Chapter 094
Chapter 94: Finally Arrived
Matriarch Lin wore a crimson cross?collared robe and a green grandmother’s headpiece; when she heard the soft, sweet voice, her well?kept face blossomed as she said: “My girl, Grandmother has missed you too.”
Her nanny hurried to steady her and murmured: “Old Madam, let this old servant help.”
Xia Meng Yan stepped out of the carriage and, seeing her maternal grandmother reaching out, moved first to take her hand as she said: “Grandmother, Yan’er has finally met you.”
Matriarch Lin patted her hand and said with delight: “My good girl, the journey was hard, come inside at once.” Grandmother and granddaughter went in warmly together, ignoring the group behind them.
At the front, a richly dressed woman snorted and curled her lip as she muttered: “Old Madam really plays favorites. She even comes in person to welcome a junior.”
Second Madam and Third Madam exchanged a glance and smiled as they said: “Big Sister has only this one daughter, and she looks so much like her. It makes sense for Mother to dote on her.”
The richly dressed woman smoothed her openwork jeweled hairpin and said coldly: “People used to say Mother favored us. Now the real favorite has arrived.” With that, she flicked her handkerchief and went in.
Second Madam and Third Madam said nothing more and followed to the main hall.
Matriarch Lin sat on the couch, and Xia Meng Yan sat close beside her, speaking with affection.
When the richly dressed woman entered, Matriarch Lin pointed to her and said: “This is your eldest maternal aunt.” She then pointed to the two women behind and said: “Those are your second maternal aunt and your third maternal aunt. Your uncles are busy outside and will only be back at dinner.”
Xia Meng Yan rose to give each a proper greeting.
Matriarch Lin turned to her nanny and said: “Go see whether the children have finished their lessons. If not, tell the teacher to stop for today and send them here to meet Yan’er.” The nanny nodded and passed the order to a maid.
That richly dressed woman was Xia Meng Yan’s birth aunt, Madam Jia, the head madam of the Lin family. Hearing Grandmother’s instructions, Madam Jia twisted her handkerchief and looked Xia Meng Yan up and down as she said with a smile that held another meaning: “The last time I saw Meng Yan was at her hairpin ceremony. I didn’t expect such a change.”
Everyone in the room acted as if they hadn’t heard the hidden barb, and no one answered.
Matriarch Lin tidied the stray hair at Xia Meng Yan’s temples and said fondly: “She has suffered so much. How could she not change.”
Ignoring the hint in Madam Jia’s words, Xia Meng Yan’s eyes reddened as she said: “With Grandmother thinking of me, I have not suffered.”
Grandmother and granddaughter hugged and began to cry. In her grief, Matriarch Lin scolded the Lin family as heartless for ruining Xia Meng Yan’s life, and even took a few swipes at Xia Ping Yuan, saying scoldingly that he was a Hanlin Academician yet failed to judge people.
The three madams stepped forward to comfort them and urged them not to harm their health.
Wiping Matriarch Lin’s tears, Xia Meng Yan steadied her voice and said: “A blessing came from disaster. Before we set out, Father was promoted to Chief Academician of the Hanlin Academy.” She added softly: “Father has already settled accounts with the Lin family. Now the Lin family has no one left.”
Matriarch Lin remained calm, but Madam Jia, who had been overly sentimental just a moment ago, was startled. In shock she wondered to herself what “no one” meant, and whether they were all dead.
Matriarch Lin waved a hand and said: “Don’t mention that bunch. They spoil the mood.” She had already learned from her daughter’s letters how the Lin family freeloaded shamelessly and treated the Xia and Lin households as easy to bully. She added kindly: “The midwife is already arranged. Rest here with an easy mind.”
Xia Meng Yan nodded through tears.
While they were talking, seven or eight children, boys and girls, came in and bowed together as they said: “Greetings, Grandmother.”
Matriarch Lin beckoned them forward and said: “Come greet your cousin,” then, worried they might jostle the pregnant girl, she added with a frown: “Stand there, don’t crowd her. You’re too restless.”
Xia Meng Yan looked at Nanny Song, who understood and gestured toward the door. Soon Chun Yue entered carrying gifts.
As each child came forward to greet her, Xia Meng Yan presented a gift. The girls mostly received hairpins that had just become fashionable in the Capital, while the boys received sets of fine inkstones.
Smiling, Xia Meng Yan took out a sealed brocade box and waved it lightly before Matriarch Lin’s nose as she said: “Grandmother, please take a whiff.”
A light scent drifted up. Matriarch Lin’s mind felt clear at once, and she looked up in surprise as she said: “Is this the priceless and rarely found Mingtan incense?”
Xia Meng Yan’s smile turned gentle as she said: “Grandmother is amazing. One sniff and you guessed it.”
Matriarch Lin sighed and said: “This is the incense used at the Royal Family’s temple. I heard the recipe was damaged, and no one can make it anymore.” She had seen many fine things, but Mingtan incense was something money could not buy. The formula had been kept by the old abbot at the Royal Family’s temple, but a fire had burned away most of it. The old abbot was injured, his mind clouded, and the supply dwindled until it vanished.
Xia Meng Yan blinked playfully and said with hidden meaning: “Please use it without worry.”
In her previous life, when Grand Madam Lin copied the Capital’s old madams by eating vegetarian and chanting sutras, she somehow heard of Mingtan incense and demanded to use it. At the time, Xia Meng Yan was devoted to Lin Ye Lan and, out of love for the one, showed favor to the other. She went herself to the Royal Family’s temple to ask for the recipe, but it had been mostly destroyed. The old abbot, injured in that same fire, was confused and could not recall the formula. After countless trials, Xia Meng Yan finally recreated Mingtan incense.
Xia Meng Yan stood and moved to Madam Jia’s side as she said: “I did not know what Eldest Aunt likes. This Snow?Skin Beauty Pill is used by Her Highness in the Imperial Palace. I hope you will like it.”
At the words Snow?Skin Beauty Pill, Madam Jia’s eyes lit up. She laughed and said: “I’ve heard that after Her Highness takes them, she looks young and beautiful. I never thought I would get to use them.” She opened the bottle to sniff, her smile widening as she said: “Two days ago I attended the prefect’s madam’s banquet. She had a bottle and I smelled it out of curiosity. It’s the same scent.”
Xia Meng Yan only smiled and, lifting the two remaining bottles, said: “Second Aunt, Third Aunt, I hope you like these.”
The two had not expected to receive any and rose quickly to accept them. Second Madam carefully opened hers, and a faint fragrance lifted the spirit as she said: “Meng Yan is so thoughtful.” Third Madam, unwilling to let go of the bottle, said with heartfelt joy: “Women all love beauty. You really have a way, Meng Yan, to even obtain Snow?Skin Beauty Pills.”
Seeing they had some too, Madam Jia rolled her eyes inwardly. What was Meng Yan doing, giving such good things to two outsiders, when she was the real aunt by blood.
Catching the flicker in their eyes, Xia Meng Yan said gently: “I didn’t spend much silver, just owed a few favors.”
Hearing this, Matriarch Lin understood how hard these things had been to get and reminded the three with a firm voice: “You know what you’re holding can’t be bought with money. Take good care of Yan’er from now on. Don’t waste her goodwill.”
Carrying a fruit plate forward, Madam Jia smiled as she said: “Mother, your daughter?in?law understands. Since Meng Yan thinks of us, we think of her. We’re one family.”
Matriarch Lin gave her a playful scold and said in mock annoyance: “Tell the people below that if anyone dares slight Yan’er, don’t blame this old woman for giving them no face.”
There were many houseborn servants in Lin Manor, and their ties were tangled. With those words, Matriarch Lin warned the old servants that if they dared slight Xia Meng Yan, past feelings wouldn’t save them.
Madam Jia nodded briskly and said: “All right, your daughter?in?law will give the order at once.”
Matriarch Lin then said: “Enough for now. Yan’er is travel?worn. Take her to her mother’s courtyard to rest.” She turned to Xia Meng Yan and added kindly: “Go rest first. Come back at dinner to meet your three uncles.”
Supported by Nanny Song, Xia Meng Yan rose as she said: “Yan’er will listen to Grandmother.”
A nanny from Madam Jia’s side led Xia Meng Yan toward the rear courtyard. Maids along the way stopped their work to salute.
At the courtyard gate, Xia Meng Yan looked to Nanny Song; the nanny drew out a purse and handed it to the guide. The woman accepted it and said respectfully: “If Cousin needs anything, please send someone to fetch this old servant.” Seeing no further orders, she withdrew to report.
Chun Yue helped Xia Meng Yan into the house, while Nanny Song called the courtyard maids and serving lads together to lay down the rules.