..

“Father, those letters are really not mine! Father, you must believe me!”

Lin Qianqian knelt on the ground, crying uncontrollably as she anxiously tried to explain to her father.

Lin Xiongan said nothing.

His face was dark with anger. After a long pause, he finally spoke:

“I know. Stand up. But you have no choice—you must marry. This matter has caused such a commotion today that I fear the entire capital already knows about it. Even if you refuse, it is unlikely anyone will marry you in the future.”

“Father!”

Lin Qianqian looked at her father in shock. Was he giving up on her?

“This matter is settled. Don’t worry, I will prepare a generous dowry for you. I won’t let you suffer.”

Lin Xiongan comforted her.

“…Yes.”

Seeing that her father was determined to go through with the marriage and marry her off to that peasant, Lin Qianqian could only grit her teeth and accept her fate.

“Qianqian, did you place those letters in Yuxin’s room as your mother instructed?”

Lin Xiongan, still puzzled, asked her.

“I did. I put them under her bed.”

Lin Qianqian recalled the incident clearly and answered with certainty.

“Then how did they end up in your room with your name on them?”

Lin Xiongan frowned in confusion.

“Father, could it be that Lin Yuxin discovered something?”

Lin Qianqian seemed to have suddenly realized something and immediately said with conviction:

“Father, she must have found out! She must have deliberately put those letters back in my room. It was her! That wretched girl!”

Lin Qianqian trembled with rage. Her reputation was ruined, and now she was being forced to marry that lowly peasant. How could she not hate her for this?

“You may be right. I underestimated that girl—she actually has such schemes? But what about the embroidered pouch? Why does it have your name on it?”

Lin Xiongan frowned as he recalled the pouch.

“Father, could this all be part of Lin Yuxin’s plan? What if she had known about it from the very beginning and set this all up to trap us?”

Lin Qianqian’s mind was working at full capacity now, and she quickly thought of this possibility.

“Impossible. That girl lived in the countryside all her life. She’s crude and unrefined—how could she have predicted our plans? No, I believe this must be the work of Zhao Hanya. Only she would have such tricks up her sleeve.”

Lin Xiongan pondered for a moment and concluded that Lin Yuxin was not clever enough to fool him so thoroughly. This matter had to be connected to Zhao Hanya.

“Father, what should we do now?”

Lin Qianqian knelt on the floor, seeking Lin Xiongan’s guidance.

“Go back for now. Since your fate is already decided, we’ll leave it at that. Don’t worry—I will get justice for you.”

Lin Xiongan looked at his daughter sitting on the floor.

After all, she was still his beloved child. His heart softened.

“Father, I want them all torn to pieces!!!”

Lin Qianqian gritted her teeth, unable to conceal the hatred burning in her eyes.

“Don’t worry. I understand. I will avenge you. Go back now—I have somewhere to be.”

Lin Xiongan reassured Lin Qianqian before standing up and walking out.

..

“Mother, Lin Qianqian got exactly what she deserved today!”

Lin Yuxin followed Zhao Hanya back to Xuanlin Pavilion, smiling as she spoke.

[Now that Lin Qianqian’s issue is settled, the next part of the story should be about my eldest brother, right? But Bai Weiwei has already been betrothed to the Crown Prince, so she shouldn’t be a threat to my brother anymore…]

Though Lin Yuxin was happy, she still felt a little worried.

The timeline of events hadn’t passed yet, and anything could happen.

“Enough, Yuxin. Right now, the most important thing is the state banquet. Don’t let your mind wander elsewhere.”

Zhao Hanya noticed her daughter’s troubled expression and deliberately changed the subject.

[Oh, right! The state banquet! According to the storyline, this is where Qi Kingdom humiliates our country, and the Regent is wounded while protecting the Emperor—he falls into a coma after being poisoned!]

[And as a result, Qi Kingdom takes advantage of the situation and launches an attack on our borders. The Emperor, finding no one capable enough to command the troops, sends my grandfather, the Great General of the Nation, to lead 500,000 soldiers… Only for him to die in battle!]

[No! I must not let Qi Kingdom succeed at the banquet!]

Lin Yuxin couldn’t sit still anymore.

She immediately stood up and said to Zhao Hanya, “Mother, I have something urgent to do. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yuxin, wait!”

Zhao Hanya saw the urgency in her daughter’s expression but didn’t expose her thoughts.

Instead, she called out to her.

“Mother?”

Lin Yuxin looked at Zhao Hanya in confusion.

“Xueying!”

Zhao Hanya gently patted Lin Yuxin’s hand, signaling her to stay calm, then called out into the air.

As soon as she spoke, a shadowy figure flashed into the room and knelt before Lin Yuxin.

“Mother? What is this?”

Lin Yuxin was stunned by the sight of the kneeling figure. Could this be one of those legendary shadow guards? That’s so cool!

“His name is Xueying. From now on, he will follow you and protect you. I assigned him to you some time ago, but I never had the chance to tell you. If you ever need anything, you can order him to do it for you.”

Zhao Hanya looked at Lin Yuxin with warmth in her eyes.

“For me? Hehe, that’s great! I was just worrying about not having anyone to use.”

Lin Yuxin was delighted. With Xueying’s skills, he was far more capable than she was.

She only knew basic martial arts, and her usual methods involved poison and silver needles for self-defense. If she were to face a real expert, she would barely escape with her life.

[I wonder just how strong Xueying is? I should test him out later…]

“Alright, you may go now.”

Seeing her daughter so happy, Zhao Hanya smiled and sent her off.

After Lin Yuxin left, Zhao Hanya received word that Lin Xiongan had left the mansion.

“Send someone to follow him. I want to know where he’s going.”

Zhao Hanya gave her order calmly.

“Yes, Madam.”

Once the servant had left, Zhao Hanya gazed out the main gate and murmured softly:

“Lin Xiongan… don’t let me catch you slipping.”

After leaving Xuanlin Pavilion, Lin Yuxin returned to her own courtyard, where Xueying automatically blended into the shadows.

She sat in her room, deep in thought.

I can’t handle the state banquet alone—I need a reliable ally! But who?

Lin Yuxin tapped her chin, lost in contemplation, not even noticing when Xiao Hao entered the room.

“Sister?”

Xiao Hao had heard that his sister was back and eagerly came to see her.

But when she didn’t respond for a long time, he hesitantly called out to her.

For some reason, he felt that there was something reassuring about her presence—an irresistible warmth that made him want to be near her.

“Hm? Xiao Hao, how are you feeling today?”

Hearing her name, Lin Yuxin looked up and smiled at Xiao Hao.

“I’m much better. I can walk now, and my wounds don’t hurt as much.”

Xiao Hao answered softly.

“Really? That’s great! Once you’ve fully recovered, I’ll take you out to play, okay?”

Lin Yuxin was genuinely happy that he was slowly accepting her.

“Mm.”

Xiao Hao nodded lightly, his lips unconsciously curving into a smile.

But deep inside, he was anxious. Someone like me, so unlucky and cursed—does Sister really like me?

While Xiao Hao worried, Lin Yuxin was already lost in thought again.

[Who should I ask for help? I just arrived in the capital, and aside from my three brothers, who else do I know? Hmm… the Regent? Or Minister Fu?]