Chapter Fifty

  Three days!

  Jia Mincheng had only been married for three days, and it was during these three days that Jia Min, who had been treated like a precious gem by the old lady of the Jia family since birth, finally experienced what it meant to live through years in just a few days.

  Before getting married, Jia Min had high hopes for Lin Ruhai and this marriage. Now she is just as disappointed; it turns out that heaven and hell are really only a thin line apart.

  Apart from the first day of their marriage when Lin Ruhai slept with Jia Min, he didn't even enter her room for the next two days; every night he stayed overnight in the study.

  Jia Min naturally found it difficult to mention such a thing and could only swallow all the bitter fruit into her own belly. However, this matter was not a secret in the Lin household, even if Jia Min didn't say anything.

  When Jia Min married into the Lin family, she brought many dowry maids and servants. At first, Jia Min's plan was to gradually place her own people in the Lin family after entering the Lin family, which would also make it easier for her to control the Lin family in the future.

  However, this abacus calculation was indeed 'crackling' very good, but unfortunately, before Jia Min had a chance to implement it, it had already been stillborn.

  What kind of person is Lin Ruhai?

  As for the affairs of the inner courtyard, Lin Ruhai was indeed not very understanding. Mrs. Lin had been pampered by her husband all her life; besides, Mr. Lin's backyard didn't have those messy concubines and aunts, and Mrs. Lin wasn't good at fighting for power either.

  However, Lin Ruhai was very clever and had always been dissatisfied with this marriage; he had long since investigated the kind of family the Jia's were and naturally would not let Jia Min stretch her hand so far as to be able to interfere in Lin family matters.

  As early as the day Jia Minyi married into the Lin family, Lin Ruhai had already begun to guard against her. On the second day after the wedding, except for the four maids who accompanied Jia Minyi and her wet nurse, all the other attendants were sent away by Lin Ruhai on the pretext of being dispatched to the estate.

  The ancients said: At home obey your father, after marriage obey your husband!

  What a wonderful wealth and nobility, nothing is better than the love of her husband; having a son to rely on is also very important, this point was repeatedly emphasized by Mrs. Jia to her daughters before they got married.

  After marrying into the Lin family, there are two things that are most important. The first is to gain the favor of Lin Ruhai; this is the key to whether Jiayun can stand firm in the Lin family. The second is for Jiayun to become pregnant as soon as possible and strive to give birth to a boy; this latter point is even more important than the former one.

  Before marrying into the Lin family, Jia Min's hopes were great. After marrying into the Lin family, Jia Min's disappointment can be imagined; it is calculated by multiplication, increasing exponentially.

  Jia Min's heart was filled with grievances!

  The husband dislikes himself, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law are not very fond of him either; the younger sister-in-law is a treasured gem in the Lin family, and in front of her, he has even less right to speak; throughout the entire Lin estate, from top to bottom, only he, the master, is the most humble, let alone being the master... Even the maidservants with a bit of status in the Lin family are stronger than him.

  The husband who was originally calculated to come, really won't have happiness? Zha Min thought of the origin of her own marriage with Lin's family. In this marriage, it wasn't Lin's family who actively came to propose to her, but rather she had taken a liking to Lin Ruhai's talent and character, and begged her mother to enter the palace to request an imperial decree for their marriage.

  Is this the punishment of heaven for being too greedy? Happiness is indeed short-lived, and it has wings to fly.

  At last, after many long days and sleepless nights of eager anticipation, the day finally arrived when Jia Baoyu would return home for a three-day visit.

  "It was only three days, but I've lost a lot of weight; even my chin has become pointed." Jia Min looked at her thin face in the rhombus mirror, and a faint mockery appeared in her eyes.

  "Grandma, don't you think this gold phoenix hairpin with the large pearl looks good today?" Qingmei took out a gold filigree phoenix hairpin from the dressing box and held it against Jia Min's head for comparison, asking respectfully.

  As today is the day of the Three Anniversaries, Qiang Mei and several other maidservants had already helped Jia Min get dressed early in the morning. Qiang Mei's skilled hands had styled Jia Min's hair into a beautiful "Ruyi Ba Bao" coiffure, and at this moment she was seeking Jia Min's opinion on which head ornament would be most suitable to wear.

  Jia Min looked at her slightly pale face in the rhombus mirror, and her eyebrows furrowed as she said in a soft voice: "Change it! I remember there's a set of red coral headdress in the box, just get that one for me!"

  Jia Min's idea was simple: the color of red coral is more festive; if she wore this headdress, her complexion might look much better.

  "Yes, grandma!" Qing Mei gave a wink to Qing Xing who was helping her on the side, and soon enough, Qing Xing found a set of red coral hair accessories in the makeup box.

  Uh... the headdress is actually just a few simple decorations, probably because red coral is a relatively rare item; a hairpin made of red coral, which is already an extremely rare object; the entire hairpin is carved out of red coral, with a cluster of white jade plum blossoms carved on it; the contrast between the red and white is particularly eye-catching.

  Inside the makeup box, there was also a string of red coral beads, all made up of 24 round coral beads the size of thumbs; There was also a pair of red coral earrings, quietly lying inside the makeup box.

  "Grandma, won't this look a bit too monotonous?" Qingmei deftly inserted the red coral hairpin into Jiamin's coiffure, and also put on the matching earrings and red coral bracelet; then stepped back and asked.

  Jia Min usually shines with jewels and ornaments, but today she's only wearing a few simple pieces of jewelry; at first glance, it's really quite unfamiliar, even the maids who have been serving Jia Min, Qing Mei and Qing Xing, feel very unaccustomed to it, let alone others.

  Jia Min quietly looked at herself in the diamond-shaped mirror, the woman in the mirror had a beautiful face with rosy cheeks; her raven-black hair was adorned with a red pin and white plum blossoms that were extremely eye-catching, set against a backdrop of flowing light and colorful splendor.

  Today, Qingmei picked out a rose-red jacket with a white plum blossom embroidered around the collar; the red and white contrast made her small face look especially lovely. She was wearing an eight-piece Xiangshui Moon Flower skirt; the hem of the skirt was embroidered with intertwined jasmine flowers, and as she walked, her lotus steps swayed gently. With every swing of her skirt, it seemed as if those flowers were constantly swaying in the wind, so beautiful that one couldn't help but stare.

  "Grandma looks so beautiful today!" Qing An couldn't help but exclaim in a small voice.

  The green plum leans its head and carefully measures a dozen, isn't it? Usually seeing her own grandmother being dressed up every day, today although there are not so many exquisite and expensive decorations on her body; but it makes her look more elegant, refined and moving.

  "Qing'an, this little girl is right." Qingmei also nodded in agreement: "Grandma, you look like a completely different person today, and you look especially beautiful."

  Jia Min gazed at her reflection in the diamond-shaped mirror, and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh: "Alas... what's the use of having such a beautiful face if there are still people who don't like it?"

  Qingmei and Qingxuan looked at each other, both of whom had been serving beside Jiamin since childhood; they naturally understood the meaning behind Jiamin's words and couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for their own grandmother.

  Especially the younger green apricot couldn't help but say: "Green plum sister, our grandmother is so beautiful; how could the young master not like her?"

  Qing Mei was speechless after hearing Qing Xing's words, um... this silly girl really dared to say anything, she wasn't a god, how would she know why Lin Ruhai didn't like Jia Min? She even wanted to know the reason?

  Qing Mei was two or three years older than Qing Xing, and unlike the latter who still had a bit of childishness in her, Qing Mei had long known that she would eventually become a member of Lin Ruhai's household.

  To put it bluntly, the so-called dowry maid is actually a concubine selected by the bride for her husband, used to solidify her position in his heart when necessary.

  However, Qingmei saw that her master's attitude towards his own grandmother was not good, so she probably had no chance; but it was also good this way. Although Qingmei was only a small maid, because she had been following Jiamin since childhood, her temperament was very high. What she wanted to do was not just be a concubine, she wanted to be the legitimate wife of the family.

  Even without the wealth and power of the Jia and Lin families, Qingmei felt that a humble household was better; at least there wouldn't be as many annoying things happening inside those grand mansions.

  The master and servant were quietly thinking about their own affairs, and for a moment, the atmosphere was much quieter.

  "Grandma, Grandma is safe!" Qingju rushed in with a hint of panting and quick footsteps.

  Qing Mei came back to herself from her deep thoughts, her eyebrows furrowed slightly in displeasure as she asked: "Qing Ju, what's the matter that you're leaving in such a hurry?"

  "Green plum sister, the inkstone in front of young master's servant has come to pass on a message." Green Chrysanthemum lowered her eyes respectfully and said: "Young master asked if our grandmother is packed up yet, saying that this time is already not early; leaving early can return to the mansion early."

  Qing Xiangzi quickly retorted: "Why didn't Master come himself to tell Grandma in person?"

  "Qing Xing!" Qing Mei sighed silently, rubbing her temples. Alas... she would eventually be driven to distraction by this silly girl Qing Xing. It was really infuriating; although she knew that Master didn't get along with their family's nanny, this foolish girl just wouldn't listen. Whatever you say, it's like talking to a wall, and it's really enough to make one angry to death.

  If it were in the past, Jia Min would have probably thrown a tantrum; but today's Jia Min was a bit unusual, she didn't get angry; she just slightly lifted her head to glance at the sky, hmm...the sky really wasn't early anymore.

  "Let's go! Don't keep husband waiting." Jia Min stood up and floated away, leaving behind a faint scent in the room.

  Qing Mei, Qing Xiang and Qing Ju looked at each other, then followed closely behind, walking out in big strides.