Chapter 288: Chapter 288

Martial Champion Mansion.

Since returning that day after an open-hearted talk with Wen Wan, Lin Xiaoyue’s mood has not been very good.

During this time, Lin Xiaorou proactively visited to curry favor.

Lin Xiaoyue was not the gentle and soft type to begin with, she couldn’t handle endlessly dealing with them. Thinking about Lin Xiaorou’s disgusting past, she felt inexplicably irritable and scolded her out in front of Su Qing.

Afterwards, she propped her head up, half-leaning and half-lying on the beauty couch, her brows tightly furrowed.

Su Qing sat nearby, noticed her poor state, and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Lin Xiaoyue gave him an annoyed glance, "Didn’t you notice what those three are up to?"

Su Qing responded with a sound, "What if I did?"

Lin Xiaoyue was frustrated, her chest felt heavy, and she didn’t bother with him any longer. She got up from the beauty couch, planning to take a walk outside.

Being pregnant, Su Qing felt a little uneasy and got up to follow her.

Lin Jingjing and Lin An’an, the two sisters, sat facing each other, enjoying tea and snacks.

Seeing Lin Xiaoyue and Su Qing strolling leisurely on the opposite side of the lake, Lin An’an’s heart filled with envy, and she turned to Lin Jingjing, "The old lady thinks big sister can’t have children, so she wants us to serve Mr. Qi and help him extend the family. Who would’ve thought, as soon as we arrived, big sister suddenly got pregnant. Sister, do you think she deliberately brought us here to make a joke of us?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽

Lin Jingjing’s gaze was fixed on the tall, upright figure of the man across the lake, her eyes filled with infatuation and a certain determination.

Hearing Lin An’an’s voice, Lin Jingjing retracted her gaze and replied ambiguously, "I heard that previously Second Cousin went to the main courtyard to serve tea but was scolded and sent away by big sister."

Lin An’an spat, "That piece of trash, she still has the face to approach Mr. Qi?"

Lin Jingjing continued, "Second Cousin may be reaping what she sowed, but this won’t last long. I overheard big sister discussing with Mr. Qi yesterday, planning to send us back in a few days."

"No way!" Lin An’an exclaimed, slamming the table, "I’ve come all this way, and I never planned to leave. Besides, it’s arranged by the old lady. What right does she have to send us away? Sister, you better think of something, or else if she really sends us back, wouldn’t we have come for nothing?"

Lin Jingjing didn’t suggest any ideas, she seemed to mutter unconsciously, "Big sister is pregnant, she shouldn’t be sharing a bed. If we leave, Mr. Qi might suffer quite a bit."

Hearing this, Lin An’an’s mind started to turn.

The next day, Lin An’an took the initiative to ask Lin Xiaoyue to take her out for a walk, saying she felt cooped up after staying in the mansion for so long.

Lin Xiaoyue did not refuse.

Despite having no good feelings towards them, she still called the three of them when getting ready to leave.

Before they left, Lin An’an suddenly had a stomachache and said she couldn’t go.

Lin Jingjing saw through her act and smoothly said, "Since An An can’t go, the rest of us will go. If we see anything good to eat, we’ll bring some back for her. This girl, nothing else, she’s just a glutton."

Lin Xiaorou sneered, "Afraid it’s not just gluttony? I see her eyes are quite greedy too, looking at things she shouldn’t."

Lin Jingjing smiled gently, "An An is only fifteen, not yet married, and hasn’t carried a burden of infamy from eloping with someone. At her age, having some admiration isn’t quite normal?"

Lin Xiaorou’s face immediately darkened.

Lin Xiaoyue stayed silent the whole time but looked at Lin Jingjing with interest after her words fell.

Facing Lin Xiaoyue, Lin Jingjing quickly retracted her previous claws, "Does Big Sister think I said something wrong?"

Lin Xiaorou also looked over, seemingly waiting for her response.

Lin Xiaoyue averted her eyes, gazing straight ahead, "Sister Jing, what do you think of our family’s status in Jizhou?"

"Isn’t that obvious?" Lin Jingjing said, "With Brother-in-law, the Martial Champion, as our backing, our family’s status naturally rises. The business these past two years has been getting better compared to before."

"So, does that mean our Lin Family is quite famous in Jizhou?"

Lin Jingjing, unlike Lin An’an, was quick-witted, realizing Lin Xiaoyue might be setting a trap for her, and didn’t follow her lead, "Why did Big Sister suddenly bring this up?"

Lin Xiaoyue curled her lips, "Just suddenly thought that our family still has a few unmarried beauties. Surely, many people in Jizhou are eagerly waiting. Who knows how grand it will be in the future."

These words were subtly spoken.

Due to Su Qing, the Lin Family wasn’t without a name in Jizhou. Su Qing’s title of "Martial Champion" even became a living signboard for the Lin Family, attracting quite a bit of business over the years.

Under such circumstances, there was no way for a young lady from the Lin Family to quietly get married; there would inevitably be a commotion when the time came.

And to cause such a commotion, it would have to be with the man’s family following the three letters and six etiquettes, formally coming to marry her as a legitimate wife.

Wanting a grand affair while becoming a concubine? Unless marrying into nobility, it’s quite something if others don’t gossip behind your back.

As Lin Xiaoyue finished speaking, Lin Jingjing, who had realized what was going on, felt a chill in her heart.

Of course, she wanted to be a legitimate wife, but from the first moment she laid eyes on that man, there was no room for anyone else in her heart. Privately, she often regretted why she wasn’t born a few years earlier, why it was Lin Xiaoyue who married into the Su Family instead of her.

Lin Xiaorou understood as well, but she couldn’t be bothered. Having eloped with someone back in the day, she already had a bad reputation. Was she going to be afraid of outside rumors now?

Seeing the usually cunning Lin Jingjing embarrassed by Lin Xiaoyue’s words, she felt quite satisfied.

Without being pushed, Lin Xiaoyue wouldn’t have realized how articulate she had become under the influence of the women in the grand mansion.

Pretending not to see Lin Jingjing’s embarrassment, she used a sisterly tone of concern, "Has Aunt mentioned anything about arranging a marriage for you now that you’ve come of age?"

Lin Jingjing suppressed her anger and smiled, "Not yet!"

"Indeed," Lin Xiaoyue chuckled, "Aunt was very selective in finding a husband back in the day. Now that it’s her daughter’s turn, she naturally wants to find a suitable match. Even though our Lin Family is in commerce, our girls are outstanding, and it’s not like there aren’t proper families out there. Aunt is a strong-willed person; she wouldn’t make her daughter become someone’s concubine, right? What do you think, Sister Jing?"

Lin Jingjing’s expression stiffened, "You’re right, Big Sister."

Lin Xiaoyue sighed again, "Every woman hopes to be carried into her husband’s family in a large sedan chair. Who would want to live under the shadow of a legitimate wife?"

They barely made it out before reaching the market, and Lin Jingjing had already lost interest in strolling around, wanting to head back directly.

Seeing this, Lin Xiaorou smiled at Lin Xiaoyue, "Big Sister is caring even while pregnant, which is Sister Jing’s blessing."

Lin Jingjing remained silent with a somber expression.

Lin Xiaoyue continued, "I worry about Sister Jing because she listens to Aunt and wouldn’t dare elope like some. If she were so bold, even if I wished to intervene, I wouldn’t have the ability to do so."

Hearing Lin Xiaorou being mocked, Lin Jingjing’s unpleasant expression eased slightly.

She was secretly astonished.

Lin Xiaoyue had only been married for four years, yet her demeanor, dealings with people, and even her way of speaking had drastically changed compared to four years ago.

This new Lin Xiaoyue was undoubtedly harder to deal with and even more obnoxious than before.

Champion Scholar Mansion.

Shortly after Lin Xiaoyue and the others left, Lin An’an went to the main house under the pretense of looking for something in the main courtyard.

A maid immediately stopped her, "Miss An, Granny Qi has gone out and is not in the mansion."

Lin An’an said, "I have something to discuss with Mr. Qi."

The maid was firm, "Mr. Qi is taking a nap and has instructed not to see anyone."

"Not even me?" Lin An’an deliberately raised her voice.

The maid frowned, "Please, Miss An, do not make things difficult for us servants."

"Mr. Qi, An An has something urgent to discuss!" Lin An’an, heedless, directly shouted inside.

Su Qing, in fact, hadn’t been sleeping; he simply didn’t want to meet the Lin Family girls.

Being disturbed now annoyed him a bit. After frowning, he instructed the maid, "Let her in."

As he spoke, he slowly sat up straight.

With Lin Xiaoyue and the other two not present, after entering, Lin An’an unabashedly allowed her eyes to linger on Su Qing’s handsome face, without any attempt to hide it.

Su Qing didn’t look at her, taking a sip from the teacup on the table, "Didn’t you say you have something to discuss with me?"

At his words, Lin An’an blushed slightly and, after a moment, directly asked, "Mr. Qi, Big Sister is pregnant. Don’t you have anyone to serve by your side?"

Hearing this, Su Qing raised an eyebrow, "Are you planning to offer yourself as a concubine?"

Such blunt words should have embarrassed any girl until she was red-faced, but Lin An’an seemed unfazed, only looking at Su Qing with a hint of nervousness, "So, what do you think? Am I suitable?"