Chapter Nine Exploration

  Lin Zhaoyan came out of the main house, stood under the corridor for a while, until Man Shuang appeared, and then smiled slightly at her, saying: "Let's go back!"

  Man Shuang looked fine, just a bit frightened. As soon as she saw Lin Zhaoyan, she rushed forward and grabbed her hand: "Miss, was it because of the argument between Third Sister and Fifth Sister yesterday? Did they bully you?"

  She's afraid those two won't be able to outdo each other and will drag Fourth Miss down with them as a scapegoat.

  Lin Zhaoyan shrugged and said with some innocence: "I was put under house arrest by my grandmother, forced to copy scriptures until she calms down."

  "What?" Man's eyes widened, and tears slowly seeped out. She gritted her teeth and said unwillingly: "It's not the young lady's fault, why should she be punished! This is too unfair, I want to find the old lady to reason with her!"

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but smile, feeling warm in his heart. Just as he was about to open his mouth to comfort her, a stiff voice came from not far away, "There's no need to take pity on your family's daughter, this matter is my fault, I admit it. When we get back, I'll be punished too, and for however long your daughter is punished, I'll be punished for the same amount of time!"

  Lin Zhaoyan knew who it was as soon as he heard the tone, and when he looked up, he saw Lin Ruoyan walking slowly from under the corridor, like a slender and elegant lotus flower.

  Man Shuang bit her lip, and although she had grievances towards Lin Ruoyan, she didn't dare vent them.

  "Never mind, I'll..."

  "Sorry." Lin Ruoyan interrupted Lin Zhaoyan's words, lowering her head and quickly adding another sentence, "And thank you too."

  Lin Zhaoyan was stunned for a moment. This was the first time in so many years that Lin Ruoyan had shown her kindness, and it made her feel somewhat honored and surprised.

  "It's nothing, I'm just being realistic." Lin Zhao said with a curved lip and an uncontrollable smile in her eyes.

  Lin Ruoyan was so embarrassed by her smile that she wanted to finish speaking and leave, but now her feet seemed to have taken root and couldn't move.

  "Go back!" Lin Zhao Yan took a step forward first, and then Lin Ruo Yan reluctantly followed.

  "Indeed." Lin Zhaoyan hadn't forgotten Old Lady Lin's calculations, and after walking for a while, she tentatively spoke up, "Do you want to enter the palace?"

  Lin Ruoyan didn't understand why Lin Zhaoyan asked this, so she said: "What does it have to do with you whether I want to or not? Anyway, you definitely can't enter the palace."

  Here it comes again...

  Lin Zhaoyan said helplessly, but also calmly: "I just want to know your thoughts. If you don't want to enter the palace, then there's nothing worth arguing about. Mother wants to argue, and you should tell her clearly what you think. There's no need for others to control your life."

  Lin Ruoyan's footsteps paused, and she immediately turned cold, sarcastically saying: "I thought you meant something else, but it turns out you can't bear to see me become the favored one in front of the Empress Dowager!"

  "You clearly know I didn't mean it that way..."

  "You don't have to say anything!" Lin Ruoyan coldly interrupted her, "Don't think that just because you helped me a little, I'll listen to your every word! Whether or not I enter the palace has nothing to do with you, Lin Shaoyan, and it's not for you to point fingers!" With that, she strode forward.

  Lin Zhaoyan gazed at her back, his eyebrows tightly furrowed. Yesterday she wasn't worried about Lin Ruoyan entering the palace, but today everything had turned upside down.

  It was Liu who brainwashed Lin Ruoyan and made her interested in entering the palace.

  With this, plus Old Lady Lin's intentions, it would be difficult for Lin Ruoyan to not enter the palace.

  She needs to think of a good way to make it happen.

  At this time, in Rong Sheng Tang, Lu Shi went back and swept all the tea cups on the table to the ground, saying anxiously: "Mother is also too biased! It's clear that she doesn't want Sister Jin to enter the palace!"

  The sound of shattering porcelain accompanied by Mrs. Lu's resentful voice was particularly frightening.

  Liu's wife had all the maids in the house shooed out, and then she went forward to support Lu Shi, gently patting her back while comforting her: "Milady, don't be angry, milady, didn't Master Hou say yesterday that he wouldn't let Third Young Miss enter the palace? Isn't this just as well?"

  "Why didn't she punish Lin Ruoyan?! Isn't this obviously making things difficult for our family?! I think she just wants to let Lin Ruoyan enter the palace!"

  Seeing Lu's resentful expression, Lin Jingming also felt the same way, "Those two sisters in the third house are not good things, one day I will make them pay the price!"

  Lu's family glared at her, "What are you capable of? You're just good at talking, but when it comes to doing things, you're soft! Why can't you learn from Lin Ruoyan and see how she makes your grandmother smile? Don't be like Lin Zhaoyan who is unpleasant in both words and deeds!"

  Lin Jinming looked wronged and pouted, with tears welling up in his eyes.

  Lu's mother glared at her even more angrily, "Crying, crying, crying, all you know how to do is cry! In the future when you get married and are bullied by your in-laws, will you still just cry?!"

  "Madam, please calm down. The young lady is still young and doesn't understand some things, it's normal. You can teach her slowly, but don't learn from the three mothers and daughters who are at odds with each other!" Liu Ayi hurriedly protected Lin Jingming and opened her mouth to persuade.

  Lu coldly snorted, her resentment growing heavier.

  Lin Jinming was very wronged, and he pushed Liu's wife away, saying in a bad tone: "You have no ability yourself, but instead you blame me!"

  After finishing speaking, Xu was afraid of being scolded by Lu's family and quickly turned around and ran out the door.

  Just then, he happened to bump into someone who was walking in.

  His nose was throbbing in pain, and he was just about to burst out in anger when he looked up to see Jian An Hou's stern and cold face.

  "Father!" Lin Jinming was shocked and stared blankly at him, unable to react.

  "What kind of figure is this stumbling and staggering?!"

  Lu was originally furious with Lin Jinming, but now she had to swallow her anger and stepped forward to mediate: "Jin sister didn't do it on purpose, wasn't she also being bullied by the three houses?"

  Lin Kun furrowed his brow, stepped into the house and sat down on a black ebony chair with a wavy grain pattern at the head of the room, saying in a deep voice: "What's going on?"

  Lu was somewhat afraid of Lin Kun, subconsciously looking towards Liu Ayi, and only after getting a reassuring glance did she begin to recount what had just happened at Old Lady Lin's place.

  He wanted to say a couple more bitter words, but saw Jian An Hou slap the armrest heavily and angrily shout: "Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"

  Lu was startled, Lin Jinming burst into tears, and Liu Ayi saw this scene, hurriedly coaxed Lin Jinming out of the house, leaving only Lin Kun and Lu in the room.

  As soon as he left, Lu Shi couldn't help but say: "What are you bullying me for?! You won't let Sister Jin enter the palace, yet you can't explain why. I naturally wouldn't let the other three houses take advantage of us. I'd rather have someone from the fifth house go!"

  "Fool!" Jian Anhou secretly resented himself for marrying such a brainless wife!

  Ji sister has already determined that she will not enter the palace, and if the third house does not go, it is clear that the Jian'an Hou Mansion does not want to compete for this quota. What will the Empress Dowager think later? They thought that their Hou Mansion was certain that the Third Imperial Son would become the Crown Prince and looked down on this position!

  This Lu family is really capable of nothing but causing trouble! In normal times, apart from managing household chores, they can't help with anything else!

  Lin Kun couldn't help but think of Qinglian Mosang from the Drunken Flower Pavilion, who was always sharp-tongued and sharp-witted in her words and actions. She was a rare intelligent and clear-headed woman. If he could find an opportunity to bring her back to the manor as a concubine, it would be greatly beneficial for him.

  Thanks for the two peace charms from Qianlian! Sorry that I couldn't update yesterday as promised~