Chapter 010: You Unmarried, I Unwed

Chapter 010: You Unmarried, I Unwed

Upon leaving the residence of Princess Mingrui, Lin Yingxue encountered Wang Zifan, the heir of the Changqing Marquisate.

In the past, Wang Zifan not only mocked Lin Yingxue but also teased her, once throwing caterpillars at her, causing her skin to break out in red welts. Now, he addressed her as "Yingxue sister" and mentioned that he had already arranged to go shopping with Lin Baozhen tomorrow, speaking in such an intimate tone that it made Lin Yingxue's skin crawl.

"If there is any jewelry you like, just tell me, and I'll buy it for you. With your beauty, it's a pity you don't have enough jewelry, but don't worry, I'll buy more for you in the future!"

"You stay indoors too much; it's too quiet. While it's good for a woman to be demure, we are family, so we should spend more time together."

"Do you still enjoy reading, Yingxue sister? As the saying goes, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling a thousand miles. You should go out more and catch up with our relatives."

Princess Mingrui did not hear the details of their conversation, but from Wang Zifan's tone, she could tell he was interested in Lin Yingxue and desperately wanted to take her out, even offering to buy her things.

Wang Zifan was already engaged, yet he was now showing interest in Lin Yingxue. There was only one reason: he wanted her to be his concubine.

After Wang Zifan left, Feiyuan couldn't help but say, "Second Miss, I shouldn't say this, but the Changqing Heir has several maidservants in his chambers already."

Wang Zifan had once looked at Feiyuan with a lecherous gaze, but after being reprimanded by the matriarch of the marquisate, he stopped eyeing her.

Lin Yingxue rubbed her temples, feeling annoyed by Wang Zifan's advances. "Thank you for reminding me. I merely pretended to agree; I have no intention of catching up with him."

"The Changqing Heir can visit the estate," Feiyuan reminded her. "Miss, you need to make more plans."

She knew she should plan for herself, but how?

Lin Yingxue responded absentmindedly, looking into the distance. "I know."

She saw someone in the distance, her heart racing. She said, "Ye Zi, Feiyuan, wait here for me."

Ye Zi agreed without hesitation, while Feiyuan felt uneasy about letting Lin Yingxue go alone. However, since her contract was with the Second Miss, she nodded reluctantly.

Lin Yingxue left the two maids, her skirt fluttering slightly as she entered the maple forest.

/

The recent rain had washed away the dust on the maple leaves, making them look particularly beautiful as they swayed gently in the breeze, almost as if waving from the branches.

However, the rain also made the ground muddy, making it difficult to walk.

Lin Yingxue's embroidered shoes had thin soles, and after chasing for a while without seeing anyone, she had to stop.

She had intended to gather the courage to talk to Fu Jiaze, praising his poetry, but now that she couldn't find him, her courage had dissipated.

What was the point of saying those things? Was she really going to offer herself to Fu Jiaze?

Clearly, Fu Jiaze had never given her a second glance, and she had to seize every opportunity to give him the embroidered sachet.

Her elder sister had nearly been engaged to Fu Jiaze. If she were to be with him, it would confirm the rivalry between sisters over a man.

Enough, she had already given him the sachet. There was no need to interact further with this benefactor.

That hidden, unspoken thought in her heart quieted down again.

But who else could she marry?

Fu Jiaze's face kept appearing in her mind.

Princess Mingrui's words echoed in her thoughts: they were not suitable or well-matched.

Lin Yingxue sighed, feeling that attending the flower-viewing banquet was a complete failure. She hadn't made any friends as her mother had hoped, instead becoming a laughingstock.

However, she did learn about her elder sister's intentions and the thoughts of Xie Jingzhi and Wang Zifan.

Thinking about these people, including Lin Baozhen, gave her a headache and filled her with frustration.

She should turn back to find the maids, but she had no mood for it. Instead, she took the hairpin her mother had given her before leaving and walked toward the lake.

After a few steps, she reached the end of the maple forest, where the view opened up. She laid a handkerchief on a stone and sat down, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed into the distance.

A swallow flew over the water, dipping its beak lightly, creating ripples.

The lake was clear, revealing the varying shades of aquatic plants and the koi fish swimming among them. The fish, unaware of human troubles, nibbled at the plants happily.

Lin Yingxue's frown gradually eased in the gentle breeze.

She plucked a blade of grass and tossed it into the water. The koi, accustomed to being fed, gathered around, opening their mouths eagerly.

After watching the fish for a while, Lin Yingxue looked up.

On the white marble walkway over the water, she noticed Fu Jiaze walking.

Seeing Fu Jiaze, she didn't want to chase after him anymore.

The earlier run had drained all her courage, so she decided to watch him from afar.

Even in simple green robes, Fu Jiaze exuded remarkable poise. His excellent poetry had caught the attention of many women.

Lin Yingxue rested her chin on her hand, realizing that Fu Jiaze had caught the eye of many others, perhaps more deserving than herself.

Her previously relaxed brow furrowed again.

Behind Fu Jiaze, two maidservants were arguing, gesturing wildly. Eventually, they started pushing each other, and one of them accidentally hit Fu Jiaze, causing him to fall into the water with a splash.

The arguing maidservants were too engrossed in their fight to notice someone falling into the water. Lin Yingxue watched Fu Jiaze struggling in the water and immediately called for help.

The maidservants turned to look, and Lin Yingxue waved her hands, signaling that someone was in the water. Suddenly, a strong force pushed her from behind, sending her into the water as well.

Holding the hairpin tightly, Lin Yingxue instinctively jabbed downward when she realized someone had pushed her.

The woman's cry of pain echoed as Lin Yingxue fell into the water with the person. Due to the speed, she only caught a blurry glimpse of their face. Once submerged, Lin Yingxue saw the woman covering her face and seemingly searching for something on the ground.

Trying to hit me with a stone?

Lin Yingxue shuddered, held her breath, and flipped her foot backward, floating gracefully into the lake.

She turned around and began swimming in the water.

Lin Yingxue's swimming posture wasn't particularly graceful, but it was quite skillful.

She wasn't always composed and quiet; in her youth, she had been rather mischievous, living for a time in a separate residence with Aunt Wen.

There, she learned how to climb trees and swim. When she returned to the Lin household, she was confined to a small courtyard, where she learned to read and write, gradually changing her nature by immersing herself in books. Thus, others were unaware of her playful side.

Lin Yingxue swam a short distance before looking back. Her original spot was empty, and when she glanced at Fu Jiaze's direction, he had already sunk beneath the surface.

Lin Yingxue was startled and, without hesitation, swam towards him.

As she approached, Fu Jiaze was flailing in the water. He touched Lin Yingxue's body, causing her to tremble. She quickly swam behind him, merely holding his neck.

Fu Jiaze gasped twice, with water gurgling in his throat, his voice muffled.

Lin Yingxue immediately supported his body, swimming faster with her other hand.

"You can't talk," Lin Yingxue said. "You don't know how to swim."

Fu Jiaze raised his hand, pointing in a direction.

Lin Yingxue followed the direction Fu Jiaze pointed and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He didn't know how to swim and, upon being hit hard on the back of his head and falling into the water, instinctively held his breath. He had read that this method could keep one afloat, but Fu Jiaze still sank.

Not knowing how to swim, he panicked and struggled, which only made him sink faster, choking on water, his vision blurred by the water in his eyes.

Fu Jiaze thought that this was the worst thing that could happen before the imperial examinations, almost costing him his life. But then someone saved him.

Fu Jiaze took deep breaths, feeling as if water had filled his stomach, but some air managed to reach his lungs, alleviating the burning sensation in his chest.

Unbeknownst to him, he was dragged onto the shore, and someone pressed on his chest. Fu Jiaze reflexively vomited out some water.

A woman's two fingers pinched his cheeks, unbothered by the dirt, directly pulling out water grass from his mouth. Fu Jiaze, feeling her nimble fingers, vomited again.

Lin Yingxue watched Fu Jiaze's heaving chest and opened eyes, finally feeling relieved. She waved her hand in front of him, asking, "Are you okay? Can you see clearly?"

This was the most embarrassing moment of Fu Jiaze's life. He wished he couldn't see anything, rather than seeing the glimmer of his own saliva and the water grass pulled from his mouth.

Fu Jiaze remained silent, which worried Lin Yingxue. She leaned forward, preparing to examine the back of his head, having seen the trickle of blood spreading earlier, fearing he might be injured.

"I'm fine," Fu Jiaze said, turning his gaze away from Lin Yingxue.

He was embarrassed because Lin Yingxue's layered clothes, though not revealing any skin, clung tightly to her, accentuating her curves.

With just this movement, Lin Yingxue immediately realized the impropriety of her attire and blushed.

Before she could feel shy, heavy footsteps approached.

Panicked, Lin Yingxue was suddenly embraced.

It was Fu Jiaze, who, upon hearing the footsteps, forced himself to untie his clothes and enveloped Lin Yingxue in his arms, using his wet garments to cover her face.

Lin Yingxue felt Fu Jiaze's rapid heartbeat against her chest, the warmth of his body making her blood rush, or perhaps it was the strength of his grip, burying her face in his chest, making it difficult to breathe.

"Miss."

The familiar voice made Lin Yingxue realize it was Feiyan. Before she could free herself from Fu Jiaze's embrace, she felt him release her.

Ye Zi looked tense, while Feiyan started undressing without hesitation, revealing her white inner garment, completely disregarding Fu Jiaze's presence.

"Ye Zi, help Miss comb her hair. Master Fu, you can let go of our Miss now."

Fu Jiaze looked at Feiyan, noticing her agitation from the doorway. From her body language, he deduced that Feiyan strongly wanted to stay with Lin Yingxue. Now, Feiyan was fully focused on her mistress.

Fu Jiaze said, "Second Miss Lin, thank you for saving my life. I will turn away so you and your maid can change clothes. Please bear with it; later, I'll take you to an empty room to freshen up, avoiding others."

Princess Mingrui's residence was designed according to the principles of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams. Although Fu Jiaze hadn't explored the entire place, he quickly visualized its layout, knowing how to avoid others. If necessary, he would reveal that his uncle was Fu Bin to ensure Lin Yingxue's reputation remained intact.

Lin Yingxue's hands paused at the sash. Logically, Feiyan had already removed her clothes, and Fu Jiaze had planned everything. She needed only to change her clothes, and they would have no further entanglements.

But...

Fu Jiaze noticed Lin Yingxue's hesitation. Patient with his rescuer, he gently reassured her, "Second Miss Lin, please rest assured. I will find a way to protect your reputation. Don't panic; just change your clothes, and I'll figure out the rest."

Fu Jiaze's poetry had gained attention among the women, and Lin Yingxue's beauty had caused a stir among the men.

Lin Yingxue believed Fu Jiaze deserved a good wife, and Fu Jiaze thought Lin Yingxue's fortune might even make her a princess consort.

Hearing Fu Jiaze's words, Lin Yingxue's heart tightened. She gripped his sleeve tightly, looking up at him, her voice soft yet firm: "You are unmarried, and I am unwed. There is no need to maintain my reputation."

Lin Yingxue's face flushed red, and her toes curled inside her embroidered shoes.

"Miss..." Feiyan couldn't help but speak.

Both Lin Yingxue and Fu Jiaze understood what the maid meant. Fu Jiaze was already engaged to Lin Baozhen. If Lin Yingxue were to become engaged to Fu Jiaze, the gossip would overwhelm them both.

Especially Lin Yingxue, as society was more critical of daughters, especially since she was the daughter of the Minister of Rites.

Lin Yi has already produced an unruly daughter, and now this concubine-born daughter is the same. Will Lin Yi's anger be directed at Lin Yingxue?

Based on the analysis, over the years, Lin Yingxue has been hidden deep within the household and likely has not been favored in the Lin residence. So, what fate would await an unfavored concubine-born daughter facing her enraged father?

Fu Jiaze remained silent, while Lin Yingxue's face turned pale.

She had already done her best to plan for herself; since it had come to this, she would leave it to fate.

Lin Yingxue's eyes seemed to shatter like ice and snow in an instant.

Fu Jiaze's heart tightened, and just as Lin Yingxue's hand was about to slip away, he gripped her wrist.