Qiu Jingfan feigned sadness, clutching his chest as if betrayed. Lin Yuxin couldn't help but rub her hands together, then pulled out a silver needle, waved it in front of Qiu Jingfan, and said:
"We don't need the Second Prince to worry about our Lin family's affairs. However, we hope that you will keep in mind what you should and shouldn't care about in the future, otherwise you might not be able to bear the consequences!"
After a barrage of threats and inducements, Lin Yuxin, regardless of whether he understood or not, pulled Li Xiaochen inside.
Her meaning was clear: if the second prince continued to pester her shamelessly, she wouldn't give him any face and wouldn't care whether he held a grudge or not.
At worst, once he ascends the throne, she'll plant bombs all over the Zhao Kingdom's palace. Even if she doesn't blow him up, she'll scare him to death!
Qiu Jingfan watched Lin Yuxin and Li Xiaochen's retreating figures with an inscrutable expression. At that moment, Li Xiaochen suddenly turned around, gave Qiu Jingfan a cold look, and the warning was obvious.
If he continues to harass Xin Xin, he will take coercive measures.
Qiu Jingfan pursed his lips, his pretense completely gone, and looked at Li Xiaochen with a calm expression until the two of them disappeared from sight.
He then looked away, his eyes indifferent. Fine, if he didn't let him know, it meant there really was a big secret.
If there's a secret, it will eventually be exposed, and people will find out sooner or later. Besides, they're cooperating, so there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
Having figured it out, Qiu Jingfan shook the fan in his hand and then followed them inside in a showy manner.
"Brother Jin, don't bother. You're a guest, why don't you sit down and rest for a while?"
"How can that be? The princess took pity on me, all alone, and invited me to the Lin residence for the New Year. I feel bad for having to sit on the sidelines and let you, a woman, run around doing chores. It's alright, I'm tough and can handle some work!"
Uncle Jin put down the lantern he had just finished pasting and waved his hand, saying...
Zhao Hanyue looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but then hesitated: ...?
The way you're acting makes it seem like you're the one in charge of this house. If word gets out, what will become of your reputation?
Zhao Hanyue had been trying to persuade them all afternoon, but to no avail. She sighed and stopped trying, then led her servants to continue painting the lanterns and lotus lanterns in their hands.
Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. According to past customs, there will be a tradition of releasing lanterns and making wishes tonight. Many people will go to make wishes, praying for good weather and a harmonious family in the coming year!
She also wants to make some lotus lanterns so that the children can go around them and make a wish.
As soon as Lin Yuxin and Li Xiaochen entered the house, they saw Uncle Jin busy around Zhao Hanyue. Whenever Zhao Hanyue needed help, he would immediately step forward to assist her.
Lin Yuxin was stunned. This... she only came home a few hours late, how come the house felt different?
Lin Yuxin leaned closer to her older brother and whispered, "My older brother is back. He's helping make lanterns and decorative lanterns right now."
"What's going on? Why is Uncle Jin being so attentive to my mother?"
"You're asking me? I'd like to ask you the same thing! This Uncle Jin and that Qiu Jingfan came together, saying you invited them to celebrate the New Year. Ever since Uncle Jin met my mother, he's been like this!"
“His mother told him to sit down and rest, but he wouldn’t listen. He’s been busy all afternoon, and he’s cooked all the dishes for tonight himself. I heard the side dishes are already prepared, and he’s just waiting for the time to come so he can cook them.”
Lin Chenglie looked at his sister with a blank expression and said that he seriously suspected that this Su Qianjin must have some other thoughts about his mother.
After hearing this, Lin Yuxin looked at Uncle Jin, who was helping Zhao Hanya tidy up the lanterns, and fell silent.
Uncle Jin's solicitous manner certainly makes one suspect his motives!
"Okay! I'll find a chance to ask Uncle Jin what he means later?"
Lin Yuxin nodded, indicating that she understood. She didn't want to actually let a wolf into her house!
Although she didn't object to her mother looking for someone, she wondered if it was possible for them to fall in love at first sight at their age! But her mother didn't seem to have any other feelings for Uncle Jin.
"Xin Xin and the Prince have arrived! Please, Your Highness, take a seat."
Zhao Hanyue then looked up and saw Lin Yuxin and Li Xiaochen standing at the gate of the courtyard. She quickly got up to greet them.
"Madam Lin, you're too kind. Please go about your business and don't worry about me. I'll just stay with Xin Xin!"
Seeing that she had put down her work and was about to get up, Li Xiaochen quickly stopped her.
Lin Yuxin also stepped forward and pulled Zhao Hanya aside, saying:
“Mother, don’t mind him. He can find something to do himself. Here, he’s not a prince, just your son-in-law. You don’t need to be so polite to him. Mother, why are you making so many lanterns?”
Looking at the lanterns in the courtyard, Lin Yuxin couldn't quite remember how many she had won today. There were so many lanterns together, she couldn't possibly see them all.
"You! You're just bullying the prince! Today is the first day of the lunar month, and tonight there's a custom of releasing lotus lanterns and making wishes. Tonight, you should go with your brothers and friends to join in the fun and make your own wishes. This year will surely be peaceful and prosperous!"
Zhao Hanyue was amused by Lin Yuxin. She glanced at Li Xiaochen and, seeing that he was not really upset, felt relieved. She raised her hand to stroke the stray hairs on Lin Yuxin's cheek and said softly.
"Hehe! He wouldn't!! Then Mother and I will go release lanterns together tonight!"
Lin Yuxin then realized that the lantern-releasing event the manager of Shiyalou had mentioned earlier wasn't an activity, but an annual custom. She immediately started to coax Zhao Hanya into acting cute.
"That's right, Mrs. Lin, you should go too, just to keep Xin Xin company!"
Seeing her coquettish manner, Li Xiaochen felt a little tempted, but still spoke up to help Lin Yuxin.
"Okay! Let's all go tonight!"
Seeing that the two of them got along well, Zhao Hanyue smiled and compromised.
After Qiu Jingfan returned, the group made about ten flower lanterns and a few other lanterns together. Zhao Hanyue originally wanted to make a few more, but Li Xiaochen directly asked Wang Yu to bring over the lanterns he had won that day, and the courtyard was soon filled with them.
Zhao Hanyue also gave up the idea of continuing, as doing more would be pointless.
As dinner time approached, Uncle Jin went into the kitchen and prepared a table full of food. Lin Shaoyang and Lin Shixiao also returned, along with the whole family and two and a half outsiders, Li Xiaochen, Uncle Jin, and Qiu Jingfan, who also ate together.
Since there are only two women in the family, Lin Yuxin and Zhao Hanyue, there is no rule about men and women sitting separately.
During the Lunar New Year, it's more lively for the whole family to sit at one table.
At the dinner table, Li Xiaochen didn't put on airs and carefully served food to Lin Yuxin. Zhao Hanyue was surprised to see this, but she also felt that her daughter deserved it.
The older brothers had even less to say; they were happy that their sister had found someone who would treat her well.
Only Qiu Jingfan and Uncle Jin looked a bit strange.
One reason is that it's beneath a prince's dignity to fawn over a woman. Even if Princess Pingning has exceptional qualities, there's no need for him to be so eager.
The other person, watching Li Xiaochen's actions, felt they had learned something. No wonder his wife cheated on him! It turned out he hadn't done enough! He wasn't considerate enough! If he had done enough, his wife wouldn't have run away!!
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