Growing Anxious

"Brother Zhao, the Prince is getting married, such a big event, why didn't you tell me?"

Zhao Jingyi spread his hands and said, "What am I talking about? I just found out myself."

He rubbed his forehead and said, "This has nothing to do with you! Why are you more anxious than I am?"

Lin Huabin was a little flustered. He forced a smile and said, "This... this... our Lin family has some reputation in Jiangqian. We should help the Prince with his marriage in some way."

"We only found out at the last minute, wasn't it because we were afraid of delaying Your Prince's good deed?"

Zhao Jingyi patted his chest and said with a smile, "You're thoughtful. But don't worry, the Prince knows what's going on, and Nanny Wang is helping to keep things under control. It's alright if your Lin family doesn't contribute."

Lin Huabin's smile was very stiff.

He did want to put in the effort.

Zhao Jingyi seemed genuinely worried, rubbing his stomach as he said, "Let's go, let's go eat."

Lin Huabin had lost his appetite. He wasn't really used to the Zhao family's food, which was spicy and sour. So he said, "... No, I suddenly remembered I have some things to take care of at home, so I won't keep you company today, Brother Zhao."

Zhao Jingyi was genuinely hungry and preoccupied with Qi Lingheng's marriage prospects. Too lazy to engage in any pretense with Lin Huabin, he said, "Then I won't keep you any longer."

She didn't forget to urge Lin Huabin: "Please let me see my daughter soon. I haven't seen her in so long, and I miss her terribly."

"I've got it."

The two bowed to each other, and a servant from the Zhao family led Lin Huabin out.

Zhao Jingyi turned back, but after taking only a few steps, he saw that Qi Lingheng was still there. Startled, he hugged the pillar and asked, "You... why are you still here?"

Then I felt that as a maternal uncle, it was really infuriating to be so easily scared; I really didn't have the composure of maternal uncle!

He quickly let go of her hand, coughed twice, and said, "It's already dark, why didn't you bring a lamp?"

Qi Lingheng smiled and said, "I thought about it. If I don't stay, there will be no one to drink with my maternal uncle. If I come to pick maternal uncle up myself, it will get dark before I can bring a lantern."

"Yeah?"

Zhao Jingyi didn't believe it. Why did it take so long to pick him up? It was already dark by then.

"Were you eavesdropping on my conversation with Lin Huabin?!"

Zhao Jingyi finally understood; his good nephew wouldn't come to pick him up unless there was nothing wrong.

Qi Lingheng smiled and walked towards the inner courtyard with Zhao Jingyi, saying to him, "When maternal uncle sees Yun Wan, remember to tell me."

"What, you want to see her too?"

Zhao Jingyi found it a bit strange.

Qi Lingheng said in a serious tone, "Her family asked me to give her some things." This was a lie.

Zhao Jingyi believed him and asked, "How come she still has family? Where are they now? How can they just abandon her and not care whether she lives or dies? She's getting married soon! Aren't her family members going to show up?"

Qi Lingheng paused for a moment, then said, "What's the rush? Nothing's happened yet."

Zhao Jingyi bewildered. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Qi Lingheng said, "She's not married yet."

Zhao Jingyi: "How do you know she doesn't? Let me tell you, Lin Huabin just said that she already has a man she's interested in."

Perhaps to spite Qi Lingheng, he winked and said, "I heard he's a very nice young man. Hey, I'll soon have another son-in-law."

You're listening to him lie.

"How could Yun Wan possibly look down on someone like that? He's not even a Presented Scholar in the highest imperial examinations)."

Qi Lingheng's voice was low and cold; he couldn't stand hearing such words and walked even faster.

Zhao Jingyi scratched the back of his head. "... You're still saying you didn't eavesdrop?"

He strode after him.

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly; he hadn't said anything like that.

\

"What? The Prince is getting married!"

As soon as Lin Huabin returned, he told Zheng Shi. Zheng Shi was extremely surprised and slumped onto the chaise longue, her eyes wide. "How come we didn't hear a single word about this?"

She gripped her husband's sleeve tightly and asked, "Whose daughter is she?"

Lin Huabin's arm ached from the strain. He pulled Zheng Shi's hand away, frowned, and said, "I don't know either."

He sat on the bed and sighed, "Judging from Zhao Jingyi's appearance, he's not one of our Lin Residence."

Zheng Shi was a little stunned.

"How could this be! Was it the prince who chose the Prince? Or was it Nanny Wang who chose the Princess Consort?"

"The Prince has only been in Jiangqian for a short time. We haven't even seen him yet, so how can we have already decided on Princess Consort?"

After pondering for a while, Lin Huabin muttered to himself, "Perhaps I was wrong to not have made a decision."

Zheng Shi suddenly felt there was still hope, and sat up to ask, "Master, you must think this over carefully!"

"Since Your Prince has made it clear that you intend to marry, if you haven't decided on a wife yet, then you'll have to put in some effort for our Jiao'er!"

Lin Huabin pinched the bridge of his nose and recalled his conversation with Zhao Jingyi again, then told it to Zheng Shi.

Zheng Shi clutched her handkerchief, deep in thought for a long time, then suddenly clapped her hands and laughed, "My lord, you must be mistaken. The Prince is planning to marry—but who he will marry is still undecided!"

Lin Huabin was also somewhat tempted.

Zheng Shi took his arm and said, "Master, don't overthink it. Quickly find out what the Prince is really thinking! You'd better meet the Prince and ask him in person."

Lin Huabin frowned. "Is the Prince so easy to see?"

But he really wanted to see the Prince. He had been in Jiangqian for so long, and the Prince probably still didn't know who he was.

He's Zhao Jingyi's good friend; he really shouldn't have done that.

"Master, Madam, the young lady has arrived."

Zheng Shi frowned and said unhappily, "Why did you come at this time?"

She had a loud voice, Lin Yunwan outside could hear her.

Lin Huabin said, "I sent her. You rest first; Yun Wan and I need to talk."

"Why..."

Just as Zheng Shi was getting into her story, Lin Huabin had already left.

She gritted her teeth and spat, "You shameless little hussy!"

"Master."

Lin Yunwan curtsied.

Lin Huabin said gently, "Come with me."

Master took Lin Yunwan to the study to talk. Lin Yunwan was restless the whole way. When they arrived at the study, she couldn't help but ask, "Master, you just told Madam that the Prince is going to take a wife?"

Lin Huabin glanced at her.

Lin Yunwan explained, "I arrived a while ago. You and Madam were talking, so the maid didn't go to announce my arrival."

The couple speaks so loudly that it's impossible not to hear them.

Lin Huabin nodded and said, "Yes, your father told me that himself."

After he sat down, he paused for a moment before saying, "Yun Wan, everyone has their own destiny. Although the Prince is your Cousin, he's someone you have absolutely no connection with now."

Lin Yunwan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

Lin Huabin smiled, but didn't say it directly, only saying, "I told you before, Wenhai is an excellent child."

She must understand this principle: one shouldn't be overly ambitious, nor should one be greedy and always want more.