Refusing to Marry

"... Jiao'er, what brings you here?"

Not to mention Wenhai, even Zheng Shi was quite frightened.

She was afraid her daughter would have another outburst in public.

Wenhai and his mother certainly wouldn't dare to gossip, but secrets don't stay hidden forever. If word got out that her daughter was like this, how would she ever get married?

"Mother, why can't I come?"

Lin Yunjiao didn't care about her poor relatives at all.

How could she not know the situation at home? She had to respect her father's uncles and aunts, and her mother's uncles and aunts were all there to curry favor with her family. She didn't need to put up with their attitudes.

Zheng Shi had a bit of a headache and no longer had the energy to matchmake Lin Yunwan Wenhai. She just wanted to get rid of the little rascal as soon as possible, so she said, "It's hot. Your maternal aunt and I will talk here. You kids should all go home early."

Lin Yunwan was the first to stand up. "Yes."

Wenhai was about to leave when he stood up and bowed.

Then Zheng Shi remembered something else and instructed Lin Yunwan: "There's a banquet at the Zhao Residence the day after tomorrow, remember to prepare early."

At the Prince's maternal uncle's residence?

Lin Yunwan was startled. She had delivered her letter... and now the Zhao Residence was hosting a banquet? Wasn't that too much of a coincidence?

Lin Yunjiao curiously, "Mother, which Zhao family?"

Zheng Shi: "Which other Zhao family is there? The maternal uncle of Prince Huan."

Lin Yunwan listened and walked away absentmindedly.

To avoid suspicion, Wenhai waited a while before leaving.

His mother glared at him, thinking to herself, "What an idiot! He doesn't even know how to try and get close to her!"

Lin Yunjiao couldn't sit still any longer.

However, she hadn't received a gift yet, which made her very uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Wen Mu was also polite and gave her a gift as a token of their greeting, along with many compliments... which were quite insincere.

When I first met the Second Miss that day, I was so frightened that I almost went to see Bodhisattva.

She's still feeling scared and angry.

If this were her daughter-in-law, she would have been slapped a few times to teach her manners!

"Thanks, maternal aunt."

Lin Yunjiao also took a gold bracelet and withdrew.

The maid held an umbrella for her, and after she took the bracelet and went outside, she played with it, though it was a hollow bracelet.

... It's not like she only needs a bracelet.

But the thought that even her impoverished relatives dared to think highly of Lin Yunwan while looking down on her made her feel uncomfortable.

From childhood to adulthood, she has always been the priority in her family, and no one is allowed to take an inch more of her space!

"How can it be so soft? How am I supposed to wear this? I've never seen such a shabby gold bracelet."

Lin Yunjiao was disgusted, crushed the bracelet and threw it to the maid, not wanting to wear it anymore.

Wenhai, who was walking ahead, started running as soon as he heard the sound.

"Amitabha..."

Be careful not to get caught by that shrew.

Lin Yunjiao tell from the back of that figure that he was trying to escape.

"Hateful..."

"This is my home!"

He still dares to do that!

"Stop right there! You stop right there!"

Is God calling me?

Wenhai ran even faster.

"If you don't stop right now, I'll..."

Wenhai stopped, turned around, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, bowed his head, and said, "Second younger female cousin."

Lin Yunjiao bold, but she was still a girl after all, and she was still very shy when talking to men.

Half domineering and half shy, she asked, "Why are you running?"

He also curtsied to Wenhai and said, "Greetings, Cousin Wen."

"No, I didn't run. I... I was afraid of offending my younger female cousin, so I wanted to avoid her."

Wenhai didn't dare to look up.

Lin Yunjiao noticed how timid he was and secretly sized him up. He was quite handsome, but his appearance didn't resemble his mother's; perhaps it was more like his father's.

"I'm not a ghost, Cousin Wen, you're not allowed to run away next time you see me!"

She couldn't stand the way he was.

Wenhai stammered, "... Oh, yes. Okay."

Lin Yunjiao then went back.

Anyway Wenhai and his mother were begging her father for help, right? No matter how arrogant she was, they didn't dare to say anything, especially since she was quite polite just now. Wen's Cousin should have a better impression of her now, right?

Wenhai returned to the Front Courtyard, sighing repeatedly.

A servant from the Lin Residence asked him, "Is there anything wrong, Cousin Young Master?"

Wenhai quickly replied, "No, no."

He changed to a silent sigh, holding the book and lost in thought.

"Why is everything going so badly..."

The Ji Mountain Society was full of talented people, and he couldn't get a word in edgewise. When he took out the few articles he had on his chest and compared them with the other people's brilliant writing, he felt utterly ashamed and defeated.

My mother then said she'd bring him over to meet my cousin, but I didn't expect my younger female cousin to be so fierce, while my older cousin... well, she'd probably be about the same!

Lin Yunjiao was already getting ready inside the house.

"The Zhao Residence is suddenly holding a banquet; it must be for the Prince's marriage, right?"

"The most esteemed person in all of Jiangqian is the Prince..."

She naturally assumed that, as the Di Daughter of the Lin Residence, she was absolutely qualified to become the Prince Huan Consort.

\

"Does the young lady not wish to attend the banquet at the Zhao Residence?"

After returning to the Bixi Hall from Zheng Shi, Lin Yunwan was lost in thought, Xiruo couldn't help but worry.

Lin Yunwan said calmly, "No."

She paused for a moment, then said, "The Zhao Residence shouldn't be hosting this banquet."

"Even if there were such a thing, I shouldn't be the one to go."

Xiruo asked curiously, "Why do you say that, young lady?"

Lin Yunwan pursed her lips. She had written a letter to Lord Zhao, which indirectly indicated her interest in the Yan Residence. The Prince would definitely see it.

He couldn't possibly not understand what that meant.

Since she wants to marry someone else, she won't consider him anymore. So what's the point of this banquet?

Lin Yunwan sighed and said, "Let me think about it."

"Girl."

Nanny Zhao came in, bringing a box and saying, "Master asked me to deliver this to you." She also brought a ream of paper and some cinnabar, saying, "I figured the young lady would run out of these things, so I brought them all along."

Xiruo said, "Give it to me."

Nanny Zhao put down her things and left.

Xiruo handed it to Lin Yunwan and whispered, "... It should have been sent by the Prince."

The master wouldn't give the young lady anything nice for no reason.

Lin Yunwan reached out and opened the box. Inside was a gold hairpin. That was the surface item; underneath was a letter.

After reading the letter, her expression remained indifferent.

"I really don't know what Your Prince is thinking."

He actually told her directly in the letter that the Yan family was also going to the banquet at the Zhao Residence. So, was this banquet not for the Prince to see her, but rather to let her meet the Yan Residence family?

Does this mean he accepted it?

Lin Yunwan found it hard to believe. If the Prince were so easy to persuade, why would the emperor and empress be so troubled by his marriage?

On the day of the banquet, Lin Yunwan met with Madam Zhao, and soon after, someone led her out.

Sure enough, Qi Lingheng was found in a Through Hall of the Zhao Residence.

"Your Prince."

Lin Yunwan went over to pay her respects.

Qi Lingheng had been waiting for her for a long time. He stood up and said, "Please sit down."

Lin Yunwan had no desire to sit. She paused, then, realizing it was quiet and no one was around, said, "Your Prince, I've made up my mind."

Qi Lingheng looked at her quietly and said, "Yes, you go ahead."

Since she insisted on being told to her face-to-face, she wasn't going to be tactful.

Lin Yunwan replied, "I do not wish to marry you."

Qi Lingheng remained silent for a long time.

He knew about Lin Yunwan's decision when he received her letter, but hearing it with his own ears still made him feel somewhat... uncomfortable.

He rarely felt this way.

Lin Yunwan didn't know if he was angry.

However, she didn't think she had said anything wrong. She lowered her eyes and said, "... This kind of thing can't be ambiguous. Please don't blame me for being too blunt."

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly, "I don't blame you."

"What's wrong? You don't even want to talk to me anymore?"

"... no!"

Of course not, the Prince is her benefactor after all.

Qi Lingheng said, "Yun Yi sent you a letter from home, aren't you going to read it?"

Of course I'll watch it!

Lin Yunwan was overjoyed, as she hadn't received any news from her younger brother and mother for a long time.