Chapter 124: Chapter 123: Family Bonds

Just when he had not yet awakened from the joy of having twins, his wife had secretly sent their daughter away.

Lin Sheng knew he was just a minor scholar, even if he passed the imperial exam, he couldn’t compare with a household like the Gu Mansion, but he was also a person with a backbone, unwilling to be separated from his own flesh and blood.

Yet his wife quietly sent her away, not even giving him a chance to take a look.

He also thought about retrieving his daughter, but his wife threatened to die, his father-in-law had also had talk with him, and he was promptly transferred to work as a County Magistrate elsewhere, which lasted for many years.

The daughter has grown up to be elegant and beautiful.

Facing the daughter who had come seeking him, Lin Sheng was excited and joyful, seeing this was indeed his daughter Lin Sheng, how well she had grown, standing there with the grace of a lady.

But this excitement was quickly suppressed by Lin Sheng.

Over the years, he had been thinking about how to face this matter with his daughter, if she were to connect with them, the Marquis Mansion would surely harbor opinions against her.

Therefore, even when he returned to the Capital, not finding connections to arrange a position, he did not send anyone to the Marquis Mansion to search for his daughter.

Now seeing his daughter coming like this, Lin Sheng cooled his face, “Miss, you’ve mistaken the person, I, Lin Sheng, have only two sons and two daughters, all residing at home now, where would they come outside in search of someone. Though I do not know Miss, I also advise Miss a word, in blindly recognizing kin like this, have you thought about how those beside you would feel? Don’t hurt that sincere heart, Miss should reconsider.”

Shanmoi was stunned.

Why did the old master not recognize the young lady.

The blood on Lin Youning’s face receded somewhat, then a faint smile emerged, “I’ve mistaken the person, thank you for Mr. Lin’s teaching.”

After speaking, Lin Youning donned her veil, made a proper salute to Lin Sheng, and left with Shanmoi.

With steady steps and dignified gestures, Lin Sheng forced himself to retract his gaze and turned his back, not letting anyone see his reddened eyes.

This was his daughter, sent away by his wife in her attempts to curry favor with the Gu Mansion, he has already wronged her, how could he then recognize her, letting her live a life of watching others’ expressions?

Shanmoi’s face was full of resentment, “Miss, it was truly too much, even saying he doesn’t have a daughter like you, I must have misjudged, he clearly seems like an upright person, how could he speak such words, Miss isn’t after anything of his.”

Lin Youning’s nose felt sore, her voice slightly trembling, “Be quiet, stop the nonsense.”

Shanmoi was reprimanded by her master for the first time, and realizing her master had encountered such an incident, yet she’s still speaking as such, she hurriedly admitted her fault in shame.

Lin Youning explained to her in a lowered tone, “He’s not wanting me to have a difficult time at the Marquis Mansion, that’s why he treats me like this, it’s truly for my own good, how could I blame him?”

Shanmoi was stunned, face full of shock.

“Even though we have never met from childhood, knowing that there is such a sincere loving father makes me content enough.” Lin Youning returned to the sedan, “Henceforth I’ll just consider myself without family.”

Having such a thought is already enough.

Lin Youning has already let go, regarding why year gifts were sent to the mansion at first, perhaps it was done by that heartless mother.

Having a father who considers her like this, how would he do such a thing?

Lin Youning has figured it out now, rather her whole being feels lighter, or say the regret settled deep in her heart across two lifetimes, finally is no longer there.

Shanmoi did not speak again along the way, rather dazed, after returning to the jewelry building, the clerk had long waited there, and upon inquiry after returning indoors, no one had come looking for them ahead.

Lin Youning did not linger, tidied up her clothes, and went out with Shanmoi. Upon entering the hall, Li Si respectfully greeted them as they emerged, “Seeing it’s close to noon, I will escort Miss to the restaurant to wait for the Marquis.”

Lin Youning nodded, after getting on the carriage it took half an hour to reach the place, they went upstairs to a refined room. But Lin Youning had not yet entered the reserved room when someone came out of the room near the stairs, bumping into Lin Youning.

Wu Xueqin smiled as she approached, greeting them, “Sister Lin.”

“Second Sister Wu.” Lin Youning returned the greeting, without planning to speak more.

Wu Xueqin was evidently quite pleased upon seeing Lin Youning, “Is Sister Lin out on her own? Or with a few sisters from the mansion? I’m out with Sister Feng, otherwise, we could join.”

“No need, I’m out with my elder brother, it would be improper for you to be with a man,” Lin Youning declined directly without hesitation.

Wu Xueqin covered her mouth with a handkerchief, chuckling, “Sister Lin speaks correctly, it seems I was impolite.”

With another proper bow, she cleared the path.

But as the two stood outside conversing, the people in the refined room were alerted. As Lin Youning passed by, coincidentally Feng Yufu came out from the room, and inside through the door crack, Wu Chuhao could be seen.

Lin Youning suppressed the surprise in her heart, nodded slightly toward Feng Yufu in greeting, and entered the refined room Li Si had pushed open for her.

The door closed behind, the outside world was shut out, and Li Si had already left after Lin Youning entered, leaving only Lin Youning and Shanmoi inside.

“Miss…” Shanmoi had noticed the man existed there too. She didn’t know if she should speak on it.

Lin Youning gestured for her not to talk too much, simply said, “Today you are also tired, go check what dishes are ordered, anyway without outsiders, ask the store to do some dishes for you and Li Si as well, you two can have your meal in the outer room.”

Lin Youning had always been very lenient with Shanmoi, knowing even with such indulgence, this girl wouldn’t act out of order.

Shanmoi laughed, “Though this servant has never left the mansion, I’ve heard others mention the lion’s head here is the tastiest.”

“Then order a portion.” Lin Youning didn’t take to heart Wu Xueqin’s remarks.

But her voice lightly joking with the servant, instead intermittently reached the next room.

Feng Yufu slowly drank tea, laughed, “Today is truly a coincidence, this Miss Lin of the Marquis Mansion usually never goes out, and we happen to run into her.”

“Perhaps it’s Mr. Gu Er who brought her out.” Wu Xueqin smiled faintly.

But such words easily lead to misunderstandings, if heard by those wealthy households’ madams, they might be displeased, as it breaks propriety.

Feng Yufu laughed, “I heard Dingyuan Marquis also always dotes on this younger sister, perhaps they came out along with the Marquis.”

Wu Chuhao’s gaze swept across Feng Yufu before moving away, behaving more properly than usual, “Perhaps.”

Wu Xueqin couldn’t help but laugh, not saying more, only casting her gaze between the two, making Feng Yufu’s ears flush red, Wu Chuhao then laughed foolishly.

Anyone could see that Wu Chuhao liked Feng Yufu, and Feng Yufu was aware of it too.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep