“Chapter 230: Reprimand”

"Chapter 230: Reprimand"

"'Just sit here!'"

"Lin Yunwan climbed to the mid-slope of the Red Elephant Temple, stood in the pavilion for a while, and then lost the desire to go any higher."

Cuiqin and Mother Lü instructed the maids, "Lay out the cushion for the lady."

Outside, they refrained from addressing her as "Princess Consort" to avoid drawing attention.

The maids spread a soft cushion in the pavilion, set up a tea stove, and brewed a pot of tea.

Lin Yunwan rested in the pavilion.

Down the hill, a pair of ladies also made their way up.

Lady Chen from the Xingguo Duke's mansion was arm in arm with Lady Chang from the Prefect of Shuntian's family, chatting and laughing.

Lady Chang was actually quite flattered.

A family like the Xingguo Duke's was something she had only heard of from relatives and friends, never imagining she could actually connect with the Chen family.

Surprisingly, Lady Chen turned out to be so approachable, friendly right from their first meeting.

"Lady Chen, please go ahead."

Lady Chen smiled, "No need for formalities, let’s go up together."

Lady Chang nodded in agreement.

The two ladies, not used to much outdoor activity, had to stop frequently along the way, engaging in casual conversation.

Lady Chen spoke about her niece's wedding, "As her great aunt, I inevitably have to lend a hand. You wouldn’t believe it, but arranging a young lady’s marriage is no easier than a young man’s."

Lady Chang immediately thought of her own daughter.

She sighed, "Isn’t that the truth."

Seizing the moment, Lady Chen said, "Are you also troubled about this? I heard your eldest daughter married very well, into a family known for their understanding and reasonableness."

Lady Chang said helplessly, "I have two daughters; my younger one just reached the age of maturity. She’s a bit willful..."

She didn't want to speak ill of her own daughter, and continued making excuses, "It’s common for unmarried girls to be a bit spoiled. Once they're married, they naturally improve. But finding a reasonable in-law family is not easy."

Lady Chen smiled and remained silent.

A matron behind her stepped forward, murmuring softly, "I heard the Chang family is currently considering a match with the young master of the Lin family..."

This startled Lady Chang.

She glanced at the matron with caution, "Where did you hear that? Such talk can affect a girl’s reputation, it's not something to be spread without care!"

Before a marriage is confirmed, such news mustn't be leaked!

Lady Chen, leading Lady Chang further up the hill, patted her hand and said softly, "Don't worry. Actually, someone asked this matron of ours to put in a good word for the Lin family's boy with you."

Lady Chang had an epiphany.

She had thought today's meeting was a coincidence! She didn’t realize it was all planned.

"Lady Chen, why didn’t you tell me earlier!"

Lady Chang clutched her chest, complaining, "You gave me a fright. I thought the Lin family was carelessly spreading the news, which would put our Chang family in a difficult position..." We can’t afford to be associated with such a family.

"Not at all."

Lady Chen quickly reassured her.

Lady Chang, curious, said, "I’ve heard the Lin family's boy is quite commendable; despite being from a family with just a widow and orphan, he’s studying at Ming Mountain Academy and is well-regarded among his peers. They say he’s a dutiful and responsible child."

"Lady Chen, since the Lin family approached you, have you met the boy? Is he as good as others say?"

Lady Chen hesitated.

Lady Chang, feeling uneasy, pressed, "Lady Chen, this concerns my daughter’s marriage. You must tell me everything!"

Better to miss a good match than to end up with a bad one.

Lady Chen said helplessly, "Since I’ve been entrusted with this task, there are some things I’m not at liberty to discuss."

"'Lady Chang, you must have heard some things. Please, think it over carefully yourself.'"

"Upon hearing this, Lady Chang's mind went blank."

"This really was something significant!"

"She calmed down for a moment, pondering over any recent events in the Lin family."

"'Poor Miss Lin, the elder sister of young master Lin, she’s been dead for many years, hasn’t she?'"

"Lady Chang thought of the Lin family’s legitimate daughter, a woman whose story was quite pitiable."

"Madam Chen said, 'That’s his sister’s matter. When the Chang family marries off a daughter, it’s to a man of the Lin family, not related to a deceased woman of the Lin family. Think further.'"

"That made her consider Lin Yunyi himself."

"Lady Chang pondered for a while, then frowned, 'It’s said that his learning is exceptional, but in the imperial examination three years ago, not only did he fail the provincial exam, he didn’t even pass the child student exam...'"

"The more she thought about it, the more something seemed amiss."

"She glanced at Madam Chen, hoping to uncover the truth."

"But Madam Chen sighed at her, '...There are some things I just can't say.'"

"Lady Chang became anxious, 'Please, just tell me!'"

Lady Chen shook her head, still unwilling to speak.

She remained tight-lipped, insisting, "After all, I am entrusted by someone. Even if the task is unfulfilled, how can I speak of the unsavory matters of another family?"

This made Lady Chang extremely anxious.

She had no choice but to ask the matron who had followed her.

The matron glanced at Lady Chang for approval, then approached Lady Chen and whispered, "Lady Chen, may I be so bold as to speak a few words? Please take it as you will."

Lady Chang nodded eagerly.

The matron asked her, "Do you know that three years ago, Young Master Lin didn’t just fail to pass the exam, he didn’t attend it at all!"

"I know, it was because he had an upset stomach."

Lady Chang had already inquired about these well-known facts.

"What you may not know is that among all the students at Ming Mountain Academy, he was the only one with stomach trouble. Don’t you find that strange?"

The matron from Xingguo Duke’s mansion analyzed, "There are two possibilities: either he really had a bad stomach, or he pretended to be ill."

"If it's true, it shows he's unlucky. But if it’s a pretense, well..." The matron paused, implying, "That opens up a lot of possibilities."

Lady Chang, forgetting where she was, asked nervously, "What do you mean by that, matron?"

The matron spoke softly, "If he was sabotaged, why would someone target only him and not others? And if he chose not to go, why would such a scholarly person avoid the exam?"

"Why..."

Lady Chang murmured to herself, then suddenly exclaimed, "He didn't dare!"

Surely only a guilty person would fear facing the truth in the examination hall!

What kind of person is this Young Master Lin, after all!

If her daughter were to marry into his family, wouldn't she be falling into a den of wolves!

The matron sighed and said with a worried expression, "Some social obligations our lady couldn’t refuse, but we can't bear to see your family’s flower-like daughter fall into such a situation..."

Lady Chen looked helpless.

Lady Chang bit her lip and coldly chuckled, "Rest assured, Lady Chen, I won’t breathe a word of today’s discussion! Even if this marriage doesn’t proceed, I’ll find another reason to save face for the Lin family, ensuring you won’t be put in a difficult position!"

She was genuinely grateful, "Lady Chen, I’m indebted to you. If you don't mind, we have a small golden Buddha at home..."

Lady Chen smiled and declined, "You’re being too courteous."

Lady Chang, relieved her daughter had avoided a misfortune, said with a lingering fear, "It’s only proper."

As they were nearing the pavilion, a refined yet commanding young voice came from above, "I never expected a family matriarch to use such despicable means to tarnish the reputation of the reputable Lin family."

"What exactly did the young master of the Lin family do to offend you to warrant such slander?"

Lady Chen and Lady Chang were both startled.

They took a step towards the pavilion's stairs and saw many modestly but respectfully dressed maids surrounding the area.

"The young master who was speaking, however, remained seated inside the pavilion, out of sight."

"Madam Chen was not one to be easily swayed."

"She stepped forward, asking, 'Who is eavesdropping from above?'"

"Nurse Lu looked at Madam Chen with a cold eye and scolded, 'Step back!'"

"That startled Madam Chen."

"What was her status! She had lived so many years and it had been a long time since someone had been so insolent in front of her!"

"A servant from the Duke's mansion stepped forward, angrily saying, 'What are you, daring to speak to our mistress like that?'"

"Nurse Lu sneered, 'And what are you, daring to shout in front of our mistress?'"

"Madam Chen couldn’t help but laugh in anger."

"Amongst 'ladies', she had never encountered someone so arrogant."

"The Duke's servant pointed at Nurse Lu, raising his voice, 'Do you know whom you are speaking to! This is—'"

"'No matter who you are!'"

"Cuiqin stepped forward, giving the other party a disdainful glance."

"Both the Duke's servant and Madam Chen became furious, a mere junior servant daring to show such disrespect to them, too audacious!"