Chapter 1152 Rejection

Lin Yuesha confessed to Qin Nanyan that she had offended the Prince of Luo and that her trip was mainly to apologize.

“Back in the fishing village, my uncle’s favorite dish was pickled cabbage and pork, so I thought I’d make a dish that tasted the closest to his and apologize to him.”

Lin Yuesha was unsure of herself, but with Xu Da around to share some of her attention, perhaps the Prince of Luo wouldn't be so angry.

"Sister Yue Sha, it seems you can use this."

Qin Nanyan looked at her maid Yuli, who immediately understood and took out a scroll from her bag.

Lin Yuesha saw the scroll being opened, revealing a painting that looked somewhat familiar, with the inscription "Autumn Mountain Residence" in the lower corner.

Back then, He Xing apparently bought one of these paintings, intending to give it to Prince Xiao Su of Zhenbei to curry favor, but unexpectedly, the painting ended up in Qin Nanyan's hands.

“You find this painting familiar because it often appears in antique shops, and you can buy a replica for a dozen taels of silver.”

Qin Nanyan explained that this painting was done by a master painter with extremely high skill. However, the person was unlucky and died young, leaving behind very few paintings. "Autumn Mountain Dwelling" was his most proud classic work.

"The Qin family had a relationship with him and invited someone to paint on the spot at the Qin residence, but all the works that were circulated were fakes."

The Prince of Luo had been eyeing this painting for a long time, and the Qin family even tried to use it to entice him to marry her.

Later, too many changes occurred, and Qin Nanyan lost her reputation in the Prince's villa, so the matter was left unresolved.

"On my wedding day, I stole a painting that my grandfather had hidden in his room, intending to use it to beg the Prince of Luo for help."

Later, she was sent to the Lin family mansion. Qin Nanyan didn't even have a chance to cry for help. By a twist of fate, the painting has been preserved to this day.

She originally intended to present her painting to the Prince of Luo, but since Lin Yuesha had offended him, she might as well let Lin Yuesha do her a favor.

"Sister Yue Sha, it would be more appropriate for you to deliver it, so that Young Master Luo won't think that I have any improper thoughts about him."

Qin Nanyan shoved the scroll into Lin Yuesha's hand and made a decision.

"Sister Qin, you've kept this painting for years. Aren't you reluctant to give it away like this?"

The Qin family fell into ruin, leaving Qin Nanyan with nothing to look forward to.

Lin Yuesha thought giving it to Luo Wang was a good idea, but she couldn't take it for granted.

"No, I don't know how to appreciate it. If I leave it there, it will just collect dust."

Qin Nanyan shook her head. She had long been removed from the Qin family genealogy and was no longer a member of the Qin family, so she had no reason to cling to the past.

Qin Nanyan had no attachment to the Qin family; all she thought about was her mother.

"How about this, I'll reserve the Qin residence for you. When you return to the capital, you can stay there. What do you say?"

After the Qin family's property was confiscated and sealed off, Qi Heng made no further arrangements.

Within the inner city, courtyards like the Qin Mansion are extremely rare, and even money cannot buy them.

Lin Yuesha gave it away without hesitation, which can be described as a generous gesture.

“Moonlight Sister, I know you mean well, but it really isn’t necessary.”

It wasn't that Qin Nanyan refused the kindness, but rather that there was nothing in the Qin household that she would want to stay.

"If my mother and my courtyard were still there, I would definitely have shamelessly accepted it."

Not long after my mother, Zhou, died by drinking arsenic, my father remarried, and all of my mother's belongings were burned without reservation.

Inside the house, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they dug three feet into the ground. The house was refurbished with blue bricks, all the furniture was sold off, and the walls were repainted. There was no trace of Zhou's existence.

Qin Nanyan's boudoir was given to the other young ladies of the Qin family, and her clothes and other belongings were ruined.

“My mother’s favorite roses were uprooted. I often swung on the swing in the garden, but the swing was taken apart to burn as firewood. Even a pomegranate tree in the mansion was cut down and a jujube tree was transplanted.”

The Qin mansion was so large that there was no place Qin Nanyan was familiar with. What use would she have for such a courtyard?

"Sister Qin, you..."

Lin Yuesha carefully chose her words, worried that she might reopen Qin Nanyan's old wounds.

“Sister Yue Sha, you already advised me once back then that as long as one is alive, there is hope. If my mother knew in the afterlife, she would also want me to live a good life.”

Qin Nanyan smiled, brighter than ever before, but the vitality she had shown when they first met was gone.

Time was limited, and Lin Yuesha had just prepared all the necessary ingredients when Xu Da arrived with the Wangfu's chef.

"Miss Qin, you're here too."

Xu Da greeted Qin Nanyan naturally, and then asked Lin Yuesha, "Cousin, when are we leaving?"

"Right away, let me get ready."

Lin Yuesha went to the kitchen and asked for a freshly woven willow basket, which she carried on her back.

"Cousin, what are you doing carrying that basket? Are you going to the Prince's villa to pick mulberries?"

Xu Da calculated the days and found that the green apricots and mulberries in the Prince's villa were ripe, and big fish could be caught in the lake, which would be perfect for making boiled fish and grilled fish.

"How about we bring a fishing net too?"

My cousin is the smartest. When she goes to the Prince's villa, she can't just leave without coming back. She should take something with her when she comes back. That would be fair.

Lin Yuesha said with a headache, "Cousin, what are you thinking? How can you bring anything back? Don't forget I went there to apologize."

Since they couldn't find any brambles, they used willow branches instead, so Lin Yuesha carried a willow basket on her back and went there with a very sincere attitude.

“It’s not that I’m overthinking it, but if you go to apologize with an empty basket and don’t even fill it with gifts, anyone would think twice.”

Xu Da laughed heartily. This didn't seem like an apology; it seemed like an attempt to take advantage.

Are you going or not?

Lin Yuesha, feeling embarrassed and angry after being teased, retorted.

"Go, go, let's set off now."

Xu Da went to great lengths to visit the Prince of Luo this time.

He specially prepared a carriage, which was filled with nourishing ginseng, bird's nest, sea cucumber, dried scallops, and calligraphy and paintings that he had acquired to present to Prince Luo.

Lin Yuesha, carrying jarred meat, a small stove, and other items, boarded another carriage with Qin Nanyan.

Before leaving, Xu Da called Lin Yuesha aside and asked, "Why did you bring Miss Qin with you?"

Back then, Qin Nanyan kept a close watch on them, causing the brothers great suffering. Although she had done a good job in rescuing Qi Heng, she couldn't ruin Xu Da's plans at this critical juncture.

"You misunderstood Sister Qin, but that's all in the past."

Lin Yuesha gave a brief explanation, and the group, without further delay, headed straight for the Prince's villa.

Prince Xiao Chengyu was fishing by the lake when he heard that Xu Da had brought Lin Yuesha. He immediately ordered, "Close the gates immediately. Don't let those two in."

Apologize and expect him to forgive you? No way!

Is this a good idea?

The servant hesitated; he couldn't afford to offend either Xu Da or Lin Yuesha.

"I'm not feeling well and won't see any guests. Is that so bad?"

Luo Wang snorted coldly. Besides, among the people who came, there was the culprit who had caused him great harm and repaid kindness with enmity.

No visitors, not even the Emperor himself!