Chapter 183: Can’t Get In

 Chapter 183: Can’t Get In

After being rejected by Yan Zhigao and mocked by Master Xiao, Advisor Lin was feeling very frustrated. He paced back and forth in the front courtyard before heading straight toward the back courtyard.

In the Double Fragrance Courtyard 

Yan Yishuang was sulking as she wrote large characters with great effort, her face filled with displeasure. Concubine Lin sat beside her, occasionally offering advice.

"Mother, how long do I have to write a hundred characters? Could you go ask Father to let me off? I can’t take it anymore," Yan Yishuang complained, putting down her brush and rubbing her sore wrist.

Concubine Lin paused for a moment before pulling Yan Yishuang’s hand and massaging it. "Your father punished you because you publicly contradicted your legitimate mother. This is a lesson you must remember. Never make the same mistake again." 

Since they had come to Xingzhou, Yan Zhigao had been placing more importance on Madam Li, something Concubine Lin had noticed clearly. Now, it was better not to confront her.

Yan Yishuang pouted, "But big sister contradicted Father, too, and she wasn’t punished."

Concubine Lin tapped Yan Yishuang’s forehead gently. "Your big sister is a smart person. She knows when to do what. Think about it—when she contradicted your father, was it ever in front of outsiders?"

Yan Yishuang frowned, thinking hard. She realized that it was true; her big sister had only ever done so in private.

Concubine Lin continued, "That’s why your big sister is so clever. In front of outsiders, whether it’s your father or your elder brother, she always gives them face and never argues with them."

"At home, it’s different—family matters are private and shouldn’t be meddled with by outsiders. But once it involves outsiders, it becomes a matter of family reputation and upbringing."

"When you argued with Madam Li in front of Madam Zhu, on a small scale, it was disrespecting your mother; on a larger scale, it makes it seem like the Yan family’s upbringing is flawed. Your father punished you because he cares about you and the family’s reputation."

Yan Yishuang froze for a moment. She hadn’t realized that just speaking up for her good friend, Zhu Xiuyun, had caused such a big problem.

"Your mother is right. You must be extra respectful toward Madam Li in front of outsiders," a voice interrupted.

Both Concubine Lin and Yan Yishuang turned to see Advisor Lin walking in.

"Uncle!" Yan Yishuang’s face lit up with joy as she ran toward him.

Concubine Lin stood up, puzzled. "Aren’t you supposed to be at the office right now? What are you doing here?"

Advisor Lin sighed and sat down, picking up a sweet from the table and taking a bite. "The food here is really good. Ever since coming to Xingzhou, the food at Brother-in-law’s place has only gotten better."

Concubine Lin slapped his hand playfully. "I’m asking you a question. Why are you here at this time?"

Advisor Lin glanced at her, frowned, and said, "Sister, don’t you know that Brother-in-law is going to the provincial capital to attend the Prefect Magistrate’s banquet?"

Concubine Lin’s eyes lit up with surprise. "Really?"

Seeing his sister’s surprised and happy expression, Advisor Lin suddenly felt that the sweet he was eating no longer tasted good. He put it down and muttered, "I’ve been a scholar for years, but I’ve never managed to pass the second degree."

"I asked others to look at my essays, and while they said they were good, they pointed out that my knowledge is lacking and my ideas are shallow, meaning I only know how to write but have no real understanding."

Concubine Lin, not really understanding the details of the imperial exams, was still confused by what Advisor Lin said. "Just say it plainly. What do you want me to do?"

Advisor Lin hesitated for a moment before saying, "I just want to be around Brother-in-law more, to see more and experience things. After all, there are many things that can’t be learned from books."

Concubine Lin understood. "You want to go to the provincial capital with Brother-in-law?"

Advisor Lin nodded.

Concubine Lin thought for a moment before replying, "You should ask him yourself."

Advisor Lin grumbled, "I asked, but he turned me down."

Last time, when he had wanted to join the official duties, it had been disappointing but bearable. But this time, the Prefect Magistrate’s banquet would be attended by many officials, and if he could meet some of them, it would be a huge benefit for his knowledge and connections.

Concubine Lin fell silent. After a while, she said, "You should go back to the office first. It’s not good to skip work. I will talk to Master about this when I get the chance."

Advisor Lin’s face brightened. "Sister, you must hurry! Brother-in-law is leaving today."

Concubine Lin nodded absently, and after Advisor Lin left, she immediately called for a maid to find out Yan Zhigao’s plans.

In the back courtyard of the Yan family, Daohua, accompanied by Wang Man’er, had just come out of the Old Madam’s courtyard when she spotted Advisor Lin leaving through the flower gate. She immediately frowned. "Is Advisor Lin back in the back courtyard again?"

Wang Man'er was unperturbed: "Isn't this normal? Advisor Lin goes to Shuangxing Courtyard every few days."

Hearing this, Daohua furrowed her brow tightly, and it remained like that all the way to the main courtyard.

Seeing her like this, Madam Li smiled and said, "Who upset you? Why are you so unhappy?"

Daohua replied, "Mother, could you tell the gatekeeper to make sure Advisor Lin doesn't enter the back courtyard anymore? He's an outsider, always coming and going—what's that supposed to mean? If someone didn’t know better, they'd think our family doesn't have proper morals."

Madam Li's expression shifted slightly. She glanced toward the inner room and said with a smile, "What, Advisor Lin went to Shuangxing Courtyard again?"

Daohua, noticing her mother’s expression, narrowed her eyes and raised her voice slightly, "Exactly, when Man'er and I came out of Grandmother's courtyard, we saw him."

Madam Li looked surprised. "That doesn't make sense. At this hour, Advisor Lin should be in the office, shouldn't he?"

Daohua responded, "Well, with Father around, he can skip work, and no one dares to say anything."

Inside the room, Yan Zhigao, who was changing clothes, furrowed his brows tightly upon hearing the conversation between mother and daughter.

He knew that Advisor Lin and Lin Shi were close, and he had accepted that. Since Lin Shi couldn’t go out and socialize and had to stay in the back courtyard, he pitied her loneliness. So when she said she wanted her younger brother to visit more often and talk with her, he had agreed.

However, at this moment, he was displeased.    

Firstly, because Madam Li and their eldest daughter were right—Advisor Lin was entering and leaving the Yan family’s back courtyard too often. Secondly, he had already suspected what Advisor Lin’s intentions were with Lin Shi.

He had already said he would take Advisor Xiao to the provincial office, but Advisor Lin still went to see Lin Shi, even skipping work to do so.

In the official’s office, he never skipped work without a valid reason, and yet Advisor Lin seemed to have more authority than he did.

It seemed he had been too indulgent with them in the past.

Daohua intentionally said a few words and, at Madam Li's signal, left.

Once she was gone, Yan Zhigao stepped out of the room and said to Madam Li, "In the future, Advisor Lin shouldn’t be allowed to enter the back courtyard at will."

Madam Li smiled and said, "I’ll listen to you. Actually, I’ve been meaning to bring it up. We're not what we used to be. If an outsider is seen frequently entering the inner courtyard, it could hurt our family’s reputation."

Yan Zhigao nodded, "I didn’t think this through before."

Madam Li comforted him, "You’re busy with matters outside, handling the official paperwork. Naturally, some family matters can't be attended to as thoroughly."

Yan Zhigao smiled, "I’m grateful to you for taking care of the household affairs. It eases my worries."

The two chatted for a while. When Ping Xiao and Ping Tong finished preparing the things he needed to take, Yan Zhigao prepared to leave.

"The days are getting hotter. Be careful outside, don’t let yourself get overheated."

Madam Li walked with him to the door, reminding him carefully.

On the way, Concubine Lin, accompanied by her maid, hurried over. "Is Master leaving?"

Madam Li smiled, "He’s going to the provincial office."

Concubine Lin's expression changed, "So soon? There's still so much I haven’t prepared."

Yan Zhigao furrowed his brows. "Everything I need has already been arranged by Madam. This is none of your concern. Go back to your own courtyard."

Concubine Lin’s face turned pale, and her body swayed slightly.

If it were normally, seeing her in such a pitiful state, Yan Zhigao might have shown some pity. But now, with his mind set on going to the provincial office, he couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to her.

Moreover, after all these years, he felt he had seen enough of her.

So, Concubine Lin, who had been expecting some comfort or reassurance, was instead left staring in disbelief as he and Madam Li walked away.

"Has Master already grown tired of me?"

Concubine Lin was in a daze, and her heart filled with unease.

She and her two children had been able to stay in the Yan family thanks to Yan Zhigao's favor. If one day that favor disappeared, what would she and her children do?

Her brother, too, had failed to make a name for himself in the imperial exams. Although he was a scholar, he couldn’t even get a post. Without Yan Zhigao’s support, his prospects were bleak.

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Suddenly, everything before her went black, and she fainted, her world spinning.

(End of chapter)