Chapter Fifteen: Heart's Desire

  Lin Zhaoyan had calmed down by the time she reached the door of her room. She closed her eyes, driving out the unpleasant memories in her mind, before stretching out her hand to push open the door.

  Man Shuang saw her return and was very excited, rushing forward to greet her, "The slave servant went to see again, that high monk has not finished speaking yet!"

  Look at Lin Zhao Yan's eyes red, can't help but surprise: "Miss, why are you crying? Is everything okay?"

  "It's nothing, just blinded by the wind." Lin Zhao said with a wave of his hand, refusing to say more.

  Man Shuang was taught by Lin Zhao Yan, and wouldn't pry into things that others didn't want to talk about. Instead, she comforted him saying: "Although it's not snowing outside, the wind is cold, you should have worn another layer of clothing when going out."

  Lin Zhaoyan felt warm and fuzzy inside.

  The two of them waited in the house for a while, about two quarters of an hour, when they heard a rustling sound outside, and vaguely heard Zhou Wan's clear voice.

  "Let's go outside and meet them." Lin Zhaoyan pretended to be injured, so he had to rely on Man Shuang to support him as they slowly made their way towards the door.

  Before she could even get close, the door was pushed open with a bang, and then Lin Ruoyan stormed into the house, panting.

  Lin Zhaoyan was speaking, and at the same time, Old Lady Lin and Madame Liu also entered the house together, their faces not looking very good, completely unlike the smiling faces they had before listening to the Buddhist scriptures.

  What happened when you were listening to the sutra?

  "Siya, have you rested well? Is your leg all right?" asked Old Lady Lin.

  "Tell Grandmother, I'm fine, and I can walk."

  Mrs. Lin nodded and said: "Since it's all right, let's take our leave of the people at Chengnan Bo's residence and go back first!"

  Lin Zhao glanced at Lin Ruoyan, who was still in a daze, and became even more certain about what had just happened in the front hall.

  Madam Jingyi was right, this is indeed a troublesome autumn.

  In the afternoon, the warm sunshine in the sky became more and more radiant, and there were signs of melting ice and snow on the roof ridges and tree tops.

  Warm sunlight shines through the wisteria-colored gauze window into the house, with a clear and bright light, soft and beautiful.

  Lin Zhaoyan moved a pear-wood chair to the window and basked in the warm sunlight, her body feeling cozy and comfortable, with a silk handkerchief covering her face, she felt drowsy.

  Manhua stepped into the house with light steps and saw Lin Zhaoyan looking carefree, so she couldn't help but clear her throat to announce her presence.

  "Have you asked?" Lin Zhaoyan slowly got up from his chair and turned to ask.

  Manhua was born into a servant's family, her father worked for the young master Lin Ju in the outer courtyard, and her mother was in charge of the needlework room. She also had a younger sister who served as a second-class maid in Madame Ma's quarters. Manhua herself had a kind and tolerant nature, so she got along very well with everyone in the mansion and could easily gather information, making her the ears and eyes of Xiangfang Pavilion.

  "Ah, I asked. As they walked forward, Manhua replied: "It's said that the Fifth Young Lady met the eldest son of Prince Xiao at Lingyun Temple. He kindly came up to ask about her illness, but was ridiculed by a young master beside him. The Fifth Young Lady was so angry and humiliated that our madam and old lady also felt embarrassed, so they returned first."

  It's Xiao Qi again...

  Lin Zhao was speechless and felt that Xiao Qi would from now on be like a vengeful spirit haunting Lin Ruoyan.

  "I know." She nodded and said: "You go to Rongshou Hall and ask if White Lao Lao has gone to sleep?"

  Bailing was a second-class maid beside Old Lady Lin. Niang also worked in the needlework room and usually got along well with Manhua.

  "Are you going to find the old lady?" Manhua asked curiously.

  She is not as spoiled as the fifth girl, and Old Lady Wang usually doesn't bother with her. The girl also can't learn from Seventh Girl's cleverness, so apart from paying respects, she rarely goes to Rong Shou Tang.

  "Something happened at Lingyun Temple today. My grandmother is such a clever person that even if I don't go to find her, she will come to find me."

  Moreover, she had a private intention in mind. If Lin Ruoyan's falling out with the young lady of the Zhou family was told to Old Lady Lin, then Old Lady Lin would necessarily have to reconsider Lin Ruoyan entering the palace.

  Placing a favored daughter by the empress dowager's side would certainly show sincerity, but if this daughter is arrogant and has a violent temper, it's hard to say whether that would be good or bad for the Duke of Jian'an's household.

  Thinking of this, Lin Youyan couldn't help but thank Xiao Qi. If it weren't for his involvement in the matter, Lin Youyan wouldn't have acted so irrationally, no matter how arrogant he was.

  At this moment, in the western wing of the main house of Lvyu Hall, Lin Ruoyan, who had done many irrational things, was crying with grievance.

  "Crying, crying, crying! You still have the nerve to cry? All the poetry, books, and etiquette I taught you every day have been read into a dog's belly!" Madam Liu slapped the purple sandalwood table in front of her and scolded Lin Ruoyan, who was kneeling on the floor.

  This was the first time Lin Ruoyan had seen Liu's angry face in twelve years, even when facing Lin Zhaoyan, whom she didn't like, she was mostly cold and indifferent, how could she be so severe?

  Lin Ruoyan felt more and more wronged as she thought about it, and her tears fell even more torrentially.

  Liu saw her crying but not speaking, and his heart became even more annoyed.

  "You can be arrogant and willful at home, but you're also so unscrupulous in front of outsiders! As for the matter with Zhou's daughter, I won't hold it against you since your sister kept it from me. But what was your attitude when you met Xiao Qi in the main hall?!"

  "I don't like him either, why should I give him a good face?" Lin Ruoyan heard this and couldn't help but raise her head to retort.

  Liu's face turned red with rage, "Is he someone else? He is the one who saved your life! Someone comes to ask about your illness with good intentions and you respond with such cold words, no wonder Xu Gongzi wants to tease you! With such ingratitude, arrogance and rudeness, are you not satisfied that your reputation is not bad enough?! And what about the matter with Zhou's daughter? If it weren't for your sister intervening, if it had gotten out, who would still dare marry you?!

  "I don't want anyone else to marry me either! If it weren't for Brother Yan, I wouldn't marry anyone!" Lin Ruoyan shouted out in anger, not caring about Liu's shocked expression. She wiped away the tears on her face and said stubbornly: "What kind of person is Xiao Qi? You've heard of him, haven't you? He relies on being the eldest son of the Xiao King and his good looks to flirt with women everywhere! You don't know how the story of him saving me that day has been distorted outside! If I were to be friendly with him again, wouldn't it mean that tomorrow, the capital would be saying that I'm going to marry him? When Brother Yan returns to the capital and hears those rumors, he definitely won't want to marry me anymore!"

  "You......" Liu was shocked and couldn't say a word.

  She had also heard the old lady mention something about marrying into the Chengguo Gongfu a couple of times, but with Lin Jinming as her legitimate cousin, she just thought it was a joke. Lu Yanzi was good, but not to the point where she would only marry him and no one else; with her sister being so beautiful, wasn't she afraid that they wouldn't be able to find a good family for her?

  Could it be that Qiao's sister actually had her own thoughts?!

  Just thinking about competing with Lu's family for her nephew in the future made her head ache and her whole body feel uncomfortable.

  "He is a person from the Chengguo Duke's residence, and he will be your third sister's future husband." Wanting to say more, but only this sentence came out, she wanted Lin Ruoyan to face reality.

  "No!" Lin Ruoyan retorted, "Xiang's older brother doesn't like Lin Jiaming, he doesn't like people with a temperament like Lin Jiaming's!"

  "So you're certain he likes you?!" Liu's face turned red with anger, "It's because I've spoiled you too much that you've become so arrogant and lawless. Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers, where do you get the right to make your own decisions?"

  "After that, he scolded with a mixture of anger and disappointment: 'I always thought you were just a bit childish, but still understood the boundaries and knew what was proper. But today I found out that you're so rebellious and willful, not even half as good as your sister!'"

  "If I'm not good enough for you, then go and pamper Lin Zhao Yan! She's so great, why do you still give her the cold shoulder?! Only someone as weak-willed as her would swallow her pride and suffer in silence. If it were me, I would have left this family long ago, even if it meant starving to death, rather than endure such humiliation!" Lin Ruo Yan said with her words unbridled, some of which was for herself, and some of which was to stand up for Lin Zhao Yan, but only she knew the true proportions in her heart.

  Liu was really angry this time, and didn't even want to talk to Lin Ruoyan. He loudly ordered the servants outside the door: "Take the Fifth Young Lady to Qingxing Pavilion, and don't let her take a step out of the room without my permission!"

  Thank you for the fragrant sachet from Qiu Lian!

  Thank you for the blessing of peace from Muxi Hong!

  Today is Thanksgiving Day! Xiao An wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving Day! Also thanks for everyone's support to Xiao An! Mua~

  Finally, during the new book period,