"Miss, you're finally back."
The gates of the Zhu residence were wide open. Green Zheng sat on the threshold, having been counting ants with her head down for who knows how long. Hearing the rustling sounds of carriages and horses, she finally raised her head with anticipation, trotted over to the carriage, and greeted Zhu Jiayu with a smile as soon as he stepped off.
Zhu Jiayu smiled and looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Green Kite tiptoed and whispered in her ear, "The Lin family has arrived. They are waiting for you in the hall. I didn't dare tell Master, I'm just waiting for you to come back and give me your instructions."
Zhu Jiayu nodded and walked inside.
In the hall, Lin Fangyue sat upright in a rosewood armchair, wearing a light pink long jacket with a stand-up collar and floral pattern, paired with a moon-white skirt with hibiscus and bird patterns, her back ramrod straight.
She was very nervous about coming to the Zhu family today. But her brother said that if she came, the Lin family might still have a glimmer of hope; but if she didn't come, the Lin family might be doomed to eternal oblivion.
The reason he sent her was because his brother thought that since she and the younger sister from the Zhu family were both women, she might be easier to talk to.
However, she still did not know the nature of the Zhu family's younger sister...
She maintained a calm expression, but in reality, she had almost torn the handkerchief to shreds.
Just as she was pondering Zhu Jiayu's identity, she saw someone enter. She turned her head and looked over, and almost instantly recognized that it was Zhu Jiayu.
Her distant cousin whom she had never met.
Because this face is truly a rare beauty in Yujing.
She stood up and looked nervously at Zhu Jiayu: "Miss Zhu."
She was originally a young lady from a prominent family, not to mention her great-aunt relationship with Zhu Jiayu. But now she couldn't maintain the airs of a noblewoman and dared not address her as a sister anymore.
After all, the Lin family had completely declined in Yujing since ten years ago. The uncles and elders who served as officials in the court were either dismissed or exiled. Although the Lin family daughters who married into high-ranking families escaped this calamity, they were also ordered not to have any further contact with their maternal families, otherwise they would be punished the same as the unmarried daughters of the Lin family.
The Lin family's past glory is now history. She has to be careful even when dealing with the young lady of the Jingzhao Yin's mansion, let alone someone like Zhu Jiayu, who is currently a very popular figure in Yujing City.
She had heard that Zhu Jiayu was highly regarded by both the Ning and Xiao families. Even the old Madam Xiao, who had long lived in the mansion, specially hosted a banquet to introduce her to several ladies from first-rate families.
If she could persuade Zhu Jiayu, perhaps... the Lin family would really have hope of making a comeback.
Zhu Jiayu sat down in the main seat: "Miss Lin."
Lin Fangyue started tearing at the handkerchief again.
She pursed her lips, unsure how to begin.
Zhu Jiayu wasn't in a hurry and sipped her tea slowly.
Lin Fangyue stared at her expectantly. After a long while, she finally made up her mind and said calmly, "I came to the Zhu family to ask Miss Zhu for a favor."
She raised her head, meeting Zhu Jiayu's gaze. "Miss Zhu is surely already aware of my identity. Ten years ago, the Lin family was framed by villains and ended up in this miserable state. I've come to beg Miss Zhu to do something for the Lin family, considering that we are cousins after all..."
Zhu Jiayu's gaze remained indifferent from the moment she opened her mouth until she finished speaking, but Lin Fangyue felt as if she were being subtly observed and scrutinized. For a moment, even her voice trembled slightly.
"How should I plan for the Lin family?" Zhu Jiayu leaned forward slightly and asked her with great interest.
Lin Fangyue was taken aback when she heard her question.
However, after a moment of stunned silence, she quickly replied, “With the support of the Ning and Xiao families, given time, you will surely be able to befriend some prominent families in the capital. If you can open your heart to those ladies and tell them about the Lin family, they will definitely be willing to persuade their husbands to jointly petition for a reinvestigation of the old events and to overturn the Lin family’s case.”
Because of her urgency, she spoke very hastily.
Zhu Jiayu couldn't help but clap her hands: "That's well said. It sounds like a very simple matter, and it seems like it doesn't require much effort. After all, befriending the ladies of aristocratic families would be very beneficial to me."
Lin Fangyue's eyes lit up.
Does her saying that mean she's willing to help them?
Unexpectedly, Zhu Jiayu changed the subject the next moment: "But even if I can befriend them, what does that have to do with the Lin family? After the incident at the imperial palace, how many people avoided the Lin family like the plague? The emperor was so angry that he ordered that from your generation onwards, the Lin family would not be allowed to hold official positions for the next three generations."
"What makes Miss Lin think they would be willing to help the Lin family? Or do you think overturning the case is just a matter of two people talking? Do you know how deep the water is here, and how many people will be involved?"
She sighed, "It's not that I'm unwilling to help the Lin family, it's just that even if I wanted to, I'm powerless to do so."
The light in Lin Fangyue's eyes gradually faded. She sat upright in the hall, her face deathly pale, pleadingly looking at Zhu Jiayu: "Isn't there any way at all? But... Grandfather was clearly wronged..."
Zhu Jiayu shook her head: "How is the Lin family doing now?"
“It’s very bad.” Lin Fangyue pursed her lips. “Just as you said, after the incident at the imperial palace ten years ago, the Lin family was severely weakened, and the uncles who were exiled have now disappeared without a trace…”
At this point, she couldn't help but cover her face and burst into tears.
She was only eight years old when the Lin family's tragedy happened, a carefree and wonderful age. For a long time, she couldn't understand why her home was gone overnight, her fine clothes and delicacies were gone, her servants and beautiful maids were gone, and her precious carriages and horses were gone.
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