Chapter 1537 Extra: Lin Feng (Part 2)
"well--"
The next day, after the grand court session ended, the officials dined in the corridor.
A grand court session lasted from dawn until noon, and many people were starving—not because they hadn't eaten breakfast beforehand, but because attending court was physically demanding. There were those fighting, those making sweeping generalizations, those sowing discord, those seemingly trying to break up fights but actually taking sides, and those keeping a close watch on everything to avoid being caught in the crossfire… The sheer volume of court gossip was overwhelming, and it was incredibly exhausting.
"Lingde, you seem a little dazed."
Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Feng saw a young man in a purple robe approaching.
The visitor was none other than Shen Zhi, who had been promoted to Minister of Agriculture at the end of the first year of the Yanhuang era.
A social butterfly among the ladies-in-waiting.
She is also widely recognized as having the best interpersonal relationships.
This was all thanks to her unique scholarly approach, which was also the foundation for her rise to the top position in the Ministry of Agriculture. She now oversees the four departments of Imperial Forestry, Imperial Granary, Imperial Stables, and Imperial Stables, as well as various supervisory offices. However, her administrative abilities are quite limited. The Ministry of Agriculture has over 650 full-time staff, and her energy shouldn't be wasted there. Therefore, the internal affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture are either shared by the Vice Minister and the heads of the various departments, or some of her authority has been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. She herself doesn't handle many internal affairs, and her working hours are relatively flexible. Except for the mandatory attendance at the Grand Court, other duties can be adjusted as needed. With more free time, she also has more time for socializing and entertainment, inviting whoever is off duty to play.
Over time, won't you become more popular?
He was arguably the most leisurely among all the officials in purple robes.
Shen Zhi raised her hand and waved it in front of Lin Feng, asking with concern, "Did you cause trouble yesterday and have a hangover all night?"
Lin Feng sighed: "No, it's because of some family matters."
When her eldest brother uttered the words, "Let everything be as you see fit," Lin Feng's mind went blank. It wasn't that she lacked the confidence to make the decision, but rather that reality felt somewhat surreal. Twenty years ago, she probably never imagined she could have such complete control over her brother's marriage. Whether it was a marriage of convenience or a marriage of convenience, whether it was a traditional marriage or a marriage of convenience based on social standing, who the future bride would be and what social class she belonged to—all of that was up to her. She didn't need to consider her brother's personal wishes or preferences… As long as she spoke, regardless of the outcome, her father would approve, and even her great-grandfather wouldn't object.
And this—
That was originally her destiny.
If Lingzhou hadn't been ravaged by war, and her clansmen hadn't migrated south peacefully, Lin Feng believed she would have reached marriageable age without much thought. He was certain her father and brothers, with their strong sense of responsibility, wouldn't have casually married off their own daughter/sister. They would most likely have arranged for her to marry into a family of equal standing, where she could live a life of mutual respect and harmony with her husband. If her marriage was unhappy, her father and brothers might have hinted that she could keep one or two male lovers for amusement, as long as she didn't taint the bloodline of the men's families; they could preserve this freedom for her.
This was already an extremely responsible father and elder brother in those chaotic times.
However, they will still disregard her personal preferences.
Or rather—
They are the ones who give Lin Feng and his friends what happiness looks like, a happiness measured by their life experience, family background, and social status.
"...It's just a reversal now, but the essence remains the same." Lin Feng and Shen Zhi were close friends, and she could confide in Shen Zhi about some thoughts that were inconvenient for others to know. "I don't know whether to pity my elder brother or my former self."
Perhaps some of them.
Chen Zhi said, "Let's take pity on your elder brother instead."
What's there to pity about?
Lin Feng should celebrate her past, dazzling future. Besides, Lin Chun doesn't need to be pitied. As the head of the clan, Lin Feng understands the principle of shared prosperity and shared ruin. If her own brother is not doing well, Lin Feng will also lose face in official circles. If she really has to decide on Lin Chun's marriage, she will be extremely cautious. How much worse can Lin Chun's situation get?
Lin Feng: "..."
That's the logic, but Lin Feng's感慨 (feelings of deep emotion) weren't entirely due to his own reversed circumstances; a large part of it stemmed from Lin Chun's abandonment by his own clan. During those years of fleeing south, Lin Chun endured workplace bullying for the sake of his clan's livelihood, swallowing countless hardships. Even if he didn't achieve great things, he certainly deserved credit for his hard work. No one could have imagined that this remaining branch of the Lin clan would flourish so greatly because of Lin Feng.
The two branches of the Lin family share the same origin, yet their circumstances are so different.
Over time, the mindset of the group that went south changed.
They hoped to unite the two Lin families.
In other words, you can't write two "林" characters in one stroke.
Thus, Lin Chun became the one who was abandoned. By marrying Lin Chun off to another family, Lin Feng was free from all worries, which could be considered a different kind of "surrender" by these people. In order to unite the two branches of the Lin family, the father also acquiesced to the proposal of those clansmen.
In this way, the slight resentment in Lin Feng's heart can be completely eliminated.
That's what they planned.
The great-grandfather saw things clearly. The old man was getting on in years and also wanted the family to prosper, so he tacitly accepted that Lin Chun had been abandoned.
Ultimately, it all boils down to two words: value.
Listening to her close friend's troubles, Chen Zhi comforted her: "If you want to get involved, then get involved; if you don't want to get involved, then leave it alone. There will always be someone who will come up to help you solve your problems and is eager to please you."
These are insights gained over many years of experience.
From Vice Minister of Agriculture to Minister of Agriculture, over the years countless people have tried to curry favor with her and solve her problems; that's the allure of power, status, and profit. She doesn't need any internal strife.
Lin Feng: "We still need to intervene."
If she doesn't intervene, others will assume she harbors resentment.
Even if she explained that it wasn't true, they wouldn't believe her.
Lin Feng thought of the connections of his close friend.
"Yaohe has a wide network of connections; do you have any good candidates?"
Shen Zhi laughed and said, "I am the Minister of Agriculture, not a matchmaker under the Ministry of Rites. I am not good at these things. But you are right about one thing: I do have a wide network of connections. There are few officials in the court who I do not know, and there are countless talented young people. There are many suitable candidates, but I need to carefully vet your elder brother's appearance."
If you play matchmaker wrong, you can make enemies.
Lin Feng nodded: "That's natural."
She was very confident in her older brother's face.
After seeing Lin Chun, Shen Zhi also agreed with this statement.
Driven by lust, he said, "Lingde, why don't you call me sister-in-law?"
Lin Feng: "..."
Lin Chun, the person involved, blushed deeply, his fair face turning crimson. He wanted to say something, but when he saw Chen Zhi's purple robe, he swallowed his words, not daring to offend anyone.
Shen Zhi could tell from the siblings' reactions that things weren't going well.
He sighed, "Alas, it seems we're not meant to be."
Lin Feng: "..."
She couldn't agree either.
Although Shen Zhi, the Minister of Agriculture, doesn't manage the internal affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture much, her position within the ministry remains unshakeable, and she is highly sought after by the emperor who values agriculture. If Yao He becomes her sister-in-law, it would indirectly bind Yao He to her teacher's camp.
This is detrimental to the stability of the imperial court.
The balance of power in the next round of all-out brawls among officials will be broken.
Shen Zhi made a guarantee.
I will definitely find Lin Feng an easy-going sister-in-law.
Even if they can't provide any assistance in the court, they will still be of tangible benefit to Lin Feng in other ways. Rather than finding a suitable partner for Lin Chun, it's more accurate to say they're choosing an ally for Lin Feng.
After finishing his shift, Lin Feng took his elder brother, who was reporting to the Ministry of Personnel, home.
The brother and sister rode side by side, exchanging silent glances.
Lin Feng broke the silence first: "If you have someone you like, please don't hide it. Your great-grandfather and father's plans are just their plans. I just hope you can have your way. I'm here for the family, there's no need to add anything extra."
Lin Chun pursed her lips, her voice extremely soft.
"Yes, I know... thank you for your hard work."
Lin Chun actually opposed the unification of the two branches, not because he was reluctant to give up the meager power of the clan chief, but because he knew that those who hoped for the unification of the two branches wanted to gain benefits from Lin Feng, whether it was fame or profit, which would be a liability for Lin Feng.
What I fear even more is that it will become too powerful to control in the future.
If he could think of it, how could Lin Feng not?
However, she was not as soft-hearted, indecisive, or gentle as Lin Chun. As the clan leader, she had plenty of ways to deal with her clan members!
Lin Feng thought this way, and he did this way.
With a firm hand, he managed to prevent this commotion from spreading beyond the courtyard walls.
To outsiders, her home appeared perfectly peaceful.
Before Shen Zhi could send over the candidate, Lin Feng bumped into the matchmaker from the Ministry of Rites. It was the same matchmaker as before, his face beaming with smiles, holding a scroll of the woman's portrait. This time, it was another woman who had taken a liking to Lin Chun and had asked the matchmaker to sound her out; if she was interested, they could meet and get to know each other better.
Lin Feng took a sip of tea: "May I ask which family's matriarch you are?"
The ice man was respectful to her, completely forgetting that Lin Chun was the person involved, and said, "Reporting to Grand Tutor, the woman is Lord Lu, the Supreme Protector."
Lin Feng nearly choked on the tea he hadn't managed to swallow.
"You mean Lu Zhizong?"
Lu Ji has indeed recently returned to the capital to serve as a guard.
The Ice Man nodded: "Exactly."
Lin Chunren, who was listening in, was feeling a bit numb.
The entire spine was very taut.
He didn't know Lu Ji, but he recognized the Imperial Guard.
How could I possibly be worthy of such a person?
Lin Feng was even more curious about why Lu Ji would get involved in this mess.
The story is a long one, so I'll keep it brief. It all started with the woman who had asked the Ministry of Rites to act as matchmaker. Somehow, the news reached Lu Ji, who was returning to the capital as a guard. Lu Ji happened to have this idea, so he asked for Lin Chun's personal information. After reviewing the portrait and conducting other detailed investigations, he was initially satisfied and sent the Ministry of Rites to make the trip. The two sides can meet at a later time.
Hearing what the Ice Man said, Lin Feng understood.
She had heard rumors that Lu Ji was worried about his nephew's future. Lu Ji's nephew had no talent for cultivation, had suffered the pain of his family's massacre while still an infant, and had relied entirely on his aunt for upbringing and care. Lu Ji was often away fighting, so he couldn't constantly oversee his studies; now, he was just average. He wasn't spoiled, but he couldn't uphold the family's reputation either, so Lu Ji had to find another way.
Thus, the idea of branching out and having offspring came to mind.
Gongyang Yongye, a self-taught andrologist, told her that her martial arts attribute was also detrimental to having children. Fortunately, she hadn't reached the peak yet, so if she wanted children, she could start planning early. Why would an andrologist also understand gynecology? It can only be said that understanding reproduction leads to understanding everything.
_(:з」∠)_
Lin Chun cast an inquiring glance at Lin Feng.
Lin Feng nodded and said, "Then let's take a look."
Lu Ji is different from Chen Zhi.
The former was a confidant of the master and could be considered one of the first followers. Since Lu Ji dared to send the ice man to his door, he must have received the master's tacit approval, so Lin Feng felt at ease. This wait lasted until the day Lu Ji took a day off.
Lin Chun passed the Ministry of Personnel's performance review and remained in Wangdu, becoming an assistant minister in the Ministry of Agriculture. He was a man of few words, never complained about his work, and generally had little presence. Just as he was about to finish his shift, he noticed the strange expressions on the faces of his new colleagues, sometimes envious, sometimes teasing, leaving him completely bewildered.
He soon found out why.
Officials arrived to greet him.
Lin Chun had never seen the other person before, but guessed who it was from their attire, and quickly stepped forward to greet them. Lu Ji said, "You've finished your shifts, no need for such formalities. I'm off today, does Mr. Lin have anywhere you'd like to go?"
"No."
"Then I'll decide."
"Yes, it's all up to Lord Lu to decide."
Lu Ji then took him to the opera house to watch a new play.
Lin Chun was slightly older than Lu Ji, but standing beside him, he had no advantage in terms of experience and remained mostly silent. They ate when they wanted to eat, watched the show when they wanted to watch the show, and even their conversations were rather businesslike and bland. Lu Ji, being a martial artist, also disliked beating around the bush.
What are Lin Jun's views on marriage compatibility analysis?
Lu Ji frankly stated his needs.
In reality, a marriage with her husband would be more suitable for her, but she has a nephew who is her brother's only son. Lu Ji does not want to have a son-in-law who would be a hindrance to him. If she chooses a marriage with him, her nephew may not be able to take good care of her child, and she will be busy with her official duties.
"...Therefore, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Mr. Lin to put in more effort."
Lin Chun will also need to take care of the child if they get married in the future.
Lin Chun stared at her blankly, then nodded: "Of course."
Lu Ji then asked him whether he preferred men or women.
This question touched a nerve with Lin Chun, making him feel uneasy. However, he quickly realized that Lu Ji was asking whether he preferred male or female offspring, not sexual orientation. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Both male and female are fine."
Workplace bullying left him with a very deep shadow.
But what made him even more uneasy was Lu Ji's decisive and efficient style, which always left Lin Chun speechless. After a blind date, she had asked him about everything, even his ancestors. Of course, Lin Chun also learned about Lu Ji's days off, his monthly salary, and his family's assets.
By the time the show ended, the moon was high in the sky.
Lu Ji escorted the person home.
She didn't leave immediately, but instead chatted and reminisced with Lin Feng.
Lin Chun didn't know the specifics of what was discussed.
Lin Feng: "..."
She was shocked: "That's all you talked about when you went out?"
Lu Ji sat languidly: "Otherwise what? If we're aiming to have many children and settle down, we should be open and honest. Your elder brother is indeed a good person. If he and my nephew can get along, I'd like to finalize things. Would you like to call me sister-in-law in advance?"
Lin Feng: "..."
She suspected that Lu Ji came over just to hear her call him "sister-in-law".
I was going to say it was still early, but considering the actual situation...
If the Imperial Guard is willing to take a liking to you, then marriage is a natural fit; only a fool would object.
If it weren't for his sense of propriety, his father would probably have washed his son clean and sent him to another family the very next day. After confirming that Lu Ji was serious, Lin Feng could only nod. This matter was not publicized, and very few people knew about it. Shen Tang was clearly one of them, and her agreement had its reasons; she simply wanted to use this marriage as an excuse to further improve the laws governing marriage and completely abolish the practice of concubinage.
Related laws have also been further promoted.
She doesn't interfere much in relationships between men and women unless they get married.
As long as it does not violate public order and good morals.
However, if one gets married, one must be faithful. If one falls in love with someone else after marriage, one should end the current marriage before seeking new happiness.
You can't be looking at what's in the pot while also having something in your bowl.
Lu Ji was a military general, and Lin Chun was a scholar; using them as typical examples provided a very good excuse. Shen Tang was telling Lin Feng these things to get her to cooperate. Lin Feng only felt sorry for him; it must be too tiring for their lord to have to consider even these things so thoroughly.
Since the situation stabilized and the northeastern continent was incorporated into the territory of Kangguo, Kangguo has become even more difficult to govern. Strange things happen almost every day, and local bullying of men and women is commonplace. While female warriors and scholars can escape the mire, the situation of ordinary women remains dire, and they need more comprehensive laws to protect themselves.
Shen Tang has been encouraging women to get married over the years, so naturally he wants to eliminate their worries about marriage, no matter how great the resistance is!
"Does your father have someone he likes?"
Even though Lin Feng is nearly thirty, in Shen Tang's eyes he is still the child he was back then, and when the emperor and his minister play chess, they chat about everyday matters.
Shen Tang knew that Lin Feng had agreed to the merger of the two Lin families, which indirectly meant that the new Lin family would be led by her, so she couldn't avoid the troubles of marriage.
Lin Feng said, "No."
She hesitated slightly and said, "I am not afraid of being laughed at by Your Majesty, but I have never had the idea of starting a family, let alone having any offspring."
Even if the main branch of the Lin family should be inherited by her bloodline.
Lin Feng generated a lot of tangled silk threads because of this.
These are things I can't say to my great-grandfather or father.
Looking at the child nestled in her lap, Shen Tang said affectionately, "Then don't do it. Life isn't a set pattern; you don't have to take every step. You can also break out of the pattern and take other paths."
The Lin family may not even outlive Lin Feng.
"Fame and fortune are like duckweed and drifting catkins, gains and losses are as numerous as a drop in the ocean." Shen Tang gently stroked the little girl's hair and smiled, "Golden seals and purple ribbons, four-horse carriages and high carriages, all these worldly riches are like morning dew, like evening glow. Only the way of Heaven is eternal."
Seek the Way, my child.
|ω`)
It's finished.
(End of this chapter)
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