Chapter 20: Mistaken Benefactor?

"I have found the savior of the prince for you!"

What?!

Secretary Xu stared in disbelief at Lin Wanyue, who was being pushed forward. Even Lin Qingwu, who had been contemplating whether he should go to the homes of local gentry to look for clues, was stunned.

"What do you mean you've found the savior? Are you saying... my little sister saved someone from the Northern Rong royal family?"

"Yes." With everyone watching, Lin Wanyue nodded instinctively.

This shocked Lin Yuanzhi deeply. "You went to save someone? When did you save them? Why didn't you tell your father? Do you have any idea how long we have been searching!"

"Father, I was grounded by Mother some time ago, and my younger sister kept beating and kicking me. I was unwell and did not leave my room, so naturally, I was unaware of these matters in the capital," Lin Wanyue said, seizing the opportunity to claim credit while also taking a jab at Lin Zhaozhao.

As expected, Lin Qingwu immediately furrowed his brows. "You are the eldest daughter, and she is the younger sister. In terms of reason and propriety, it is your place to restrain and discipline her. Since when is it acceptable for a younger sister to strike her older sister?"

Indeed, those rough backwaters produce unruly people. Having not been raised in the manor since childhood, she clearly lacked proper manners. If she were allowed to continue unchecked, wouldn't she cause even greater trouble in the future?

He declared immediately, "When I return to the manor, I must punish her severely!"

Lin Wanyue's face lit up with joy, thinking to herself that her brother truly favored her. Especially since she had done such a great favor for the Northern Rong prince, once she was titled a county princess, wouldn't Lin Zhaozhao have to kneel and bow to her in the future?

However, "Since Wanyue has helped the prince, it is a joyous occasion. Father, shouldn't you hurry to the palace to tell the Emperor, so that Wanyue can go to Northern Rong to assist in the negotiations?"

"Wait!" Just as Secretary Xu was about to nod, several other officials spoke up.

"This Miss Lin claims to have saved someone, but there is no evidence. Isn't that a bit too reckless?"

"Exactly! No one came to claim the credit these past few days, so why has someone suddenly appeared today?"

"This concerns the state and the position of a county princess; it would be best not to be too hasty!"

The officials who spoke this way included those working for the Emperor who feared the matter would be mishandled and lead to accountability, as well as those who were on bad terms with the Marquis of Qingyuan. Being granted the title of county princess was a windfall, and they saw no reason why it should be handed to the Marquis of Qingyuan's household for free.

Confronted by so many questions and meeting Lin Qingwu's inquiring gaze, Lin Wanyue spoke instinctively.

"I don't have any evidence, but I did indeed help someone previously. The person’s appearance was not like that of our Central Plains people, and I never imagined he would be—"

"Sigh, what do you mean, no evidence!" Secretary Xu interrupted. "Isn't the gold lock around Miss Lin’s neck proof enough?"

"What does the official mean by that?"

Secretary Xu replied, "After the little prince of Northern Rong was saved, he personally witnessed the young lady who saved him wearing a gold lock larger than her own face."

Among the many powerful families in the capital, while young noble ladies loved gold, they preferred small, delicate ornaments. Very few wore a gold lock as large as the one Lin Wanyue was wearing.

"I trust Miss Lin's character. She would certainly never dream of falsely claiming someone else's achievement!"

Wait a minute—

Lin Wanyue, who had been feeling smug, suddenly panicked. The person she had saved that day was clearly a grown man! And wasn't the Northern Rong prince visiting the capital to pay tribute a middle-aged man? How did it suddenly become a "little prince"?!

"It is truly because you, Marquis of Qingyuan, have taught your daughter well that she knows how to treat snake venom! A tiger father has no dog for a daughter! You have instantly solved our most pressing problem!"

The sound of praise echoed all around. Lin Yuanzhi felt refreshed and delighted. "This child has always had a mind of her own since she was young!"

"Since everything is clear, I shall go to the palace to report to the Emperor at once!"

Just as Secretary Xu was about to step forward, he turned back and added, "By the way, the princes and princesses will be starting their studies in the palace in a few days. The Emperor is looking for a study companion for the Sixth Princess. I hear your daughter has met the Sixth Princess a few times, so I will see if I can put in a good word for you."

Lin Wanyue: "!"

Lin Wanyue was currently in a state of panic. On one hand, she wanted to quickly explain that something seemed wrong, but on the other, she was under the eyes of the public...

Since Xu Jiaojiao had already said she was the one who saved the person, if she refuted it, she would lose face. How would the ladies of the capital view her? How would her brother and father think of her?

Moreover, with both the title of county princess and the position of a study companion on the table, if this succeeded, why would she ever need to worry about not being the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Qingyuan's household again?

In any case, the person had not come to claim the credit after so many days; perhaps they were just someone who liked to do good deeds without leaving their name?

The "little prince" was just a child, and children are easy to fool. He would certainly not realize it wasn't her who saved him.

After Lin Wanyue left the office of the Minister of Rites, the news that she had saved the little prince of Northern Rong spread quickly.

Lin Qingwu, now a Vice Minister in the Ministry of Rites, was tasked by the Emperor to handle the Northern Rong affairs. Having Lin Wanyue as an asset would be a great help to his future career.

He immediately bought Lin Wanyue many gold, silver, and jade ornaments, patted her head, and said, "Wanyue has grown up now; she even knows how to share the burden for the family."

The nineteen-year-old youth, with his sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, had inherited his parents' good looks. Just by standing there, he caused many noble ladies to blush secretly.

Encouraged by her eldest brother, Lin Wanyue's anxiety faded, and she instinctively straightened her back.

On the way back, she sighed and said, "By the way, Brother, you aren't at the manor, so you don't know—Zhao Shuangshuang is seducing Father and Grandfather. Not only does Zhaozhao not blame her, but she even helped her get married to Grandmother... Zhaozhao is becoming more and more outrageous. I am not the biological daughter, so it is difficult for me to say certain things..."

"Although you are not biological, you are the sister I hold closest to my heart!"

Lin Qingwu naturally could not stand to see Lin Wanyue feel so wronged, but he added, "After all, Zhaozhao has only just returned from the countryside and has not read books or studied. If she does something wrong, don't hold a grudge against her. You two are sisters and should work together to look after each other."

"I am the one looking after her!" Lin Wanyue, unhappy that her brother was treating an outsider better than her, snapped, "She acts like a shrew in the manor; should I just give the credit for saving the person to her instead?"

"Enough."

Lin Qingwu frowned, not refuting Lin Wanyue's description of her as a "shrew." In his memory, this sister—whom he had only met a few times—had been thin, sallow, and ugly when she first arrived at the manor, full of parochial airs. Later, she had even acted out of temper and targeted Wanyue.

He had long held many grievances against her. He pulled Lin Wanyue toward the manor, determined to make things clear to Lin Zhaozhao. He would ensure she didn't think that just because of a blood connection, she was someone unique in this family who could bully Wanyue!