Settling In

"Is everything settled in?"

Old Madam Lin gripped a string of Buddhist prayer beads tightly in both hands.

The heads of the Lin Residence, the masters Madam, were standing in front of her.

Eldest Master Lin and Eldest Madam Lin came out.

The Eldest Madam replied first, "Reporting to the Old Madam, everything has been settled."

Eldest Master Lin specifically said, "The Prince is already bathing and changing, and has gone to fetch Jiangqian's physician."

Old Madam Lin was still on tenterhooks.

She opened her eyes and asked her eldest son, "How is the Prince? Is he injured?"

"No."

Eldest Master Lin carefully recalled the events and said, "The Prince pulled Yun Wan up and she was fine. She didn't even choke on the water."

That would be great.

Old Madam Lin breathed a sigh of relief, but her eyes suddenly sharpened. "What's going on with you two? Why did you bring the Prince to the Lotus Pond?!"

She glared at her two sons and said, "If something really happens to the Prince in our family, can you two take responsibility?!"

This accident was truly terrifying; she was quite frightened.

Eldest Master Lin bowed and said, "Mother, it is my fault."

Lin Huabin could only lower his head and say, "... Mother, it was your sons who were careless."

Nanny Fan went over to comfort Old Madam Lin and whispered, "It's not the fault of the two gentlemen; it was the Prince who insisted on rushing to save people."

Old Madam Lin looked at her two sons, and only asked her eldest son, "Did the Prince run there by himself?"

Eldest Master Lin nodded and said, "Someone shouted at the Lotus Pond, and the Prince went over. My younger brother and I tried to stop him, but it was too late."

Old Madam Lin looked at Nanny Fan.

How could Prince, a person of supreme status, recklessly rush to save someone?

That doesn't make sense.

But this isn't the time to talk about that.

The Flower Halls in the Front Courtyard and back courtyards of the Lin Residence were still quite lively.

Eldest Madam Lin, "Old Madam, the guests in the Front Courtyard and back courtyards are still waiting..."

What's the rush?

Old Madam Lin, "All the guests in the courtyard combined are not as important as the Prince."

"Let's wait until His Prince has finished changing before we talk about it."

Eldest Madam Lin bowed her head and said, "Yes."

But something else was on my mind.

This is something everyone tacitly agrees on: both young ladies from the Lin Residence fell into the water, and the Prince and Zheng Shi's nephew rescued them respectively, but the young ladies' innocence was lost!

But the Old Madam didn't mention it, and no one dared to.

Lin Huabin paced back and forth in the room, his face grim.

Zheng Shi rushed in, her face deathly pale. Without even paying her respects to the Old Madam, she grabbed Lin Huabin and demanded, "I heard that both of our daughters fell into the water?!"

What she Wen Mu discussed was simply pushing Yun Wan into the water.

How did they both fall into the water?!

Lin Huabin looked utterly dejected. "... Yes."

"I... I heard that the Prince also jumped into the water to save people?"

"Yes!"

Zheng Shi opened her lips, her voice trembling as she asked, "Then... did the Prince save Yun Jiao, or... or..."

"It's Yun Wan."

Lin Huabin said in a low voice.

Zheng Shi's vision went black, and she almost fainted.

Lin Huabin supported her, frowning as he said, "You... you really are something! What are you doing here to cause trouble?"

Zheng Shi cried out, "How... how could it be Yun Wan? How could it be her?"

This is it, everything's ruined!

Old Madam Lin glanced at them coldly and asked, "Why can't it be Yun Wan?"

When Zheng Shi looked up, she realized that the atmosphere around the Old Madam was very somber, and that she seemed to have said something wrong.

Lin Huabin urged her, "Aren't you going to pay your respects to the Old Madam yet?"

Zheng Shi wiped away her tears, rose, and curtsied, saying, "Greetings, Old Madam."

Her legs were still weak, and she leaned against Lin Huabin.

Lin Huabin was afraid she would fall and embarrass herself, so he begged the Old Madam for forgiveness.

Old Madam Lin said coldly, "Sit down."

I felt extremely unhappy.

She asked her eldest daughter-in-law, "Why aren't there any old Matron on duty in the Garden? Even if a girl fell into the water, it wouldn't be the two men's turn to save her."

The Physician was filled with regret and trepidation. "... There weren't enough people in the front and back courtyards, so I transferred the Matron from the Flower Garden to help out, but they were only available for a short while, less than a quarter of an hour. They had to go back immediately after delivering the things."

"It's the daughter-in-law's fault. Who knew things would go wrong so quickly!"

Seeing that the Eldest Madam was about to kneel down, Nanny Fan quickly stopped her, saying, "What are you doing, Eldest Madam! You are the matriarch of the Lin Residence. Even if you do something wrong, the Old Madam will teach you. You cannot kneel."

That kneeling made him lose all face.

The Eldest Madam was crying with tears streaming down her face.

In all her years managing the household, when has she ever made such a big mistake?

Zheng Shi lowered her head and deliberately rubbed her temples, not daring to look at Old Madam Lin and the Eldest Madam.

... I wonder if the old hag is watching her.

Old Madam Lin calmly withdrew her gaze and said to her eldest daughter-in-law, "There are still guests in the backyard. You should go and freshen up again. I'll take care of things here."

The Eldest Madam woman who had weathered many storms, quickly composed herself despite her disheveled hairpins and ornaments, and said, "Your daughter-in-law takes her leave."

He took his trusted confidants to wash and change clothes, and first entertained the guests who came to celebrate the baby's full moon.

Not long after, Qi Lingheng came out of the guest room after taking a shower.

Eldest Master Lin and his brother Lin Huabin were waiting outside.

Qi Lingheng's expression was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger. He said to Eldest Master Lin, "I haven't even had a drink at your Legitimate Grandson's one-month celebration yet. Aren't you going to invite me for a drink?"

Eldest Master Lin said in a flustered manner, "Please... Your Prince, this way please."

He led Qi Lingheng to a very quiet Courtyard in the Front Courtyard. Of course, the Prince would not sit with ordinary people; everyone present was someone who was qualified to speak with the Prince.

Even after the banquet ended, Qi Lingheng went to pay his respects to Old Madam Lin.

He was a little drunk, so he left quickly.

When Eldest Master Lin and Lin Huabin returned after seeing the Prince off, they both looked distressed.

"The Prince never mentioned rescuing anyone from beginning to end..."

The Eldest Master sighed and said, "Mother, what do you think the Prince means by this?"

Old Madam Lin, holding her Buddhist prayer beads, said, "I can't say for sure."

Lin Huabin said anxiously, "Mother, didn't you ask the Prince just now?"

"The Prince is already drunk. How can I ask him? What if Prince agreed then and later says it was just drunken talk? What will happen to the Lin Residence? What will happen to Yun Wan?"

Old Madam Lin said irritably, "It's a small matter that the young lady has lost her chastity; there are plenty of ways to deal with that. But if you offend the Prince, your official careers are over!"

Eldest Master Lin was extremely worried.

Lin Huabin's beard trembled as he asked, "Mother, so you mean... send Yun Wan... to Buddhist Nunnery?"

Old Madam Lin remained calm. "No rush. The Prince is drunk; Prince should be sober by tomorrow."

"Since Your Prince saved your daughter, it's only right that you come to express your gratitude."

"Thank you in advance, Your Prince. If Your Prince has no intention of taking a concubine..."

Old Madam Lin was still somewhat reluctant to part with them. Of all the young ladies in the mansion, only her eldest granddaughter and Yun Wan were her favorites. Both of them were intelligent and composed, and were born to be the matriarchs of the mansion.

"Then let's send it to the nunnery."

Lin Huabin didn't dare to agree.

If it were really his daughter, that would be one thing, but she's Zhao Jingyi's daughter.

He should talk to Zhao Jingyi first!

"Perhaps the Prince knew she was his younger female cousin, which is why he jumped into the water to save her."

"That makes things much easier."

"It doesn't seem like a bad deal for Yun Wan to become Concubine of Prince Huan."

Zhao Jingyi won't be angry.

Lin Huabin figured it out on his way home alone, but he still felt a pang of regret. "Why wasn't it Wenhai...?"

If Wenhai had saved Yun Wan and Prince Huan had saved Yun Jiao, wouldn't that have been perfect!