Tang Wei glanced toward Lin Hao and Lin Chan, then suddenly walked quickly outside.

“Wei’er, Wei’er—” Marchioness Wuning called out anxiously and hurried to catch up.

Behind them, a group of maids and elderly servants rushed to follow.

Constable Liu, who had just been receiving a tongue-lashing from Marchioness Wuning, secretly breathed a sigh of relief and greeted Lin Shi. “Madam Lin is returning today?”

“Yes, we’re heading back to the mansion.” Lin Shi suppressed her impulse to ask Constable Liu about the progress.

“Then I wish you a smooth journey.” Constable Liu paused and lowered his voice. “The Marchioness is also returning today. She’s in a bad mood…”

Lin Shi understood Constable Liu’s meaning—he was reminding her to try to avoid Marchioness Wuning and save herself from bad luck.

Though she wasn’t afraid of Marchioness Wuning, she ultimately didn’t want extra trouble, so she smiled and thanked him.

The General’s Mansion’s carriages were parked at the foot of the mountain. When Lin Shi’s group boarded, the people from Marquis Wuning’s mansion had already departed.

Lin Shi saw Qi Shuo riding past on horseback and said in surprise to her two daughters, “I truly didn’t expect Prince Jing’s Heir could even ride a horse.”

Lin Hao fell silent. What kind of misunderstanding did her mother have about Prince Jing’s Heir?

The youth riding past on horseback swayed slightly and couldn’t help but turn his head back.

Lin Chan tugged at her mother’s sleeve and said reproachfully, “Mother, Prince Jing’s Heir seems to have heard.”

Lin Shi pursed her lips unconcernedly. “If he heard, he heard. A young person like him can hardly come argue with me, can he?”

As the saying goes, having no desires makes one strong. She had no intention of having a young prince as a son-in-law, so why should she fear him hearing?

Lin Chan felt stifled and could do nothing with her mother.

The carriage proceeded unhurriedly. Originally they would have arrived home by noon, but shortly after they set off, Lin Shi felt abdominal pain.

She clutched her stomach and persisted for a while, but with the carriage’s slight swaying, she truly couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Stop the carriage, stop the carriage!” Following Lin Shi’s shout, the carriage stopped.

Lin Hao and Lin Chan were sitting in the carriage following behind. When the front carriage stopped, they stopped as well.

“Go ask what happened up front.” Lin Chan instructed the maid Lian Xiang.

Before long, Lian Xiang ran back. “Madam has a stomachache.”

Hearing this, Lin Hao and Lin Chan hurriedly got out of the carriage and walked to the front.

“Mother, are you alright?”

Lin Shi’s complexion was somewhat poor. She said quietly, “Perhaps I ate too many different things at breakfast. My stomach is a bit uncomfortable. I’ll get out of the carriage to rest for a bit.”

Lin Chan looked around and pointed. “Mother, there’s a farmhouse over there. Why don’t we go rest there?”

Lin Shi wasn’t someone who would make herself suffer for the sake of appearances. She immediately nodded. “Alright.”

Leaving most of the maids and servants with the carriages, Lin Shi was supported by her two daughters as they walked over.

After an elderly servant explained their purpose, the farmhouse owner smiled warmly and invited them in.

Since yesterday, people had been coming to rest one after another. Judging by their clothing, all were of wealthy backgrounds, so the benefits were naturally considerable. The farmhouse owner was naturally willing.

A table was set up in the courtyard, with several young men sitting around it drinking tea.

Looking over, Lin Shi recognized them all from recent encounters, including Wen Rugui’s nephew Wen Feng.

Lin Shi didn’t dislike Wen Feng, but due to their relationship, seeing him was inevitably somewhat uncomfortable.

Wen Feng also saw Lin Shi and the others. He immediately set down his teacup and stood up, respectfully greeting her. “Aunt.”

Lin Shi frowned. “I’ve said before that we’re now two separate families. Just call me Madam Lin.”

Wen Feng smiled awkwardly. “Are you and my two younger cousins returning to the mansion today?”

“Yes.” Lin Shi’s stomach was churning, making her tone appear especially cold. “Didn’t you all leave yesterday?”

“Yesterday we got caught in the rain, so we came here to take shelter. When the rain stopped, we figured by the time we rushed back, the city gates would be closed, so we simply stayed the night.”

“Oh.” Lin Shi could barely hold on anymore and signaled the farmhouse owner’s wife to quickly take her inside.

Seeing Lin Shi and her daughters leave hurriedly, Han Baocheng said quietly, “Brother Wen, this aunt of yours clearly is a formidable person.”

Look at how dark her face was—it made people afraid to speak.

“No, Tenth Aunt is a warm-hearted person. Perhaps she thought of something unpleasant.” Wen Feng defended Lin Shi.

Wen Feng’s impression of Lin Shi was equally good.

Before coming to the capital, he had been somewhat worried about moving into his cousin’s household, fearing his aunt by marriage might look down on him and his father. But the reality proved he had overthought it—his aunt by marriage was thoughtful and enthusiastic, definitely not just putting on airs.

Too bad his uncle didn’t cherish his blessings…

“Both younger cousins are also extremely fine young ladies.” Thinking of these things, Wen Feng casually praised them.

Someone laughed. “Temperament requires getting to know them, but the two Miss Lins’ appearances are indeed excellent. Speaking of which, this younger brother hasn’t yet married—”

Wen Feng’s expression immediately became serious. “Brother Zhang, please don’t joke about this.”

“How is it joking? This younger brother truly hasn’t married yet. When men come of age they should marry, and when women come of age they should wed. Rather than wait for parents to arrange a match with a young lady I’ve never met, wouldn’t it be better to marry someone I find pleasing to the eye?”

“Eh, these words make sense.” Han Baocheng stroked his chin.

“Brother Han, why are you joining in the excitement too?” Wen Feng said helplessly.

Han Baocheng spread his hands. “I truly think it makes sense. Brother Wen, don’t you want to marry someone you find agreeable?”

Unable to argue them down, Wen Feng cast a pleading look toward Yang Zhe.

Yang Zhe smiled. “I also think it makes sense.”

“You all—” Wen Feng shook his head and stopped talking.

Lin Shi used the facilities at this household to resolve her difficulty, but her stomach still felt uncomfortable.

“Good lady, may we borrow your kitchen and stove?” Lin Chan asked.

“Miss, feel free to use it.”

“Second Sister, you stay with Mother. I’ll go make something for Mother to eat.”

Lin Chan instructed a maid to fetch apples from the carriage and, bringing an elderly servant, entered the kitchen.

In such farmhouses, the kitchen was simply a shed with no door for concealment. From the courtyard, one could see people bustling about inside.

Before long, Lian Xiang came in from outside carrying a tray with several fresh, juicy large apples arranged on it.

In the blink of an eye, the little maid entered the kitchen, leaving several grown men staring longingly.

“They’re going out to offer incense and still bring apples?” someone asked in surprise.

Han Baocheng wasn’t surprised. “The things women bring when going out—there’s only what you can’t imagine, nothing they can’t bring. I dare say aside from apples, their carriage definitely also has various fresh fruits.”

“Whether they have them or not doesn’t concern me. I just suddenly want to eat an apple after being away for three days.”

Han Baocheng sighed. “Who doesn’t feel the same?”

Autumn and winter were especially dry seasons. Taking a bite of a crisp, sweet, juicy large apple—just thinking about it was satisfying.

Steam rose from the kitchen. Before long, Lian Xiang came out carrying a plate with evenly sliced apples arranged on it.

She placed the plate before Wen Feng and smiled. “Young Master Wen, our miss invites you and your friends to have some apples. The plate has already been scalded with boiling water.”

After the little maid finished speaking, she turned and entered the kitchen again.

After a while, Lin Chan came out, followed by Lian Xiang and the elderly servant carrying trays.

Seeing several people looking over, she nodded at Wen Feng and went into the room.

In Lin Chan’s view, no matter what, Wen Feng was still her cousin, and most importantly, he was a decent person. To encounter him and ignore him would be too unseemly.

“Crunch.” Han Baocheng picked up a slice of apple and took a bite, smiling broadly. “Truly sweet.”