Crossing Over to Yamada Love

"My dear sister, you've arrived! You're up so early. I thought you'd forgotten all these formalities since you've been away from home for so many years." The second madam smiled, but her words carried a hidden meaning.

"Sister-in-law, you're too kind. Lanzhi has been away from home for years and has become rusty with etiquette. I hope you won't take offense." Wang knew that her second sister-in-law didn't have much affection for her, so she had no expectations and wasn't hurt by her sister-in-law's attitude.

"How dare I, as your sister-in-law, laugh at you? What kind of person are you, sister! Our Marquis and Second Master both dote on you, afraid that you might be wronged. You are very strong-willed and don't care about anyone's feelings. You can hit anyone's people without hesitation. If I dare to complain, I'm afraid you would even slap me in the face."

The second madam slammed down her teacup after speaking, her face darkening. Qiu Zi had been brought back last night. Seeing Qiu Zi, she was furious. She truly hadn't expected her own person to be beaten by Madam Wang. Wasn't this a slap in her own face? Qiu Zi said she was pregnant with her grandson, even if it was only a son born out of wedlock, it was still her grandson. Madam Wang actually wanted to force her to have safflower injected, to make her abort her grandson. When did it become her place to decide her own family affairs? She was truly pushing her luck. She would find an opportunity to thoroughly humiliate Madam Wang.

"Sister-in-law, you're too kind. How could I dare?" Madam Wang bowed slightly to the Second Madam.

"You dare not? What is there that you dare not do?" The Second Madam's mood did not improve because of Wang's attitude; she intended to embarrass Wang today. The Crown Princess remained silent, sipping her tea and watching the show.

"Hehe, sister-in-law, what are you saying? I'm only able to stay here thanks to the care and protection of my brother and sister-in-law. If it weren't for their care, I'm afraid I would have been bullied to death by those audacious servants. I thank you for your kindness and for sending such a capable maid to take care of me." After saying this, Madam Wang bowed to the Second Madam. Her words were pleasant and her manners impeccable, but the meaning behind her words was the opposite of her actions.

The second madam was taken aback by her words. Was Wang mocking her? If the people she sent were capable, would Wang have beaten them and sent them back? She had already lost face, and now she dared to say such things to her? Who did Wang think she was? Just because the Marquis and Master treated her well, she thought she could go against her? She absolutely could not tolerate her. Thinking this, the second madam was about to reprimand Wang when she saw the Marquis's wife, supported by two head maids, emerge from the inner room.

Lady Wang hurriedly stood up, and the Crown Princess and the Second Lady also rose. After Lady Hou was seated, the three of them bowed to her.

Lady Hou smiled and told them to rise. She ordered someone to show them seats and serve tea. Then, the ladies and young mistresses filed in one after another to pay their respects.

After everyone exchanged greetings, the maids laid out breakfast. The Lady of the Marquis, the Second Lady, and Madam Wang sat in the main seats, while Mo Lan ate with the other young ladies of the Marquis's residence. The other ladies, except for the Heir Apparent's wife, were serving the Lady of the Marquis, the Second Lady, and Madam Wang their meals, waiting until they had finished or until the Lady of the Marquis gave permission before they could sit down to eat. Alternatively, they would wait until the Lady of the Marquis had finished eating before returning to their own courtyards to eat.

After breakfast, they sat down and sipped tea. The Lady of the Marquis spoke gently: “Sister, news has come back from our Marquis’s daughters who married today. Those in the capital will come to pay their respects to your aunt. Two of them, who married far away, won’t be able to return. Also, I’ve prepared a banquet in three days, an auspicious day. I will invite all the ladies who are on good terms with us in the household to the banquet. I will invite you to attend, as a way of letting everyone know that our old lady of the Marquis’s household has returned. It will also help to establish your status. What do you think, sister?”

Madam Wang hurriedly rose and bowed to Lady Hou, saying, "Sister-in-law, thank you for your trouble. I will follow your arrangements."

"Get up quickly, it's settled then. I'll have the embroiderer make two outfits for you and Lan'er later. You can choose the fabric first, then the embroiderer will come to take your measurements." After saying that, the Lady Hou gave a wink to the old woman beside her. The old woman went away, and soon several maids came, each carrying a tray with various kinds of silks and satins.

Wang led Mo Lan forward; this was arranged by the Lady of the Marquis, and they could not refuse. To refuse would be to disrespect the Lady of the Marquis, and they could not do such a thing.

Wang chose a dark blue brocade, while Mo Lan chose a pale yellow one. She had originally wanted white, but white wouldn't be appropriate for entering the mansion, and she didn't particularly like bright red or purple. Pale yellow was perfect; it made her look delicate and young.

"Sister, the colors you chose are too old-fashioned. I'll make the decision for you. Since everyone's here, give the dark purple and maroon fabrics to the old lady. We'll have the embroiderers make them together after she takes her measurements. And give the pink palace gauze to Lan'er too. She's pretty and it will suit her well." After looking at their choices, Madam Hou selected two more pieces for them.

"Thank you for your expense, sister-in-law. I thank you so much," said Madam Wang, leading Mo Lan in expressing her gratitude.

Mo Lan noticed that many people looked rather unhappy. Perhaps they had taken advantage of others by using better materials, which she herself didn't want at all. She didn't want to attend today's banquet or the banquet three days later.

Today's situation is somewhat better, as it's the Wang family's daughters returning from their marriages. They are all Wang's juniors and must pay their respects to her. However, at the banquet three days later, Mo Lan's eyes flashed. Those attending that day would all be ladies from various households, and those who were on good terms with the Wang family, such as wives of marquises, first-rank and second-rank ladies, would likely be there.

Her grandmother would probably have to kowtow and bow to them upon seeing them. Although her grandmother was the Marquis's sister and considered a young lady of the Marquis's household, she had married into a farming family and wasn't a lady of the house. She couldn't bear to see her grandmother kneel before everyone. She didn't want her grandmother to attend such a banquet, and her grandmother probably didn't want to either, but they couldn't stop her, since the other party meant well. Fine, she'd just stay with her grandmother. At worst, she'd kneel down and be judged by others.

After exchanging a few more casual words, the old Marquis sent a servant in. After exchanging greetings, the servant relayed the old Marquis's message, asking Mo Lan to come to his study to see him.

Mo Lan was taken aback. She was to go to the study? Shouldn't the study be in the outer courtyard? Was the outer courtyard a place for men? Or was there a study in the inner courtyard as well? The Xue brothers were also in the outer courtyard. Did they want to see her, so they asked the Marquis to let her out? Mo Lan had a headache. She knew nothing about the layout of the mansion, so it was hard for her to guess.

Lady Hou, seeing that the messenger was the old Marquis's personal servant, someone he trusted, knew it couldn't be someone impersonating the old Marquis, so she let Mo Lan go, telling her to send someone back if anything happened. Mo Lan agreed, glanced at her grandmother, and Lady Wang nodded, indicating that she could go without worry.

Mo Lan took Granny Bai with her. She left Xia Yu to stay with Madam Wang, and then rode in a sedan chair to the study. The sedan chair stopped outside the study, and Mo Lan got out. Inside the study, the old Marquis's hearty laughter could be heard.

After the servant announced his arrival, the old Marquis invited Mo Lan in. Mo Lan entered and quickly glanced around the study while bowing. Besides the old Marquis, Xue Lingfeng and another man were also present.

Upon seeing the man, Mo Lan was taken aback. He looked very familiar to her. Was he the chubby Xue Linglei? But he wasn't chubby anymore. He stood there with a tall and straight figure, and his appearance was quite handsome. He had a sharp and imposing aura, and his face was somewhat similar to the last time she saw the chubby boy.

Xue Linglei looked at the beautiful woman before him, his eyes flashing with excitement. This woman had captured his heart since he was twelve years old, and it had been so long since he had seen her. Now she had grown even more stunning. Did she still remember him?

After exchanging greetings with the old Marquis, Mo Lan asked with a hint of doubt, "Little Fatty?"

The man, who had initially appeared to be a promising young talent, immediately broke into a wide smile upon hearing Mo Lan's words, saying, "You little devil." With that one sentence, he revealed his true colors; he no longer pretended. This girl still remembered him, recognized him—it seemed she hadn't forgotten him after all. Xue Linglei was inwardly thrilled.

"Ah, it really is you! Little Fatty, that's great!" Mo Lan was very excited. She had been thinking of finding Xue Lingfeng to take her to see Little Fatty when she had some free time. She never expected that she would see him this morning, even though she only arrived yesterday. It was wonderful. Mo Lan didn't hide her emotions; everyone in the room was trustworthy. She didn't need to pretend to be reserved.

Mo Lan rushed over, circled Xue Linglei twice, and carefully examined him, saying, "Tsk tsk, I really can't believe it. This kid has grown so tall and handsome. You can't even recognize him as that fat guy anymore. But I still think you were cutest when you were chubby."

Xue Linglei was speechless at Mo Lan's antics. So this girl just wanted him to become fat? However, he could sense Mo Lan's joy when she saw him. Even though she only saw him as a younger brother, as long as she thought of him and was happy, that was enough for him.

Xue Lingfeng and Xue Lingyun watched with smiles, while the old Marquis's eyes flashed with deep thought. This girl actually had such a good relationship with all three Xue brothers; such a thing was generally impossible. Any one of the Xue brothers would be quite good. All three were devoted to her, and none of them had quarreled over it. Although this girl liked Feng'er, she hadn't distanced herself from Lingyun and Linglei because of it. She maintained her friendship with them. Today he realized that this girl's success wasn't due to anything else, but to her sincerity.

"You little devil, you came to the capital without saying a word. Did you not want to see me?" Xue Linglei had grown up. In the past two years in the capital, he had matured a lot and become much more composed. But now, seeing Mo Lan, he felt like he had returned to his old self and become that simple and happy little chubby boy again.