Yu Mu’an nodded obediently.
“An’er knows. I even attended once when I was little… but later…”
She didn’t finish her sentence.
The Longnan Marquis’s household had long been reduced to a mere empty title. In recent years, the Marquis had been gravely ill, bedridden and unable to rise, making the household even less regarded.
Hu Rui showed a guilty expression. “Ah, it’s all Mother’s fault…”
Yu Mu’an quickly shook her head. “It’s not your fault, Mother. You’ve already treated An’er very well.”
Hu Rui dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief. “Poor child…
Every March, the capital holds the Hundred Flowers Banquet, hosted in turn by prominent ladies and young misses of various families. This year it’s our General’s residence’s turn.
There are few women in our household, so I’ve always managed it myself. But now that we have you, An’er, I can finally relax a bit…”
Yu Mu’an froze for a moment, then reacted in shock.
“Me? I’m to host it? N-no, Mother, that won’t do…”
Hu Rui set down her teacup. “An’er, Mother trusts you ”
“Mother! Lin’er has come to pay her respects!”
“Fifth Young Madam, Madam is busy you cannot go in ”
“Mother!”
“Fifth Young Madam!”
Yu Lin burst in energetically and dropped to her knees with a thud. “Mother! Lin’er greets you!”
Nurse Zhang followed behind, looking both anxious and displeased.
Hu Rui narrowed her eyes slightly, a trace of impatience flashing across her face before she quickly suppressed it.
She forced a faint smile. “Lin’er, what is this? It’s already nearly afternoon what greeting is there to pay at this hour?”
Yu Lin was still catching her breath, as if she had run all the way.
Her back straight, she said, “Mother, I heard that preparations for the Hundred Flowers Banquet have begun. Is it our General’s residence’s turn this year?”
Hu Rui’s expression fell. She picked up her teacup and pretended to drink, not answering.
Yu Mu’an, sitting to the side, also lifted her cup, the rim hiding the slight curve of her lips.
Yu Lin took a deep breath, forcing confidence as she volunteered herself: “Mother, I’ve been learning household management in the residence.
During festivals, I’ve participated in organizing the Marquis household’s banquets.
For this Hundred Flowers Banquet, I humbly ask Mother to give me a chance. I will definitely make it a splendid event!”
Hu Rui set down her teacup heavily and scolded, “Nonsense! How can such an important occasion be entrusted to a little girl like you?”
Yu Lin argued, “But Mother, you just asked Elder Sister to host it! If she can, why can’t I?”
Hu Rui replied coldly, “Because she is the legitimate eldest daughter of the Marquis household and the eldest young madam of our General’s residence!”
Yu Lin’s expression changed.
“With the lady of the General’s residence still alive, and the eldest young madam newly married in even if all of us were dead, the old madam is still hale and hearty.
How could it ever be your turn, a mere Fifth Young Madam, to host the Hundred Flowers Banquet?”
Hu Rui’s sharp words left Yu Lin’s face shifting between pale and dark.
She clenched her handkerchief tightly, her gaze filled with hatred as she turned toward Yu Mu’an.
Yu Mu’an set down her teacup and stood, bowing to Hu Rui.
“Mother, I think it would also be reasonable for Younger Sister to host.”
Yu Lin’s eyes widened in disbelief that she would actually speak on her behalf.
Hu Rui frowned, clearly displeased.
Yu Mu’an spoke gently and calmly: “My husband is still unwell. I only wish to focus on taking care of him and easing Mother and Father’s burdens.
My brother-in-law has already entered official service and is beginning to stand on his own. As his lawful wife, Younger Sister should start gaining experience early.
With his promising future, she will inevitably need to accompany him in social engagements.”
Her tone was soft and unhurried, her words well chosen.
Hu Rui’s expression softened noticeably.
Who wouldn’t enjoy hearing praise about their son?
And naturally, the daughter-in-law she had personally chosen was far more pleasing to the eye.
She glanced at Yu Lin, a trace of disdain in her eyes.
Yu Mu’an had strictly upheld propriety and refused to switch marriages.
For some reason, the noble circles had learned about the mix-up with the bride. Even common folk outside were gossiping about it after meals…
For the sake of the General’s residence’s reputation, she had no choice but to endure it.
“Younger Sister is indeed somewhat rash in her conduct…”
Yu Mu’an continued,
“But if she studies under Mother, she will surely soon acquire the bearing of a proper main wife.”
Yu Lin “???” Who are you calling improper?!
Time passed in a flash.
In the end, Hu Rui didn’t dare fully let go and supervised Yu Lin throughout the banquet preparations.
It was said she was extremely strict anything not done well had to be redone.
Yu Lin was exhausted, collapsing into sleep as soon as she returned. Recently, Yunfei Pavilion hadn’t even called for water at night.
After dinner, Yu Mu’an was reading while Anxin selected accessories for her to wear to the banquet the next day.
Ju Hong’s voice sounded from outside. “Eldest Young Madam.”
Yu Mu’an perked up and called her in.
Ju Hong had just returned from running errands with the household purchasers, looking utterly drained.
Anxin quickly poured her tea. “Sister Ju Hong, you’ve worked so hard! Have some tea!”
Ju Hong first bowed to Yu Mu’an, then took the tea and gulped it down without even thanking her.
Anxin watched with concern. “With the banquet preparations, the whole household has been mobilized for supplies and decorations.
I even heard yesterday that the Hundred Flowers Garden has been beautifully arranged this time! You must have contributed a lot, Sister Ju Hong!”
After finishing a cup of tea, Ju Hong let out a long breath and smiled at Anxin.
Yu Mu’an asked, “How did it go?”
Ju Hong nodded. “It’s done. Eldest Young Madam can rest assured.”
Only then did Yu Mu’an relax and smile.
She looked Ju Hong over carefully. “These past few days, has the Fifth Young Madam been in charge of assigning you all?”
Ju Hong nodded. “Yes.”
“How has she treated you? Did she deliberately make things difficult?”
Ju Hong shook her head.
“The Fifth Young Madam likely doesn’t recognize me, nor know I belong to you.
…Besides, she has no energy to trouble me she’s probably been worn down by Madam to the point she can barely catch her breath.”
Yu Mu’an was completely reassured.
In her previous life, when Yu Lin found Ju Hong, she had already suffered terribly barely clinging to life, her face completely disfigured.
In this life, Yu Mu’an had saved her early, sparing her that tragic fate.
Naturally, Yu Lin wouldn’t recognize that the delicate-looking girl before her was the same ghost-like, silent maid from her previous life.
Anxin was about to speak when Ju Hong suddenly turned to look at the door.
With a loud bang, it flew open.
Xie Jingyan burst in shouting, “So hungry, so hungry! This general is starving! Food! Food!”
Ping An’s voice came in a panic. “Young Master, please don’t ”
“Yu Mu’an! Food!”
The tall figure had already stepped past the screen.
Yu Mu’an sneered inwardly.
But her face showed nothing as she smiled and set down her book.
“I’ll have the kitchen prepare something right away.”
She stood and walked out, quietly asking Ping An, “Didn’t we just eat? What’s he up to now?”
Ping An looked embarrassed how could he admit his master just wanted to pick a fight?
He scratched his head. “You don’t really need to prepare food. The young master just had a whim you can just coax him.”
Yu Mu’an nodded in understanding.
She stopped at the doorway.
The early spring night air was still sharp with cold, cutting straight to the bone.
Standing alone at the entrance, facing the empty darkness, a cold smile curled on her lips.
This time, she was going to properly deal with Xie Jingyan’s habit of wrecking the bedroom.