"Has the young lady gone to bed?" Mrs. Yan’s voice sounded outside, and Lianxin glanced at her young lady, receiving a nod of approval before going out to respond. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

As soon as she stepped out, she saw Mrs. Yan with a wooden box being carried behind her, waiting outside.

"Lianxin greets Mrs. Yan!"

"No need for such formality, Miss Lianxin!" Mrs. Yan beamed with a joyful smile.

"These are specialties from Jiangnan sent to our household by Mr. Gu. This box is for the young lady. Mr. Gu’s followers mentioned that they are some trinkets to amuse the young lady. I shall have someone carry it in for her!"

She called in the maidservants to carry the box into the room. After they left, Lianxin finally clicked her tongue in admiration.

"Young lady, Mr. Gu has indeed sent quite a lot of things." Lianxin circled the box, curious about what was inside.

"Young lady, the servants outside are all saying that Mr. Gu has returned." Qing Dai entered the room carrying a tray, her face radiating with a cheerful smile.

Upon entering, she noticed a large box on the floor.

Qing Dai asked curiously, "What is this?"

"It was sent by Mr. Gu," Lianxin’s smile gradually faded. It seemed that Qing Dai had taken quite some time to serve the bird’s nest, likely using the opportunity to gather information.

"Sent by Mr. Gu? What’s inside?" Qing Dai put down the bird’s nest, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Lianxin.

Yao Mengxian curled her lips into a smile. Qing Dai was not young anymore. Previously, while she was in the mansion, she had relied on Qing Dai to gather information.

Now with the marriage date being set, it would be inappropriate to take Qing Dai with her upon leaving the family.

Lianxin, on the other hand, was determined to stay with her for life. Yao Mengxian had different plans for Lianxin. When she got married, it would be better to match Lianxin with someone suitable in her husband’s household.

As for the servants in the Duke Mansion, she found none to her liking.

But she did not intend to keep Qing Dai, whose ambitions had grown.

"Open it and have a look!" Yao Mengxian smiled at the two, equally curious about the contents.

"Oh my! Is this silk from Jiangnan? The colors are brighter than ours here! I’ve heard that the silk from Jiangnan is better than that in the Capital. This pattern is certainly something I’ve never seen before."

Qing Dai stroked a piece of rouge-colored cloud-patterned silk, her eyes shining with admiration. Such material was rare even in the Capital; she had not seen it even in the Duke Mansion.

No wonder they say being an official has its privileges. Look, as long as one is an official, one can get all sorts of good things. It may be possible that this material was given in tribute to Mr. Gu, without him having to seek it out himself.

Yao Mengxian leaned over for a look, seeing several pieces of fabric in the box. By the texture, it was clear they were valuable. However, she had never seen such exquisite material before.

"Young lady, here is the gift list!" Lianxin’s sharp eyes spotted the list at the very top.

Yao Mengxian took the list in hand and examined it. She had already witnessed the fabric, but inside a box were a pearl head ornament, a gold-filigree ruby twin-phoenix tassel hairpin, and a pair of red coral bracelets.

Further down were some small items, including a set of white jade chess pieces, Nine Linked Rings, a puppet, and the like.

Yao Mengxian couldn’t help but smile with her eyes curved, wondering if someone took her for a child.

A wave of warmth washed over her, and her complexion became more flushed.

"Young lady! Mr. Gu has sent a lot of things," Lianxin said somewhat amazed, but her face quickly turned into a worried expression.

It’s good that Mr. Gu cares for their young lady, but with gifts this precious, if they accept in such a manner, would Mr. Gu consider the young lady lightly?

Though the young lady was already engaged to Mr. Gu, they had yet to marry, after all.

Even when the young lady and Mr. Gu do marry, these could only be brought into the Gu Mansion as part of her dowry, where they would certainly have a windfall.

"Young lady, such precious items must be worth a considerable amount of silver!" Qing Dai had already swiftly examined the jewelry, somewhat taken aback by Gu Chengyu’s generosity.

Yao Mengxian laid down the gift list, "Pack everything away!"

"Young lady, so many things..." Lianxin hesitated, wondering if accepting them like this might not be right.

"It’s fine. Surely, Grandmother and they have already seen it. Since they’ve had it delivered, it must mean we are to accept it."

Yao Mengxian was indeed surprised at Gu Chengyu’s generosity. She had heard from Grandmother that over the years, Gu Chengyu had sent many fine things to the mansion.

She previously had her doubts, hearing that the Gu Family was of farmer lineage, questioning how they could be so wealthy. Later, she overheard Grandfather muttering that Gu Chengyu had many enterprises under his hand.

However, such words were unsuited to share with Lianxin and Qing Dai, as officials were not allowed to engage in commerce. If word spread, those Imperial Censors would not overlook it.

Yao Mengxian instructed Lianxin to pack away the items, then began discussing Qing Dai’s marriage.

Qing Dai’s ambitions had grown recently, and she did not plan to keep her by her side. Previously, Yao Mengxian had caught her constantly lingering near her elder brother, arousing her vigilance.

"Qing Dai, I have spoken with your parents about your marriage. They said it’s up to your wishes. Previously, someone from Wang Rui’s family proposed to their son. What do you say?"

Yao Mengxian watched Qing Dai closely. In consideration of the bond over the years, she had been abundantly kind to Qing Dai.

Given Qing Dai’s behavior in recent years at the mansion, if not for sentiment, she would have found a way to send her away long ago.

"Is the young lady planning to leave me in the mansion? Previously I discussed with the young lady about following you when you marry."

Qing Dai was filled with dread. When Yao Mengxian initially mentioned it, she was unwilling, and afterward, it was never brought up again. She thought the young lady acquiesced.

But now, the young lady raised it once more, which caused her considerable anxiety.

Initially, Gu Chengyu, though competent, was merely a sixth-rank official. How could he compare to the elder young master, who would inherit the title?

Therefore, she often lingered around the elder young master, hoping he would notice her, potentially raising her to be a concubine.

However, the lady gave birth to a son, casting doubt on the young master’s inheritance, prompting her to bide her time.

Unexpectedly, news recently came of Mr. Gu’s promotion to Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, a Standard Fourth Rank. This was remarkable, reigniting her ambitions.

Mr. Gu, with his face like jade, was a sight likened to a graceful tree; what woman wouldn’t want to marry such a man?

Having risen to the Standard Fourth Rank in such a young age, it was said those in the Capital’s aristocracy regretted that Duke Zhen’s Mansion had gained an unanticipated advantage.

Given a few years, he might indeed rise to top positions.

Qing Dai pondered, finding Mr. Gu more promising. Moreover, with fewer masters in the Gu Mansion, life would be peaceful.

If she married as a wedding maid accompanying the young lady, elevated as a concubine, she wouldn’t have to worry about a good life in the future.

Qing Dai watched as Lianxin gathered and rearranged the items, feeling a twinge of envy in her heart.