A Princess Consort for Free

"Mother, what is this?"

Lin Huabin didn't realize it at first glance.

Old Madam Lin said irritably, "Take a good look. You've been studying for over ten years, you can't possibly not recognize this."

Lin Huabin re-identified it.

He asked in bewilderment, "Isn't this Huang Tingjian's 'The Calligraphy of the Eminent Monks'? Who wrote it? How did it get burned like this?"

This is the finest example of cursive script.

He had tried to imitate it when he was young, but his work was not as good as the one on this burned paper.

"Don't you know? This was written by your daughter Yun Wan."

Old Madam Lin looked coldly at her second son.

Lin Huabin was stunned for a moment and remained silent for a long time.

Then Old Madam Lin understood everything.

"Tell me, what are you hiding from me? Yun Wan can write such wild cursive script, does she need Nanny Fan to teach her anything?"

"She's even capable of teaching Nanny Fan!"

Don't tell me you know nothing.

Lin Huabin stared blankly at the paper, then looked up and asked Old Madam Lin, "Mother, this... this was really written by Yun Wan?"

Nanny Fan replied to him, "Yes."

Lin Huabin was dumbfounded.

He seriously underestimated Zhao Jingyi's illegitimate daughter!

What kind of teacher did they hire to educate her? How could they produce such a student!

"I... this..."

Lin Huabin was still stammering.

He promised Zhao Jingyi that he wouldn't tell anyone.

Lin Huabin lowered his head and said, "Mother, this, I, I... I didn't mean to hide it from you. I was just afraid that Yun Wan's return to the manor would be too high-profile, so I told her not to stand out too much..."

You're still lying to me!

Old Madam Lin, "I'm not asking you why Yun Wan hid her talents; I'm asking you, what exactly are you hiding from me?"

Lin Huabin remained silent.

Old Madam Lin said slowly, "It's alright if you don't want to say. But our Lin Residence will never allow a girl like that to marry into a royal family."

Does anyone know what Yun Wan has been through?

If things go wrong, it could implicate the entire Lin Residence.

Lin Huabin was frightened. He frowned and said, "Mother, Nanny Wang came today. You didn't say anything, but I could tell that you think Nanny Wang is very satisfied with Yun Wan."

"At this point, you're saying you won't let Yun Wan marry..."

"It's not up to you to decide."

Old Madam Lin said calmly, "Is that so? The Prince's Mansion wants a dead body that died suddenly."

Lin Huabin turned pale with fright.

He lowered his head and said, "Mother, Yun Wan is... Zhao Jingyi's daughter. He couldn't bring her back to the manor to raise, so he asked me to bring her here to raise her."

"What?"

Old Madam Lin's eyes widened. She considered many possibilities, such as her granddaughter having encountered a reclusive master since childhood and learning a great deal of skill; or her second son having secretly done something to his granddaughter outside, but fearing that Zheng Shi would find out, he had no choice but to keep it a secret.

Nanny Fan was also startled, and asked with a forced smile, "Second Master, are you confused? How could this young lady be Lord Zhao's daughter?"

"Everyone knows that the girl was born to the Second Madam!"

Old Madam Lin was heartbroken.

She paused for a moment before asking softly, "Where's Yun Wan? Where's Yun Wan!"

Where did her granddaughter, Lin Yun Wan, go?

"He's dead."

Lin Huabin said in a low voice.

Old Madam Lin Nanny Fan remained silent for a long time.

"So you brought 'Yun Wan' back to life?" Old Madam Lin sighed. "Where is the child buried?"

Lin Huabin said, "It's still on that mountain."

Old Madam Lin gritted her teeth and said, "You really dare!"

She raised her hand and slapped Lin Huabin.

After all, her son was already a man of stature, so the Old Madam didn't actually hit his face; she hit his neck, grazing his chin.

Lin Huabin dared not look at his mother.

"You went to see Zhao Jingyi last night? What did he say about Yun Wan's marriage?"

Lin Huabin said, "... He was very happy. He didn't say anything."

Old Madam Lin snorted.

Two idiots!

"Since her father has already made the decision, and you've gone this far, you might as well see it through."

Old Madam Lin said, "You may leave."

Lin Huabin was eager to leave, so he bowed and took his leave.

Lin Yunwan lifted the curtain and came out, kneeling on the prayer mat. "Old Madam, I... I have let you down."

The way Old Madam Lin looked at her was different now.

She became even gentler and kinder, helping Lin Yunwan, and said softly, "Good child, it's not your fault. It's just that my son is disappointing and heartless."

Lin Yunwan kept her head down.

My feelings are very complicated.

Old Madam Lin patted the back of her hand and said with a smile, "Nanny Wang will definitely be very satisfied with you. Just relax and wait for your marriage."

He added, "It's our good fortune that you've come to the Lin Residence. Good child, the Lin Residence will not mistreat you."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

Old Madam Lin also told her, "Good child, a young lady must have a good reputation. You are destined to be Princess Consort. From now on, you should come every day to learn from Nanny Fan. Learn as much as you can before you get married."

The next step wasn't to actually teach Lin Yunwan anything, but rather to set an example for others, so that when she arrived at the Prince's residence, everything would be handled properly.

"Yes. Thank you, Old Madam."

Old Madam Lin was quite tired, so she said, "You must be tired too, go back and rest."

"Good."

Lin Yunwan excused herself and left.

Old Madam Lin closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.

Nanny Fan asked worriedly, "Old Madam, what's wrong?"

"Miss Lin... she's had a tough life too. Please don't even think about it."

That's not what I was thinking about.

Old Madam Lin lowered her hand, her gaze sharp. "Think carefully, does Zhao Jingyi seem like the kind of person who would have an illegitimate daughter? Does the Zhao family's tradition allow him to do such a thing?"

Nanny Fan thought for a moment and said, "Lord Zhao has always only enjoyed cockfighting and dog racing. The Zhao family wouldn't do something so shameful! Even if they did, Madam Zhao wouldn't be so intolerant of a daughter who will eventually get married. Why send her to our household?"

Old Madam Lin smiled faintly, "I knew it wouldn't be for no reason. Why would the Prince save our Lin family's daughter? The Second Prince still doesn't know who he's offended. Isn't that clear enough?"

"From beginning to end, this matter has nothing to do with Zhao Jingyi."

Nanny Fan exclaimed, "It's the Prince!"

Old Madam Lin calmly said, "Let's both pretend we don't know."

"Your Prince is essentially giving away a Princess Consort to my Lin Residence for free."

"If we marry Yun Wan off, the Lin Residence will become the Prince Huan Consort's maternal home. What's wrong with that?"

She smiled and took a sip of tea.

Nanny Fan asked, "The Second Master isn't going to tell either?"

Old Madam Lin snorted coldly, her attitude very clear.

There's no need to talk too much to my stupid son.

Old Madam Lin said to Nanny Fan, "I need to personally talk to the eldest son and his wife, and keep an eye on the second son to make sure he doesn't have any more ulterior motives."

Nanny Fan smiled and said, "With the master and Eldest Madam taking care of things, you don't need to worry."

Old Madam Lin hummed in agreement, still feeling a little regretful as she thought of her own granddaughter.

"Let's hold a memorial service for that child too, and find a way to move him to the Lin family graveyard later. Our Lin Residence's child can't become a wandering ghost."

"Amitabha."

Old Madam Lin closed her eyes and twirled her prayer beads.

The Prince Huan's Residence.

When Nanny Wang returned, Qi Lingheng and Zhao Jingyi, the couple, were both there.

"Granny, how is the Lin Residence's daughter?"

Madam Zhao asked curiously.

Nanny Wang smiled and said, "Very good."

Just like Nanny Fan thought.

Nanny Wang said, "I was worried that Miss Lin might not be well-mannered since she grew up without a mother's upbringing. I didn't expect her to be so knowledgeable and reasonable, and also quite good at music."

As the Di Daughter of the Second Branch of the Lin Residence, Lin Yunwan has already exceeded her expectations.

Zhao Jingyi was happier than anyone else. "Then can we ask the Empress and the Emperor to issue an edict?"

Nanny Wang nodded, agreeing with the Emperor's brother-in-law's idea.

Qi Lingheng stood up and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Granny."

He returned to his study and wrote a letter to the Emperor and Empress, instructing A Fu to send it to the palace by express courier.

A Fu asked, "Aren't we sending them together with the nanny and the emperor's brother-in-law?"

Qi Lingheng shook his head, smiled faintly, and said, "Imperial Father and Empress see my letter first, and then read the letters from the nanny and my maternal uncle maternal uncle's wife, they will be more satisfied with Yun Wan and this marriage."