Before long, Lin Chan came over.

“Grandmother, Mother, you were looking for me?”

Lin Shi pulled Lin Chan to sit down, dismissed the servants, and explained about the three families’ marriage proposals.

Lin Chan quietly blushed.

“Chan’er, you’ve met all three of those young men. Now there are no outsiders here, so don’t be shy. Tell us which one you have a good impression of.”

Lin Chan was silent for a moment.

Lin Shi had an impatient temperament, “What’s there to be embarrassed about in front of your grandmother and mother? This concerns your lifelong happiness for the rest of your life.”

Lin Chan showed a helpless smile, “Mother, it’s not that I’m embarrassed to speak. I truly didn’t pay much attention to these three people and don’t have much impression of them.”

“No impression at all?” Lin Shi was somewhat unconvinced.

Besides Wen Feng, there had been those four other young men, as well as Prince Wei and the Heir of Prince Jing. She had looked several times at any eligible males. Her daughter was still young—how could she lack this bit of cleverness?

Lin Chan thought seriously, “The only impression is that none of them were ugly. Their appearances were all passable.”

“So which one do you prefer?” Lin Shi asked with a thread of hope.

Lin Chan smiled bitterly, “I really don’t understand them and haven’t had contact with them. I can’t speak of liking or not liking.”

“This—” Lin Shi looked toward the Old Madam.

Facing her unenlightened granddaughter, the Old Madam also had no solution. She analyzed the three families’ strengths and weaknesses, “Among the three families, the Han family has the highest status. We haven’t heard any bad rumors about Young Master Han for now—he just has a somewhat lively temperament. The youngest son of Court Gentleman Zhang of the Court of Imperial Stud—if you married into that family, you’d have fewer responsibilities. As for the new imperial examination graduate surnamed Li, his family is in another region, but their family circumstances are fairly prosperous. They’ve already purchased a residence for him in the capital. In the future, the young couple living independently would be more free.”

The Old Madam patted Lin Chan’s hand, “All three families have their merits. It depends on what kind of life you prefer more. Of course, most importantly, it depends on which one you feel drawn to.”

External conditions could only be better, never best. In the Old Madam’s view, as long as these met a certain standard, that was sufficient. The key was still the person himself.

All three young men had the elders of their families come to propose marriage only after seeing Chan’er themselves, showing they had first taken a liking to Chan’er. In the Old Madam’s view, this was the prerequisite.

They couldn’t eagerly pursue a match like in the past.

“We won’t reject any of the three families outright. Let’s thoroughly investigate the three families’ household traditions and the young men’s characters, and find opportunities to meet with the three young men more. A marriage matter cannot be handled rashly.” The Old Madam said.

Never mind her daughter’s troublesome marriage, just thinking about the Marquis of Pingjia’s mansion proposing to Chan’er—every time the Old Madam recalled this matter, she felt a wave of lingering fear.

If they had hastily agreed at the time, they would have harmed Chan’er.

Couldn’t rush, couldn’t rush.

Lin Chan obediently nodded, “I’ll follow Grandmother and Mother’s arrangements.”

Lin Hao heard the news and privately asked Lin Chan with a smile, “Which one does Elder Sister actually like?”

Lin Chan gave her a look, “Stop teasing me. I’ve already said I don’t have a deep impression of these three.”

“There isn’t even one who made a deep impression on Elder Sister?”

In front of her younger sister, Lin Chan had nothing to hide and casually made a joke, “If we’re talking about deep impressions, naturally I’m most impressed by the Top Scholar and Prince Wei.”

She paused, her eyes containing teasing, “There’s also the Heir of Prince Jing—he also left quite an impression.”

At Green Deer Temple, the Heir of Prince Jing had several times quietly let his gaze fall on her younger sister, which she had inadvertently noticed.

She just didn’t know what her younger sister’s feelings were.

Lin Hao was stunned, “Elder Sister… likes the Heir of Prince Jing?”

“Let me think—” Seeing her younger sister’s serious expression, Lin Chan burst out laughing, “I’m teasing you.”

“Could it be Top Scholar Yang—”

Lin Chan shook her head, “Usually you’re quite clever. How is it you can’t even recognize a joke now?”

Lin Hao felt a bit dissatisfied, “Elder Sister, we’re talking about your lifelong happiness, and you still have the mind to joke around.”

To Lin Chan, since she hadn’t had contact with any of them, it seemed any one was about the same. But Lin Hao took it extremely seriously.

She considered for two days and decided to meet with Wen Feng.

If you wanted to understand a person, what could be clearer than a close friend who spent time with them regularly? Inquiries would ultimately only reveal the surface.

Although the several times she’d encountered Wen Feng she’d treated him as a stranger, she had thick skin. For the sake of her elder sister’s lifelong happiness, she could do it.

Lin Hao brought some peach blossom cakes made at home and went to wait on the necessary path outside the Ministry of Justice where officials came and went from work.

Wen Feng had been assigned to observe governance at the Ministry of Justice.

She had come just before the end of the work day, so she didn’t wait long before Lin Hao saw Wen Feng walking this way chatting with colleagues.

“Eleventh Brother.” Lin Hao called out.

Wen Feng heard the voice and looked over. Seeing it was Lin Hao, he was first startled, then after saying a few words to his colleague, he quickly walked over.

“Ah Hao, did you need me for something?” Standing before Lin Hao, Wen Feng couldn’t help feeling somewhat nervous.

Ah Hao had pretended not to recognize him several times. Today she had specially come to find him—this must be something major, right?

Lin Hao lifted the bamboo basket she was carrying and smiled, “Eleventh Brother, we made peach blossom cakes at home. I brought some for you to try.”

Wen Feng: “…” This made him even more nervous.

Flustered, he accepted the bamboo basket and expressed his thanks.

“There’s also a question I’d like to consult Eleventh Brother about. Can I take up a bit of Eleventh Brother’s time?”

“Oh, of course that’s fine.” Wen Feng pointed, “There’s a teahouse over there. Let’s go to the teahouse to talk.”

Lin Hao nodded.

The two entered the teahouse together and requested a private room.

“Ah Hao, what’s the matter?” Wen Feng poured a cup of tea and handed it to Lin Hao.

Lin Hao accepted it with thanks and stated her purpose, “A few days ago, three families sent matchmakers to our door wanting to propose marriage to my elder sister.”

“Three families?” Wen Feng asked stiffly in cooperation.

Lin Hao smiled gracefully, “Eleventh Brother knows all three of these people who wish to marry Elder Sister.”

Hearing Lin Hao say their names, Wen Feng looked embarrassed, “How improper—”

One person would be one thing, but all three doing this—could they have made an appointment to do this together?

Lin Hao waved her hand with a smile, “A fair maiden is sought by gentlemen—there’s nothing wrong with that. I came to find Eleventh Brother today thinking that since Eleventh Brother understands them, could you tell me who would be more suitable for Elder Sister?”

Regarding Lin Chan’s lifelong happiness, Wen Feng didn’t dare draw conclusions casually.

“Eleventh Brother, don’t feel pressured. It’s just for reference.”

Only then did Wen Feng speak, “They’re all good people. Brother Li comes from a prominent family. In his generation, he’s the only one who succeeded in the imperial examinations, so he carries the hopes of the entire clan. Brother Li himself is also quite motivated and competitive. If one were to be his wife, the future might be somewhat difficult. Brother Zhang has many siblings. It would depend on whether Sister Chan’er prefers liveliness or tranquility. Brother Han’s family is relatively simple. He has no great ambitions, but also no bad habits. He’s easygoing and warm. From a friend’s perspective, I think all three are quite good. From an elder brother’s perspective, being with Brother Han might be more relaxed and peaceful…”

Having heard Wen Feng’s heartfelt words, Lin Hao solemnly expressed her thanks.

With his relationship with his cousin improving, Wen Feng was in a good mood. Carrying the bamboo basket, he returned home cheerfully.

The small Wen residence—though the servants bought and hired weren’t many—to Wen Rusheng already felt like the enjoyment of a venerable elder.

He had grown rosy-cheeked and plump, his attention focused on the basket, “What good food has Feng’er brought back?”