As they spoke, it was time for the meal, and Yang Chen remained in Yu Shi’s room.
A servant came to report that a Miss Lin had arrived with two gifts to pay her respects.
A trace of smugness colored Yu Shi’s face as she looked at Yang Chen. “You see? Only when she’s properly looked down upon will she learn to be obedient.”
“Mother’s guidance is wise,” Yang Chen replied, placing a piece of fish into Yu Shi’s bowl.
“Let her in,” Yu Shi commanded.
In the past, whenever Lin Tangtang visited the Marquis Estate, she would bring lavish sums of money or rare treasures. Though Yu Shi inwardly scorned her, she was always quite fond of the gifts she received.
After all, no one turns their nose up at money and jewels.
“Greetings to the Madam of the Hou Estate and the Young Lord. I apologize for the intrusion,” said the visitor.
It was Lin Jiaojiao, her face pale from illness, walking slowly due to her foot injury.
She presented the gift boxes.
Granny Gui, who attended closely to Yu Shi, opened the boxes to reveal a gold hairpin of excellent quality and a century-old ginseng root.
These were not poor gifts to give.
But compared to what Lin Tangtang had offered in previous years, they paled in comparison.
Madam Yu’s expression cooled instantly.
“Why have you come alone? Where is Lin Tangtang?” Yu Shi set down her bowl and chopsticks, her tone authoritative.
“My elder sister is still in her room practicing calligraphy, but I felt it was more important to pay my respects to you first, so I brought the gifts I prepared,” Lin Jiaojiao explained meekly, her head bowed.
These were the best items she could currently offer.
“Mother, Miss Lin is still injured. Let her sit,” Yang Chen suggested, motioning for a servant to bring a chair.
“Very well. It’s thoughtful of you to come despite your illness,” Yu Shi said, dropping the subject since Yang Chen had spoken, and accepted the gifts.
After all, Lin Tangtang would surely give another present later—so receiving an extra one was a profit.
She turned to Lin Jiaojiao. “Stay and join us for the meal.”
Bowls and chopsticks were promptly added to the table.
While serving herself food, Lin Jiaojiao accidentally brushed against Yang Chen’s hand, her face flushing bright red.
As dusk gradually fell,
Yang Chen and Lin Jiaojiao left one after the other.
Yu Shi, still not having seen Lin Tangtang, sent for Cuizhu to question her.
“Lin Tangtang has been in the estate for most of the day. What has she been doing? Why hasn’t she come to pay her respects?”
“Madam, Miss Lin has been behind closed doors all afternoon. I don’t know what she’s busy with. I reminded her several times to see you, but she ignored me,” Cuizhu reported Lin Tangtang’s movements to Yu Shi.
“Such ill manners!” Yu Shi’s dissatisfaction grew. “If she won’t come, then don’t send her any evening meal to the West Garden. When she gets hungry, she’ll remember me.”
Cuizhu looked uneasy, lowering her head. “Miss Lin has already eaten.”
“What? Did you bring her food?” Yu Shi’s tone was sharp.
“No, not I. It was Miss Lin’s maid who ordered a full table of dishes from a restaurant and brought them into the estate…” Cuizhu hurriedly explained.
Yu Shi’s face darkened further.
How unreasonable of Lin Tangtang—relying on others’ hospitality yet caring only about eating and drinking.
Her plan to control Lin Tangtang through meals had failed; she would have to reprimand her in person.
“Go summon Lin Tangtang. I want to see if she has any respect for her future mother-in-law!” Yu Shi shouted angrily at Cuizhu.
Cuizhu acknowledged and withdrew, returning shortly with Lin Tangtang to the South Courtyard.
“Greetings, Madam of the Hou Estate,” Lin Tangtang said coldly.
“So you’ve finally come,” Yu Shi remarked, her anger flaring at the sight of Lin Tangtang’s empty hands, her words laced with even more sarcasm.
“I wonder what matter has prompted Madam to summon me?” Lin Tangtang ignored the implied meaning in Yu Shi’s words and went straight to the point.
“Lin Tangtang, I am the mistress of the Marquis Estate and your future mother-in-law. Since you have arrived at the estate, you should have paid your respects to me first—this is basic etiquette.” Yu Shi emphasized the words “mother-in-law” heavily.
“I should indeed have paid my respects, but today is my first visit to the Marquis Estate. Only one maid showed me the way, and I did not see Madam or anyone else from the estate come out to greet me. I assumed Madam was occupied with affairs and did not wish to disturb you.”
Lin Tangtang remained neither submissive nor overbearing, but directly pointed out: it was the Madam of the Hou Estate who had failed to observe the etiquette of hosting guests first.
What kind of reasoning was it for a future daughter-in-law to visit the estate without a single person greeting her?
Yu Shi was left speechless.
How dare Lin Tangtang raise an objection instead of hastily trying to please her as she had done before?
“As the one in charge of the inner treasury, I have to deal with all the trivial matters of the estate. Naturally, I am busy—how could I have time to greet this person and that?” She took a sip of tea, barely suppressing her anger.
Lin Tangtang’s expression was mocking.
Who didn’t know that the estate’s trivial matters were handled by several managing mamas? Yu Shi was nothing but a hands-off manager.
She had clearly done it on purpose, yet she spoke so righteously.
How hypocritical.
Seeing that Lin Tangtang did not respond, Yu Shi’s expression grew even more displeased.
Granny Zhou, who attended closely to Yu Shi, seized the moment to ask, “Earlier, Miss Lin Jiaojiao came to pay her respects to Madam and presented two valuable gifts. I was preparing to store them in the treasury. I wonder if Miss Lin has anything to be stored away from this visit?”
This was a blatant request for gifts from Lin Tangtang, as straightforward as asking, “Did you bring any gifts with you?”
Yu Shi leisurely sipped her tea, maintaining the air of a mother-in-law, waiting for Lin Tangtang to offer something.
Chunxue, who stood behind Lin Tangtang, could no longer bear it.
How could the people of the Marquis Estate be so shameless? Miss Lin was a guest at the estate, given poor accommodations and treated with neglect, and they actually had the nerve to ask her for gifts directly?
“The treasury is under the jurisdiction of the mistress and has nothing to do with me. Granny, with this question, are you asking me to overstep my bounds? Where would that leave the dignity of the Madam of the Hou Estate?” Deliberately twisting the meaning, Lin Tangtang coldly replied to Granny Zhou.
Since Yu Shi had no shame, she would give her none.
Not hearing the expected answer, Yu Shi’s face turned darker than charcoal. Just as she was about to reprimand Lin Tangtang, a servant rushed in hastily.
“Madam, it’s terrible! General Luo and the young master are arguing in the study—it looks like they’re about to fight!”
“Luo Chi?”
“Exactly!”
Yu Shi grew anxious. Luo Chi was the strongest man in the capital, a seasoned warrior who had killed countless people on the battlefield.
Yang Chen, on the other hand, had previously pursued scholarly studies and had only spent three years in the Beiwei Army—how could he be a match for Luo Chi?
“Do you know what it’s about?” Yu Shi asked as she hurried along.
“Something about a jade pendant, and some person… I couldn’t hear the rest clearly. I’m not sure, ma’am.”
The group rushed to the study in a flurry.
Lin Tangtang followed behind, a trace of murderous intent flickering in the corners of her eyes.
The fish had taken the bait.
Now, Yang Chen would no longer be able to shake off suspicion.