Taking Up His Fief

Are you deaf?

Lin Yunjiao very dissatisfied. How dare this older sister from the countryside not answer her?

Lin Yunwan seemed to sigh, and said with some annoyance, "You're really too noisy."

"What did you say?"

Lin Yunjiao was a little taken aback. She was just a girl who grew up in the countryside, so what gave her the right to talk to her like that!

Lin Yunwan said, enunciating each word clearly, "I said, you're very noisy."

"You!"

Lin Yunjiao hated her nonchalant attitude; she really didn't respect anyone!

She gave a cold laugh and reached out to pull off Lin Yunwan's veil.

"I'd like to see what you've become, you ugly monster..."

Before she could finish speaking, the veil fell down, and Lin Yunjiao's words caught in her throat, leaving even Zheng Shi stunned!

Who would have thought that there was such a stunningly beautiful face hidden under the veil!

Lin Yunwan wore a dark blue short jacket and a plain Zong Skirt, without any patterns. A wooden hairpin held her up in a delicate girlish bun; it was unclear what kind of wood it was, but it certainly wasn't expensive.

Even in such simple attire, her radiance remained undiminished.

"You..."

Lin Yunjiao stared in disbelief. How could she look like that?! Her skin was so smooth it looked like you could squeeze water out of it.

Lin Yunwan frowned, snatched the veil back, and said impatiently, "You're being very rude."

If this were her own sister, she would definitely give her a good scolding.

"Lin Yun Wan, who gave you the right to lecture me!"

Lin Yunjiao was very dissatisfied; she was just the legitimate Di Daughter!

"Your mother has been dead for so many years, don't you know your place in the family? How dare you talk to me like that!"

Lin Yunwan gave Lin Yunjiao a cold look, a look that was not something a timid country girl should have.

Lin Yunjiao instinctively shut her mouth.

Zheng Shi also felt that her daughter's words were becoming increasingly outrageous, and frowned as she scolded, "Sit down!"

Lin Yunjiao pouted, stepped back and sat down to the side, her eyes still glancing at Lin Yunwan.

She's so beautiful! She's one of the most beautiful women in Jiangqian!

"How could this be... I should have grown ugly in the countryside."

Lin Yunjiao muttered.

Even Zheng Shi never imagined that the wretched woman's daughter would grow up to be so beautiful!

"Yun Wan, you..."

You don't look like your mother anymore.

She still didn't want to mention that woman, so she said coldly, "It's getting late, and there's still a lot to do at the house. You should go back to your Courtyard with Nanny Fan!"

Lin Yunjiao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Mother, where does she live?"

Zheng Shi said, "Zhejie Studio."

Lin Yunjiao chuckled and said, "What a nice place!"

The most remote and dilapidated Courtyard in the mansion is Zhejie Studio; even ghosts don't go there!

"Nanny Fan, why don't you take her home to rest?"

"Yes."

Nanny Fan walked to Lin Yunwan's side and said, "Eldest Miss, please come with... this servant."

Lin Yunwan, however, did not move.

Judging from Lin Yunjiao's appearance, you can tell what kind of place Zhejie Studio is.

She didn't come to the Lin family to suffer.

I'm not going.

Lin Yunwan refused outright.

Nanny Fan was taken aback and said, "Eldest Miss, that's Courtyard that Madam had Madam prepared for you!"

Lin Yunwan glanced at her and said, "Are you deaf?"

Nanny Fan: "..."

She dares to disobey her stepmother's orders! The Eldest Miss is certainly bold!

She looked at Zheng Shi.

Zheng Shi smiled, stood up, looked at Lin Yunwan, and said coldly, "It seems you didn't learn any manners in the countryside. You don't want to stay at Zhejie Studio? Fine, then go stay at Chai--"

"Shut up!"

Master Lin has arrived.

"Master? You're back!"

"Father!"

The mother and daughter stepped forward together.

Lin Yunwan and Xiruo also turned around to greet Master Lin.

Lin Huabin had overheard some of their conversation outside. His face darkened, and he glared at the two of them before asking Zheng Shi with displeasure, "Where are you going to arrange for Yun Wan to stay?"

Zheng Shi explained, "... Originally, we wanted to arrange for her to stay in Zhejie Studio." She quickly added, "Everything has been cleaned up! The windows are bright and clean, and the beds and chairs are all top-quality ones moved from the storeroom."

Lin Huabin didn't believe it.

You know your own partner best; Zheng Shi is not a magnanimous person.

He said, "Let's go to the Bixi Hall instead."

Both Zheng Shi and Lin Yunjiao were so shocked they were speechless.

Bixi Hall is the best Courtyard in the mansion. Not only is it spacious and has a good orientation, but the scenery Courtyard is also very nice.

Before the family split up, the Old Madam of the Lin family lived in the Bixi Hall. After the family separated, out of respect for the Old Madam, no one was ever arranged to live there.

"Father, you won't even let me live in the Bixi Hall!"

Lin Yunjiao wronged. When she moved out of her mother's Courtyard, she wanted to live in the Bixi Hall, but her father wouldn't allow it.

Lin Huabin frowned and said, "How can a little girl's Courtyard extend beyond her parents' house?"

Lin Yunjiao was even more dissatisfied, pointing at Lin Yunwan and saying, "Then why can she!"

Lin Huabin said with a stern face, "You're not even listening to me anymore?"

Lin Yunwan felt a little uncomfortable.

She wasn't here to be bullied, nor was she here to act like a spoiled princess. Overstepping the rules of her parents' home was indeed inappropriate.

Not wanting Lin Yunwan to worry, Lin Huabin said gently, "You haven't been home for many years, so stay at the Bixi Hall. It's your father's... your family's compensation to you."

Lin Yunwan curtsied, saying it would be impolite to refuse.

Upon hearing this, the Zheng Shi mother and daughter turned green with anger.

Lin Huabin held considerable status in the family. He restrained Zheng Shi and her daughter, forbidding them from saying anything more, and instructed Nanny Fan, "Hurry up and tidy up the Courtyard for the Eldest Miss!"

He then said to Lin Yunwan, "Yun Wan, come with me to the study."

"Yes, sir."

Lin Yunwan followed.

Xiruo also went with her bundle. Although Zhao Jingyi had entrusted the girl to the Lin family, she still had to be wary of them. Lin Huabin was, after all, a man. Although he was old enough to be the girl's father, he would still have to speak under her watchful eye!

Lin Huabin led Lin Yunwan to the study, leaving Xiruo outside while he spoke to Lin Yunwan with the door open.

The servants who were not involved were all sent away, so they wouldn't hear about these things.

"Niece, I'm sorry you had to see my family affairs."

Lin Huabin explained, "My wife isn't a very smart person. I was worried she wouldn't be able to keep quiet, so I didn't tell her about you."

Lin Yunwan nodded, saying she knew.

How could you not see it! If Zheng Shi knew everything, she wouldn't dare treat her like this.

However, Master Lin may be right; it's best for Zheng Shi to remain unaware.

Lin Huabin reassured her, "Don't worry, Niece, my wife isn't a bad person. You don't need to force yourself. If there's anything you're not comfortable with, just say so."

Lin Yunwan smiled but remained silent.

Men are really prone to misjudging their partners; whether Zheng Shi is a bad person or not is not up to him to decide.

She simply said, "My father entrusted his grandchildren to you because he trusts that you will take good care of them."

She moved in as the daughter of Qi Lingheng's maternal uncle, Zhao Jingyi. Lin Huabin only thought she was the Zhao family's illegitimate daughter and knew nothing else.

Lin Huabin smiled and said, "Of course. Your father and I are close friends, so you should call me uncle. How could I possibly make you feel uncomfortable?"

Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "That's good. I'm just like Yun Jiao, spoiled since I was little, and can't stand being wronged."

Lin Huabin's beard twitched.

Is this little girl trying to tell him that she won't hold back if he gets bullied by the Lin family in the future?

He's really direct when it comes to speaking.

Could he possibly argue with a young girl?

Lin Huabin smiled and said, "Just make yourself at home and stay here comfortably."

Lin Yunwan was also very polite. "This junior thanks Uncle Lin for his care."

"You've been working hard for the past few days, go back to the Bixi Hall and rest." Lin Huabin, worried he might be being inconsiderate, added, "Prince Huan has come to Jiangqian to assume his fiefdom, and I haven't had much free time lately. If you need anything, you can speak with the servants in my study first."

Lin Yunwan didn't ask who served in the study, but instead raised her eyes to inquire, "Has Prince Huan arrived in Jiangqian?"

Lin Huabin nodded and said, "His Prince arrived early, which is why I'm late today. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you come alone first."

I see.

Lin Yunwan smiled, "The Prince has arrived too!"