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Daohua didn’t have any reaction to this, she continued doing whatever she was supposed to do.

Wang Manman looked at Daohua with surprise, “Miss, aren’t you angry?” She knew that in order to make the two pots of Hong Mei bloom earlier, the eldest daughter would spend time tending to them every night before going to bed.

Daohua replied indifferently, “I have already given the Hong Mei to Mother, as long as Mother isn’t displeased, I am not angry.”

After learning that Hong Mei was lent to Tutor Zhu, Madam Li had specifically come to explain to her that her father had a hard time navigating the bureaucratic world and had to spend effort on winning over his colleagues and subordinates. Otherwise, a County Magistrate without any backing would find it very hard to carry out his duties.

She understood this.

Wang Manman said, “But it was Tutor Lin who encouraged Father to lend out the Hong Mei.”

Upon hearing this, Daohua put down the needlework in her hands and pondered for a moment, “Manman, why don’t the people from Shuangxin Courtyard know how to stay quiet?”

Wang Manman, who had no reservations, said bluntly, “It’s all because Father indulges them.” In private, she could speak frankly to the miss without too much concern, as long as there were no outsiders, she was free to speak her mind.

Daohua picked up her needlework again. By now, she could embroider some items, and though they were still not very good-looking, one could at least recognize what they were supposed to be.

“Yes, the root of the problem lies with Father.”

If it weren’t for the leniency Father showed towards Tutor Lin, how would he dare to do such a thing?

Wang Manman sighed, “That’s the downside of being in a wealthy family; you can never avoid conflicts between wife and concubine. When I was running errands with Father before, I heard plenty about the dark secrets of the inner courts of grand mansions.”

“Either a legitimate wife would sell or kill a concubine, or a concubine would gain favor, and in turn, oppress and bully the wife. Even more ruthless, some would harm the children, showing no mercy to unborn infants or little kids.”

Daohua was stunned upon hearing this.

She had not expected that scenarios she had only encountered in novels and television shows in her previous life would actually exist in reality, and be so close to her at that.

She had always thought that men were rational beings, and that foolish things like favoring a concubine over a wife wouldn’t happen.

Not to mention anything else, a legitimate wife could manage family affairs, socialize, and contribute to the prosperity and flourishing of the clan; whereas, what could concubines do besides serve with their beauty, indulging in frivolous pleasures? They couldn’t bring any substantial benefits to a man. Any sane man would know how to treat a wife and a concubine.

But there is a gap between reality and theory.

In reality, very few men can clearly face everything about themselves, especially men from ancient times; women were just appendages to men, who preferred to be flattered to satisfy their masculine egos.

Concubines, being of lower status, would naturally understand how to curry favor and please men if they wanted to live well. Thus, some men with weak resolve, or those with darkness in their hearts, were easily swayed by the gentleness and attention of the concubines.

Was Madam Li not beautiful? No, even if she was several years older than Aunt Lin, when standing together, Madam Li certainly outshone her in beauty.

Was Madam Li not virtuous? Who in the Yan Family could deny Madam Li’s contribution to their current status?

But why did Yan Zhigao favor Aunt Lin more?

After careful consideration, Daohua felt there were three reasons: one was her mother’s background. In this strictly hierarchical feudal society, merchants were mostly looked down upon by the literati.

Second was her father’s dissatisfaction.

As a young man who had passed the imperial examinations, he could have married a wife of equal status, with whom he would have led a harmonious hfe, enjoying the company of an elegant wife. But due to his modest background, he had to marry a merchant’s daughter, someone he himself despised. How could such a proud man be content with that?

Third was her adoptive father’s sense of inferiority.

In that era, it was natural for a man to support his family, but he had to rely on his wife’s dowry for his livelihood and career, which was a great denial of his capabilities, leaving him feeling less confident in front of his wife.

With these three reasons, and the fact that Aunt Lin consciously catered to his preferences, it was not surprising that Father would be biased towards Shuangxin Courtyard.

“Ah!”

Daohua sighed and continued to concentrate on her needlework practice.

The situation in her family wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

When the Hong Mei was borrowed, the main house had no reaction, but Shuangxin Courtyard wouldn’t stand for it.

Teacher Lin personally went to fetch Hong Mei from Master Zhu’s residence and invited Miss Zhu Xiuyun from the Zhu Family to join them for fun in the County Governor’s Office’s back garden.

Zhu Xiuyun had a good relationship with Yan Yishuang and gladly accepted the invitation.

Teacher Lin, holding Hong Mei, did not deliver it to the County Magistrate in the front courtyard, nor return it to Madam Li in the back courtyard, but directly headed towards Shuangxin Courtyard.

During the visit to the County Governor’s Office, the County Magistrate did not specify which daughter had cultivated the Hong Mei, so seeing Teacher Lin head towards Shuangxin Courtyard led Zhu Xiuyun to assume that Hong Mei belonged to Yan Yishuang.

And Yan Yishuang, following Aunt Lin’s instructions, had come out early to welcome Zhu Xiuyun and met her halfway.

“Xiuyun!”

“Yishuang!”

Since they stopped sharing classes, they hadn’t seen each other, and now, upon meeting, they immediately embraced each other with joy.

Teacher Lin smiled and said, “Yishuang, won’t you invite Xiuyun to sit in the pavilion?”

Yan Yishuang looked surprised and glanced at the breezy pavilion not far away, wondering why her uncle would ask them to stay outside in such cold weather. However, always obedient to her uncle, without much thought she cheerfully took Zhu Xiuyun’s hand and led her toward the pavilion.

Zhu Xiuyun didn’t object; instead, she happily said, “Yishuang, you must let me have a good look at Hong Mei later. After my father brought it home, he didn’t even let me see it up close, as if he was afraid I’d damage it.

Yan Yishuang thought that since Hong Mei was now in her uncle’s hands, it was fine for Zhu Xiuyun to look at it, and it was also a good chance for her to see it for herself.

The bright red Hong Mei was in full bloom, and she wanted to see it as well. Teacher Lin followed the two young ladies with a smile, and soon the three of them entered the pavilion. There, Teacher Lin placed Hong Mei on the stone table, and the two girls immediately crowded around it.

Before long, informed of Zhu Xiuyun’s arrival in the back garden of the County Governor’s Office, Yan Yihuan and Yan Yile also arrived at the pavilion.

The four young ladies began to chatter and laugh around the Hong Mei.

Teacher Lin watched the four of them with a smile, his gaze occasionally drifting in the direction of Songhe Courtyard.

He had already inquired about the schedule and knew that at this time, Miss Yan, the eldest daughter, would have finished her walk with Old Madam Yan and would usually take this route back to the main courtyard.

indeed, before long, the figures of Daohua and Wang Manman appeared within Teacher Lin’s view.

“Miss, look, that’s the Second Miss and the others, as well as the County Magistrate’s daughter. She must have come to return Hong Mei!

Wang Manman, with her sharp eyes, immediately noticed the Hong Mei being surrounded by several people.

Daohua also saw the people in the pavilion, but her gaze lingered more on Teacher Lin, who remained inside.