Chapter 3, pleasantly fragrant

You little girl! Lin Mei couldn't help but laugh as she playfully tapped Gui Mei.

How could one be so careless? Old Madam Su had already urged Guimei to lead Lin Mei into the room to take a look, apply some hot ointment, and then complained that the maid did not serve properly

There is no incense. Lin Mei smiled as she looked at her feet, Is it not the scent of your hot ointment?

Gui Mei led Lin Mei into the room, gently lifted her skirt, and upon seeing her snow-white calves, which were swollen and red, could not help but sigh: "Fortunately, this tea has been sitting for a while and is not scalding hot; otherwise, I fear it would have burned off a layer of skin." As she spoke, noticing Lin Mei's slightly furrowed brows, she softly asked: "Does it hurt a lot?"

A young maid standing outside the curtain, upon hearing this, quietly turned around, left the courtyard, and arrived at Luo Mingxiu's courtyard. She first instructed the little maid to report, and then she entered.

The changes in Lin Mei's expression naturally did not escape the eyes of the old lady Su. She felt a slight displeasure. A weak girl who is orphaned and has no one to rely on, what qualifications does she have to be the legitimate wife of Zhong Xing? In this capital city, when forming marital ties, who does not consider the family background of the other party? You, with such a rootless and foundationless approach, should have the self-awareness to take a step back. Now, with just a few hints, you have changed your expression, what kind of appearance is this? You, with such a rootless and foundationless approach, should have the self-awareness to take a step back. Now, with just a few hints, you have changed your expression, what kind of appearance is this?

Each room has a seamstress. However, the old lady is concerned for the young master and fears that the shoes made by the maid on that side may not fit well, so she has us send over the ones made by our side each time.

Gui Mei helped Lin Mei arrange her skirt and couldn't help but ask, "Miss Lin, what fragrance are you wearing? It smells delightful."

Although Lin Mei's calf hurts, it cannot compare to the pain in her heart

Please make it clear, my lady

Although she was betrothed to Su Zhongxing, she had no elders to rely on and no dowry, making her position quite insignificant. It was one thing for the Su family to acknowledge the engagement, but quite another to arrange the marriage. However, she never expected that the old lady of the Su family would actually try to persuade her to become a concubine, and in a tone that suggested it was a favor being granted to her

Gui Mei, upon hearing her speak this way, naturally expressed her gratitude profusely, and with a smile remarked: "The old lady prefers to wear brightly colored shoes, while the lady is different; she loves simple and understated styles, often having the same color embroidered with branch flowers on the shoe surface. As for the young master's shoes, they require the most effort." She paused for a moment, noticing Lin Mei listening intently, and then continued: "The second toe on the young master's left foot is considerably longer than the first toe. Each time I make shoes for him, I must ensure that no one can tell that the two shoes are of different sizes, while also making sure they are comfortable for him. The girl at the sewing machine, out of ten pairs of shoes made, only three pairs are wearable, and she has received her fair share of scolding!"

Gui Mei found the ointment and applied it to Lin Mei's leg. Seeing her flinch in pain, she couldn't help but laugh, saying, "This hot ointment stings a bit when first applied, but it will feel better soon. I will have a little girl bring a small bottle to Miss Lin shortly, to be applied twice a day, but it must not come into contact with water"

Lin Mei nodded slightly and fell silent

"What does she mean by that?" After hearing Yiren's words, Luo Mingxiu was so furious that she nearly crushed the teacup in her hands, trembling as she said, "Who does she think she is, daring to make me... to make me..."

Yiren was originally a maid brought from the Luo family by Luo Mingxiu. Due to her exceptional tea-making skills, she was given to Old Madam Su to serve by her side. Nevertheless, she still regarded Luo Mingxiu as her true master, and whenever there was something happening with Old Madam Su, she would quietly come to report it.

I have been quite free these past few days. If you are at ease, how about I help you make a pair? Lin Mei noticed that Gui Mei seemed to be hinting at some information. Although she could not discern her intentions, it appeared that Gui Mei was always kind towards her. She simply said, "If it were something else, I wouldn't dare to boast, but when it comes to making shoes, I can certainly present them to others."

Lin Mei smiled and expressed her gratitude, then casually asked a few trivial questions

Lin Mei thought that by scalding her calf to avoid the topic, Old Madam Su would not bring it up again. Unexpectedly, she persisted relentlessly. A smile lingered at the corner of her mouth, but a fire of anger burned fiercely in her chest. Her spine involuntarily straightened, and she said, "What does the old madam mean? You want me to be a concubine, right? You might as well say it directly in front of the young maids."

Gui Mei replied, while pointing at Lin Mei's embroidered shoes, "Miss Lin, these shoes are quite exquisite; I wonder if I could paint a design on them"

Gui Mei shook her head and said, "Although this hot ointment does not have a medicinal taste, it certainly cannot emit a fragrance."

"It doesn't smell like flowers." Gui Mei noticed that Lin Mei was warm and friendly, quite endearing. Feeling playful, she suddenly leaned in closer and took a deep breath, saying, "What a lovely fragrance!"

Gui Mei explained with a smile: "At the beginning of the year, the old lady attended a banquet hosted by the wife of the minister. During the meal, everyone began to talk about needlework, and soon each person was boasting about the shoes made by their own maids, lifting their skirts to show off the embroidered shoes, each pair more vibrant than the last. Recently, the minister's wife acquired a clever maid skilled in needlework, who painted beautiful patterns and embroidered them on the shoes, making them truly exquisite. Upon seeing this, the old lady laughed and scolded us for being clumsy, saying we couldn't even present a decent pair of shoes! If I could obtain a good shoe design, I would also make a fine pair of shoes to present to the old lady and bring her some joy"

If Lin Mei had a powerful background, a prominent family, and a high status, coupled with the established marriage contract, she would have to yield even if she were unwilling. However, Lin Mei has no support other than the marriage contract. After Lin Mei entered the residence, she vaguely considered that perhaps the final resolution would be to make Lin Mei a favored concubine, and if she were to concede further, at most, Lin Mei would become a secondary wife. Yet, she never expected that Lin Mei would dare to utter such bold words, demanding that she become a concubine. After Lin Mei entered the residence, she vaguely considered that perhaps the final resolution would be to make Lin Mei a favored concubine, and if she were to concede further, at most, Lin Mei would become a secondary wife. Yet, she never expected that Lin Mei would dare to utter such bold words, demanding that she become a concubine

The old lady's intention is, of course, for everyone to be happy and united. Guimei, being astute, poured more tea and handed it to Lin Mei, smiling as she said: "Our cousin has lived in the mansion since childhood, growing up alongside our young master, so the old lady naturally cannot bear to separate them. However, Miss Lin is also engaged to our young master, and they will eventually become one family. This matter has been troubling the old lady! Just yesterday, the wife of the minister came and said that it is common for men to have multiple wives. Since both our cousin and Miss Lin are good, why not let them both enter the Su family? But Miss Lin is already engaged to our young master, and they will eventually be one family. This matter has been troubling the old lady! Just yesterday, the wife of the minister came and said that it is common for men to have multiple wives. Since both our cousin and Miss Lin are good, why not let them both enter the Su family? The old lady also thought this idea was good, but she is just afraid that Miss Lin will not agree!

Lin Mei smiled and said, "I still have several pairs that are even more exquisite than this one. If my sister likes them, she can come by when she has time to choose."

Lin Mei raised her head abruptly, her hand holding the tea trembled, spilling the tea onto the edge of her skirt. The maid Guimei, startled, hurried over to help her wipe it off and inquired whether she had burned herself and if she needed any ointment

When Lin Mei came out, Old Madam Su asked a few questions. Upon hearing her say that only a small area was red and that there was no major issue, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, she brought up the previous topic again and smiled, saying: "Xiao Mei, what do you think of what I just said?"

Lin Mei thought for a moment and said, "That might be because I walked in the garden this morning and got the fragrance of flowers on me"

Gui Mei also smiled and reached out her hand to help Lin Mei out

Now, she somewhat regrets coming to the capital. If she had not come to the capital but instead sought refuge at her uncle's house, with her uncle making the decisions, even if she could not secure a good marriage, she would not have ended up in such a predicament. Lin Mei let out a faint sigh, blaming herself. Her aunt had brought her cousin to the Lin family several times; she could either not bear the veiled mockery in her aunt's words or could not stand the way her cousin looked at her. She only wanted to find ways to keep her distance from them, which inadvertently distanced her from her uncle as well. This time coming to the capital, she only sent a message to her uncle, without even saying goodbye in person. If the marriage does not go well, she fears she will have no face to see her uncle.

"Miss should think of a way early on." Yiren hesitated for a moment before saying, "As for Miss Lin, she is beautiful and charming, but I fear..." I fear that if the young master sees her a few more times, he might not be able to help but soften his heart! Yiren did not dare to say the latter part of her sentence, but in her heart, she compared Luo Mingxiu and Lin Mei, and had to admit that both young ladies have their own merits. If she were a man, it would also be difficult to choose.

No, her future cannot be ruined by Lin Mei

She, Lin Mei, is the daughter of a good family; when will she fall to the status of a concubine?

Upon hearing Yiren's words, Luo Mingxiu recalled the scene she had witnessed in the pavilion that morning. Although Su Zhongxing later caught up with her and offered several explanations, she still felt extremely displeased. At this moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "What a seductive appearance, I wonder who she is trying to entice?"

Miss, no matter what, she is already engaged to the young master. If she is completely focused on this matter and refuses to take the initiative to break off the engagement, it will be difficult to handle

Xiao Mei, did you not understand what I meant?

Luo Mingxiu twisted her handkerchief, her expression darkening. Her father had now married a stepmother, and their relationship with the Su family had become somewhat distant, making them unreliable. In the Su family, she was cherished by her grandmother, and her cousin was well-acquainted with her background. Moreover, her uncle was a Hanlin scholar, well-known in the capital, and held in high esteem. Most importantly, her cousin had feelings for her. Where else could she find such a good marriage?

Luo Mingxiu entered the Su residence at the age of five, growing up alongside Su Zhongxing, sharing an innocent bond. Although no formal engagement had been established, both the other members of the Su family and she herself believed that she would eventually become the mistress of the Su residence and Su Zhongxing's legitimate wife. This August marks the day she comes of age, and naturally, after her coming of age ceremony, the two families would formally discuss the marriage proposal. However, an unexpected figure, Lin Mei, has emerged.

When my grandfather arranged the marriage for me, he often taught me the rules, saying that as a legitimate wife, one must consider the greater good. Now that the cousin is inseparable from Brother Zhongxing, let her come in. However, I fear that she may not be willing to become a concubine. Lin Mei put down her teacup and said with lowered eyes, "Of course, if the cousin is willing to be a concubine, she need not formally pay her respects to me as the legitimate wife; we can simply refer to each other as sisters. But what is this? Are you trying to bully a weak woman like me into becoming a concubine? This is out of the question. Since your Su family values its reputation and is unwilling to ruin it by breaking off the engagement, you should honor the marriage contract and properly welcome me as the legitimate wife."

Lin Mei scrutinized Gui Mei, noticing her graceful figure, fair skin, and her smile that seemed to precede her words, revealing her exceptional beauty. Unable to fathom why she was helping her, Lin Mei smiled and said, "What, does your young master’s shoes also require the maid from the old lady’s side to handle them?"