Binding Spring Love

Huaisu said, "I don't like her either, but the Marquis likes her nonetheless."

She had served Jiang Xingjian since childhood and knew him very well. She didn't believe that Jiang Xingjian would like someone like Lin Jiayue, but now he was infatuated with her. Huaisu always felt that there was something strange about it.

"I suspect that Aunt Lin used some kind of seductive tricks to bewitch the Marquis, making him forget about his beloved eldest mistress."

"You know how much trouble Lin has caused since she entered the manor. Continuing to stay by the Marquis's side will only bring him trouble."

Huaisu took off her hair and put the hairpin in her makeup box.

Her dressing case was scattered and contained few valuable items. She had previously received many rewards for serving in the old lady's room, but since the old lady gave it to Jiang Xingjian, she had become much tighter on her finances.

In the six years that Jiang Xingjian was away, she was no different from Song Wan, except that one was openly widowed and the other was secretly widowed.

Recently, he has been playing cards with Jiang's mother and Lin Jiayue every day and has lost a lot of money. Now he is in dire straits.

Shi Zhu asked, puzzled, "Since you know that Aunt Lin has brought trouble to the master, why do you still support her in managing the household?"

"I'm not supporting her, I'm trusting Grandma."

Huaisu closed the makeup box and said softly, "You grew up in the manor, and although you didn't have much contact with the eldest mistress, we were originally in the same courtyard. What kind of person do you think the eldest mistress is?"

"My great-grandmother was intelligent and kind-hearted. I always thought she was the kindest and gentlest person in the world."

You're right.

Huaisu's tone lowered slightly: "The eldest mistress is indeed an extremely intelligent person, so how could she allow someone as crude and foolish as Concubine Lin to run around the Marquis's mansion and even dare to try to interfere in the management of the household?"

"But the fact that she did it shows that the eldest mistress has her own plans."

"What's the calculation?"

Huaisu said, "Let's use flattery to our advantage."

"Once she takes power, manages the household, and does something truly outrageous, she'll be kicked out of the mansion. Otherwise, relying on the Empress's influence and the Marquis's favor, who knows how long Aunt Lin will continue to be so arrogant."

"No wonder, I also find it strange. The eldest mistress is a girl from the Song family, how could Aunt Lin be so arrogant towards her?"

Shi Zhu lowered her voice: "I understand now that you've said that, sister."

"The Marquis has always adhered to the principles of a gentleman since childhood, but after meeting Consort Lin, he eloped with her without proper ceremony, ruining his reputation. Such a person must not be kept in the manor."

Huaisu sat on the couch, hugging a soft pillow and murmured, "Only a fairy-like figure like the eldest mistress is worthy of the Marquis. What is Concubine Lin? Only if the Marquis is loving and affectionate with the eldest mistress can he gain the help of the Song family. Otherwise, if the marriage fails in the future, the Song family will blame Concubine Lin, which will be detrimental to the Marquis's future."

"So I have to think of a way to get Grandma's plan to succeed as soon as possible, so that we can get rid of that troublemaker."

Shizhu held Huaisu's hand and nodded repeatedly: "Sister is right. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"There really is one place."

Huaisu whispered a few words in her ear before the two of them went to remove their makeup and hair to prepare for bed.

The next day at noon, Huaisu went to find Lin Jiayue carrying a mahogany box.

"Aunt Lin..."

"Did you need something from me?"

Although she lived in the same courtyard as Huaisu, the two did not have much of a relationship. Lin Jiayue was quite surprised that Huaisu had come to visit her today.

"There are some things."

Huaisu blushed: "I know that Aunt Lin is good at making money and has a lot of ways and connections. I was thinking that I might be able to help her out so that I can also earn a tael or two of silver to ease my financial burden."

Pushing the rosewood box in his hand in front of Lin Jiayue, Huaisu continued, "This is my initial capital; although it's meager, it represents most of my assets."

"Have you been losing a lot lately?"

Thinking about how she had been trying to please Jiang's mother these past few days, which had also caused Huaisu to lose a lot of money, Lin Jiayue couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

After thinking for a moment, she pulled a purse out from under her pillow, grabbed a handful of gold coins, and put them on the table.

"Take these, I don't need the things."

Huaisu gently pushed away, saying, "I cannot accept anything from Aunt Lin without a reason."

"If you don't have money, I do. I'll just give you some, why are you making such a fuss?"

After saying that, Lin Jiayue grabbed the gold beans on the table and forced them into Huaisu's hands.

Huaisu hesitated slightly, then sighed softly, "In that case, I won't stand on ceremony with Aunt Lin. I'm really a bit short on funds."

"I know. This morning, Qinghong saw the little maid next to you secretly going to the old woman, saying she wanted to pawn something."

Seeing that Huaisu was a little embarrassed, Lin Jiayue smiled generously: "We live in the same courtyard, so if you have any difficulties, just ask. There's no need to hold back."

"I'm already very embarrassed to receive help from Aunt Lin, there's nothing else I could do to bother you."

Huaisu spoke gently, pausing slightly after saying this: "Aunt Lin is straightforward and generous, but while being generous has its advantages in the Marquis's mansion, it can also sometimes lead to losses."

That makes sense.

Knowing that Huaisu didn't want to owe her a favor and not knowing what advice to give her, Lin Jiayue lay on the table, pretending to listen attentively.

"Madam values ​​Concubine Lin highly, but Concubine Lin's free-spirited and unconventional nature worries Madam somewhat. If Concubine Lin could be a little more composed, she would surely have a great future."

"What exactly do you mean by 'unconventional' or 'unrestrained' behavior?"

Huaisu smiled gently and said, "Madam is a model of a lady in her dealings with people. She is never too close or distant, neither too intimate nor too distant, no matter who she is with. In the past, we servants could never tell who had won her favor or who had displeased her. Over time, the servants could not figure out her personality and naturally dared not act presumptuously in front of her."

"Upon closer examination, there are only a few dozen masters in the Marquis's mansion, but thousands of servants. Therefore, sometimes it is better to offend the masters than to offend the servants."

Lin Jiayue frowned: "When did I offend any servants?"

Huaisu pursed her lips, then called a maid from the courtyard to go to the storeroom to get some things. When the maid returned, Huaisu said gently, "It's kind of you to make this trip. Why don't you sit down by the door? I'll have Shizhu make you a bowl of tea."

The maidservant replied with a smile, "This servant will not eat any more. My mother from the front courtyard came to visit her and brought her a lot of sour cakes. This servant was thinking of going to eat a piece."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, as I've ruined your sisterly gathering."

Taking out a small piece of silver from her sleeve, Huaisu smiled and said, "Take this and buy some pastries with my girlfriends. Let's all have some fun together."

Lin Jiayue watched as the little maid's eyes went from showing reluctance before running errands to being overjoyed, and her brows furrowed slightly.

Seeing this, Huaisu said, "There are also rules for this. Showing concern with words, serving tea and wine, and rewarding with gold and silver are all indispensable. Only in this way can you win people's hearts and make them work for Aunt Lin."

Lin Jiayue wanted to say that it was just asking a servant to run an errand, so why was it so troublesome? But in a daze, she suddenly remembered that Song Wan seemed to do the same thing. She often heard her or her maids talking to the old women and maids about buying wine, candy, or fruits and pastries.

Seeing that she had taken it to heart, Huaisu pursed her lips and left.

Lin Jiayue lay on the table in deep thought for a long time before calling Qianbi over and asking, "How do you think I've treated you?"

"This servant believes there is no better mistress than my concubine."

She had heard what Huaisu said earlier, and after thinking for a moment, Qianbi said, "But what Sister Huaisu said is right. All the other masters in the mansion treat us like this. The Marquis's mansion is very kind and treats us very well."

"This servant believes that Sister Huaisu meant well by giving Aunt these pointers."

Lin Jiayue chuckled, "What she said makes sense, but it may not be out of kindness. It seems to me more like she wants me to take over the power in the mansion as soon as possible so that I can focus on dealing with Song Wan."

"I've used this tactic of using someone else to do the dirty work and then reaping the benefits without lifting a finger is something I've completely worn out."