After returning to the General’s Manor from Tianyuan Temple, Lin Shi waited for her daughter to bring back the appetite-stimulating snacks. She waited and waited, but her daughter didn’t come. She waited some more, and what arrived was news of a startled horse.

She didn’t even bother informing the Old Madam before rushing out with people in tow. She encountered the messenger at the main gate.

The servant delivering the message was from Prince Jing’s Manor.

“Madam Lin, please don’t worry. The startled horse has already been brought under control, and no one was injured.”

Lin Shi heaved a great sigh of relief and asked urgently: “What about my daughter?”

“Second Miss is also fine. Our Heir is just now escorting Second Miss home.”

“That’s good then.” Lin Shi patted her chest, then suddenly froze. “Why is your Heir escorting Ah Hao home?”

The servant delivering the message smiled: “When your manor’s horse was startled and ran wild, our Heir happened to be nearby and saw it. He arranged for people to help control the startled horse and sent this humble one to inform you, so you wouldn’t worry.”

“I see.” Lin Shi nodded, thinking to herself that Prince Jing’s Heir handled matters quite thoughtfully.

“Then please convey our thanks to the Heir.” Having accepted the kindness, Lin Shi only then got around to going to the Old Madam’s quarters to tell her about the startled horse.

When the Old Madam heard, her brows immediately furrowed: “All the horses in our household have been trained. How could one be startled for no good reason?”

Lin Shi also felt something was amiss: “We’ll have to wait for Ah Hao to return to find out.”

Lin Hao returned to the General’s Manor with Baozhu and went directly to the Old Madam’s courtyard.

As soon as a maid came to report that Second Miss had arrived, the Old Madam and Lin Shi both set down their teacups simultaneously. In her anxiety, Lin Shi stood up to greet her.

“Ah Hao, you’re finally back!”

The wrist grasped by Lin Shi hurt somewhat, but Lin Hao didn’t mind. She smiled: “Grandmother, Mother, I’m fine.”

Lin Shi pulled her over to sit down, and the question she had been holding back for so long burst out: “How could the horse be startled for no reason?”

With the coachman present, Lin Hao knew she couldn’t hide it: “A sharp stone fragment was embedded in the horse’s rump. The horse was startled from the pain.”

Lin Shi’s expression darkened. She slapped the table: “This was definitely done deliberately by someone!”

The Old Madam’s calloused fingers unconsciously rubbed against her teacup. The tea inside had long since gone completely cold: “This is strange. Could it still be the Crown Prince? But our family has already broken off the engagement with Prince Wei. Even if the Crown Prince is targeting Prince Wei, he shouldn’t be scheming against Ah Hao, right?”

Lin Shi pressed her hand to her forehead, having a different view: “Could it be related to what I encountered at Tianyuan Temple today? I inadvertently discovered that headless female corpse. Perhaps the murderer received word and is taking revenge on me.”

The Old Madam shot her a glare: “Your daughter has reached marriageable age. Can you rein in your curiosity from now on?”

Going to burn incense and using a flower hoe to dig up a corpse—how could that be called inadvertently discovering it?

Lin Shi’s thoughts jumped quickly. Hearing the Old Madam say this, she muttered: “Speaking of which, it’s strange. In early spring, matchmakers coming to propose marriage to Ah Hao nearly trampled our threshold to pieces. Why hasn’t there been a single one recently?”

The Old Madam saw things clearly: “What’s strange about that? Now all of the capital knows that the villain who kidnapped Chan’er was subdued by Ah Hao and dragged back. Most families wouldn’t want to see their daughter-in-law be the person with the highest martial prowess in the entire household.”

Lin Shi sighed: “That’s true.”

Then wouldn’t Ah Hao’s marriage prospects be delayed again? The marriage matters for both daughters truly had one setback after another.

Seeing her mother worrying over her marriage prospects, Lin Hao imperceptibly steered the topic back: “I think the startled horse is unrelated to the Tianyuan Temple incident. From discovering the headless female corpse to the startled horse was less than half a day. Even if the murderer was right there at Tianyuan Temple and received word immediately, there wouldn’t have been enough time in such a short period to plan the startled horse incident.”

“Ah Hao is right. The two should have no connection.” The Old Madam swept a glance at her blockhead daughter, her mood somewhat heavy. “Could it really be the Crown Prince then?”

Lin Hao didn’t want the two elders to dwell on this matter. She said vaguely: “On the way when Prince Jing’s Heir was escorting me home, he mentioned that the reason there have been so many officers patrolling the streets recently is because they’ve discovered villains wanting to cause disorder during the Yuliu envoys’ visit. This startled horse incident might also be their handiwork.”

Lin Shi didn’t understand: “How could a startled horse affect the Yuliu envoys?”

“Mother, think about it. If incidents like startled horses multiply, the Yuliu envoys will think our Great Zhou capital’s public security is too poor, which would damage Great Zhou’s prestige.”

“These people are truly detestable!”

The Old Madam was thoughtful: “Prince Jing’s Heir is quite well-informed. Speaking of which, it was thanks to Prince Jing’s Heir that nothing serious happened this time. Wanqing, prepare a thank-you gift and personally make a trip to Prince Jing’s Manor tomorrow.”

Lin Shi immediately agreed.

At this moment in Prince Jing’s Manor, Qi Shuo was in Prince Jing and the Princess Consort’s chambers, bringing up Lin Hao.

“When your son saw the General’s Manor’s horse become startled, I suddenly discovered something.”

“What did you discover?” The Princess Consort asked curiously.

Qi Shuo’s face showed embarrassment: “At that moment, I suddenly discovered that I was very worried about Second Miss Lin.”

Though he spoke relatively calmly, it was like a thunderclap that stunned both Prince Jing and the Princess Consort.

The couple looked at each other in bewilderment. After quite a while, the Princess Consort hesitantly spoke: “Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. You and Second Miss Lin have known each other for so many years. Being concerned about her safety is only natural—”

Qi Shuo interrupted the Princess Consort’s words: “What your son means is, I’ve discovered that my heart is drawn to Second Miss Lin.”

These words left no room for misinterpretation.

The Princess Consort looked blankly at Prince Jing.

Prince Jing coughed lightly: “Shuo’er, you want to take Second Miss Lin as your wife?”

Qi Shuo’s eyelids lowered slightly: “But your son is worried the General’s Manor will look down on me for having a heart condition.”

The Princess Consort became angry: “On what grounds would they look down on you—”

“It’s not impossible. Old Madam Lin and Madam Lin are both people who dote on their children. Unlike ordinary families, they don’t care so much about status and wealth…” Prince Jing analyzed rationally.

Qi Shuo imperceptibly fed him his line: “Then what does Father-Prince say should be done?”

Prince Jing instinctively comforted his son: “Today the General’s Manor had the startled horse incident. Fortunately, you helped so nothing went wrong. The General’s Manor must be feeling grateful toward you right now. If we go to propose marriage, it might just succeed…”

The Princess Consort grew more uneasy the more she listened: “Wait a moment—we’re going to propose marriage already?”

It seemed like they had skipped a very important step.

She racked her brains trying to think what step it was, when she saw her husband and son both looking at her.

“Timing is very important. Striking while the iron is hot with a marriage proposal has the best chance of success.” Prince Jing said earnestly.

Qi Shuo nodded: “Father-Prince is right.”

Prince Jing felt somewhat smug.

In this aspect, the Princess Consort was no match for him.

“Then when should we go propose marriage?” The Princess Consort felt her mind was a bit chaotic.

Prince Jing looked toward Qi Shuo.

Qi Shuo thoughtfully reminded him: “Strike while the iron is hot.”

Prince Jing: “We’ll go tomorrow!”

After Qi Shuo left with the corners of his lips upturned, the Princess Consort drank a mouthful of cooled tea and suddenly came to her senses: “This isn’t right. How did it suddenly become going to propose marriage tomorrow? Shouldn’t we first properly discuss whether Second Miss Lin is suitable to be our daughter-in-law?”

Prince Jing faltered, but firmly refused to admit he had forgotten this important step. His tone grew profound: “Who told you your son likes her?”