Taking the Initiative

"Go to Ci'en Temple to pray for blessings?"

Nanny Fan only attended classes for a few days before quitting.

Lin Yunwan went to pay her respects to Lin Huabin, only to be told that she was to go and pray for blessings.

Lin Huabin laughed and said, "Didn't you set up Eternal Light Lamp for your family? Now that you have a chance to go out, go and pay your respects to your family."

I'm supporting your daughter!

Lin Yunwan lowered her head and remained silent.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

When Lin Huabin isn't angry, he's very gentle with everyone.

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "No."

She frowned slightly and sighed, "I would very much like to go to the temple to add incense oil and pray for my family's well-being. But..."

Lin Huabin knew she had something to say, so he smiled and asked, "What do you want? Just tell your uncle."

"Uncle Lin, when I was at Prince Huan's Residence, someone slandered me as cruel."

Lin Yunwan said, "You should know why... Now, whether I'm at home or out, I get pointed at and talked about."

"I don't want to be told what to do."

Lin Huabin's gentle expression slowly turned cold.

He suddenly seemed like a different person, saying, "Niece, don't pay attention to what people outside are saying."

Lin Huabin also comforted her, saying, "The gossip outside won't affect you. You have a bright future ahead of you."

Lin Yunwan frowned. "Won't it bother you?"

What else would be considered an obstacle?

Lin Huabin was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and asked, "Niece, what exactly do you want?"

Lin Yunwan smiled slightly.

Doesn't Master Lin understand what she wants?

She wants to be proven innocent!

"Uncle Lin, why don't you take me back to my father..."

Before she could finish speaking, Lin Huabin's face froze, and he immediately said, "No way!"

Afraid of frightening Lin Yunwan, he spoke to her gently, "Child, how can you be so ungrateful? Now that you're here, you're my daughter. How can you just leave like that? How am I supposed to explain this to your father? How am I supposed to explain this to my family?"

"Alright, stop saying such hurtful things. If you're unhappy with your Madam... I'll talk to Madam about it."

Lin Yunwan looked at Lin Huabin quietly.

He was even more anxious than she was!

Did the Prince and Prince maternal uncle give Lin Huabin such enormous benefits?

Or was Lin Huabin afraid of offending the Prince and the Prince's maternal uncle?

Lin Huabin walked over and said to Lin Yunwan again, "No one in the manor will advise you anymore. Go and offer incense to Madam properly!"

They were determined to get rid of her.

Lin Yunwan returned to the Bixi Hall, a maidservant came over and said, "Nanny Fan said that you should hurry up and get ready, Madam and the Second Miss will be getting into their carriage soon."

Xiruo shooed the maid away and asked in a low voice, "Miss, shall we go?"

"Yes, of course I'll go."

"Nanny Fan only a few days of classes, Master asked for leave for me and the Second Miss, explaining that Madam had a reason for taking the Second Miss to Ci'en Temple."

"Xiruo, guess what the reason is?"

Xiruo quickly thought of something, "Is the Prince going too?"

Lin Yunwan nodded. "It's most likely true."

She then asked Xiruo, "If I want to live as Miss Lin and have a good reputation, how do you think I can find the servant from back then and clear Miss Lin's name of the injustice she suffered when she was four years old?"

Xiruo fell silent.

She had overheard the conversation between the young lady and Lin Huabin. Master Lin had made it clear that he did not want to restore the young lady's good reputation.

"Young lady, you are merely a woman Inner Residence. You never step outside the Second Gate and cannot accomplish anything. Unless you cultivate your own people..."

Lin Yunwan asked with her eyes closed, "How long will it take to train manpower?"

"... one or two years?"

Xiruo was unaware that she had never done such a thing.

Lin Yunwan: "You've given me too little time. It will take at least three to five years to cultivate trustworthy confidants within the Lin Residence."

But she couldn't wait three to five years.

Within a year at most, the Lin family will arrange her whereabouts; she will either be married or become a nun for spiritual practice.

Lin Yunwan remembered Dong Shuangshuang's words; she needed to seize the opportunity.

A woman doesn't encounter many good opportunities in her lifetime.

Let's go.

Lin Yunwan changed her clothes and went to the side gate with Xiruo.

Lin Yunjiao saw Lin Yunwan approaching, she lifted the curtain, glared at her, and said, "You're taking way too long."

Seeing Lin Yunwan's face again, I really didn't want to go to Ci'en Temple with her.

She asked Zheng Shi inside the carriage, "Mother, can't we leave her behind?"

Zheng Shi frowned. "It was your father who said it!" She gritted her teeth and whispered, "But it wasn't your father's idea either, it's all the Old Madam's fault! Why did she suddenly take a liking to this wretched girl?"

The carriage set off.

Lin Yunwan and Xiruo sat in the carriage behind.

Upon arriving at Ci'en Temple, Zheng Shi was afraid that Lin Yunwan had also met Prince Huan, so she quickly sent her away.

She secretly pulled Lin Yunjiao away, saying, "The Prince is in the temple; we can't let Yun Wan be seen by Prince along with you."

I know my own daughter's appearance perfectly well.

Men, after all, always prefer pretty women.

Lin Yunjiao.

She pouted and said, "Mother, what do you mean? Do you think I'm not as pretty as her?"

Zheng Shi dared not tell the truth, "That's not what Mother meant..."

Lin Yunjiao, her face turning ugly with anger.

Zheng Shi gave Nanny Fan a wink, signaling Nanny Fan to come over and say something nice.

Nanny Fan said, "Second Miss, how can the Eldest Miss compare to you?"

"What makes her inferior to me? Tell me in detail."

Lin Yunjiao scoffed, "You'd better tell the truth. If you dare lie, see how I punish you."

Nanny Fan: "..."

That's putting people in a really difficult position!

She racked her brains but couldn't figure out how to tell the truth.

Lin Yunjiao pouted and said, "She's well-fed in the countryside, all because of me! I'm the one who gave her that face!"

How come she's prettier than her?!

Zheng Shi coaxed her, "Yun Wan owes you. Don't talk about family matters outside..." If people hear a young lady gossiping, it will ruin her reputation.

The group had walked quite far.

Xiruo asked Lin Yunwan, "Miss, Madam has gone Madam away. Where are we going?"

"Go find the Prince."

Lin Yunwan whispered, "Even if they know where the Prince is, they can't see him. Xiruo, take me to see the Prince."

Xiruo's eyes lit up. "Miss, I'll go right now!"

Having followed the young lady for so long, this is the first time she's going to see the Prince!

Xiruo walked quickly and soon discovered a heavily guarded area in Ci'en Temple. Outside were martial monks, and when she climbed over the Courtyard to look, she saw people dressed as guards, as well as an A Fu.

The Prince is right here!

Ouch! Who hit me on the head?!

A Fu covered his forehead, looking around.

Xiruo jumped down and said, "Eunuch Fu, my apologies."

A Fu was also pleasantly surprised. "Xiruo, what brings you here?" He couldn't see Lin Yunwan, so he asked, "Where is she, Miss?"

Xiruo smiled and said, "Miss, you wish to see the Prince, but you cannot enter."

A Fu said, "Hurry up and take me there!"

Xiruo asked him, "Shouldn't you tell the Prince first?"

A Fu slapped his forehead. "I'm going right now!"

He went into the house first and said to Qi Lingheng, "The young lady has arrived!" He walked quickly, his voice preceding his footsteps.

Qi Lingheng frowned, then smiled, "Miss Lin?"

Which girl could it be?

A Fu replied, "Yes. Xiruo is waiting outside."

"Please let them in."

Qi Lingheng said, "... Forget it, don't invite her here. Let's go somewhere else. There are too many people here; it wouldn't be good for her if someone saw us."

He was almost at the door, but A Fu still hadn't moved.

What are you standing there for?

A Fu snapped out of her reverie and smiled, "This servant just feels that the Prince treats you very differently, Miss."

"Aren't they the same?"

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly, "I didn't feel that way at all."