Chapter 26 — Proposal

Lin Han’s eyes could not hide his delight.
“I heard from my classmates that Zhaojue Temple is very spiritual. The spring examinations are only days away, so I came to pray. I never expected to meet Miss Xu here.”

Wanru curved her lips in a faint smile.
“Old Madam Xie came to offer incense today, so I followed along.”

“Is your illness much better now?”

“It’s already much improved. Young Master Lin should focus on preparing for the exam. You needn’t worry about me.”

Lin Han nodded immediately.
“I will study hard. The sachet you gave me works wonderfully—when I keep the refreshing one by my side while reading late at night, I never feel drowsy. And when I use the calming one, I fall asleep quickly, no longer restless and sleepless as before.”

Wanru’s smile brightened.
“That’s good to hear.”

The moment she smiled, Lin Han grew flustered, unable to meet her gaze, his eyes darting aside.
“The sachets you made are far more effective than those sold outside. Do you… know medicine?”

Wanru walked slowly down the stone steps, shaking her head.
“Not exactly. My family used to trade in medicinal herbs, so I learned some pharmacology since childhood.”

She had grown up in her father’s shop—learning not only medicine and herbs, but also bookkeeping. She could blend ingredients into restorative broths and medicinal dishes, exclusive to wealthy households, which tripled the family’s profits.

When she was fourteen, her new stepmother had wanted to arrange a marriage for her.

But she had been unwilling to marry, and her father said, then wait a couple of years and find a husband to join our household instead. My daughter is no worse than any man—why should she marry into another family and live at their mercy? Ajin will study and pursue fame, and the Xu family’s business will one day belong to her.

Remembering the past, Wanru’s gaze dimmed.

Lin Han quickly clasped his hands in respect.
“No wonder your sachets are so effective. With such talent, Miss, if you were to open a pharmacy or practice medicine, it would not be a waste.”

Wanru’s lips curved, her eyes brightening.
“I have indeed dreamed of opening a pharmacy—consulting patients each day, holding free clinics on the fifteenth of every month, treating the poor and giving them medicine. The shop could also prepare tonics, medicinal meals, and sachets to sell to wealthy households, turning a good profit. Once one shop succeeds, more can follow…”

“You are truly kind-hearted. My home is in Qingzhou—not as prosperous as Yanjing. The poor are countless, and births and deaths all depend on fate, for they cannot afford treatment. Your good deeds would save so many lives, and build so much virtue.”

Saying this, Lin Han’s face showed a trace of shame.
“Yet here you are, a woman, with such great ambition, while I—a man already twenty-three—still have no prospects.”

Wanru blinked.
“Young Master has already achieved the degree of juren at such a young age. That alone sets you apart from ten thousand others. Why belittle yourself?”

Lin Han stared at her, his heart surging with impulse.
“If… if I succeed in the jinshi exam this time, I—I wish to…”

He faltered, his face flushed scarlet.
“I wish… to marry you.”

Wanru froze in surprise. Thinking she was displeased, he panicked.
“I was too forward—please forgive me, Miss!”

But Wanru asked lightly,
“Then if you fail the exam, you won’t marry me?”

“Ah?”

Lin Han lifted his head, stunned, unable to react.

Wanru’s lips curved, a smile rippling outward.
“Just focus on your studies, do your utmost, and leave the rest to fate.”

With that, she turned, lifted her skirts, and walked back up the stone steps.

Lin Han stared after her retreating figure, dazed for a long while before realizing—

Did she mean… even if he failed, she would still be willing to marry him?

It was as if fireworks exploded before his eyes. His lips could no longer suppress their smile. He was happier than if he had already passed!

Wanru herself felt steadier at heart.

If she truly could not escape from the Xie household, her worst plan was to flee with Ajin in secret. Though Ajin studied at the clan school, he had two rest days every half month.

Now that she had soothed Xie Xianyu and lessened his suspicion, escape would be easier.

Lin Han’s promise to marry her meant that, even if he failed, she could return with him to his home in Qingzhou—a remote place, far from the emperor’s reach. Once out of Yanjing, who could ever find her?

Thinking thus, a quiet smile spread across her lips.

But just as she reached the back mountain, about to find Old Madam, she overheard voices.

“I heard someone’s having a tryst in the East Courtyard’s meditation room!”

“Really?! Did you see?”

“Someone saw! They said it was a highborn young lady. The two were embracing and ran off together into the East Courtyard. Everyone knows those meditation rooms are broken down and never repaired—nobody goes there. What else could they be doing?”

“A dignified young lady, so shameless? I heard only the Xie family came to offer incense today. Could it be… one of them?”

“The Xies? Impossible. They’re a family of scholars, paragons of virtue. How could they raise such a disgraceful daughter?”

“Tch! Whoever it is, let’s go see for ourselves. Maybe we’ll even catch a good show!”

The men snickered lewdly and hurried away.

Wanru’s steps faltered. She turned sharply to Suyue.
“Did you see where Seventh Miss went just now?”

Suyue stammered,
“I—I don’t know. Old Madam went to rest in the meditation rooms, Fifth Miss said she was going to see the cherry blossoms on the back mountain. Seventh Miss should have gone with her…”

“Quick, go look!”

“Yes!”

Suyue rushed toward the cherry grove, but had barely gone a few steps when she saw Xie Xiuzhu coming back happily, her arms full of cherry blossoms.

“Fifth Miss!”

Xiuzhu scolded impatiently.
“What are you in such a rush for?”

“Have you seen Seventh Miss?”

“She said she wasn’t feeling well and went back to the meditation room to rest. She left long ago.”

Wanru’s face drained of color. She didn’t even stop to speak further but ran straight to the Xie family’s quarters in the temple.

But when she pushed open the door of Xiulin’s assigned room, it was empty—so spotless it showed no sign of anyone having been there.

Wanru’s expression shifted sharply.
This is bad!

Suyue, realizing the same, panicked.
“Oh no! Those men just said someone was in the abandoned meditation rooms with a lover. Could it be Seventh Miss? Wh-what do we do?”

Wanru’s brow twitched. Things had already reached a critical point.

If it truly was Xiulin, and such a scandal was exposed in public—her life would be ruined forever.

But if it was a tryst, how could it be discovered so easily?

Surely this was someone’s deliberate scheme!

Yet now, with so many people already rushing to watch the commotion…