The meals provided by the academy were fairly ordinary. Since the family could well afford it, Lu Yun wasn’t rigid about such matters and allowed food and other necessities to be sent from home.
Even so, there was no reason for someone to send things two days in a row.
Remembering Jiang Lingyuan’s instructions, Lin Feng answered honestly.
“Fourth Young Madam specifically asked this servant to deliver these.”
Lu Yun immediately understood that the management of Yilan Courtyard was still in Nanny Jin’s hands.
A flash of displeasure crossed his eyes, directed at Nanny Jin.
Before leaving home, he had already given his instructions, yet Nanny Jin had continued doing as she pleased.
At the same time, he was dissatisfied that Jiang Lingyuan couldn’t even gain control over Nanny Jin.
If she couldn’t control her, so be it, but why bring the matter all the way to him?
His expression remained indifferent.
“Leave everything there. Go back and tell both Nanny Jin and Fourth Young Madam that there’s no need to send things so frequently in the future.”
Seeing his reaction, Lin Feng realized Lu Yun had misunderstood.
He hurriedly explained, “Fourth Young Master, Fourth Young Madam said that once you look inside, you’ll understand.”
After a brief hesitation, he cautiously added,”Fourth Young Madam originally prepared a list and showed it to Madam. But Madam told her that everything in Yilan Courtyard should be left to Nanny Jin.”
Now his own mother was involved.
And she had actually said something like that.
For a moment, Lu Yun didn’t know what to say.
Still…
Allowing a servant to control the household finances while denying that authority to the mistress of the house, that really was something his mother was capable of doing.
“I understand.”
He paused before saying,”You may go back. Tell Fourth Young Madam that I’ll return home on my next rest day.”
Originally, he hadn’t planned to return until the following month.
The autumn provincial examinations were approaching, and he truly couldn’t afford the distraction.
But now, no matter what, he had to make one trip home this month.
After Lin Feng left, Lu Yun opened the bundle.
Inside were four sets of clothing, two sets of undergarments and two outer robes.
He knew they must have been prepared by Jiang Lingyuan.
He gently ran his hand over a moon-white zhiduo, robe embroidered with delicate silver ruyi motifs, the needlework exceptionally fine.
There was also an aqua-blue robe, its hem embroidered with emerald-green bamboo, the stalks seeming to embody unyielding integrity.
Lu Yun was momentarily lost in thought.
‘Did Jiang Lingyuan make these herself?’
He then opened the four-tiered food carrier.
The first tier contained an assortment of sauces, fragrant mushroom sauce rich with oil, savory meat sauce, and several fruit preserves. Each came with a small decorative note explaining how it should be eaten.
The second tier held pork jerky and dried beef in a variety of flavors, spicy, original, honey-glazed, and more. Some were even crisp rather than chewy.
The third tier contained preserved fruits, ranging from tart to sweet.
The final tier held pastries.
Unlike the usual soft pastries, these were crisp and flaky, topped with bits of assorted dried nuts.
Lu Yun casually picked up one and took a bite.
Though firm, it broke apart easily.
A rich milky aroma instantly filled his mouth.
He had always been fond of that flavor.
Unable to resist, he reached for another piece.
After eating several bites, he fell into deep thought.
He had to admit that everything Jiang Lingyuan had prepared far surpassed what Nanny Jin usually sent.
He simply had never paid close attention before.
Now, comparing the two and recalling what Lin Feng had told him about Jiang Lingyuan taking the list to show his mother, he immediately grasped the heart of the matter.
The difference in the money being spent… was probably enormous.
He called his personal attendant, Yu Bai.
“Go investigate how much silver Nanny Jin spends each time she sends supplies to me. Then compare it with what Fourth Young Madam spent on these.”
Around the Grain Rain season, the weather had grown noticeably warmer.
Early the next morning, Jiang Lingyuan instructed,”A light padded jacket will do. Walking all the way in a heavy winter coat is too warm now.”
Hearing that, Tanqiu selected a pearl-white Hangzhou silk jacket embroidered with a hundred butterflies among flowers, along with a goose-yellow phoenix-tail skirt decorated with butterfly and floral roundels.
“Miss, how about this outfit?”
Jiang Lingyuan nodded.
“That will do.”
Seeing the choice, Furong styled her hair into a cross-shaped bun.
She placed a kingfisher-feather hairpin inlaid with yellow gemstones and finished with a teardrop-shaped piece of yellow jadeite in the center of the bun.
On each side she inserted three white jade butterfly hairpins.
Each butterfly was only about the size of a thumbnail, yet exquisitely carved, even their tiny antennae had been rendered in detail, and all six butterflies were posed differently.
The previous day, the Old Madam Lu had specifically sent someone to invite Jiang Lingyuan to breakfast with her.
After finishing her morning preparations, Jiang Lingyuan headed over, accompanied by Tanqiu and two young maids.
By now, Nanny Rong no longer handled Yilan Courtyard’s daily affairs.
Michun supervised all the maids, while Tanqiu and Suodong attended exclusively to Jiang Lingyuan’s personal needs.
Jiang Lingyuan still wasn’t the first to arrive at Songhe Courtyard.
Even so, seeing that Third Young Madam Lu had already arrived despite being pregnant, she couldn’t help admiring her diligence.
After entering, Jiang Lingyuan greeted Second Young Madam Lu, Third Young Madam Lu, and the young ladies who had already arrived.
Aside from Fifth Miss Lu Xiaoyu, the legitimate daughter of the eldest branch, the others treated her rather coolly.
There was even a trace of mockery on Third Young Madam Lu’s face.
After only a moment’s thought, Jiang Lingyuan understood.
It was undoubtedly because of the rumors Nanny Jin had spread. She paid them no mind and calmly took her seat.
Her composure left those waiting to laugh at her thoroughly disappointed. Even the sneers on their faces gradually disappeared.
Once nearly everyone had arrived, the Old Madam came out.
“Let’s have breakfast at Qiyun Pavilion. The spring plum blossoms are in bloom there. Just looking at them whets the appetite.”
Naturally, everyone eagerly agreed, offering words meant to please the old matriarch.
Breakfast had already been prepared at Qiyun Pavilion.
Two tables were arranged.
The unmarried daughters of the Duke of Yu’s manor sat together at one table, while everyone else dined with the Old Madam.
The table was laden with eight varieties of breakfast staples, four sweet and savory porridges, and an assortment of side dishes.
Large glass windows overlooked the blooming spring plum trees outside.
Dining in such surroundings was refreshing both to the body and the mind.
After everyone took their seats, Jiang Lingyuan noticed that all the ladies had their maids serving them.
She nodded to Tanqiu, who filled a small bowl with salted radish and peanut soup and handed her a piece of rice cake.
As she ate slowly, conversation naturally flowed around the table.
There was no strict observance of silence during meals today.
The Eldest Young Madam smiled and said to Jiang Lingyuan,”Fourth Sister-in-law, you should try the pickled eggplant. Only Grandmother’s kitchen makes it authentically. There’s no sugar in it, yet it still has a hint of sweetness.”
Jiang Lingyuan wasn’t surprised by the friendly gesture.
After all, the matter of the monthly household allowance wasn’t really the Eldest Young Madam’s fault.
The real culprit was their muddle-headed mother-in-law.
Naturally, Jiang Lingyuan had no intention of taking it out on her sister-in-law.
She picked up a bite with her chopsticks.
Sure enough, there was a subtle sweetness, and she found the flavor delightful.
Smiling, she said,”It seems I’d better listen to Eldest Sister-in-law more often. Otherwise, I might never discover all the delicious dishes Grandmother has here.”
The two sisters-in-law chatted cheerfully.
Seeing their harmonious interaction, the Old Madam asked with a smile,”What secrets are you two whispering about?”
The Eldest Young Madam laughed.
“I was just telling Fourth Sister-in-law which dishes here are the best.”
Jiang Lingyuan naturally continued,”If not for Eldest Sister-in-law, I would have missed out on so many delicious things today.”
The Old Madam chuckled.
“That girl loves my pickled eggplant most of all at breakfast. She must have recommended that dish to you. Well then, I can’t be stingy. You two sisters-in-law may each take a jar home.”