Chapter 005: Marrying Her Heart’s Desire to His Father

Chapter 005: Marrying Her Heart's Desire to His Father

In the Ministry of Rites, Lin Yi was reading an article in his hand. This wasn't official business; he was merely reviewing the essays of candidates for the upcoming imperial examinations.

The Ministry of Rites had few tasks and only became busy during major festivals. Since they had just finished their recent duties, the entire ministry could now relax.

So Lin Yi sipped high-quality Dahongpao tea while reading the essays of those who would be participating in the autumn examinations, trying to find young scholars from decent backgrounds with good family reputations and who were unmarried.

After reading so many essays and examining the backgrounds of these young students for too long, Lin Yi felt increasingly frustrated.

These young scholars either had mediocre scholarship or poor family backgrounds; there was always something unsatisfactory about them.

How could any of them match up to his daughter Lin Yingxue?

His daughter Lin Yingxue inherited Wen Hui's beautiful appearance, making her truly peerless. Her education, which he personally oversaw, was also outstanding.

If she were to marry any of these men, wouldn't it be like a pearl being obscured by dust?

Lin Yi pinched his brow, and suddenly Fu Jiaze came to mind.

During the bandit incident, Fu Jiaze saved Yingxue. Although Fu Jiaze's background was lower, Yingxue was also a concubine-born daughter.

If only the Wang family and the Changqing Marquisate hadn't favored Fu Jiaze...

Perhaps because he had seen Fu Jiaze, he found these young scholars lacking in comparison.

Wen Hui didn't say anything, but her rare lowering of herself must have been for Yingxue's sake. Lin Yi was determined to find a suitable son-in-law. Since there were no appropriate candidates among the commoners, what about the younger sons of officials?

Lin Yi thought for a moment, closed the book in his hand, and walked over to another desk. Before he could speak, Tian Long, who was writing diligently, put down his pen and ink, "Attendant Lin."

Every ministry had someone skilled at navigating social dynamics, even the relatively quiet Ministry of Rites. Tian Long was known as the "all-knowing" within the ministry.

Lin Yi wanted to consult Tian Long for a simple reason. Previously, Tian Long had sent out invitations to the princess's flower banquet, where young men and women could participate. The Wang family had one invitation, and even if Lin Yi wanted to obtain one for Lin Yingxue now.

Tian Long took out an invitation from his robe and respectfully offered it to Lin Yi.

Before Lin Yi could take it, a hand snatched the invitation from Tian Long's grasp.

It was Lu He, who often clashed with Lin Yi. Lu He also held the position of attendant in the Ministry of Rites, on par with Lin Yi.

Lu He flipped through the invitation, raised an eyebrow, and said playfully, "Attendant Lin, you want an invitation to the flower banquet for your daughter? Are you looking for a potential match for her?"

The invitation fluttered in Attendant Lu's hands, causing Tian Long to shrink back, not daring to get involved in the dispute between the two superiors.

Lin Yi felt that Lu He's expression was subtly mocking him. After carefully considering his words, he cautiously replied, "Indeed."

Attendant Lu smiled and said, "Do you really want to avoid commoner scholars or prepare to marry your daughter into a noble family? If so, why involve yourself with that gentleman... I remember his surname is Fu."

The gilded invitation shimmered in Attendant Lu's hands, and Lin Yi, overcome with anger, trembled with indignation.

"Attendant Lu, what do you mean by that? My eldest daughter is about to be engaged. Since the groom's family is not in the capital, we need some time. How can you say we look down on commoners? Are you deliberately causing trouble?"

Attendant Lu slapped the invitation on the table and grabbed the cowering Tian Long.

"Attendant Lin, you've been living in a bubble, unaware of the rumors outside. Everyone knows your eldest daughter first fancied a poor scholar and now, unable to let go, is planning to break off the engagement. Ask Tian Long if this is true."

Lin Yi's gaze fixed on Tian Long, making him groan inwardly, caught between two powerful figures.

He carefully chose his words, "Attendant Lin, it's good to look around. There are many talented young men at the flower banquet."

Tian Long's words implicitly confirmed Lu He's statement.

Lin Yi's eyelid twitched violently, and his face turned livid. If Lin Baozhen were here, he would have strangled her. She had chased after Xie family's young master, and now, just when the engagement was about to be finalized, she caused such a scandal!

Lin Yi couldn't stay any longer. He decided to return home immediately to question the Wang family about the uproar.

Before leaving, however, he snatched the gilded invitation from Tian Long's desk.

Lu He sneered, and Lin Yi's veins bulged with anger. If he were getting the invitation for Lin Baozhen, he would not have taken it after such humiliation, but this was for Lin Yingxue.

More importantly, it was for Lin Yingxue's mother—Wen Hui.

"My family has more than one daughter; my younger daughter is also of marriageable age," Lin Yi gritted out through clenched teeth. "I've completed my work today, so I'll leave first."

Lin Yi's steps were swift, and his cloak billowed behind him.

Just then, the bell signaling the end of the day rang, and many people in the Ministry of Rites stood up, preparing to leave. Seeing Lin Yi hurry past, they made way and bowed to him.

Lin Yi nodded briefly and continued walking.

Lu He shifted his gaze from Lin Yi to the timid Tian Long and laughed, "Tian Langzhong, does Attendant Lin have another daughter? Why haven't I heard about her? I've only seen the eldest daughter with her nose in the air."

"The Lin family does have a second daughter, born of a concubine. They say she has skin like congealed fat and a face like a lotus, extremely beautiful."

Lu He was even more curious. "My daughter knows all the beauties in the capital, yet she never mentioned this Lin second daughter?"

"That's because the second daughter has never attended any flower banquets, poetry gatherings, or outings." Tian Long lowered his voice. "Her beauty became known due to the young master of the Xie family, who almost proposed to the eldest daughter."

Lu He recalled the incident involving Xie Jingzhi and realized that Tian Long's words made sense.

Xie family's young master, highly sought after by women, would surely be captivated by a peerless beauty.

Thinking about the upcoming flower banquet, where the eldest daughter would likely attend, and the second daughter seeking a husband, things were bound to get interesting.

Lu He, anticipating the drama at the Lin residence, took out his folding fan, opened it with a snap, and shook it contentedly.

When Lin Yi returned to the Lin residence, Lin Baozhen was throwing a tantrum.

/

The polished stone floor was a mess.

Shattered porcelain and soaked tea leaves were scattered across it.

Several maids knelt on the ground, one of them with her face cut by the broken porcelain.

Lin Yi strode forward and grabbed Lin Baozhen's arm. "What are you doing? Can't you see someone got hurt?"

Lin Baozhen lifted her eyes and said without hesitation:

"Father, you came back at just the right time. They did a poor job, so I asked them to speak ill of Fu Jiaze, just to spread some rumors. I don't know how they handled it, but now everyone is gossiping about me, and when I try to buy something, people point and scold me."

Listening to the chatter in the streets, Lin Baozhen suddenly recalled the events from her premonition. At that time, Fu Jiaze had been appointed as a minor magistrate, and she didn't want to go through hardships with him, preferring to stay in the capital city. She heard the gossip in the streets, which forced her to go to that dilapidated county. This situation was eerily similar, with malice pushing her. Look, even her father came to question her!

But Lin Baozhen wasn't afraid. Last time, her mother didn't support her, but this time, her mother stood behind her.

Lin Yi's lips tightened into a thin line, his voice trembling with suppressed anger, like a flickering flame.

"At the time, you agreed to the marriage with Fu Jiaze. Now, do you want to back out? This is utter nonsense. If I hadn't heard about it today at the office, would you have kept it hidden from me forever?"

Lin Baozhen nodded and said calmly, "This has already been decided. My mother agrees, and the Lord Marquis' household knows about it too. Father, don't worry; everything will work out for me eventually."

Although she faced ridicule today, there was a silver lining. On her way, Lin Baozhen encountered the man she wanted to marry, and she approached him directly to talk.

Xie Yuan was not a young man; his adopted son was old enough to marry. Seeing a young girl rush towards him, he was surprised but dismissed his attendants and invited the girl to have tea with him gracefully.

Xie Yuan's features bore a resemblance to Xie Jingzhi, but as a military man, his posture was even more upright, and he walked with a confident stride.

In his late thirties, Xie Yuan possessed a steadiness that Xie Jingzhi lacked. When he smiled, it was warm and comforting, lacking the sharpness of a warrior, instead exuding a warmth that drew people in.

Lin Baozhen explained to Xie Yuan that the gossip in the streets was baseless. She was well-mannered and never harbored any affection for Xie Jingzhi. It was merely because she was learning poetry and rhythm, and since Xie Jingzhi excelled in it, others assumed she admired him.

Though Xie Yuan found it strange why Lin Baozhen felt the need to explain this to him, he was patient with the girl. After she finished speaking, he smiled gently and said, "Miss Lin, don't worry. I understand and won't misunderstand you. Unfortunately, my Jingzhi doesn't have that fortune. Sometimes... it's because my household is too empty, and he lacked guidance growing up."

"Since Xie Jingzhi doesn't have that fortune, would you be willing to have it?" Lin Baozhen blurted out unexpectedly.

Xie Yuan, who was drinking tea, choked and spat out the leaves. Initially thinking the girl was playing a prank, he saw a hint of seriousness in Lin Baozhen's eyes.

After a long silence, Xie Yuan said, "Young lady, please don't tease me."

Lin Baozhen shook her head. "I'm not. Lord Marquis, you are a victorious general whom I admire. Because of your misfortune in marriage, you adopted Xie Jingzhi from a branch of the family. I am naturally blessed and unafraid of your solitary fate. If you're willing, will you marry me? Here is my birth chart."

Xie Yuan hesitated and pushed away the red paper Lin Baozhen offered. "Absolutely not. Miss Lin, if someone misuses your birth chart, it could cause many problems."

Lin Baozhen persisted, handing over her birth chart and saying crisply, "Lord Marquis, please look at my birth chart first. If it's compatible, I'll wait for your proposal."

Given that he was only a few years older than Lin Baozhen's father, and considering Lin Yi's high position, it seemed inappropriate for him to marry Lin Baozhen. Yet, Xie Yuan still took the birth chart almost reluctantly.

Xie Yuan left almost in a hurry, saying, "Miss Lin, I will burn your birth chart later."

But Lin Baozhen knew that once Xie Yuan took her birth chart, their marriage was inevitable.

Because she was fond of Xie Jingzhi, she remembered everything about the Xie family clearly from her dream. Just as Fu Jiaze had bad luck in the imperial exams, Xie Yuan's misfortune lay in his marriage. The old lady of the Xie family worried endlessly about his marriage and finally adopted Xie Jingzhi, who resembled her son, from a branch of the family. However, Xie Yuan still desired a legitimate son. In her dream, he married a peasant girl whose birth chart was slightly inferior to his own. That peasant girl became the envied Lady Marquis after marrying Xie Yuan and gave birth to a legitimate son, making Xie Jingzhi's status awkward.

Lin Baozhen also learned a private detail: among several suitable birth charts given by the master, hers was the most compatible with Xie Yuan's.

With this confidence, Lin Baozhen believed that her marriage to Xie Yuan was almost certain.

Thinking about becoming Xie Jingzhi's stepmother, she couldn't help but smile softly.

Seeing Lin Baozhen's demeanor, Lin Yi's anger intensified. "Such a big matter, why didn't you tell me?"

"If you cared about our Baozhen, you wouldn't have known so late," Wang Shi entered from outside, looking at Lin Yi. "Baozhen can marry whoever she wants!"

"Mother!"

Lin Baozhen felt a momentary pang of guilt. She had kept the matter of giving her birth chart to Xie Yuan from her mother. If she had openly declared her intention to marry Xie Yuan, her mother might not have agreed.

But the allure of being Xie Jingzhi's stepmother was too strong. Thinking about having control over Xie Jingzhi's marriage made her believe she should marry Xie Yuan.

Initially, Lin Yi intended to confront Lin Baozhen, but due to Wang Shi's protective stance, it turned into an argument between them.

The main courtyard's door remained tightly shut, occasionally punctuated by loud noises. No one dared approach, and finally, Lin Yi emerged expressionlessly from the courtyard.

Lin Yi took a deep breath. This was why he disliked Wang Shi. What did she have? No virtue, spoiled by the Lord Marquis' household, and with a haughty personality, she had raised Lin Baozhen to be similarly wayward. Whoever she married would surely bring disaster.

Wang Shi watched her husband leave, then gently touched her daughter's cheek, asking if Lin Yi had frightened her.

Lin Baozhen knew her mother was backed by the Lord Marquis' household and was stronger than her father. She wasn't intimidated by him and shook her head.

Wang Shi had heard the gossip in the streets and planned to send her daughter to the estate for a few days, skipping the upcoming flower-viewing banquet. Most importantly, she heard that Fu Jiaze would also attend the banquet.

Lin Baozhen wouldn't agree. If she went to the countryside, she would miss meeting Xie Yuan and her future "daughter-in-law."

In the end, Wang Shi relented, and Lin Baozhen received the invitation to the flower-viewing banquet.