Chapter 78 The Incident

Upon hearing this, Mei Shuang, who was outside the door, immediately went to Miao Sangsang's courtyard to retrieve her poetry collection.

Before long, the poetry collection was presented to Xie Shangjun. Xie Shangjun opened the poetry collection, and Miao's father, who was standing next to her, craned his head to look over. After flipping through a few pages, Xie Shangjun nodded.

The poet clearly imitated her daughter's spoken language, and the words were graceful and elegant, describing the scenery in a delicate and subtle way, which was in line with her daughter's temperament and identity. However, her daughter could not write such words. She thought it was a love poem, but she was mistaken. It was clearly a ghostwriter hired by her daughter.

After reading it and finding nothing particularly remarkable, he handed the poetry collection to Miao's father. Miao's father stroked his mustache and turned page after page, exclaiming, "Good poems, good poems! This boy has quite the talent."

He was glared at by the lady after he finished speaking, and then fell silent again.

Xie Shangjun stared at Miao Sangsang and asked, "Do you know who he is?"

Miao Sangsang shook her head: "My daughter doesn't know."

Xie Shangjun rubbed her temples, feeling quite troubled: "This man's surname is Lin, given name Changqing. He's from a farming family in Qingshui County. His father committed a crime and was beaten to death. He just passed the county-level exam, but his reputation was ruined. He came here to take the academy's exam, but because the two students who vouched for him withdrew their guarantees, he couldn't even get a spot in the exam. Do you know that your father is the prefect of a prefecture and your grandfather is a great scholar at the academy? Do you think someone like that would have good intentions if he approached you?"

Miao Sangsang innocently said, "I only said that my surname is Miao and did not reveal my identity. Moreover, Lin, Mr. Lin is also concerned about my reputation. We spoke in a crowded place and did not overstep any boundaries. He treated me gently and politely, not like what Mother thinks."

Xie Shangjun's cold brows furrowed: "How many wealthy Miao girls are there in the county? Anyone with a discerning eye can guess your identity from your attire and demeanor without you even needing to tell them! If he didn't already know your identity, why would he send you the poetry collection so promptly? He probably already guessed your identity and was trying to curry favor with you! Fool! His father was beaten to death. Do you think someone from such a family can be very kind? Little does he know that he is the very ladder he wants to climb!"

Miao Sangsang muttered, "He's being too subtle; my daughter hasn't noticed a single sign of him trying to curry favor."

Xie Shangjun was so angry she could hardly breathe: "You!! Miao Sangsang!! How could I have given birth to such a piece of trash like you!"

Mr. Miao groaned as he helped his wife up, saying, "Oh dear, madam, don't be angry, don't be angry! Calm down, calm down, have some tea."

Xie Shangjun rubbed her forehead, and after a moment, said, "Give up on that idea as soon as possible. Your aunt is in the capital looking for a suitable husband for you. The Marquis of Zhongyong's family is looking for a wife for his heir. A few days ago, your aunt said that the Marquis's family had already come to inquire about your marriage. It seems they are interested in arranging a marriage. From today onwards, you are not allowed to go anywhere but to stay at home. You don't need to go to the poetry gathering either."

Miao Sangsang shook her head so hard it was practically a rattle drum: "I don't want to marry Bing Luzi. The Su family hasn't produced a single capable person in two generations. They're just looking for a way out through literature, which is why they've decided to find a daughter from a noble family to be their daughter-in-law. They can't find any high-ranking officials in the capital, so they've turned to officials with real power outside the capital. Besides, which of those noble families doesn't have a bunch of concubines and mistresses? You want me to marry him? I'd have to die."

Xie Shangjun explained, "The Su family is not like that. The Su family's heir, Su Qingyan, is handsome and well-read since childhood. He has no concubines and is a person of integrity. If you marry him, you will be the heir's wife. He has also found a job in the capital. Marrying him will not be bad."

Miao Sangsang stiffened her neck and stared straight at her mother: "Mother! I won't marry him. That Prince Su just recently staged a hero saving a beauty in the Huai River. You say that kind of person is virtuous? I don't believe it. I won't marry him. I'd rather become a nun than marry him."

Xie Shangjun stood up, grabbed her daughter's ear, and said fiercely, "You've gone too far, Miao Sangsang! You dare to inquire about men outside your family???"

Miao Sangsang's beautiful face contorted in pain: "It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, Mother, I didn't do it, I asked my brother to find out."

"You dare to instigate your brother?! Miao! Sang! Sang!!!"

Lord Miao hurriedly rescued his daughter from his wife's grasp: "Oh dear, words are fine, but why resort to violence! Madam, you didn't even bother to find out the situation of the Su family before slinging this marriage into our daughter's hands. I think it's better if this marriage with the Su family doesn't happen!"

Xie Shangjun threw her hand away: "Don't you know what kind of person your daughter is? That woman in the palace is eyeing your position. If I don't make plans for her early on, am I supposed to wait until the imperial decree comes down in a few years to send her to the palace? With your daughter's character, she'll probably be dead within days of going in!"

Lord Miao cherishes his daughter like his own flesh and blood, so naturally he doesn't want her to enter the palace. However, according to his daughter, the Su family is not a good place to go either. But his daughter's original fiancé was short-lived; he died of a cold a few years ago, which is why Madam Xie is so anxious.

Lord Miao helped his wife back to the main seat, glanced at his dejected daughter, and tentatively asked, "Sang'er? You like that poor scholar that much?"

Miao Sangsang blushed and stammered, "Father, what nonsense are you talking about? I... I didn't do anything wrong. It's just that when I came back from the temple last time, I ran into Lin Langjun in trouble, so I helped him out. I've only run into him twice since then. He thanked me, and I asked him about his sister. Then today he gave me a book of poems. That's all."

Both of them were experienced, and seeing their daughter like this, they knew that the child was probably thinking about something.

After exchanging a glance, Madam Xie stared at Yu Tao in the corner and said, "Yu Tao, you tell us how Miss met that poor scholar. If you conceal anything, you'll be sold off immediately!"

Miao Sangsang said discontentedly, "Mom, what are you doing!"

Madam Xie snorted coldly: "Shut up, let Yu Tao speak!"

Kneeling in the corner, Yu Tao kowtowed and slowly recounted, "Yu Tao dares not conceal anything from the mistress. Miss met Young Master Lin last month. That day, all the students went into the city to prepare for the exams, but Young Master Lin hurriedly left the city. Miss noticed that his expression was not right, so she asked me to chase after him and ask. I learned that Young Master Lin had gotten lost from my sister and was going to the temple to look for her, so she had Young Master Lin sit next to Uncle Huang and took him to the temple in a carriage."

Later, when I went to offer incense to bless the eldest son's studies, I ran into him twice more. After asking about Lin Langjun's sister, we parted ways. There was another time later, but we only exchanged a few words of pleasantries outside the main hall.

Only this time, after Miss informed him of the missing child's whereabouts, Lin Langjun, to express his gratitude, gifted him this collection of poems, saying it was for his own use and he wouldn't tell anyone. They always met in the main hall, with me attending to him on either side. Lin Langjun is a gentleman; he never met with Miss privately nor did he engage in any inappropriate behavior. Mistress, please understand.

Xie Shangjun snorted coldly: "He is still a man, but Miao Sangsang, putting everything else aside, meeting with other men in private is ultimately wrong."

Miao Sangsang said helplessly, "Mother, I didn't. I just happened to bump into them. We didn't have any secret rendezvous."

Madam Xie took a sip of tea and rolled her eyes: "You've offered incense four times in a month! And you're telling me it's just a coincidence? Do you think I can't see through your little scheme? I won't punish you, but you'll be locked up in the manor for a month and not allowed to leave! Go back, your father and I have something to discuss."

Miao Sangsang still wanted to try, but Yu Tao, being perceptive, said: "Let's go, Miss, or Yu Tao's life is over!"

After her daughter left, Madam Xie looked at Lord Miao, who was still clutching the poetry collection, and asked, "What do you think?"

Lord Miao stroked his beard and said, "This young man seems to be quite talented. Perhaps I should meet him first."

Madam Xie sighed, "Alright, let's meet her first. I wonder where she got this stubbornness from!"

Lord Miao chuckled and said, "Of course she takes after me. If I hadn't had that shameless persistence back then, how could I have married my wife? Haha, my daughter takes after me!"