1.9 Lin Daiyu: Who do you want me to look for?

"Miss, why have you come here today?" Lin Rui asked, truly puzzled.

This was no mere formality; he genuinely could not fathom the reason. Although they had known each other for over two years, their relationship was a strange mix of familiarity and distance.

"Familiarity" was easy to explain: ever since he had joined Lin Ruhai's service as a kinsman of the Suzhou Lin clan and earned his trust after the first house search, he had visited the Lin manor every few days, unless he was tied up by special circumstances like the recent month-long absence. Most of these visits were work-related, which was natural. As for social interactions, they would share a meal three or four times a month. Having been officially treated as "family," he had met the ladies of the house countless times, so greetings were inevitable.

"Distance" was equally natural. The strict social mores of the time regarding the separation of genders—the rule that men and women should not sit together after the age of seven—were not just empty words. Even at family dinners, men and women sat at separate tables, divided by a screen. Beyond the initial half-quarter-hour meeting, all conversation during dinner happened across that screen, and even then, he mostly spoke with Jia Min. Lin Daiyu, bound by propriety, was lucky to speak ten words during an entire meal. Sometimes, if she were displeased, she might offer nothing more than a curt "Greetings, Brother Rui."

Thus, despite living in the backyard of the Salt Commissioner’s office for over two years, she had never once set foot in his quarters, deterred by propriety and the fear of gossip. To see her here today suggested something significant had occurred.

Unexpectedly, Lin Daiyu simply rolled her eyes at him and turned her back, her graceful figure radiating annoyance.

"And who are these two young ladies?" Xueyan stepped in to bridge the gap.

As they spoke, the maid looked up at him, her eyes filled with a resentment so palpable it felt like a sharpened blade. Lin Rui, heart aching, quickly shot her a reassuring look. But it wasn't just for her. He had noticed the You sisters standing to the side of the living room, heads bowed, their faces betraying a nervousness that suggested they had been waiting for a long time, not daring to speak.

Fortunately, neither Daiyu nor her maid had noticed this "interaction." The sisters’ submissiveness was easy to explain: the chasm in status. Daiyu didn't need to say a word; her maid only had to invoke the name of Lin Ruhai. Having razed nine salt merchant families in two years, his reputation was enough to silence any normal adult, let alone a child. Compared to that, the sisters felt like mud beneath her feet. They didn't know that Lin Ruhai only understood the surface of these matters; the true "predator" was standing right before them.

"What are you waiting for?" Lin Rui chided. "Go fetch some tea!"

"Yes, sir!" the You sisters replied, their faces brightening as they hurried away.

"Brother Rui is quite the protector of fair maidens," Lin Daiyu remarked, turning back to him. She didn't press the matter, moving straight to business. "I have come today because I wish to clarify something."

"Oh?" Lin Rui smiled. "What has troubled the clever Miss Lin?"

"Pfft—" Xueyan giggled and gave him a playful jab. Lin Rui didn't retaliate, merely offering a teasing glance that made the maid blush and look away.

Neither noticed that the sharp-eyed Lin Daiyu’s expression flickered at this familiar exchange. She lowered her head, her gaze sweeping over them in a fleeting glance before she regained her composure.

"Brother Rui, look at this first," she said, ignoring what she had just seen and producing an opened envelope from her sleeve. "My mother just received this. I stole it away to ask you about it."

Lin Rui grew serious. He took the letter, skimmed it, and frowned. "Truly, 'wealth in the mountains brings distant relatives.' News from the capital travels faster than here."

It was a letter from the Rongguo Mansion, addressed to Jia Min. Though the tone and signature were from the Matriarch, the delicate calligraphy suggested it had been penned by her head maid, Yuanyang. Its purpose was transparent: it spoke of affection and congratulations, but its true goals were to inquire about a certain person's identity—hinting at three eligible young ladies in the capital—and to suggest that Lin Daiyu move to the capital for a visit.

"What do you make of it?" Daiyu asked, voice tense.

Just then, the You sisters returned with tea, but Lin Rui promptly dismissed them; the following conversation was too private.

"To be frank, this letter comes from your maternal family," Lin Rui began, shielding himself with diplomacy. "As an outsider, I shouldn't speak ill, but one must consider the timing. I've served Master Lin for two years and rarely heard of letters from the capital."

Daiyu’s expression stiffened. He was right. Lin Ruhai was a man of high standing, well-connected with scholars and officials, yet his correspondence with the Rongguo Mansion was minimal—limited almost exclusively to Jia Zheng.

"I have only ever heard Mother mention them in passing," Daiyu murmured, her voice faltering. "I know so little of that place. I wanted to ask if you could help me find out more."

"Why not ask your mother?"

Daiyu went rigid and turned her head away in silence.

"Sir, our young lady did ask," Xueyan whispered. "But..."

"She wouldn't say?" Lin Rui sighed. It seemed the rumors of friction between Jia Min and the inner court of the Rongguo Mansion were true. He shouldn't pry into such matters.

"Sir, what about what I asked?" Xueyan prompted.

"It is nothing too difficult, but I only know the broad strokes," Lin Rui said. "As the letter says, you have three cousins, though there are actually four. One from the eldest branch, the eldest daughter of the second branch is already in the palace, the second is at home, and the youngest is actually from the neighboring Ningguo Mansion. Then there are the male cousins... it is complicated."

"Is that all?" Daiyu looked disappointed.

"What else would you have?" Lin Rui retorted. "The Ning and Rong mansions are famous, but the capital is thousands of miles away. How would an outsider like me know the specifics of their household?"

Daiyu lowered her head, crestfallen.

"Sir, is there really no way?" Xueyan pressed.

"Has your mother agreed to send you to the capital?" Lin Rui asked instead.

"Yes," Daiyu replied, sounding unhappy. "Mother says that since Father will be promoted and move to the capital soon, it is only right for me to go ahead and pave the way."

"And she said I would be going early as well?"

"Lin Daiyu will handle her relatives, and I will handle Master Lin’s political affairs," Lin Rui nodded. "It will be convenient to travel together. But since you will be going to the Rongguo Mansion, if you are uneasy, why not ask someone else?"

"Who would you have me ask?" Daiyu blushed, stamping her foot as she lowered her head.

Lin Rui paused, realizing she truly had no one else. She was proud and direct, and in the Red Chamber, she had few true confidantes.

"Very well, I will find a way," Lin Rui said, not wanting to see her troubled. "Since we are traveling together, let us not visit them immediately upon arrival. We shall gather intelligence first."

"That is a good idea," Daiyu’s eyes lit up.

"Are you relieved now?" Lin Rui teased.

"Who is worried?" she retorted with a haughty roll of her eyes. "Let's go!"

"Wait, I have something for you. Let Xueyan carry it," Lin Rui said, stopping her.

"Oh?" Daiyu looked at him with a mysterious smile. "And you think I would refuse?"

Lin Rui felt something was amiss, but before he could ask, she had already left. Since the office and the manor were separated only by a narrow, private alley, she was safe to return on her own.

"What did the master want me to carry?" Xueyan asked, watching her mistress depart.

"First, come see a treasure," Lin Rui said, pulling her toward the wall.