A Brief Encounter

"Yun Wan, who is that person?"

Madam Lin could only vaguely see a shadowy figure and couldn't make out who the man standing outside the carriage was.

Lin Yunwan said, "It should be Old Madam Xia's youngest son."

Xia Jin, the third master of the Xia family, is the younger brother of the Lu family. Everyone calls him Third Master Jin.

Madam Lin said, "Old Madam Xia has been kind to our family; you should go down and meet her. However, Third Master Jin is a man..."

Lin Yunwan patted her mother's hand and said nonchalantly, "They're all relatives. We don't need to meet outside; we should meet at home anyway."

However, since Ge Bao'er and Lu Zhengliu's affair was exposed when the Xia family stayed at the Wuding Marquis Residence last time, Third Master Jin did not show up.

"Mother, I'm going downstairs to see Old Madam Xia. Your eyesight isn't good, so please don't go."

It's very cold outside.

Madam Lin, remembering the kindness of Seventh Master Li in treating her eyes, said, "Alright."

She instructed Lin Yunwan, "Be careful, make sure your cloak is pulled up tight." She was worried that Lin Yunwan might get cold.

Ping Ye got off first, then helped Lin Yunwan down from the carriage, carefully holding up the hem of Lin Yunwan clothes to prevent them from dragging on the ground.

Over there, Xia Jin was helping to arrange how the two carriages should be staggered when he caught a glimpse of a bright and beautiful figure. She slowly turned half her face to the side, and he immediately recognized Lin Yunwan.

He froze, his face turning red on one side and then gradually reddening on the other.

When Lin Yunwan walked over, she noticed that the woman in front of her had her hair styled in a married woman's bun.

Xia Jin quickly bowed and said, "Madam."

Lin Yunwan curtsied and said with a smile, "Third Master Jin, my surname is Lin. I've come to meet your Old Madam."

Although Xia Jin was a scholar, he was not rigid in his thinking.

He quickly understood Lin Yunwan's identity and knew that she was the mistress of the Wuding Marquis Residence, but she was unwilling to admit it, so she only told him her surname.

"This way, madam."

Xia Jin stepped aside, gesturing for him to enter.

Lin Yunwan wasn't going to talk to him anyway, so she didn't waste any time and went straight to Old Madam Xia's carriage to greet her.

Upon hearing her voice, Old Madam Xia quickly lifted the curtain and said, "I was wondering why that voice sounded familiar. Yun Wan, it's you!"

Lin Yunwan curtsied and greeted her, "Old Madam, I accompanied my mother to offer incense."

Old Madam Xia glanced at the carriage opposite, and Lin Yunwan said, "My mother has an eye ailment, so it's inconvenient for her to get down and see you."

"I know."

Old Madam Xia smiled kindly, "It's too cold now, you should go back to the carriage! I'll go see your mother at the Lin Family when her eyes are better."

Lin Yunwan thanked the Old Madam.

The two carriages passed each other, Lin Yunwan returned to her carriage, walking ahead with Madam Lin.

Xia Jin was the last to board the carriage; his clothes and shoes were soaked through in the snow and covered in mud.

Let's go.

Old Madam Xia instructed the coachman, glanced at Xia Jin, and asked him, "What's wrong with you?"

Xia Jin murmured, "Nothing..." Then he whispered, "She's Grand Tutor Lin's daughter?"

The affair between the Wuding Marquis Residence and the Lin clan had spread throughout the Capital.

The Xia family and the Lu family are related by marriage, so he had naturally heard about it.

Old Madam Xia said regretfully, "That's right. It's a pity she married into the Lu family... People say that people who aren't meant to be together don't end up in the same family, but she's different from everyone in the Lu family. She really made a mistake in choosing this family."

These words, both openly and subtly, belittled Lu Jia as well.

Xia Jin knew that his mother disliked his sister-in-law, and he also knew what kind of person his sister-in-law was. She was completely different from the Lin Family daughter he had just met.

"Um."

He gave a curt reply, Old Madam Xia began to complain again, "You shouldn't marry a wife like your Elder Brother. A wife must be dignified, virtuous, well-educated, and reasonable... like the Lin Family's daughter!"

At this point, Old Madam Xia suddenly had a flash of inspiration and grabbed her son's arm, saying, "This year during the New Year, you will come with me to the Lin Family to pay our respects to Madam Lin!"

She was having a headache because she didn't know anyone in the Capital and didn't know where to find the Capital daughter-in-law from there.

Is there any shortage of good girls in the Lin clan?

Xia Jin said helplessly, "Mother, don't forget, your son will be going to Jiangqian to study next year."

He was the last son of Old Madam Xia, and also the son born to Old Madam at an advanced age, so naturally he was more favored. Xia Jin insisted on waiting until he returned from Jiangqian and took the Imperial Examination before he was willing to discuss marriage, and Old Madam Xia did not want to force him.

If I actually pass the exam and gain official rank, the wives I can choose from will be completely different!

"Whatever you want!"

Although Old Madam Xia said this, she was already planning to go to the Lin Family to propose marriage to her youngest son.

The journey back was quite boring, Old Madam Xia brought up Lin Yunwan's matter, sighing deeply for the Lin Family: "Such a good child, how could she have ended up in that den of wolves, the Lu family?"

Xia Jin was a man of his own mind. Thinking of the situation between the Lin Family and Lu families at the time, he said, "Grand Tutor Lin was only concerned for the Old Marquis, thinking the Lu family wouldn't mistreat his daughter. Besides, the Grand Tutor was seriously ill at the time..."

Therefore, we cannot be too critical.

Old Madam Xia nodded, but it was a pity that the Xia family moved to the Capital too late. It would have been so much better if they had gotten to know the Lin Family earlier!

Lin Yunwan and Madam Lin also arrived at Red Elephant Temple.

The mother and daughter stayed in Side Room. Madam Lin said wearily, "It's really not like before. I'm already a little tired."

"Take a rest."

Lin Yunwan helped her mother rest, and after Madam Lin closed her eyes, she went to the Vermilion-Lacquered Railing of Red Elephant Temple.

She dismissed the servants of the Lu family, and came over with her two maids, wearing cloaks.

Beside the vermilion fence stood a tall, upright man, dressed in a plain, understated, belted robe, gazing at the snow-covered landscape below.

"Greetings to Your Prince."

Lin Yunwan walked up behind Prince Huan and curtsied in greeting.

Qi Lingheng slowly turned his head and said gently, "Madam, we meet again."

Lin Yunwan looked up and saw a pair of deep, dark starry eyes. His thin lips were slightly upturned, seemingly smiling, but upon closer inspection, they seemed to be a smile that wasn't quite a smile, giving off a cold and unapproachable feeling.

"Your Prince, did you have this delivered to me?"

She pulled a piece of Mutton-Fat Jade from her sleeve; it was the very Jade Pendant that Ge Bao'er had carved with a leopard's tail.

Qi Lingheng didn't rush to look at the Jade Pendant.

Her face was very fair, appearing even whiter in the wind and snow, like the base of white porcelain, a serene white. Her exceptionally bright eyes looked at everything with a detached indifference, a perfect finishing touch.

"Madam, it's cold outside. Let's go inside and talk."

Qi Lingheng looked into Lin Yunwan's eyes as he spoke, gesturing for her to come inside and talk.

Lin Yunwan hesitated for a moment, but still followed them inside. Ping Ye and Tao Ye also went in, but they were too far away to hear what the two were saying.