Nickname (revision)
Nickname...
Although many things after her rebirth deviated significantly from her previous life, even becoming drastically different—such as her interactions with powerful figures like Kunrou, Gao Youyi's marriage, and her current estrangement from Zhou Weikan—she used to think that these were merely interactions with other people.
Has even the impression and expectations one has of their father changed now?
However, compared to Qingrou in her previous life, who embodied the sentimental desire of a young girl to find a partner, she herself preferred the name Xiao Zi in her current life.
Upon hearing this, the Third Prince clapped his hands and laughed first:
"'It seems that a beautiful woman comes at dusk, her graceful figure in the wind', (1) this small character is indeed very good."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang's thoughts stirred slightly. She slowly sipped her warm tea, looked at Lin Fu, and said gently:
"...Now that the Lin family and my Gao family are related by marriage, Lin Xu can naturally be considered half a daughter of our Gao family. But I wonder, now that your daughter is of marriageable age and has just completed her coming-of-age ceremony, has she been betrothed to anyone?"
As a noblewoman of high rank, Lady Yang's public inquiry about Lin Xu's marriage must indicate that she intends to arrange a marriage for him.
Although the Gao family is not at its peak now, it is still a family with some ancestral connections. Since Madam Yang is the one who mentioned it, the family must be quite distinguished. At the very least, their family background is impeccable.
Lin Fu glanced at his daughter, dressed in a brocade gown and with an indifferent expression, and was about to speak when he heard Qi Shi sitting in the distance, smiling sweetly, her eyes filled with tenderness:
"Madam Gao, you are unaware of this. Our Xu'er has already been in love with someone for some time now that she has come of age. I imagine she will be able to prepare for her marriage soon."
Who was Madam Yang? She had previously heard her sister-in-law mention that the Lin family was small, but one of the concubines was quite cunning. Today, seeing her attempt to smear Lin Xu's reputation with just a few words in the east room, she already understood Madam Yang's methods.
This concubine, by sheer coincidence, brought it up at this moment, not only publicly humiliating Lin Xu but also subtly severing the marriage proposal she was about to make. Such tactics, used in front of everyone, were truly disgraceful.
Madam Yang knew perfectly well what was going on, and couldn't help but sneer inwardly, but remained calm and composed as she spoke:
"Speaking of the nickname, I am reminded of a noble lady from the previous dynasty who was also beautiful enough to topple kingdoms. Her nickname at that time also included the character '绰' (chuò). It is evident that the nickname that Right Chancellor Lin has chosen for Miss 绰言 today is also very fitting."
As soon as the topic was brought up, Lady Zhang, the noblewoman, also recalled:
"...Is the lady you're referring to the renowned Zheng family from the previous dynasty? I've heard that Zheng was not only exceptionally beautiful but also incredibly talented. She was already famous throughout the capital while still a young lady, a truly remarkable woman. Later, she married into the Prince Yu'en's mansion and enjoyed his favor ever since, living a smooth and peaceful life."
The birth mother of the former Prince Yu'en was a concubine from the previous dynasty. She was raised by the Empress and was very close to Emperor Su when he was still the fifth prince. She had a carefree and unconventional mindset and withdrew from the factional struggles early on, which made her very popular with Emperor Su. Now, not only have her sons inherited their titles, but even her grandsons have been ennobled at a young age. They are a prominent and wealthy family in the capital.
More importantly, Prince Yuen was the third among all the princes in the palace.
The third prince played with a string of golden beads and longevity bracelets made of Phoebe zhennan wood in his hand. His nose bridge looked particularly handsome in the indoor lamplight and candlelight. His expression was half-concealed, and it was unclear how much of what the woman was saying had been heard.
Qi, with her keen observation, knew she had met her match. She chuckled inwardly, but discreetly covered her lips with her handkerchief and said softly:
"To be able to marry the person you love and spend the rest of your life with him is a blessing that is hard to come by for a girl. Now that Xu'er has completed her marriage and is so beautiful, I'm afraid that many matchmakers will come to visit us from today onwards. As her aunt, I can't help but be happy. Our Xu'er studied at Zhiqiong Hall for a while before, so I'm afraid that if we are to find a suitable match, it must be a scion of a wealthy family."
"Having studied for a period of time" means that he no longer goes there for some reason.
"A scion of a distinguished family" implies that he would be a perfect match for a meritorious marquis, but above that, he would certainly not be a match for the royal family who are about to enter the Eastern Palace.
Overt praise masking underlying criticism—this is Qi Shuang'er's consistent style; a soft cotton ball concealing the most poisonous needle.
Anyone with a modicum of sense could tell what kind of wicked scheme this concubine was plotting.
Gao Youyi adjusted the gold hairpin in her hair, already growing impatient, but with so many guests present, she naturally had to maintain appearances. Therefore, she merely glanced at the coquettishly smiling Qi Shi and said indifferently:
"However, she has just finished her coming-of-age ceremony. Xu'er is sensible and intelligent, but we are reluctant to betroth her to someone so early. Besides, the master is open-minded and understanding, and naturally, everything must be in accordance with Xu'er's wishes. There is no need to rush it now."
Lin Xu saw everything but remained silent.
The Third Prince now wields immense power in the court, and his fate is intertwined with the turbulent political struggles that will ensue. It is likely that all the noble ladies and relatives in the court are now striving to curry favor with him.
Today, the Third Prince personally came to the Lin family, giving them some face by attending Lin Xu's coming-of-age ceremony. This must be sending some signals.
Therefore, the astute Madam Yang quickly discerned the changing winds. Entrusted by Gao Youyi, she was determined to help the Lin family, which is probably why she put some thought into offering her advice.
Although Lin Xu had been reborn, she didn't know much about court intrigues from her previous life. She only vaguely remembered that the Third Prince's path to becoming Crown Prince was quite smooth, but what followed was the bloody battle among several noblewomen for the position of Crown Princess.
Even when the Lin family fell from power in the eighteenth year of the Yuanzhen era, the selection of the Crown Princess had not been decided.
Now, she is single-mindedly focused on revenge and saving the Lin family from repeating the same mistakes. She is already exhausted and naturally wants to stay as far away from other conflicts as possible.
After all, her only goal right now is the Dou family, which she has finally managed to get close to.
So on this matter... she and Aunt Qi were surprisingly on the same page, both wanting to prevent any possibility of her marrying the Third Prince.
Thinking of this, Lin Xu picked up a teacup from the table, casually took a sip, and then looked up.
Her soft, delicate face was as rosy as a cloud, full of the shyness of a young girl just beginning to experience love. She spoke softly:
"...Thank you, Father and Mother, for bestowing upon me this name. It means 'a shadowy figure emerges, words and deeds are in harmony,' and I like this name very much."
She paused, then slightly raised her head, her eyes sparkling, and said with a hint of shyness:
"However, I have given some thought to such an important matter as marriage. With so many distinguished guests here today, it is not appropriate to mention it in public and invite ridicule. I will discuss this matter with my parents again."
After speaking, she put down the cup in her hand. Perhaps she was nervous about talking about marriage, because the hand holding the cup trembled slightly, which complemented the blush on her face and made her look even more like a young girl in love.
Her face was already flushed with embarrassment.
Seeing this, everyone knew she was shy, so they chuckled and dropped the matter.
The banquet soon came to an end. Madam Yang was in a good mood because she had helped her sister-in-law on this trip. She also chatted with the Third Prince and inevitably drank a few more cups than usual.
She rarely visited the Lin residence, and after chatting for a while with Gao Youyi, arm in arm, she glanced around the corridor and, finding no one nearby, asked in a low voice:
"...Seeing the Third Prince's expression today, I sensed that he has some feelings for your stepdaughter. Have you noticed anything unusual about him before?"
Gao Youyi pondered for a moment, but hesitated somewhat before saying:
"I have never heard Xu'er mention this matter before. Although I entered the manor late, I have heard that Xu'er seems to have someone she likes, but the master is not very satisfied with her."
Madam Yang had always been closest to her sister-in-law, knowing her to be straightforward but kind-hearted. She couldn't help but gently pat Madam Gao's hand and whisper a word of advice:
"You should really put some thought into this. That girl is almost of marriageable age, and she's so beautiful. I've heard her mother was one of the most beautiful women in He City back then. It would be a real shame if she were to marry a simple nobleman. I think that aunt is a wicked woman. It's one thing for the girl to be young and confused, but you're practically a mother now. Marriage isn't a small matter; it can affect the wealth and status of an entire clan. You should think of something."
Gao Youyi's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Yang Shi in a daze. Otherwise, why would everyone say that her sister-in-law was so formidable?
She couldn't help but recall Lin Xu's shy and bashful appearance earlier, clearly showing that her girlish feelings had been stirred. Usually, she spent most of her time in the manor arguing with Madam Qi, but now, after listening to her elder sister-in-law's advice, she had begun to think things over.
.
Lin Xu was already exhausted from preparing for her coming-of-age ceremony during the day and then encountering trouble caused by the Yao family.
The Third Prince was indeed busy with many affairs and wouldn't stay at the Lin family's residence for long. He left before the banquet was over. She chatted with Liao Yan for a while longer, carefully saw him off to his carriage, and only then did she have time to thank the other relatives and friends who had attended the banquet.
Her two cousins from Holland were in high spirits, each bringing their wives to meet her.
My second cousin, Liang Zhengqi, was originally stationed with the army in the northern part of Hecheng, but now he has been assigned to guard the area of the counties and prefectures under the jurisdiction of Mujing, which is closer to the city. He happened to have some free time today and came to visit.
Both of my cousins-in-law are beautiful and have very kind appearances.
Lin Xurou greeted them one by one with a gentle smile, and her third cousin-in-law smiled and said:
"I've heard the old man often talk about it at home. Now that his most beloved youngest daughter's only bloodline has come of age, he is naturally very gratified. It's a pity that his health is not as good as before, and Hecheng is far away and he regrets that he couldn't come. Before, Liang Si was there to take care of you, but now he has also gone south. The old man is most worried about you every day!"
My maternal grandfather was a powerful and ruthless man in his youth, and I never expected him to care so much about her now. I can't help but feel emotional.
The group chatted briefly about everyday matters and anecdotes from their childhood in Hecheng. Lin Xu's eyes welled up with tears, but thankfully, the dim moonlight in the courtyard obscured them.
She personally escorted her brothers and sisters-in-law to the gate of the Lin residence, and they talked intimately for a long time before reluctantly parting ways.
A servant boy stood at the entrance, carrying a lantern that illuminated the stone bricks shrouded in the night. The night was chilly, and she took a thin fleece shawl from Zhu Ling and gently draped it over her shoulders.
Looking up, the bright moon hung high like a ribbon, casting its clear light across the ground. Accompanied by a cool breeze, it stretched her already slender shadow to an extremely long length, while the chirping of cicadas began to rise all around.
She sighed softly.
A chilling male voice rang out from the shadows where the light and shadow had not yet reached.
"Today is supposed to be a joyous day, why are you sighing, young lady?"
She looked in the direction of the sound.
But it was a handsome man who slowly emerged from the shadows under the moonlight.
Zhou Weikan's brows and eyes were shrouded in the cold night, which added a touch of melancholy to his appearance that was not common in him.
"I haven't had a chance to personally congratulate Miss Lin yet."
All the guests had already left, and compared to the bustling scene of being surrounded by many guests during the day, he was now all alone, and his surroundings were particularly desolate.
The colorful curtains danced lightly in the wind, their colors indistinguishable in the darkness, only the rustling of the wind could be seen, giving the scene a somewhat desolate feel.
But why hasn't he left yet?
She was exhausted, but her eyes, though cold and clear, showed no trace of wariness. A faint smile played on her lips.
"Thank you for your kind offer, young master."
Zhou Weikan's expression was mostly hidden in the moonlight and could not be clearly seen. She only felt that the figure slowly walking towards her was very familiar.
As each memory gradually overlaps with the present, I am momentarily disoriented and unable to distinguish between day and night or where I am.
“‘Remembering your graceful figure before the wind and your delicate beauty after the snow’ (2), the girl’s figure is graceful and elegant, and the nickname ‘Chuoyan’ is indeed very fitting for you.”
He walked slowly to stand beside her. He was bathed in a clear, luminous light, his features unchanged, as clear and bright as a shimmering lake.
Lin Xu unconsciously tightened his shawl around his neck.
Whether it was the sound of the wind or the moonlight that made her unable to refuse, her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, her throat tightened, and now she could no longer hide her sobs.
If she had been a little slower when she sprinkled the love potion on Yao Sha behind the screen today, or if she hadn't been able to dodge when Yao Sha pounced on her, she probably wouldn't be a virgin right now.
We've poured our hearts and souls into getting this far. Was it all worth it?
Her voice was soft, and she sighed almost unconsciously, her voice so low it seemed to dissipate in the cool breeze.
"Uncle Zhou... I'm so tired."
Zhou Weikan's eyes darkened, and the curtains fluttered, stirring the hazy moonlight.
She finally saw his expression; his face was full of suspicion, and then quickly turned to shock.
He suddenly grabbed Lin Xu's wrist tightly.
"—What did you call me just now?"
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