Jiao Lin stormed off.
His cronies watched his retreating figure, somewhat bewildered.
"Do you think Jiao Lin might have discovered something?"
"How could that be? With Jiao Lin's brain, unless heaven intervenes, maybe in his next life."
"Maybe he went there to break off the engagement."
"It's agreed that after Jiao Lin breaks off the engagement, everyone will compete fairly."
"Of course, it all depends on your abilities."
The group, who had been behaving like brothers just moments before, suddenly became hostile towards each other.
Tong Aning, who heard their entire conversation, thought: [A bunch of oddballs...]
Mingyue and Lou Yingyu couldn't bear to watch. They not only used such despicable methods, but they also had the audacity to talk about fair competition.
Is Miss Wen an object?
Seeing it brings bad luck.
Mingyue has never known the meaning of forbearance since she was a child. If she's not feeling well, then there's no need for these people to stay.
She said, "Drive those people away; they're blocking this princess from enjoying the fish."
"Yes."
Several maids stepped forward, and in no time, the area in front of the fishpond was cleared.
After those people left, it felt like the air was a bit fresher.
Jiao family.
"Didn't you go to the Princess's banquet today? Why are you back so early?"
Jiao Lin was still angry. He plopped down, grabbed the teapot next to him, and started gulping down the tea.
Jiao Lin's parents. "...?"
The two spoke in hushed tones.
Jiao's father. "Who offended him?"
Madam Jiao shook her head. "I don't know, could it be that she was mistreated at the Princess's residence?"
Jiao's father shrugged. "Who knows?"
If he really suffered injustice, he wouldn't be able to stand up for his son in front of the princess, so it would be better to ignore it.
Jiao Lin had almost finished the entire pot of tea. He stood up, looking energetic, and said, "Father, Mother, let's go to the Wen family now."
The two were somewhat bewildered; why were they going to the Wen family's house?
Seeing that her son was serious, Jiao's mother said, "Wait, I'll go find the betrothal letter."
Jiao Lin stopped his mother, "We don't need a betrothal gift."
Jiao's mother didn't understand. "Son, didn't you go to annul the engagement?"
"I went there to discuss marriage, and I fell in love with Miss Wen at first sight," Jiao Lin said somewhat awkwardly.
Jiao's mother and father exchanged bewildered glances, wondering why their son was just spouting whatever came to mind from his dream.
The Wen family.
Xue Ruyun was taking Wen Duanya's pulse, Tong Aning stood quietly to the side.
Wen Duanya leaned against the bedside, looking much worse than she had at the banquet.
Xue Ruyun withdrew her hand, Wen Duanya's parents immediately asked, " Doctor Xue, how is Duanya?"
Xue Ruyun said, "You caught a chill from the wind. Stop taking the medicine to regulate your body for two days. Drink the medicine for colds for the next two days."
The two nodded repeatedly.
Seeing her parents like this, Wen Duanya smiled faintly on her pale face, "Father, Mother, don't worry, your daughter is fine."
The two women were heartbroken. Wen's mother held her daughter's hand, stroking it affectionately, and whispered, "Our Yaya has suffered so much."
Wen Duanya shook her head. She didn't feel bitter. Although she was frail and sickly, her parents always indulged her, and she was already lucky enough.
Xue Ruyun wrote out the prescription for the cold medicine and handed it to the Wen family's servant. The Wen family had their own pharmacy, and the servant took the prescription to get the medicine.
Mother Wen said, " Youling, see Doctor Xue and Miss Tong out."
"Yes."
The three of them brushed past another maid.
The maidservant said, "Master, Madam, and Miss, Master Jiao, Madam Jiao, and Young Master Jiao have arrived."
Tong Aning paused, "[What's that idiot doing here?]"
[Could they really be here to call off the engagement?]
The three members of the Wen family inside were taken aback, and Wen's mother tightened her grip on her daughter's hand.
Wen Duanya comforted her, "Father and Mother, matters of marriage cannot be forced. If they have truly come to annul the engagement, I can accept it calmly."
The three members of the Jiao family were sitting in the main hall when they heard footsteps. Jiao Lin stood up nervously.
He was greatly disappointed to find that it was not Wen Duanya.
One was the late emperor's daughter, and the other was a celestial being descended to earth. The Jiao family parents dared not neglect them and greeted them respectfully.
Jiao's father asked, "Is Doctor Xue here? Is Miss Wen ill again?"
Jiao Lin, who had been looking around, perked up his ears.
Xue Ruyun said, " Miss Wen has caught a cold."
Jiao Lin blurted out, "Is she alright?"
"Thank you for your concern, Young Master Jiao. I'm perfectly fine."
Jiao Lin turned around and saw Wen Duanya being supported by a maid.
Her face was so pale, even her usually expressive eyes seemed dull. Jiao Lin pursed his lips, a feeling of heartache washing over him.
Wen Duanya said, "I have already had someone fetch Young Master Jiao's birth chart."
Wen Duanya took the birth chart from the tray, gathered her sleeves, and handed it to Jiao Lin.
Jiao Lin did not answer.
Wen Duanya was somewhat surprised. "Young Master Jiao?"
"I'm not here to break off the engagement."
"What brings Young Master Jiao here?"
Looking at Wen Duanya's face, Jiao Lin mustered his courage and said, "I'm here to discuss marriage."
Wen Duanya was taken aback. She looked at Jiao Lin in front of her and suddenly asked, "Young Master Jiao, do you truly like me?"
"I... I... I..."
*
Before the Marquis's carriage had even left, Tong Aning saw Jiao Lin, who was walking out of the Wen residence looking dejected.
He was covering his head, looking very regretful.
" Jiao Lin, Jiao Lin, you deserve to hang out with those shady friends!"
"Why didn't I say feelings can be cultivated slowly? You acted like an idiot... Jiao Lin, you're so clumsy."
Tong Aning lowered the carriage curtain.
Xue Ruyun asked, " Aning, do you think they are a couple in love?"
Tong Aning: "No."
"Why?"
"They don't have any feelings for each other yet, but we'll see if they can develop feelings for each other later."
Tong Aning did not believe that Jiao Lin Wen Duanya had to marry Wen Duanya after he changed his opinion of her.
In fact, Wen Duanya could have chosen none of Jiao Lin's brothers.
They encountered a funeral procession on the road, Tong Aning told A Shu to step aside and let the funeral procession pass first.
Only after the funeral procession had gone far away did Tong Aning realize that the person in the coffin was her husband from Nan Huai.
[After Gu Han was transported back to his residence, his parents cried until they fainted, but then wanted to open the coffin the night before the funeral.]
[ Nan Huai said that Gu Han had already done many unrighteous and immoral things, and if they rashly opened the coffin, something bad would definitely happen. He tried his best to dissuade them from opening the coffin, but Gu's parents refused to compromise. They cried and made a scene, insisting on opening the coffin, only to find that their son had already died and had suffocated to death in the coffin...]
[ Nan Huai blamed Gu's parents for causing Gu Han's death with unfulfilled grievances and ruining the Gu family's reputation. Finally, the clan elders intervened, and Nan Huai successfully obtained the divorce papers. Gu's parents could only swallow their anger and resentment, and now they even have to hold a proper funeral for their son... Nan Huai is truly a role model for us all.]
He is indeed a man of both courage and wisdom.
Xue Ruyun never expected that leaving the royal family and following Tong Aning would allow her to come into contact with so many vibrant people and things.
"Uncle, please don't sell me! Please, don't sell me!"
Tong Aning frowned and lifted the carriage curtain. Not far from the carriage, a tall, burly, and fierce-looking man was pulling at a little girl who was probably not even ten years old.
The little girl was terrified, tears streaming down her face, but the man was heartless and unmoved. He pulled the little girl so hard she almost fell to the ground.
The surrounding residents noticed the commotion, but they thought it was a family matter and they shouldn't get involved.
Tong Aning angrily exclaimed, "Selling children in broad daylight, A Shu!"
"Yes, miss."
A Shu parked the carriage and prepared to go rescue the little girl, the man was stopped by someone first.
[ Jiao Lin?]
[I didn't realize he would be so chivalrous.]
Wow!
The gods actually looked down on him. He may be a spoiled brat, but he still has basic conscience, you know.
He wouldn't even deign to associate with such a bully.
"Who are you?"
"You don't even know me, yet you dare to act so arrogantly on the street."
Seeing Jiao Lin's arrogance, the man hesitated. The capital was full of powerful and influential people, and he was afraid that he might accidentally offend some important figure.
He lowered his stance and said, "Young master, this is my niece. I'm just here to take her home at my sister's request."
Jiao Lin narrowed his eyes. "Really?"
He said this to the man, but he was looking at the little girl.
The little girl clutched her clothes and said, "Yes, it's true. He really is my uncle, but he wants to sell me."
Even though she was being threatened, the little girl spoke up, because it might be her only chance to escape.
Regardless of the outcome, she can only hold on tight.
Jiao Lin's expression turned cold. "As the uncle, how could you sell your own niece? Have you lost all your conscience?"
The man panicked and said, "This girl is talking nonsense..."
"She's not lying."
Behind the man, Tong Aning and Xue Ruyun walked towards them.
"Why are you meddling again?" the man said arrogantly. "This is just my family matter..."
"This isn't a family matter; buying and selling young girls is illegal. You'd better confess."
Tong Aning, with a stern and cold expression, exuded a certain authority. She held a silver needle in her hand, its tip gleaming coldly. She threatened, "I'm telling you, once I poke you with this needle, you'll have to tell the truth."
Xue Ruyun looked away; she hadn't taught her any truth-telling techniques.
If this wouldn't work, and that wouldn't work, the man decided to give up entirely, saying, "To tell you the truth, my sister agreed to me selling my niece."
[Is a mother even human if she agrees to sell her own daughter?]
Jiao Lin: "Are you even human?"
These people should really be sent to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Jiao Lin waved his hand, and the servants swarmed forward. "Take this man to the Jingzhao Prefecture."
Tong Aning: "...?"
How do I know everything I'm thinking?
Jiao Lin was somewhat smug. The gods thought he was stupid, but couldn't he at least be their lackey? That would at least salvage some of his image.
[It turns out the child wasn't her biological mother trying to sell her; he stole her while her sister wasn't looking...]