Chapter 41: Discussing Marriage

With a dark face, Lin Sang wanted to reprimand his niece, but for the sake of keeping appearances, he decided to swallow his anger and leaned back on his seat like a child who has lost an argument.

Lin Xiaofei ignored him and reached for the teacup on the table before taking a small sip. She couldn't care less of the two uncles of the previous Lin Xiaofei, but she couldn't allow them from acting condescendingly towards her.

Lin Xiaomeng sent a few disapproving glares at his second son, but Lin Sang was not looking at him and didn't see this. However, it was the opposite to Lin Feng, who was still sitting and watching this scene silently.

He noticed his father's glare towards his brother and wanted to sigh at the stupidity of his brother. He knew that Lin Xiaomeng doted on Lin Xiaofei and was only asking for trouble if they tried to bully the young lady in front of their father, and yet, Lin Sang forgot himself and tried to make things difficult for Lin Xiaofei.

However, this wasn't what he was focusing on as he stared at the young lady seated beside Lin Xiaomeng and had her head lowered. And as if she could feel him staring at her, Lin Xiaofei raised her head and looked at him.

With a smile on her face, she asked, "First uncle, is something wrong?"

Lin Feng stared at her and said, "…No."

Earlier that day, Wu Jin Yan mentioned what happened a few days ago where a body was found hanging in one of the beams of the western courtyard.

At first, he didn't want to bother with his wife's nonsense but the gossip of the servants in the Lin residence eventually reached his ears. He had heard that a dead body was hanging upside-down on the beam and that the two madams and the fourth young lady of the Lin family quarrelled.

Of course, he didn't buy the gossip he heard but the news of Lin Xiaomeng punishing the soldiers guarding the residence that day was enough proof that the servants didn't lie with their story nor did his wife.

As a man with a rank in the imperial court, Lin Feng was never the type to get involved with the matters of their inner courtyards or the frequent battles of the female members of the family.

Even when Wu Jin Yan constantly urged him to get rid of his concubines or their daily battles, he didn't dare try to appease the ladies or take care of the problems concerning the residence.

However, his uncaring attitude became a problem to their marriage and the husband and wife became cold to each other albeit still having a mild conversation for appearance sake only.

Seeing that he refused to share his thoughts, Lin Xiaofei turned to Lin Xiaomeng instead, "I have heard that grandfather wants my presence and now I am here, what does grandfather want to say?"

Clearing his throat, Lin Xiaomeng immediately said, "A few days ago the Chu family visited our residence and had broken the engagement," he paused for a few seconds to gouge Lin Xiaofei's expression and when he saw that she hadn't displayed any emotion on her face, he continued, "Although, I very much wished I could do something about it, those vile people have made up their minds."

"However, if Fei'er wished for it, grandfather will rush to the palace tomorrow to meet the emperor and ask a decree. Seeing that I still have influence in the court, surely, the emperor wouldn't refuse to grant any favors to me."

Hearing this, not only Lin Xiaofei was surprised, both Lin Feng and Lin Sang was shocked that their heads whipped toward the direction of their father.

They couldn't believe that their father would waste the emperor's favor just to make Lin Xiaofei happy and kinda felt bitter.

All these years, they tried to please Lin Xiaomeng and even though, they took a different path from what Lin Xiaomeng wanted for them to become, a general, Lin Feng and Lin Sang still worked hard to climb up the ranks so that they could be recognized by their father and eventually become the next head of the Lin family.

A few years ago, when Lin Xiaofei first came to the Lin family residence, the brothers didn't raise any complaint and let Lin Xiaofei walk into the gates of their residence.

However, after witnessing Lin Xiaomeng favoring Lin Xiaofei over their own children, they couldn't stop but bully Lin Xiaofei.

But they didn't expect that the extent of Lin Xiaomeng's doting was limitless and that he would even raise the idea of using the favor he got from the emperor to give Lin Xiaofei a better life, even if it was forcing others.

As their displeasure and bitter feeling started making them frown at Lin Xiaomeng, a gentle laughter sounded through their ears and their eyes soon followed where it was coming from.

With a hand over her mouth, Lin Xiaofei continued to laugh gently like a little child before stopping and said, "What is grandfather saying? I already told you that I am willing to break off the engagement and had already said these words in front of Madam Chu and the Chu young lord. There is no way I would go back on one's own words."

"But, still… The engagement with the Chu family is the best option for Fei'er. I cannot just let you force yourself to marry someone of a low background." Lin Xiaomeng explained.

After what happened at the Receiving hall, Lin Xiaomeng was not reconciled and didn't feel great even after Lin Xiaofei reassured him. How could he not when his granddaughter's marriage was at stake?

Feeling amused at the affection she was getting from Lin Xiaomeng, Lin Xiaofei titled her head slightly and said, "Is this why First and Second Uncle are here? To discuss the matters of my marriage?"

With a face full of guilt, Lin Xiaomeng nodded his head. "Why is grandfather rushing? Even though I am almost at the end of the age where one should be married, I still have a lot of time to think of who to marry," she said, "There is no need for First and Second uncles to rush too and let us wait for the right time. Who knows if an eligible bachelor would come knocking on our doors and ask my hand for marriage."