Chapter 30 Choosing a Cousin-in-Law "Mingli is about to get married, and Pei Lang..."

Lin Zhifurong's expression stiffened slightly for a moment, but quickly eased, and she lowered her eyes sadly: "Aunt forgot, half a month from now is the anniversary of Azhi's father's death, and a month from now is the anniversary of Azhi's mother's death."

“A-Zhi is naturally willing to listen to her aunt, but this is truly against filial piety…”

Lin Shaowan sighed, "It really was my aunt's oversight; she forgot about such an important matter."

"Alright, alright, then let's not rush it. We can discuss it when Mingli returns."

“Mingli is getting married, so Pei Lang, as the eldest brother, naturally can’t delay any longer.”

Suddenly, Pei's father spoke up, looking at Lin Shaowan: "If Madam has time to host a banquet these days, she should also look for some girls of similar family background and age to meet."

Lin Shaowan naturally agreed, but Lin Zhi's movements became unnatural. In her panic, she looked up and met her uncle's probing gaze.

"Since Azhi is going to become part of the family, she should learn from your aunt properly, so that she can use it in the future."

"yes."

Since her husband had spoken, Lin Shaowan, who also cared about her reputation, immediately found dozens of portraits of noble ladies in the capital and dragged Lin Zhi to look at them together.

"Look, this is General Feng's eldest daughter. She is indeed very heroic... Lord Zhao's youngest daughter is also quite good. Although she is three years younger than Pei Lang, she has a very good temperament and appearance."

Lin Zhi followed her aunt and looked at each painting, finding them all wonderful.

These noble ladies were not only beautiful and elegant, but also came from better families. When Lin Zhi thought of herself, she almost couldn't maintain her forced smile.

"Azhi, which one do you think is better? Would Pei Lang like him?"

Suppressing the intense pain in her heart, Lin Zhi reached out and picked out the scroll she thought was the best: "This Miss Luo Chen looks excellent. I have also heard that she is exceptionally talented and is the second young lady of the He family."

"Her age is also similar to my cousin's, which is suitable."

Lin Shaowan also thought it was good. She took the portrait and looked at it carefully. Suddenly, she exclaimed, "Why do I see that Miss He and you, Azhi, look somewhat alike?"

Lin Zhi met her aunt's scrutinizing gaze and quickly lowered her eyes to hide the sadness in them: "How can A-Zhi be compared to Miss He? Aunt is joking."

Lin Shaowan chuckled twice: "What a coincidence. It seems even the heavens think we are meant to be a family."

The lingering heat of late summer, even as autumn approaches, still makes one feel uneasy.

Xia Ying looked at the barely touched food on the table and quickly called Chun Tao over to show her.

Chuntao glanced at it and then quietly waved her hand, telling her to take it out first.

"Miss ate little at lunch, and still has no appetite for dinner?"

A gentle breeze brushed against her face, and Lin Zhi finally looked up from her book, watching Chun Tao gently fanning her: "I had some snacks with my aunt this afternoon, so I'm not hungry yet."

"Did your aunt take the flower tea I asked you to send?"

Chuntao nodded: "Don't worry, Miss, it has already been sent to Madam."

"When I went there, I also saw that the eldest young master had been summoned by the madam."

Lin Zhi's fingers, which were turning the pages of the book, paused slightly, then she spoke lightly, "Oh? What did you say?"

Although Chun Tao was still unclear about the relationship between the two, she had a vague feeling about it and hesitated before speaking: "That's right, the eldest young master went to see the portrait of the noble lady."

"They said the eldest young master would choose for himself..."

With a "thud," the book in Lin Zhi's hand fell to the ground, making quite a commotion in the room.

Chun Tao was startled, thinking that her mistress was in pain from her wounds, and went forward with concern.

"Miss, shouldn't we change the dressing? Although it's almost autumn, it's still hot. It won't be good if the wound is covered up."

Lin Zhi brushed her hair aside, letting it fall over her shoulder, and pulled her clothes down to her waist. "Okay, let's change the dressing."

The wound had just healed and new pink flesh had grown, causing itching and pain. Just applying the medicine made Lin Zhi bite her lower lip all over. But when Chun Tao was about to apply scar removal ointment to her, Lin Zhi dodged it.

"That's not necessary."

Chun Tao frowned, thinking she was afraid of pain: "Miss, this is the best ointment sent by the eldest young master, it won't hurt."

But Lin Zhi had already pulled over a light gauze shirt from the side and put it on, letting the medicinal smell waft through the air.

"Chuntao, I'm in pain, can we not apply it today?"

Her slender, graceful shoulders and neck, as well as her wasp waist and narrow back, looked exceptionally beautiful under the sheer fabric of her clothes. Hearing the girl's almost coquettish tone, Chun Tao felt a chill run down her spine and blushed as she carefully put away the ointment.

"Then Miss, please rest well. This servant will take her leave now."

Hearing the door close, Lin Zhi sighed softly and slumped back on the soft couch, feeling a bit annoyed. She clutched the pillow in frustration.

It was still far from bedtime, but Lin Zhi felt her eyelids were incredibly heavy. She blinked and was surprised to find two tears falling.

Tears streamed down her face as if finding a gaping hole, and Lin Zhi silently wiped them away, murmuring, "Why are you crying?"

"Everyone knows that Pei Lang should be matched with a noblewoman, but you don't?"

But the more she wiped away her tears, the more she cried. Lin Zhi had never had anything of her own in her life, not even family, not even her own personality.

Only Pei Lang, that one truly precious love that belonged only to her.

Even with just that little bit, she couldn't hold on.

She couldn't bring herself to ignore Pei Lang's marriage.

Just as her slightly cool cheeks, still damp from the tears, were touched by a warm, large hand with calluses on its palm, Lin Zhi lifted her head with the force of the hand and, through her teary eyes, saw Pei Lang's handsome and refined face.

"Why are you crying?"

Lin Zhi didn't bother to ask him why he was here, she just turned her head away and shook off his hand: "Cousin, it's probably not appropriate for you to come here at this time."

"Men and women should not touch each other."

Pei Lang frowned, looking down at Lin Zhi with a puzzled expression. He lifted his brocade robe, sat down beside her, and adjusted the thin shirt that was about to fall off her shoulders: "What's all the fuss about?"

But Lin Zhi, upon hearing this, seemed like a rabbit with red eyes, glaring at him with wide almond-shaped eyes: "Cousin, you think I'm being difficult?"

"Ah Zhi should have realized long ago that she's nothing but a pretty face. Now that her cousin has succeeded, there's no need to bother coaxing her anymore!"

Pei Lang was indeed somewhat irritable due to matters in the palace, and Lin Shaowan's incessant chatter only added to the annoyance. He had intended to return to Lanxue Pavilion, but somehow, he ended up here with her.

Pei Lang felt very strange when he saw her crying, as if Lin Zhi was a kitten who couldn't leave him.

Rebuked like this, Pei Lang's expression darkened. He gripped her slender waist and frowned in a deep voice: "Lin Zhi, repeat what you just said."

Lin Zhi felt wronged, but her stubbornness wouldn't allow her to back down. Feeling the increasingly strong grip on her waist, she opened her mouth, intending to say it again.

As the two were locked in a stalemate, Pei Lang noticed that her face suddenly turned pale, and she clutched her lower abdomen in pain.

At first, he thought he had hurt her by pinching her, so he quickly let go, but she didn't feel better and it got worse.

"Lin Zhi!"

Seeing her collapse weakly, Pei Lang's heart tightened. Fearing that her wound had worsened, he quickly picked her up to call a doctor. As soon as he supported her, he felt a warm, wet sensation in his palm. There was a glaring red spot in his palm!

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Author's Note: Thank you for your support and collection!

(Thanks to Mingyue Qingfeng for the landmine~ I will try my best to update)