Chapter 26 Tomorrow, I'll take Lingxi with me!
A glint flashed in Lin Chengzong's eyes, but he wasn't too surprised.
He leaned forward slightly, his tone serious: "Have you thought this through? Choosing the Duke of Dingguo's mansion means a life of wealth and leisure, a lifetime of glory and peace. Choosing Xiao Jingheng, on the other hand, means you will step into the torrent of power."
The Yongning Marquis's Mansion is a pillar of the Eastern Palace, located at the center of the vortex. Whether it will rise to the top or fall is only a matter of moments, and no one can say for sure.
Moreover, Xiao Jingheng is a person of superior ability and character, but because of this, his ambitions are bound to be great, and his path will be full of thorns.
“If you follow him, you will never have a peaceful life again. You must be vigilant at all times and plan ahead in every situation. It may even implicate your family.”
He laid bare the pros and cons of both paths before Lin Wan'er.
Lin Wan'er's heart churned as she listened, but her gaze grew ever more resolute.
The possibility of "reaching the summit" burned like a flame in her heart.
She didn't want to be just a symbol, marrying into a stable family and continuing the Lin family's superficial elegance.
What she wanted was real power, power that would allow the Lin family to return to the center of power and recreate the glory days when her grandfather's students were spread throughout the court!
Lin Wan'er suddenly stood up, bowed deeply to Lin Chengzong, and said firmly:
“Grandfather, I understand the risks involved. However, a flower in a greenhouse may enjoy temporary stability, but it is difficult to withstand the storms. I do not wish to be a vine clinging to a tall tree.”
"If I can assist a wise ruler, manage the household affairs, and secure a place for the family amidst turbulent waves, and even bring glory to the family, even if the road ahead is difficult, I, your granddaughter... am willing to go."
No regrets!
Lin Chengzong gazed at his granddaughter for a long time before slowly leaning back in his chair and letting out a sigh that was difficult to decipher.
He seemed both pleased and worried.
In the end, it all boiled down to this: "Fine! Since you've made up your mind, then so be it. The Lin family will be your last resort."
...
After returning from Lin Chengzong's place, Lin Wan'er had completely composed herself, leaving only calmness and calculation.
She beckoned to a servant and instructed, "Two days from now, at the flower-viewing banquet at the Princess's residence, prepare that moon-white dress with cloud patterns in advance, along with that pearl headdress. Also, find that fine pine soot ink you obtained a few days ago, wrap it carefully, and present it as a congratulatory gift to the Princess."
The eldest princess was of noble birth, straightforward in nature, and loved matchmaking.
Her flower-viewing banquets are attended by almost all the top young men and noble ladies of marriageable age in the capital.
Xiao Jingheng will definitely be on the list; this is an excellent opportunity.
"Yes, Miss," Qingdai replied, then hesitated slightly before adding:
"Miss, are you going to the banquet...?"
Having followed Lin Wan'er for many years, she could vaguely guess her intentions.
Lin Wan'er's lips curved into a very faint smile. She did not answer Qingdai's question. Suddenly remembering something, she instructed her, "There is one more thing. Go and do it secretly."
"Find out if a maid has recently appeared by the side of the Marquis of Yongning's heir. I need to know all her details, especially her relationship with the Marquis's heir, the Marquis's wife, and even the other masters in the mansion."
For some reason, Lin Wan'er felt that the little girl who was following Xiao Jingheng earlier was a potential threat.
She wouldn't allow any unplanned factors to interfere with her goals.
"This servant understands and will act with caution."
Qingdai responded and quickly went to make the arrangements.
——
The following day, at the Yongning Marquis's residence, in the Yilan Garden.
When Xiao Jingheng brought Su Xiaoyu to pay their respects to Madam Liu, Madam Liu pushed a beautifully crafted invitation card in front of Xiao Jingheng.
"Jingheng, the Princess's residence has sent an invitation for a flower viewing banquet to be held in two days. Someone from our Marquis's residence needs to attend. I have to go to a temple outside the city to fulfill a vow tomorrow, so it will be inconvenient for me to go. You can go on behalf of the Marquis's residence."
Xiao Jingheng accepted the invitation with a calm expression.
He had never been interested in such social engagements and was about to decline, suggesting that his mother arrange for Xiao Lingxi or Xiao Jingxuan to go instead, when he heard Su Xiaoyu's thoughts echoing in his ears again.
Wow! The Princess's flower-viewing banquet! My goodness, that's a top-tier royal banquet! It must be incredibly lively, filled with dignitaries, and probably even has a ton of palace-exclusive desserts! I really want to go and see it for myself… I've never witnessed anything like this before!
She could already picture the elegant ladies and exquisite delicacies at the banquet, and she couldn't help but swallow hard.
[However, even if the young master attends such a banquet, it would be inconvenient for him to bring maids, right? Sigh, what a pity! I really want to go~]
That initial excitement was quickly overshadowed by disappointment. Su Xiaoyu hung her head, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her clothes.
Xiao Jingheng heard her thoughts clearly, and a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.
He hadn't originally planned to go; it was indeed against etiquette to bring a maid to such an occasion.
But hearing her utterly dejected expression, a strange thought inexplicably arose in his mind, and he changed the subject, saying to Madam Liu:
"Mother, I'll take Lingxi with me the day after tomorrow."
“Since she is attending the banquet in the name of the Marquis’s residence, and she is getting older, she should broaden her horizons.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu thought it made sense and had just nodded when she heard a hurried voice coming from outside the door:
"Mother! I'm here!"
Xiao Lingxi walked in with a fragrant breeze. Today, she was wearing a pomegranate red satin dress with white butterflies and clouds, which made her look bright and charming.
Upon seeing her elder brother, she paused in her cheerful steps and gave a proper bow.
"I've met my mother and my eldest brother."
Seeing this, Madam Liu smiled and told Xiao Jingheng's suggestion: "Lingxi, you've come at the right time. Your elder brother will be representing the Marquis's Mansion at the flower viewing banquet at the Princess's Mansion the day after tomorrow. He plans to take you with him to broaden your horizons. You should prepare well these next two days."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxi's beautiful eyebrows immediately furrowed, and she complained listlessly:
"Oh? Another flower-viewing banquet? No way! It's just a bunch of young ladies getting together to compete in poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, chess, and other arts, praising each other. It's so boring, I'd rather stay at home."
Xiao Jingheng's face darkened: "Nonsense! You're past the age of marriage. What kind of behavior is this, spending all your time having fun? This is the time for you to learn social etiquette and make friends with noble ladies of your age. How can you be so willful?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxi's eyes widened instantly, staring at her brother as if she had seen a ghost:
"Brother! That's not what you said before!"
She mimicked Xiao Jingheng's previous tone: "The banquet is boring and a waste of time. It would be better to read a couple more books or improve your needlework."
"Human relationships are mostly fleeting and time-consuming, so there's no need to force them. The daughter of the Marquis's family doesn't need to make friends deliberately; she has her own confidence."
"Didn't you say those things?"
Xiao Lingxi circled Xiao Jingheng, looking him up and down, her eyes filled with suspicion and accusation:
"Brother, you've been really strange lately. Before, you were the most averse to these banquets and social events, and you would avoid them if you could. But now you're actually going to them on your own initiative? And you're even dragging me along? And last time, under the guise of tutoring me, you brought me to my courtyard every day..."
"It is precisely because you have been neglected in the past, that you have become unruly and neglected your studies, that you need to be tempered in this serious setting."
Xiao Jingheng suddenly interrupted her, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority.
Do you think I want to waste my time on these trivial matters?
“Mother is busy with many things. If I, as your elder brother, don’t discipline you, am I supposed to let you continue to be so undisciplined?”
"The Princess's banquet gathers the most outstanding talents in the capital, precisely to let you see firsthand how other young ladies behave with propriety and possess both virtue and talent! But you, all you think about is avoiding a life of leisure!"
His righteous and stern retort left Xiao Lingxi completely dumbfounded!
It was clearly his own abnormal behavior that led to her being blamed.
Why are you even bringing up academics and rules?
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