Chapter 170 A Pot Falls from the Sky

Zhang Qing'er frowned. She had thought about it many times, wondering if she had misheard, but Lin Qian had said those words.

“Even if I tell my mother, she won’t believe me, so why bother myself?”

Zhang Qing'er sighed. Her cousin was a gentleman, and everyone around him respected him, believing that he had surpassed his uncle and had superb medical skills. Sooner or later, he would inherit his uncle's mantle and work in the Imperial Hospital.

"My cousin said that these days, gossip can be deadly, and a woman's reputation is very important."

Zhang Qing'er couldn't recall Lin Qian's exact words, but could only give a rough outline: "What my cousin meant was that although he didn't want to break off the engagement, he had no other choice but to apologize to me."

Zhang Qing'er was tongue-tied and couldn't get the exact words out, even as she broke out in a sweat. Qian Lü, standing beside her, strained to speak, her face turning blue from holding it in.

The master and servant looked at each other, then embraced and wept bitterly.

Being able to cry and vent is a good thing, Lin Yuesha breathed a sigh of relief, she roughly understood the meaning behind Lin Qian's words.

"Sister Qing'er, do you think my understanding is correct?"

Lin Yuesha picked up the conversation, saying that it was precisely because Lin Qian had a good reputation that his initiative to break off the engagement was not believed by the Lin family. They did not believe that he would do this without a reason, even if it was for another woman.

While everyone was astonished, they couldn't help but wonder if Zhang Qing'er had done something to offend Lin Qian, such as damaging her reputation. To save face for the Zhang family, Lin Qian broke off the engagement but never mentioned it.

In the end, all the blame fell on Zhang Qing'er. She was the victim, inexplicably dumped from her engagement, and had to take the blame for Lin Qian.

"Yes, Sister Yue Sha, that's exactly what my cousin meant!"

Zhang Qing'er wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. It was certain that such a misunderstanding had occurred. How could she face returning to the capital in the future? Those petty people would undoubtedly spread rumors about her and laugh at her.

Faced with the rejection of her engagement, she had only two options: either cut off her hair and become a nun, or hang herself to fulfill Lin Qian's wishes.

"Pah, why should I!"

Lin Yuesha felt the same way and deeply hated hypocritical people. She couldn't help but think of her kind-hearted stepbrother, Xiao Qi, who was easy to talk to and gentle. Whenever the two of them had a quarrel, her mother, Chen, firmly believed that it was her fault and that she had bullied her stepbrother.

This feeling is very unfair, truly unfair. It's like a good student and a bad student talking in class, and the teacher always criticizes the one who is doing poorly.

Wrongfully accused, unable to explain herself, Lin Yuesha was helpless when faced with such people.

Because of Lin Qian, Lin Yuesha's feelings for her stepbrother inexplicably decreased.

Achoo!

Xiao Qi sneezed twice in a row, having a bad feeling. He was unaware that he had been implicated by a stranger. He was just sitting at home when trouble came out of nowhere.

"Miss, you can't just endure it like this. If you get sick, it will be the master and madam who suffer!"

Qianlv advised her young mistress to relax, saying that since some things cannot be resolved, it is better to let nature take its course.

Young Master Biao is truly a romantic for a woman.

“We won’t get involved. The Lin family might not allow a woman of unknown identity to enter their home.”

The Lin family has been practicing medicine for generations and has connections with the palace. They have always been cautious and thought that without Zhang Qing'er in their way, the two of them could get together smoothly.

Light Green wanted to open her eyes wide and see what fate awaited such a heartless man.

"Didn't Lord Zhang and his wife say anything?"

With his daughter's engagement being called off without cause, Lord Zhang must be furious and seek revenge on Lin Qian.

"well."

Zhang Qing'er shook her head; the reasons were actually quite complicated.

“When my parents brought me to the north, my grandmother was very opposed to it. She thought the north was a barbarian land and I wouldn’t learn proper manners there. She wanted to leave me in the capital.”

Zhang Qing'er didn't get along well with her sisters at home, and being a simple-minded person, she always wanted to go out and see the world, and didn't want to be separated from her parents.

“My parents knelt in my grandmother’s courtyard for two hours before my grandmother changed her mind, but my grandmother disliked me even more.”

The Zhang family was considered a prominent and wealthy family in the capital. Zhang Qing'er's father held the lowest official position and hadn't been promoted in several years, serving as a minor county magistrate in a barren land.

In comparison, the Lin family is at the height of its power, and the marriage between Zhang Qing'er and Lin Qian would be mismatched if it weren't for their kinship ties.

Therefore, although Lord Zhang and his wife were angry about Lin Qian's initiative to break off the engagement, they were helpless.

"Madam said she plans to find a husband for our young lady in the north, and she will not return to the capital to avoid being laughed at."

Cui Lü was very unwilling. What outstanding men were there in the North? Her young lady had ruined her reputation and was only fit to marry a poor, pedantic scholar.

Although it is said that one should not underestimate a young person's potential, in reality, most impoverished scholars are not of good character.

"I feel so choked up, I can't swallow this."

Zhang Qing'er smoothed her chest with her hand; her cousin's words were truly too harsh, and she couldn't let it go.

He was the one who broke off the engagement, and she did nothing wrong. Why should she bear all the blame for him? Just because she is a woman, does that mean she deserves this?

"I've been feeling unwell and delirious these past few days, and I even had suicidal thoughts. I shouldn't have done that."

After Zhang Qing'er finished speaking, she took Lin Yuesha's hand and said sincerely, "Sister Yuesha, I want to thank you. You are my savior."

After speaking, Zhang Qing'er bowed to Lin Yuesha, which startled Lin Yuesha, who dared not accept the gesture.

"Sister Qing'er, Sister Baozhu and I just came to visit you, we didn't do anything!"

Lin Yuesha was completely bewildered. Before she could even give her thoughts and offer any guidance to Zhang Qing'er, Zhang Qing'er was already treating her as her savior.

"It was the porridge you made that made me realize how foolish I've been."

Zhang Qing'er stomped her feet. Why was she trying to kill herself? She hadn't even tasted all that delicious food yet, and if she died, what a waste!

At worst, she wouldn't get married. She could disguise herself as a man and travel the world with Qianlu, eating her way from the north to the water towns of Jiangnan. Life always needs some pursuit.

Lin Yuesha: "..."

Zhang Qing'er is definitely a certified foodie.

"Miss, it's so good that you've come to this understanding!"

Qianlu was very grateful to Lin Yuesha and decided to go to the madam later to report and say a few good words for Lin Yuesha.

"This matter cannot be left like this. You should not bear the responsibility for Lin Qian's mistakes."

Jiang Baozhu finally managed to interject, supporting Zhang Qing'er in confronting Lin Qian and at least clarifying the situation to minimize Zhang Qing'er's losses.

"But my cousin left the manor and we don't know where he went."

Zhang Qing'er was somewhat intimidated by Lin Qian; she really didn't want to hear those words a second time.

"Leave it to me to find out. This county isn't very big, and it's quite conspicuous for strangers to stay here during the Spring Festival."

Jiang Baozhu volunteered, and she didn't even ask Lin Qian to treat her mother, Xu Shi. For her sister Zhang Qing'er, she was willing to discard her like a used tool.