Luo Ning temporarily resided in Old Madam's West Main Courtyard.
Old Madam lived in the west room, and the east room was quickly tidied up, with bedding added.
"...Your Eldest Young Mistress had a difficult childbirth, and it was A Rong who invited a famous doctor to save her and her child. She is the Zhennan Marquis Manor's benefactor," Old Madam explained to Luo Ning.
Cousin Bai Cirong was worldly and extremely wealthy, and she quickly won over everyone in the Zhennan Marquis Manor.
From top to bottom, no one did not respect her.
Saving the Eldest Young Mistress and her child pushed her prestige to its peak; even Luo Ning's father acknowledged her.
Mother moved her to Wenqi Courtyard, which was second only to the two Zheng Courtyards in the inner quarters, openly replacing Luo Ning's position, and no one had any objections.
"A Ning, you are a sensible child; Hui Fu Courtyard is also a fine place to live," Old Madam said again.
She told her to be tolerant.
Without Luo Ning, how could there be this Zhennan Marquis Manor? Let alone Wenqi Courtyard.
Luo Ning did not hate Old Madam.
Old Madam had no ill will towards her and had protected her. In her previous life, she was blinded by Cousin's kindness, but quickly realized and began to look after Luo Ning.
Later, Old Madam "passed away" from a sudden illness. That night, only Luo Ning's mother and Cousin were with Old Madam.
After Old Madam's death, Luo Ning had nowhere to live.
"Grandma, let me stay here with you," Luo Ning said with a smile, "I'm already seventeen. Won't you and Mother find me a husband?"
She did not contradict Old Madam.
Nor did she throw a tantrum, making herself a laughingstock.
Others laughed, and Luo Ning also laughed, even more naturally.
"Good child, you've become even more generous and straightforward," Old Madam held her hand, "Staying here is fine, don't be sad."
"Yes," Luo Ning squeezed her hand back.
Her warm hand felt very healthy.
She talked with Old Madam for quite a while.
She also specifically mentioned Cousin Bai Cirong.
"How come I haven't seen this Cousin before?" Luo Ning asked.
Old Madam: "She is your Great Uncle's legitimate daughter. She was fostered elsewhere before, for fear of her stepmother harming her."
She was also a little surprised, "You haven't seen her?"
Luo Ning shook her head: "No. She and my mother look very much alike."
"A niece resembling her aunt brings good fortune," Old Madam said.
Luo Ning smiled slightly.
"Your eldest brother said he had seen her," Old Madam added.
Luo Ning smiled again.
Of course he had seen her; they were true siblings.
She did not argue or make a fuss, settling down in the West Main Courtyard to accompany Old Madam.
Old Madam had long since stopped managing affairs and only worshipped Buddha.
In her parents' East Main Courtyard, however, there was some worry.
"A Ning is back, we should quickly make arrangements for A Rong's courtyard," Father said.
Mother, on the other hand, said: "Huineng, the Head Monk, advised that Wenqi Courtyard's location is suitable for A Rong. I think A Ning can understand; she has always been sensible."
She added, "Hui Fu Courtyard is right behind our Zheng Courtyard, with a small connecting door, making it convenient for her to be close to her parents. She should be able to accept it."
"Inner quarter trifles, you decide," Father said indifferently.
He went to Consort Song's courtyard to sleep.
The next day, Mother sent for Luo Ning.
"...Mother has missed you day and night. If it weren't for your Cousin's companionship, I might have been bedridden with illness, and you wouldn't have seen Mother when you returned," Mother cried, holding Luo Ning's hand.
Luo Ning was expressionless: "Mother has worked hard."
"Your Cousin was previously afflicted by a nightmare and was ill for some days. The Head Monk of Fahua Temple advised a location, telling her to live in Wenqi Courtyard, which could suppress it," Mother continued.
"A Ning, you've just returned, you must not become arrogant because of favor, or be too calculative. Think about it, because you were injured, the Imperial Family bestowed this Zhennan Marquis Manor, which makes your father's reputation not entirely honorable.
Constantly bringing it up, making your father lose face, wouldn't that be bad for you? If you give kindness without expecting repayment, the entire manor will be grateful to you," Mother also said.
Luo Ning had eyes very similar to her mother's, charming and expressive, bright and vibrant.
She quietly looked at her mother: "If Father feels his reputation is not honorable, he can resign and ask the Imperial Family to bestow upon me the title of a Commandery Princess."
Mother was choked.
"A Ning, that's foolish talk," Mother said, "How can a daughter be granted a Commandery Princess title over her father? All are due to a father's grace."
Luo Ning's expression was very calm: "Mother, Father was enfeoffed as a Marquis, and you also received a noble title. This grand residence, you also said, was obtained because I was injured saving the Empress Dowager. Why don't you commend me?"
"Merit is for others to speak of."
"Can't you speak of it either, Mother?" Luo Ning asked.
"It's not good to boast."
"Since you all know it in your hearts, is it too much for your daughter to want her own courtyard back?" Luo Ning did not yield an inch.
Mother became a little annoyed: "A Ning, you have no manners!"
The atmosphere was tense.
Mother thought of Eunuch Wei sending her back and suppressed her temper: "A Ning, living anywhere is the same. Wenqi Courtyard is no nobler than Hui Fu Courtyard. It's not important. Don't focus on petty gains."
"Since they are all the same and not important, then give it back to me," Luo Ning said.
Mother was speechless.
She sighed: "You've changed, A Ning, how did you become so stubborn, crude, and ill-mannered?"
Luo Ning smiled gently: "Mother, your daughter doesn't understand that statement. Your daughter has returned home and wants to live in her own courtyard, is that too much? Does your daughter need to ask the Empress Dowager to preside over justice?"
Anger and shock appeared in Mother's eyes.
She could no longer speak.
Luo Ning was polite and proper, always with a faint smile, giving no one an excuse to spread rumors that she was "mad."
She returned to the West Main Courtyard and accompanied Old Madam in chanting Buddhist scriptures.
Bai Cirong went to the Marquise's courtyard and quietly advised her not to be angry: "Aunt, I will move out."
"No!"
She then added, "I have a plan. When the time comes, I'll ask Old Madam to persuade A Ning."
The twelfth lunar month was cold, and in a few days, it would be Laba Festival.
Buddhists cared greatly about this day, because Laba Festival was also called Dharma Treasure Festival, and Buddhist temples would hold ceremonies and distribute Buddhist porridge.
Every year on this day, the guest rooms of Fahua Temple were fully booked, and the vegetarian meals were even more exquisite and luxurious, with one table costing five hundred taels of silver.
Despite being so expensive, one could not book a table without some status.
For many years, Zhennan Marquis Manor had not been able to book a vegetarian meal on the Dharma Treasure Festival, and Old Madam deeply regretted it.
In the mid-afternoon, Luo Ning accompanied Old Madam in picking Buddhist beans when her mother arrived.
Bai Cirong followed beside her.
"Mother, A Rong has good news to tell you," Mother said with a smile on her face.
"What good news?" Old Madam asked.
"Grandma, I booked a vegetarian meal at Fahua Temple for the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Dharma Treasure Festival," Bai Cirong said with a smile.
Bai Cirong already addressed Old Madam directly as Grandma, just like the other Luo Family children, to show intimacy.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Old Madam's face.
"How did you book it?"
"Huineng, the Head Monk, helped. He and I have some private connections. Otherwise, a vegetarian meal costing five hundred taels of silver per table, we wouldn't have been able to get it," Bai Cirong said with a smile.
Old Madam's smile was kind: "You've spent money again."
"This is a big day; your granddaughter only wishes to show filial piety," Bai Cirong said.
Old Madam nodded with satisfaction.
Luo Ning sat by, listening quietly.
She remembered the Laba Festival of that year.
It was also because Luo Ning refused to give up her courtyard and insisted on reclaiming it that Mother and Bai Cirong came up with this plan.
As a result, it started snowing on the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month and continued until the ninth, causing snow disasters in villages within a hundred-mile radius of Shengjing.
People and livestock died.
The Censorate took the opportunity to impeach the vegetarian meals on the Laba Festival, attacking Fahua Temple and forcing it to donate ten thousand taels of silver for disaster relief.
And the six noble families who had booked the vegetarian meals were all impeached.
Luo Ning's father and the other five nobles were scolded.
Mother didn't say it was Bai Cirong's fault, but instead said: "As soon as A Ning returned, we became so unlucky, this child..."
The Servants in the manor began to spread these words.
Successfully shifting the blame, Luo Ning took the fall for her Cousin.
She, alone with two Servants, simply could not argue with the entire Zhennan Marquis Manor.
Thinking of this, Luo Ning interjected: "I heard that there were only six tables of vegetarian meals on Laba Festival, each costing at least five hundred taels of silver."
Bai Cirong looked at her, with the composure and serenity of her young age, "Yes, everyone rushes for them on this day; many people in the capital are Buddhists."
"There are more than six prominent families in Shengjing alone, not to mention the imperial relatives. Grandma, isn't this offending people?" Luo Ning said indifferently.
Old Madam's smile immediately became a little forced.
The Marquise, who was Luo Ning's biological mother, Bai, smiled and explained: "To be able to book it means having a connection with Buddha. Buddhists won't be angry; they will only envy Old Madam's deep connection."
Old Madam softened again.
Luo Ning looked at her: "Grandma, it's better to cancel it."
Mother's face immediately fell.
Seeing this, Bai Cirong smiled and said: "Sister, I was inconsiderate. Don't worry, Huineng, the Head Monk, will personally guarantee that we won't offend anyone."
"Cancel it," Luo Ning's face was calm, "Grandma, this matter is not good."
Bai Cirong's smile also faltered.
The Marquise was almost showing anger.
Old Madam looked at one, then at the other, and sighed in her heart.
"...Then forget it. This year for Dharma Treasure Festival, I'll just go burn a stick of incense," Old Madam said helplessly.
Her granddaughter had just returned. This table of vegetarian food, obtained through favors and great expense, was certainly not for an old woman, but for the sake of competing for the courtyard.
She was not senile.
The courtyard should be returned to her granddaughter Luo Ning; it was Luo Ning's rightful possession.
Therefore, she could only reluctantly give it up and side with Luo Ning.
The Marquise and Bai Cirong left almost fuming.
The Servants who saw them couldn't help but gossip.
Luo Ning returned to her room and took out a string of meticulously carved sandalwood prayer beads: "Grandma, on Dharma Treasure Festival, please wear these."
Old Madam looked at them and almost gasped in surprise: "Mysterious Buddhist Beads? These... these are the Empress Dowager's!"
"Yes, she gave them to me, saying they would keep me safe. Grandma, you can wear them for a day, but I'll need them back later," Luo Ning said with a smile.
Old Madam's face almost showed ecstasy.
Compared to the expensive vegetarian meal costing five hundred taels of silver per table, this string of prayer beads was truly prestigious, a Dharma Treasure that everyone admired and was awed by.
She looked at her granddaughter.
Wait, why was she hesitating between Bai Cirong and her granddaughter?
This was her bloodline, the true legitimate eldest daughter of her Luo Family.
Bai Cirong, what was going on with her?
Was something a little off?
