A life of ups and downs is pure joy

Chuxia went to the main hall to welcome Chen Jingshu into Lingzhu Garden. Lixue also set up a table of fruits and two cups of tea in the courtyard in the middle of the yard.

"Sister Qinghuan's yard is so unique. The small bamboo forest over there is worthy of such an elegant name for the yard." Chen Jingshu sat down slowly, admiring the scenery of Lingzhu Garden.

"Xiao Jingyiqing, these bamboos were our late mother's favorite. Daddy always talked about them, so we have been taking good care of them. Fortunately, bamboos are easy to grow." Lin Qinghuan glanced at the bamboos and said casually. He didn't know if the few small bamboo shoots sticking out of the ground could be used to make a dish of stir-fried bamboo shoots with pork before Lin Qingyi noticed them.

"When I was a child, I often went to Sister Qingyao's Xiangxi Garden with my elder sister. At that time, I sighed at how big the yard was. Now it is really far to walk from this front hall to my sister's Lingzhu Garden. I am afraid that ten of my families cannot be as big as one marquis' mansion." Chen Jingshu sighed.

"It's just that the location is remote. How did Sister Jingshu find time to come here today?" As far as she knew, there were probably more than twenty. The Lin Mansion was located at the southernmost end of East Street City, adjacent to the Luo River, and Zhoushan was outside. So the remote location was true. I heard that there was also a house in the downtown area, which was a bit smaller. Only some of the elderly people in the Lin Mansion were arranged to do daily cleaning work there, which was considered a preferential treatment for the old employees.

"The weather is pretty good today, so I came to see my sister. I heard that you were bedridden again a few days ago?" Chen Jingshu asked with concern.

"Every spring I catch a cold occasionally. My body is not doing well, and it bothers everyone in the yard and makes them worry." Lin Qinghuan smiled bitterly and said helplessly.

"The Shangsi Festival is coming in a few days. If you are in good health, I would like to invite you and the fourth girl to go together. If there are other sisters, they can also come together." Chen Jingshu looked at Lin Qinghuan sincerely and said with a smile.

"Shangsi Festival, if my elder brother were still in Luofeng, he would definitely invite a group of young men to have a drink together." Lin Qinghuan thought of Lin Yuzhi who was far away in Kyoto, and wondered if he would also celebrate the Shangsi Festival in Kyoto with a new talented man and beautiful woman that day.

"I heard from my father these days that Brother Lin went to Kyoto to serve as an official. I guess he is not an ordinary person and will leave Luofeng City sooner or later." Chen Jingshu said, her eyes full of reluctance.

"Sister Jingshu, we are going to Kyoto for a short stay in early autumn. If you have nothing to do, you can go with me then." Lin Qinghuan felt a little sorry for her lonely look, just like he was worried when he couldn't see Xiao Yu. It was quite uncomfortable to identify with her.

"Sister Qinghuan, can I really go with you?" Chen Jingshu's eyes suddenly sparkled, and she looked at Lin Qinghuan in surprise.

"As long as Lord Chen and Madam have no objection, and my sister is willing, then of course it's fine. It's a good opportunity for me to go with Huan'er to see the bustling and lively Kyoto with its bright lights and bustling traffic." Lin Qinghuan nodded in affirmation, and Chuxia poured two sips of hot tea for them both.

"Sister, it's great to have you." There were some tears of emotion in Chen Jingshu's eyes, but her face was filled with an expectant smile.

"These fruits are the signature of Wangyue Tower. Knowing that I'm a greedy person, An Cai bought some more for you to try, Sister Jingshu." Lin Qinghuan pushed the fresh cherries in front of Chen Jingshu and said.

"The fruits in Wangyue Tower are especially delicious. What you can't buy anywhere else must be found in Wangyue Tower." Chen Jingshu picked up the cherries and tasted them with relish.

Looking at these fruits, Lin Qinghuan suddenly remembered that the girl in charge of Wangyue Tower said that it was arranged by a rich lady. There are many rich ladies in Luofeng City, but the only ones she has met are Chen Jingshu in front of her and Yuan Huixue from the official's family. But why would these two girls spread rumors about her? If it was because of her eldest brother, there was no need to implicate her.

"I went out a few days ago and watched a very good play. It was very interesting. I heard that it is now the most popular play in Luofeng City." Lin Qinghuan said slowly, holding the teacup and carefully looking at Chen Jingshu's subtle expression.

"Sister, play scripts are all written by busybodies to cater to the public's preferences. I have never liked them, so I don't pay much attention to them." Chen Jingshu said simply without any strange expression on her face.

"I have never left the house since I was a child. When I go out, I get curious and interested in the excitement. My sister is laughing at me." Lin Qinghuan said, and then he felt that he was overthinking it.

"Sister, that's not what I meant. Really, it's my fault for not being able to speak well. Don't think too much about it." Chen Jingshu looked at Lin Qinghuan with an apologetic look and said awkwardly.

"Sister, why are you being so formal? Come and have some tea." Looking at Chen Jingshu's reaction, Lin Qinghuan guessed that this matter had nothing to do with her, so she smiled and said to smooth things over.

"Sister, the taste of your tea is a bit unique, not like the taste of ordinary tea." Chen Jingshu took a sip carefully and asked while savoring it.

"Miss Chen, you haven't been sleeping well lately. We followed the Medical Saint's instructions and added some albizzia flowers and dried lilies collected last year." Chu Xia stepped forward and said.

"How does it taste, Sister Jingshu?" Lin Qinghuan asked her with a smile.

"It tastes very elegant, with a sweet aftertaste. Does it have a calming effect?" Chen Jingshu asked.

"Yes, I've slept much better these days." Lin Qinghuan nodded affirmatively.

"Then Chuxia, please give me a prescription as well." Chen Jingshu said expectantly.

"Okay, I'll have someone send the recipe to your house later." Chu Xia bowed and went back to work.

Chen Jingshu and Lin Qinghuan agreed to meet at Xiaoyue Lake on the day after Shangsi Festival, and then went to Xiangxi Garden to visit Lin Qingyao. Having nothing to do, Lin Qinghuan got up and went to chat with Lin Mo in the next yard.

The Xiao Mansion in Kyoto is magnificent, with all the furnishings being of top quality, and a wide variety of rare and exotic plants in the yard.

"Eldest sister, Yi'er and Yu'er should arrive in Jinhan in two days." A well-dressed woman in her thirties said to the woman in a lilac-colored long dress embroidered with canary silk patterns.

"Yu'er has been traveling around with Doctor Bu since he was a child. After finally settling down for a few years, he went to Luofeng City again. I heard that it was General Lin's fiefdom. What kind of scenery is it that attracts my Yu'er so much?" The woman said as she sat down.

"Yu'er moved the Deer God Hall to Luofeng City a few years ago. I heard it was for General Lin's youngest daughter." Liu Rong looked around and said in a low voice.

"Lin family's daughter, which child?" the woman asked.

"She seems to be the daughter of Zhang Yulan, the younger sister of Minister Zhang." Liu Rong said.

"Zhang Yulan, I know her. She was the most beautiful woman in Jinhan back then and was very famous. It's a pity that Zhang Rui was a cunning man who did not hesitate to let his own sister remarry his ex-brother-in-law. This incident caused quite a sensation back then. However, General Lin is also a good man. He should have treated her well over the years." The woman had a beautiful face, and her eyes were particularly beautiful. Although she had a few fine lines on her face, it did not affect her beauty.

"Eldest sister, Zhang Yulan passed away after giving birth to twins. What a tragic fate for such a beautiful woman." Liu Rong looked regretful.

"That's quite a pity. Fortunately, the two children left behind are legitimate children. The old lady of the Lin family is a kind person. The two children should have lived well these years." The lady said softly.

"I heard from Qiao'er in the Lushen Hall that there are rumors in Luofeng City that the Lin family's eldest daughter is ugly and has not married in more than ten years." Liu Rong said with a little surprise.

"How can outsiders know what a young lady who has not married for more than ten years looks like? Zhang Yulan is quite beautiful, and although Lin Mutang is a military commander, he is also a handsome man with high spirits. How could they give birth to an ugly daughter? It's just a folk legend." The woman smiled helplessly and shook her head. Among the common people, there are people who write books. They like to write stories about the officials' residences. Common people also like to read and listen to them. They just laugh. She thinks that she used to be the protagonist of such a book.

"That's true. Yu'er cares so much about this little girl. What do you think, elder sister?" Liu Rong thought of her little nephew and asked curiously.

"Does the official know about this?" the woman asked.

"This is what I inquired about privately. My brother-in-law doesn't know." As Liu Rong whispered, her hands kept rubbing the back of the woman's neck.

"Okay, go and see what the girl is like when you have time. If my son really likes her, it would be suitable." The woman murmured thoughtfully.

"Mother, I heard that my second brother is coming back." As she spoke, a cute little girl in a white short-sleeved shirt and a pink pleated skirt ran over. Her voice was sweet and soft, with a hint of coquettishness at the end.

"Nan'er, you've been having a lot of fun somewhere and you're all sweaty." The woman's face immediately lit up with smiles when she saw the girl, and her doting eyes were as gentle as water.

"Mother, I was playing with Piju with sister-in-law Jiaxin in her yard. I heard sister-in-law say that my eldest brother had brought it back for my second brother, so I hurried over to confirm if it was true." Xiao Qiannan took a sip of herbal tea and said in one breath.

"In two days, your second brother will be back home." The woman wiped the sweat from the girl's forehead with the handkerchief in her hand and said happily.

"Hmph, when second brother comes back, I will definitely tie him up in the mansion. I won't see him all year round. He's even busier than my eldest brother." Xiao Qiannan complained.

"Does your elder brother go to Jiaxin often?" the woman asked probingly.

"Mother, I did ask my sister-in-law, but she looked hesitant. Maybe it's because my eldest brother doesn't go there often." Xiao Qiannan said casually while eating fruit.

The woman glanced at Liu Rong and curled her lips in frustration. Her eldest son was busy with government affairs all day long. Now that the crown prince had been appointed, Xiao Yi was even busier. He still had no wife, and her husband didn't seem anxious. His concubines had several maids, and his youngest son was often away from home. Concubine Chen's eldest son, Xiao Fan, had a wife and concubines, and now even a legitimate granddaughter was born. Liu Ji was quite anxious.

"It's not surprising that you don't like them. I feel that their looks and talents are not worthy of big brother." Xiao Qiannan has admired Xiao Yi since she was a child, so she felt that Xiao Yi's wife must be an extraordinary person.

"You are just a little scoundrel." Liu Rong said with a smile.

"Aunt Rong, does what I said make sense?" Xiao Qiannan asked unconvinced.

"Then what kind of person do you think is worthy of your elder brother?" Liu Rong asked teasingly.

"First of all, she must be from a famous family. Secondly, she must be stunningly beautiful. Thirdly, she must be talented. She should be a good match for my big brother." Xiao Qiannan thought for a long time and concluded. Finally, she nodded seriously and affirmed herself.

"From what he said, it can be seen that Yi'er holds a very high position in Nan'er's heart." Liu Ji smiled lightly and sighed to Liu Rong.

"Of course." Xiao Qiannan replied playfully. The yard was filled with laughter and joy. The busy maids and servants were running back and forth preparing dinner for Liu Ji, the mistress of the house.

The past few days passed quite quickly. After drinking the calming tea prescribed by Xiao Yu every day, Lin Qinghuan slept well, ate well, and felt more energetic. He was even more looking forward to going out to play.

The carriage had been parked at the door. Several girls from the Lin family sat in the carriage and swayed towards Xiaoyue Lake. Lin Qingyao and Lin Feng took Lin Qingru to accompany their grandmother to the White Horse Temple to worship Buddha early in the morning.

Chen Jingshu had been waiting on the grass where the car was parked for a long time. When she saw the four sisters of the Lin family, she stepped forward to greet them one by one, then affectionately took Lin Qinghuan's arm and led them into the banquet hall by Xiaoyue Lake.

"Qinghuan, stand still." Chen Jingshu gave the maid beside her a mysterious look. A moment later, the maid came over with a basin of flower petal water and a few willow branches. Then, Chen Jingshu took the willow branches, dipped them in the flower petal water, and began to sprinkle the water on the heads and bodies of the Lin sisters, muttering, "Purify yourself, purify yourself, and eliminate illness and disaster."

"Sprinkle more on Qinghuan." Lin Qingyi also took a willow branch and kept dipping water on Lin Qinghuan's face and body. They were having a lot of fun. Several girls used willow branches to lightly touch the water on each other instead of splashing water with buckets.

"Girls, the Qushui Banquet has been prepared." The servant came to report.

"Okay, then let's go over and have some tea and enjoy the scenery." Chen Jingshu handed the willow branch in her hand to the maid, then took Lin Qinghuan's arm and led them to the Qushui Banquet.

There were already several young girls sitting by the lake, among them was a girl who looked familiar. She couldn't remember her for a moment, but when Lin Qingyi called out "Ruoyun", she suddenly realized that it was the girl at the gate of the White Horse Temple.

Seeing the Lin sisters coming, everyone stood up and saluted. Lin Qinghuan only then realized that as the daughter of the general of the Hou Mansion, her status was a little higher, so she had to be reserved. She could not laugh heartily and without caring about her image like Lin Qingyi did in the mansion. Lin Qingwan was the best at this. No matter what, elegance was the most important thing in front of outsiders. Now Lin Qinghuan had to imitate her more.

"Miss Qinghuan is such a stunning beauty, I don't know who is so wicked as to write such a storybook to upset her." Ruoyun spoke frankly and indignantly.

"Have you read that book too?" Lin Qingyi asked while sitting upright.

"Not only the script, but also the opera has spread widely." Ruoyun said.

"You love to join in the fun, so what's new in Luofeng City now?" Lin Qinghuan asked curiously after taking a sip of tea.

"Really? Some time ago, Xiao Yi, the eldest son of General Xiao from Kyoto, came to Luofeng City. I heard that the owner of the Deer God Hall is the second son, Xiao Yu. I don't know what the two brothers are doing in Luofeng City, but I heard that they have both returned to Kyoto. They are the men that all the girls in Kyoto are vying to marry." Ruoyun said excitedly, tilting her head.

Lin Qinghuan only heard one sentence in her mind: Xiao Yu had left Luofeng City. Why didn't he come to say goodbye to her when he left? When would he come back? Maybe he wouldn't come back. What if she suddenly fell ill? Would she see him again?

"Huan'er, what are you thinking about?" Lin Qingyi saw Lin Qinghuan in a daze for a long time, waving his hands in front of her.

"Nothing, I was just wondering what this prosperous capital looks like. Luofeng City is so lively, it's hard to imagine what Kyoto is like." Lin Qinghuan said with a smile.

"It was quite prosperous and lively. I have the impression that the streets were full of hotels like Wangyue Tower. The market was noisy, and the imperial city was astonishingly large. When I was a child, I went with my mother to pay homage to the late Empress Dowager. I wandered around in it until I got dizzy." Lin Qingyi recalled the past.

"Well, unfortunately I don't have any impression of it, hahaha." She said helplessly and regretfully.

"Aren't we going back to the Kyoto mansion in early autumn? Then I'll take you to travel around the entire Jinhan City." Lin Qingyi put her hand on Lin Qinghuan's shoulder and said to her and Lin Mo.

"Oh, by the way, I plan to bring Sister Jingshu with me to keep me company and entertain me along the way." Lin Qinghuan said with a smile as he looked at Chen Jingshu.

"Well~ you are going too?" Lin Qingyi glanced at Chen Jingshu, then said, "It's not a big problem, as long as Magistrate Chen and his wife agree." Lin Qingyi knew what Chen Jingshu was thinking, so she just went along with her.

"I have asked for my parents' consent. They said that this is a good opportunity for me to take good care of my sister Qinghuan along the way." Chen Jingshu looked at Lin Qinghuan with a knowing smile, her face full of anticipation.

"Sister Jingshu, why are you being so polite? What we mean is that we will accompany each other on the trip together." Lin Qinghuan said.

Chen Jingshu smiled sweetly, then ordered the servants to serve fruit and tea. She then introduced the young ladies from the official families she was friendly with to the Lin sisters. This Shangsi Festival was like an elementary school spring outing: a group of friends spread out a picnic blanket, laid out their snacks, sat down, and began eating, drinking, and playing games. In the Dasheng Dynasty, it was just a more elegant spring outing, with tea and fruit.

When they returned home, the sun had already set. Everyone went back to the yard with the maids and servants, exhausted. Lin Qinghuan had some dinner and went to bed early.