Inside the Lin residence, Mr. and Mrs. Lin were both amazed and apprehensive as they looked at the fabrics and jewelry.

Lin's mother held Lin Yun's hand and whispered, "Yun'er, this gift is of dubious origin, we can't accept it!"

Mr. Lin nodded in agreement: "Yes, our family can't afford such a generous gift. What if it causes us any trouble?"

Lin Yun reassured them, "Father, Mother, don't worry, I'll handle it."

She glanced at the ruby ​​headdress, and had already guessed seven or eight parts of what was going on.

Who else but "Master Zhao" could give such a gift?

Lin Feng was overjoyed: "Yun'er, is the person giving this gift an eunuch? Then his master must be... royalty?"

Lin Yun glared at him: "Big brother, watch your words!"

Lin Feng awkwardly shut his mouth, but the eagerness in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Lin were even more shocked. When did their daughter become acquainted with such a powerful and influential person?

The two exchanged a glance, both feeling uneasy, unsure whether it was a blessing or a curse.

Lin's mother's heart stirred. Yun'er was now fifteen years old and it was time to arrange a marriage for her. The thin little girl from back then had grown into a graceful young lady.

She had a small, delicate face, almond-shaped eyes, and a delicate nose. Her skin was so tender it looked like you could squeeze water out of it. Her eyes, in particular, were so clear they seemed to see right through people.

A lump formed in her throat as she recalled how Wang Wu had brought thugs a month ago, and if Yun'er hadn't been lucky...

"Mother, I'm fine." Lin Yun patted her mother's hand, only to see the other woman dazedly shed tears.

Lin's mother hurriedly wiped away her tears: "I'm happy...you're old enough to be of marriageable age now."

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she changed them again, "This morning, Matchmaker Zhang came again to propose marriage, saying she's the young master of a rice shop in the south of the city..."

She stole a glance at her daughter's expression and saw that her brows were slightly furrowed, so she quickly said, "Mother didn't agree, she just said she'd take another look."

In fact, it wasn't just the Zhang family. Ever since Yun'er's shop started making a fortune, matchmakers have been practically breaking down their door trying to arrange marriages.

There were sons of merchants, scholars and officials, and even a retired Hanlin scholar who wanted to take Yun'er as his second wife.

Lin's mother stroked the delicate patterns on the brocade. Every piece of these silks and satins was earned by her daughter working late into the night.

A fifteen-year-old girl should be at home embroidering and chasing butterflies, but her Yun'er...

"Mother, I don't want to think about these things right now." Lin Yun carefully put away the gift and instructed Xiao Tao to put it in her room.

Getting married at fifteen is impossible unless she's insane; in modern times, she'd still be in middle school.

Lin's mother hesitated, then noticed her daughter's ears turning red and immediately shut up.

Okay, these two are definitely up to something.

Lin Feng remained silent, but his mind was in turmoil. He thought that his younger sister was destined for great things.

I can't just stay in one place anymore; I have to take on the responsibility of supporting my sister's family.

Otherwise, if my sister is bullied in the future, I won't even have the right to stand up for her.

Thinking of Xie Yu, Lin Feng clenched his fists and secretly vowed to do even better than Xie Yu.

Lin Yun returned to her room and looked at the ruby ​​jewelry and jade bracelet on the table, her mind in turmoil.

What happened this morning shattered her inner peace.

I felt a mixture of sweetness and worry.

"What does he mean by this? We've only met a few times, and he's already giving such a generous gift..." she muttered to herself.

If it's because of the blueprints, then there's no need to send jewelry; the implication is too strong.

If she were truly that high and mighty emperor, she wouldn't be an ignorant young girl; she would naturally understand the deeper meaning behind it.

But her ambitions were never in the deep palace, but in the vast world.

Unconsciously, her fingertips caressed the dragon pattern on the jade bracelet.

That day at the shop, I was taken in for a custom-made suit, and I felt an unintentional connection with the person I was looking at.

When discussing business in the teahouse, the dragon embroidery peeking out from his cuffs;

And the curve of his Adam's apple as he drinks tea.

Various details surfaced in my mind.

He suddenly chuckled softly and shook his head.

Well, how could she possibly fathom the thoughts of an emperor?

Instead of overthinking, focus on the task at hand.

She locked the jewelry in her dressing case and went to the workshop in the backyard.

The newly made lip balm has been formed and is awaiting final adjustments.

She rolled up her sleeves, took out the spiritual spring water from the small porcelain bottle, and dripped it into her rouge.

The pink cream instantly became brighter, and the fragrance became even more delicate.

"Girl, the color is so beautiful," exclaimed the maid who was in charge of grinding the flower petals.

Lin Yun dipped her finger in the mixture and spread it on the back of her hand.

The lipstick has a delicate texture and rich color, making the skin appear as smooth as jade. "Adding some beeswax will make the texture harder and easier to preserve."

The workshop was steaming hot, and the maids were busy filtering flower juice and grinding pearl powder.

Lin Yun moved among the staff, personally adjusting each step of the process.

In the midst of their busyness, they temporarily put the matter of the Fourth Master sending gifts out of their minds.

It wasn't until the sun was setting that Lin Yun washed off the rouge from her hands and returned to her room.

The jade bracelet on the dressing table gleamed with a faint green light in the twilight.

She picked up the bracelet as if possessed and slipped it onto her wrist—surprisingly, it fit perfectly.

In the bronze mirror, the emerald green bracelet accentuated her slender, fair wrist.

"Whatever he means, I have my own path to walk," she said softly to herself in the mirror.

The woman in the mirror had beautiful features, but her gaze remained as firm as ever—from the day she arrived, she vowed to live a wonderful life in this world.

Outside the window, dusk was deepening.

Lin Yun lit the oil lamp, spread out the Xuan paper, and began to draw a new design for the rouge box.

The pen tip scratched across the paper, as if that could suppress the strange feeling in my heart.

When Xie Yu returned to Linglong Pavilion, he threw the tea leaves in his hand to the ground, his face ashen.

The steward asked tremblingly, "Young Master, has something happened?"

Xie Yu gritted his teeth and said, "Go investigate! Who exactly is behind Lin Yun!" The manager was completely bewildered, but quickly agreed and left.

A day later, Xie Yu's steward hurriedly reported: "Young Master, we've found out! The person who sent the gift seems to be...someone from the palace!" He pointed to the sky as he spoke.

The teacup in Xie Yu's hand shattered with a "crack," and tea splashed all over him.

His face was pale, and he murmured, "The people in the palace... could it be him?"

He suddenly remembered Lin Yun's clear yet unfathomable eyes, and a chill ran through him.

If that's the case, wouldn't all his thoughts be suicidal?

The following day, Xie Yu did not visit again.

However, several unfamiliar "passersby" appeared in front of the Lin residence, their eyes occasionally glancing into the residence.

Lin Yun sensed something was off as soon as she stepped outside; a group of people were always following her from a distance.

I suddenly found it amusing. This Fourth Master really is the domineering CEO type; he has such a strong desire to control everything.

Lin Yun ignored them and walked straight away.

Whether it's protection or surveillance doesn't matter; let him know what he wants to know.

Aside from the secret of the spiritual spring, she had nothing to fear.