The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

Chapter 408 Lin Daiyu's Taunting
The snow was falling heavily, and the entire back garden was covered with a thick layer of white snow, like an exquisite ink painting, quiet and beautiful.

In the snow, Zijuan was walking with difficulty on the snowy path with a green silk umbrella.

Ahead, a line of footprints half covered by snow stretched into the distance. Behind him, Feng was calling on a group of maids to spread hay on the snow.

Don't sweep the floor on New Year's Day, as sweeping the floor will sweep away wealth and good luck.

Zijuan walked along the winding path, passed the bamboo forest, and finally arrived at the foot of the hillside of Tuobi Villa. As soon as she turned around the foot of the mountain, she could smell a cold fragrance. Looking up, there were dozens of red plum trees on the hillside, like rouge, reflecting the snow, looking particularly lively and interesting.

There was indeed a pair of footprints on the stone steps leading to Tuobi Villa, and Zijuan walked up the mountain along the footprints.

The footprints turned to the plum forest on the left halfway up the mountain. Zijuan followed the footprints into the plum forest. Dozens of plum trees were scattered around, and the plum blossoms on the branches were in full bloom.

The snowflakes gently cover the branches of the red plum tree. Against the backdrop of the white snow, the petals are so bright red and breathtakingly beautiful.

Finally, in a quiet corner, that intoxicating red color comes into view.

It was Lin Daiyu. From this direction, only her profile could be seen. Against the backdrop of white snow and red plums, her pretty face looked even more charming and beautiful.

Zijuan smiled. Her daughter was getting more and more beautiful. She was wearing a bright red Guanyin hat on her head, a red feathered crane cloak with a white fox lining, a green-gold double-ring Ruyi belt, and red sheepskin boots with gold-embroidered clouds. The formal dress inside was also bright red satin, embroidered with phoenixes and peonies.

In this family, bright red and peony can only appear on Lin Daiyu. As for the phoenix pattern, even if Li Hu was not there, as the daughter of the first-class earl and the governor of Shandong and Henan, Lin Daiyu is also eligible. Moreover, these fabrics are awarded by the palace according to the corresponding status.

Lin Daiyu felt it from the corner of her eye, but without turning back, she smiled and said, "If you peek at others, be careful of getting stye."

"Girl, don't talk like the Second Master."

Zijuan walked over with a smile and put the umbrella over Lin Daiyu's head, "I knew that the young lady would come here alone again."

Lin Daiyu still looked ahead: "I was afraid that I would disturb everyone again, so I didn't allow Xueyan and the others to follow me. I came here alone to see the snow and the red plums."

"The girl is kindhearted and worried that we would be left cold, but the rules cannot be broken."

Zijuan took out her handkerchief and brushed the snow off Lin Daiyu's head and body, saying, "Just now, Nanny Wang came to deliver the gift list, but she didn't see the young lady. When she was asked, she said she didn't know, so she got angry. Not only did Xueyan and the others get beaten, but we were also punished, and each of us was fined one month's salary."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "It's okay, I'll replenish you."

Zijuan smiled bitterly and continued, "This is not about money, this is the rule."

"You're so annoying!" Lin Daiyu glared at her.

Zijuan: "It's snowing so hard, it would be terrible if the girl caught a cold."

Lin Daiyu was somewhat helpless with her: "I will go back with you right now, right now."

Zijuan covered her mouth and smiled.

Lin Daiyu: "Pick a red plum blossom and put it in the vase." As she said this, she picked a red plum blossom with her own hands.

Seeing Lin Daiyu's neat and swift movements in easily picking a branch of red plum, Zijuan seemed to remember something and burst out laughing.

Lin Daiyu tilted her head and glanced at her, "What are you laughing at?"

Zijuan blinked her eyes a few times, suppressed her laughter and said, "No wonder the Second Master said that the girl has strong hands."

Lin Daiyu was not angry, nor did she speak, she just lowered her head.

Zijuan understood that her girl was missing the Second Master again.

Thinking about it, Zijuan said again: "Second Master has already wiped out the White Lotus Rebellion bandits, and will be able to return home soon."

Lin Daiyu did not respond. Her personal soldiers brought Li Hu's letter home, but the words on the letter were weak and vague. It seemed that Li Hu was either injured or sick.

She couldn't tell anyone about this and could only keep it in her heart and suffer through it.

She didn't come here to walk in the snow and look for plum blossoms, she just wanted to be alone and quiet.

Zijuan asked worriedly, "What's wrong, young lady?" Lin Daiyu forced a smile, "It's nothing. I was just wondering what title the palace will confer on your second master, Duke."

Zijuan was excited: "Second Master is going to be promoted to a noble title?"

Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at her and said, "This is a great achievement. Even an ordinary person can be awarded the lowest title of Duke."

Zijuan blinked her eyes and said imaginatively: "After the Mid-Autumn Festival, it's time to arrange the girl's marriage. The girl will be the wife of the Duke, and she will be on an equal footing with the old lady."

Lin Daiyu said unhappily: "What nonsense are you talking about." Then she walked back along the way she came.

Zijuan hurriedly chased after him and asked, "What title will the Second Master be given, Duke?"

"do not know."

"When will the Second Master come home?"

"do not know."

".Girl~"

"have no idea."

Zijuan curled her lips and stopped talking.

At the foot of the mountain, Feng was asking the maids to spread hay on the ground. Seeing Lin Daiyu coming down, she hurriedly bowed, "Miss."

Several busy maids saluted one after another, and then all the housekeepers and maids who were working near and far saluted Lin Daiyu.

Lin Daiyu, who was standing on the stone steps, glanced at the people who were bowing slightly in the distance, and said to Feng, who was standing at the bottom of the stone steps with a bow, "Your Second Master won a great victory and pacified the White Lotus Rebellion. Each of you will be rewarded with two months' salary."

"Yes." Feng raised her voice, "Miss, I have something to say. The master of the family won a great victory and pacified the White Lotus rebels. He will reward everyone with two months' salary!"

There was a moment of silence at first, and then the old woman excitedly opened her voice: "Thank you for the reward, young lady!"

"Thank you for the reward, young lady!" Immediately more people cheered.

Amid the cheers, Lin Daiyu walked out of the garden with a smile on her face.

At this time, Nanny Wang walked in from the garden gate holding a letter.

Lin Daiyu stopped, and everyone in the group stopped as well.

Walking up to Lin Daiyu, Nanny Wang bowed slightly and said, "Miss, this is a letter from Kunning Palace." Then she handed the letter to her.

Kunning Palace?
Lin Daiyu's eyes flashed, she took the letter, tore it open and read it, it was indeed a handwritten letter from the Queen.

This was the second letter the Queen wrote to Lin Daiyu. Less than half an hour after Li San delivered the silver to the Ministry of Revenue, the Queen's letter arrived at Kunning Palace. It was just some casual words, the elders' love for the younger generation. Lin Daiyu understood that this was both a way to win over and a silent warning.

Lin Daiyu frowned as she read the letter. "Duke Zhongguo" and "Duke Luguo" were the second-class duke titles that represented a close relationship with the royal family, and the second-class duke title among the first-class dukes. Judging from the meaning of the letter, the emperor could not make a decision for a while.

Lin Daiyu curled her lips. She didn't care about either of these two titles. Loyalty or not was just a matter of a word from the emperor.

Then looking down, Lin Daiyu was stunned at first, and then burst into laughter. Prince Fu, Prince Kang, Prince An, isn't this Fu Kang An?

The emperor's level is not very good! This is not a good omen. Fu Kang'an rebelled against his father. Will the second, third and fifth princes who were granted the title of king also rebel in the future? !

And the second prince is a criminal who has done nothing to atone for his sins. Why should he be made a king?
Lin Daiyu shook her head. The royal family’s troubles really happened one after another.

Her eyes suddenly lit up. Now she had a reason to write a letter to Li Hu!

Thinking of this, Lin Daiyu's face showed a happy smile again, and she walked briskly towards the garden gate.

(End of this chapter)