Chapter 104: Taking a Wife Is Serious Business (Second Update)

Moreover—

Why is the young lady still dressed like this?

Madam Yang’s attention shifted instantly. “Miss, are you—?”

She looked her over suspiciously from head to toe.

Lin Yanyao felt a little embarrassed and muttered vaguely, “It’s convenient.” Then she quickly changed the subject. “Did your mother send you to find me and bring me back?”

“N-no!” Madam Yang dared not say more. She averted her gaze and replied hurriedly, “Last night, you and the cousin left at midnight. The lady was worried, so she sent me to check. Since you’ve safely returned to the Hou Mansion, I’ll report back to the lady and let her rest assured.”

She bowed respectfully, then turned and descended the steps. Seeing Wu Tan and Wu Qingyu still standing by the carriage, she greeted them again. “Miss Cousin, Second Young Master, thank you for taking care of my young lady. I will take my leave now.”

Without further ado, she boarded the small green-canopied carriage parked nearby and left.

Wu Tan and Wu Qingyu exchanged a glance, both sensing something furtive about her today.

Could it be—

That the Lin family was embroiled in some major trouble again?

Wu Tan hesitated slightly, then climbed the steps to Lin Yanyao’s side. “Cousin…” With the gatekeeper nearby, it wasn’t appropriate to say much. “Let’s go inside first. We’re starving!”

Lin Yanyao nodded.

Wu Qingyu called over Chang Tai and the gatekeeper’s servant to help unload the food from the carriage and send it straight to Jingchun Studio. He followed uninvited to join the meal.

As the gatekeeper’s servant exited Jingchun Studio, he hesitated. “Second Young Master, madam—”

“I’ll go to my mother myself,” Wu Qingyu interrupted, handing him two pieces of glutinous rice cakes and sending him off.

Wu Tan sent someone to fetch bowls and plates from the kitchen, then carefully served the food. The round table in her room was piled high with dishes.

The three sat around the table eating. Lin Yanyao wasn’t very hungry, but feeling guilty over the trouble Wu Tan and Wu Qingyu had endured for her sake, she forced herself to eat quite a bit with them.

Administering a surprise beatdown was exhausting work—none of them could deny their hunger and quickly filled their stomachs.

Only then did Lin Yanyao voice her concern, “Now that we’ve beaten him up like this, do you think the Jiang family might use this as an excuse to stir up more trouble?”

“Let them,” Wu Tan said casually. “Others don’t know what happened, but he sure does. Honestly, I think he’s still grateful we didn’t hit him in the face. He did something despicable; getting beaten up by us might even secretly please him. Right now, he’s probably putting on a brave face, hoping this will blow over quietly.”

Jiang Pingzhi had done something outrageous. After being lured out and beaten in the middle of the night, even he wasn’t stupid enough not to guess the Lin family was behind it. In fact, he might even be relieved—

That the Lin family only dared to sneakily beat him at night meant they feared retaliation and valued Lin Yanyao’s reputation enough not to openly confront the Jiang family. This implied that being beaten was the end of it.

For him, that was the best possible outcome.

Lin Yanyao hadn’t considered such far-reaching implications and was still skeptical. Wu Qingyu continued explaining, “I heard from Tan’er that he passed this imperial exam and might top the list. Right now, he’s most afraid the Lin family will drag this out and cause trouble. If he gets caught up in a scandal, even if your family can’t prove he schemed against you, those in power will think less of him.”

He paused, then glanced meaningfully at Wu Tan. “This girl’s judgment is right. He’s probably still very grateful for that beating and sees it as a sign that the whole incident is over.”

Indeed, judging by Jiang Pingzhi’s character, he should be harboring resentment for being beaten. But considering his recent schemes, this beating was a minor detail.

Wu Tan’s confidence stemmed from this calculation—

Jiang Pingzhi’s biggest priority was to resolve the Lin family matter completely, so he and Li Xun’er could resume their plans. And after such a humiliating beating, he’d have no face to spread rumors and would swallow his losses quietly.

Lin Yanyao reflected on all this and felt amused. “All this scheming and calculating over something beyond his ability to achieve… I feel exhausted just thinking about it.”

Wu Tan suddenly remembered Madam Yang’s visit earlier and cautiously asked, “What about when Madam Yang came over…”

Lin Yanyao smiled slightly. “Most likely, the Jiang family has already been here.”

She was much calmer about the matter now.

Wu Tan was at a loss for words and fell silent. Lin Yanyao comforted her instead, “It’s fine! Last night, my father discussed with my mother, and in a few days, they’ll send me to Jiangbei to stay with my eldest uncle and avoid those people. I’ll still live quietly.”

Although she said it so calmly, who would willingly leave their home and family unless forced? But at present, there was no better alternative.

“That’s good,” Wu Tan nodded, trying to reassure her. “There are many noble families in the capital. People with nothing better to do love gossiping about baseless rumors. Since your second uncle and aunt have made arrangements, you should go north and clear your mind. If you can’t get used to life there, I’ll talk to my eldest brother and have him look out for you in Yuanzhou City and find you a good match.”

The Lin family had no shortage of connections or places to settle Lin Yanyao. What might have been a dead end for ordinary people wasn’t truly hopeless for her.

Lin Yanyao tried to convince herself of this but didn’t respond immediately. She only offered a faint smile and sipped her tea.

Wu Tan focused entirely on Lin Yanyao and didn’t notice that Wu Qingyu opposite them had been silent for some time.

Suddenly, he teased, “Why go far when near is better? Are you really going to let the Jiang family’s insult go unpunished?”

How could Jiang Pingzhi, who had made such a mess for Lin Yanyao, let this slide so easily?

But it was unavoidable.

Lin Yanyao was a woman; her reputation was her greatest weakness. Jiang Pingzhi struck precisely where it hurt—there was nothing she could do.

Wu Tan frowned at him. “Do you have a way to get revenge and restore face?”

“I am the way!” Wu Qingyu raised an eyebrow. Seeing Wu Tan glare at him, he ignored her and looked at Lin Yanyao. “Isn’t the Jiang family currently breaking off the engagement with your family? If you agree, go home first—I have the betrothal gifts ready and will come immediately.”

“Pft…” Wu Tan spat out the tea she’d just sipped across the table.

Fortunately, Wu Qingyu dodged swiftly.

Wu Tan coughed, holding the table, tears streaming from her eyes.

Wu Qingyu disdainfully flicked the water off his sleeve, still staring directly at Lin Yanyao.

His expression wasn’t serious, but he wasn’t joking either.

Lin Yanyao only fully realized what he meant at that moment. Her spine stiffened, and she sat quietly holding her tea bowl, unsure how to respond for a long moment.

Wu Tan, after catching her breath, intended to scold Wu Qingyu but paused when she saw his surprisingly earnest expression—was he serious?

Although she was convinced he was just acting impulsively, since he was proposing to someone else, she felt a bit self-conscious and furtively glanced at Lin Yanyao.

Lin Yanyao didn’t immediately refuse either.

Wu Tan thought, “Better to keep quiet and play dead.”

Lin Yanyao wasn’t quick to reject because even knowing Wu Qingyu’s offer was likely out of sympathy, being proposed to by a young man in person—

Well, it wasn’t exactly a proposal—in his words, he was just trying to help her save face.

She had never imagined such a situation and was stunned into silence, unsure how to react. After a while, she awkwardly forced a smile. “Cousin… actually, you don’t need to go to such lengths for me…”

How strange! In just a few days, she had experienced a series of situations she’d never even dreamed of.

And somehow—

Her thick skin seemed to have grown several times over.

“It’s not just to help you. Getting married is a serious matter,” Wu Qingyu said, unexpectedly continuing.

Lin Yanyao felt her muscles tense up again to an almost unbelievable degree. Wu Qingyu’s words were more direct this time, and her face flushed red.

Wu Tan felt mortified and wanted to crawl under the table. She awkwardly covered her face with an empty plate, silently pleading, “You can’t see me!”

Wu Qingyu had been calm but now felt embarrassed by her obvious attempt to hide. However, since he had said such things, it wasn’t a joke. Moreover, Lin Yanyao had just suffered a great blow; no matter how much of a scoundrel he was, he wouldn’t joke about this with her.

“I think you’re a good person…” He tried to sound sincere while suppressing the urge to kick Wu Tan out. Then, worried he might seem opportunistic, he quickly added, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not forcing you. And I’m definitely not teasing. If… if you have better options, just forget I said anything…”

By the end, he was rambling and blushing inexplicably.

Wu Tan thought she should take the hint and leave, but then realized if she did, Lin Yanyao might be mortified on the spot.

While she hesitated, Lin Yanyao quietly set down her tea bowl and stood.

She walked over to Wu Qingyu.

He suddenly felt nervous but tried to hide it by clenching a fist behind his back.

Lin Yanyao looked at him seriously and said solemnly, “Even if you’re not joking, and even though your intentions are good, I can’t burden you in my current situation. But…”

At that moment, her mood cleared as if the clouds had lifted. She gave a grateful smile. “I sincerely thank you.”

After speaking, she bowed respectfully to Wu Qingyu.

He had already helped her a great deal. The Wu family matriarch had always treated her well. Given her reputation in the capital was likely that of a pariah, she could not repay kindness with betrayal by clinging to the Wu family for salvation.

She couldn’t stay with Wu Tan any longer. Turning, she said, “Please have someone prepare a carriage for me. Those people are despicable, and I don’t feel safe going home alone.”

Wu Tan understood she was trying to avoid Wu Qingyu but couldn’t help feeling awkward after the earlier scene.

Just as she was about to agree, Wu Qingyu’s steady voice came from behind Lin Yanyao again: “If you leave the capital to lay low, I’m powerless. But if you consider my earlier proposal, I have a way to completely turn this situation around!”

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Lin residence, Lady Li was experiencing firsthand the depths of shamelessness from the Jiang family…

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Side note:

Uh… it seems Wu Qingyu might… possibly… maybe… be getting married?! Suddenly, I’m worried Madam Meng might die of shock, haha!

This novel is an original release. Please do not repost!