After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather quickly turned cold. As October approached, it was continuously drizzling and overcast.
Zheng Lingbo recently spent some time every day picking up the martial arts he learned when he was young. He has been doing this for several months, and his physical fitness has improved significantly.
In previous years, she would inevitably catch a cold when it rained at this time of year, no matter how careful she was. This year, however, she was so busy with her affairs that she went out two or three times a week. Despite the bad weather, she didn't stop; instead, she seemed even more lively and energetic.
Now there are only three people in the master's household in the entire estate.
Big Brother Zheng Jingluo checked in for duty every day and went to the court. Mrs. Shiyue ren, his sister-in-law, held a Chamber of Commerce during the Emperor's Birthday celebration last time by taking advantage of the human flow. In recent two months, the Chamber of Commerce was developing well and was busy beyond belief.
Next year, the Imperial Examination will be held due to royal mercy. My third brother, Zheng Jingren, is studying tirelessly, hanging a beam over his head and piercing his thigh with a thorn, preparing for the spring imperial examinations next year.
There is only one idle person in the entire family, Zheng Lingpo.
Of course, this is just on the surface.
In reality, Zheng Lingbo is not very idle either.
She exercises her body every day, disguises herself and goes out with Rongyi to investigate. Even while finding time, she still contacts with the family's flowers and plants, allowing them to absorb some of her negative energy.
Although it is supposed to be a person of leisure, recently he has been so busy that he hasn't had time to rest properly.
On the other hand, her skills in dressing up as a man have gradually reached a divine level.
Thanks to the significant improvement in her physical fitness recently, she has become more robust, and her height has increased a bit. Nowadays, when Zheng Lingpo wears men's clothing out, as long as one doesn't get close to touch her, just by looking at her figure and demeanor, she looks like a graceful young man.
Anyway, Jin'er swears on her life that she can't see any signs anymore.
Zheng Lingbo: (...)
This should also be considered a good thing...
Cough.
Later, with the help of Rongyi's connection, Zheng Lingbo at least managed to have a conversation with Chen Tongling.
It seems that because of Zheng Lingpo's early warning before the palace banquet, Chen Tongling was spared from more severe consequences. Chen Tongling has a good impression of Zheng Lingpo as a person.
Although this person's face is always a look of impatience as if everyone at the scene owes him money, in Zheng Lingpo's expression that her father must be wronged, Chen Tongling still delicately implied that the official family has no suspicion of Zheng family.
This gave Zheng Lingpo a bit of relief, like having a breath of fresh air.
Chen Tongling conducted an investigation, and Zheng Lingpo cooperated actively. Evidence was presented quickly.
It turned out that the dancer's mother came from Caifeng country. This time, Caifeng country was defeated by General Zheng. She was concerned about her homeland and died of melancholy. The dancer held a grudge and deliberately slandered her at the imperial banquet.
Whether the truth or falsity of this matter is not important. The imperial family has already made a final judgment, cleared Zheng family of suspicion, and there is not much for anyone to say.
Only Zheng Lingpo felt somewhat uneasy in her heart.
This explanation sounds reasonable, but where did the letter in the dancer's hand come from? Where was the private message of exclusive Zheng Weimin printed from? Who was that dignitary who spoke before the imperial banquet at that time?
Although the Zheng family was safe and sound in the end, thinking back to the words she overheard at the imperial banquet and the great fire from her past life, Zheng Lingpo didn't think that this matter would just end here.
However, with the official family's decisive words, she can no longer say anything on the surface.
When she came back to her senses, it was Mo Ruyan who handed over the invitation for the birthday banquet.
During this period, she also had two small gatherings with Mo Ruyan. There was a noblewoman who held a chrysanthemum festival and sent an invitation to Zheng Lingbo as well. Zheng Lingbo couldn't refuse, so she went to one of them.
For years, she had always followed behind Li Chengwang, causing quite a bit of damage to her reputation. Later, although she had parted ways with Li Chengwang, her social circle had narrowed down significantly, and few people knew that.
It wasn't until the imperial banquet that the official family publicly favored General Zheng and praised Zheng Lingpo for her father's style.
Once this remark was spread, Zheng Lingpo's reputation in recent years seemed to bounce back from rock bottom. People, upon reflection, began to think that the Zheng family's daughter actually isn't bad at all.
Although she had always followed the third son of the Li family without face, upon reflection, she hadn't done any bad things. She had only followed him simply, and occasionally, she would be teased by Li San Gongzi and his friends.
To be honest, Li San Gongzi was the one who behaved more egregiously.
Overnight, because of the seemingly ambiguous praise from the official family, a group of noble girls and young lords in the capital seemed to finally understand that, although Zheng Lingpo's actions lack the elegance of a noblewoman, coming from a military family, her carefree demeanor is perhaps something that can be accepted.
Therefore, when Zheng Lingpo participated in this chrysanthemum feast, she felt that everyone's attitude had become much kinder and more friendly all of a sudden.
Even though the existing discord should remain — such as that flowerhead girl, who is still treating people as if they are not themselves.
However, several girls who had previously ignored her actually greeted her this time, and Zheng Lingpo just looked at them in amazement: "..."
Bland.
It even caused Mo Ruyan to laugh at her.
Afterwards, when people offered more invitations, Zheng Lingpo tried to decline as much as possible. It wasn't until she received the invitation for Mo Ruyan's birthday banquet that she accepted.
As her closest friend, she couldn't refuse this invitation. Zheng Lingbo originally planned to go out, but then turned to the study and replied to the letter. Remembering that she had already prepared a gift, she calculated that there were five days left until the occasion. She couldn't help but visit the flower gardener again.
She's been so busy lately that she almost forgot to prepare a birthday gift for Mo Ruyan, if it weren't for Jin'er reminding her.
Of course, as a considerate servant, Jin'er is always there to remind her master when she forgets something, so she mentioned it to Zheng Lingpo a month ago. Only then did Zheng Lingpo remember and quickly start preparing.
"I almost forgot due to my own negligence!"
She pounded her hands a little frustrably.
Jin'er smiled slightly, standing up straight with a slight sense of pride: "Miss, you mentioned that the Princess likes chrysanthemums. I heard someone recently had a green chrysanthemum that was incredibly beautiful, but their family is in need due to illness, and they are looking for someone to adopt it. Miss, would you like to take a look?"
——Because Zheng Lingpo has recently been going out without Jin'er, Jin'er, as a trustworthy maid who grew up with Zheng Lingpo, felt quite anxious for a while and had to study more at home. She considered everything she could think of to make sure that she could not help the lady outside, but at least keep her secure and worry-free at home.
It has to be said that Jin'er's move was truly a stroke of genius for Zheng Lingpo.
She immediately burst into joy, slapping her hands and exclaiming, "Very good indeed!"
She only bought that pot of green chrysanthemum back, letting the gardeners at home take good care of it, thinking about how a few days ago her second brother Zheng Jingwei sent a unique dyed fabric from the border. He said it was a color from some precious plant and would never fade in color.
Zheng Lingpo thought the color was not very rare, but the flower pattern was particularly unique. After thinking about it, she decided to use this fabric to make a shawl according to Mo Ruyan's size.
Zheng Lingpo's embroidery skills were quite good. In the past, she often made small items for Li Chengwang, although his attitude was unpleasant. Nonetheless, she trained herself through the practice, and her stitches were neat and even, allowing her to embroider flowers and leaves effortlessly.
