plead
As expected, the Bai family finally couldn't hold back any longer.
Lin Xu stared intently at Bai Shi, his smile widening.
"Thank you for your concern, Mother. However, my father has been very busy with political affairs lately, and my mother has also given birth to a younger brother. Everything must be extremely hectic. I am becoming more and more pregnant, and going back and forth would be too much of a hassle. That's why my father specifically instructed me to stay home and rest."
What Lin Xu said was true.
Now that the year is over, not only are there numerous affairs at the Lin family's residence, but the imperial examinations are also being prepared in full swing. Currently, the court is embroiled in a power struggle between civil and military officials. With Princess Kunrou's previous military achievements and the addition of the Crown Prince's faction, the two factions of Chancellor Zhao and Prince Mao have reached a point where neither side will yield. This has even stretched the imperial examinations, which have traditionally been handled by Chancellor Zhao's faction, thinly under their control. Although she usually resides in the inner quarters, she has heard that Emperor Su is currently considering the selection of candidates for the imperial examinations and will likely make a decision soon.
According to her memories from her previous life, Emperor Su would have appointed two officials, the then Vice Minister and Minister of Rites, respectively. However, both officials declined to participate due to the presence of their own clan members in the examinations. Consequently, the task of supervising the examinations fell to her father, the Right Vice Minister of Rites and a member of the Hanlin Academy. However, in her previous life, Kunrou had not achieved any military merits, and the Yao family, which had once stood as a triumvirate with Prince Mao and Prime Minister Zhao, had not fallen from power. Many things were quite different then.
When her father visited her last time, despite her cold and weak constitution, she still remembered to remind him before he left, hoping he would decline the position of chief examiner. Unexpectedly, her father simply shook off his gloom and laughed heartily, patting her shoulder affectionately, "Zhuoyan is worried about her father, but the matter of the imperial examination has always been the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites, and it doesn't fall on your father's shoulders."
Lin Xu feared that if he spoke too much, he might bring up the events of his past life, making it impossible to explain. Therefore, he could only plan slowly and find a better pretext to act accordingly. However—
Now that the Bai family has finally agreed to let me stay at home for a while, it's unlikely they're being so kind as to reunite me and my daughter.
She was clearly so anxious about Dou Yanzhou's situation that she wanted to use her father's connections to help him out.
Therefore, the reason why Madam Bai dealt with An Chan so severely just now was perhaps because she wanted to do Madam Bai a favor, since it was Madam Bai who brought An Chan and Lian Rong here today.
In a short while, Lin Xu understood clearly, and when he looked at Bai Shi again, there was a faint smile in his eyes.
Seeing this, Bai felt another pang in her heart. She could only force a kind smile and say, "Indeed, Right Chancellor Lin is always in charge of court affairs and drafts imperial edicts; he is naturally very busy." Changing her tone, she casually fiddled with the beads in her hand a few times and smiled:
"However, now that you have been granted an imperial title and are the adopted daughter of the Princess, and our Dou family has been well taken care of by the Imperial Son-in-Law, we naturally cannot be lacking in courtesy. It just so happens that I recently obtained some nourishing and beautifying Dongjiao (a type of medicinal herb), and since the weather is fine today, why don't you and Yuse go together to Yong'anfang to pay your respects to the Princess?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xu couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
As expected of Bai Shi, failing to scheme against her in one way, she immediately brought up another. And because of her, she had refused to go home, making it even harder for her to refuse to see the Princess. Or perhaps, Bai Shi had always harbored designs on the Princess, and her true purpose today was to get her to plead with the Princess?
Lin Xu sighed inwardly. "Mother is absolutely right. I will take the medicine to prevent miscarriage and then leave."
Since that's the case, she's too lazy to argue with the Bai family anymore. She still needs to see the Princess. As for Dou Yanzhou, Dou Yanxun had repeatedly told her not to interfere. Today, she only needs to deliver the message. As for the rest, such as whether the Princess will help or not, that's up to Dou Yanzhou's own fate.
Lin Xu returned to the villa, had a medicinal meal, and rested for a while before Dou Zhen, who had already received the news and finished preparing, arrived.
Dou Zhen has always been obedient, but now that she has lost hope in Jiang Heng, she is only focused on the matter of Bai Shi choosing a husband for her. She feels that it doesn't matter who she marries, and she no longer has the charming girlishness she once had.
Today, she did not wear her usual bright pink, but instead chose a light moon-blue silk jacket, embroidered with winter plum blossoms, over which she wore a soft, smoky gray gauze overlay. She wore no extra embellishments, only a single delicate jade hairpin tucked diagonally into her hair. At this age, when a young woman should be at her most radiant, her eyes were downcast, and her expression was somber.
Lin Xu saw this but didn't know how to comfort him. Later, she sent someone to inquire about Jiang Heng again, only to find that he was handsome and unpredictable, and had risen to his current position in just a few years, so his methods must be extraordinary. Now, Dou Yanxun has been getting to know Jiang Heng better and says that although he always has a smile on his face, he is definitely not an ordinary person.
Such a profound and unfathomable person approached Dou Zhen with ulterior motives from the very beginning. No wonder Dou Zhen fell for him, and no wonder I was blinded by Dou Zhen's girlish feelings and failed to realize Jiang Heng's true purpose for so long.
Dou Zhen lowered her head and quickly got into the carriage. With Zhu Ling's help, Lin Xu stood up with great difficulty. Now that she was pregnant, it would be too crowded for the two of them to squeeze into one carriage. So Steward Qi specially prepared two spacious carriages for her and Dou Zhen to ride in one each.
Just as the rolled-up carriage curtain was about to fall, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from in front of the carriage.
Lin Xu looked up and saw Rong Wei rushing over. She curtsied to her, nodded with a somber expression, and then stepped forward to whisper in her ear, "Madam's guess is correct. Not long after you left, a visitor quietly went to Lingbo Garden, and that person was none other than... Aunt Mu."
Lin Xu paused for a moment. She had only guessed that there might be more to An Chan's matter than met the eye, and that was why she had Rong Wei keep an eye on Lingbo Garden out of suspicion. She hadn't expected that it was indeed true. She gently squeezed Rong Wei's cold hand and whispered, "When I return, invite Aunt Mu over for tea."
Rongwei nodded solemnly.
The carriage curtain slowly fell, the daylight was just right, it was time to set off. Lin Xu looked at the pine resin incense smoke from the incense burner inside the carriage, her features were light, but a layer of weariness was shrouded in her.
After her failed suicide attempt, Feng Daizhu secluded herself at home, refusing to see anyone, yet she insisted on seeing Aunt Mu. No wonder An Chan's weeping and pleading earlier didn't seem like acting—
In this light, it seems as if the long-ailing Feng Daizhu and the usually quiet and elegant Aunt Mu joined forces to eliminate An Chan, the most arrogant and spoiled member of the main household. And she, by sheer accident, inadvertently became the scapegoat for these two.
She lowered her gaze and stroked the soft, dense fox fur on her knees, momentarily lost in thought. Fortunately, the snow on the streets had melted, and the journey was smooth; she soon arrived at the gate of the Princess's residence.
Before the vermilion gate stood towering pines, eaves soaring high, and guards stood watch on both sides, their imposing armor gleaming in the sunlight. Upon seeing her arrival, before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, a well-mannered eunuch came to report that the eldest princess was still listening to Buddhist scriptures, while Princess Kunrou had gone out to practice martial arts early in the morning, and asked the two of them to wait inside.
Now that she is the nominal adopted daughter of the eldest princess, she can come to the elegant and luxurious Yong'an Ward without any hindrance, and no longer needs to be informed or wait.
.
The two were led to Tingzhu Hall for a short rest. A palace maid quietly brought over a pot of tea and several small dishes of exquisite refreshments. Outside the hall, the pine trees rustled in the wind, and a weeping plum tree leaned against the corridor, releasing a delicate fragrance.
Before half an incense stick had burned, a series of light footsteps could be heard. It was the Princess who was walking gracefully towards them. Seeing that Lin Xu and Dou Zhen had both stood up, the Princess patted her hand and said with a smile, "You are both going to be mothers. Why bother with these formalities?"
Having said that, she tossed her robes and leaned against the chaise longue. Since returning to the capital, Liao Yan had been first granted the title of princess, and then received numerous other honors. Now she was the most prominent female general in Dayu, and she had even volunteered to become the supervisor of the martial arts training ground. She also suggested that the officials in charge of recruiting students for the training ground take in some agile female disciples. Now she was highly sought after by the women of Dayu.
Now, with her beloved daughter returned, the eldest princess seemed to have changed completely. Gone was her former domineering, opulent air; instead, she possessed a more carefree spirit. She casually brushed aside the hem of her dark purple robe embroidered with sea and cliff patterns, her eyes clear as the moon, her demeanor naturally elegant. Looking at Lin Xu's prominent belly, she smiled:
"You're so far along in your pregnancy, why aren't you at home resting? Why are you rushing to send me this precious medicinal gelatin? Do you think my household is lacking in these things?"
Dou Zhen sat upright to the side, slightly taken aback.
Lin Xu smiled, her smile humble. "Thank you for your concern, Princess. It has been a long time since I last paid my respects to you. I have been thinking of you."
The eldest princess raised her eyebrows, but smiled. "How many times have I told you? You are no longer an outsider. You are my adopted daughter. Just like Ye'er, you should call me Mother."
Although she had stayed at the Princess's residence for a few days after being recognized as her godmother, Lin Xu still felt somewhat embarrassed whenever the Princess addressed her that way. The Princess found this increasingly amusing and often teased her. The two chatted and laughed, while Dou Zhen, sitting to the side, became increasingly reserved.
The eldest princess saw this and then stopped smiling, saying gently, "It's not easy for you two to come, but unfortunately Kunrou went out to practice her skills and probably won't be back for a while. So I'm sorry to trouble you to chat with me."
Dou Zhen quickly bowed and said, "I dare not." Lin Xu also said, "To be honest, I don't know how to bring this up, but now my eldest brother is involved in Yu Shi's bribery case, and my mother asked us to come here, hoping to ask you for your opinion and see if my brother has any way to help..."
Lin Xu was prepared to be reprimanded by the Princess when he spoke. Princess Duanhe was exceptionally noble and powerful, and she and Emperor Su were born of the same mother and had been very close for many years, yet she had never openly interfered in the court's disputes. Even though the Dou family had entered officialdom and gradually risen through the ranks, all these years they had only relied on the powerful figure of the Imperial Son-in-Law Liao Qian.
Her visit today is so abrupt; both logically and emotionally, the princess should refuse her.
With a casual wave of her hand, the palace maids who had been standing in the hall lowered their heads and quietly retreated.
The eldest princess then raised her eyes, looked at Lin Xu carefully, and a faint smile appeared on her lips:
"You were sent by Madam Dou, weren't you?"
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