Chapter 122
Wei Ling didn't sleep well that night. The next morning, he practiced his swordsmanship in the courtyard, working up a light sweat before finally feeling better. He wiped his forehead with a handkerchief offered by the servant. Seeing the sun already high in the sky, Wei Ling asked about court matters: "I heard the Emperor named the governor-general the Governor-General of Xuanda last night?"
The guard standing nearby said, "The imperial edict has been issued, and the governor has left for Shanxi overnight. The emperor must be furious about the spy incident this time! However... the governor is in charge of the military affairs of Xuanda and Shanxi this time. Doesn't this mean he will also be in charge of Xuanfu, which you are in charge of?"
"That's fine. Last time, he finally spoke up about Yi Ning's matter, and the emperor stopped asking questions." Wei Ling pondered for a moment and said, "I'm grateful to him. When Yi Ning gets married, if he finds the spy and comes back, he should be invited to the wedding. After all, Yi Ning has recognized him as her adoptive father."
"Your Excellency is right. However, in my opinion, General Zeng Yingkun of Datong has been stationed in Datong for ten years, and his men are very xenophobic. The Commander-in-Chief may not be able to find the spy..."
Wei Ling laughed out loud when he heard this: "How dare Zeng Yingkun play tricks in front of Lu Jiaxue? When Lu Jiaxue was making great achievements on the battlefield, he was still playing in the mud in some garrison!" He patted the guards on the shoulders, thinking that they were all a group of young and fearless people. They didn't see when Lu Jiaxue led thousands of troops to fight against the Tatars. He was so awe-inspiring.
He was about to go into the inner room to change his clothes when he saw the steward come in and handed him a visiting card: "My Lord, there's a guest outside. He says his surname is Lin and he works as a clerk in the Ministry of Works. He claims to be our young lady's cousin. I find this strange... How could our young lady have a cousin named Lin? Please take a look at his visiting card."
Wei Ling took the visiting card handed over by the steward. He remembered that Yining's stepmother's surname was Lin, so she might really be here to visit.
"But what are you doing here?"
The steward replied, "He said he had something for you... From the way he's dressed, I can tell he's not an ordinary person."
The Duke of Ying's mansion was so prestigious that it had many poor relatives who came to ask for money, so he had to be cautious and not everyone could see him. However, Wei Ling remembered that Yining's stepmother had a good relationship with Yining, so since she was here, he naturally wanted to meet her.
Wei Ling nodded and said, "Take him to the front hall and entertain him well. I'll change my clothes and come over."
The steward then took the order to release the person. After washing up, Wei Ling casually changed into a round-necked, right-fronted robe and went to the front hall.
Lin Mao, however, was wearing an ochre-red Hangzhou silk gown today, with a jade pendant at his waist, looking cheerful and cheerful. With his slender figure and narrow, almond-shaped eyes, he was truly a young talent. He was standing outside the front hall, gazing at the crabapple blossoms and waiting, a pair of geese with their wings tied to their sides. Turning to see the Duke of England approach, he strode over and saluted, "How are you, Duke?"
Wei Ling asked him to sit down, and the servants brought him the finest Da Hong Pao. Wei Ling then smiled and asked, "I remember Yining's stepmother, Lin. Are you Lin's nephew?"
Lin Mao bowed and said, "I am indeed a member of the Yangzhou Lin family. I have been in the capital the entire time and have never come to visit the Duke. I am truly disrespectful!"
Wei Ling smiled and said, "There's no need to be polite, Master Lin! Since he's Yining's cousin, we're relatives. We'll get to know each other better if we visit each other often. Yining doesn't have any brothers or sisters, only one younger brother. I wish she had more brothers." The two talked for a while, and then the steward came over to invite Duke Ying. It was time for dinner. Wei Ling said to Lin Mao, "It's almost noon, why don't I ask the kitchen to make some snacks so you can have a few drinks with me?"
Lin Mao's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Since the Duke invited me to drink, of course I have to have a few drinks."
Wei Ling sent a servant to the kitchen to tell them to prepare the dishes, including peanuts, braised pig ears, and other side dishes. He also sent someone to the East Garden to inform Yining that her cousin had come to visit.
When the food and wine were served, Lin Mao poured Wei Ling some wine. "I've heard the Duke has the reputation of being able to drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. I also love wine in Yangzhou and can identify the type of wine by its smell. The owner of a winery once paid me fifty taels of silver for this." He took the wine pot and sniffed it. "It's actually Autumn Dew White! The Duke's cellar is truly the best!"
Wei Ling was surprised to see that he could really smell it. He immediately asked the butler to bring several kinds of wine, and Lin Mao was able to distinguish them one by one.
Wei Ling looked at Lin Mao with admiration: "Drinking is harmful to the body. I have quit drinking for several years. If I had known I would meet little friend Lin, I would have quit a few years later!"
"It's not too late for you to drink with me now." Lin Mao filled his glass again and they clinked glasses.
Wei Ling sighed and said, "Drinking is still comfortable." As soon as the wine hit his stomach, he felt a comfortable warmth, and all his worries disappeared. The urge to drink that he had suppressed for years was finally aroused. He took the wine pot and poured more wine for Lin Mao, "Little friend Lin, drink more. This Autumn Dew White is a gift from the emperor. You can't buy it outside."
Lin Mao thought about the important things he had to do, so he couldn't drink any more: "Duke, I still have something to discuss with you..."
"Just say it!" Wei Ling said with a smile. He thought Lin Mao wanted to discuss official matters with him, so he didn't care much and raised his glass again.
After hearing this, Lin Mao continued, "Duke, I'm here today to propose marriage. I want to marry Yining."
Wei Ling was caught off guard and almost spit out his wine when he heard it. He quickly put down the glass. He looked at Lin Mao in shock: "You...what did you say?"
"Yining and I have known each other since childhood. We are in love with each other and have long wanted to marry her. However, she was still young at that time, so I wanted to wait until I became successful before marrying her." Lin Mao said sincerely, "When I was a child at the Luo family, my cousin Yining and I were together every day, and she also likes me very much. If you don't believe me, you can ask Yining."
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