Chapter Seventeen: Father

  After several more days, the imperial palace finally issued a formal announcement, informing the various departments that they would be selecting women to enter the palace.

  Nature is another sensation.

  Lin Zhaoyan even received a letter from Zhou Wanyu of the Chengnan Bo Mansion, in which she not only apologized for what happened last time but also talked about this matter. She asked in the letter if she had ever entered the palace, seen the Empress Dowager, what the Empress Dowager looked like, what kind of person she was, what she liked and disliked, with a tone so charming that it made people want to smile.

  Lin Zhaoyan took up her pen and replied one by one to her questions.

  The next day, she received another letter from her, inviting her to visit Chengnan Bo's residence as a guest.

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled and put away the letter, no longer responding.

  Inviting someone to visit the mansion as a guest must be prepared in advance with an invitation card, and it also needs to be approved by Mrs. Liu, otherwise, it cannot be done arbitrarily.

  The Fu family has been quiet lately, perhaps the wives of each house have been warned, or perhaps the incident in the fifth house last time served as a warning to them, presenting a harmonious and peaceful scene.

  A few days later, Lin Ruoyan was released.

  She had been detained for several days, her complexion was a bit pale, but her expression was very calm, as if she hadn't been under house arrest at all.

  A group of people went to Old Lady Lin's place to pay their respects. Old Lady Lin, no longer considering her beloved granddaughter's face, scolded and beat her in front of everyone from the various rooms, "Although this time you didn't make a big mistake, but if you continue with your arrogant and reckless personality, one day it will lead to disaster. From now on, you must remember to be careful and not lose the face of the Hou Mansion, do you understand?"

  Apart from Lin Zhaoyan, the other girls were all watching her with a mixture of sympathy and schadenfreude.

  Lin Ruoyan's eyes seemed to see nothing, and she respectfully said: "Ruoyan has remembered her grandmother's teachings."

  The crowd chatted for a while, just as they were about to get up and leave, Rong's mother rushed into the house, delightedly saying: "Old lady, news has come from outside that Third Master is back! He has already entered the mansion and is on his way to Rong Shou Tang!"

  "Really?" Wan Niang's maid couldn't sit still, and didn't care about the people around her. She stood up and pulled Lin Xingyan's hand over, saying: "Xingyan, do you think I'm dressed properly like this? Is there anything that doesn't fit?"

  The result attracted the attention of Mrs. Liu and Old Lady Lin.

  Lin Xing's words were somewhat awkward, and he responded vaguely, his eyebrows and eyes all showing excitement.

  Mr. Lin San was a man who loved books and paintings, and he was the most gentle and courteous person. Everyone in the mansion, whether they were seniors, juniors or maids, liked him. Sometimes, looking into his eyes was like seeing a bright moon, which was intoxicating.

  He was different from Jian An Hou Lin Kun, he would never lose his temper with anyone, and he was very gentle and patient with the children. Not only did Lin Xiangyan love to talk to him, but even the children of the second and fifth houses also loved to chat with him.

  "Didn't you say it would take a few more days? How did it happen so quickly?" In comparison to Madame Wan's excitement, Liu seemed much calmer, but the emotions in her eyes couldn't be concealed.

  Rong's mother replied, "As it happens, we met the young master and his family on the road, who were also heading back to Beijing. They wanted to send their young son to Shengjing to study, so Third Master joined forces with them and they made a few days' journey together."

  Rong's mother was a maid who followed Old Lady Lin out of the Chengguo Gong Mansion. The "Big Young Master" she mentioned is the current heir of the Chengguo Gong Mansion, who three years ago was promoted to be the official in charge of salt production for the two Zhe provinces and moved his whole family to Jiangnan to take up the post.

  And that young master was the eldest son of the Marquis Chengguo, who would marry either Lin Jinming or Lin Ruoyan in the future.

  Lin Zhaoyan subconsciously shifted her gaze to Lin Jinming and Lin Ruoyan's faces, and indeed saw that both of them were flushed with excitement, overjoyed beyond expectation. In her heart, she couldn't help but sigh silently, she could almost imagine the future turmoil in the Hou Mansion.

  The Liu family's three daughters came out of the courtyard to greet her, and from a distance they saw a figure in white walking slowly towards them in the soft morning light.

  Although only in his early thirties, he has a handsome appearance and elegant demeanor, with an air of confidence and ease between his eyebrows and eyes, and a curved smile that makes people feel happy when they look at him.

  As he walked closer and closer, Lin Zhaoyan's eyes gradually became blurry, and the thoughts that had been suppressed poured out like a flood.

  Father, loves her father most dearly.

  The paternal love missing from the previous life was fully made up for by Lin Chen in this life.

  Although she had known for a while that he would be coming back soon, it wasn't until this moment that she realized how deeply she longed for her father.

  She remembered when she was a child, others wouldn't pay attention to her, only her father would hold her high and let her admire his calligraphy and paintings, teaching her how to write and draw.

  He thought she was a little girl who didn't understand anything, so he would hold her face and promise in a low voice, "Father won't let Zhao'er suffer, Zhao'er don't worry."

  It's also because of this sentence that even if she was neglected again, she felt very at peace in her heart.

  Because she knew her father would protect her, just like her grandmother did in her past life.

  "What's wrong, Little Zhao? Why are you crying?" Just as she was dazed, her nose was suddenly scratched by someone. She came to herself and saw that Lin Chen was already standing in front of her, looking at her with a smile and lowered eyes.

  Her face turned red, she restrained her excited mood, bent her knees and bowed, "Zhao'er has seen father, I wish father peace and safety."

  "Peace and safety." Lin Chen reached out to help her up, then turned to Liu Shi, "I haven't been around for a few months, nothing's happened at home, has it?"

  Liu glanced at Lin Ruoyan subconsciously, but still said: "Except for the Sixth Princess's affairs that made Mother heartbroken, there is nothing big happening in the mansion."

  Lin Chen sighed upon hearing this, "I've heard about this in Yiling and was shocked. I can only mourn and adapt to the circumstances."

  "The old master has had a tiring journey, I have already arranged for hot water to be prepared and ginseng soup to be stewed for you. Please go and pay your respects to mother first, then hurry back to the Jade Hall to rest and refresh yourself."

  "Hmm." Lin Chen responded, taking a step forward but not forgetting Lin Zhao's words, pulling her hand and saying: "Zhao'er, have you thought about your father these past few months?"

  "Want." Lin Zhaoyan didn't hide his thoughts at all and blurted out.

  Lin Chen smiled contentedly and asked Lin Ruoyan and Lin Xingyan again, "Do you two miss your father?"

  "Think!" Lin Xingyan hastily replied, and then asked: "Did Father bring back any good things for us?"

  Lin Chen deliberately put on a stern face, "You debt collector, so you're after Father's gift!"

  Lin Xing spoke with a sly tone and stuck out his tongue.

  Lin Chen could only smile wryly and say: "You're always bringing something back for us every time you go out, Father."

  Lin said with a smile, feeling relieved.

  Only Lin Ruoyan hung her head in silence, her hands clenched into fists within her sleeves.

  PS: This Saturday I have to work overtime again, exhausted but no overtime pay, those evil capitalists...

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