Chapter 46: Marriage

Chapter 46: The Wedding

"Loyal and courageous"—these two words were considered high praise in ancient times.

Among the Emperor's inner circle, Lin Ji was not initially counted among his closest confidants.

Yet, in the end, it was he who was granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Courage.

This fact alone speaks volumes.

Upon returning home, Lin Ji learned that Chen Yuhu was ill and went to Yilan Court late that night.

That night, Lin Ji stayed at Yilan Court—of course, one slept in the bed, the other on the daybed.

The next day was Lin's day off. Early in the morning, Lin Ji sent a letter to Lin Qu, instructing him to bring his wife and children to his official post.

He also took the opportunity to inform Lin Qu about his wife's recent actions.

Lin Ji had suppressed the matter of Tan Shi not sending New Year's gifts.

Chen Yuhu thought he was simply keeping family matters private and said nothing, but it turned out he had his own agenda.

Now, it proved useful—just in time to leverage against them.

From the Old Madam to Lin Qu and Tan Shi, each one was firmly within Lin Ji's grasp.

Neither Chen Yuhu nor Lin Ji intended for the children to continue with the imperial examinations; they were too young and unlikely to pass anyway.

They planned to send them out to travel and gain experience. The first place the two young brothers chose was the border regions; they wanted to find Lin Qingtong.

They headed west.

Chen Yuhu and Lin Ji knew perfectly well that the border regions were no cultural hub—the boys simply wanted to see their brother.

But the children were older and had their own ideas, so they let them go.

Chen Yuhu also rose early today—it was the day of Concubine Jiang's wedding.

Now, there was no longer a Concubine Jiang; it was the day of Chen Xinhe's wedding.

Dressed in bright red wedding robes, Xinhe knelt before Chen Yuhu, tears in her eyes.

Chen Yuhu, holding the young child, asked her, "Are you truly willing to leave him behind?"

Jiang Yusun, with tears in her eyes, glanced at the plump child and smiled.

Originally, she had been somewhat worried, but the child hadn't been with her these past few days and had not only not lost weight but had grown plumper and was dressed even better.

Jiang Yusun wiped the tears from her face and said with a smile, "I have no worries. I know the household is full of good people."

"Even after I leave, he will live well. We will both have bright futures—no one will mistreat him."

If Jiang Yusun were still present, Chen Yuhu wouldn't have given the child a second glance; what business was it of hers if the birth mother was there?

But with the birth mother gone, as the primary wife and as a person, Chen Yuhu felt she ought to lend a hand if she could.

Jiang Yusun understood this too—just look at Lin Qingzhuo. The lady was a primary wife who would look out for the children's interests.

She wasn't like the other two concubines, who had deep affection for Chen Yuhu. It was better to marry away.

And she truly didn't want to be someone's concubine, confined to a small room for a lifetime.

Jiang Yusun was married off.

Chen Yuhu, caught up in the excitement, changed into casual clothes and discreetly followed the wedding procession with the two concubines to partake in a simple drink.

In the study, several children gathered to ask Lin Ji questions—a rare occasion with both boys and girls present.

Although Chen Yuhu had created a new identity for Jiang Yusun, the children at home knew the truth.

It wasn't appropriate for them to join the festivities surrounding their father's concubine remarrying.

Lin Qingbo found his mother's attitude strange and simply asked Lin Ji.

"Father, why is Mother's attitude toward Concubine Jiang so odd?"

Lin Ji was writing. In his earlier years, he had been prone to violence, and practicing calligraphy had become a habit.

Lin Ji glanced at Lin Qingbo. "You mean to ask why your mother, who clearly disliked Concubine Jiang before, would still go to the trouble of marrying her off in the end?"

Lin Ji then swept his gaze over the girls.

Today's teaching moment had arrived.

Lin Ji said, "Your mother disliked her because of the reputation of the 'Borderland Concubine'—a reputation Jiang Yusun clearly spread herself to boost her own standing."

"This harmed your mother's dignity and could lead to speculation that I was neglecting my wife for a concubine, which would be bad for the entire Marquis's household. You would also be affected by this reputation, making it harder for you to marry well."

"So your mother was angry. But in daily life, your mother didn't pay much attention to a concubine—as you could all see."

"What do you think made your mother most angry?"

Lin Qingbo answered without hesitation, "It was Concubine Jiang trying to elevate a concubine's child above the legitimate heirs."

"Why was your mother angry about that?"

This time, Lin Ji looked at Qingzhuo. Qingzhuo replied, "She was trying to override Mother's authority and make decisions, challenging Mother's position. Elevating a concubine's child above the legitimate heirs infringed upon Mother's interests."

"You're right," Lin Ji agreed with Lin Qingzhuo's words, "but there's one point you got wrong."

"She couldn't infringe on your mother's interests."

"The resources in your mother's hands are entirely under her control. Even if it were her own biological child, she could give to whomever she wished—just as your grandmother supported your second uncle's studies since he was young. After all, those were her own things."

"If she didn't give, neither the illegitimate nor the legitimate sons would get anything."

"Your mother caused a stir because she was genuinely weary—tired of the estate's affairs and tired of me, so she wanted a separation."

The children all widened their eyes, never imagining their mother had considered a separation.

But Lin Ji wasn't finished. "As for Concubine Jiang's intentions, they were easy to guess. She was stuck in the role of being a legitimate daughter and a concubine, trying to use that to pressure me. But I truly owed her, so for her sake, I was willing to try."

"Even if it meant putting pressure on your mother—I owed Yusun a lot, and since your mother and I are one as husband and wife, it was only right for her to help me make amends."

"But she wasn't willing, which is normal—that's just how people are."

"To get your mother to come back, I made concessions. A husband and wife are a single unit—not easily separated."

"From this incident, can you see the difference between a wife and a concubine?"

The children had some understanding but didn't dare to speak up, but Lin Ji didn't hesitate.

"Exactly, your mother must maintain the Marquis household's reputation—that is her dignity and mine, and yours as well. Even if she doesn’t care about me in the slightest, she still has to uphold my status."

"That is what it means to be husband and wife."

"But Concubine Jiang wanted to have her cake and eat it too—she clearly hadn’t thought it through. Fortunately, she eventually realized the difference between a wife and a concubine, which is worlds apart. She was too proud to remain a concubine."

"Your mother admired her spirit and was willing to help her achieve her wish."

"The reason she could appreciate it was that your mother never gave her or her schemes a second thought. Her anger was simply to make us aware that she was displeased."

"Even if I were to take a hundred or so more concubines, it wouldn’t affect your mother’s status in the slightest. If she wished, she could entertain herself by tormenting them every day, and I wouldn’t say a word against it."

"It’s only natural for servants to attend to their masters."

As Lin Ji spoke, his gaze swept over the children. The boys handled it fairly well, as they could somewhat grasp his meaning, but the girls were much more visibly upset.

Their eyes widened in shock.

"When An Zhi and Yu Zhi were listed under your mother’s name, I asked your mother if she wanted to record Qingzhuo as hers as well, since he showed such promise."

"Your mother looked at me in surprise and said, 'Why claim all the talented ones? Even if my own children are not the brightest, they are still my own flesh and blood.'"

Lin Ji recalled Chen Yuhu’s words:

She said, "Though the children seem much the same to me, the boys cannot be listed under my name. If they were, when they achieve success in the future, they wouldn’t be able to rightfully take their birth mothers out to care for them in their retirement."

"Having been trapped in the inner chambers their whole lives, they deserve to live well."

As Lin Ji spoke, he looked at Lin Qingzhuo, making it clear whom he was addressing.

Lin Qingzhuo met his father’s gaze directly. Of course, his mother was good—that didn't need his father's saying, nor did it require his reminder.