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, and she is most likely to marry the Duke of Dingguo's heir, Chu Tianqi!"
"The Duke of Dingguo's mansion..." Xiao Jin murmured to himself, somewhat bewildered. This body knew almost nothing about the various noble families in the capital...
Madam Lu misunderstood Xiao Jin's meaning. Seeing Xiao Jin's blank expression, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her. As the legitimate daughter of the scholar's family, she should at least know a little about the various noble families in the capital, if not all of them! Otherwise, how could she manage the household and act as a matriarch? The noble families that were known to almost everyone in the capital were completely unknown to the young lady…
After all, her husband's family was once a branch of a prominent clan in the capital, so Madam Lu was naturally much more familiar with the situation in the capital than Xiao Jin. So she said confidently, "The Duke of Dingguo's mansion is the most prestigious and noble family in the capital!" As Madam Lu spoke, a hint of longing and envy unconsciously appeared in her eyes, "The title of hereditary nobility bestowed by the Great Ancestor is even more prestigious than that of an ordinary prince!"
"Everyone says that the late Crown Prince was framed and killed by the current Emperor!" Madam Lu suddenly lowered her voice, with a hint of excitement as she discussed the secret. "And the late Crown Princess was the younger sister of the current Duke of Dingguo. After the Crown Prince and Crown Princess passed away, the Duke of Dingguo was not implicated at all! He is still as illustrious as ever, enjoying continuous favor and honor."
"Perhaps even Heaven is jealous of a family like this!" she lamented. "Chu Tianshu, the third son of the Duke of Dingguo, is young and successful, excelling in both literature and martial arts. It's just a pity about his face..."
"It is said that Chu Tianshu was harmed by villains when he was young, and his face was slashed. That would have been fine, given his good background; what good medicine couldn't he have? The problem is that he was injured by a poisoned blade, and those ugly scars are impossible to remove! The Emperor has bestowed countless good medicines, but to no avail... Rumor has it that his face is uglier than a vengeful ghost, and he has to live with a mask on. It's a good thing he's a boy; if he were a girl, his life would be ruined!"
"Even if he were a young man... I'm afraid he would have a hard time marrying a noblewoman he likes..."
Mother Lu spoke with shining eyes, thoroughly enjoying herself, while Xiao Jin showed little interest in these gossips.
As long as Zhao Ruizhu hadn't become her stepmother as in her previous life, she wouldn't have had to meet the husband who killed her. She wasn't the original body, and she didn't have any obsession with making him pay the price; there was no need for her to hang herself on one tree.
She is about to embark on a path completely different from her previous life!
"As long as Zhao Ruizhu doesn't marry into the family, I can rest assured." Xiao Jin smiled contentedly. A bright future lay ahead, and the shadows of the past would never be repeated!
“The two concubines are not easy to deal with either…” Unlike Xiao Jin’s optimistic attitude, Madam Lu frowned, still looking worried. “Moreover, the master is in his prime. If his career goes smoothly in the next two years, it won’t be difficult for him to marry a concubine’s daughter from a high-ranking family…”
Xiao Jin didn't care at all, and instead said with great interest, "Then we'll meet force with force!"
A helpless smile appeared on Madam Lu's lips. After all, Miss is still a child... Just as she was about to say something, she heard footsteps outside, followed by Huan Yue's deliberately lowered voice.
Hearing the footsteps gradually fade away, Xiao Jin and Mama Lu exchanged a glance and called out, "Huan Yue, come in."
"Miss." Huan Yue lifted the curtain and came in herself. Before Xiao Jin could ask, she said, "It's Ding Xiang from the eldest young lady's room. She came to say that Aunt Xu was going to Minguo Temple to offer incense, and the eldest young lady invited you to go out for a walk together. I just said that you were still taking a nap and that I would go and reply later."
Minguo Temple?
Xiao Jin frowned slightly. She seemed to have some impression of this place... The thought flashed through her mind, but she couldn't quite grasp it.
“Miss, in my opinion, you should go.” Madam Lu remembered her young mistress’s shy and timid nature in the past and thought that she was still unwilling to go out as before, so she advised, “The scenery at Minguo Temple is just right now. Many young ladies and ladies in the capital will go there for spring outings and to burn incense. It would be good for you to go and get to know a few more noble ladies!”
In places frequented by many noblewomen and ladies of high birth... Xiao Jin felt that her thoughts were gradually becoming clearer.
Seeing that Xiao Jin did not react, Madam Lu continued to persuade her earnestly, "If you can win the favor of any lady, even if you don't become her daughter-in-law, it would be good if she were willing to elevate your status! You will be more glamorous when you have your coming-of-age ceremony!"
Hearing these words from Lu's mother, Xiao Jin did not blush shyly like most young girls; instead, she seriously considered her marriage.
Indeed, her marriage is of paramount importance. Even in modern times, marriage is not just a matter between two people, but between two families; let alone in ancient times, when matching social status was paramount! She only has three years to make arrangements! With her limited resources… finding a suitable person is no easy task.
Xiao Jin shook her head, as if trying to shake off these annoying thoughts. The most important thing right now was to maintain her status as the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife!
“Then so be it.” Xiao Jin nodded in agreement. “Huanyue, go and tell my elder sister, describe me as as grateful as possible! Mama Lu, please inquire whether Yingniang is also going, and who in Cuiluo Courtyard is not going…”
Xiao Jin gave instructions one by one, and Huan Yue and Mama Lu could only nod repeatedly. They had no chance to interrupt, and they were actually quite pleased; their young mistress's changes were becoming more and more delightful.
"Call Zisu in and have her help me pack the things I need for tomorrow's trip..." Xiao Jin took a breath and then said, "I won't take Ye'er with me. Please take good care of him, Madam Lu."
Huanyue and Mama Lu both agreed and went, and then Zisu and Biyue came in.
Xiao Jin directed them to open the trunks and find clothes for tomorrow. They couldn't be luxurious or flamboyant; they had to be simple and clean, befitting her status as a woman in mourning. But they also couldn't be so plain as to seem disrespectful… There would certainly be many noble ladies and young women there tomorrow, and she refused to believe that Aunt Xu's decision to take Yao Niang out wasn't part of a deeper purpose—to broaden Yao Niang's social circle!
Zisu found a white lace skirt and held it up to Xiao Jin, asking, "Miss, what do you think of this one? It's both simple and elegant..."
Xiao Jin's gaze had just fallen on the dress when a sudden flash of inspiration struck her, and she finally remembered what had been on the verge of popping into her mind!
She picked up the embroidered skirt and examined it several times, an idea slowly forming in her mind. Her eyes began to shine, and her chest heaved with excitement. Xiao Jin's face couldn't hide her excitement. "Wrap this skirt up! Quickly, wrap it up carefully!"
Zisu was utterly puzzled. She didn't understand why her young mistress was so excited about the dress. While the dress was nice in style and made of good material, it shouldn't have been enough to make her mistress so amazed! Besides, her mistress didn't seem to intend to wear it.
"Miss, is this dress a gift?" Zisu asked tentatively. "Who is it for? Should we make a separate package for it?"
"Take it with you when you go to Minguo Temple tomorrow." Xiao Jin didn't explain much, her eyes and brows were full of joy. "Just use an ordinary bundle, and put a small thin cloak inside."
Perhaps tomorrow will be a turning point in her life!
The next day.
As Yao Niang and Xiao Jin affectionately boarded the carriage, Ying Niang appeared with a smile in front of the screen wall at the second gate, accompanied by her personal maids Hong Xing and Shao Yao.