Chapter 4: The situation changes drastically; she touches upon the season of farewell...
The following day, at the intersection of Mao and Chen.
Zhuo Shuming personally carried a three-tiered food basket to Lin Qingdai's room. It was still early, and Jiaojiao'er had just gotten up. Although she had finished washing up, the sleepiness on her face had not completely dissipated. She had been sitting at the small round table trying to wake herself up, but when she saw her mother, her eyes seemed to suddenly light up with stars, and a soft light condensed in her eyes.
She tried to get up.
Zhuo Shuming said to her, "Rest now, you look like a sleepy cat."
Lin Qingdai abandoned her intention to get up and greet her, and watched her mother walk over and sit down in front of her.
"Mother, did you come because of Dai Dai's visit to Grandpa yesterday?"
Jiaojiao is very straightforward, but her voice is very soft, making people want to cherish her.
Zhuo Shuming waved his hand, and all the servants in the room withdrew, including the two's personal maids.
Zhuo Shuming then opened the food basket and took out the food one by one.
Red bean porridge, pickled cucumber peel, peanut buns, a few slices of braised meat... the portions were very small, clearly prepared for Lin Qingdai alone.
Lin Qingdai asked with concern, "So early? Has Mother already eaten?"
Zhuo Shuming: "Mother doesn't have an appetite right now, she'll eat later."
After saying this, he handed a pair of silver chopsticks to Lin Qingdai.
Lin Qingdai took the porridge but hesitated to start eating. At first, Zhuo Shuming let her, but worried it would get cold, so he urged her to eat.
"Eat a little bit, and talk to your mother after you finish eating."
Lin Qingdai nodded obediently and began to eat. She had always eaten little, and she put down her chopsticks in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
There was still some food left over from what Zhuo Shuming brought.
Zhuo Shuming glanced at the plate, then looked at his daughter. "How are you going to survive in Lingdong like this? Ji Yujing won't pamper you like the people in the manor do, taking care of you in every little detail."
Lin Qingdai: "I don't behave like this when Mother isn't around. Besides, Ji Yujing is a renowned warlord, after all. With so many eyes watching, would he dare to mistreat me?"
That makes some sense.
Given the Lin family's status and their past ties with the Ji family, even if Ji Yujing dislikes Dai Dai, he would at most ignore her. He wouldn't mistreat her.
After a moment's thought, Zhuo Shuming skipped over that and went straight to the point that concerned her most, "When did you fall in love with Ji Yujing? Was it to deceive your father-in-law in order to make things happen?"
Hearing these words, even Lin Qingdai, who was usually calm, couldn't completely control her emotions.
"Mother."
Zhuo Shuming: "Answer me, don't try to use coquetry to skip this."
Having no other choice, Lin Qingdai could only repeat exactly what she had said to her grandfather yesterday.
The difference is that this time she added two more sentences at the end: "Mother, you also praised him. Do you still remember Instructor Ji who taught Dai Dai martial arts back then?"
Zhuo Shuming fell silent, utterly astonished after hearing this.
She never imagined that Instructor Ji, who briefly taught Jiao Jiao martial arts back then, was now the powerful King of Lingdong, Ji Yujing. Perhaps someone had mentioned Instructor Ji's name to her back then, but clearly she hadn't remembered it.
To soothe Zhuo Shuming's heart, while she remained silent in a daze, Lin Qingdai suddenly got up and walked to her bedside. There stood a small carved cabinet, which she opened and took out a stack of storybooks. Some of them were quite old, and Lin Qingdai had read them frequently, but because she had always cherished books, this stack of storybooks was in very good condition.
Back with her mother, Lin Qingdai casually picked up a book and immediately flipped to the page related to Ji Yujing. The implications were self-evident. If she hadn't frequently looked at it, how could she have remembered it so clearly?
Zhuo Shuming began to believe that his daughter truly loved Ji Yujing.
But at that moment, she was overwhelmed by a variety of complex emotions, her mind was in turmoil, and she couldn't respond to her daughter at all.
Lin Qingdai understood her mother; she herself also found the matter quite mysterious.
Two years ago, she knew that there was a marriage agreement between the Lin and Ji families, and that her sister would marry into Lingdong at an appropriate time. She didn't want to compete for anything, so she quietly hid her feelings.
Unexpectedly, the situation changed drastically, and she had the opportunity to see Ji Yujing again.
“Mother, Dai Dai was not wronged this time. Dai Dai just wanted to fight for what she liked. If she fails, I will divorce him. It’s not a big deal.”
Her voice was gentle and clear, like a stream flowing slowly from a deep mountain valley, leaving no trace of noise or restlessness in its wake.
Zhuo Shuming was comforted, and after a moment, he chuckled softly. That short chuckle contained complex emotions, but ultimately it was a sign of relief.
Dai Dai is right.
If she could truly win over Ji Yujing's heart and achieve her desires, that would be wonderful. If not, it wouldn't matter much; they could simply separate and go home.
Why would her Dai Dai worry about not having anyone liking her?
Lin Qingdai asked her what she was laughing at.
She reached out and touched her hair, feeling its smooth, silky texture, as if she were touching silk.
"Mother is smiling because she is proud. Mother's Dai Dai has grown up."
"Go if you want to, don't leave yourself with regrets."
After leaving Lin Qingdai's courtyard, Zhuo Shuming went straight to the palace.
She went to see Consort Cen, and what they said remains unknown to others.
Two days later, during the morning court session, as the handling of government affairs was drawing to a close, Emperor Taining suddenly summoned Lin Yansen.
Lin Yansen quickly stepped out of the queue and respectfully bowed to the emperor.
Emperor Taining: "Rise."
Lin Yansen stood up straight as ordered. The emperor glanced at him, his eyes smiling, seemingly in a good mood: "A couple of days ago, Shu Ming came to the palace to see Jingxi. She asked Jingxi to pass on a message, saying that she wanted to ask me for a favor to grant Su Si and Qingwu a marriage. Are you aware of this matter?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yansen knelt down in a slightly flustered manner, placing his hands on the ground and his forehead against it, adopting a posture of absolute submission.
"I was unaware of the matter, but I failed to handle it properly, and I deserve to die."
Emperor Taining's gaze lingered on the man's trembling official hat for a few moments. "Did you have a falling out with Shuming?"
Lin Yansen responded almost inaudibly.
The emperor then asked, "Is it because of the marriage agreement between the Lin and Ji families?"
Lin Yansen responded again, and this time he could finally hear him.
After a few breaths of hesitation, he seemed unable to control his emotions any longer. He looked up at Emperor Taining, his voice rising and falling, his excitement clearly evident: "Your Majesty, this marriage contract was made by the ancestors of the Lin family to repay a life-saving debt. What wrong is there in my wish to keep my promise and fulfill the contract?"
After listening, Emperor Taining clicked his tongue and said, "I've said more than once that you're a blockhead, stubborn and inflexible. It seems I wasn't wrong about you at all."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yansen's head hit the bricks again with considerable force, the sound of which could be heard nearby.
Emperor Taining seemed to soften his heart and stopped criticizing him. "Su Si and Qingwu both come from prominent families in the capital. They are well-matched and grew up together. It is only natural that they would develop feelings for each other."
"When you asked me to grant you and Shuming a marriage back then, if I had refused and forced Shuming to marry someone else, would you have been willing?"
Lin Yansen remained silent.
Emperor Taining observed his reaction and let out a low, brief laugh. What that laugh meant was unfathomable; no one dared to guess.
After laughing, he made the final decision: "I will now bestow a marriage upon Su Si and Qingwu. The imperial decree will be sent to the Lin and Su residences later."
"Cao Xian".
"Your subject is present."
"Choose an auspicious time for Lin Su's marriage, and select a date that is nearby."
"I obey the decree."
Emperor Taining issued several more orders, all paving the way for the marriage between Lin Su and the Lin family, clearly demonstrating his emphasis on the Lin family.
The court officials were used to it; their Lord Lin was simply lucky, mild-mannered, and lacked any outstanding talent. However, he was the eldest son of the Lin family and later married the eldest daughter of the Zhuo family, one of the four great families of the capital. His prestige was immense, and few in the capital, where powerful and influential people gathered, could compare to him.
That's not all. He had been the emperor's study companion since childhood, like a shadow following him everywhere. Over the years, their bond had deepened. Their emperor, as he grew older, became increasingly irritable and easily angered. But he had never vented his sharp emotions on Lin Yansen. Of course, Lin Yansen hadn't abused this affection either, always being cautious in his words and actions for many years. This time, however, was the first time he had lost his restraint, bringing his family affairs to the emperor's attention.
“That Lingdong…”
However, the immense favor did not improve Lin Yansen's expression; in fact, it made it worse.
Seeing his expression, Emperor Taining's anger was evident for the first time. "Have you forgotten that you have two daughters? How could Dai Dai possibly disgrace Ji Yujing by marrying into the family?"
The emperor's anger stemmed from his contempt for Ji Yujing, whom he considered nothing more than a barbarian of humble origins who only knew how to resort to desperate measures. If it weren't for his magnanimity, given Ji Yujing's past actions, his head would have been chopped off several times over.
Lin Yansen: "I didn't mean that, I just..."
Emperor Taining had never been so annoyed with him. "That's all I have to say. If you say another word, I'll take your head off."
"You don't need to overthink it. If Ji and Jing target the Lin family because of this, just tell them it's my idea."
After saying this, Emperor Taining stood up and strode away from the council hall.
His dragon robe billowed, exuding imperial majesty. Unbeknownst to him and the others, in their blind spot, the seemingly mild-mannered Marquis Lin's lips curled into a slight smile.
He was fairly satisfied with his performance, and even more satisfied with the result.
His two beloved children got what they wanted, and the Lin family's reputation remained untarnished. As for Ji Yujing, the emperor's words were final, so he would always consider his actions carefully.
Not far away, the Second Prince Song Yunlan seemed to be covered in snow, surrounded by a chill. His right hand, hanging by his side, was clenched into a fist at some point, the veins bulging, silently venting the violence that he had tried so hard to suppress but could not completely quell.
"Brother Lin, you're really lucky!"
Lin Yansen's emotions had calmed down, and he was about to get up when Zhou Zhangping, who was also a first-rank prince and served as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, walked up to him and eagerly extended his hand. Behind him were several people from aristocratic families, who didn't have much ability, but had occupied many high positions in the court.
Lin Yansen used his strength to stand up.
Stand firm, face to face.
"Thank you, Brother Zhou."
With the heavy burden off his shoulders, Lin Yansen returned to being the mild-mannered yet elegant Lord Lin.
Zhou Zhangping patted him on the shoulder with a smile, "Why are you being so polite with me?"
After pausing for a few breaths, he said, "Your luck is truly enviable."
Lin Yansen feigned ignorance: "What do you mean?"
Zhou Zhangping: "In one morning, we gained two more sons-in-law."
One is from the Su family, one of the four great aristocratic families; the other is from the Su family, whose members are both handsome and talented, and who don't even need a steward. The other, though from a poor background, is a powerful figure who commands a large army and whose word is law in Lingdong. If both marriages are successfully completed, the Lin family's prestige will surely rise to a new level. At that time, they will no longer be the number one family in the capital; even those in the south who control salt and canal transport will not be as powerful as them.
Zhou Zhangping didn't say these last words aloud, but everyone present was a shrewd old fox. How could they not understand such a simple situation? As soon as Zhou Zhangping finished speaking, the situation in their minds began to change dramatically.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yansen was not happy. Not only that, his eyes suddenly reddened, and tears welled up in them.
Zhou Zhangping paused for a moment, then his face showed concern. "Why are you crying?"
Asking only made things worse; Lin Yansen cried even harder, tears welling in his eyes and rolling down his cheeks. A dignified first-rank prince was crying like a child who had lost his candy in the council hall.
"Why can't I cry?"
“In one morning, both of my daughters were gone. Did I want them to get married? No! They could have stayed at home and been supported by the Lin family.”
"No scion of a prestigious family, no war god of Lingdong, are worthy of my daughter."
...
The events that unfolded in the council hall quickly came to the emperor's attention. At the time, he was in the imperial study reviewing memorials, and the one who reported all of this to him was the Left Chancellor, Nie Hang.
Emperor Taining smiled after hearing this, "In Old Lin's eyes, his two daughters are more important than his status as a first-class prince."
Nie Hang, however, looked worried.
Emperor Taining caught a glimpse of this, and his eyelashes trembled slightly, the movement unlike anything he had ever done before. "Does Minister Nie have something to say?"
Upon hearing this, Nie Qing clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Nothing can be hidden from Your Majesty."
Emperor Taining: "Speak."
Nie Qing: "Your Majesty, Ji Yujing was already at the height of his power in Lingdong, and now he has married the eldest daughter of the Lin family to him. In this way, Ji Yujing has both wealth and power."
Moreover, his "momentum" was formidable; he commanded 100,000 elite troops who were brave and skilled in battle, like warriors ready to die for their cause.
"Aren't you worried..."
Nie Qing pondered the rest of his words repeatedly but couldn't find a suitable way to express them, so he simply omitted them. He believed the emperor would understand, and the result was exactly as he expected.
Not long after he finished speaking, Emperor Taining casually said, "There are many people who dream of taking my throne, and Ji Yujing is no exception."
"Furthermore, there are quite a few powerful families and clans that have made marriage alliances with Lingdong these days. If Dai Dai doesn't go, it will be someone else."
Since that's the case, he might as well go with the flow and choose someone related to the royal family to go.
There was another reason that Emperor Taining did not reveal. Everyone in the capital knew that the Second Prince, Song Yunlan, was in love with Dai Dai, but he had never thought of arranging a marriage between them.
Because he hated the Empress intensely.
She poisoned the beauty he kept at Green Willow Villa, causing him to lose his love. Why should her child have love? He should be like her, thinking he had everything, only to end up with nothing. What good are flowers blooming on an altar? In the end, they too will wither and silently sink into the dust.
Back then, when Emperor Taining toured the south, he brought back a beautiful woman named Yan Qingliu. She was stunningly beautiful and skilled in all arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. The emperor, showing her extreme favoritism, naturally considered making her a concubine. However, Yan Qingliu disliked the cramped atmosphere of the palace and politely declined. The empress also repeatedly and vehemently opposed the idea, and the matter of making her a concubine was thus shelved.
Emperor Taining settled Yan Qingliu in a villa in the capital, not too far from the palace, so that he could visit her in his spare time.
The clamor subsided, the warmth and beauty remained, and the emperor gradually grew accustomed to this life. Little did he know that this was not the end of the story. When the eldest prince was three years old, Yan Qingliu died in the villa named after her.
Who is the murderer? The clues are subtle, but they all point to the Empress.
Back to the present, after Emperor Taining finished speaking, Nie Hang hesitated for a moment, then swallowed back the question he most wanted to ask, "If the Lin family turns against us, what will Your Majesty do?" and changed his words to, "Your Majesty is wise, I was overthinking it."
Emperor Taining: "With you here, I feel at ease."
After pausing for several breaths, he said again, "Perhaps, I should be more cautious."
Nie Hang: "What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?"
Emperor Taining: "When Daidai gets married, I will always add some dowry for her."
For example, precious pearls and jade, as well as clothing materials, and highly skilled guards and female doctors who are extremely good at medicine.
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