Chapter 119: The Princess Consort of Prince Huan

Chapter 119: The Princess Consort of Prince Huan

"Miss, this is Bixi Tang, where you will be staying."

Following the stewardess to her new residence, Lin Yunwan looked up at the plaque over the entrance, admiring the elegant characters.

The stewardess, following her gaze, smiled, "Miss, these are words personally inscribed by the master for the old madam."

Written by Master Lin himself?

Lin Yunwan nodded, "Master Lin’s calligraphy is excellent."

She had heard that Master Lin was just a minor official in Jiang Qian, but his calligraphy was impressive, rivaling the scholars in her Lin family.

The stewardess paused for a moment.

My, the young mistress seems quite bold, even commenting on the master's calligraphy.

But what would a girl from the countryside know? She's probably just pretending, fearing that the servants of the house would look down on her.

The stewardess offered a hollow smile, "If you like calligraphy, you can ask the master to teach you in the future. Now that you're back in the mansion, he will surely dote on you."

She didn't really believe that Lin Yunwan knew much about calligraphy.

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly and went with the stewardess to inspect her living quarters.

"The master has arranged for two maids to serve you, and the rest of the servants will be the same as for the second young mistress. Everything in Bixi Tang has remained untouched, so just a few additional items for a young lady will be enough."

The stewardess introduced everything to Lin Yunwan, not forgetting to mention her own position, "Everyone in the mansion calls me Nanny Zhao. You can call me that too, if you don't mind."

Her tone was humble, but her face still held an indescribable smugness and superiority.

Lin Yunwan didn’t mind; Nanny Zhao wasn’t the only one in the Lin household who looked down on the ‘Miss Lin’ from the countryside.

She just felt exhausted from the day.

"Thank you for your hard work, Nanny Zhao."

"Xiruo, help me go wash up."

She went into the house with Xiruo.

Nanny Zhao left with a dismissive shake of her head and a mocking smile. After all, a miss from the countryside wouldn’t know the proper etiquettes. She didn’t even know to spend some money to please a stewardess like her.

The inner household is full of cunning and intrigue. A naïve and inexperienced lady like Miss Lin is likely to suffer losses.

Xiruo assisted Lin Yunwan in changing her clothes, saying, "The water is being heated now. I'll let down your hair first."

Lin Yunwan nodded as Xiruo removed the hairpin from her hair.

Her black hair cascaded down her back, creating an enchantingly graceful silhouette.

In a low voice, Xiruo chuckled near her ear, "You look just like an unmarried girl."

"Really?"

Lin Yunwan observed herself in the mirror, her hair styled in a maiden's hairstyle... it seemed so different from her time at the Lin family.

After a while, she took an unmarked spirit tablet from her belongings and set it up.

On a blue-and-white porcelain tray, she placed processed bergamots still fragrant in this season, along with some dates and pears. A bronze incense burner was also part of the arrangement, all brought in by Nanny Zhao at her request.

"Where's the incense?"

Xiruo handed over three sticks of incense.

Lin Yunwan devoutly bowed and offered the incense.

With sincere devotion, she murmured, "Miss Lin, from now on, I will care for you for the rest of my life..."

Observing the spirit tablet, Xiruo fell silent for a moment before saying, "Miss Lin rests in the mountains where she grew up, which is more peaceful than returning to the Lin family. You have also helped Miss Lin."

Lin Yunwan didn’t feel that she had helped Miss Lin; it was Miss Lin who had helped her.

She told Xiruo, "We'll light a perpetual lamp for Miss Lin when we have the chance."

In the Lin family, she could only offer prayers to an unmarked spirit tablet. In the future, when she could light a perpetual lamp, she could honorably inscribe Miss Lin’s name on it, ensuring she wouldn’t be an unattended, wandering spirit.

Xiruo softly suggested they offer several pounds of lamp oil every month in the future.

As night fell, Lin Yunwan spent her first night in the Lin household.

"Prince Huan..."

She murmured, resolving to thank Prince Huan in person when the opportunity arose. He wasn't the type to seek recompense for his kindness, but she couldn’t be ungrateful like the people of the Lin family.

Others in the Lin mansion were also restless.

Lin Huabin was trying to appease Madam Zheng.

Madam Zheng had been crying since Lin Yunwan moved into Bixi Tang, sobbing incessantly throughout the night, even without tears.

As long as she couldn’t sleep, nobody else could either!

Lin Huabin, feeling helpless and irritated, sat on the bed, no longer in the mood to comfort her.

"What exactly do you want?"

He got out of bed to put on his shoes, his face cold, "I'll go to the study. You sleep by yourself."

Madam Zheng, not daring to push too far, turned and clung to his arm, tearfully complaining, "How can you even ask what's wrong with me, Master? The moment her daughter returns, you treat her like the apple of your eye. What about Yunjiao?"

"You've personally raised Yunjiao for over a decade, yet she still seems less important than a girl from the countryside!"

"In your heart, Master, who matters more – the one who died or her?"

Lin Huabin, exasperated, said, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Seeing Madam Zheng's eyes red from crying, he spoke more gently, "Why bring her up all of a sudden?"

"If I didn't love Yunjiao, why would I have agreed to let Yunwan live in the countryside at your insistence?"

"You said you had stomach pains and were worried about Yunjiao's birth. You claimed that a fortune-teller said Yunwan was born to bring bad luck to her parents and siblings. Didn’t I end up doing everything you asked? Isn’t that enough to show my love for you and Yunjiao?"

Madam Zheng, knowing she was at fault, sobbed quieter.

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Huabin said, "Yunwan is just a girl who will eventually marry and leave. She won't get in your way."

Madam Zheng immediately suggested, "Yunwan is not young anymore. Master, I think we should marry her off before this spring or summer ends, so she doesn’t delay Yunjiao’s marriage..."

But Lin Huabin was not so easily fooled.

He firmly said, "Don’t interfere with Yunwan’s marriage; I have my own plans."

He turned his back to Madam Zheng.

Madam Zheng, dissatisfied, said, "Master, you're just afraid I’ll harm her, your own flesh and blood, hence your caution against me, right?"

"If that's what you think, then so be it."

"I'm warning you, if you dare meddle in Yunwan’s marriage, don’t blame me for being harsh to you and Yunjiao!"

The marriage of Zhao Jingyi’s daughter was not for the Lin family to decide.

Zhao Jingyi would secretly find a suitable husband for this girl in due time. The Lin family just needed to cooperate.

It was a rare opportunity to help Zhao Jingyi, a chance provided by fate. He wouldn’t want to offend the close uncle of Prince Huan!

"What about Yunjiao?"

Mrs. Zheng, adept at reading facial expressions, knew her husband's patience was at its limit and chose not to provoke further.

Lin Huabin frowned, "What do you mean?"

Mrs. Zheng vented her frustration, "Why did we bring her back? With the eldest sister still unmarried, how can Yunjiao, as the younger sister, get married?"

"Prince Huan has indeed established his fief in Jiangqian, and Yunwan is now an obstacle for Yunjiao. What if Prince Huan takes an interest in Yunjiao, but her marriage gets delayed because Yunwan isn’t married yet? We might miss a golden opportunity..."

The thought was distressing!

Lin Huabin was no fool, countering, "Do you think becoming Prince Huan’s wife is that easy? Many families in Jiangqian have been holding back their eligible daughters from marriage, hoping for this chance. Do you really think Yunjiao can easily catch his eye?"

Mrs. Zheng said proudly, "My Yunjiao's beauty is top-notch. The imperial family has a rule since the great ancestor’s time that marriage doesn’t consider social status. Why can’t my Yunjiao have a chance?"

The opportunity existed, and everyone wished for their daughter to marry well.

But it was not that simple.

Lin Huabin said, "I have plans for Yunjiao's marriage. As her father, I know what's best for her…"

He wouldn’t have been so eager to help Zhao Jingyi if it weren't for his daughter.

All because the Zhao family was related to Prince Huan’s maternal side.

Lin Huabin instructed, "Prince Huan will surely host banquets for the elite and officials of Jiangqian in the coming days. Prepare fine clothes and jewelry for Yunjiao, and let’s first probe the situation at Prince Huan's residence."

Mrs. Zheng's eyes sparkled, "When?"

Lin Huabin said, "Let's wait for the invitation! Our Lin family will definitely be able to attend. Oh, and don't play favorites, what Yunjiao gets, Yunwan must not miss out on."

"Otherwise, none of us should go."

Mrs. Zheng replied, "…Understood."

Tired, Lin Huabin lay down and said, "It's late, let's rest!"

The couple couldn't fall asleep immediately, preoccupied with dreams of connecting with the royal family.

From being a less regarded branch of the Jiang family, to becoming the in-laws of Prince Huan... this was a leap to the heavens!