A Broken Appointment

"The young lady's drawing is already excellent; I will begin teaching her embroidery tomorrow."

"I wonder if the young lady learned needlework in the countryside before?"

Lin Yunwan nodded. "Yes, I have learned it, Granny."

Nanny Fan thought to herself that she probably wouldn't learn well in the countryside, but the Eldest Miss was always smart, and given time, she wouldn't be any worse than the other young ladies in the Lin Residence.

That's all for today, young lady, you may go home now.

Lin Yunwan stood up and said, "Respectfully seeing off Granny."

Nanny Fan left with the books, leaving Lin Yunjiao's seat empty.

Since Lin Yunwan said those words, Lin Yunjiao has not come to class again.

As the mistress and servant returned together, Xiruo said, "I heard that the Second Miss's illness is still not better."

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "I didn't expect her to be so weak."

Lin Yunjiao's personality is too willful; she actually fell ill because of just a few words from her, and several Physician had to come.

Xiruo whispered, "The Second Miss deserves her punishment."

Lin Yunwan neither confirmed nor denied.

Lin Yunjiao is not young anymore, and she's ruthless; it's good that she learned a lesson.

The next day, Lin Yunwan didn't go to class with Nanny Fan; instead, she went to Ci'en Temple with Nanny Zhao.

Lin Yunwan prayed for Zhu Qing's child, as well as her mother, younger brother, and her Chang Gong...

"They say kids change every year, I wonder how he is now."

After praying for blessings, Lin Yunwan took Xiruo for a stroll in Ci'en Temple, also waiting for someone.

Nanny Zhao and the other servants from the Second Branch of the Lin Residence followed closely behind.

Xiruo didn't know who Lin Yunwan was talking about, assuming it was Lin Yunwan's younger brother, so she said, "Young Master must have grown taller, but his appearance shouldn't have changed; he'll be just as outstanding as you."

Lin Yunwan smiled faintly, knowing that Xiruo had misunderstood.

They were waiting for Dong Shuangshuang, but when the appointed time and place arrived, she still hadn't shown up.

Xiruo looked around, and none of the women passing by resembled her, so she said, "Miss, it's too late."

Lin Yunwan frowned.

"If something minor happens on the way, that's fine..."

There were so many people at Ci'en Temple that it wasn't surprising that there were traffic jams or carriages bumping into each other.

She said, "I'm afraid something might happen to her family, and she won't be able to come."

The thought of Dong Shuangshuang having that kind of husband Lin Yunwan feel very uneasy.

After waiting for an extra half hour, Nanny Zhao came over to remind Lin Yunwan, "Eldest Miss, it's getting late, you should go back."

Xiruo asked Lin Yunwan what she meant.

Lin Yunwan's expression remained calm.

It seemed she couldn't wait any longer, and there was no point in waiting any longer, so she said, "Let's go check on the Eternal Light Lamp and then go back."

Xiruo asked Nanny Zhao, "Did you hear that?"

Nanny Zhao nodded and said to Lin Yunwan, "Then Eldest Miss, please go quickly!"

Just as Lin Yunwan and Xiruo were about to leave, Dong Shuangshuang's maid came running over breathlessly. Before she could speak, she leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

"Xiruo, help her rest for a while."

"Yes."

Xiruo helped the maid to a shady spot and asked her, "Why didn't your Young Madam come?"

The maid's eyes reddened. Remembering her Young Madam's instructions, she pursed her lips and said, "Eldest Miss Lin, my young Little Miss choked before leaving. Young Madam is really worried and said she... she won't be coming out today."

That's definitely not true!

Her husband lost money gambling and used his four-year-old daughter's marriage as collateral! Young Madam disagreed, he beat Young Madam so badly she couldn't show her face in public.

The house is a complete mess right now!

The maid swallowed hard, composed herself, and looked up at Lin Yunwan, saying, "Eldest Miss, Young Madam sent me to deliver a message, saying that she will visit your residence again next time to pay her respects to your Madam."

Whether the maid was relaying Dong Shuangshuang's message or saying something of her own volition, she said, "Eldest Miss, we're sorry to have troubled you."

She stood up, curtsied, and apologized.

Lin Yunwan personally helped her up and sighed.

The maid felt guilty; her Young Madam had told her to keep it a secret from the Eldest Miss of the Lin Residence, and she wasn't sure if she had managed to keep it a secret or not. So she called out in a low voice, "Eldest Miss..."

Lin Yunwan instructed, "Nanny Zhao, send a carriage to take her back."

Nanny Zhao nodded in agreement, then sent a Matron to escort the maid home. She then said to Lin Yunwan, "Eldest Miss, please don't take offense, but you are still a young woman of marriageable age. It's not appropriate for you to associate too much with married women, lest you be led astray."

She was afraid that the Eldest Miss would learn things she shouldn't from the woman.

"Okay, I understand."

Lin Yunwan led Xiruo to the Main Buddha Hall where the Eternal Light Lamps were offered.

Nanny Zhao was somewhat surprised; the Eldest Miss was actually so obedient?

I thought I was going to get scolded.

This Eldest Miss is no longer a country bumpkin! Look at how badly the Madam and the Second Miss were disciplined!

This time, the Eldest Miss surprisingly didn't scold her.

Xiruo Ruo chuckled softly, "Look at how Nanny Zhao is. She's actually uncomfortable if you don't say anything to her."

Lin Yunwan's expression was very serious, and she had no intention of talking to Nanny Zhao.

Moreover, Nanny Zhao's reminder made sense; if she were Nanny Zhao, she would have given the same advice to Miss Lin.

Xiruo knew that Lin Yunwan had something on her mind, so she comforted her, "If you can't see Madam Dong this time, you can see her next time."

"If you're in a hurry, I'll go to her house myself!"

Lin Yunwan shook her head. "I'm not in a hurry to see her."

She frowned and said, "Look at that maid... did her young Little Miss really choke by accident?"

It's obvious that Dong Shuangshuang was bullied by her husband again.

Xiruo clenched her fist and said, "Miss, how about I go and beat up her husband?"

What purpose does this serve?

Xiruo said, "You and Madam Dong should vent your anger first. We'll talk about it later."

Lin Yunwan really wanted to give her husband a good beating!

"Simply beating someone up won't work; it only treats the symptoms, not the root cause."

Xiruo looked up and asked, "Has the young lady thought of a fundamental solution?"

Lin Yunwan was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I heard her say before that her husband was the only son in three generations?"

Xiruo vaguely remembered, and said, "Otherwise, how could she be so spoiled? A wife she was married with proper ceremony, and she actually dared to hit her like that!"

She asked curiously, "I wonder what they're fighting with Madam Dong about this time..."

Lin Yunwan's gaze was icy.

No matter the reason, a man should never lay a hand on his wife!

Upon arriving at the Main Buddha Hall where the Eternal Light Lamps were enshrined, Lin Yunwan took a look at the lamp belonging to Miss Lin.

The monks at Ci'en Temple were very responsible; they added plenty of incense oil, and the lamps burned very brightly.

Nanny Zhao and her servants stood guard outside.

Xiruo then said to Lin Yunwan, "Miss, I feel that Madam Dong is not a capable person. If you have something important to discuss, actually..."

It shouldn't have been entrusted to her.

Lin Yunwan replied, "She is perfectly suited to do this."

Xiruo wondered, what could Madam Dong possibly do?

"Her husband's family happens to have a daughter of marriageable age. If she keeps an eye on her husband for her Cousin Miss, it won't attract attention."

"I want her to choose a husband for me."

Xiruo was stunned. "Choose... my husband?"

She couldn't help but ask, "What kind of gentleman does the young lady want?"