Chapter 126: A Long Awaited Meeting

Chapter 126: A Long Awaited Meeting

"Actually, he didn't end up in prison. After the death of the Lin family daughter, he divorced the Wu Ding Marquis. And the verdict can only be decided after an investigation by the Prefect of Shuntian, it's not just based on speculation."

"A case handled by the Prefect? It might take half a year or even a year to close!"

Death penalty cases in Jiang Qian never get resolved that quickly.

The ladies continued to gossip, their conversation eventually turning to Lu Changgong.

"I heard he's an extremely filial legitimate son, adopted though, but no different from a biological one. He has always been in mourning for his adoptive mother!"

"The eldest son of the Lu family is truly a commendable young man!"

Changgong...

Lin Yunwan closed her eyes momentarily, this child! Indeed, he hadn't left the Wu Ding Marquis House.

She knew it; his insistence on entering the fire meant he wouldn't easily leave the Lu family.

Sadly, now far away in Jiang Qian and just a minor legitimate daughter, she could no longer do anything for him.

Fortunately, there was still Zhu Qing. Zhu Qing was smart; with the two of them, one looking after the inner house and the other managing the front, they should be safe from danger.

Lin Yunwan also hoped to hear about the fate of Ge Baor.

But regrettably, nobody mentioned anything about the concubines of the Lu family.

The most talked-about was still the lady of the Wu Ding Marquis House, with everyone expressing their sympathy for her.

Lin Yunjiao was initially focused on Prince Huan, but found herself engrossed in the story of the Lin family's legitimate daughter.

She muttered, "This is just like an opera!"

It was no less dramatic than 'The Soul's Return'.

Lin Yunwan inwardly scoffed, indeed. Her life could make up an entire opera.

With no one around to talk to, Lin Yunjiao couldn't help but want to speak. She glanced at Lin Yunwan with admiration, saying, "The legitimate daughter of the Lin family is truly a role model for our generation. Knowledgeable, capable of managing a household, and possessing such virtuous and gentle qualities. I aspire to be like her in the future."

Lin Yunwan smiled.

She said indifferently, "What's so good about such a woman? She was just devoured and drained, ending up with a tragic death."

Lin Yunjiao shot her a look, "What do you know! The Wu Ding Marquis House's lack of virtue was their own fault. The legitimate daughter of the Lin family, however, deserves praise. There's no woman more virtuous and chaste than her."

Lin Yunwan couldn't be bothered to argue with Lin Yunjiao.

It was because she was too virtuous and chaste. If she had been a bit more selfish and unprincipled, perhaps her fate would have been different.

"Whose daughter is this? How is she so exceptionally beautiful?"

Lin Yunwan looked up, not knowing which lady of a certain household was referring to her.

Zheng, with a smile, responded, "She is a young lady from our Lin family," but hesitated to directly acknowledge her as the legitimate daughter.

Lin Yunwan stood and bowed respectfully, "Greetings to the lady."

The lady said to Zheng, "You are fortunate to have such a fine daughter!"

She examined Lin Yunwan closely, finding no fault in her appearance or demeanor.

However...

She seemed older than the average girl just reaching adulthood.

The lady inquired, "Has the young lady reached adulthood yet?"

Lin Yunwan paused, then lowered her head.

Zheng, with an awkward smile, said, "She is already twenty."

"Twenty?!"

The lady was surprised, "Which girl would be unmarried at twenty?"

People had always heard that Zheng was spoiled by the second master of the Lin family, but how could she delay a young woman's marriage until twenty!

The lady inquired, "Which family have you promised her to?"

Zheng's lips twitched as she replied, "...She hasn't been promised to anyone yet."

The bystanders fell silent, realizing that such a grown woman not yet betrothed must not be the lady's own child. Perhaps she wasn’t even raised by her side! Otherwise, she wouldn't have been treated so harshly.

Even if she were an illegitimate daughter not raised by the lady herself, she wouldn’t be delayed until twenty.

The lady's gaze towards Zheng changed.

Feeling uneasy and fearing a reputation for cruelty, Zheng quickly took Lin Yunwan's hand, speaking affectionately, "The girl has been frail since childhood. We found a nurturing place for her to improve her health, and only brought her back when she recovered."

"Look, she has been raised very well! We are just about to arrange a marriage for her."

The crowd was skeptical. Some didn’t believe that sending her away was for her benefit, while others believed she must have indeed been raised in a nurturing environment, otherwise she wouldn’t have grown so well.

Lin Yunwan inwardly scoffed.

Zheng could indeed turn death into life, calling the place where Miss Lin lived a nurturing environment?

But she couldn’t contradict Zheng in public. Speaking ill of one's stepmother would turn even a blameless person guilty.

Zheng earnestly said to the crowd, "My girl is so lovely, I can hardly bear to part with her for marriage. But it’s natural for a girl to wed. As long as it's for her good, regardless of the young man’s status, I, as a mother, am willing to put in the effort."

What she meant was clear – any poor or neglected suitor should quickly come forward!

Her intentions were obvious to anyone with discernment.

What true mother would carelessly marry off her daughter?

But this was a boon for those seeking brides; such an excellent daughter-in-law, not cherished by her family, would be a great catch.

Lin Yunwan withdrew her hand, adopting the bashful demeanor of an unmarried girl, and quietly sat down.

Her marriage is ostensibly managed by Zheng, but in reality, Zheng's opinion hardly matters!

Whatever the lady says now is just empty talk.

Yet Zheng wasn’t joking; using the pretext of caring for the "children and nephews" of other ladies, she started inquiring around.

"Madam, I will go to change my clothes."

Lin Yunwan stood up and said.

Zheng, not even glancing at her, replied perfunctorily, "Go ahead."

Lin Yunwan bowed and left.

Lin Yunjiao also found company, seemingly gossiping about her.

Lin Yunwan shook her head.

Xi Ruo caught up and said, "The madam and the second young miss only know these petty tricks, like flies. Annoying but harmless, just irritating."

Lin Yunwan chuckled softly, "Where did you learn that?"

Xi Ruo also laughed, "I heard it from the older female servants who do the rough work. The way they talk is much cruder than this. I’d be embarrassed to repeat it to you."

Lin Yunwan had heard enough of the servants' crude talk to guess what those women would say.

"The plum blossoms in the prince's mansion are quite well-cared for."

She headed towards the plum grove. Today's banquet was a plum blossom banquet, featuring not only purchased plum blossoms but also various types transplanted from within the mansion.

Xi Ruo whispered, "In the royal mansions of the capital, there are also plum blossoms."

"Does the prince like plum blossoms?"

Xi Ruo pondered, then shook her head, "Not sure. It might be planted by the servants, or perhaps at the prince's behest."

Lin Yunwan decided not to ask further, realizing that knowing wouldn't make much difference.

The piece of calligraphy she had scented for him did not carry the fragrance of plum blossoms, and she wasn’t even sure if it would be delivered...

Before Lin Yunwan and her servant reached the plum grove, Eunuch Fu arrived.

As a eunuch, he had free access to the inner courtyards of the prince's mansion.

Eunuch Fu greeted with a smile, "Greetings to Miss Lin."

"Eunuch Fu..."

Lin Yunwan was very surprised!

Eunuch Fu was one of the prince's closest attendants. Shouldn't he be accompanying the prince in the front courtyard for the reception? How could he have time to come to the back courtyard?

She said, "Please stand up, Eunuch Fu."

How could she accept a greeting from the prince’s attendant?

Eunuch Fu, looking up with a smile, said, "Please follow me, Miss."

He stepped aside, inviting Lin Yunwan to follow him.

Lin Yunwan hesitated a bit, looking around to see that no one was watching, then asked, "Does the prince wish to see me?"

Eunuch Fu replied with a smile, "The prince has been waiting for you for quite some time."