24. The Liu Family Calls Off the Engagement

The morning sunlight of early April spilled through the white latticed windows. Behind layers of bed curtains, a graceful figure stirred from a deep slumber. Propping herself up on her arms, she reached out a jade-like hand to push aside the drapes, revealing a face that was lazily elegant and clear. It was Lin Yuejiao.

"Was I dreaming?" Lin Yuejiao scanned her surroundings, her brow furrowing in thought.

Although she had been in a fever-induced coma, she had remained in a semi-conscious, hazy state where she was aware of many things. In her dream, it seemed he had come, sitting by her bedside, and she... she had been in his arms?

Lin Yuejiao immediately rubbed her temples. It must have been a dream; how could that be possible?

"The Young Miss is awake!" Yuanwei exclaimed as she entered, seeing Lin Yuejiao sitting on the edge of the bed.

Tuomi, who had been outside, also hurried in. "Young Miss! You have finally woken up."

Joy filled the air in Youran Courtyard.

As if on cue, the renowned physician Sai Huatuo arrived early that morning. Looking Lin Yuejiao up and down, he asked, "Fourth Miss, did you feel terribly cold last night?"

"I think I felt a bit cold, but it warmed up very quickly," Lin Yuejiao nodded.

Sai Huatuo stroked his graying beard, looking puzzled. "The fever-reducing prescription I gave you yesterday was exactly what was needed. Usually, a single dose is enough, but in my forgetfulness, I neglected to account for your body’s weakened state; I should have prescribed a tonic to generate heat. By all accounts, you should have been shivering violently in the middle of the night. I was so worried you wouldn't be able to endure the cold that I came over first thing this morning to provide a remedy. How is it that you look so spirited and not at all like someone who suffered from excessive cold?"

The image of that man in black flashed instantly through Lin Yuejiao's mind.

Lin Yuejiao smiled faintly. "Perhaps my constitution is quite strong. Thank you for your care, Divine Doctor."

Sai Huatuo checked her pulse and, confirming that she was now perfectly fine, smiled. "It seems the Fourth Miss has a very strong foundation and is not overly weak. Thank goodness, thank goodness."

Sai Huatuo had come in a rush out of concern for her, and having found her well after feeling her pulse, he took his leave.

Jing Mingge and Lin Yi also arrived early, and only after seeing that Lin Yuejiao was truly recovered did they set their minds at ease. Lin Yuejiao had breakfast with them, and after the two returned to Red Maple Courtyard, she prepared to pay her respects to the Old Matriarch.

"Wait, Yuanwei, where is the painting I hadn't finished on my desk?" Lin Yuejiao flipped through the rice paper on the table, only to find that the painting titled "Meeting You at the Time of Falling Blossoms" was missing.

Yuanwei was stunned. After searching, she said, "Young Miss, it was here just two days ago. Could a breeze from the window have blown it away? During the days you were ill, the other young ladies of the house came to visit, but Tuomi and I were watching carefully, and we didn't see anyone take it."

"Never mind, it doesn't matter. The painting wasn't anything of great value; even if someone picked it up, it is of no consequence." Lin Yuejiao thought for a moment before saying, "Prepare yourself; we are going to Cishou Hall."

Yuanwei said self-reproachfully, "It was my neglect. I will be more careful in the future."

Having just woken up, Lin Yuejiao did not yet know what had happened in the Lin household over the past three days. On the way to Cishou Hall, Yuanwei and Tuomi took turns filling her in on the situation in the manor.

"That Madam Liu is truly formidable. She claimed that marrying Lin Xueshu to her son brought shame upon their family name, and she insisted on switching to another young lady. But the Old Matriarch would never agree to marry off one of her legitimate daughters to a cripple. Our Lin family is no less prestigious than their Liu family; at worst, we could just call off the marriage. But the Liu family feels we have wronged them and demands an explanation, insisting on a different daughter for the marriage," Tuomi said.

Lin Yuejiao frowned, and Yuanwei continued, "The Liu family insisted on a legitimate daughter. The Old Matriarch would not agree, so in the end, it was decided that the sixth daughter of the second branch, Lin Xuelan, would be the one."

"The Lin family has now decided to marry her to Liu Lingbo?" Lin Yuejiao raised her brows.

Yuanwei replied, "There are only two concubine-born daughters in the house. Lin Xueshu's reputation is ruined, the Liu family broke the engagement, and in the end, they could only use the remaining sixth young lady as a replacement."

Naturally, a legitimate daughter could not be married to a cripple; the Old Matriarch was counting on their status to secure high-ranking marriages.

"Poor Sixth Young Miss. I heard she knelt outside the Second Madam's door for a whole day begging for mercy, but the Second Madam had no heart to listen to her. In the end, she fainted from crying and had to be carried back," Tuomi sighed.

By this time, they had arrived at Cishou Hall. The two maids immediately fell silent and followed respectfully behind Lin Yuejiao.

"Granddaughter Yuejiao pays her respects to Grandmother." Lin Yuejiao performed a formal bow.

"Quickly, rise." The Old Matriarch stood up from her chair herself, took Lin Yuejiao's hand to help her up, and said with a look of concern, "Just a while ago, news came from Youran Courtyard that you were well, but I still couldn't rest easy. Now that I see you, my heart can finally settle. That wretch Xu'er caused you to fall ill for no reason; I’ve been so angry I haven't slept well these past few days. You must be more careful from now on and take good care of your health."

Lin Yuejiao supported the Old Matriarch’s arm and sat down beside her, smiling, "It was all this granddaughter's fault for causing Grandmother to worry. I came to pay my respects as soon as I was well."

"Old Matriarch, is this the Fourth Miss Lin who is said to be the Li Moqian among women?" A middle-aged woman nearby looked at Lin Yuejiao, her eyes lighting up instantly.

The Old Matriarch felt proud in her heart but remained composed on the surface. She said, "Calling her the Li Moqian among women is too high an honor; how could Yuejiao compare to Young Master Li? Yuejiao, let me introduce you. This is Madam Liu from the Nanzhou Liu family, here to discuss the marriage with our Lin family."

Lin Yuejiao exchanged greetings with her and heard that Madam Liu, Ji Muyao, say, "Fourth Miss Lin has grown into such a delicate beauty. Whoever marries the Fourth Miss will be truly blessed."

The Old Matriarch’s expression turned sour instantly.

Ji Muyao followed up, "Old Matriarch, look at us. Our Liu family and your Lin family are perfectly matched. If the Fourth Miss were to marry into our Liu family, I would certainly not mistreat her. As soon as I saw her, I felt as close to her as if she were my own daughter."

"Did I not already promise Shu'er to your son?" the Old Matriarch said, suppressing her anger.

Ji Muyao acted shamelessly, saying, "Wasn't that never finalized? Bo'er is my only son, and his wife will be the mistress of the Liu household. We lowered ourselves to marry your concubine-born daughter, Lin Xueshu, but your daughter committed such a scandalous act; my son certainly cannot marry her. Since the Lin family brought such 'goods' into our Liu family, shouldn't you provide a legitimate daughter to show your sincerity in forming this alliance?"

"Madam Liu, the marriage between your son and my sister was merely under discussion between the two families. There were no formal engagement rites, nor were there the three letters and six gifts; therefore, no engagement was ever set. Whatever my sister did, it had not yet had the chance to affect the Liu family's reputation. Now that the Liu family feels my sister is not a suitable match, the marriage can simply be called off. The Lin family has not received your betrothal gifts, nor do we owe you anything. Whoever your son chooses to marry in the future has nothing to do with the Lin family," Lin Yuejiao said calmly, looking at Ji Muyao. "My grandmother, knowing that my sister’s actions were unbecoming, offered to marry another of my sisters to your son to maintain the peace—which was more than benevolent on our part. Yet, Madam Liu, you are so aggressive that it seems you are not satisfied with this marriage at all. A marriage is meant to be a matter of mutual willingness; if you are unwilling, then let us not marry."

Having said this, Lin Yuejiao looked toward the Old Matriarch, as if she had been provoked by Ji Muyao, and said casually, "Grandmother, I think it is best if we call off the marriage between Lan'er and the Liu family. It would save outsiders from thinking that our Lin family is taking advantage of them and trying to climb the social ladder through their Liu family."

Ji Muyao's expression shifted, her eyes filled with hostility as she looked at Lin Yuejiao.

The Old Matriarch could not help but smile, feeling a great deal of her pent-up frustration dissipate.

"Old Matriarch, the Fourth Miss's words are quite harsh. What 'climbing the social ladder'? I am genuinely sincere about forming this bond with the Lin family. To allow a concubine-born daughter to be the mistress—Old Matriarch, is my sincerity not enough?" Ji Muyao’s expression flickered, but she eventually said with a smile.

The Old Matriarch also smiled, "It is Lan'er’s blessing to become a relative of the Liu family. Please don't mind Yuejiao; she was just speaking in the heat of the moment."

"The Fourth Miss is only joking with me; of course I don't mind," Ji Muyao said, smoothing things over.

Lin Yuejiao sat to the side and said nothing more.

After accompanying the Old Matriarch for half an hour, Lin Yuejiao took her leave and went to Yilan Pavilion, where the second branch resided. The courtyard was as plain as her own former Youran Courtyard, and one could tell at a glance that Lin Xuelan was not favored.

Lin Xuelan’s mother had died early, and as an orphaned girl, she had no one to look after her. Now that the marriage was set, it felt as though the sky had collapsed.

"Even if you cry your eyes out, little sister Lan'er, it will not change this marriage," Lin Yuejiao said, looking at her.

Lin Xuelan looked up; her eyes were swollen like walnuts and her face was covered in tears. She was delicate and pretty, but in a house like the Lin family where beauties gathered, even Lin Xueshu was more striking than she was.

"Greetings, Fourth Sister." Lin Xuelan quickly wiped the tears from her face and bowed, looking at Lin Yuejiao with a hint of nervousness.

"Are you not part of the second branch? Why didn't the Second Madam help you? It was she who stirred up the initial talk of marriage with the Liu family. The Second Madam knows best what the consequences of marrying into the Liu family are," Lin Yuejiao said, her tone devoid of emotion.

Lin Xuelan gave a desolate smile, "I am of lowly status; why would Mother plead for me?"

"I fear that even if she did, it would be useless. I just tested the waters, and the Old Matriarch is very fond of the position of the Liu family’s mistress and supports this marriage. Even if someone were to plead for you, you would still have to marry," Lin Yuejiao said.

Lin Xuelan felt as though she had been struck by lightning. "Then does that mean... there is no use in me begging anyone?"

"I have a way for you not to have to marry Liu Lingbo." Lin Yuejiao's tone was calm, yet it carried a sense of certainty that made one believe she could do it.

Lin Xuelan looked at her in disbelief, "You... are you going to plead for me?"

"No. Because pleading is useless. I know what you are thinking; you think that if you tell the Old Matriarch that Liu Lingbo is cruel to women, and make yourself look pitiable enough to have people with influence in the house plead on your behalf, you could win the Old Matriarch's pity." Lin Yuejiao sat in a chair in the room, her clear, dark eyes possessing a sharpness that could see through the human heart.

"That is because you overestimate family affection and underestimate... profit," Lin Yuejiao added.

Lin Xuelan was a clever girl and understood instantly. Her strength seemed to drain away, and she said desolately, "Fourth Sister is as sharp as a fire; you are right, I have no options left."

Suddenly thinking of what Lin Yuejiao had just said about being able to help her, she felt as if she had grabbed the last straw of hope. She dropped to her knees and kowtowed to Lin Yuejiao, tears streaming down her face, "Fourth Sister, please, save me."

"Yuanwei, help the Sixth Young Miss up. Tuomi, go stand guard outside the door and don't let anyone near," Lin Yuejiao said methodically, having known this would be the outcome.

"Fourth Sister, to let me marry into the Liu family is to let me die. If you can help me this once, it is like saving my life. In the past, I followed Lin Qingxu and said some unpleasant things; I am willing to accept any punishment from you, Fourth Sister. I only ask that you help me this once," Lin Xuelan said, refusing to rise and continuing to cry on the floor.

Lin Yuejiao looked at her, "I have long forgotten those trivial matters from the past. Helping you once is not difficult. But you must know, if Liu Lingbo is gone, there will be others. How long do you think you can hide? Will the next marriage be any better than this one?"