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Seeing Lao Fan accept the gift, Tian Hui turned to Lady Liu and said, "Madam, Master, this is my own treasured inkstone and some paper I made myself, I hope you won’t disdain them."

The items were not expensive but the gesture was extremely thoughtful, and since they had been treasured by Tian Hui for many years, Lady Liu and her husband were naturally very happy to accept them.

Watching her parents happily chatting with Tian Hui, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but smile; Tian Hui truly was a clever person.

As a younger generation, she could only give clothes to those younger than her, such as Lin Yuan and others.

If she were to give clothes to Lady Liu and Lin Jiaxin as well, it might seem too much like charity.

Yet this woman, with her delicate and ingenious mind, had already thought through this and had instead changed the gift to other items. Moreover, these items didn’t look very expensive, which made it easier for Lin Jiaxin and his wife to accept the gifts without feeling pressured. That was where her brilliance lay.

Upon closer observation, Tian Hui seemed uncompetitive on the surface, but her mind was clear as a mirror, noticing everything. Or perhaps it could be said that she only bothered to consider deeply those whom she truly cared about.

Thinking this, Lin Yuan felt an increased closeness to Tian Hui and remembering what she had discussed with Xia Zheng the previous night, she took her hand and asked, "Sister Hui’s big day is less than two months away, isn’t it?

I don’t know what you like, but I will definitely prepare an exceptional bridal gift for you. "

Upon hearing that Lin Yuan wanted to prepare a bridal gift for her, Tian Hui shyly smiled with her handkerchief covering her lips: "My sister’s thoughtfulness is intricate; the bridal gift you prepare will surely be much more unique than others."

Her choice of the word ’unique’ seemed to indicate that she was hoping Lin Yuan would not gift something overly expensive.

Lin Yuan’s eyes sparkled as if she knew what to gift.

While they were talking, the embroidery lady had already taken measurements for Lin Wei, Xiao Linshuang, Xiao He, and even Xiao Yongyan, leaving only Lin Yuan undone.

"Sister, you should go now. I have already picked out the fabrics for you all, and later, let the embroidery lady show you the patterns," Tian Hui urged Lin Yuan to hurry and get measured.

"Then I’ll go first; you sit for a while longer, sister."

Lin Yuan nodded her head and stood up, but then she saw Butler Zhou hurriedly entering again, this time with a person she did not wish to see.

"Miss, the Grand Scholar Yao’s House’s Miss Yao has sent a servant girl to give you an invitation," said Butler Zhou, glancing at Tian Hui, who suddenly furrowed her brow.

Lin Yuan did not notice Tian Hui’s peculiar reaction. She was about to go get measured and did not have a high opinion of Miss Yao anyway, so she waved her hand dismissively, "Accept it, we’ll see about attending."

Butler Zhou did not leave and continued, "Miss, the servant girl from the Grand Scholar Yao’s House said she hopes to personally deliver the invitation to your hand and also mentioned that she wants a reply before returning."

Hah! Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow and stopped in her tracks; such audacity for a personal handover and an immediate response, as if she were oblivious to the etiquette of the Capital City.

Lin Jiaxin and his wife did not understand these nuances, but Lao Fan did, chuckling suddenly, "After several years, the rules at the Grand Scholar Yao’s House have only become stricter, even a little maid dares to put on airs."

His words made Lin Jiaxin and his wife exchange looks, and they also began to sense that something was amiss.

Tian Hui stood up, walked over to Lin Yuan, and squeezed her hand, "Let her come in."

Butler Zhou looked at Lin Yuan, who nodded, and then he bowed and left. Shortly after, he led a young servant girl in.

This servant girl was plain-looking, but her eyes were spirited, exuding an arrogance.

Tian Hui frowned and whispered in Lin Yuan’s ear, "This is not Miss Yao’s servant girl; it’s Caicai from Second Miss Yao Zhilan."

Second Miss Yao Zhilan? As the saying goes, like master, like servant; both possess mere beauty but are otherwise inept.

Lao Fan, not wanting others to know he was back in the Capital City, had taken the ginseng from Tian Hui and retreated to his own courtyard, having already finished his necessary measurements, and preferred not to deal with irrelevant people.

Caicai was perhaps not expecting Tian Hui to be there as well, for upon seeing her, her demeanor noticeably stiffened, and the arrogance in her eyes diminished somewhat.

Lin Yuan smiled as she watched Caicai greet Lin Jiaxin and his wife, then Tian Hui and herself, finally saying cheerfully, "So Miss Tian is here too! My young lady had already asked Sister Mo Zhu to send an invitation to Miss Tian’s house.

If I had known Miss Tian would be right here, I wouldn’t have made Sister Mo Zhu make the trip. "