A Forced Marriage

Shen Jingchuan didn't know what to do. Going forward to persuade him was not an option, and leaving was even worse.

As the standoff continued, the Lin brothers, Lin Shan and Lin Yue, settled their horses and entered the courtyard. They immediately noticed the two men standing there, and the atmosphere became tense and awkward.

Lin Yue strode over, first noticing Lin Qingyao's back to him, her shoulders trembling slightly, then seeing Shen Jingchuan standing helplessly beside her, his face immediately darkened.

"Shen Jingchuan, what did you do to my sister?"

Shen Jingchuan opened his mouth to explain, but didn't know where to begin, which only added to his sense of injustice.

Lin Shan was observant. His gaze swept over the backs of the two women wearing veils who had just walked away from the corner of the courtyard. Looking at Lin Qingyao's appearance, he instantly guessed seven or eight parts of the story.

He quickly reached out and pulled Lin Yue along, subtly giving him a wink. Lin Yue was taken aback, then his thoughts shifted, and he remembered the two women he had picked up that morning. He immediately realized—it seemed his sister was upset after seeing them.

He didn't lash out at Shen Jingchuan again, but took two steps forward, supported Lin Qingyao's arm, and softened his tone:

"Xiao Yao, let's go inside and talk."

Lin Qingyao didn't resist, keeping her head down as he pulled her inside, tears still streaming down her face. She didn't even have the courage to look Shen Jingchuan in the eye.

Inside the room, Lin Qingyao sat on the edge of the bed, covering her face with a handkerchief, her shoulders shaking with sobs. Lin Yue pulled up a stool and sat opposite her, sighing.

"Alright, stop crying. Your second brother knows what you're thinking. A man like Young Master Shen is talented and responsible; it's normal for him to have a few women around him. You don't need to make yourself suffer like this."

"No, second brother,"

Lin Qingyao spoke in a muffled voice, her tone trembling with tears:

"I'm not jealous..." She swallowed the words halfway through. How could a young woman openly admit that he had seen her bare back back back?

She only felt that he had touched her innocent body, and she had already secretly recognized him in her heart. She thought he should at least know his limits, but he turned around and brought another woman back. This disparity made her heart ache.

Lin Yue knew exactly what she was thinking. When Shen Jingchuan treated her injuries, he was right there by her side. The separation between men and women is of utmost importance. If this were anyone else, they would have already gone to propose marriage.

He reached out and patted his sister's hand, his tone resolute:

"Alright, Second Brother understands. Leave this to me. Go wash your face first. What kind of behavior is this, crying like this? Where did your former spirited self go? Ever since you met Shen Jingchuan, you've almost become a different person."

Lin Qingyao blushed at his words and playfully punched his arm.

"Mind your own business and get out of here."

"Alright, alright, I'll go out," Lin Yue said with a smile as he stood up.

He closed the door behind him and walked to the pavilion in the courtyard. Lin Shan and Shen Jingchuan were sitting at the stone table, neither of them speaking.

Lin Yue poured himself a glass of cold tea, drank it all in one gulp, put the glass on the table, and got straight to the point:

"Young Master Shen, my family all come from a martial arts background, so we speak frankly and directly. I won't say much else, but what do you plan to do about my sister's matter?"

Shen Jingchuan was stunned for a moment:

"What do we do?"

"Are you still pretending to be confused with me?"

Lin Yue immediately became anxious and leaned forward:

"When my sister was injured, who took off her shirt to apply medicine? Who stared at that girl completely naked?"

That was a serious matter that ruined a young woman's reputation! And what did you do? You turned around and redeemed one from the brothel, then abandoned my sister and didn't care about her at all. What kind of behavior is that?

Shen Jingchuan was stunned on the spot, and said with his eyes wide open:

"Huh? So, according to you, I have to marry her just because I treated her injury once? If I were a decrepit old man, would your sister still have to marry me?"

"How can that be the same?" Lin Yue said matter-of-factly. "If my sister doesn't like it, that's a different story."

Shen Jingchuan was amused and annoyed. So it was all up to your family to decide? Wasn't that a blatant double standard? But then he thought about it again. Lin Qingyao was pretty and had a bright and cheerful personality. He already had a good impression of her. If he were to marry her, he wouldn't feel any pressure at all.

He put away his joking expression and said seriously:

"Okay, if that's how you put it, I'll definitely agree. I've just never been sure what Qingyao is thinking, and I don't really understand the rules here, so I haven't dared to speak up rashly."

"Whatever you say, I'll do it all. But there's one condition: you absolutely cannot abandon Miss Bai."

"Who told you to throw it away?"

Lin Yue rolled his eyes:

"Isn't it normal for a real man to have three wives and four concubines? My elder brother has two concubines in his house, and I have three by my side. We don't care how many you marry, but you have to put my sister's matter first. She's not young anymore, and we can't just let things drag on like this."

Shen Jingchuan readily agreed, "Second Brother, whatever you say, we'll do. I really don't know anything about these etiquettes, so you'll have to teach me. Whenever you say when, even tomorrow is fine."

This attitude was so upright and straightforward that Lin Yue's face instantly brightened.

Lin Shan couldn't help but smile and shake his head.

"Alright, stop your nonsense. When we get back to Yuxi Prefecture, the betrothal and naming ceremonies must be followed according to the rules. I know these procedures well, and I'll help you with the arrangements. You always have to make your second brother angry before you'll say anything straight."

Shen Jingchuan scratched his head, a little embarrassed:

"Hey, I just didn't know the rules. Besides, I really like Qingyao, I just haven't had the nerve to say it."

"You like her, yet you bring other women back?" Lin Yue raised an eyebrow and glanced at him.

Shen Jingchuan didn't hide anything and recounted in detail how the group of friends had gotten together the night before, drank too much, missed the curfew, and ended up staying overnight.

Lin Yue stroked his chin after listening:

"This woman looks gentle and frail, but she's actually quite shrewd. However, considering she offered to pay for her own release and wasn't trying to take advantage of you, she's quite kind."

Lin Qingyao, who was listening intently behind the door, felt her heart grow heavier with each word she heard. But when she heard Shen Jingchuan say, "I truly love Qingyao," and then readily agree to marry her, her heart, which had been hanging in suspense all morning, finally settled down with a "thump."

She covered her mouth, secretly smiling, tears still clinging to her cheeks, but she had already broken into a smile through her tears. In her heart, she muttered to herself, "You little rascal, if I don't push you a bit, are you really going to keep pretending to be clueless?"