Chapter 138 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion
Chapter 138:
Taking Initiative
"Going to Cien Temple to pray?"
Fan Mama, who had just started teaching for a few days, decided not to continue.
Lin Yunwan went to pay respects to Lin Huabin and was informed about the prayer trip.
Lin Huabin chuckled, "Didn't you offer a perpetual lamp for your family? It's a good opportunity to go and pay respects to your relatives."
'I offered it for your daughter!' Lin Yunwan replied in her thoughts but kept her head down without saying anything.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" Lin Huabin asked.
When Lin Huabin wasn't angry, he was gentle with everyone.
Lin Yunwan replied faintly, "No."
She wore a slightly troubled expression and sighed, "I am willing to go to the temple to add oil lamps for the family and pray. However..."
Lin Huabin sensed that she had something to say and smiled, "If you have any requests, just tell Uncle."
"Uncle Lin, when I was in Prince Huan's residence, someone falsely accused me of being malicious," Lin Yunwan explained. "You should know the reason... Now, whether at home or outside, I am always being scrutinized."
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"I don't want to be judged by others," Lin Yunwan said.
Lin Huabin's gentle expression slowly turned cold. He seemed to transform into a different person and said, "Niece, don't mind what others say."
He continued to console her, "The idle gossip outside won't affect your future. You have your own promising path."
Lin Yunwan frowned, "Won't affect me?" How could it not affect her?
After a moment of silence, Lin Huabin suddenly smiled and asked, "Niece, what do you really want?"
Lin Yunwan smiled faintly.
Did Old Master Lin not understand what she wanted?
She wanted innocence!
"Uncle Lin, why not just send me back to my father..." Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Huabin's face stiffened, and he immediately interrupted, "No!"
Afraid of upsetting Lin Yunwan, Lin Huabin spoke to her in a gentle tone, "You, my child, don't you understand the gravity of the situation? Since you've come, you're already my daughter. How can you just leave? How will I explain this to your father, and to the family?"
"Alright, don't say impulsive things. If you're unhappy with Madam... I will talk to her," he continued.
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Lin Yunwan quietly observed Lin Huabin.
Surprisingly, he seemed even more anxious than she was!
Had the Prince and the Prince's uncle given Lin Huabin a significant advantage?
Was Lin Huabin afraid of offending the lord and the lord's uncle?
Lin Huabin approached Lin Yunwan again and said, "No one in the mansion will criticize you anymore. Go and offer incense with Madam peacefully!"
He was determined to send her away.
Returning to Bi Xi Hall, a maid approached Lin Yunwan and said, "Madam asked for you to quickly freshen up. Madam and the Second Miss are about to leave in the carriage."
Xiruo, trying to shoo away the maid, whispered, "Miss, shall we go?"
"Let's go. Of course, we should," Lin Yunwan replied.
"Fan Mama had only been teaching for a few days, and the master has already granted leave for me and the Second Miss. It indicates that Madam has a compelling reason to take the Second Miss to Ci'en Temple."
Xiruo quickly guessed, "Is it because the Prince is also going?"
Lin Yunwan nodded, "Most likely, yes."
She then asked Xiruo, "If I want to uphold the identity of Miss Lin and become a well-regarded young lady, how do you think I can find the servants from that time and clear up the injustice that happened when Miss Lin was four years old?"
Xiruo fell silent. She had heard the conversation between Miss and Lin Huabin just now, where it was made clear that Old Master Lin had no intention of restoring Miss's good reputation.
"Miss, you're just an inner courtyard lady. You can't do anything significant unless you step out of the gates. Unless you cultivate your own network of people," Xiruo advised.
With her eyes closed, Lin Yunwan asked, "How long does it take to cultivate such a network?"
"...One or two years?" Xiruo replied uncertainly, as she had no experience in such matters.
Lin Yunwan sighed, "You're being optimistic. To cultivate trustworthy confidantes within the Lin Mansion, it will take at least three to five years, if not more."
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But she couldn't wait for three to five years.
At most, within a year, the Lin family would arrange her future—either marriage or a life of seclusion in a convent.
Lin Yunwan recalled Dong Shuangshuang's words; she needed to seize the opportunity.
A woman doesn't encounter many good opportunities in her lifetime.
"Let's go," Lin Yunwan said.
She changed into a different outfit and went to the side gate with Xiruo. Lin Yunjiao, upon seeing Lin Yunwan, pulled aside the curtain and gave her a stern look, saying, "You're really dragging your feet."
Upon seeing Lin Yunwan's face, she felt reluctant to go to Cien Temple together.
She asked Madam Zheng inside the carriage, "Mother, can't we go without her?"
Madam Zheng frowned, "Isn't it what your father said?" She gritted her teeth and muttered, "But it's not really your father's idea; blame it on the Old Madam! How did she suddenly take an interest in this wretched girl?"
The carriage set off. Lin Yunwan and Xiruo sat in the carriage behind.
Upon reaching Cien Temple, Madam Zheng was afraid that Lin Yunwan might encounter Prince Huan, so she quickly sent her away. She secretly pulled Lin Yunjiao aside and said, "The Prince is in the temple. We can't let Yunwan be seen with you by the Prince."
A mother knows the appearance of her own daughter, and men, well, they often prefer beauty.
Lin Yunjiao wasn't pleased to hear this. She pouted and said, "Mother, what do you mean? Are you saying that I'm not as pretty as her?"
Zheng Shi didn't dare to speak the truth, "No, mother didn't mean that..."
Lin Yunjiao stomped her foot, her face turning unpleasant with anger.
Madam Zheng signaled for Fan Mama to come over and speak some kind words.
Fan Mama said, "Second Miss, how could Miss Lin compare to you?"
"Where does she fall short compared to me? Be more specific," Lin Yunjiao demanded. Lin Yunjiao snorted, "You better speak the truth. If you dare to lie, see how I'll punish you."
Fan Mama hesitated, feeling quite pressured. This was too difficult! She couldn't figure out how to tell the truth without causing trouble.
Lin Yunjiao pouted and said, "She only thrives in the countryside because of me! Her appearance is all thanks to me! Why should she look better than me?"
Madam Zheng comforted her, "Yunwan owes you. Don't talk about family matters outside... it's not good for a young lady's reputation to gossip."
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The group had walked quite far. Xiruo asked Lin Yunwan, "Miss, Madam has gone far. Where should we go?"
"To find the Prince," Lin Yunwan replied in a hushed voice. "Even if they know where the Prince is, they won't be able to see him. Xiruo, take me to see the Prince."
Xiruo's eyes lit up, "Miss, I'll go right away!"
Having followed the young lady for so long, this was the first time she was taking initiative to meet the Prince!
Xiruo hurried, and soon discovered a heavily guarded area within Cien Temple. Outside, there were warrior monks, and when she climbed up to get a view inside the courtyard, she saw people dressed as guards, including someone who looked like A'Fu.
The Prince was here!
"Ouch! Who hit my head?" A'Fu exclaimed, rubbing his forehead and looking around.
Xiruo jumped down and said, "Eunuch Fu, my apologies for the intrusion."
A'Fu was also pleasantly surprised, "Miss Xiruo, how did you come here?" Not seeing Lin Yunwan, he asked, "Where is the young miss?"
Xiruo smiled and said, "The young miss wants to see the Prince but can't get in."
A'Fu exclaimed, "Take me to her right away!"
Xiruo asked, "Don't you need to inform the Prince first?"
A'Fu slapped his forehead, "Oh, right away!"
A'Fu entered the room and said to Qi Lingheng, "Miss is here!" His steps were fast; his voice reached the room before he did.
Qi Lingheng frowned slightly and smiled, "Miss Lin?"
Who else could it be?
A'Fu confirmed, "Yes, Miss Xiruo is waiting outside."
"Please invite them in," Qi Lingheng replied.
Qi Lingheng said, "… Forget it, don't invite them here. Go somewhere else. There are too many people here, and it wouldn't be good for her if someone sees."
He was almost at the door, and A'Fu hadn't moved.
"What are you waiting for?" Qi Lingheng asked.
A'Fu came to his senses and smiled, "This servant just thinks that the lord treats the young lady differently."
"Differently?" Qi Lingheng smiled faintly, "I haven't noticed anything."
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I have noticed too, Prince Huan!
ReplyDeleteThank yiu for the chapter.