Chapter 307 My Little Sister Has Brains

Lin Yuesha was reluctant to take the jade pendant away, but upon hearing Xiao Qi's words, she immediately smiled and said, "Thank you, brother!"

Xiao Qi nodded, then awkwardly turned his face away. Just now, he had caught a glimpse of the curves of Lin Yuesha's chest, which already showed signs of a young woman's charm, indicating that the prescription he had requested had been effective.

"Brother, there's a saying that goes, 'The only way to repay a life-saving debt is with your body.' How about I marry Brother Yun?"

Chatting with my stepbrother is a carefree experience, because we're family. Even if I'm impolite, my kind-hearted stepbrother will only grumble a few words at most, nothing serious.

Lin Yuesha had a joking idea. Actually, thinking about it, apart from his less-than-attractive appearance, Pockmarked Face was quite good in every way. The fact that he could place people around his cheap father meant that he must be someone important, perhaps the benefactor the old monk had mentioned.

Lin Yuesha was annoyed. She had spent so much money, only knowing that her future marriage would be to someone rich and noble, but she had forgotten to ask about her husband's appearance.

It seems that when she has time to go to Yutan Temple to offer incense, she should ask one more question.

"Are you repaying a debt of gratitude or seeking revenge?"

Xiao Qi started to get angry at his disguise again. It was just a mask with a pockmarked face. His little sister had bad taste and didn't seem to mind the pockmarked face at all.

It's right not to judge a book by its cover, but Xiao Qi couldn't quite put his finger on it; it just bothered him. He had always wanted to get rid of the mask of his pockmarked face, but because of necessity, he had to reveal himself under a pseudonym.

"Of course it's to repay a debt of gratitude. I'm pretty good-looking, aren't I?"

Lin Yuesha, feeling slighted by her stepbrother, sat before the bronze mirror and examined herself closely. This body truly possessed a beautiful appearance; her face was fair and rosy, so delicate that pores were invisible. Her most striking feature was her eyes, like a clear spring. If there was any flaw, it was her thin, bean sprout-like figure, but now, thanks to her diligent consumption of medicinal soups, the results were remarkable.

"this……"

Xiao Qi couldn't answer, so he could only scold his younger sister, "How can a woman talk about her marriage so casually? Marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers. It seems you really should go to a girls' school to learn the proper etiquette!"

In girls' schools, teachers instruct women on virtues, precepts, and rules of conduct, and there is a set of regulations for women.

"Brother, I only said that because I consider you a close friend."

Lin Yuesha rested her chin on her hand and sighed softly. Apart from Jiang Baozhu, she really had no one to confide in.

Bai Youran has a good temper, but after all, she is the daughter of a prefect, unlike her, a little girl who grew up in the village.

"and me..."

Xiao Qi felt slightly comforted and then said, "Tell me about this. You must never talk nonsense in public!"

"I know, I know."

Lin Yuesha covered her ears with both hands to prevent her stepbrother from nagging, which made Xiao Qi both annoyed and amused.

Well, the girl only had eyes for the pockmarked face, his disguise; at least she didn't fancy any of the other men.

"Little sister, Father said that your biological father sent someone to our door, wanting to bring you to the capital..."

Xiao Qi took a sip of water and casually started a new topic.

This autumn, he has to go to the capital to take the imperial examination and take the opportunity to make some arrangements in the capital. He is worried that he might not be able to take care of some things and that his younger sister might get hurt if he goes to the Lin residence so abruptly.

The high-ranking families in the capital are different from the low-ranking families in the north. Whether it is a maid, a servant, or a coachman, everyone in the household will treat you differently depending on your status.

Therefore, Xiao Qi had no choice but to change his plans.

"I don't want to go."

Lin Yuesha didn't want to bring it up at all. She wanted to teach Granny Lin a lesson, but before she could do anything, the poisoning case at Changqing Academy came up, and she got involved in it.

Lately, if that old woman doesn't make any moves, she'll stay calm and avoid alerting the enemy.

Her own shop remained open as usual. Without money, she couldn't move an inch. If she wanted to go to the capital, she would have to save up enough silver before she could go. There were even more troublesome and difficult matters waiting for her at the Lin family mansion in the capital.

Qingxing and Qi'er are people with pockmarked faces, so they could help, but Lin Yuesha doesn't want to rely on others.

Privately, she had pondered this question: why would the pockmarked man have planted people in the Lin residence? It couldn't be for her sake, so he must have his own purpose.

From initial rejection to current anticipation, Lin Yuesha's mindset has completely changed regarding girls' education.

Bai Cha and Long Jing were her maids. Bai Cha was steady and composed, while Long Jing was lively and unconventional; each had her own merits. Just as Doctor Yan said, the world of high-ranking officials is a treacherous place, and learning more about it would only benefit her.

“But Lord Lin is the Prefect of the Capital. If my sister goes to the Lin family, she will be the daughter of the Prefect of the Capital.”

The daughter of a high-ranking official of the third rank, a powerful minister in the court, was a status that no young lady from a prefectural government in the north could compare to.

If an ordinary woman knew she had such a wealthy and noble status, she would probably have happily returned to the capital long ago. This young lady is indeed different from ordinary women; she has brains.

"Brother, what good is the daughter of the Prefect of the Capital? Scholar Lin chose wealth and status, abandoning me and my mother. We haven't heard from him for over a decade. How much affection can he possibly have for me?"

Aside from that blood relation, they're probably practically strangers.

Moreover, Lin Yuesha believed that she might be a disgrace to her biological father, Lin Shusheng, because her existence reminded him of how destitute he had been back then, forced to settle in Chenjia Village, become a live-in son-in-law, and marry a woman from the village.

Now, Lin Shusheng is eager to erase everything, but it's only because his political enemies have uncovered his secrets that he has no choice but to bring her back to the capital.

The Lin family mansion in the capital is not her home, nor is it her home. Not only that, but there is also a stepmother who is eyeing her covetously, and vicious sisters who, at a young age, would push people into the lake to drown.

The Lin family mansion is no different from a dragon's den or a tiger's lair; even if we were to jump into that pit, now would not be the time.

"Little sister, don't be afraid. Your brother will take the imperial examination this autumn. If he succeeds, he will be able to support you in the future."

Xiao Qi patted Lin Yuesha's shoulder, his eyes serious. He spoke slowly but firmly, as if he were making a vow.

"Big brother..."

Her situation was very complicated. Choosing to stand on her side was tantamount to going against a high-ranking official of the third rank. Yet, her stepbrother, a mere scholar, could say such things without hesitation.

Even just comforting someone was enough to move Lin Yuesha to tears.

"Brother, although we are not blood-related siblings, we are closer than blood-related siblings!"

Lin Yuesha clenched her fist, determined to earn lots of money to buy the best books for her stepbrother.

Without money, you can't move an inch. In the future, when my stepbrother passes the imperial examination, I will also need money to bribe officials and pave the way for him. I will not have to be forced to marry into a family or sell myself after the results are announced, and I will be able to have a good future.

Xiao Qi nodded. He liked hearing those words. It was natural that they were closer than siblings, and they would spend the rest of their lives together.

"No matter what happens, we will always be siblings!"

She had heard that men would become estranged from their families after getting married, forgetting their mothers once they married. How much more so for her, a stepsister? Lin Yuesha reminded herself not to forget her stepsister's kindness to her just because she might be neglected in the future. She would not be an ingrate!

Xiao Qi: ...

here we go again.