Chapter 12 …
Reactions of Each Household
As Do-hwa followed behind the maid, she discreetly surveyed the layout of the magistrate residence’s rear garden. It was not as luxurious as she had imagined. The garden was not particularly abundant, nor was the area very large. Still, everything that should be there was present. The pavilion, rockery, and flower garden were all adequately arranged.
Each time they passed somewhere, Do-hwa only let her gaze linger briefly. Although she found ancient garden architecture novel and intriguing, she did not ask the maid any questions.
Do-hwa knew very well how many people were secretly observing her right now. At a time like this, she did not want to give the impression of a country bumpkin entering a grand county city.
In fact, Pingdong, who was leading the way, was also secretly observing the newly arrived eldest young lady.
Despite her young age, the eldest young lady appeared remarkably composed. Unlike other girls who would wander around asking questions upon arriving somewhere new, she showed no timidity or awkwardness and remained calm and steady. She did not look like a girl raised in the countryside at all.
The Madam had worried that once the eldest young lady returned, she might be compared with the second young lady—but now it seemed that worry had been unnecessary.
“Eldest Young Lady, we will arrive at the Main Courtyard shortly.”
Do-hwa glanced at Pingdong. Judging by how much better dressed this maid was compared to the others, she was probably the highest-ranking maid serving her mother.
“Father and Mother live in the Main Courtyard?”
Pingdong smiled and nodded.
“That’s right. The Master and Madam reside in the Main Courtyard. Second Master and Second Madam live in Chunhua Courtyard. Third Master and Third Madam live in Qiushi Courtyard. Old Madam resides in Songhe Courtyard.”
By this time, Do-hwa had already stepped through the gate of the Main Courtyard.
“I noticed earlier there are more than four residences in the rear garden. Are the others empty?”
Pingdong’s eyes flickered. She hesitated before answering.
“Each of the other residences is occupied as well. The Eldest Young Master and Fourth Young Master live in Zhegui Courtyard. Concubine Li, the Fifth Young Master, and the Third Young Lady live in Shuangxing Courtyard.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Pingdong raised her eyes to observe Do-hwa’s reaction.
The result disappointed her.
The newly arrived young lady merely showed a faint smile and walked on without saying anything.
For some reason, Pingdong felt a strong premonition.
The newly arrived young lady was definitely not ordinary.
After entering the Main Courtyard, Pingdong guided Do-hwa to the left side wing.
“Madam has instructed that the Eldest Young Lady reside here from now on. All the furniture and items in this room were personally arranged by Madam. If Young Lady needs anything further, please tell this servant. I will report to Madam Li and have it prepared.”
Do-hwa simply swept her gaze around the room without speaking. But when her eyes fell on the bathwater and clothing that had already been prepared, the seriousness on her face disappeared, replaced by visible relief.
Finally—she could properly wash.
She had felt stifled for so long!
Pingdong showed no intention of leaving and instead seemed ready to attend Do-hwa’s bath. Do-hwa quickly spoke up.
“Um, you can go take care of other matters. I’ll bathe myself.”
Although Pingdong found it difficult to read the new young lady’s temperament, she could not forcibly remain. She smiled and replied,
“Then I will wait outside. Please call me anytime if you need me, Young Lady.”
Do-hwa nodded.
“Alright.”
Pingdong soon stepped out of the side residence and carefully shut the door. The moment she left, Do-hwa let out a sigh of relief and quickly began removing her clothes.
She wanted to sink into that bath as soon as possible!
Meanwhile…
At this moment, discussions about the people who had arrived today were in full swing throughout the various residences.
Shuangxing Courtyard
Concubine Lin was restless. With tightly furrowed brows, she looked at the siblings An Wenbin and An Yishuang.
Today, they had thoroughly offended Old Madam!
Beside them, Lin Zailiang paced anxiously back and forth. He was also racking his brains over how to remedy the bad first impression his sister and nieces and nephews had left on Old Madam.
Watching his uncle, An Wenbin felt dizzy.
“Uncle, stop pacing already! You’re making me dizzy.”
Lin Zailiang immediately snapped,
“And you still have the nerve to say you’re dizzy? Do you even know how badly you offended Old Madam today?”
An Wenbin instantly shrank back.
A month ago, when they heard Old Madam would be returning, their father had specifically instructed them to be filial to their grandmother. Yet just now… they had tried to drive her away thinking she was a beggar…
Something was clearly wrong.
He worried whether Father already knew—and whether they would be punished.
Although he knew inwardly they were at fault, An Wenbin still argued stubbornly:
“We didn’t do it on purpose! Who would have known Grandmother was dressed like a beggar?”
Hearing this, Lin Zailiang immediately blamed himself.
“It’s my fault, all my fault. I didn’t properly inform you.”
Madam Lin shook her head.
“It has nothing to do with you. This happened because I failed to stop Wenbin and Yishuang in time.”
Seeing his mother and uncle both blaming themselves, An Wenbin stood up and spoke as if it were no big deal.
“Mother, Uncle, there’s no need to worry so much, right? It’s not that serious. When we see Father later, we can just explain properly.”
Madam Lin’s anger surged when she saw her son still did not grasp the seriousness of the situation. She smacked his forehead.
“Not serious? You’ve already offended Old Madam—our good days as mother and children may be over!”
As the conversation grew more severe, An Yishuang, who had been listening nearby, grew anxious.
“Mother… will Grandmother punish us? Father dotes on us so much—he won’t let Grandmother bully us, right?”
Madam Lin pressed her temples, her head aching.
“Your grandmother is your father’s birth mother. Do you think your father would dare interfere?”
“Then what do we do? Grandmother won’t like punishing people like Keke’s grandmother, right? And Father won’t start disliking Brother and me because of this… right?”
Seeing his niece on the verge of tears, Lin Zailiang hurried to comfort her.
“It’ll be fine. Old Madam is reasonable—she won’t nitpick with children. But when you go pay respects later, you must behave well.”
“Wenbin and Yishuang are so adorable—Old Madam will surely like you. If she favors you, your father will dote on you even more.”
The siblings exchanged glances and silently nodded.
Now they understood—the highest authority in the household was no longer their father, but the grandmother who had arrived today.
From now on, they just needed to please Grandmother.
After thinking for a moment, Madam Lin pulled An Yishuang close.
“In the past, you were the only daughter of the county magistrate in the rear residence, so everyone yielded to you. But now your elder sister has returned. From now on, whether it’s your mother’s belongings or gifts from outside, you must yield them all to her. Even if you like something, you must never fight or throw a tantrum. Understand?”
An Yishuang replied unwillingly,
“I don’t want to! Father loves me the most—why should I yield to that beggar girl?”
Madam Lin’s expression darkened.
“Silence. What beggar girl? She is your elder sister.”
“Mother…”
Seeing her mother’s angry face, An Yishuang grew frightened and aggrieved, tears falling.
Because she and An Wenbin were twins, An Yishuang had always been physically weak. Madam Lin had never raised her voice at her before, let alone said anything harsh. This was the first time she had shown such anger.
Seeing her crying, Lin Zailiang’s heart ached. He quickly pulled her into his arms and shot Madam Lin a displeased look.
“Sister, honestly! You could have explained properly—why frighten the child?”
Madam Lin was already regretting it and said nothing.
Lin Zailiang gently comforted An Yishuang.
“Your mother shouldn’t have scolded you like that. But you were also wrong.”
With tearful eyes, An Yishuang looked at him in confusion.
He wiped her tears.
“Yishuang, from now on, no matter how unhappy you are, you must not say it aloud.”
“Why?”
“If you do, your father might dislike it—and others might dislike it too. You don’t want people to dislike you, do you?”
Burying her face in his arms, An Yishuang choked out,
“I don’t like that elder sister. Uncle… could Father end up liking her and not liking me?”
Lin Zailiang lovingly brushed her nose.
“Our Yishuang is so clever and talented. You’re only eight and already know how to compose poetry. Master likes intelligent people—how could he dislike you?”
Madam Lin finally breathed a sigh of relief.
In her panic she had forgotten—Eldest Master loved intelligent people.
How could a country girl’s learning and bearing possibly compare to her daughter Yishuang’s?
Chunhua Courtyard
“Do-hwa? Why is her name so rustic? It’s too rustic to even say out loud!”
The adorable seven-year-old An Yile laughed and chattered to her elder brother and sister.
An Wenjie not only failed to stop her but nodded.
“It really is rustic.”
However, An Yihuan frowned instead of agreeing.
“Brother, Yile—Do-hwa is Aunt’s daughter. Aunt usually treats us well. We shouldn’t talk about her like that behind her back.”
But An Yile replied carelessly,
“What’s wrong with saying it? She’s not the Jade Emperor’s daughter—can’t we even talk behind her back?”
“You little brat—have you all had enough?”
At that moment, Madam Sun suddenly entered the room, glaring at An Yile.
“Mother, why have you come?”
The three children immediately stood.
“Your grandmother is bathing right now, so I came back quietly to remind you. When you go to Songhe Courtyard later, act affectionate toward your grandmother. And you must get along well with Do-hwa. Understood?”
An Wenjie smiled.
“Mother, don’t worry. Of course we’ll be affectionate with Grandmother. As for Do-hwa… she grew up in the countryside, so she probably doesn’t understand much about the world. Treating her decently won’t be difficult.”
Madam Sun glared at him.
“Do-hwa may have grown up in the countryside, but she is someone your grandmother favors. Your grandmother is not someone easy to deal with. You’d better all be careful.
“And from now on, don’t say her name is rustic. That name was personally given by your grandmother. No matter what you think inside, don’t show it outwardly.”
An Yile ran over and hugged Madam Sun, smiling.
“Mother, your sons and daughters are smart too. Don’t worry—we’ll get along well with Do-hwa.”
Madam Sun looked at her coolly.
“Do-hwa? You should call her Eldest Sister. She is the legitimate eldest daughter of our family. And ‘Do-hwa’ is only her childhood name used privately. Her formal name is Yan Yiyi.”
An Yile pouted.
“Big Sister’s birthday is only a few months apart from Do-hwa’s. If Do-hwa hadn’t appeared, our family’s legitimate eldest daughter would have been Big Sister!”
Madam Sun sighed and looked at An Yihuan.
She actually agreed.
The birthdays were only months apart… her own daughter could have been the An family’s legitimate eldest daughter.
Perhaps in the countryside no one cared much about the status of legitimate birth.
But after socializing with the wives of official families, she had learned—
In well-established, scholarly households, when choosing a wife, the legitimate eldest daughter was always the first priority.
