Sitting in the sedan chair, Lin Mingyan could still hear the distant sounds of firefighting from the alley.
Hmph! Arson—she was a professional!
The bridal sedan swayed and jostled, soon arriving at a small courtyard.
Lin Mingyan warily eyed the young girl in the room, who was about her own age.
“You’re saying… the two of us are going to the Fourth Aga’s Residence as concubines?!” Lin Mingyan’s eyes widened.
There’s… there’s such a good thing?!
Wait, she was a graduate of a top-tier university—how could she believe this?
No, did ancient times have telecom fraud too?
The Fourth Aga buying concubines?
Who’d believe that!
Seeing her guarded expression, Lady Zhang curled her lip. “Everything I said is true.”
“Before I came in, I didn’t know either. I thought my stepmother had sold me off to some old man.”
“But after staying here a few days, I found out it’s actually a secret search for the Fourth Aga.”
Lady Zhang beamed with joy, her round, dumpling-like face crinkling with smiles.
Lin Mingyan glanced around the courtyard. It was indeed grand, with carved beams and painted rafters.
Clearly, the owner was either wealthy or noble.
Earlier, while sitting in the sedan chair, Lin Mingyan had already planned her escape.
Once they reached their destination, she would wait until deep in the night when all was quiet, set a fire to burn everyone to death, and flee in the chaos.
After all, if these people came looking for her, they’d only trouble Lin Bai at the Lin family.
Besides, she had already set a fire at the Lin residence—arson was her specialty.
She always kept a fire starter tucked in her bosom.
Now, hearing Lady Zhang’s words, she hesitated. “Is it really the Fourth Aga?”
If it were true, her fire would burn both the Lin family and the Xilinjueluo family to ashes!
The Lin family could die for all she cared, but her Mother and others might still be worth saving.
Lady Zhang nodded with an air of seriousness. “I heard this is the Princess Consort’s private courtyard outside, where we’re to learn the rules.”
“During this time, if there’s anything we want to bring, we can pay to have someone buy it from outside.”
What they didn’t know was that Feiyanggu’s wife had deliberately avoided using the Prince’s Residence’s name to recruit people.
First, it would be too conspicuous, making it seem like her daughter truly couldn’t bear children.
Second, she feared that overly ambitious ones might enter and cause trouble for the Fourth Primary Consort.
She intentionally sought out girls from her subordinates’ families who were decent-looking but whose temperaments didn’t suit the Fourth Aga’s preferences.
After all, they were only entering to help the Princess Consort bear children—it was best if they didn’t catch the noble’s eye.
Half-convinced and half-doubting, Lin Mingyan sized up Lady Zhang. She had a plump, fertile appearance.
Especially her chest and hips, which were exaggerated in a cartoonish way.
Looking at it this way, regardless of whether the other party was Fourth Master or not, at least it was a respectable family making the purchase.
One was fertile, meant to bear children for the primary wife; the other was someone like her, charming and meant to secure favor.
Lin Mingyan abandoned her arson plans. After all, who didn’t want to live well?
She wasn’t afraid of competing for favor—could it be harder than killing and setting fires?
But if she really entered Fourth Master’s residence, making her way up would be a great opportunity.
When the time came, she’d have to properly “repay” Lin Bai for his generous gift!
Lin Mingyan’s expression was unreadable, while Lady Zhang had been secretly observing her.
From the moment they met, she felt the newly arrived Lin Shi was stunningly beautiful, completely overshadowing her.
She had once been the famous beauty of her street, but compared to Lin Shi, she felt like she’d fallen into the mud.
Twisting the handkerchief in her hands, she inwardly cursed, “That seductive fox!”
After entering the mansion, she must keep her distance from that woman, otherwise she would become nothing more than dead green leaves overshadowed by a vibrant red flower.
Lady Zhang’s initial delight at seeing a kindred spirit vanished entirely. She made an excuse and sashayed away with a sway of her hips.
Although Lin Mingyan remained seated, she took in every detail of Lady Zhang’s scrutiny and expression.
Lady Zhang’s thoughts were written all over her face, making them easy to guess.
Her jealousy was almost palpable—such a person could never be considered an ally.
Both women independently came to the same conclusion, and aside from etiquette training, they did not cross paths again.
During the half-month crash course in etiquette, neither paid the other any mind, exchanging fewer than ten words in total.
Over these two weeks, Lin Mingyan had someone deliver the divorce agreement and news of herself to her mother, Xilinjuoluo Shi.
She also used the silver she had taken from Lin Bai to purchase a few items before the day of entering the mansion arrived.
Although she was carried in through a side gate, seeing the location and grandeur of the mansion put her somewhat at ease.
Finally arriving at Fourth Master’s residence, she did not get to see Fourth Master or the Princess Consort.
Instead, Lin Mingyan and the other woman were dismissed by an elderly matron:
“The Princess Consort is not feeling well today, so she will not receive you.”
“Your courtyard has already been arranged. Both of you may settle in there. There will be time for tea another day, once Ye summons you.”
Lin Mingyan had no expectations of making a grand entrance or an immediate impression upon arrival.
She obediently followed the young eunuch guiding her to the assigned courtyard.
Along the way, she discreetly observed her surroundings—the rockeries and lakes were all exquisitely crafted.
Especially when passing through the garden, where rare flowers and exotic plants competed in full bloom.
The two young eunuchs in blue robes walking ahead wore fabric far superior to her own attire.
Whether out of disdain or something else, they walked far ahead, whispering incessantly about her.
“Those bought from outside are so shabby. Look at her clothes—they’re not even new, though her looks are…”
“Tsk, why bother saying so much? She’s been assigned to the northwest corner—she won’t even get to see the master’s face.”
“Exactly, this Linfeng Residence… tsk tsk tsk…”
Linfeng Residence…
Could there be something wrong with this place?