Chapter 91: Matchmaking

Chapter 91: Matchmaking

Lin Yingxue abruptly stood up, but Fu Jiaze held her hand and shook his head at her.

Lin Yingxue understood Fu Jiaze's meaning. The poem had already been written, possibly even given to the Jin Ling pleasure boat by Lin Yi himself. If she stepped forward to reveal her identity, it would only be another laughing matter.

Lin Yingxue glanced at the pleasure boat still sailing on the river, with a short distance before it would dock. She couldn't help but bite her lower lip.

Others began to murmur.

"Lin Yi and Wen Hui were once a loving couple, and Lin Yi's wife even allowed her to remain as a concubine. Why can't she let go? Doesn't she remember their past affection? She insisted on filing charges back then, and now look, she regrets it."

"It seems that after all the twists and turns, they will reunite. Although she filed charges against Lin Yi with strong vows, hard times might have made her recall their old feelings. It won't be long before we hear news of Lin Yi taking her back as a concubine."

"In my view, Wen Hui probably doesn't have much time left. She keeps dreaming of the past, holding onto those old feelings. How could her health be good? She will likely pass soon."

Lin Yingxue's eyes welled up with tears, and Fu Jiaze could only hold her hand. If she stood up, it would only push Wen Hui further into the limelight.

Lin Yingxue certainly understood this.

Turning her head, under the glow of the lanterns, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

Fu Jiaze felt as if his heart was being pierced by a needle. He held her hand and comforted her anxiously, "It's fine. Don't forget, I've been assigned to a post outside. We can leave the capital city earlier. We'll keep this from her, and over time, she'll forget."

"Can such a poem ever be forgotten?" Lin Yingxue wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She tried to control herself, but her voice still trembled with sobs.

"Written just now, it has become the highlight of the Jin Ling pleasure boat. This poem is like pure wine, growing more flavorful with time."

Fu Jiaze remained silent.

Before knowing the poet was Lin Yi, Fu Jiaze found the poem deeply moving, feeling its beauty in every word.

A cold laugh broke out, and someone stood up, saying directly, "Wen Hui's life is going well; why would she think of this old affair? Such a despicable man, does he really expect people to remember him? I admit Lin Yi wrote a good poem, but his intentions are impure, purely to disgust others. A beautiful poem, now stinks."

Wen Hui had not met outsiders for over ten years while living in the Lin household, and after being released as a concubine, she rarely went out. Who was speaking for her?

Lin Yingxue couldn't help but look over. It was the Old Lady Shang.

The Old Lady Shang's hair was completely white, her nose straight and lips full, showing traces of her youthful beauty even in old age. However, her left eye was just an outline, the eyelid sunken.

The Old Lady Shang's life was a legend. She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant in Jiang Nan. Since her father had no sons, the family sought a son-in-law to marry into the family. The Old Lady Shang chose Sheng Hui, whose mother was a courtesan and bore him with a patron.

After the Old Lady Shang and Sheng Hui had a child, the boy naturally took the Shang surname, completing the family. However, a few years later, someone came to claim Sheng Hui as a descendant.

It turned out that Sheng Hui's father had fallen off a horse and been trampled, leaving him unable to have children. After searching, they discovered that Sheng Hui's mother had borne him, and he looked exactly like the young Lord Marquis. They immediately wanted to recognize Sheng Hui as a descendant.

The Old Lady Shang had "married" Sheng Hui into the Shang family. Even though her husband's biological father had a noble title, she refused to change her son's surname.

In the ensuing argument, the Marquis' family proposed that if the Old Lady Shang admitted she had poor judgment in choosing Sheng Hui, and if she gouged out her eye, they would allow a divorce, and the son would remain with her.

The Old Lady Shang gouged out her eye and threw it into Sheng Hui's lap, frightening him so much that he agreed to the divorce, and the son stayed with her.

The Old Lady Shang's act of gouging out her eye and throwing it at her husband made her a notable figure. Someone recognized her and said, "Old Lady Shang, you shouldn't say that. From the continuous affection in this poem, it seems they still have some connection. Just because you didn't cherish Lord Marquis Wan Hui, it doesn't mean Wen Hui doesn't cherish Lin Yi."

After recognizing Sheng Hui, he reverted to his original surname, which was Wan.

The Old Lady Shang sneered, "If there were true feelings, this poem should have been kept secret, revealed only after death. Then I could say he was sincere and truly loved Wen Hui. But now, getting this poem and having it sung widely, it clearly aims to force Wen Hui to her death."

A scholar in a green robe whispered, "What do you mean 'force to death'? Your words are too harsh. It's just a beautifully crafted poem."

For scholars, if they saw someone write a good article or a fine piece of calligraphy, they would instinctively defend them, judging character by literary merit.

The Old Lady Shang became even angrier, her gray hair trembling in the wind.

"Tsk, shameless. A decent poem, and people forget what he did? Who is Wen Hui? She is the daughter of his mentor. Lin Yi deceived his mentor and betrayed him. If I were Wen Hui, I would cut my hair and become a nun, never having anything to do with Lin Yi again!"

The scholar, stared at by the Old Lady Shang's remaining eye, lowered his head, as if sympathizing with Lin Yi made him feel like a deceiver.

The Old Lady Shang continued, "No, if I were Wen Hui, I would marry someone better and let Lin Yi watch, making him see that I am living well. He wants me to suffer, but I will live happily."

Just looking at the Old Lady Shang's missing eye showed her determination.

As the Old Lady Shang spoke, the entire pleasure boat gently trembled, having reached the shore.

"That's enough, it's time to go."

"Yes, it's late. The weather looks like rain; it's best to return early."

The Old Lady Shang, holding a dragon-headed cane, slowly descended from the pleasure boat.

Lin Yingxue and Fu Jiaze followed the Old Lady Shang, who turned her head with a wary look, "Did you come to trouble this old lady because of what I said?"

Behind them, the canal was lit by the lights of the pleasure boats, where a pair of beautiful figures could be seen.

Lin Yingxue bowed gracefully, like a fairy under the moonlight, "You misunderstood. My birth father is the poet—Lin Yi, and my birth mother is Wen Hui."

The Old Lady Shang first thought about why they didn't speak up on the boat, but then realized that due to their close relationship, stepping forward would only invite more gossip.

Sighing, the Old Lady Shang's expression softened, "Your mother hasn't had an easy time."

Lin Yingxue's eyes reddened, and she softly said, "Yes, she finally had a peaceful life, but this poem will likely disturb her peace."

/

Thanking the Old Lady Shang, Lin Yingxue and Fu Jiaze went to the small courtyard where Wen Hui lived. Lin Yingxue stayed behind, while Fu Jiaze returned home.

When her son-in-law left, Wen Hui approached and held her daughter's hand, "What's wrong? Did you have a quarrel with your husband?"

Ou Mama, standing nearby, also leaned in anxiously, "Oh, Yingxue's eyes are red. What happened? Did your husband do something to upset you?"

"It's not me," Lin Yingxue's voice was hoarse, "I feel sorry for my mother."

Wen Hui chuckled and said, "What do I have to be wronged about?" But just as she finished speaking, she noticed her daughter shedding tears uncontrollably.

Lin Yingxue murmured softly, "Red, tender hands, yellow silk wine... A letter hard to entrust. No, no, no."

Since Auntie Ou didn't understand poetry very well, Lin Yingxue explained the meaning of the verse after reciting it.

At first, Wen Hui's face showed a look of amazement, but when she heard Lin Yingxue's explanation, her heart skipped a beat. Seeing her daughter's red-rimmed eyes, her body couldn't help but tremble.

Wen Hui asked, "Where did you hear this verse from?"

"From the Jin Ling pleasure boat." Lin Yingxue briefly explained what the Jin Ling pleasure boat was, then turned to Auntie Ou, who still didn't understand, and said with a bitter smile, "Auntie Ou, this verse was written by my biological father."

Lin Yingxue straightforwardly recounted everything that happened on the pleasure boat.

Auntie Ou's body stiffened, and she fainted outright. Lin Yingxue and Wen Hui hurriedly massaged and pinched her, and even sent for a doctor. Auntie Ou lay on the bed, sipping some nourishing soup before she could speak again: "Is Lord Lin so unwilling to give Huiniang a way out?"

"Actually, there are still people who support my mother," Lin Yingxue said, recounting what Lady Shang had told her.

Wen Hui didn't react much, but Auntie Ou immediately sat up and gripped Wen Hui's hand, "Remarry, Huiniang, remarry someone else."

Wen Hui was indeed angry at Lin Yi's poem, but she was living a comfortable life and didn't want to become a nun or marry someone else casually. She said, "Mama, you don't need to worry. You know my heart. This matter is simple; Jinyuan is being posted outside the capital, so I can leave the capital directly."

But the usually gentle Auntie Ou suddenly became stubborn, "Why? Why should she be bullied like this! Huiniang, go out for now, I need to talk to Yingxue."

Wen Hui, seeing Auntie Ou's determined expression, felt uneasy but had no choice but to leave. As soon as Wen Hui left, Auntie Ou said, "Yingxue, you know Lord Pei's feelings, don't you?"

Lin Yingxue took a deep breath, "Yes."

Then she said with a bitter smile, "Before this poem, Lord Pei might have intended to propose, but now, I don't know what he thinks."

Hearing Lady Shang's words, Lin Yingxue had indeed been moved and wanted to actively facilitate a match between Pei Jin and her mother. But what about Pei Jin's thoughts? After this poem, would he still be willing to defy public opinion and marry her mother? Lin Yingxue wasn't sure.

Auntie Ou, however, gripped Lin Yingxue's hand firmly and said decisively, "He will. I didn't understand why Lord Pei privately told me that he wasn't afraid of gossip. It turns out he must have known about this all along."

Lin Yingxue was taken aback, and Auntie Ou said angrily, "What Lin Yi did is simple; he wants to force Huiniang to leave the capital with this poem. But why? Huiniang hasn't done anything wrong, yet she's been pushed to this point. Since you don't oppose your mother remarrying, I will facilitate this marriage!"