From the day Lin Yan returned to the Marquis's estate, the atmosphere within the household became somewhat tense.
The Marchioness and Feng Yue openly disliked Lin Yan, but due to the Marquis of Huaiyin's presence, they dared not do anything substantial.
In the blink of an eye, the New Year festivities passed. In the first lunar month, the Marchioness led the young masters and ladies of the estate to pay New Year's calls, or they stayed home to receive guests.
Lin Yan kept the doors of her small courtyard shut throughout the entire first month. She had no relatives to visit and did not wish to involve herself in the affairs of the Marquis's estate.
After all, her current position was neither legitimate nor recognized. If she truly got involved, who knew what others would think!
For instance, they might think she was currying favor with the Marquis's estate, that she was immodest, and that she was already acting as a member of the household before even being married into it.
Gossip could be a terrifying thing, and some people were prone to speculating about others with the worst possible intentions.
During this first month, Lin Yan only paid a visit to one family: her maternal uncle's household. She went with her uncle and his family. However, the kinship ties were distant, and the relatives there offered Lin Yan only superficial courtesies.
"Miss, people from the old home have arrived," Xiao Man entered from outside and approached Lin Yan.
"The people who arrived? What did Steward Grandpa say?" Lin Yan put down the brush she was holding.
Before her was a "Nine-Nine Winter Relief Painting," a plum blossom drawing with nine branches, each bearing nine blossoms. Coloring began on the Winter Solstice, and when all eighty-one plum blossoms were colored red, spring would arrive.
It was said, "When the nine-nine winter relief is complete, spring breezes will enter the house." The original owner and her parents would paint such a winter relief painting every year. Although they were no longer present, Lin Yan continued this habit.
She chose the most beautiful shade of rouge and her first task every morning was to meticulously use her brush to apply rouge to the petals and calyxes of the blossoms.
With each fewer blossom, it felt as if spring was one step closer.
"They say they arrived last night but were afraid to disturb you, so they didn't mention it until this morning. It's your younger relatives; they've come together to participate in the Spring Imperial Examinations."
"Aren't the Spring Imperial Examinations about to begin? Why have they arrived so late?"
Lin Yan frowned. She held a relatively high辈分 (bei fen - generation status) in the Lin family, which was one of the reasons she hadn't stayed there. Of course, the main reason was that the Marquis of Huaiyin insisted she come here.
"They said they encountered heavy snow on the road, which caused considerable delay. They even spent the New Year on the journey. They hadn't intended to contact us, but because they arrived so late, they couldn't find any inns and thus found their way to the estate." Xiao Man chuckled as she spoke.
"Xiao Shu said they were all quite embarrassed. Here's the letter they brought for you."
Lin Yan took the letter. "Why are they only bringing it out now!"
"We wanted to tell you about their situation first so you'd have some context before reading the letter," Xiao Man replied.
Xiao Man wasn't particularly afraid of Lin Yan's reprimand. As long as they hadn't done anything wrong, their young lady wouldn't be overly critical.
Lin Yan opened the letter and only then understood why this group of youngsters had traveled alone, without any experienced elders.
These youths, who were always looking down on this and that back home, were sent out by their families to gain experience. However, their families hadn't completely abandoned them; they had arranged for people to protect them from behind.
In the letter, they also told Lin Yan not to worry too much about them and to let them endure some hardship.
However, judging by Xiao Man's words, it seemed they had suffered quite a bit on their journey.
"Ask Mother Fang to send someone to inform the Marchioness. I'm going to the estate to see them."
Lin Yan felt she ought to go and see them. After all, she was their elder. While some hardship was necessary for training, too much would be detrimental.
"Alright, I'll go tell Mother Fang right away," Xiao Man said, preparing to leave.
After Xiao Man left, Lin Yan closed the box of rouge. She washed her brush in the brush rest and placed it on the nearby shelf.
Her uncle had mentioned a plum blossom appreciation banquet at the Ning Prince's estate in a few days. She could go out today and look at some jewelry and hair ornaments. After being so plain for so long, she needed to buy some hair accessories for herself.
This plum blossom banquet was a plot point. Even if the Marchioness was unwilling to take her, she had to go and see those two people. Watching a play was best done up close; hearing others recount it lost much of its interest.
When Lin Yan arrived at the estate, she saw the young men who had come to take the imperial examinations.
The oldest of this group was twenty, and the youngest was seventeen. They were the most outstanding among the Lin clan relatives.
"You've all come to the capital, so why didn't you come directly to my door? While I can't help you much, I can at least provide you with food and lodging, and resolve your worries."
Lin Yan looked at the group of youths who seemed somewhat embarrassed in her presence.
"Great-aunt, you are also staying as a guest in someone else's home. How could we possibly trouble you!"
"Indeed, Auntie. The Marquis of Huaiyin's threshold is so high, we wouldn't dare to impose!"
"So, if you hadn't been unable to find an inn, you wouldn't have come to find me?" Lin Yan's voice became a little sterner.
"No, Great-aunt. It's just that being a successful candidate in the provincial examination doesn't sound as impressive. It would be more respectable if we came after passing the Metropolitan Examination!" said the youngest youth.
His great-aunt was becoming more authoritative now, completely different from before. When she put on a stern face, she was quite intimidating.
He was the grandson of one of Lin Yan's paternal cousins. He had been known as a child prodigy since he was young and was sent to the Lin family, where he was tutored by Lin Yan's father for several years. Thus, he had a good relationship with Lin Yan.
"Aren't scholars at sixteen or seventeen impressive enough?" Lin Yan said irritably.
No wonder those people back in the old home wanted them to endure some hardship. If they didn't even value being a successful candidate in the provincial examination, how could some elders who had spent their lives as mere scholars feel about it?
The men of Lin Yan's generation were named using characters related to 'sun' (日), the next generation used characters related to 'water' (水), and the generation after that used characters related to 'mountain' (山).
This young prodigy before her was named Lin Yi, and he was the first in his generation to pass an examination.
"But that's still not as good as a Metropolitan Examination scholar at seventeen!" he was still unconvinced.
The Marquis of Huaiyin's estate was looking down on Great-aunt because she had no backing. He would strive to pass the examinations and become her supporter!
"Do you all think so too?" Lin Yan looked at the other nephews who hadn't spoken.
"Auntie, we also feel it would be better to come and pay our respects after passing the Metropolitan Examination," said the oldest youth, and the others nodded in agreement.
For the past two years, their aunt hadn't spoken much about her life in the capital, but living in someone else's house, even a maternal uncle's, was surely not as comfortable as one's own home.
Back in their hometown, they had consistently received help from their aunt. She herself was observing mourning rites and had collected all the examination books from the capital and sent them back. Not to mention the sacrificial fields Lin Yan's father had purchased for the clan.
It was thanks to these resources that they were more informed and learned more than others, enabling them to pass the provincial examinations at such a young age.
They were determined to pass the Metropolitan Examination now and show the Marquis of Huaiyin's estate that the Lin family was not a declining household.
They weren't entirely clueless about coming to the capital. Their aunt had been brought to the capital but was observing mourning rites on an estate, suggesting she had been wronged.
They had also learned about some of the affairs within the Marquis's estate from the servants on the estate. Therefore, they had to achieve success to support their aunt!