Two Clans Confer

Lin Yunyi and his Madam Lin attached great importance to Lin Yunwan's matter. In just three days, they persuaded the prominent elders of the Lin clan to come to their door.

Lin Yunyi said firmly, "The Wuding Marquis Residence has humiliated my the Lin clan daughter like this. My Elder Sister will definitely divorce the Lu family!"

Madam Lin wept silently; her blind eyes were heartbreaking.

The Lin Family members quickly agreed on their story and spent most of the day discussing how to respond.

Lin Yunyi meticulous. After seeing off the elders of the Lin clan, he sent someone to tell Seventh Master Li, "The Lin Family has some matters to attend to these days, so we will not be welcoming you, sir."

Seventh Master Li had his own things to do, and Lin Family told him not to go, he didn't go.

Yun Yi even made a special trip to the Prince Huan's Residence.

They brought eight hundred taels of silver with them, which was almost all the cash the family could afford.

It's a pity that Qi Lingheng isn't at the manor.

The steward of the Prince's residence said respectfully, "Young master, please speak freely. Prince Highness instructed that if anyone from your residence comes, I should not be negligent."

Lin Yunyi presented the silver with both hands and said, "This junior wishes to request five hundred-year-old ginseng roots from your household. Here is eight hundred taels of silver. I know it is not enough, but I beg you to give it to me first. I will repay the remaining amount to Your Prince later."

"This is the written agreement; I've already affixed my fingerprint."

The steward glanced at it; all that was missing was the amount owed. Lin Family Master Lin had come with sincerity.

He stroked his beard, looking genuinely troubled.

Lin Yunyi extremely anxious, but his upbringing in the Lin Family wouldn't allow him to lose his composure, so he could only plead even more earnestly.

The steward said with difficulty, "Young master, it's not that I don't want to give it to you. As you know, century-old ginseng is not easy to obtain. Even in the most famous pharmacies in the Capital, it's not so easy to find. Moreover, the ginseng in our manor comes from the palace, bestowed by the Emperor and the Empress. There are only five in total, and to give them all to you at once..."

Even if the Prince gave further instructions, he wouldn't dare to make this decision on his own.

The steward said, "Young master, why don't you wait a moment? I'll send someone to inquire with the Prince."

Lin Yunyi could only nod and agree.

He sat upright in the hall, and the steward sent someone to the palace to deliver a message.

Qi Lingheng was in the palace discussing state affairs with his Imperial Father, the emperor, and the Grand Secretariat ministers. Normally, the palace officials dared not inform him of such trivial matters.

When the news reached A Fu's ears, he was quick-witted and knew that this matter had to be spread, so he quietly slipped in and gave Qi Lingheng a wink.

Qi Lingheng returned his glance.

He can't go out right now, so let A Fu make his own decisions.

"How could I possibly make that decision?"

He could tolerate ordinary expensive medicinal herbs, but he dared not make decisions about those bestowed by the Emperor and Empress.

A Fu wrote a note and sent it in.

Qi Lingheng finally came out and gave A Fu a sarcastic scolding. "You can't even handle this little thing?"

A Fu knelt and said, "Your Prince, that ginseng was given by the Emperor and..."

Qi Lingheng glanced at A Fu indifferently and said to him, "If you come to me about this kind of thing again, you might as well go home and retire."

A Fu shuddered. He was only in his twenties; what was he supposed to do with supporting himself in old age?

"This servant understands."

He quickly left the palace and relayed the message to the people in the Prince's residence.

When the steward of the Prince's mansion heard the reply, his eyes widened, and he pressed the young eunuch for an answer, asking, "Did His Prince really say that?"

The young eunuch said, "How could I have made it up? That's exactly what Master Fu said."

The steward frowned, finding it hard to believe that the Prince would speak like that.

Give them whatever they want, so what if you empty the palace?

"Did the Prince say this? A Fu didn't relay it wrong, did he...?"

The manager muttered to himself.

Lin Yunyi was still waiting, but upon seeing the steward, he stood up and bowed.

The steward said very politely, "Please wait a moment, young master. We've already sent someone to wrap the ginseng."

Lin Yunyi was pleasantly surprised. "Your Prince has agreed?"

The manager nodded.

It's more than just agreement.

The servant brought over five brocade boxes containing ginseng, packed them together, and placed them in a basket.

The steward handed it to Lin Yunyi, saying, "Young master, take it and use it. If it's not enough, bring more."

It's just good ginseng. Even if the Prince's mansion doesn't have any now, it wouldn't be difficult for his Prince to find a few more.

Lin Yunyi said it wasn't necessary, "This is enough."

The steward personally saw Lin Yunyi off, and before parting, he couldn't help but ask, "Young Master is in such a hurry for this ginseng, is it because Madam Lin...?"

Lin Yunyi said, "My mother is fine."

He wouldn't say anything more, got into his carriage and left. He didn't even ask the Prince's Mansion how much silver should be written on the IOU with his handprint.

He would accept any amount of writing given out of gratitude to the Prince's Mansion.

After obtaining the ginseng, Lin Yunyi and the Members of the Lin clan went to the Wuding Marquis Residence the next day, having already sent out invitations in advance.

The Wuding Marquis Residence indeed opened its main gate to welcome them, showing great importance to the Lin clan family.

"Madam, our mistress and Young Master Yi have arrived!"

Ping Ye was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.

Lin Yunwan had already washed and dressed, and was sitting in the Courtyard reading the poems and books her father had taught her.

Tao Ye came over and said, "Madam, Madam is going over there too."

Everyone who was supposed to go had gone, Lin Yunwan stood up and said, "Let's go too." She then went with her two maids.

Zhu Qing went along too, but she wasn't allowed to listen in on the proceedings inside the hall; she could only wait outside and listen to what was happening inside.

She hid behind the osmanthus tree and said to Tong Liu, "At least we know whether we argued or made peace."

Tong Liu whispered, "Concubine, you must hide well. If the Old Madam and the Heir Apparent see you, they might be angry with you."

"I know. Go and keep watch for me; call me if anyone comes."

Just as Tong Liu walked a little further away, Wei Shi arrived.

Before Wei Shi even went inside, she saw Lin Yunwan walking towards her. She hurried over, grabbed Lin Yunwan's hand tightly, and asked with concern, "Yun Wan, I heard you were sick. How are you now? Are you feeling better? Why didn't you call Physician to come and see me?"

Lin Yunwan tried to pull her hand back, but Wei Shi held on too tightly, and she couldn't budge it.

These past few days, Wei Shi, who had been managing the household, was exhausted and furious. She told Lin Yunwan, "You have no idea how difficult those housekeepers are! If I hadn't slapped them a few times, not one of them would have listened to me."

Tao Ye touched her forehead.

Those women in charge are all respectable people; how can you slap them in the face so easily?

Ping Ye was at a loss for words. What time was it? Madam still talking about these things!

Wei Shi herself felt that this was not the time to discuss trivial matters, so she advised Lin Yunwan: "Why are you making such a fuss? It's just a lowly Concubine-born Son and a son born out of wedlock. If you beat one to death and send the other far away, wouldn't the world be at peace?"

"Madam, you're oversimplifying things."

With a forceful pull, Lin Yunwan finally managed to free her hand.

Wei Shi was bewildered. What was too simple?

Are we going to beat the Concubine-born Son to death too?

That makes sense; if they both die, then everything will be clean.

However, there is no reason in the world to kill one's own bloodline.

Zhu Qing listened from afar, shaking her head helplessly. "This Madam..."

She really wanted to grab the Madam's ear and tell her, "Ge Bao'er is ambitious and wishes she could take the position of the legal mother!"

He simply encountered a formidable woman and failed to achieve his goal.

But that's frightening enough; which matriarch wouldn't be terrified?

After staring for a while, I finally saw that everyone had arrived.

Old Madam Lu's face was very pale. She instructed Nanny Yan, "Close the hall door." Clear the area and forbid anyone from eavesdropping.

Zhu Qing managed to dodge, thus avoiding Nanny Yan's scrutiny.