“Elder Brother is back.” Lin Hao greeted him, continuing to feed the green grass in her hand to Lin Xiaohua’s mouth.

Cheng Shu walked over and casually rubbed Lin Xiaohua’s head. “Ah Hao, I saw Steward Wen Ping at the gate. He said you were looking for him about something.”

Lin Hao’s hand paused, then she quickly reacted. “Yes, I was looking for him about a small matter.”

Cheng Shu was somewhat anxious. “Wen Ping has been a steward for so many years and could even betray his master—he’s no simple character. Be careful not to suffer a loss dealing with him.”

Lin Hao smiled warmly. “Elder Brother, don’t worry. Right now he’s inferior to even a commoner, while I’m Miss Lin Second. How could I possibly suffer a loss?”

Cheng Shu was dazzled for a moment by the young lady’s smile, thinking to himself that Ah Hao was really quite eloquent.

Thinking further that Ah Hao had been unable to speak for so many years, his feelings of sympathy surged. “Ah Hao, let Elder Brother accompany you to meet him.”

“No need for Elder Brother to accompany me—I never planned to see him at all.” Lin Hao called out to Baozhu. “You go meet with him.”

Baozhu understood, placing the bamboo fan on the small table and going into the room. Before long, she emerged from inside and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Cheng Shu couldn’t hide his curiosity. “Ah Hao, what business do you have with Wen Ping?”

“Oh, just to thank him for speaking according to his conscience that day and not giving false testimony.” Lin Hao said casually.

Perhaps tired of waiting for her mistress to feed her grass, Lin Xiaohua nuzzled Lin Hao’s hand with her mouth, expressing dissatisfaction.

Cheng Shu picked up the bamboo fan from the small table and fanned Lin Xiaohua a few times. “I don’t believe Wen Ping has a conscience. He was your father’s confidant for over twenty years—birds of a feather flock together—”

Realizing it was improper to say such things in front of Lin Hao, Cheng Shu awkwardly shut his mouth.

Lin Hao smiled nonchalantly. “Elder Brother’s words aren’t wrong—it is indeed birds of a feather. But regardless of what circumstances were involved, the result of Wen Ping’s actions was beneficial to us. By showing appropriate appreciation, I’m just forming a good connection.”

Cheng Shu sighed deeply. “Ah Hao is truly kindhearted.”

As the siblings conversed, Baozhu returned.

“Has he left?” Lin Hao asked.

“Already gone.”

Cheng Shu thrust the bamboo fan into Baozhu’s hand. “Since you’ve sent him away, there’s nothing more to it. Ah Hao, you continue feeding the donkey. I’m going to visit the Old Madam.”

“Elder Brother, take care.”

Lin Xiaohua bared her teeth and brayed twice at Cheng Shu’s retreating back.

Cheng Shu’s steps halted as he turned around. “Is this donkey reluctant to see me go?”

Lin Xiaohua immediately brayed even louder.

Lin Hao smiled. “She’s probably angry that Elder Brother called her a donkey.”

The corner of Cheng Shu’s mouth twitched as he quickly walked away.

Lin Hao brushed the grass bits from her hands and stood up. “Let’s go inside.”

She had somewhat anticipated Wen Ping coming early to demand the money.

His thoughts weren’t hard to guess—nothing more than worrying she would go back on her word and not give him the money.

She had no intention of reneging. First, there was no need to create unnecessary trouble. Second, the lives of Wen Ping and his son wouldn’t be saved just because she gave them these five hundred taels.

With a gambling-addicted son and a father who’d lost his money-making position trying to fill that bottomless pit, how good could their ending be?

In any case, for Lin Hao, all people and matters related to the Wen family could now come to a close.

The capital never lacked fresh, interesting matters. After being discussed for some time, the affair between Wen Rugui and Lin Shi was replaced by the triennial spring examinations.

With one announcement on the apricot list, everyone in the capital knew an astoundingly talented top scholar had emerged.

The first place in the metropolitan examination was called the metropolitan scholar. It was said the new metropolitan scholar Yang Zhe was not yet twenty years old, and even more perfectly, was still unmarried.

For a time, countless wealthy families stirred restlessly, just waiting for after the palace examination to send matchmakers to wear down the Yang family’s threshold.

Oh, the metropolitan scholar is from out of town?

No matter—even if he performed poorly in the palace examination, he could still place third. Once he entered the Hanlin Academy, wouldn’t he stay in the capital?

The metropolitan scholar comes from humble origins?

Even less of a problem—how many families lacked not wealth, but someone who could enter officialdom? If their son was dull and hopeless, having such a son-in-law would be good too.

In a short time, the discussions and warnings arising from Wen Rugui and Lin Shi’s affair seemed to have vanished like smoke.

The General’s Manor had no interest whatsoever in what genius had emerged from the spring examinations. Lin Shi was privately delighted facing the matchmaker who’d come calling.

“The Marquis’s wife said if Madam is uneasy, you can first meet the Heir.”

Lin Shi was very satisfied with the matchmaker’s attitude and said reservedly, “Marriage is no small matter. I must discuss it with my mother.”

The matchmaker raised her hand to adjust the fresh flower by her temple, unsurprised by this result.

Without question, the one who could make decisions at the General’s Manor was the Old Madam, not Lin Shi who had just severed ties with her husband. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to meet the Old Madam today.

However, she was confident about facilitating this match.

The gentleman’s side was the Heir of Marquis Pingjia’s Manor—more than adequate for the eldest miss of the General’s Manor that had lost Old General Lin.

As long as the Lin family wasn’t foolish, they couldn’t possibly push away such a good marriage prospect.

“Then I’ll await the good news from your honored residence.”

As soon as the matchmaker left, the Old Madam emerged from the partition.

Lin Shi’s face beamed with joy. “Mother—”

The Old Madam glanced at her. “Be more composed. It’s not as if Chan’er can’t find a husband.”

Lin Shi helped the Old Madam sit down, smiling as she explained, “It’s not that I’m especially satisfied with Marquis Pingjia’s Manor—purely that having someone come to propose puts me in a good mood.”

She had thought her two daughters would be implicated by her and face some setbacks in their marriage prospects. Now seeing a family of quite good standing come to propose, she finally felt relieved.

“You always get confused about such matters. If our family weren’t selective, Chan’er and Ah Hao would be the easiest to marry off.”

Unlike twenty-some years ago when people speculated she and the old man might adopt an heir in the future, now it was plain as day that the Lin family only had Chan’er and Ah Hao. Whichever family married one of the granddaughters would be like marrying a mountain of gold.

Faced with a mountain of gold, those who’d be moved wouldn’t be few.

“So what do you think of Marquis Pingjia’s Manor? The matchmaker said we could first take a look at their young master.”

“Marquis Pingjia’s Manor—” The Old Madam pondered. “I remember they only have one son.”

Since Emperor Tai’an ascended the throne, the Old Madam had rarely associated with the various families’ madams, so she didn’t know much about Marquis Pingjia Manor’s younger generation.

Lin Shi smiled. “The household is rather simple.”

With a simpler household, the daughter-in-law could have an easier time—she understood this principle.

“It seems you’re quite satisfied.” The Old Madam also smiled. “Then let’s first see what the Heir of Marquis Pingjia is like.”

As the two were talking, Lin Hao walked in.

“Grandmother and Mother look so happy—what are you discussing?”

Lin Shi and the Old Madam exchanged glances and said in unison, “Nothing much.”

Lin Hao sat down beside the Old Madam and picked up the beauty mallet to gently pound the Old Madam’s legs. “I heard a matchmaker came calling. Was it to propose marriage for Elder Sister?”

She hadn’t just heard—she’d seen it herself when preparing to go out.

Though they’d now escaped the wolf’s den of the Wen family, she still couldn’t help being concerned about her sister’s lifelong happiness.

The Old Madam laughed. “You clever girl—your information is quite current.”

Lin Hao asked with a smile, “Which family came to propose?”

Lin Shi smiled. “Marquis Pingjia’s Manor.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Hao’s smile faded.