C102 (1/2)
No matter how anxious he was, he could only defend himself. Before the Old Ancestor truly made his move, Jin Lan could only restrain his thoughts, not daring to act rashly.
The four of them discussed about areas that they should pay attention to later. Seeing that her face was pale and that a trace of weariness could be seen from her eyes, Wan Ju urged her to go to bed.
It was just that Jin Lan was too preoccupied with her own matters, how could she rest in peace? After thinking about it again and again for a while, Jin Qian finally decided to send a message.
”Miss Jin Lan, the Old Ancestor sent people to invite Miss Jin Lan to Longevity Hall for dinner.”
Seeing that Jin Lan was still confused, Wan Ju did not say a word and quickly went to welcome him: ”Thank you elder sister for the message. When our young lady changes her clothes, we will immediately go and pay our respects to the Old Ancestor.”
Jin Qian unintentionally glanced inside the door, and laughed: ”The Old Ancestor normally eats at the end of the year, it is still early, so it is only natural for Lady Jin Lan to be slower.”
Wan Ju was not an idiot, she quickly blessed Jin Qian and tried to get closer to her, ”Just now, when I saw my sister, I felt that my face was very good, but I was afraid that it would delay my sister's job, and did not dare to come up and speak.” As she said this, she untied the scented sachet on her waist, ”This scented sachet was newly embroidered by me. Before I entered the manor, I touched it and gave it to big sister to play with. I hope you don't mind my coarse craftsmanship.”
Jin Qian kept the scented sachet, flipped it slightly, and smiled: ”Such excellent culinary skills, how can it be called crude? ”Sister is modest, it's just that I don't have anything good on me right now. I'll return the gift to sister later.”
Wan Ju's eyes lit up slightly. After greeting him courteously, she chatted with Jin Qian for a while before returning to her room.
Jin Lan had already stood up, and Bi He was helping her wash up. She took out the fragrant moon-white cotton handkerchief to wipe off the water droplets on her face, and then asked: ”What? Is it Jin Qian? ”
”Yes.” ”Yes,” Wan Ju replied as she stepped forward to clasp Bi He's hand. ”Sister Jin Qian said that the Old Ancestor sent someone to invite Miss to the Longevity Hall for a meal, saying that she would be fine until the end of time.”
Jin Lan was naturally clear about the Old Ancestor's rules and timing for eating meals, but she still nodded her head and sat in front of her dowry for Bi He to comb her hair.
Seeing that Jin Lan had woken up, he placed the food box on the fire brick bed. ”Miss, in a while, the Old Ancestor might let you have a meal with Longevity Hall, it's still early, let's eat some pastries first.”
Wan Ju was just about to remove the hot water from the copper basin, but when she heard Mama Shang's words, she could not help but burst out laughing: ”Mama really has foresight. Just now, Big Sister Jin Qian came over to pass on a message.”
Mama Shang paused for a moment as she held the crystal plate, ”What foresight, it's just that I've served the Old Ancestor for a long time, I've already figured out one or two ways of thinking about it.” Even though she was smiling, there was a trace of self-mockery in her tone.
Jin Lan looked at the lonely back of the Mama Shang from his water caltrop mirror. His heart was moved, but he could not say it out loud. After all, this was a master-servant relationship between the Old Ancestor and the Mama Shang.
Bi He elegantly tied up the last pinch of black hair and combed a simplified lily bun for Jin Lan. The remaining hair behind him was divided into two strands, which were tied together with pearls that flowed between his hair and hung down from his left neck to his chest. It made her look both smart and mischievous, without losing any of her daughter's gentleness.
”Miss.” Bi He looked at the embroidered box on the third cabinet of the Chicken Wing Wood Company, and asked hesitantly: ”What clothes do you want to wear in a while?”
The Old Ancestor anxiously sent the Mama Wu to deliver the palace uniform. Didn't he want to let her go to the Longevity Hall to eat dinner? Jin Lan followed Bi He's gaze. If she wore it, it would be similar to the old ancestor's decision. If she did not wear it, it would be against the old ancestor's good intentions.
It really was a dilemma.
Mama Shang saw that she was staring at the embroidered box and knew what she was doing. After thinking for a while, she smiled and said: ”Miss, the sky inside the house is extremely cold, and the wind outside is very strong. Especially at night, the wind is cold, as if it is boring through your bones. Although the Plum Garden was unwilling to leave the Longevity Hall, there was still a distance between them. This dinner was specially prepared to receive the wind for the ladies, and it was unknown when they would leave. ”In my opinion, it would be better to wear more.”
Jin Lan's eyes shone, he suddenly raised his head to look at Mama Shang, the corners of his mouth slowly rose, ”Mama is right!” After thinking for a moment, he said to Bi He: ”I'll wear the fox fur coat, the one that mother prepared.”
Before she left, her mother had bought her some clothes and jewelry, but now she was wearing them and no one could say anything.
Wan Ju immediately opened the box and took out the Peach Blossom Tufts and the Plum Blossom Veins, according to Jin Lan's instructions. His collar, sleeves and even the hem of his clothes were inlaid with a layer of pure white fox fur. It was fluffy, but the more she wore it, the more adorable it made her seem. She was dressed in a dress of the same color, but it was a white satin with peach plum stripes. It was the exact opposite of the jacket.
”With that on, the young lady's face looks much better than it did in the morning.” Bi He took out a pair of red coral pearl earrings and hung them on Jin Lan. The bright and round beads lightly swayed beside her cheeks, causing her white skin to become slightly redder.
Mama Shang and Wan Ju nodded their heads in succession.