Since the master valued this legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's mansion, he naturally did not dare to be negligent.
This man was an ordinary official in the Dali Temple, but he was the only insider Bai Yu Lin could approach. Therefore, as soon as this man was about to leave, he was pulled away to inquire about the situation.
The confidant had been briefed before coming. Although the master did not intend to do anything to Prime Minister Bai, his intention was to give him a warning. He accepted all the benefits he was supposed to receive and remained tight-lipped when questioned, only leaving him with a promise that the Third Prince would not harm his entire family.
Bai Yu Lin became famous at a young age, but he valued power more than anything else. Now, knowing that he could not keep his official position, he was naturally unwilling to accept his helplessness.
He made arrangements and moved around, finally finding a way to reduce his crimes. Even if this method could not save his current position as Prime Minister, it would at least result in a demotion rather than removal from office.
Over the years, he had cultivated many disciples, but when he needed them, few were useful. So his final method was: marriage alliance.
With the Second Prince just dead, regardless of any other factors, Bai Qing Yue could not marry so hastily, or her lifelong reputation would be ruined. The only other daughter in the family who could be married off was Bai Yue Lin.
Yue Shi knew about this and naturally disagreed.
"Master, don't you know what kind of person the Marquis's heir is? If our Lin'er marries him, she will suffer." Yue Shi knelt on the ground with a sorrowful expression, hoping to awaken Bai Yu Lin's paternal love.
Bai Yu Lin did not even change his expression and said coldly, "Lin'er will only enjoy blessings after marrying, where will she suffer? The Marquis's mansion has been passed down through generations, and the Marquis's heir will be the future master of the mansion. Lin'er will be the mistress of the household as soon as she marries. What are you dissatisfied with?"
Yue Shi's expression became even more resentful, but she also realized that Bai Yu Lin was determined to push his own daughter into a wolf's den. She stopped pretending to be weak and stood up to argue with him.
"The Marquis's mansion may appear to be hereditary, but how rotten has it become inside? Do you think they will help you if Lin'er marries into their family? Everyone in the capital knows the character of the Marquis's heir. He hasn't even married yet, but he already has countless concubines in his inner court. The Marquis's family fortune will be squandered by him sooner or later."
"Shut up!" Bai Yu Lin's face was filled with anger at being exposed. "A starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Moreover, the old Marquis has already agreed to me. By the decree of parents and the words of a matchmaker, this marriage must happen for Lin'er, no matter what." With that, Bai Yu Lin flicked his sleeve and left.
Yue Shi's face turned pale, and her expression was shaky. The words Bai Yu Lin had just said to her were what she had once said to Bai Qing Yue. Indeed, life was unpredictable!
No matter how resentful she was in her heart, Bai Yu Lin was still the one in charge of the household. No matter how unwilling she was, she could only accept it grudgingly. She could only teach her daughter more skills and provide more dowry to make her future life easier.
When the news reached Bai Qing Yue, she merely said she knew. She did not care about the future of that mother and son. Many years ago, she had completely seen through Bai Yu Lin.
As long as you did not harm his interests, he would naturally be willing to hold you in his hands. But as soon as someone made a move that could threaten him, he would nip the danger in the bud.
Many times, a person's appearance could be deceiving. Deep affection could actually be faked.
After the aftermath of Feng Li Yan's incident concluded, Feng Li Yu began to openly purge officials from Feng Li Yan's faction. For those who could not be won over and were corrupt officials, evidence was reported directly to the Emperor for handling.
For those without evidence, it was time for his carefully trained assassins to act. Feng Li Yu was not entirely ruthless; he left a sliver of room for maneuver, killing only the main culprits and sparing the younger generation who were unaware.
Assassinating court officials could not be done too openly. These assassins disguised themselves as passionate martial artists. After killing their targets, they would post the crimes committed by the deceased on martial arts rankings. Although there was no evidence, public opinion could be overwhelming, enough to make those people infamous.
Xing Yuan was also roped in due to an unintentional promise she made in the past. She had agreed to help Feng Li Yu eliminate his rivals, but she had not agreed to become his subordinate! How did it come to this? Xing Yuan was quite depressed. If the people assigned to her were not all in the capital, Xing Yuan might have really quit.
As Xing Yuan became busy, she was out early and returned late every day. Worried that her sister might be bullied in her absence, she borrowed a few hidden guards from Feng Li Yu to protect her in secret.
One day, as Xing Yuan returned to her room, Bai Qing Yue tiptoed and peeked her head in from the doorway.
"Yuan'er, have you been particularly busy lately?" Bai Qing Yue walked into the room with a hint of nervousness.
"If Sister needs me to do anything, of course I'm not busy!" Xing Yuan raised an eyebrow, a smile hidden in her eyes. She could finally not resist coming to find her.
Bai Qing Yue felt a little wronged in her heart, and her eyes involuntarily carried a hint of accusation. It was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality! This principle applied everywhere.
Before, it would not have been an exaggeration to say that Xing Yuan was obedient to Bai Qing Yue in every way. If Bai Qing Yue mentioned wanting something one day, it would generally be prepared the next. During this period, although Xing Yuan's excuse was that she was working for the Third Prince, wasn't it also her intention to let her sister realize her importance in her life?
Only then could she proceed to the next step!
"In a while, I want to go to the temple to fulfill a vow. Can Yuan'er accompany me?" Bai Qing Yue's expression was anxious, very worried about being rejected.
"Okay!" Xing Yuan would naturally not refuse such a thing, and the matters with Feng Li Yu were almost resolved. If it weren't for the grand promises he made, how could she have been willing to work for him for so long?
"Mhm!" Having received a definite answer, Bai Qing Yue left with light steps.
A few days later, the two of them, without any other attendants, set off for Cheng'an Temple.
Bai Qing Yue's expression was filled with excitement. She rarely traveled far from home!
The two of them were dressed inconspicuously, and Xing Yuan wore her sword at her waist. The label of being neither oily nor easily provoked kept them from encountering any trouble.
The two of them leisurely traveled and enjoyed the scenery along the way. Some childish games also made them very happy.
Bai Qing Yue enjoyed the feeling of freedom in nature. From birth, she had been taught the "three obediences and four virtues," and that she could not do anything that might endanger the family's reputation.
Even when she was happy, she would only smile without revealing her teeth, and her expression appeared very relaxed.