Chapter 045: Pei Jin’s Daughter

Chapter 045: Pei Jin's Daughter

Lin Baozhen felt that she had been wronged for a long time, and tears could not help but fall down her cheeks.

Xie Jingzhi felt as if these tears were hitting the tip of his heart. He had seen Lin Baozhen smile charmingly and speak in a domineering voice, but he had never seen her like this before.

"I acknowledge your kindness," Xie Jingzhi said gently. "Don't be upset anymore. Receiving a title is not something only your father can give you; I can also provide it for you in the future."

These words were too soft, causing Lin Baozhen to look at Xie Jingzhi involuntarily.

Their eyes met, a gentle breeze blew by, stirring up ripples.

Xie Jingzhi saw Lin Baozhen's red eyes and felt his heartbeat quicken. He lightly hugged her, feeling that this gesture was both affectionate and proper. "I am your stepson, and a son can also earn a title for his mother."

Lin Baozhen felt a mix of emotions—sourness, bitterness, tenderness, and joy. She instinctively turned her head away and looked out the window. As she did so, she caught Chang Yan staring with wide eyes.

Unbeknownst to them, the wind had blown open the curtain of the carriage, allowing Chang Yan to see everything clearly—the young lord bowing to their young miss, the young miss shedding tears, and then the young lord holding her tenderly.

Chang Yan felt her scalp tingle. After regaining her composure, she reached for the curtain, only to meet Lin Baozhen's gaze.

Lin Baozhen blushed and hastily wiped away her tears. "It's okay, I feel much better after crying. Please return to Tenglong Pavilion, Lord Xie, and remember to explain things to the marquis on my behalf."

Xie Jingzhi also noticed Chang Yan and felt awkward for a moment. He then whispered, "Mother, please explain to that maid that I wanted to request a title for you. The hug just now was also done out of affection but within propriety."

Lin Baozhen acknowledged him with a nod.

Xie Jingzhi got off the carriage and hurried towards Tenglong Pavilion. Lin Baozhen waited until he left and then, seeing that Chang Yan still hadn't moved, said, "Why aren't you coming in?"

Chang Yan jumped into the carriage. "Young Miss."

"What are you daydreaming about?" Lin Baozhen asked Chang Yan.

"Lord Xie and you..."

"He said he would request a title for me." Lin Baozhen smiled slightly, quickly trying to suppress her grin. "The marquis cannot request a title for me, but if Lord Xie achieves success, he can do it."

Chang Yan hesitantly said, "Lord Xie is already your stepson."

"Yes," Lin Baozhen replied. "That's why, as a stepson, he can request a title for me. It's a son requesting a title for his mother. Even the hug just now was because the young lord saw his mother too upset and wanted to comfort her within propriety."

A hint of confusion flashed in Chang Yan's eyes. Was it really like that? But was it appropriate for a stepson to hug his stepmother?

Chang Yan used to think she was smart and capable, but suddenly she felt her mind was not enough. She even began to miss Feiyan, who could have sorted things out.

Lin Baozhen reassured Chang Yan, "Don't worry. I know what you're thinking. The young lord is a scholar and knows what is right and wrong."

Chang Yan couldn't help but think of their master, who was still a minister in the Ministry of Rites, yet had deceived Wen Hui.

Chang Yan used to look down on Wen Hui, thinking she was just a scheming concubine. However, the lawsuit and the letter from the old patriarch made her realize her mistake.

Chang Yan dared only to think these thoughts in her mind, not daring to show them to Lin Baozhen.

The carriage started moving, and Lin Baozhen set off back to Weiwu Marquis Mansion.

At that moment, Xie Jingzhi informed the people in the room that Lin Baozhen could not receive a title.

Wang's face turned pale, confirming her earlier intuition.

The matriarch frowned but soon relaxed. For Ma Ruolan, what mattered was Lin Baozhen's pregnancy, not anything else. After all, even without a title, Lin Baozhen was still Xie Yuan's wife.

"Don't worry, Mother-in-law," Ma Ruolan patted Wang's hand. "I've always recognized Baozhen as my daughter-in-law. As for the title, Jingzhi just said he would request one for her."

Wang still felt uneasy about Xie Jingzhi requesting a title for Lin Baozhen, frowning deeply.

Xie Jingzhi explained, "It will take some time for me to achieve fame and an official position. By then, today's matter will likely be forgotten by His Majesty. Please rest assured."

After all, His Majesty was obsessed with women and didn't seem long-lived. By then, there might be a new emperor.

Lin Yi took a sip of tea, feeling relieved that staying home had its benefits. If he had been in court, he might have gained a reputation for failing to discipline his daughter properly.

Now that Lin Baozhen was married, any trouble would be borne by Weiwu Marquis Mansion, not him.

Thinking about this, Lin Yi felt a strange sense of relief.

Ma Ruolan said, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, don't worry. This won't bother the marquis, and I'll protect Baozhen. Even Jingzhi feels the same way. Don't worry, let's eat."

As Ma Ruolan invited everyone to eat, Lin Baozhen had already returned to the mansion.

Lin Baozhen told Xie Yuan about the silver the Jinyiwei demanded.

Xie Yuan could not blame Lin Baozhen too much, so he vented his anger on Fu Jiaze. He called the steward to send three thousand taels of silver and said to Lin Baozhen, "Your sister marrying such a person is truly shameless."

"My sister doesn't have good intentions either," Lin Baozhen quickly added.

Xie Yuan nodded. "On the day of the return visit, I sensed it. It must be hard for you, Baozhen, having such a sister and almost marrying Fu Jiaze."

"Now I have the marquis," Lin Baozhen's eyes sparkled. She finally remembered a detail from her premonition.

Fu Bin was actually dead in her premonition. Perhaps because Fu Bin died, Fu Jiaze lost his backing and died too.

And Lin Baozhen thought that maybe she died because of Fu Jiaze's misfortune. How coincidental was that?

"My second sister and brother-in-law must be having a hard time!" Lin Baozhen said confidently.

In her dreams, Fu Bin's death was due to angering the emperor. Once Fu Bin died, her second sister and Fu Jiaze would have no good fortune.

*

"Achoo." Lin Yingxue sneezed several times, prompting Wen Hui to ask, "Are you catching a cold?"

"It might be someone talking about me," Lin Yingxue replied. "Mother, besides the trial today, there's another big event—the marquis wants to request a title for my elder sister."

Wen Hui then remembered that she already knew about Lin Baozhen's failed attempt to receive an imperial title. She smiled and said, "Then Jiaze should have sneezed."

Fu Jiaze laughed and said, "I did feel a bit of an itch in my nose just now."

After exchanging some casual words, they turned to the matter of Pei Qinghe.

At that time, after the trial had ended, Wen Hui went to the back mountain of Baifeng Temple to admire the maple leaves, and then...

"When I arrived, Miss Pei had thrown the white silk ribbon onto a tree, intending to end her life. And her father, Pei Jin, was in the bamboo grove a little further away, participating in a poetry gathering by the flowing cup game."