Chapter 487: Chapter 454: The First Impression Was Not Unpleasant (2nd Update)

Wen Wan had heard Lin Xiaoyue mention before that her father was a hot-tempered person, who at the slightest disagreement, would tell her to divorce Su Qing and return to Jizhou.

Guessing that Lin Fu might have come to the Capital, Wen Wan did not proceed further.

She stood under the corridor for a while, and the maid Jin Huan from Lin Xiaoyue’s room saw her and hurriedly came over to inquire, “Mrs. Song, how come you’re here without notifying the gatekeeper?”

Upon hearing the voice, Wen Wan turned back and smiled at her, “I specifically asked them not to announce it. I originally wanted to surprise your granny, but unexpectedly…”

She glanced towards the direction of the hall.

Jin Huan realized the situation and said apologetically, “The old master has come. He heard that Mr. Qi has been at the Northwest Border for a long time and hasn’t returned, and he’s worried Granny Qi and our young lady will be bullied again. He’s quite angry now and insists on taking Granny Qi back to Jizhou.”

Wen Wan detected that Jin Huan didn’t sound too tense, as if she was accustomed to such situations, and she asked, “What did your Granny Qi say?”

“Granny Qi doesn’t want to go back, but the old master disagrees, saying even if he has to tie her up, he will take her away.”

Wen Wan chuckled softly, “If I appear now, can I save your Granny Qi?”

Jin Huan hesitated and said, “I’m not sure, but if the old master knows that Granny Qi has such a good friend in the Capital looking after her, he might be more at ease.”

“I see.”

Wen Wan walked forward, following the sound.

The closer she got, the clearer Lin Xiaoyue’s words in the hall became, “Dad, you’re here again. Didn’t I tell you before, I will not divorce him.”

“I didn’t ask you to divorce that little bastard.” Lin Fu said, “I’m asking you to pack up and leave with me. When Su Qing returns, you can come back to the Capital.”

“I’m still not leaving.” Lin Xiaoyue insisted, “I want to stay home and wait for him.”

Lin Fu was furious with her, “The man isn’t even here, why are you staying in an empty house, wanting to be burned again?”

“A First-rank Grand Commander’s mansion, who would risk their life to burn it casually?”

“I don’t care, are you leaving or not?”

Lin Xiaoyue had never seen someone so stubborn, feeling helpless by her father’s actions, “If you’re really ruthless enough to tie me up and take me away, then tie me. But I assure you, I’ll escape back the next day.”

Escape back to be bullied again?

It’s simply enraging, extremely enraging!

Lin Fu truly suspected if this daughter standing before him had her core swapped; her previous arrogant and domineering nature completely gone?

“Can’t you have a little backbone?”

“I can’t help it, you and mom gave birth to me too beautiful, you can’t have both fish and bear’s paw. With beauty, there’s no backbone.”

Seeing Lin Fu pull his beard in anger, Lin Xiaoyue held back her laughter, “Dad, I tell you, the Capital is really nice. If you like it, stay a few more days. The Shangsi Festival is coming soon, go out and have fun. If you don’t enjoy staying, I’ll have someone send you to the dock right away.”

“Cut that useless talk! Come clean, how did the child get lost, did it suffer at the hands of those in the big residence again? Be honest, if that’s the case, I’ll immediately have someone move ten or eight pi xiu statues over to scare the hell out of that old bastard who’s been bullying my daughter.”

Lin Xiaoyue poured tea into a teapot and presented it to him, “Have a cup of tea, calm down. The child thing truly was my lack of fortune, unrelated to others.”

Lin Fu couldn’t drink, slamming the teacup heavily on the table, “Hmph! If it wasn’t for someone secretly plotting against you, would you have miscarried without any cause? No way, this thing can’t be left unresolved, I’ll hire a top detective to find out the truth for you. Whoever harmed you, I’ll make them accompany my grandson in death!”

Lin Xiaoyue was helpless; she kept saying it was an accident, but her father just didn’t believe it.

She was having a headache when the door behind her suddenly was knocked on.

Lin Xiaoyue steadied her mind, walked over to open the door, and was surprised to see Wen Wan.

Wen Wan teased her, “Do I look particularly good today, to amaze the Dudu’s wife like this?”

Lin Xiaoyue ignored Wen Wan’s narcissistic remark and asked her, “Why did you suddenly come?”

Wen Wan glanced inside, “Aren’t you planning to invite me in for a cup of water?”

Lin Xiaoyue quickly opened the door wider, inviting her in, then introduced her to Lin Fu, “Dad, this is Miss Song. When the Champion Scholar Mansion was burned down, it was thanks to her family for taking me in.”

Upon hearing that, Lin Fu’s stern old face finally showed a bit of warmth, “This lady is truly a benevolent person. I am Yue Niang’s father. That incident back then, we really need to properly thank your family.”

Wen Wan smiled politely, “Uncle Lin is too kind.”

Lin Fu seemed to remember something and added, “The Lin family is in business. If your family’s shops encounter any difficulties, feel free to seek me out. What can be helped, I, Lin, will not shirk.”

The Wen Wan heard of the Lin Family’s business, which has grown significantly over the years and is now the richest in Jizhou.

Wen Wan’s silk shop can easily secure the best goods by aligning with the Lin Family; unfortunately, now is not the time for business talks. She can only exchange pleasantries: “Uncle, it’s too formal for you to say so. Madam Su is my friend. It’s only right that I take her in when she’s in trouble.”

Seeing Lin Fu about to say more, Lin Xiaoyue interrupts him, “Dad, Wen Wan is here to see me, so say less, lest you scare her away.”

Lin Fu glared, “You little brat, am I a jackal or a tiger to you?”

Lin Xiaoyue thought to herself, does it matter?

Disregarding her father’s reaction, Lin Xiaoyue invites Wen Wan to sit down and asks her, “Do you have something important to discuss with me?”

Wen Wan said, “Shangsi Festival is coming, and I wanted to ask if you’d like to go out with me. But since Uncle is visiting, I suppose you can’t make it, so just pretend I didn’t ask.”

“Oh, don’t say that! My dad won’t stay long; he’ll leave in a couple of days,” Lin Xiaoyue says, smiling at Lin Fu. “Right, Dad?”

In front of outsiders, Lin Fu couldn’t force his daughter to return home with him. He could only nod unwillingly, “Yes, I just came to visit my daughter and granddaughter in the Capital as spring arrives. I’ll leave soon, so you girls can go out and have fun without worrying about me.”

Successfully getting rid of her father, Lin Xiaoyue feels much better and instructs the servants to entertain the in-laws. She then takes Wen Wan to the inner courtyard.

As soon as they arrive at her room, Lin Xiaoyue puts on a stern expression, “Wen Wan, are you crazy? So many people go hiking during Shangsi Festival. With crowds everywhere, why would you, a pregnant woman, want to join in? Trying to squeeze out the baby?”

“What’s wrong with being pregnant?” Wen Wan replied, “Who says a pregnant woman can’t celebrate Shangsi Festival?”

“If you want to act reckless, fine, but don’t drag my godson into it.”

Wen Wan felt she shouldn’t have come to the Governor Mansion.

This trip today was purely a setup to get scolded.

No matter how she explained later, even invoking Song Jiao and Liang Jun didn’t work.

Lin Xiaoyue’s attitude is firm, “Since the young ones want to take the chance to meet, just arrange a few more servants to follow. He’s a newly minted Advanced Scholar, a scholar. It’s not like he could eat your niece alive. But you, don’t you have an inkling of your own situation?”

“…”

For the first time, Wen Wan discovered Lin Xiaoyue could nag more than her own mother-in-law.

The other kept babbling, and Wen Wan, feeling drowsy, leaned back on her soft couch and closed her eyes.

Lin Xiaoyue noticed no response after a long speech and turned to see Wen Wan had fallen asleep. Amused, she lightly scolded her and then went inside to retrieve a blanket to cover her.

Wen Wan slept at the Governor Mansion for nearly two hours before heading home.

Lin Xiaoyue was very against her going out. Wen Wan thought about it and decided not to go. However, she couldn’t get Song Jiao and Song Qi’s situation out of her mind.

Even with more servants accompanying them, this kind of formal meeting without an elder present risks making their family seem less important.

So Wen Wan asked Yang to accompany the two sisters.

——

On Shangsi Festival, there were many people out for spring outings, with poetry societies buzzing everywhere, carried mainly by talented scholars and beauties.

Song Jiao donned the freshly crafted spring dress and got on the carriage with her sister.

Yang had been waiting in the carriage for a long time.

Seeing Song Jiao’s attire, a look of amazement crossed her eyes, “No wonder people say a girl changes at eighteen. Now, Jiaojiao, you’re much prettier than you were back in Ningzhou.”

Noticing Song Qi beside her secretly roll her eyes, Yang added, “Of course, Qi Qi is beautiful too. You are both a pair of beautiful sisters, each with your own merits.”

Only then did Song Qi’s complexion improve slightly.

Later, Yang mentioned the young Mr. Liang, “Your cousin said he’s a newly crowned Advanced Scholar, very favored by the Dean. When you meet him, Jiaojiao, try to carry yourself gracefully, without being too restrained.”

It was Song Jiao’s first encounter with such a situation, and naturally, she felt nervous. Hearing Yang’s words, she took deep breaths.

Liang Jun came alone today.

When the carriage stopped in the suburb, Song Jiao saw him. With clear eyebrows and a gentle demeanor, he lacked the refined elegance of her third uncle and wasn’t as striking as the Eldest Prince or her eldest cousin. Liang Jun was the type that grew on you.

At first impression, Song Jiao wasn’t opposed to him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep