Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 135 Walls have ears

The next day, news came from the Taiji Palace that they were going to select study companions for Princess Shouchang and Princess Yongchang, and invited all the ladies from noble families in Beijing to sit together in the Yanjia Hall of the Taiji Palace.

"Ms. Xue, of course, was there. Fengzao Palace also sent a letter to Rongfu, asking Miss Shi and Miss San to go as well. The Wang family also got the news, and Wang Ziteng's daughter Wang Xian also went.

"At the same time, more than a dozen daughters of noble families were also notified. Some replied that they were discussing marriage and would not go.

"The old lady didn't want Miss Shi to go either. But the wife of the young Marquis Shi said that if she didn't go, she should follow her to take up the post of the young Marquis Shi.

"His house is now fully packed and he is just waiting for an auspicious day to set off."

Yuanyang came to the Lin Mansion to inform Lin Daiyu and Tanchun of the news, and also to pick up Tanchun and take her back to Rong Mansion to make preparations in advance.

"Miss Shi has arranged a marriage? Which family? How come I don't know?" Daiyu was stunned.

Yuanyang smiled and replied, "Yes. It was originally an arranged marriage, but words are not enough. Last year, the official matchmaker came to see the couple again, and the two families finally decided.

"That family is the Huaiyuan Marquis Wei family. I heard from Master Bao that Master Wei is very good at riding and shooting, and is now serving in the Jinwu Guard. He also reads poetry and books, and is a perfect match for Miss Shi."

"But her name is Wei Ruolan?" Tanchun couldn't help but interrupt out of curiosity.

Yuanyang smiled and nodded: "That's right."

"Since we are old friends and they are engaged, it doesn't really matter whether I go or not." Tanchun murmured.

Daiyu shook her head: "Go ahead. It's good to see the world. Besides, Jia, Wang, Shi, and Xue have all appointed people. If she doesn't go, will her cousin go?"

Yuanyang's eyes lit up and he said with a smile, "I'll go back and tell Miss Shi."

Tanchun had no choice but to follow him back.

After carrying Yuanyang on her back, Daiyu quietly told her: "You don't have to be chosen as a companion. The most important thing is to let the Queen Mother see your strength."

Tanchun was stunned: "Empress Dowager?"

"I was copying scriptures for the Queen Mother the other day and found out that she likes strong women.

"Everyone who is selected as a tutor this time must be graceful, patient, and gentle. Otherwise, if they quarrel with the princess and the county lady every day, how can that be tolerated?

"You don't have to choose that tutor. It's a thankless job. But this trip can't be in vain, so let the Queen Mother see your strength."

Daiyu quietly advised her and asked her to tell Xiangyun, "Just treat it as a trip for fun. There is no need to endure anyone's humiliation."

Tanchun agreed with a smile.

On April 24th, the girls went to the Yanjia Hall of the Taiji Palace.

After some selection, Princess Shouchang chose Xue Baochai as her companion, while Princess Yongchang chose a more docile girl from aristocratic family as her companion.

Jia, Wang and Shi all lost the election.

Xue Baochai naturally would not show off, but she could not resist Xue Pan's great joy, so she held a grand banquet and sent invitations to Jia Lian and Wang Xifeng.

The couple said in unison: "Busy." Neither of them went.

Xue Pan was very unhappy, so he sent a message to the inner house, asking Baoyu to go and drink.

After thinking it over, Baoyu finally agreed. He told his grandmother about it, went to sit at the banquet all day, and came back drunk in the evening.

Jia Zheng was somewhat unhappy and started to find fault with Tanchun.

Grandmother Jia said, "This is as it should be. She is the only one who went, a concubine's daughter, and she has lost her mother. She has no talent to show off, and she is not a gentle face. If she doesn't fail, who will?"

Tanchun did not respond, but only said that she would return to the Lin Mansion the next day.

Shi Xiangyun was also a little disappointed. Thinking about Xue Baochai's unconcealed joy, she felt even more uncomfortable. When she heard that Tanchun was going back to the Lin Mansion, she immediately went to pester Lady Jia: "I want to go to Sister Lin's house to play, too!"

Grandmother Jia thought about it and simply agreed. She told Madam Shihou to go and tell her, "I still can't bear to let Xiangyun stay with me. You can go on your own."

Mrs. Xiao Shihou only replied "OK". The next day she bought a boat and sailed south.

The next day, Xiangyun happily went to the Lin residence with Tanchun, and lived with Tanchun in Qingqiu Courtyard. As soon as she entered the house, she said, "I heard that your garden has been renovated. I want to go for a walk."

Daiyu smiled and let her go shopping.

Xiangyun took Cuilu and ran away happily. Daiyu looked at her happy look and shook her head and laughed, asking Xiaohong and Xueyan to catch up and accompany her.

Tanchun then happily told Daiyu: "Everything is just as Sister Lin expected!

"The Highness was very fond of Sister Yun's innocence and cuteness. He called her over and asked her many questions. He also scolded the two princesses and said they had no taste.

"Moreover, I watched coldly that when the Supreme heard that Sister Yun was engaged, he actually sighed with regret. If it weren't for her engagement, she would have been arranged a good marriage by now!"

Daiyu smiled: "The Supreme Lord has seen all kinds of things in the world. The simpler the girl, the more he likes her."

"Probably. But the way the Queen Mother looks at Sister Yun, I always feel, well..." Tanchun hesitated for a moment before whispering in Daiyu's ear, "It's like she's looking at a fool!"

Daiyu sneered and slapped her with her fan: "You naughty ghost!" Then she asked her, "What about you?"

Tanchun blushed slightly, and took off her necklace openly, pointing to the tassels on it and said, "The Queen Mother disliked the light green tassels on my necklace, so she asked Aunt Cheng to give me a bright red one."

Have you already started dressing her up?

Daiyu was pleasantly surprised and exclaimed, "This is really a great honor, better than any gold, silver or jewelry! Why didn't your second uncle treat you like a vassal when you got home?"

Tanchun lowered her eyes and said, "I didn't tell him." After a pause, she smiled self-deprecatingly, "Except for Sister Feng, no one in the family noticed that my ears of corn had been changed."

Daiyu chuckled, "They deserve it for missing out on such a great Buddha statue. This is a great bargain for me!"

He stood up with a smile and asked Tanchun to clean the room, while he took Zijuan's hand and slowly walked towards the garden.

Entering the inner study, Daiyu leaned on the Luohan bed and looked up at Zijuan. Zijuan was hiding by the moon-shaped window, staring at the garden from afar.

Suddenly, he whispered "I am here", squatted down and sat on the footstool of the bed, and massaged Daiyu's legs. The master and servant chatted quietly.

"If you ask me, it would be better if Miss Shi didn't follow Madam Shihou.

"Otherwise, if she finds out that her mother was drugged by Madam Xiao Shihou, she won't be able to hide it. She might even lose her life, right?"

"Stop talking nonsense! How did she know? I only told the old lady about this."

"The old lady is old, what if she tells it in a dream one day?"

"...Yun girl is too naive. She can't hide things. So, she can only live well if she knows nothing."

"People have to grow up. Miss Shi has already been engaged, and she will be the head of the family in the future. If she really doesn't know anything, I'm afraid she will suffer a lot."

"……Ugh."

Daiyu sighed deeply and said nothing more.

Outside the window, Shi Xiangyun collapsed to the ground and fainted.