It was not the Jia Lian's first time going to Yangzhou, so the journey was quite smooth. But because he thought that Lin Ruhai was terminally ill and would not be able to hold on any longer, he did his best to tell his subordinates to speed up in order to reach Yangzhou as soon as possible.
The boat moved very quickly, and the wind on the river whistled. The curtains and windows were all tightly closed to prevent Lin Daiyu from being exposed to the cold wind. Even if the weather was warm, her body would cough for a few days if she caught a cold. Lin Daiyu was well aware of this, so in order not to drag down the journey, she only sat quietly in the cabin and read. She did not make any noise, and did not seem like a seven-year-old child at all.
"Miss." Xue Yan lifted the thick curtain and walked in with a tea tray in her hand. "Miss must be tired from reading. Why don't you drink a cup of honey water and rest?"
"Actually, I didn't read for very long, but I am indeed a bit thirsty." Lin Daiyu picked up the cup and took a small sip, her posture elegant and quiet. After a short while, she used a handkerchief to wipe the corners of her mouth and raised her head to ask, "How is Zi Yuan? Does she still feel uncomfortable?"
Zi Yuan had lived in the north since she was a child, and because it was her first time on a boat, it did not take long for her to become seasick and dizzy. She could only lie on the bed and could not walk at all.
"She is much better. Her face is not as pale as before, and there is a bit of color." Xue Yan replied, "This servant just came from Zi Yuan's sister. Sister Zi Yuan also asked about Miss. When she heard that Miss was doing well, she was both happy and guilty. She said that she came to serve Miss, but she did not expect that she would become the one being served."
Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "Go and tell her that it is not easy for her to serve Miss. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future, and this is not a big deal."
"This servant also told Zi Yuan's sister the same thing. However, Zi Yuan's sister had other gloomy matters. Previously, when they left the capital, Sister Yuanyang and the others were extremely envious. They all asked Zi Yuan's sister to record the scenery on the river and tell them about it when they returned. At that time, Sister Zi Yuan patted her chest and agreed. But now, Sister Zi Yuan couldn't even go out, let alone enjoy the scenery on the deck. When she went back, she would be laughed at by Sister Yuan Yang and the others. Sister Zi Yuan kept saying that she had lost a lot of face this time. "
After Xue Yan finished speaking in high spirits, he noticed that Lin Daiyu, who had just been laughing, suddenly looked lonely. He couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Miss, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Lin Daiyu shook his head and smiled bitterly. "It's just that when I think about going back in the future, I can't help but feel a little depressed …"
Xue Yan wanted to hit herself. She could finally go home. Why did she mention going back to the capital again? Gold or silver nests were not as good as her own doghouse. Even she herself felt more comfortable in Yangzhou, let alone a girl.
She said with a bitter face, "Miss, it's all this servant's fault. I said something wrong. You can hit or scold me if you want. If you are like this, this servant's heart will also feel uncomfortable. "
"I'm thinking too much. It has nothing to do with you."
Seeing that Lin Daiyu's mood was still not high, Xue Yan tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Miss, if you want to stay in Yangzhou, you should tell Master. Master loves you so much. He definitely won't let you go."
Lin Daiyu pursed her lips. If it was so easy, she wouldn't have been sent to the capital a year ago. Her health wasn't good and she often got sick. If she stayed in Yangzhou, she would only add to her father's troubles. She couldn't be willful. She had grown up and had to think more about her father. She couldn't give him more trouble.
"When you go back, if Father asks, you can tell him that everything is fine in Rongguo Province." Lin Daiyu's little face was taut as she warned Xue Yan. "Grandmother and my sisters are very good to me. My two uncles and aunts are also very close to me. There's no need to say anything else."
Xue Yan thought that Lin Daiyu was talking about the Jia family's servants. Jia family's servants were the most talkative. They often gossiped about their masters behind their backs. Her family's Miss was also said to have a small temper and was said to be a poor relative who came to ask for money.
When she first heard this, she was very angry. How could those poor scholars in the capital compare to her family's Master? The Lin family's wealth would probably scare them to death if she told them. Her Miss also wore gold and silver at home. However, because she was mourning for her mother, she could only wear some plain-colored flowers on her head. As for her small temper, as long as the daughter of a rich family was pampered, which one of them didn't have a temper? They didn't need to live according to other people's wishes. Moreover, when it came to rules, even a hundred Jia family couldn't compare to the Lin family. When she was a servant in the Lin family, she had never heard of a servant who dared to gossip about their masters behind their backs. Even Senior Servant Wang said that the Jia family didn't have any rules. They didn't look like an aristocratic family that had been passed down for more than a hundred years. They were more like a nouveau riche.
Xue Yan was feeling indignant, but she didn't see the worry in Lin Daiyu's eyes. In reality, what Xue Yan was worried about wasn't a big deal in Lin Daiyu's eyes. After all, she was a guest and not the master's family. It was natural for her to be treated poorly. What she was really worried about was that Lin Ruhai knew that Jia Baoyu was still being raised in the inner courtyard. Normally, boys should move to the outer courtyard after they turned seven. However, many of the rules of the Jia family were different from other families. She was a guest, so it wasn't good for her to say anything. She could only follow the master's wishes. However, if Lin Ruhai knew that she lived so close to Baoyu, who knew what he would think! She didn't want her father to be disappointed in her.
Outside the cabin door, Master Lin was standing there with a box of food. She knew that Lin Daiyu didn't eat much at each meal, so she made some exquisite snacks in the kitchen and sent them over. She didn't expect to hear this conversation.
She knew how much the master loved her daughter, but she didn't expect that the daughter would misunderstand the master's plans for her daughter. She thought that she was the master's burden. It seemed that when she went back, she would have to tell her father-in-law to remind the master. There was nothing that father and daughter couldn't be honest about. If they had to hide things, they would only end up making themselves suffer and making others happy.
On the other boat, the Jia Lian was standing on the deck, comfortably enjoying the river breeze.
The scenery on both sides of the river was beautiful. The Jia Lian was originally in a good mood, but now he was even more relaxed and happy.
Rongguo Province was a big business, and they spent money like water. They had long been unable to make ends meet. He, the second master of Rongguo Province, only looked glamorous on the outside. In reality, he was living a tight life. The money in his hands wasn't even as much as the average wealthy family.
But soon, their Rongguo Province received a windfall.
Speaking of which, the first time he heard that his uncle, Lin Ruhai, was unwell was from Lady Wang. Previously, when he went to Yangzhou to pay respects to his aunt, Lady Wang reminded him to pay more attention to Lin Ruhai's health. At the time, he was very surprised. He didn't understand why Lady Wang was so concerned about Lin Ruhai, who was thousands of miles away. Later, the day before he left, Lady Jia called him over. She said that Lin Ruhai and his aunt had always had a good relationship. Now that his aunt was gone, Lin Ruhai would be heartbroken and hurt. At the time, he thought that they were just speculating. No matter how sad Lin Ruhai was, how sad could he be? When he arrived in Yangzhou, he found out that the escorts his aunt brought to the Lin family had always been in contact with Rongguo Province. Lin Ruhai's health wasn't good. It was they who sent a letter to Lady Jia and Lady Wang to find out. He was just going to verify it with his own eyes.
The Jia Lian was very shrewd. Although he only did the work of a manager, it couldn't hide the fact that he was smart and capable. He only needed to think for a moment to know what Lady Jia and Lady Wang were planning. However, Lin Daiyu was going to marry Baoyu in the future. The Lin family only had one daughter. Sooner or later, the Lin family's money would belong to Rongguo Province. It was just a matter of time. But he didn't expect that Lin Ruhai would die so soon. Based on what he had seen in the past, Lin Ruhai should be able to live until Lin Daiyu became an adult. However, he didn't have much affection for Lin Ruhai. Whether he died or not didn't have much to do with him. He just pitied his cousin. It wasn't easy for an orphan girl to survive in Rongguo Province. In any case, he had taken their money. If he didn't take good care of them, it wouldn't be right. He had to go back and tell his Feng Lazi.
The Jia Lian counted with his fingers. Although the Lin family didn't appear to be as grand and magnificent as Rongguo Province, they were low-key. In addition to Lin Ruhai's position, the Lin family's wealth should be more than a few million taels of silver. He should be able to get around a hundred thousand taels of silver for this trip. He would keep half of the hundred thousand taels for himself and give the other half to Wang Xifeng. He just didn't know if his master had spent all the money in Jinling. If he had spent all the money, he would have to ask him for more …
The Jia Lian touched his forehead. He felt that he was confused. Why did he think of his unreasonable father, who only knew how to pester endlessly during such a good time? He was most likely influenced by the father and daughter who were about to be separated by life and death.
Although he felt that the news of the Jia Xie bedridden in Jinling was false, he still wanted to go and take a look. After he brought Daiyu and their belongings back to Rongguo Province. In case the Jia Xie was really sick, the doctors in Jinling were definitely not as skilled as the imperial doctors in the capital.
Everyone on the boat had their own thoughts. When spring turned to summer, they finally arrived in Yangzhou.
As soon as the boat docked, a man in his thirties and a group of people came up to greet them.
"This humble one is He Gui. I've been ordered to welcome Miss and Second Master Lian. Please get on the carriage."
Zi Yuan's body had recovered. She and Xue Yan hugged Lin Daiyu and got on one of the carriages. The Jia Lian and his personal servant, Xing 'er, got on the other carriage.
The carriage traveled for a long time without stopping. The Jia Lian was puzzled. He remembered that they should have arrived at the Lam Mansion by this time last time.
He lifted the curtain and looked out. He saw that the surrounding trees were towering. They had already left Yangzhou City.
The Jia Lian was shocked. He hurriedly shouted, "Stop the carriage!"
He Gui came up and said, "Second Master Lian, what orders do you have?"
"I should be the one asking you the same question. Where are you taking us? I don't remember when the Lam Mansion was moved out of the city. "
"It's my fault for not making it clear." He Gui pretended to slap his own mouth. "We're not going to the Lam Mansion. We're going to the other courtyard. Master is there at the moment."
The Jia Lian thought for a moment. Even if Lin Ruhai was dead now, the Lin family shouldn't have the guts to murder for money. Besides, he brought a lot of people with him to move the Lin family's belongings away. There was no need to be afraid of them.
The Jia Lian snorted coldly. He lowered the curtain and sat back down, suppressing his uneasiness.
After an unknown amount of time, the carriage finally stopped.
When the Jia Lian got off the carriage, he found that the people he brought from the capital were long gone. Only his personal servant, Xing 'er, Lin Daiyu and his servant, the Lin couple, and some people who were neither from the Jia Mansion nor the Lam Mansion were left.
The Jia Lian glared at He Gui and said angrily, "Where are the people I brought!?"
"They've all gone to the Lam Mansion. Someone will take good care of them. Second Master Lian, you don't have to worry."
The Jia Lian looked at He Gui's smiling face and then looked at the mansion's dark gate. He inexplicably felt a chill when he heard the word "take good care of them". He hoped that the word "take good care of them" was superficial and not an extended meaning.
At this time, the gate slowly opened. An old man ran out with small steps and went straight to Lin Daiyu, who was getting off the carriage.
"Miss, you're finally back."
"Lin Bo." Lin Daiyu looked at the person happily.
"Miss, this old servant finally sees you." Lin Bo wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand and choked out, "Seeing that you're all right, this old servant is finally relieved. Quickly get on the sedan, quickly get on the sedan. Master is already waiting for Miss. "
The Jia Lian watched Lin Daiyu get on the sedan. He Gui's voice sounded again, "Second Master Lian, please get on the sedan as well."
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