flstandardbreds Chapter 106 Parading Through the Streets, Thinking About the Marriage
Chapter 106 Parading Through the Streets, Thinking About the Marriage
Lin Shu was annoyed by the constant stream of purses being thrown at her. Her face darkened and she remained sullen, but it was no use. The boys around her continued to throw purses at her.
Qi Min, the third-ranked scholar's wife, stood to the side with a dark face, glaring fiercely at the person next to her. This time, the limelight had been completely stolen by this woman named Lin Shu.
Through the high windows on both sides, one could see that all the prominent unmarried men from the capital's prestigious families had arrived, including Ji Heng, the grandson of Grand Tutor Ji, Qin Shi, the son of the Duke of Qin, and even his own younger brother Qi Li...
And they all focused their attention on the pretty boy next to them!
Unaware of Qi Min's thoughts, Lin Shu was suddenly caught off guard when a purse was thrown at her, hitting her squarely in the face. Lin Shu looked over angrily, but upon seeing Qi Min, she quickly caught the purse before it fell.
Su Mu, dressed in white, and Li Huanzhi, dressed in purple, stood on the teahouse to the left, watching Lin Shu with smiles on their faces. However, the purse was definitely not smashed by the two of them, so it could only be Song Yun, who looked guilty, standing behind Su Mu...
Lin Shu smiled helplessly and looked away. She didn't see the woman in a golden brocade robe silently watching her from the half-open window on the other side.
Chen Jin looked at the purse in Lin Shu's hand with a teasing smile and said, "Which young master has taken a fancy to, Shu?"
Lin Shu raised an eyebrow, looking at the person in front of her whose temperament was quite different from that in Mengzhou Prefecture, and replied, "My husband at home is just being mischievous."
Chen Jin and Lin Shu exchanged a few casual words, while Qi Min on the other side looked even more annoyed.
Until the end.
She stormed back to the Qi residence, only to find her younger brother Qi Li and her mother, Minister Qi Xin, drinking tea as soon as she entered. Upon seeing her, Qi Li even stood up and greeted her, "Elder sister."
She didn't answer, but walked over and questioned him:
"Did you go to see the parade today, little brother? You never go when I ask you to, so why are you here today...?"
"What kind of behavior is this, rushing around like this? I sent Li'er, what, do you want to question your mother?" Qi Xin slammed her hand on the table, interrupting Qi Min's words and scolding her, seeing Qi Li's aggrieved expression.
"Mother! Do you know that my younger brother has been staring at that Lin Shu all day, and even threw her a purse. How can someone of such a family be worthy of my younger brother!" Qi Min couldn't stand Lin Shu for some reason.
"Your mother has her own plans for this matter."
Qi Xin waved her hand to indicate that she didn't need to say anything more, then said, "You've been taught since childhood, and in the end you only barely got third place. You still have the nerve to say that?"
After saying that, he left, and Qi Li also took his leave, following closely behind.
Qi Min watched the two figures disappear into the distance and murmured, "Lin Shu! She's just a top scholar, powerless and without influence. Getting promoted even half a rank in the court is as difficult as climbing to heaven. Who knows what the future holds!"
……
After the top scholar's parade through the streets, many young men were interested in Lin Shu, but most aristocratic families hesitated because of her humble background.
However, there were also nobles who only valued their potential, and the Duke of Qin's family was one of them. The Duke of Qin was originally a rough and uncultured military general, and he didn't care much about family background.
Sure enough, the very next day, they sent their steward with congratulatory gifts to express their intention to arrange a marriage.
The front courtyard of the Lin residence.
"Young Master Su, please be sure to convey the message of our Duke's Mansion to Scholar Lin."
Su Mu had always been in charge of the reception at the Lin residence. Seeing the courtyard filled with congratulatory gifts and hearing the implications in the words of the steward of the Duke of Qin's mansion, and hearing that he was only addressed as "Young Master," Su Mu figured that the young master of the Duke's mansion probably wanted the position of the ruler.
Su Mu suddenly remembered what his father had said when he returned to his parents' home. He felt troubled. Lin Shu was very good. He knew she would be favored by noble men, but he did not expect this day to come so soon!
Could it be that, as Father said, I must relinquish my position as the principal husband?
Just at this time.
"Please wait a moment, Steward." Lin Shu walked out of the room and called out loudly to the steward of the Duke's mansion who was about to leave.
The butler turned around and, seeing it was Lin Shu, his smile became even more genuine: "Scholar Lin is here! Then I'll discuss the marriage arrangement with you directly..."
"Wait a minute!" Lin Shu frowned upon hearing her words. She hadn't even agreed yet, so how did it get to the topic of marriage?
Then, under the butler's somewhat displeased and questioning gaze, he continued, "Is the young master of the Duke's mansion going to marry Yu Shu as a maid?"
Upon hearing this, the steward vehemently denied it: "How could that be? My lady is a first-rank official, and my son is of such high status that he can only be a legitimate husband!"
Lin Shu nodded, and said with an air of seriousness:
"Shu also thinks so. But I'm afraid we'll have to disappoint the Duke's family! Amu is Shu's legal husband, and there are two other concubines in the household, both of whom are Shu's husbands from humble beginnings."
Even the two concubines in the household cannot surpass Amu, let alone those who enter the household later, even members of the royal family!
The Qin family steward was dumbfounded. Could there really be people in this world who did not covet power?
"You...do you know how many people want to get on good terms with our Duke's mansion?" Seeing that Lin Shu remained unmoved, he had no choice but to call the servants who had come with him to deliver the congratulatory gifts back to the mansion: "Let's go!"
"Wait, these gifts are too valuable. Please take them with you, butler..." Lin Shu called out to the butler who was about to leave.
The butler, having been repeatedly humiliated, was somewhat embarrassed and stopped addressing Lin Zhuangyuan, whom he had been calling "Miss Lin," saying, "Don't regret this, Miss Lin!"
"Of course, Shu never regrets what she does." Lin Shu's eyes were clear and upright, without the slightest fear.
After the people from the Duke of Qin's mansion left with their belongings, Lin Shu pulled Su Mu, who had been staring at her, closer and comforted him:
“Amu, what I just said came from the bottom of my heart. If there are similar incidents in the future, just refute them as I did just now, and I will stand up for you.”
After saying this, she embraced Su Mu and continued, "You are my only legitimate husband, Lin Shu. Even if I were to remarry, I would never let you suffer the slightest grievance."
The tears that Su Mu had been holding back for so long finally rolled down his cheeks as he silently hugged Lin Shu tightly.
……
The next day.
The fact that the Duke of Qin's marriage proposal had been rejected could not be hidden, since many people had seen the Qin family steward leaving in a huff yesterday.
At the Duke's mansion, Qin Shi angrily smashed many items, thinking to himself: What an ungrateful Lin Shu! If I have the chance, I will definitely see what kind of man makes you protect her like this!
While some are angry, others are naturally delighted! For example, Qi Li of the Qi family, and Grand Tutor Ji!
Inside the residence of Grand Tutor Ji.
"Hahaha! This girl, Lin Shu, is quite to my liking! Who told the Duke of Qin to be so arrogant and domineering in court, relying on his merit in supporting the emperor..." When Grand Tutor Ji heard about this, he was overjoyed.
Ji Heng, dressed in blue, smiled and shook his head. His grandmother had two faces, one in court and one in private, and she hated the vulgar and domineering Duke of Qin the most!
Thinking about it, Grand Tutor Ji suddenly turned his head and looked straight at Ji Heng, sizing him up. His grandson was handsome and well-versed in poetry and literature, no less than a woman. It was just a pity that he was born a man. However, he was a good match for Lin Shu!
Ji Heng felt uneasy under her gaze and couldn't help but slightly part his thin lips: "Why does Grandmother look at her grandson like that?"
Caught off guard, Grand Tutor Ji blurted out, "What does Heng'er think of Lin Shu? If he likes her, this old woman will personally go to propose marriage..."
Ji Heng was taken aback, clearly not expecting the other party to be thinking about this matter. He then rubbed his forehead, thinking that just a few days ago the other party had asked him to consider the Xu family's young lady. So unreliable, he wondered how she had managed to get the position of Grand Tutor.
"Grandmother!" Ji Heng said helplessly, trying to persuade Grand Tutor Ji:
"Grandmother, please don't say such things in public! It might damage our family's reputation..."
He had something else he didn't say:
To avoid incurring Lin Shu's displeasure! This matter—no rush!
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