"Elder Xu?" Lin Yi was stunned. "This, Aunt Grandmother, doesn't seem quite fitting."
"He fancies you, not Elder Xu's status. Elder Xu doesn't need to trade his own children for any benefits. He just needs to treat their children well. Don't tell me you can't do that."
Lin Yan glared at Lin Yi dangerously. Lin Yi quickly waved his hands. Then he immediately reacted.
"Aunt Grandmother, we're not even close to being engaged yet. Why are you thinking so far ahead?"
Although Lin Yi said this, his heart still stirred. For a granddaughter of Elder Xu to be willing to be friends with his Aunt Grandmother, she must be a very good woman.
The next day, an uninvited guest arrived at the manor. Xing Shaojun arrived at the manor's residence without any pretense, presenting a calling card.
The doorman dared not delay and immediately delivered the calling card into the residence.
Upon seeing the calling card, Lin Yan said nothing, merely instructing someone to invite him in.
"Young Master, why have you come to see me today?" Lin Yan asked after the servants brought him tea.
"I heard yesterday that some colleagues gathered at Miss Lin's estate and described your flower room as magnificent. I was curious and wanted to see it for myself," Xing Shaojun said, his gaze towards Lin Yan filled with a dangerous intensity.
It seemed that if Lin Yan refused, he would do something drastic.
"Then I'll have someone show you to the flower room." Lin Yan said, preparing to have someone escort Xing Shaojun.
"Does Miss Lin truly believe this is about the flower room?" Xing Shaojun was clearly displeased.
He had already known that her grand-nephews were investigating some unmarried officials, but he hadn't paid it any mind. However, this time, these people were brought right to his doorstep, and he could no longer ignore it.
"If it's not about the flower room, then what is it about?" Lin Yan retorted.
"Does Miss Lin insist on playing ignorant?" Xing Shaojun toyed with his teacup.
"Young Master misunderstands," Lin Yan looked at Xing Shaojun. "I'm not playing ignorant, but I truly don't believe this matter has anything to do with you."
"Has Miss Lin never seen my sincerity? I genuinely wish to marry Miss Lin into the Duke's mansion.
Furthermore, your former fiancé is about to marry a princess. Shouldn't you find someone better than him?"
"Marriage is not child's play!"
"Of course, it's not child's play. I believe I am the most suitable candidate for Miss Lin. What does Miss Lin think?
Miss Lin can consider it carefully. If Miss Lin makes up her mind, I will immediately send the matchmaker to your home."
"Then please leave for now, Young Master. I will consider it carefully."
"But didn't Miss Lin just promise to let me tour your flower room? I've been looking forward to it," Xing Shaojun said, putting down his teacup and speaking with a hint of presumption.
"Then I will have someone escort you there." Lin Yan said, and then called a maid to lead the way.
"Jun will not disturb Miss Lin's considerations. I hope Miss Lin can give me an answer soon." Xing Shaojun's smile held a confident certainty of victory.
For some reason, he had a gut feeling that this Miss Lin was not as distant as she appeared. That's why he dared to visit repeatedly.
Of course, only Lin Yan was worth such effort. With each interaction, he valued her more. If he hadn't needed to obtain her consent, he wouldn't have done this.
Couldn't he have directly asked His Majesty for a decree of marriage? Or simply sent a matchmaker. He was confident that once he sent someone, no one else would dare to propose.
He used to find women uninteresting, preferring battles.
After all these years, this was the first time he was willing to get to know a woman. Perhaps it was fate's arrangement when he first boarded her carriage.
That was the beginning of their fated connection. He was now truly grateful to those who had pursued him.
Lin Yan watched him leave and then finished the tea in her cup.
In truth, she didn't want to reject him, but the persona she projected did not allow for it.
She had just broken off an engagement and was about to get engaged again in a short period, and to someone even better than her previous fiancé. She didn't know what outsiders would say.
Although Lin Yan didn't care, as a daughter of the Lin family, she had to consider it. Therefore, she could only ask him to wait a little longer.
However, seeing him so jealous was quite amusing.
Xing Shaojun, however, did not receive Lin Yan's reply before being dispatched by His Majesty to patrol the northwest. He visited Lin Yan again before leaving.
"Miss Lin, you can take more time to consider. Will you give me an answer when I return from the northwest?"
"Then I will wait for Young Master's return from the northwest," Lin Yan said earnestly.
"Host, isn't this him tempting fate?" the system's voice carried a hint of amusement.
"Perhaps," she mused, as in the original plot, warfare erupted in the northwest that year, lasting for several years.
On the day Xing Shaojun left, Lin Yan went to see him off, though she did not formally appear, remaining seated in her carriage.
She knew he would recognize her carriage. Indeed, the man on horseback smiled even more brightly upon seeing it.
For the sake of that smile, many young ladies threw their handkerchiefs. This immediately caused Xing Shaojun to frown, and he quickly spurred his horse, accelerating away from the shower of silk.
Lin Yan watched his somewhat flustered appearance and found it very amusing. However, she also worried for him, as the northwest would soon be in turmoil, and she wondered if he would be in danger.
But he was an important supporting character, so he should have some plot armor, right?
That evening, someone delivered a letter to her. Lin Yan calculated that he hadn't even traveled fifty miles out of the capital before sending this letter.
"Miss, my master told me that from now on, I will be solely responsible for delivering messages. If you have any letters, I will deliver them for you," the person said cautiously, seemingly aware that his master's actions were somewhat improper.
"I understand. From now on, when you deliver a letter, bring it directly in. I will instruct the doormen to let you pass."
"Thank you, Miss, thank you, Miss!" He bowed repeatedly, realizing that his master's feelings were not one-sided.
"Alright, you may go back now!" Lin Yan did not wish to see anyone from his household at the moment.
Summer gave way to autumn, and the princess's manor was completed. Xing Shaojun had still not returned.
After the princess's manor was finished, Jiayi and Feng Feiyu's wedding had completed three of the six rites.
However, despite it being their own son's marriage, everything in the Marquis of Huaiyin's mansion had to follow the arrangements of the Imperial Household Department.
This made the Marchioness very uncomfortable, but she had no outlet for her displeasure. Her husband ignored her, her son had resigned himself to the situation, and her daughter was eagerly anticipating having a princess as a sister-in-law.
She could find no one in the household who understood her. She could only vent her pent-up resentment on the servants attending her.
This made all the servants in the Marquis of Huaiyin's mansion walk on eggshells, trembling with apprehension whenever they went to the main courtyard to report matters.
The Marchioness now somewhat regretted her decision. If only her son had married Lin Yan...
No, that Lin Yan was also not a good match. She was far inferior to Princess Jiayi. With the princess as his wife, her son would surely receive imperial favor, and his future would be bright!