The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

With the sound of firecrackers a year old, the spring breeze sent warmth to Tusu.

On New Year's Eve, the servants of Ping'an Marquis Mansion pasted couplets and blessing characters everywhere in the freshly swept house and removed the old lanterns from last year and replaced them with new ones.

Just after the Yin hour, Lu Yun was woken up by Cai He. Rong Jie'er beside her had her head half-drooped, appearing to be still asleep.

According to the rules of the mansion, all the masters, big and small, must go to Yannianyuan to pay their respects to the old lady today.

Caihe put on a newly made red brocade rabbit fur jacket for the young lady, tied a red tassel silk flower on each of her two combed little hair, looked around, and then carried her to the main room.

Zhang was wearing a long, narrow-sleeved, double-breasted brocade jacket embroidered with red and pink peonies in red brocade, revealing a jade-colored skirt. Her hair was combed into a bun with a single phoenix hairpin made of gold filigree and holding a red jade in the middle.

When Lu Yun entered the main room, Zhang was conversing with Nanny Chang, their heads bowed. A round table in the hall was set with several plates of crystal buns, silver-thread fried dough sticks, and soups. In the west room, sitting with Wang Ge'er in her arms, Aunt Yao heard the noise and tilted her head to glance over.

Jin He pulled Sister Yun to the table and said to Cai He, "Eat something first to fill your stomach, otherwise you will be hungry and feel uncomfortable when you go to the old lady later."

The young masters and young ladies had a simple meal and then were wrapped in cloaks and carried, following Zhang to Yannianyuan.

Yannianyuan had been closed for many days, but upon seeing her today, the old lady's hair had noticeably grown a few more silver strands, making her look even more kind. She wore a sable fur gown, a full jade and gold headpiece, and jade bracelets of the same material. She beamed as she looked at her grandchildren who had come to pay their respects.

First, she asked about Cheng Ge'er and Hui Ge'er's schoolwork, and told them to study hard with their teachers. She also teased Wang Ge'er for a while. Then she looked at her granddaughters, pointed at Lu Rong who was holding her sister's hand and said with a smile, "You are becoming more and more like a little adult, not much worse than Qin Jie'er." Maybe she really has become more sensible after growing a year older. Lu Qin smiled and replied, "Granddaughter, thank you for the compliment, and I will kowtow to you in the evening."

This sentence made the old lady laugh heartily, and she hugged her in her arms. "You have grown up, and you are no longer the same as before. You are the legitimate daughter of our Marquis's Mansion, so you should be so open and honest."

Lu Qin caught a glimpse of Lu Ling's frozen expression and curled her lips. What Madam Zhuang had said was indeed true. She was a legitimate daughter. She could easily obtain what those illegitimate daughters had to work so hard to obtain with just a few words.

Lu Ling raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose and coughed twice. The old lady loosened her grip on Lu Qin's hand, turned to look at Lu Ling, gently stroked her back and said, "You're still taking your medicine recently. I've troubled you to run around for my old bones, and now I'm better, but you're sick."

Lu Ling's face was full of admiration, and she said softly, "Serving you is my granddaughter's duty, and it can also help share your mother's worries. It's a good thing for both of us. But my health is not good, so please don't worry about me, otherwise it would be unfilial of my granddaughter." After she finished speaking, she raised her hand and pressed the corner of her mouth, revealing a gold and jade bracelet made of the same workmanship and material as the old lady's.

After these words were spoken, everyone in the hall had different expressions.

Tears flickered faintly in the eldest master's eyes. Lu Qin forced a smile and clung to her mother's arm, coquettishly saying, "No wonder. We already have new jewelry and clothes for the New Year, but Mom is still insisting on getting a gold necklace. She only got one for my older sister and me, but none for me." She raised her hand and pointed at the gold necklace with filigree pearls and pink tourmaline hanging around Lu Zhen's neck.

Qin shoved her aside with a look of disgust. "Go away! If you could be as sensible as Lingjie, you would have it too. Besides, your grandmother didn't give you enough. You're really going backwards as you grow older. You're even worse than your sister Zhen."

The old lady hugged Lu Qin again and said with a smile, "Your mother doesn't want you. Come, come to Grandma." She then looked at Lu Zhen and praised, "The color of this necklace is really well matched. It looks young and pretty, just right for girls their age."

At this time, Zhang smiled and took out a box from Nanny Chang beside her, held it in both hands and handed it to the old lady. "Speaking of jewelry, our master also has something to give to you as a filial gift. Don't be disgusted, old lady. He just wants to wear something new and festive."

"Oh!" the old lady opened the box with great interest, muttering an "Ah!" Inside, lined with red velvet, lay a lustrous, lifelike, exquisite hairpin, resembling a silk flower, yet not quite a silk flower. Atop the hairpin was a vermilion ribbon bird, and below, golden chrysanthemums, red pomegranates, and chubby pink longevity peaches. Most remarkable of all, the bird's eye, pistil, and pomegranate seeds were adorned with a variety of gemstones, shimmering brilliantly in the candlelight.

The old lady showed the hairpin to everyone in the hall, and laughed so hard that she couldn't stop. "Look at me, I'm already old and I'm still learning to wear flowers like a young wife. I'm afraid people will laugh at me."

Zhang came forward to explain to everyone, "Madam, this hairpin is called Ronghua, which means "glory" and is very popular among the ladies in Yangzhou. It is made of the finest silk and gold threads as thin as hair, twisted one by one. The one in your hand imitates "Fu Shou San Duo", but it is slightly more complicated than "Fu Shou San Duo". The craftsmen worked for more than a month to get this one, and it fits you perfectly."

The women in the hall had been staring at the velvet flower in the old lady's hand, and now they were even more amazed.

Lu Qin asked curiously, "Second aunt, why don't you just make "Fu Shou San Duo" instead of imitating it and making a new style?" Many people in the hall also looked puzzled.

Zhang smiled and said, "This has to mention the Empress Dowager. Everyone knows that the Empress Dowager advocates frugality. She liked velvet flowers very much when she saw them. She said that velvet flowers are as gorgeous as gold, silver and gems, and they require less manpower and material resources than the latter, and are very light to wear. The current emperor has always been filial and has designated velvet flowers as tribute. He ordered the governor of Yangzhou to supervise the tribute of velvet flowers next year." Zhang paused for a moment and slowed down her speech. "Among them, the Empress Dowager likes this the most" three blessings of happiness and longevity."

The old lady was even more delighted after hearing this. Dujuan smiled and took out the bronze mirror. Zhang personally pinned the velvet flower on the old lady's bun and carefully adjusted the shape of the velvet flower.

The old lady took a look in the mirror and saw that the golden velvet strips acting as chrysanthemum silk swayed slightly with her movements, looking gorgeous and noble, and dazzling among her hair.

Qin looked at her sister-in-law with a smile, "My brother-in-law is filial and always gives good things to the old lady first. It's okay for us." She pretended to look at Zhang, raised her hand to cover her mouth and nose, and said in surprise, "How come you, the wife, don't have any?"

Zhang seemed to have been caught on the spotlight, and a look of shame appeared on her face. "My master said that making these velvet flowers is time-consuming and laborious, so I'll make the old lady's first. My sister-in-law, my nieces, and I are all lining up on the road."

The old lady laughed a few times and pulled her daughter-in-law to sit next to her. "Ling Cong was wrong in this matter. Please forgive him for the hard work he put in to earn your life."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall burst into laughter.