Chapter Twelve: Making Things Difficult

  Everyone was startled by her.

  Lin Ruoyan was named and frowned before saying, "That's right."

  "Quiet, don't be rude." Old Lady Zhou frowned and scolded: "With elders present, how can you be so startled and flustered?"

  Zhou Jingyu hastily gathered her thoughts and apologized with a bow, "It was I, Jing'er, who overstepped."

  Mrs. Lin smiled and mediated, "I didn't know that my family's Ruo Jie had become so famous, even the young lady from the Zhou family knows about it. Ruo Jie, tell me, have you been secretly doing some heroic deeds to rob the rich and help the poor without telling your grandmother?"

  Everyone was amused by her, and a somewhat awkward situation was resolved.

  Ke Lin saw clearly that Zhou Jingyu's palm was tightly clenched, with the tendons on her white hand standing out.

  She couldn't help but feel surprised. Logically speaking, this was the first time they had met, so why did Zhou Jingyu seem to have a deep grudge against Lin Ruoyan?

  Lin Ruoyan is also confused.

  "Behind the Lingyun Temple, there is a plum forest. A scholar once said: 'The solitary beauty of the plum blossom surpasses all others, it's unbearable to write about its elegance.' Now is the time when the red stamens are in bloom, why don't you girls go take a look?" Whenever elders gather together, they always have topics that aren't suitable for younger people to know. Mingyi Shitai kindly suggested and added: "Since this plum forest is located behind the mountain, the temple doesn't open it to the public, except for the young ladies from various official residences, there's no need to worry about the crowd."

  Zhou Wanyu's eyebrows immediately flew up and her face lit up, she hastily turned a pair of big, shining eyes towards Old Lady Zhou.

  Old Lady Zhou was quite helpless, so she said: "Take the maid with you and your sister and Lin's daughter to go together, pay attention to propriety, be careful in every word and deed."

  Zhou Wanyu repeatedly responded with a good attitude, her joyful appearance infecting the crowd, even Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but curve the corners of his lips.

  This girl must have been pampered since she was a child, one look and you can tell she's never suffered any hardships, so simple and bright.

  In contrast, Zhou Jingyu had an icy and aloof demeanor, vastly different from her sister's personality.

  Several people walked along the nine-bend corridor towards the back mountain, and as they walked further away, they couldn't see the elders' figures anymore. Zhou Wan-yu became excited like she had been injected with chicken blood, "You two are Lin family's daughters! You really look pretty, I heard that your family has an aunt who is a noble consort in the imperial palace, have you two ever entered the palace? What's it like inside the palace? Is it beautiful? Are all those consorts as beautiful as fairy girls?"

  Lin Zhaoyan and the others hadn't even had time to respond when Zhou Jingyu coldly said, "Have you had enough? Have you forgotten what your grandmother said about being cautious with words? It's fine to talk a lot at home, but when you're out in public, pay attention to your manners. Don't try to get too familiar with people!"

  That's going a bit too far.

  "Who are you saying is human and who's a ghost?!" Lin Ruoyan was indeed infuriated, immediately stopping in her tracks and glaring at Zhou Jingyu.

  Zhou Jingyu also stopped in her tracks and glared back without showing any weakness, "Whoever butts in will be the one I'm talking to!"

  "You!" Lin Ruoyan's face turned red with anger and laughter, "It's said that the women of the Zhou family are not inferior to men, with good looks and elegant demeanor. But now I see you're nothing but this, and you don't even understand the most basic respect! You've really opened my eyes!"

  Chengnan Bo Fu is the glory won on horseback, so they attach great importance to martial arts. Both men and women will practice martial arts to strengthen their bodies. The elegant demeanor of the Zhou family's daughters makes outsiders envy them.

  Lin Zhaoyan had once heard her married elder sister Lin Huaming say that the daughter of the Zhou family was also someone she yearned for.

  It's better to keep a distance now...

  "You think you're something good?" Zhou Jingyu retorted, "I've also heard that the daughter of the Lin family is gentle and elegant, with a noble heart. But looking at you now, I realize that rumors are just rumors after all, and can't be trusted!"

  Heavens, what deep grudge does Jingyu have against Lin Ruoyan this week?

  Lin Zhaoyan was speechless for a moment.

  Zhou Wan Yu was like a little white rabbit, scared stiff on the spot.

  The maids around her didn't dare to come forward and persuade them either, they looked at each other in dismay, not knowing what to do.

  Zhou Jingyu snorted and continued, "Do you want to learn from that pipa girl how to 'long for Zhou Lang's favor, but mistakenly pluck the wrong strings'? Let me tell you, it's just a shameless act! A pipa girl is after all just a pipa girl, something that can't be brought onto the stage!"

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly realized that it was actually because of Xiao Qi!

  She was suddenly headache, didn't expect that Lin Ruoyan being saved by Xiao Qi that day had evolved into this version among the ladies in the boudoir!

  Lin Ruoyan also heard her tone and her face suddenly turned pale.

  Is she saying that Lin Ruoyan fell into the lotus pond on purpose to attract Xiao Xi's attention? Ridiculous, it's simply too ridiculous!

  "Miss, you forgot what the old lady reminded you earlier!" The personal maid of the Zhou family hurried forward to hold onto Zhou Jingyu, her expression anxious.

  Just now, I was only worried about preventing Liu Niang from speaking nonsense. Who would have thought that San Niang, who has always been knowledgeable and measured in her words, would suddenly start trouble without reason? This Jian'an Marquis manor is a centuries-old aristocratic family, and although the Bo manor considers itself powerful, they also dare not offend them!

  Zhou Jingyu, however, was unusually unyielding, "What wrong have I done? Even if Old Lady Lin were standing in front of me right now, I would still dare to say it! Can't people even speak out after doing something bad?"

  "How dare you say that again?!" Lin Ruoyan's forehead throbbed with anger.

  Lin Zhaoyan saw this and secretly thought it was not good.

  This matter has always been Lin Ruoyan's Achilles' heel. Last time, Lin Jinming said she almost got her face smashed, and as a result, she was also implicated and put under house arrest to copy scriptures. This time, if she took the initiative to beat up the Zhou sisters, it would be a loss of face that couldn't be hidden from outsiders. By then, it wouldn't be something that could be passed off by just copying scriptures and being under house arrest for a few days.

  It's likely that the two sisters' reputation in Shengjing City will be completely ruined.

  "You dare to do it, what can't I say?!" Zhou Jingyu was not willing to show weakness, just as she was about to retort, Lin Ruoyan lost her rationality and pounced on her.

  Lin Zhao Yan reacted quickly and rushed over to block Lin Ruo Yan's attack, then tripped and fell to the ground.

  "What are you doing?!" Lin Ruoyan shouted in a flustered tone.

  "Ah!" Lin Zhaoyan pretended to get up, but intentionally fell to the ground, then cried out in a sobbing tone: "It hurts so much! Ruo Yan, I'm afraid my leg is broken, I can't get up!"

  Lin Ruoyan was taken aback for a moment and forgot to be angry, exclaiming in alarm: "Don't scare me, hey, Lin Zhaoyan, don't scare me!"

  Zhou Jingyu was also frightened. Originally, a war of words could relieve one's anger, but if things escalated to serious injury, it would be unbearable!

  Man Shuang was also at a loss, her small face pale as paper.

  Lin Zhaoyan grasped her hand in comfort, then calmly looked at Lin Ruoyan and said: "Don't worry, you go back first and quietly tell Mother to think of a solution. I'll try to get up later, if I can, we'll talk about it when we get back."

  Lin Ruoyan was out of her mind, only able to listen to Lin Zhaoyan's words, repeatedly saying "yes", and also instructed a few maids to stay behind and take care of Lin Zhaoyan, while she herself hurried back and forth.

  "Zhaoyan, sister, are you okay? Let me help you rub it better?" Zhou Wanyu squatted down with a worried face and apologized on behalf of Zhou Jingyu, "My third sister didn't mean to do that, I don't know why she's like this today, but she's not usually like this, so please don't hold it against her, okay?"

  Zhou Jingyu bit her lip and didn't speak.

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled slowly and patted Zhou Wanyu's hand, winking: "I'm fine, and I won't blame you, Third Sister."

  Having said that, he stood up under the astonished gaze of everyone.

  How can he move so freely with a broken leg!

  "You, you're fine? You deceived us!" Zhou Jingyu's eyes widened in anger.

  Lin Zhaoyan, however, had a calm and carefree expression. He patted the dust off his clothes and said, "If I didn't intervene, would you rather have the two of you fight and lose face for both families?"

  Zhou Jingyu snorted, then sneered: "Look at you two, not even good sisters. You're the older sister, but in front of her, you don't have any dignity at all. I don't believe you don't have any resentment? Why are you helping her? If my younger sister were so unscrupulous and disrespectful to her elders, I'm afraid I would have been furious long ago!"

  Lin Zhaoyan ignored her provocation and calmly said, "No matter how we are at home, once we step out of that gate, I am not an individual, but a representative of the Jian'an Marquis Manor. I cannot let the Jian'an Marquis Manor lose face. Similarly, Miss Zhou, you also represent your Chengnan Bo Manor."

  What he meant was left unspoken.

  Zhou Jingyu's face immediately turned bright red, wanting to refute but unable to say a word.

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled and continued, "Your manor is a prestigious family with a good reputation. If the legitimate daughter speaks out of turn, it's not something to be proud of. Everyone present should think carefully about what to do, which would be best for everyone."

  All the maids looked at each other in dismay, then hung their heads and said nothing.

  Zhou Ayi raised an eyebrow at Lin Zhaoyan, secretly marveling that this young lady, who seemed quiet and reserved, was actually a hidden talent! First, she had easily defused the original crisis with just one move, and then she had shut down the three sisters with just a few words, leaving them completely defenseless.

  It's not that difficult, the wonderful thing is to remain calm and composed, make good use of people's hearts, don't be foolish enough to do unnecessary mediation, but first withdraw the ignition source Lin Wuguniang, then pour water on the fire holder San Guniang, very simply extinguish the originally burning raging fire.

  Zhou Jingyu knew she was in the wrong, and with Lin Ruoyan not around, her anger had nowhere to vent, so she could only throw up her hands and storm off.

  Zhou Wan Yu made a face at Lin Zhao, sticking out her tongue, "Sister Zhao, I owe you one, another day I'll invite you to our uncle's estate to formally apologize and make amends."

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled and waved his hand, "It's alright." But in his heart, he had a good impression of this simple and lovely girl.

  After everyone had left, Lin Zhaoyan also pulled Man Shuang's hand and said: "This good trip to admire the plum blossoms ended in a bad mood, it's really disappointing. Let's go back quickly too, I also need to think carefully about how to make excuses in front of my mother."

  At this time, heard a "pfft" sound of laughter.

  Lin Zhaoyan feigned anger, staring at Man Shuang with wide eyes: "Fine, you actually dare to mock me!"

  Man Shuang's face was innocent, "I, I didn't laugh!"

  Lin Zhaoyan was stunned for a moment before reacting and realizing that the laughter just now seemed to be from a man.

  Her heart sounded a loud alarm, this desolate and uninhabited place, if she were to run into a man, her reputation would be completely ruined, and even with reason, it couldn't be explained!

  "Come on!" She pulled Mann's hands and quickly walked back.

  Behind him, a low, muffled laugh was heard from the man, "Zi Shu, I didn't expect that these young ladies in the capital would be so formidable!"

  Then a clearly cold voice rang out, "Let's go!" However, the words spoken to that person were met with no interest, and the indifference was chilling.

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly turned his head and saw only two figures in blue and white, with a majestic and imposing manner.

  What is this man doing behind the mountain?

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