“Little sister has met Sister-in-law Zhu, Brother Li. Thank you for Brother Li’s help.”
After Lady Wang waved her hand for Li Wan and Li Xuan to get up, Lin Daiyu also bowed to them.
Li Wan returned the courtesy: “Little sister, you are too kind. We just met not too long ago.”
“Miss Lin, you are welcome. Were you not hurt last time?”
Li Xuan returned the courtesy, and at the same time, he helped her change the subject.
Not only the two parties involved, Lin Daiyu and Lady Wang, but even Li Wan and Li Xuan, who came in later, sensed the awkwardness in their conversation.
If they talked more about Jia Baoyu, Lady Wang couldn’t say anything good, Lin Daiyu couldn’t help but want to turn on her.
“Thank you, Brother, for your concern. I was in the cabin, it was safe and sound,” Lin Daiyu replied, then to Lady Wang, “Aunt, you don’t know how dangerous it was back then.”
“Just now, when I was with Grandmother, I said that I encountered water bandits on the way to the capital, and I was fortunate to have a righteous person’s help. However, I regret that I was not able to personally thank the righteous person.”
“I didn’t expect to meet that righteous person after coming to the mansion.”
“Aunt, this Brother Li is the righteous person who helped us!”
Lady Wang was startled and laughed:
“Seeing Xuan’er’s handsome looks, I thought he was just a bookworm. I didn’t expect him to be a scholar and a warrior.”
“Xuan’er, it is fortunate that you were there at the time.”
“If my cousin had been in danger…”
“Madam,” Li Xuan interrupted her, “We are all close relatives, you are making it sound so formal.”
“If you see me in trouble and are able to help, wouldn’t you help?”
After a round of thanks and replies, everyone sat down again.
Then there were tea and fruit, and then questions for the two younger ones, Li Xuan and Lin Daiyu.
Finally, Li Wan excused herself, saying that Old Madam still wanted to see Li Xuan.
Li Xuan went out and looked back. What he saw was Lin Daiyu’s eyes full of envy as he escaped her questions.
From Lady Wang’s place, he went to the west to Jia Mu’s courtyard.
Through the passageway, Rongxi Hall, and another passageway, he crossed the entire Rongguo Mansion from east to west, finally reaching Jia Mu’s small courtyard.
Passing through the decorative archway, through the passageway, he finally reached Rongqing Hall, where Jia Mu lived.
It was named with the meaning of “prosperity, wealth, and auspiciousness with more than enough.”
He reported himself and entered again. Sitting in the center of the room was an old woman with a full head of silver hair, looking prosperous and wealthy, with a kind and benevolent expression.
It must be Jia Mu.
She was almost the only person in the whole mansion who was good to him.
Li Wan took two quick steps, bowed slightly, and said with a smile:
“Old Madam, this is my cousin Li Xuan, Xuan’er.”
“Although he is not yet of age, Xuan’er is here to inherit his position in the capital. Therefore, Father has given him the courtesy name of Wei Jin.”
Li Xuan also stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute, and said:
“Greetings to Old Madam. May Old Madam enjoy good health and long life.”
The Rongning two mansions were like leaky sieves. Old Madam had already heard about Li Xuan.
Seeing that he was still young, but his height didn't look like 12, but rather like a 17 or 18-year-old boy.
Old Madam exclaimed in surprise:
“Is Xuan’er still so young?”
“He’s a martial arts prodigy, he grows fast.”
“Sister-in-law Zhu, Xuan’er, sit down, sit down and talk!”
Without further instruction, the maids in Jia Mu's room brought chairs for the two of them.
After the tea and snacks were all set, Jia Mu said with a smile:
“Xuan’er is a true relative. Sister-in-law Zhu, take a look and see which courtyard in the mansion is still empty and let Xuan’er move in.”
“Since Xuan’er is still young, he should live in the mansion. After all, we are all relatives and can look after each other. If Xuan’er lives outside, I wouldn’t feel at ease.”
It was nothing unusual for a young boy to inherit a position.
The main thing was his bearing, the fact that he had passed the provincial examination, and that he saved Yu’er, all of which showed that Xuan’er was definitely a capable person.
If you didn’t know how to build a good relationship with such a capable relative, you were truly foolish.
(Lady Wang: Who is talking about me?)
Most importantly, he could help Baoyu in the future!
“Yes, I will listen to Madam’s arrangement.”
Li Wan was also uneasy.
Just now, Jia Zheng said it wasn’t certain, but now that the most powerful person in Rongguo Mansion, Jia Mu, had spoken, she immediately agreed without hesitation.
She wasn’t worried about Li Xuan’s ability, knowing that he was capable.
But she was afraid that there were too many rich and powerful people in the capital, and if he wasn’t careful, he would be targeted and suppressed.
Living in Rongguo Mansion, he could at least use the name of Rongguo Mansion.
Although she usually practiced her cultivation and health-preserving techniques, not paying attention to the mess in the mansion, she still knew the general things.
She only thought for a moment and said:
“Old Madam, the small courtyard next to Li Xiangyuan is still empty. You can enter and exit through the side door of Li Xiangyuan, which is conveniently connected to the private alley between the east mansion and the west mansion. How about that?”
The courtyard wasn’t big, but it had five main rooms and several side rooms.
The most important thing was that it was secluded enough not to disturb the inner family members, but it wasn’t far from Li Wan.
Jia Mu thought about it for a moment and laughed:
“That’s good. I remember it’s not far from your place, which is convenient for you to look after each other.”
“Xuan’er, have you brought any maids or servants with you this time in the capital?”