Chapter 620 Selling Girls
So-called high-ranking families have never been shameless; their adherence to rules is merely a means to better calculate gains and losses.
Qin Nanyan had long seen this clearly, which is why she wanted to climb the social ladder and marry the Prince of Luo.
If her feelings for Prince Luo were genuine, she would be shameless if it were for his status and position. But after all hope was lost, she finally found a gentleman she admired.
"Mother, I understand. Please don't hide it from me anymore."
Qin Nanyan was someone who couldn't hide her feelings. She tried to hold back, but finally couldn't help but choke up.
Her mother wanted to send her away to avoid the limelight, but how could her mother face her father? She was already an official's wife; was she really going to be divorced and sent home?
Qin Nanyan couldn't be so selfish as to not consider her mother, Zhou Shi, so she wouldn't leave.
“My daughter, it’s all your fault, don’t blame your father.”
Zhou wiped away her tears. Her daughter was flesh of her own flesh; how could she not feel pain? In the past, she had made a mistake, always thinking that after a woman gets married, she would have very few opportunities to return to her parents' home, so she wanted to keep her daughter for two more years. Who would have thought that this would be the result?
"Mother, this is not your fault."
Qin Nanyan's eyes reddened, and she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and said, "The fact that the two families haven't settled this matter means there's still room for maneuver."
If, by any chance, Lin Shusheng has any sense of morality and doesn't agree to marry his niece, then the marriage between the two families will fall through.
No matter how warm the kang (heated brick bed) was in the Qin family's house, it was no use.
"But……"
Zhou hesitated. If she didn't run away now, and the marriage was finalized, her daughter would definitely be kept under the watchful eye of the old lady, and she wouldn't have a chance to escape.
The mother and daughter comforted each other, and Zhou's emotions gradually stabilized.
With the old lady of the Qin family in power, Zhou Shi, despite being the matriarch, still couldn't escape the old lady's control over major affairs; she was merely a puppet.
She was deeply worried because she had no say in her daughter's marriage.
The mother and daughter held onto a sliver of hope, and that evening, after finishing his official duties, Lin Shusheng returned to the Qin residence.
This time, Lin Shusheng only met with Master Qin, and the two had a secret meeting in the study.
"Lord Qin, how do you intend to give me an explanation for this matter?"
Lin Shusheng made it clear that he was distancing himself from Master Qin, and was making it clear that he wanted to break up with him.
"Brother-in-law, it is the Qin family that has wronged you."
The Qin family had already investigated the general situation, and the facts were all connected. The Qin family believed Cai Die's story.
Madam Qin used to book entire theaters to watch operas, but recently Lin Yuesha was brought back to the mansion, so Madam Qin has been going less often.
It is probably for this reason that Caidie could neither get the reward nor see Qin Shi, so she was eager to meet the person and ask for money.
"For so many years, I have been devoted to the Qin family. I promised her and wrote a letter of commitment. Although I am a high-ranking official of the third rank, I have not taken a concubine. This has made me a laughing stock in the capital. Many officials have mocked me behind my back for being henpecked and not like a real man. I have endured it all..."
Lin Shusheng opened up and began to speak, feeling increasingly wronged as he went on, unable to stop.
If Qin were a celestial being, that would be fine. But she is merely of plain appearance, which is enough to help the Lin family have more offspring. The two have been married for several years before they have a son. If Qin cannot give birth to a son, the Lin family line will end.
"She looked down on my mother because she was an old woman from the countryside and refused to bring her to the capital, which led to my separation from my mother..."
Such acts of filial impiety, domineering behavior, and jealousy by the Qin family members are basically all grounds for divorce.
"If it weren't for the Qin family's kindness in recognizing my talent, I wouldn't have to suffer such injustice..."
Now that Qin is dead, she even cuckolded him. No one has ever lived such a miserable life!
After Lin Shusheng finished speaking, he was filled with emotion and couldn't help but burst into tears.
Every word Lin Shusheng said was true. In fact, Master Qin also thought that it was too harsh for a man not to take a concubine, but they only thought that Lin Shusheng was lowly. They never thought that Lin Shusheng could climb to the high position of Prefect of the Capital.
If they knew, they wouldn't dare to bully people like that.
Now, the Lin family harbors immense resentment towards the Qin family. How can this be repaired? The interests of both families cannot be severed.
The fact that Lin Shusheng suppressed the case proves that he still had doubts and did not intend to make a big fuss, indicating that there was still room for discussion.
"Brother-in-law, I have a good idea."
Master Qin beckoned Lin Shusheng closer and whispered, "This matter can be considered as fulfilling your wish. That Cai Die threw Qin's body into Young Master Yu's mansion. Why don't we pin the blame on Young Master Yu's remnants?"
Yu Zicheng orchestrated the case involving pregnant women in the capital, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty. Pregnant women are now afraid to go out freely. Although Yu Zicheng has been imprisoned, there is no guarantee that he doesn't have accomplices.
"If the remnants retaliate against you and kill the Qin family, and you lose your beloved wife, you might even gain the Emperor's sympathy."
The current emperor is a weak yes-man; he will surely reward the Lin family.
Even if they can't remember, Empress Wei will help them and whisper sweet nothings in their ear. The Wei family and the Lin family are also related by marriage, so the three families are bound together and they don't need to fear any power in the court, not even Prince Luo, who is a member of the royal family.
“I know this is unfair to you, so let Nanyan marry you as your second wife in place of her aunt.”
Master Qin made the decision to sell his daughter and sought the opinion of Scholar Lin.
Lin Shusheng was initially somewhat resistant. He didn't want to get entangled with the Qin family any further, and in the eyes of outsiders, the two were on the same side, which left him feeling helpless.
Previously, Lin Shusheng was Master Qin's brother-in-law. After marrying Qin Nanyan, he will become her son-in-law, a generation lower.
Lin Shusheng really couldn't understand how the Qin family could come up with such an absurd idea.
"This is also what the old master wanted."
Master Qin was helpless. He had no say in the marriage, and he had no intention of resisting anyway. She was just a girl; it didn't matter who she married.
If it were to go to the Lin family, it would be good to take over Qin's dowry. His sister has no other skills, but she is very successful in business and has accumulated a lot of wealth over the years.
"We told the outside world that you missed your deceased wife so much that you couldn't think straight and wished you could go with Qin Shi. The Qin family couldn't bear to see you so heartbroken, so they married you off to Nan Yan, the niece who most resembled Qin Shi. This can be considered a beautiful story."
Master Qin applauded his own terrible idea, completely oblivious to the fact that he was tricking people.
"Missing his deceased wife, he drowns his sorrows in alcohol every night..."
Lin Shusheng considered it and found that this persona was quite good, which would also prevent rumors from saying that he was currying favor with the Qin family and was inferior. He dared not go out to drink and carouse; instead, he showed deep affection for his deceased wife, which earned him respect.
Yes, that's what we'll do, and he agreed.
"The wedding day..."
Since Madam Qin has just died, it's not appropriate to marry a daughter of the Qin family now. Scholar Lin wants to wait.
“I had someone check it out, and the Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month is an auspicious day.”
Master Qin had already chosen an auspicious date and sought Lin Shusheng's opinion. In any case, he didn't plan a grand wedding for his second wife; a small celebration with relatives and friends would suffice, since Qin Shi was still in mourning.
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