Marrying Above One's Station

"Master."

Nanny Zhao carried a lamp to Lin Huabin's study.

Lin Huabin said, "You came along to Ci'en Temple today?"

Nanny Zhao said, "It was this old servant who arranged the carriage and guards."

"You also know about what happened at Ci'en Temple?"

Nanny Zhao hesitated for a moment.

Lin Huabin said calmly, "Let's tell the truth."

Nanny Zhao then told her what she knew.

The servants in the manor all share information. Although she doesn't accompany the Madam, she knows exactly where the Madam went that day and what major events happened around her.

"... Sir, that's how it is."

Lin Huabin closed his eyes and asked Nanny Zhao, "What do you think? Do you think the Eldest Miss was bullied?"

If there's any fault to be found, it's that his original daughter did something wrong when she was young.

Since she became his daughter, this kind of thing was unavoidable.

After thinking for a moment, Nanny Zhao said, "Master, to be honest, we can't control what others say in our household, but the Second Miss shouldn't have quarreled with the Eldest Miss outside. Madam shouldn't have dealt with or neglected the Eldest Miss outside either."

"If there's anything, talk behind closed doors. We shouldn't give anyone anything to gossip about."

"Madam is still resentful about the time when Eldest Miss pushed her away. Madam didn't do anything wrong..."

As the matriarch, she lacked generosity.

She was a servant in the Lin Residence and knew what kind of person the Madam was, so she was used to it.

Lin Huabin remained silent for a long time, then waved his hand and said, "You can go now."

"Yes."

After Nanny Zhao went out, she left with her lantern.

She didn't particularly like the Eldest Miss either, but she wouldn't lie to the master.

Lin Huabin rubbed his temples, unsure of what to do.

He kept trying to reason with his wife, telling her to be a good stepmother, but she seemed to dislike Yun Wan even more. But Yun Wan wasn't the real Yun Wan, and she shouldn't have to endure this grievance.

It's impossible to tell the truth to the Zheng Shi.

"That's enough."

If you coax her more, your wife will feel better and she'll treat Yun Wan better.

Lin Huabin then went to coax Zheng Shi, saying, "Haven't you always wanted thumb-sized Purple Pearls to make a forehead band? Go pick out a few."

"Real?"

Zheng Shi smiled broadly.

Lin Huabin said, "Really."

After calculating for a moment, Zheng Shi said, "You know the Purple Pearl I've got my eye on isn't cheap. Where will you get the money for this?"

Lin Huabin said, "If you want it, I'll sell everything in my warehouse to buy it for you."

They never mentioned the distillery.

Zheng Shi smiled very happily, and then heard her husband say, "From now on, please be more protective of Yun Wan when you're out, okay? I'll try my best to buy you whatever you like."

Her smile froze on her face.

Zheng Shi pushed Lin Huabin away, furious. "After all this fuss, it's all for your good daughter! I've been asking for Purple Pearl for so long and you wouldn't buy it for me, but you agreed so readily for her sake!"

Lin Huabin: "..."

Don't you even look at her dowry? What jewelry or ornaments does Jiangqian have that she doesn't possess?

He refused to buy her any more.

"I said, how can you be so ungrateful..."

In the end, didn't all the benefits fall on her? Why should she hold a grudge against Yun Wan?

But he didn't want to say it out loud, because saying it would only lead to an argument.

Zheng Shi was already lying on the bed crying, starting with stories from their childhood. "Everyone else had knee pads, but you didn't. I wasn't afraid my parents would beat me to death, so I secretly made some for you and had the maid deliver them to you..."

"I'm not blaming you. Okay, okay, stop crying."

Zheng Shi was still very unwilling. "Yun Wan pushed me, and I bled that night. I didn't say I wanted to drive her away. Didn't you say she was unlucky and that you sent her away? Now people outside are talking nonsense, and you're blaming me."

Everyone says being a stepmother is tough. My family advised me against it back then, and I should have listened...

Lin Huabin was at a loss. "What are you talking about?"

He didn't dare to refute it. The fortune teller was hired by Zheng Shi, and he sent his daughter away because he was afraid that Yun Jiao wouldn't be able to give birth.

The couple argued and made up every night, then argued again, and finally made up again.

The next day.

When Lin Yunwan went to teach Nanny Fan, Lin Yunjiao was even more smug.

"Hmph, Dad won't stand up for you. Don't you understand the saying 'love me, love my dog'? Dad loves Mom the most, so he loves me the most too."

"Sister, you'd better always give in to me."

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "Everyone dies eventually—are you going to give way to me for that?"

"What?"

Lin Yunjiao, but when she came to her senses, she realized that Lin Yunwan had told her to die.

"You..."

Nanny Fan was already in the Side Room; her slight smile was incredibly intimidating.

Lin Yunjiao immediately became much more obedient and sat down at the small table with Lin Yunwan.

Nanny Fan said, "Please, both young ladies, pick up your pens..."

She didn't teach tea ceremony or flower arrangement; she taught calligraphy and tracing. But what the nanny taught was different from what the maids in the mansion's Needlework Room taught.

After a long day of classes, Nanny Fan was exhausted, but as she left, she still smiled and said, "Girls, go back and rest."

"Granny, please take your leave."

The two spoke in unison.

Nanny Fan left first, and then the two of them packed up their things and left with their maids.

Lin Yunjiao rushed out before Lin Yunwan, deliberately blocking her way as she crossed the threshold. "Why are you studying so diligently? With your reputation, do you really think you can marry into a good family?"

Lin Yunwan looked at her and said calmly, "What about my face?"

Lin Yunjiao stared at her face, stunned, then suddenly felt a surge of anger.

She herself didn't know why she got so angry just looking at the other person's face. She hated Yun Wan coming home, she hated her father's favoritism towards Yun Wan, and she hated her face!

Lin Yunwan and said, "Looks like I can marry into a higher social class based on my looks alone?"

How foolish!

How could a scholarly family possibly choose a wife based solely on her looks?

Only a family without manners would be so superficial. The Lin Residence would never marry their daughter into such a family.

Lin Yunjiao seemed not to understand this principle and was easily provoked. She glared at him and said, "Do you think you're worthy of marrying into a higher social class?"

She raised an eyebrow smugly and whispered, "Yesterday at Ci'en Temple, do you know who Madam was taking me to see?"

Lin Yunwan smiled and shook her head.

Lin Yunjiao whispered in her ear, "If Prince Huan's going to marry into a higher social class, it'll be me. My parents will only save the best things for me."

Did you see it?

Lin Yunwan's voice remained calm.

Lin Yunjiao frowned.

Lin Yunwan raised an eyebrow. "So you didn't see it?"

She left with Xiruo.

Lin Yunjiao was furious.

Xiruo chuckled softly, "This Second Miss, how can she be so easily swayed?"

Lin Yunwan cut to the chase. "The Lin Residence divided their assets too early. Can't you see? The Old Madam doesn't think Madam at all. If it weren't for certain circumstances, the Old Madam probably wouldn't have allowed the master to marry our Madam..."

To spoil a girl like this.

Xiruo said, "She'll reap what she sows sooner or later."

In April, Qi Ling found the maid who had been driven away by Zheng Shi years ago.