Chapter Ten

  "Look, husband," said Mrs. Lin with a smile, "our children have learned to tease their mother and make her happy."

  Mr. Lin looked at Lin Ruhai and asked, "Ruhai, have you already investigated the truth behind why the Emperor suddenly granted a marriage between the Jia and Lin families?"

  Lin Ruhai originally wanted to tell his parents the good news that his younger sister Lin Ruolan, who had been away from home for many years, would be returning home soon; but unexpectedly, his father suddenly asked him this question.

  He nodded and said honestly: "Dad, I've already had someone investigate this matter very clearly."

  "Hai'er, speak quickly; why did the Emperor suddenly grant a marriage between the Jia and Lin families?" Mrs. Lin couldn't help but feel resentful that she had no say in her only son's marriage, though she tried to suppress any complaints.

  This saying has been said, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are originally two people who don't get along; especially this daughter-in-law wasn't even chosen by herself, conflicts are inevitable!

  "Mother!"

  Lin Ruhai looked at his mother and couldn't help but laugh: "Don't worry, son heard that this time the Emperor agreed to marry the child with Jia's family girl; it was all because of Old Lady Shi from Jia's family who begged the Emperor."

  Lin Ruhai did not hide the fact that he would rely on Shi Taigong's identity as the current emperor's wet nurse; after the champion, runner-up and third place winners rode horses and paraded through the streets, they entered the palace to pay their respects and begged the emperor to grant them a marriage.

  "What?"

  Mrs. Lin said with a look of annoyance: "How is it that every one in the Jia family has no sense of decorum? Now, my child, you have made inquiries and found out; why did old Lady Shi not choose the first or second on the list, but only chose your son?"

  Lin Ruhai's mouth curled up in a sarcastic smile: "The inkstone next to the child was bribed with a large sum of money by a decent young man from the Jia family, who is said to be the son of Jia Min's wet nurse; according to his father, it seems that Jia Min saw the child on the day he was parading through the streets on horseback and went to tell Lady Shi that she had taken a liking to the child."

  "Jia Min was originally proud and arrogant, and Old Lady Shi doted on her extremely; so Jia Min had long since passed the age of marriage, but still hadn't found a suitable family to arrange a marriage with; this time it's also strange that she has such bad luck, which is why she was unfortunately targeted by the mother-daughter pair."

  Not to mention Mrs. Lin was extremely indignant, even Lin Ruhai himself felt sick when talking about this matter - it was nauseating!

  With a crash, a fine Qinghua porcelain vase was swept off the table by Old Master Lin's sleeve and shattered into several pieces: "This Jia family is really too much, it's infuriating!"

  "Old Master!" Mrs. Lin exclaimed, hastily handing a cup of tea to Old Master Lin: "Calm down, don't get angry for the sake of someone who doesn't matter; that would be a loss."

  "Dad, don't worry about it." Lin Ruhai's handsome face was slightly angry, and the expression in his eyes was dark and unclear: "Since these Jia family people have the guts to come and plot against our Lin family, I will make them pay a heavy price; they will reap what they have sown, and I will let them know that the Lin family is not someone who can be easily plotted against."

  Lin Ruhai's indignation in his heart was no less than that of Mrs. Lin and Old Master Lin, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes; he became increasingly displeased with Jia Min who was about to marry into their family.

  At this moment, Jia Min, who is in the Jia Mansion with a happy heart and eager to get married, does not know that she and Shi Taigong's plan have already been discovered by Lin Ruhai and his family. This woman has not yet entered the door of marriage, but she has already lost the favor of her husband and mother-in-law. It can be imagined how difficult her future days will be.

  Jia Min this time really is lifting a stone to hit her own foot, doing herself in by struggling; it's just not clear how much longer she can keep jumping around.

  Mr. Lin had always known that his son was a man of great calculation; after all, after Madam Jia married over, the days to come would be up to him; it was also his son's private matter, and as a father, he naturally wouldn't and couldn't interfere with his son and daughter-in-law's private affairs.

  "Hai'er, you're all grown up now; soon you'll be getting married, and after that, when Jia Min marries in, she'll be someone from your own backyard. Father and mother are old and can't take any more trouble, so just keep an eye on this Jia Min yourself; don't let her turn our house into a mess like the Jia family's."

  Mr. Lin stood up and walked to Lin Ruhai's side, patted his shoulder with his hand and said with a heavy heart.

  Lin Ruhai looked up at his father, whose temples were already flecked with white hair. His father had grown old; this realization made Lin Ruhai's heart ache: "The unfilial son has exhausted his father with worry for him." Lin Ruhai said in a low, choked voice.

  "My child is always very good, these annoying things are all caused by the Jia family; what does it have to do with my son?" Mrs. Lin said discontentedly, comforting and stroking the back of Lin Ruhai's hand.

  "Mother and father can rest assured, this Jia Min still has her dowry; the son will definitely take good care of them, and they won't be able to stir up any trouble."

  Lin Ruhai looked at his parents who were getting angry and quickly spoke up to say something pleasant to Mrs. Lin and Old Master Lin.

  "Mother, I have some great news here; you'll definitely be delighted when you hear it." Lin Ruhai suddenly said to Mrs. Lin with a mysterious tone.

  "Old man, take a look."

  Mrs. Lin tapped her finger on Lin Ruhai's forehead and said with a smile, "Your good son actually sold out to me."

  "Mother, don't be angry, take care of your own body; if you get angry and hurt your body, that would be the fault of us as your children." Lin Ruhai rarely put down his face and humbled himself in front of his parents.

  "My son!"

  Mrs. Lin pulled Lin Ruhai to the chair beside her and sat down, then called out loudly: "Bai Zhi, hurry up and pour a cup of tea for your master to moisten his throat."

  "Madam, the tea is here." Before long, Bai Zhi brought in the clear tea that Lin Ruhai loved so much on ordinary days, and then hastily retreated.

  The Lin family is a noble and aristocratic family for centuries, this rule is naturally very good; let alone the Jia Mansion, even many of the royal families in Beijing are far inferior.

  Bai Ji is not only the first-class lady-in-waiting in front of Madame Lin, but also a born-and-bred daughter of the mansion; not only are her looks and figure top-notch, but she is also well-behaved and faultless.

  As he took a sip of tea, Lin Ruhai suddenly smiled at Mrs. Lin; this smile was genuinely heartfelt, fortunately, there were no other maids or servants inside the house except for Lin Ruhai's family, otherwise, it would be unknown how many eyes would be dazzled.

  "Mother, I'd like to ask you for a few maids. Lin Ruhai smiled and mentioned several names: "Bai Zhi, Mo Zhu, Qing Luan, Lan Xiang... I want to ask you for these few senior maids; are you willing to give them up?"

  Bai Zhi, Mo Zhu, Qing Luan and Lan Tiao were all senior maidservants serving under Madame Lin. They had always been exceptionally talented and capable, handling matters with great care and loyalty. Each of them came from a respectable family background, being born into the Lin household as daughters or sisters-in-law.

  What's more, these few maids were originally serving Lin Ruolan in the past; after Lin Ruolan was taken to Yunjian Mountain by Qing Weizi, they were placed under Madame Lin's care. Although it is said that they are serving, in fact, Madame Lin is instructing a few young maids for her own precious daughter.

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