Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Schemes

“You are right.” Madam Fu guessed Lin Qingqing’s intentions upon hearing Fu Changqin, and her resentment deepened.

A fine Lin Qingqing, first schemed against her daughter, and now even set her sights on her son.

What a vile woman!

“You still haven’t explained the matter with these two boxes of osmanthus cakes.” Fu Mingzhu remembered the initial query.

“Oh oh, right.” Fu Changqin said, “Because Lin Qingqing delayed for so long, the Marquis was worried that the box of osmanthus cakes got cold, so he had Jing Lai send a warm box out for me to bring back.”

As for saying the warm one was only for Fu Shinian, Fu Changqin didn’t mention it.

After all, they had already eaten the warm ones.

Madam Fu: “…”

The Marquis Changping’s intentions were truly…

Fu Shinian also found it strange; since Xiao Chengyu had already rejected her, why was he still so concerned about her?

Of course, it was only Xiao Chengyu’s perceived rejection; she hadn’t actually been pursuing Xiao Chengyu.

However, the next day, Fu Changqin returned earlier than usual again.

Seeing the food box in his hand, Madam Fu directly asked, “What kind of pastries did you bring back today? It can’t still be osmanthus cake, can it?”

Though they were delicious, one couldn’t keep eating them forever.

“This time it’s lotus pastries…” Fu Changqin said.

Fu Shinian: “…”

“Shinian, perhaps you should still go to the Marquis’ mansion tomorrow. I still want to read more books there.” Fu Changqin said helplessly.

Fu Shinian was utterly surprised, could Fu Changqin actually say such words?

“Since when did you enjoy reading so much?”

“Isn’t the imperial examination approaching?” Fu Changqin couldn’t help but imagine, “I hope to be on the list, and then have mother choose a good marriage for me.”

Fu Shinian: “…”

She hadn’t realized Fu Changqin was so eager to marry.

“You should tell the Marquis that I truly can’t eat anymore.” Fu Shinian said, “Eating too many pastries can make you gain weight and affect my appetite for meals.”

“Alright.”

As a result, after Fu Changqin conveyed this to Xiao Chengyu, he indeed no longer brought pastries back and instead brought snacks good for digestion.

Things like hawthorn cake, plum cake, all sweet and sour and not affecting the appetite.

The good thing was, these treats weren’t spoiled by the cold.

So Fu Changqin could read at the Marquis’ mansion and bring snacks back for Fu Shinian as before, killing two birds with one stone.

Soon after, rumors spread in the capital that the old Madam Xiao wanted to arrange another marriage proposal for Xiao Fengxing.

Originally, Lin Qingqing had kept it from her family, but this time even Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin found out and hurriedly asked Lin Qingqing about it.

“I haven’t heard about it.” Lin Qingqing had to say.

“It’s all over the capital, and you haven’t heard?” Mr. Lin said anxiously, “Won’t Xiao Fengxing acknowledge it? Is he playing with us?”

“How come you know nothing about it?” Mrs. Lin complained, “Whenever something happens, he doesn’t tell you, at least ask him.”

“The whole capital says the old Madam of Marquis Changping is arranging a match for him, and she has indeed started appearing in the capital.” Mrs. Lin said, “I believe the rumors are true.”

“But has there been any rumor about who the old Madam has her eye on?” Lin Qingqing asked.

“No, not yet.” Mrs. Lin said, “Until it’s finalized, how could they publicize it? If the marriage doesn’t work out, it won’t affect the girl.”

“In any case, contact him and find out what’s going on.” Mr. Lin said solemnly, “Our family needs to prepare accordingly.”

“Understood.” Naturally, Lin Qingqing wanted to find out.

She had the maid deliver a letter to Xiao Fengxing, directly to Chang Tai, Xiao Fengxing’s attendant.

She carefully instructed the maid not to let Yilan or Aunt Liu handle it, and if it couldn’t be delivered to Chang Tai, rather not deliver it at all.

The maid returned with a report, “The delivery went smoothly, as Aunt Liu wasn’t at the mansion, and Yilan went out with her. I had someone call Chang Tai out and gave him the letter.”

“If the Second Young Master still doesn’t receive the letter, then it means…” It indicates either there’s an issue with Chang Tai or even Xiao Fengxing has betrayed Lin Qingqing.

While Lin Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed Xiao Fengxing hadn’t betrayed her.

In the afternoon, Xiao Fengxing sent a reply.

Delivered personally by Chang Tai.

In the letter, Xiao Fengxing expressed that he had no intention of an arranged marriage and had never heard the old Madam intending to arrange one for him.

It was his first time hearing about this after receiving her letter today.

He immediately inquired with the old Madam, who also said she had no intention of arranging a marriage for him.

Therefore, everything was a misunderstanding, and he asked Lin Qingqing not to believe the unfounded rumors in the capital.

However, Lin Qingqing did not believe it.

How could Xiao Fengxing, always out in the world, not have heard these rumors, unlike her staying confined at home?

And Aunt Liu’s attitude explained a lot too.

“Is Chang Tai still here?” Lin Qingqing asked.

“Yes, he is.” The maid replied, “I told him to wait, thinking you might have a message for him to deliver.”

Lin Qingqing quickly wrote a letter with a brief content, requesting to meet Xiao Fengxing for a detailed talk.

“Have Chang Tai deliver it to the Second Young Master.” Lin Qingqing said.

“Yes.”

In the study, upon hearing Jing Lai’s report, Xiao Chengyu paused his writing, put down his brush, and said, “Go inform the Second Lady about the meeting place.”

“Yes.”

Fu Shinian received Jing Lai’s message and thought that Xiao Chengyu’s handling was indeed thorough, even arranging the meeting place according to his wishes for Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing.

The meeting place for the two was in the back mountain of the Law Temple, ostensibly going to the Law Temple to pray, which was indeed discreet.

Fu Shinian wrote a letter and had Chunmian and Chunyu deliver it to Yu Jingyun, Li Zhaohui, and Zheng Sulan, inviting them to pray at the Law Temple that day.

Fu Shinian had a good relationship with Yu Jingyun, and the invitation was natural.

Though her relationship with Li Zhaohui and Zheng Sulan was ordinary, due to Lin Qingqing, they had shown her goodwill.

And as long as matters involved Lin Qingqing, these two would certainly take her side.

“If Li Zhaohui and Zheng Sulan ask, just say they will like it. They can also invite their friends to come along.”

Li Zhaohui and Zheng Sulan weren’t fools.

Just from the fact that they distanced themselves after being used by Lin Qingqing once, unlike Xu Xiuyu who remained close to Lin Qingqing, and daringly trapped Lin Qingqing in the main hall, one could tell.

“Yes.”

Chunmian and Chunyu went to the Li Mansion and Zheng Mansion respectively.

Sure enough, upon receiving Fu Shinian’s letter, both were a bit puzzled why Fu Shinian invited them.

But after hearing Chunmian and Chunyu’s words, they immediately associated it with Lin Qingqing.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep