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  Arriving at the Duke of Jing's residence, Lin Lan repeatedly checked her appearance to ensure everything was in order before alighting from the carriage. Li Mingyu offered his assistance, but she dodged him and descended on her own by holding onto the carriage doorframe. As soon as her foot touched the ground, a wave of dizziness washed over her, causing her to shoot a resentful glance at the one responsible for this predicament.

  Li Mingyu knew he was annoyed and just smiled apologetically.

  After entering the mansion, the two of them parted ways, Li Mingyun went to see Duke Jingbo, while Lin Lan entered the inner courtyard.

  Qiao Yunxi invited only a few people today, about five or six. Feng Shumin was also there, and several other ladies were acquaintances they had met before.

  Everyone congratulated each other and exchanged a few pleasantries before sitting down to drink tea.

  Feng Shumin complained in a low voice: "You don't even come to visit, and Shan'er has been thinking about you."

  Shan Er is Feng Shumin's son, six years old this year, and looks very cute with a round head and a smart brain.

  Lin Lan smiled wryly and said: "I'm not that free, without the constraints of my husband's family, I can't just do whatever I want."

  "It's true, I'm free but also bored every day. If there weren't mountains, I really wouldn't know what to do...". Feng Shumin also smiled bitterly, indeed every family has its own difficult-to-recite scripture, each with their own troubles.

  Qiao Yunxiao smiled and said: "What are you guys talking about? It's New Year's Day and you're still sighing."

  Lin Lan said: "We were just saying that Madame Hou has become even more beautiful and charming after becoming a mother, I and Madame Lin are sighing in admiration."

  Qiao Yun Xiao smiled and said: "If you're envious, then hurry up and have one yourself."

  Feng Shumin also smiled and said: "I'm the one who is inferior, what qualifications do I have? Look at that skin, it's so tender that you can pinch out water."

  Another lady laughed and said, "Isn't that so? I heard the Hou's wife say that she has been taking a nourishing prescription to nurse her health, and as a result, she is becoming more radiant. Li Furen, when will you also write us a prescription, so we can benefit from it too?"

  Lin Lan took the opportunity to say: "Everyone's physical condition is different, and this food supplement method is also different. When my pharmacy opens, come then, I will definitely tailor a suitable food supplement recipe for you."

  Qiao Yunxiao said: "When will the pharmacy open?"

  "Some things aren't ready yet, probably until March." Lin Lan said.

  "When the time comes, be sure to inform me, so I can prepare a grand opening gift." Qiao Yunshuo smiled.

  "That's for sure, if you don't send it, I'll come to your doorstep to ask for it." Lin Lan said with a smile.

  Qiao Yunxiao lost his smile: "Let's take a look, she really has me in her grasp."

  The lady smiled and said: "Mrs. Li's recuperation is like a water scallion, this great gift of yours can't be lessened. If we had also obtained such benefits, what great gifts would we have sent."

  Everyone burst out laughing.

  "What's the gift or not, I'm just kidding. Although it's a pharmacy, it doesn't necessarily mean it's for treating illnesses. I have many beauty and skincare prescriptions here, please take care of me in the future." Lin Lan smiled and said.

  Everyone present is a wealthy and influential housewife, not lacking in wealth or power, but only youth and beauty are priceless and cannot be sought after. Upon hearing Lin Lan's words, they were all moved and expressed their intention to attend the event and show their support.

  Lin Lan has such skills, and among many noblewomen, she is particularly popular. Her identity as the second wife of the Li family is even more eye-catching than that of a noblewoman. After several gatherings, she quickly accumulated extremely high popularity and became a sought-after figure among the noblewomen in Beijing.

  After the New Year's Day, after passing the 15th day of the first lunar month, this year can be considered as past.

  Finally having some free time, Lin Lan made a move to deal with Bai Hui's matter.

  "I have been serving the second young master for many years, always doing my best. Now that he has reached the age of marriage, I naturally cannot be negligent and have been searching for a suitable family... Currently, there is a suitable one, which is the eldest son of Xu, the manager of the Ye family, named Fu'an, who is of the same age as the second young master. I and the second young master have met Fu'an before, he's a very good young man. Xu and his wife are also very kind-hearted people. If she marries into their family, it will definitely be a good thing..." Lin Lan said slowly, observing Bai Hui's expression.

  Bai Hui's face turned paler and paler, and when she heard the last part, she swayed, like a withered leaf in the wind, almost unable to stand.

  Lin Lan continued: "The second young master also thinks this marriage is very suitable."

  Bai Hui's eyes had already become misty, and her voice was low and husky: "I don't want to marry, I'd rather spend my whole life serving the second young master and mistress."

  Lin Lan smiled and said: "What nonsense are you talking about? Which woman doesn't get married?"

  Bai Hui raised her head, her expression resolute: "If Second Young Mistress dislikes me, she can dismiss me to sweep the courtyard or chop firewood, I'm willing to do either, just please don't make me marry."

  Lin Lan's heart skipped a beat, but she dared to speak up.

  Her eyes swept across her pale and melancholic face, Lin Lan asked in a low voice: "But do you have someone you like? If it's mutual affection, I won't mind being the matchmaker."

  Bai Hui moved her lips, wanting to speak but hesitating. Although the second young mistress had a smile on her face, her eyes were stern and intimidating, how dare she say anything.

  "Let's reconsider, this marriage is something that both I and the second young master have agreed upon. Considering our years of service, we wouldn't mistreat or harm anyone. You must have heard that after the Lunar New Year, the mistress will be adjusting the household staff, either sending away those who are old or arranging marriages for them. I'm sure the mistress wouldn't think this way." Lin Lan's voice was gentle, but with a hidden warning.

  Bai Hui couldn't understand why Er Shao's wife didn't seem to get her meaning, but she refused to give up. Er Shao was a gentle and refined person, how could he be so heartless? She had always thought that Er Shao's wife would accept her, only now did she realize that Er Shao's wife was actually a smiling tiger, with a harmonious surface but secretly plotting to get rid of her. Er Shao must have been forced into a corner and reluctantly agreed to marry her off to someone else.

  Bai Hui nodded reluctantly: "Let me think again."

  Lin Lan smiled slightly, not forcing her, the words had already been made clear, and she had done her best. If Bai Hui insisted on not allowing it, then there was nothing to do but let the old witch handle it.

  Bai Hui spent a day in anxiety and unease. At noon, she told Zhou Ma that she was going to find Hong Chang to borrow a pattern and then left.

  Li Mingyun had just returned from his shift and was walking halfway when a person suddenly appeared from behind a fake mountain, calling out to him in a timid tone: "Second Young Master..."

  Li Mingyun looked at Bai Hui and frowned: "What are you doing here?"

  Bai Hui looked at Dongzi who was following behind Second Young Master and wanted to say something but stopped herself.

  Dongzi cleverly said: "The little one is hungry, let's go find something to eat first." After finishing speaking, he slipped away quietly.

  Li Mingyu waited for him to be called back, he had already run far away, and his heart was involuntarily annoyed. This ungrateful slave, when he returns, will definitely be severely punished.

  Bai Hui slowly knelt down.

  "What's going on? If you have something to say, speak up."

  Bai Hui stubbornly refused to get up, her tears falling like a broken pearl curtain, big drops rolling down one by one.

  Li Mingyu was anxious: "It's better to get up quickly, or people will see it and think what a joke."

  "Second Master, are you tired of me?" Bai Hui whispered.

  "Besides, let's talk about it again, if not, I can leave." Li Mingyun said displeased.

  Bai Hui finally stood up, sobbing: "Where did the slave do wrong? Second Master insists on driving away the slave. If Second Master is dissatisfied with anything about the slave, the slave will change it. Just beg Second Master not to drive the slave away. The slave's life was given by Madam. Madam said before that she would let the slave and Zi Mo serve Second Master for a lifetime... Now that Sister Zi Mo is gone, only the slave remains. How can Second Master be so heartless?"

  Li Mingyun's head was as big as a bucket, looking at Bai Hui's sorrowful and resentful expression, he secretly sighed: "Bai Hui, this young master is not disgusted with you..."

  "Is the second young master afraid of displeasing the second young mistress? I, a servant girl, won't compete with the second young mistress for anything. I only wish to spend my entire life by the second young master's side, serving tea and water, even if it means being just a humble maid." Bai Hui hastily said.

  Li Mingyun was stunned, how could she think that way? Li Mingyun coughed twice and said: "Bai Hui... this is not a matter of dislike or not, I have deep feelings for the second young mistress, in this life I only want to be with her, will not do anything else, she's a good girl, should have her own happiness, the second young mistress has already arranged a good marriage, hope you won't disappoint the second young mistress's kindness."

  Bai Hui's eyes welled up with tears, and she said resentfully: "If Second Young Master doesn't like me, just send me away to become a nun, I will never marry another person in this lifetime."

  Li Mingyun was somewhat annoyed: "If I were to reconsider and disappoint others, it would be a small loss for me, but if I were to ruin my own happiness, that would be a big loss." With that, he turned and left with large strides.

  Bai Hui gazed at the resolute back of Second Young Master, feeling a chill in her heart. Why was it like this? Did Second Young Master truly not have any feelings for her? After all these years,

  Her heart is filled with only one person, and now she's suddenly being told to marry another, isn't that like cutting out her heart alive?

  Lin Lan was calculating in the house, the first batch of medicine had arrived, and the rest would arrive by mid-February at the latest.

  Yin Liu lifted the curtain and came in, leaning against Second Young Madam's ear and whispering a few sentences.

  Lin Lan's face was solemn and she said coldly: "She still won't give up, insisting on humiliating herself."

  "Second Young Mistress, she has been hiding in her room crying all day. Jinxiu and Ruyi have both tried to persuade her, but she won't listen. Now look what's happened, she's gone off to find Second Young Master." Yinliu was furious.

  "Let's see what Second Master says when he gets back!" Lin Lan muttered, this Bai Hui was really troublesome.

  "The slave is afraid that she will make a mess and come up with some kind of trick." Yinyu said worriedly.

  "It's hard to say, I'm thinking of her with good intentions, but she can't understand, and who knows if she'll think I'm making things difficult for her." Lin Lan closed the account book and sighed: "This good person is really hard to do. I'd better keep an eye on Yu Rong these days, lest she does something foolish."

  Yin Liu nodded and said, "I've never seen anyone so shameless, it's really infuriating."

  Just then, Wen Li said from outside: "The second young master is back."

  As soon as the words fell, Li Mingyu lifted the curtain and came in, his face gloomy and displeased.

  Lin Lan gave Yin Liu a glance, and Yin Liu hastily retreated.

  Lin Lan personally helped him take off his cloak and smiled: "Who are you sulking with? Your face looks really scary."

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