17
Catching Thieves and Seizing Stolen Goods
Lin Yu’s agreement was within Lin Qingran’s expectations, and what she said wasn’t without reason.
“Alright, we’ll discuss it after dinner then.” Lin Qingran continued walking forward.
The siblings soon arrived at the dining hall, where Grand Tutor Lin, Lin Lang, and Xu Shi were already seated at the table waiting.
In prominent families, men and women typically dined at separate tables, but Grand Tutor Lin didn’t mind such formalities. With so few people in the household, they simply didn’t bother with separate seating. He even commented that having the whole family eat together made for a lively and pleasant atmosphere.
Lin Lang and his wife naturally had no objections, so over the years, everyone had been dining together.
Just then, a woman dressed as a maid entered carrying a dish.
Lin Qingran noticed her because this person didn’t exist in the original host’s memories—this must be the ‘pitiful’ woman who had returned with Lin Yu and the others.
Having recognized her, Lin Qingran wasn’t in a hurry. She calmly glanced at Xu Shi, a faint smile playing at the corners of her eyes.
“Mother, I heard from eldest brother that you brought back a young lady from the countryside. They say she’s had a difficult life,” Lin Qingran said cheerfully, not even glancing at the newcomer.
Yet the other party wasn’t as composed. While setting the dish on the table, her hand slipped, causing a loud clatter.
“Ah! This servant didn’t mean to, I beg Grand Tutor for forgiveness.”
Grand Tutor Lin paused, casting a displeased glance at the clumsy maid.
Although Grand Tutor Lin wasn’t particularly strict, such a clumsy maid shouldn’t normally be serving in the dining hall.
Meals were supposed to be quiet affairs—the most important thing was to keep noise to a minimum. Even though they hadn’t started eating yet, such sounds were displeasing and disruptive.
Of course, Lin Qingran noticed Grand Tutor Lin’s reaction and knew he was applying double standards.
Lin Qingran could speak freely, but others couldn’t.
“Oh, this maid looks unfamiliar. I don’t think I’ve seen her before—is she new to the household?” Lin Qingran took a sip of tea from the cup on the table, asking as if making casual conversation.
Xu Shi smiled. “I was just about to mention that. Qingran, this is Xu Qin, the girl we rescued on our way back from the countryside. She’s had a hard life—she was selling herself to bury her father but encountered some ruffians. Your eldest brother stepped in to help, and those bullies were simply too much, so I couldn’t stand by either. Later, I intended to give her some silver to find a place to settle down, but she refused, saying she preferred to earn money through work. Seeing her so self-reliant, I agreed and brought her back so we could look after her. Do you dislike this, Qingran?”
Xu Qin was fairly attractive, what one might call a delicate beauty—which was why the ruffians had taken notice of her in the first place.
Hearing this, her eyes immediately reddened, and she stood to the side looking wronged. “It was out of the mistress and young master’s kindness that they gave this humble servant a place to belong. This servant is eternally grateful. If the young mistress dislikes me and finds this servant too clumsy, I can stop serving in the front halls and do cleaning work instead.”
“You’ve misunderstood, Qingran didn’t mean—” Lin Yu began to explain, but Lin Qingran cut him off.
“I was thinking that Miss Xu has such a tragic background and a kind heart. She knows to repay kindness after being saved by elder brother and mother, which is quite commendable. Since Miss Xu is willing to serve to support herself, I certainly won’t object.” Lin Qingran smiled, then winked at Lin Yu.
Lin Yu didn’t know what Lin Qingran was thinking, but he had always indulged his younger sister, so he didn’t say anything more.
Previously, he hadn’t felt anything particular, but now seeing Xu Qin, he felt something was somewhat strange.
It wasn’t about being clumsy, but there was something odd about her demeanor, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint what exactly.
Lin Yu truly couldn’t see through it, but Lin Qingran could!
That pitiful appearance earlier was exactly that of a white lotus – naive and innocent on the surface but manipulative. Unfortunately, her level was rather low. She might fool a straightforward man like Lin Yu, but there was no way she could deceive her.
Xu Qin breathed a sigh of relief. From Lin Qingran’s words, it seemed she also agreed to let her stay. Fortunately, she had spent half the day today building relationships with the servants in the mansion and learning about each master’s temperament.
The eldest young lady, Lin Qingran, was the easiest to deal with – not very bright, spoiled and willful, yet soft-hearted.
“Thank you, eldest young lady.” Xu Qin curtsied.
Grand Tutor Lin didn’t care for these domestic topics. As the food had been served, he waved his hand, “Let’s eat.”
“Eat quickly, or the dishes will get cold.” Lin Lang also added.
Xu Qin stepped back to the side as the Lin family began their meal.
During the meal, no one spoke. Although they appeared to eat slowly, they actually finished quite quickly, not taking much time.
Grand Tutor Lin was not one for extravagance and waste. Xu Shi understood her father-in-law well, so she had prepared just enough food for the five of them, with little left over.
This scene didn’t sit well with Xu Qin at all.
Since he had become the Grand Tutor of the court and even the emperor’s teacher, he should enjoy life properly. Yet he lived so frugally, without even serving many dishes.
When she eventually entered the Lin family, she would definitely change this practice – it wasn’t like they couldn’t afford more dishes.
Suddenly, Xu Qin felt someone’s gaze on her. She looked up and saw it was Lin Qingran.
Lin Qingran didn’t react much, as if she was just curious about Xu Qin, so Xu Qin didn’t take it to heart – she basically didn’t consider Lin Qingran worth worrying about.
After the meal, Xu Shi pulled Lin Qingran aside for some private talk. Though Lin Yu had some doubts, he couldn’t get answers, so he returned to his room alone.
Currently, Lin Yu worked as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. Usually, there weren’t many urgent matters, but since he had delayed a few days returning home, he still needed to handle some trivial matters in the study.
Seeing Lin Yu return to his courtyard, Xu Qin stealthily followed him. This scene was witnessed by both Lin Qingran and Xu Shi.
As it turned out, the so-called private talk between mother and daughter was just Lin Qingran taking Xu Shi for a walk, casually asking about Xu Qin’s situation.
“Mother, you see? This woman clearly isn’t well-behaved and has ill intentions,” Lin Qingran whispered.
Xu Shi was also greatly surprised, taking a long moment to react. After all, her previous impression of Xu Qin hadn’t been like this.
But now, seeing her secretly tail Lin Yu back to his courtyard, looking so sneaky – this was definitely problematic.
“Ranran, I truly never expected that Xu Qin had been putting on an act for me all along. Just wait until I give her a good scolding!” Xu Shi declared, already stepping forward.
Lin Qingran quickly held her back. “Mother, don’t be hasty. As the saying goes, you need to catch adulterers in the act and thieves with stolen goods. If we expose her now and she turns the tables, it might give the Grand Tutor’s Mansion a bad reputation.”
“I never realized how much you’ve changed these past few days, Ranran. You even know how to help me handle troubles now,” Xu Shi remarked, then asked, “So what do you suggest we do, according to you?”