Lin Shuyi intended for Lin Jingchu to go in her place.
Lin Jingchu paused.
After familiarizing herself with the situation in the Marquis Manor, all she wanted was to live quietly, eat well, and coast through life peacefully. She had no desire to stand out.
“I’m probably not suitable for that.”
In her previous life, before her death, she used to post cheerful little snippets of her happy daily life on social media. The coworker who eventually stabbed her would often leave nothing but a smiling emoji in the comments.
Sometimes, merely living happily was enough to make people resent you.
Only by hiding one’s sharp edges, keeping one’s talents inward and unadvertised, could a person survive more safely and avoid attracting jealousy.
Seeing this, Lin Shuyi did not force the matter. She merely returned to the inner room to change clothes.
Her nominal stepfather, the Marquis of Pingyang, held the military post of fifth-rank commander of Pingzhou in addition to his noble title. He had already been away for two years fighting the northern Yan Kingdom.
At home only Xia Ning, one son, and two daughters remained.
If nobody recklessly sought trouble, the family could coexist peacefully enough.
Lin Jingchu’s philosophy of “slacking off” had one essential condition: never make major mistakes. If there was a chance to loaf around, then loaf around.
Otherwise, she never would have survived ten years at the same company earning only five thousand yuan a month in her previous life.
After Lin Shuyi entered the room, faint sounds of sobbing drifted from within.
Seeing this, Lin Jingchu suggested, “Madam Xu, perhaps today’s lesson should be canceled so Elder Sister can rest properly.”
Madam Xu cast her a calm glance and did not miss the flicker of excitement in Lin Jingchu’s eyes.
“Very well.”
Lin Jingchu desperately suppressed the corners of her lips from turning upward. She performed a perfectly proper bow and withdrew.
By relying on her own abilities, she had earned herself another day off.
Yay!
Today she was going to eat lamb noodle soup from the Sun Family Lamb Shop. The freshly fried shredded crispy cakes there were the best.
After several months of proper behavior, Xia Ning no longer restricted her movements as strictly as before. However, whenever she went out, the maids Baodian and Baoyin had to accompany her.
Delighted, Lin Jingchu quickly changed clothes, had Baodian prepare her veiled hat, grabbed the monthly allowance she had just received, and happily set off.
Meanwhile, Zhang Zhaoming had originally come merely to borrow a frontier topographical map. Instead, Xia Ning kept him there chatting endlessly, while his younger cousin Zhang Chuxiao behaved even more enthusiastically than usual.
His instincts told him something about the situation was unusual, but it would have been impolite to abruptly leave, so he excused himself under the pretense of changing clothes to get some fresh air.
Perhaps because Xia Ning herself was from Jiangnan, the Marquis Manor possessed a refined elegance. Unlike the dense, grand gardens of the Zhang estate, this place carried the soft, misty charm unique to the south.
As he was admiring the scenery, a sudden impact struck his back.
Zhang Zhaoming disliked physical contact by nature and instinctively frowned slightly.
“I’m sorry. Are you alright?”
Lin Jingchu looked somewhat annoyed with herself. She had been too eager to get to the food and hadn’t noticed a living person standing around the corner.
Judging by his clothing fabric, he clearly wasn’t someone from the Marquis Manor.
Zhang Zhaoming caught the faint scent of jasmine.
It was the ordinary fragrance of jasmine bath beans, simple and common.
Looking up, he realized it was the young woman he had encountered at the restaurant several days earlier.
“I’m fine.”
Lin Jingchu casually sized him up. He was tall and broad-shouldered—surely, he wouldn’t break from being bumped once.
“That’s good then.”
Just as she prepared to leave, the man spoke again. His voice was clear and smooth, like pearls rolling across the jade.
“Be more careful next time.”
Only then did Lin Jingchu truly look at him directly.
The man’s features resembled a wash of ink painting brought to life. His brows curved beautifully; his face refined and elegant. Even luxurious robes could not overshadow his natural presence.
Standing there upright and still, he seemed detached from the mortal world itself.
His indifferent eyes carried a strange kind of divine compassion, as though he pitied everything he looked upon.
Lin Jingchu inwardly praised him.
What a handsome young man.
Then she lowered her eyes and looked away.
“Thank you for the reminder, sir.”
Back in the main hall, after several rounds of tea, Xia Ning still had not seen Lin Shuyi appear and couldn’t help sighing.
Zhang Zhaoming was twenty-two years old this year. He had placed first in the imperial examinations and became the top scholar.
During the celebratory parade a few days ago, countless embroidered handkerchiefs and perfumed sachets had been thrown toward him from the streets below, yet he had not spared even a glance at them.
His father was the Grand Chancellor. His mother was the legitimate daughter of the prestigious Cui family. His second uncle-controlled businesses wealthy enough to rival nations.
He was truly a once-in-a-generation ideal son-in-law.
This matchmaking opportunity had cost Xia Ning a considerable amount of money and favors to arrange, yet fate still refused to cooperate.
However, as she looked at Zhang Chuxiao seated below, another thought arose in her mind.
The youth appeared around eighteen or nineteen years old. Wearing a jade belt and golden crown, he possessed all the grace of a noble family’s son. He spoke openly and generously, humorous and charming, calling her “Aunt Xia” so sweetly that he had already made her laugh several times.
“Third Young Master, are you already betrothed?”
“Not yet.”
Xia Ning’s smile deepened.
“What kind of wife are you looking for? Aunt Xia can help advise you.”
Zhang Chuxiao answered casually,
“She has to be better-looking than me.”
The men of the Zhang family were all famously attractive. Though the family’s successive mistresses had come from prestigious backgrounds, each had also been exceptionally beautiful.
Noble young ladies in Bianjing were plentiful enough to grab by the handful, but beauties capable of surpassing the Zhang sons in appearance were exceedingly rare.
If Zhang Chuxiao had listed other requirements, Xia Ning might have hesitated.
But her younger daughter’s one undeniable strength—
was that face.
Xia Ning shot a glance toward her trusted servant, Madam Fang.
Madam Fang immediately understood and hurried out to summon Lin Jingchu.
Unfortunately, Lin Jingchu had already boarded a carriage and was halfway to the Eastern Market.
Madam Fang returned empty-handed.
Xia Ning felt utterly dejected.
At that moment, Zhang Zhaoming also returned.
With no further excuse to keep the two men there, Xia Ning reluctantly brought out the map and let them leave.
Watching the two prospective sons-in-law she had fancied gradually disappeared into the distance, her heart practically bled.