Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Threat

“Madam!” Mrs. Lin said with a pale face, “Now the whole capital is talking about Qingqing and the Second Young Master. If we wait until his wounds are healed before discussing this, I fear Qingqing will have to… have to… cut her hair and become a nun!”

“Qingqing cannot live in the capital,” Mrs. Lin cried, “I implore you, for the sake of my worry as a mother and the mutual love between the Second Young Master and Qingqing, please show mercy and let them be together!”

“Mrs. Lin, I understand your feelings,” the Old Madam Xiao said, “However, this matter has caused my household to lose face.”

Mrs. Lin gritted her teeth and directly knelt in front of the Old Madam.

“Mrs. Lin, what are you doing!” The Old Madam hurriedly instructed Nanny Wang, “Quickly help Mrs. Lin up!”

But Mrs. Lin insisted on staying down, making it difficult for Nanny Wang to help her up. “Old Madam, I’m not someone of significance, and my family’s status is humble. Kneeling before you is expected of me.”

“Old Madam, it may be my daughter who disregarded propriety and virtue, but truly, does Second Young Master bear no fault?” Mrs. Lin said, “If he was an upright person, how could he have developed feelings for my daughter despite having a betrothal?”

“If we seriously consider it, the Second Young Master is also implicated.” Mrs. Lin said, “When the time comes, his reputation will be tarnished. With the current Emperor’s intolerance for misdeeds, it’s uncertain if the Second Young Master could even participate in the imperial examinations.”

The Old Madam Xiao raised an eyebrow but laughed internally.

It was only a moment before this Mrs. Lin could no longer maintain her facade.

She had long realized that a mother who could raise someone like Lin Qingqing was no ordinary person.

Marrying into such a family, would Xiao Fengxing and Old Aunt Liu be able to endure it?

The Old Madam Xiao remained silent for a long time, leaving Mrs. Lin uncertain whether she had truly been threatened into submission.

Although the Old Madam Xiao and Xiao Fengxing certainly did not get along privately,

The Old Madam Xiao had always valued reputation and face, and certainly wouldn’t let her stepson’s reputation suffer, dragging down the Marquis’s household, would she?

Just as the rhythm in Mrs. Lin’s heart was quickening, the Old Madam Xiao finally spoke slowly, “Mrs. Lin.”

“Yes.” Mrs. Lin remained kneeling on the ground, yet she did not appear humble. She looked up calmly at the Old Madam Xiao.

She wanted to let the Old Madam know that she was not easily dismissed either.

However, the Old Madam Xiao slowly smiled, her lips drawing lines that gathered into layers of wrinkles on her cheeks.

“Do you think I care whether Xiao Fengxing can take the imperial examinations?” the Old Madam Xiao retorted.

It would be better if he could never make it on the list or pursue an official career in his life.

When the Great Xi was founded, they abolished the path for nobility to enter officialdom through favor.

No matter the family, descendants wanting to enter officialdom could only do so through examinations.

Otherwise, they could only inherit the family title and become idle relatives.

This way, power in the family gradually weakens, eventually leaving only an empty title.

It also diminished the influence of noble relatives.

Mrs. Lin was stunned, her face turning white in an instant.

She hadn’t expected the Old Madam Xiao not even to pretend.

“Old Madam,” Mrs. Lin said, “I have been too shallow, please do not hold it against me.”

The Old Madam smiled silently.

Mrs. Lin gritted her teeth and gave a heavy kowtow, “Old Madam, as long as Qingqing can rightfully marry the Second Young Master, I am willing to agree to any condition.”

The Old Madam Xiao smiled, “With the Lin family’s status, what conditions could satisfy the demands of a marquis household like ours?”

Mrs. Lin thought to herself, once Xiao Chengyu is gone, won’t the Old Madam have to regard the opinion of Xiao Fengxing’s legitimate wife?

However, she could not speak this openly at the moment and had to imply, “Old Madam, in the future, Qingqing will only acknowledge you as her mother-in-law, as for that Old Auntie, she is merely a servant in the household, and Qingqing will never recognize her.”

“You need not worry about the sincerity of my promise today. Earlier, I personally slapped Old Aunt Liu, which represents the Lin family’s stance,” Mrs. Lin said. “Due to that slap just now, Old Aunt Liu must already resent the Lin family and Qingqing.”

“Thus, in the future, Old Aunt Liu and Qingqing will not be of one mind.” Mrs. Lin said, “When Qingqing marries into the marquis household, Old Aunt Liu will be unhappy and unwilling to accept it, she will certainly trouble her frequently.”

Mrs. Lin took a deep breath and said, “This being the case, how could Old Aunt Liu and Qingqing possibly get along? There would undoubtedly be increasing conflict, and even with the Second Young Master in between, it would be to no avail.”

“Old Madam, as you said, the Lin family’s status is low,” Mrs. Lin said, “The conditions set by the marquis household might not be met by the Lin family. But this is what I can currently do for the marquis household and for you.”

“For her daughter’s sake, Mrs. Lin has truly exhausted her efforts,” the Old Madam said, “In that case, I can agree to their marriage.”

Mrs. Lin was delighted, but the Old Madam quickly added, “However, Lin Qingqing can only enter the household discreetly.”

“Old Madam, what do you mean…” Mrs. Lin’s heart, which had just soared, sank once again.

The Old Madam Xiao said, “Xiao Fengxing and Lin Qingqing’s matter is, after all, disgraceful. Besides, Xiao Fengxing’s injury is not fit for public appearance either.”

“I understand that you all would not rest easy if we waited until after the spring examinations to marry,” the Old Madam Xiao said, “So before the spring examinations, let’s quickly select a date and have Lin Qingqing marry in.”

“Old Madam, a wedding cannot be so rushed. We can arrange a betrothal first,” Mrs. Lin hurriedly said, “Before the spring examinations, let the two children formalize the engagement, and after the exams, our family can prepare, and in three to six months, they can officially wed.”

By then, the matter concerning Lin Qingqing and Xiao Fengxing will likely be forgotten.

Perhaps people might recall their secret meetings, but by then, much time will have passed, and few will care to mention it.

The Old Madam Xiao smiled, “Mrs. Lin, if Lin Qingqing seeks a grand wedding, it cannot happen. Our marquis household cannot afford such disgrace.”

“Even if I am unsatisfied with Xiao Fengxing, he is still the Second Young Master of the marquis household. To bring in a woman of compromised virtue with grand fanfare and drums, your daughter, while the engagement with Fu Mingzhu was still in place, carried on covertly for a long time, and this is a well-known fact.”

“Now that Xiao Fengxing and Fu Mingzhu have called off the engagement, if the marquis household still grandly welcomes Lin Qingqing, would that not be slapping the Fu family’s face? Also making people say our marquis household is unkind and lacks propriety.”

“The marquis household will never offend the Fu family for Lin Qingqing, and will not allow Lin Qingqing to damage the marquis household’s reputation.” The Old Madam said, “In principle, the marquis household could have made Lin Qingqing a concubine.”

“But considering Mr. Lin’s integrity and reputation, there is no need for such ruin,” the Old Madam said, “Hence reluctantly agreeing for Lin Qingqing to be a wife.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep