Chapter 27: Choice (Including PK200+)

  Two chapters and one chapter

  Lin Zhaoyan turned around in a circle, but didn't see Liu Wenyuan, and couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed. However, she also hadn't run into Lu Shi, so she thought maybe he was delayed on the road and hadn't arrived yet, and her heart again gave rise to a surge of hope.

  "Miss, don't worry, we'll be there soon." Man Shuang comforted.

  "Hmm." Lin Zhaoyan nodded and turned to head towards the flower hall, but was blocked by a maid wearing a green jacket.

  Lin Zhaoyan looked at her unfamiliar face and asked: "Do you have something to say?"

  The maid curtsied and said respectfully, "Fourth Miss, there are a few young ladies in the backyard who invite you to go over for a chat, saying they have something important to discuss."

  Lin Zhaoyan hadn't had time to respond when Lin Ruoyan, who had been following Liu's side, walked over slowly and said with a tone of disdain: "I just saw that it was Lin Jingming and those people from the fifth house who went there. What could they want with Fourth Miss?"

  "The slave girl doesn't know, she's just passing on a message." The maid replied loudly and clearly.

  "It's definitely the weasel wishing a happy new year to the chicken, with ill intentions." Lin Zhao spoke coldly and hummed, then turned to face him again, not in a good mood: "Are you going?"

  Lin Zhaoyan naturally knew that Lin Jinming looking for her wouldn't be a good thing, but if she didn't go, Lin Jinming might do something to make her lose face even more.

  She wasn't Lin Ruoyan and didn't have the capital to go against Lin Jingming, so she nodded and said: "Go take a look, it's not necessarily a bad thing."

  "I really don't know whether to call you stupid or naive!" Lin Ruoyan glared at Lin Zhaoyan, with a hint of resentment and frustration.

  She hated Lin Zhao Yan's attitude of being willing to compromise on everything, it was really a lack of temperament, where did she look like the daughter of a noble family!

  It's hateful to return hate, but Lin Zhao is her own sister after all, and she can't just watch her being bullied by the people of the main house, that would also lose face for their third house!

  "Let's go take a look together!"

  Lin Zhao Yan had no objection and just blinked at Zi Su who was standing behind Lin Ruo Yan.

  Perilla nodded in agreement, nodding repeatedly.

  Although there are not many people today, they are all close relatives and friends. If the fifth girl and the third girl quarrel, it will be a loss of face for her, so she must try to persuade them.

  A group of people soon arrived at the backyard.

  The courtyard was filled with people, apart from Lin Jingming and the fifth house's people, there were also the second house and other cousins.

  The maids were laying out paper and ink, the young ladies were all frowning and concentrating, standing alone by the stone table on the octagonal pavilion, completely unaware of their arrival.

  Lin Zhao's words were like a foggy mist.

  "What is this? A poetry contest?" Lin Ruoyan had been preparing for a big fight with Lin Jingming, and was in high spirits when he suddenly saw such a beautiful woman, and was stunned.

  "Fourth sister, fifth sister!" Lu Mei was playful and mischievous, having no interest in poetry or painting, nor was she excited about the colorful gifts given by Lu Yan. She had originally come with a carefree attitude, but seeing her other sisters exerting themselves to compose poems, she couldn't help but feel bored.

  At this moment, Lin Zhao Yan and Lin Ruo Yan appeared, and she hurriedly beckoned to them, then picked up her skirt and rushed over. "We're having a poetry contest with snow as the theme, and the winner can get my brother's jade pendant, as well as the three Qinghui friends' purple sandalwood screen awarded by my aunt, and my mother's pair of emerald bangles!"

  It turned out they were really called over for a poetry contest.

  Is Lin Jinming really so kind?

  Lin Zhaoyan was even more puzzled, and then he heard Lu Mei's words: "Right, how did you guys come? Where is Seventh Aunt? Actually, we were originally planning to find you guys, but Third Aunt said that you guys had something going on with Third Aunt, so we didn't go."

  As expected...

  Lin Jinming had never gotten along with them, let alone after all that happened recently. He probably hadn't been on good terms with them in his heart for a long time, so why would he be so kind as to invite them to the poetry contest?

  What's more, there might be Lu Yan Zhi's personal ornament in that brooch!

  So who exactly called them over? And it seemed that person only intended to call her, Lin Ruoyan was afraid she would be bullied and followed herself, while Lin Xingyan didn't show up at all.

  Lin Ruoyan also thought of this, her face suddenly turned iron-green, stiffened for a moment, and then sneered: "I was worried that you would be bullied by others, but I never expected that your relationship with people in this mansion is much better than mine!"

  Lin Zhaoyan couldn't help but get a headache, who was it again that had nothing better to do than to stir up trouble in the sisters' relationship?

  Lu Mei saw the atmosphere was not right, so she quickly pulled over their hands and made a round of conversation: "Since you've come, then participate! That person must also be going to find Fifth Sister, it's just that Fifth Sister happens to be with Fourth Sister!"

  "I've never been good at poetry and books, so I won't participate." Lin Zhao smiled and didn't plan to intervene in this dispute.

  Lin Ruoyan also let out a cold snort and proudly said: "Since I wasn't invited, why should I participate? I'm not that shameless!"

  Lu Mei was somewhat at a loss.

  "Pei'er, don't be ridiculous! They are high-born and will serve the Empress Dowager in the palace one day. Why would they play with us common folk?"

  Lin Jinming didn't know when he discovered them, and walked over with a cold smile.

  The sarcasm in her words instantly enraged Lin Ruoyan, who was already unhappy. She immediately retorted: "Yes! It seems that some people are full of shortcomings, but they still have one advantage - self-awareness!"

  Lin Jinming's face suddenly turned liver-colored.

  Lin Zhaoyan whispered, "Not good", and gave Lu Mei a hint while smiling: "Aren't we going to compose poems? I suddenly have an interest, can I get many prizes after winning the first prize? Does Brother Lu also have prizes in it?"

  Lu Mei nodded in agreement and chimed in, "Right! Right! You see how all the other sisters are diligently composing poems. My brother's treasured jade pendant can't be snatched away by someone else!"

  Lin Jinming heard this and calmed down his anger, thinking that many relatives and friends were present today. If she lost her temper and quarreled with Lin Ruoyan, she would end up losing face in the end. Her aunt and cousin might also have some reservations about her.

  "Never mind, I won't bother with this kind of person!"

  Lin Ruoyan also coldly laughed and said: "As if I'd bother to argue with someone like you!"

  So, although the two were still at odds with each other, they didn't make a scene after all, but instead went quietly to compose poetry.

  Lin Zhaoyan had just said those words and could only join the "battle" as well.

  However, she didn't have much hope for the head of the household, let alone her limited poetry skills. Even if she had the style of Li Bai and Du Fu, in front of Lin Jingming and Lin Ruoyan, these two useless people, she couldn't easily show off her talents.

  After some thought, I picked up my pen and wrote a very ordinary poem about plum blossoms standing tall in the snow.

  After everything was written, Lu Mei made the maidservant send everyone's poems to the front yard and waited quietly for an answer.

  Lin Zhao didn't hold out much hope and wasn't as tense as Lin Jinming and Lin Ruoyan. What she was most concerned about was still the matter with Liu Wenxuan, and she didn't even know if he and Lu had arrived or not?

  She thought to herself, then pulled over Man double, whispered: "You avoid people going to the front yard to see if Wen Xuan brother has come? If he came, tell him for me that I have been waiting for his answer. Even if it's not a good result, I should inform him and I'll pretend nothing happened."

  "Mm." Man nodded twice and took advantage of no one noticing, bowed her head and retreated.

  Before long, Lu Yan sent a maid to report back on the result.

  "How was it? Whose poem is the best?" Lin Jinming couldn't hold back his breath, and rushed to the front in a hurry.

  Lin Ruoyan let out a mocking laugh, her face showing disdain, but the hands hanging from her sleeves couldn't help but tremble slightly.

  She was also very nervous.

  Because this is not an ordinary poetry competition, and the winner does not simply get a expensive prize.

  The person who initiated the competition was Lu Yan Zhi, and the judge was also Lu Yan Zhi. He wouldn't do such a boring thing for no reason, he must be trying to announce his ideal wife candidate through this simple poetry competition.

  Even if he couldn't fully take charge, at least it gave the Crown Prince's wife and Old Lady Lin a reminder, they would consider carefully when making their choices.

  The maid replied respectfully: "Three were rated as the best, namely Third Sister, Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister."

  "Head after head, how can there be three?!" Lin Jinming's face was full of displeasure.

  Her level of poetry is not the best, but it's impossible to be on the same level as Lin Zhao Yan! She just read that poem written by Lin Zhao Yan, and she can't even compare? It's already giving her face by saying it's not the worst!

  Lin Zhaoyan was also very surprised.

  Who is so blind as to have chosen her too?

  "What's going on here?" Lin Ruoyan was relatively calm, but it could still be seen that she was very dissatisfied with this result.

  The maid replied, "Originally it was just the young master's choice, but later when the young master's wife and the old lady found out, they also joined in. Who knew that the three of them had different opinions, and after a stalemate for half a day, this is the result we got."

  "How is the prize money divided?" Lu Mei Zhi's concern was different from others.

  Lin Ruo Yu was good at grasping the key point and asked: "Then tell me, who chose whom?"

  Three people are all first-rate, it doesn't matter how the bonus is divided, what matters is that Lu Yan chose who in the end?

  Everyone held their breath and stared at the maid with unblinking eyes, afraid of missing a single word.

  "The old lady chose the fifth girl, the young master's wife chose the third girl, as for the young master, he chose the fourth girl's poem 'Cold Plum Blossom in Snow', saying that what is popular is also elegant..."

  Lin's favorite is her beloved granddaughter Lin Ruoyan, and Qin's favorite is her niece Lin Jinming. These two answers are unquestionable, and no one would find it strange.

  It's strange because...

  Why did Lu Xun choose Lin Shao as his pen name?

  What's big is popular, what's popular is elegant, it's clear that there's intentional bias!

  Could it be that Lu Yan Zhi has taken a liking to Lin Zhao Yan?!

  Everyone's gaze turned to Lin Zhaoyan, their eyes filled with incredulity.

  Lin Zhaoyan was stared at by them until his scalp felt numb, and thousands of thoughts flashed through his mind, but he couldn't figure out what Lu Yan really wanted to do.

  The first time they met, he made some ** moves, which got Lin Jingming into trouble behind her back. After today, she will probably become the target of public criticism.

  Is it actually because he dislikes her, so he's taking revenge on her behalf?

  Awesome dude!

  "Xiao Shizi said that there are three versions of the lottery results, and whoever chooses which one will get the corresponding prize."

  Lu Mei didn't know if it was because of her low EQ or that she was actually a black belly, but she immediately clapped her hands and said: "This is easy to handle! I was worried about what to do with the bonus."

  After finishing speaking, he took out a piece of high-quality jade pendant from his sleeve and handed it to Lin Zhao Yan, "Fourth sister, this is brother's personal jade pendant, I'm giving it to you!"

  As soon as she spoke, Lin Jinming and Lin Ruoyan made a rare simultaneous movement, staring fiercely at Lin Zhao.

  Lin Zhaoyan secretly felt a headache and kept thinking about how to get rid of this hot potato.

  "Xiao Shizi also said that this poetry competition is just for fun, and asked the ladies not to take it too seriously. Even if they didn't win any prizes, they would still receive a hand-painted folding fan from him. As for the three misses who tied for first place, he would later send someone to deliver identical jade pendants to their homes, without showing any favoritism."

  As soon as this was said, the tense atmosphere on the scene relaxed instantly, and even Lin Jingming's face looked much better.

  Although Lu Yan's choice of Lin Zhao's purpose is unclear, he seems to have no extra good feelings for her either.

  It's probably just Lin Zhao's simple poem that suited his taste!

  Lu Mei put the jade pendant into Lin Zhao Yan's bosom and said this was what she deserved, making her unable to refuse.

  At this time, another maid came over and said that the birthday banquet was about to begin, asking each of the young ladies to go to the flower hall.

  The crowd walked out one after another.

  Lin Zhaoyan's hand grasped the jade pendant that belonged to Lu Yan, and there was still a faint warmth on it. She knew this couldn't be Lu Yan's body temperature, but it still felt scorching hot in her hand.

  As soon as they entered the flower hall, Lin Zhaoyan could clearly feel two gazes on him from above, which belonged to Old Lady Lin and Madame Qin.

  These two people were also very confused about Lu Yan's choice!

  Lin Zhaoyan deliberately didn't go see Lu Yanzi, not because he was afraid, but because he thought it wasn't necessary and didn't want to cause any trouble.

  She just wanted to keep a low profile, be quiet and unnoticed, and then marry peacefully. Someone like Lu Yan Zhi was not someone that someone of her status could afford to provoke.

  Man Shuang also returned to her side.

  She knew nothing about what had happened to Lin Zhaoyan before, and quietly whispered in her ear: "The second uncle's wife and the young master have arrived. It is said that they broke their carriage on the way, so they came late."

  Lin Zhaoyan's eyes lit up and he asked with delight: "Then did you have a conversation with him?"

  Man Shuang shook her head, somewhat frustrated: "Second Aunt has been following Young Master Biao, and Young Master Biao also saw me coming. He seemed to have something to say to me, but he couldn't get away."

  Lin Zhaoyan furrowed his brow, and in his heart, he was already quite certain that Liu Wenyuan probably wouldn't be able to persuade Lu Shi.

  My heart feels somewhat stifled, the news I've been waiting for so long, even with beautiful expectations, didn't think reality would come, and in an instant, it was defeated.

  Missing a Liu Wenxuan, it's somewhat difficult to find another husband candidate as good as him.

  "Miss?" Man Shuang pushed her gently, seeing her gloomy expression, and couldn't help but want to comfort her.

  Lin Zhaoyan interrupted her, forcing a smile and said: "Forget it, let's talk about it after the birthday banquet is over!"

  Thanks for the rewards from Sunflower889, Mu Hong and Tiankongyimiao!

  Thanks to Qianlian, Sunflower889 and Tiankongyimulan for the PK!