The procession of horse carriages started from the prince’s mansion in the town center all the way to west of the capital city, where the Lin’s old mansion was.
Although Lin Muzhi was the head of the Lin Family, the Lins were a prosperous and large extended clan with many family branches.
Under usual circumstances, the three elders in the family would be the ones making decisions on matters regarding the family’s honor.
Fortunately, Lin Muzhi was a gentle and magnanimous man and Lin ngya’s mother was a ek and virtuous lady.
For this reason, the three family elders were especially caring towards Lin ngya.
Although of course, this was only true before Shangguan Qing married into the family.
At this mont, the leaders of the various branches were gathered in the ancestral hall.
Currently, the head seats were taken by the three aged elders of the family.
On normal days, these three elders of the Lin Family would be keeping themselves healthy and living a blissful life in their old age in their hos. However, today they had all gathered here.
It was all because the imbecile Lin ngya was now Princess Yu.
"She’s here, she’s arrived. Princess Yu has arrived, the three elders of the family!"
When Lin ngya’s horse carriage turned into the west street, a clever boy servant ca in to report her arrival.
"Don’t panic, you look absurd. Co on and follow to welco the princess."
Based on the seniority in the family, Lin ngya should address the elders as grandfathers.
However, they were only fourth-grade officials in the court. They were much inferior to Lin ngya in terms of their status.
Everyone in the household followed behind the three elders as they went out of the household to welco Lin ngya, who was now Princess Yu.
"Your servant, Lin Lei welco Princess Yu."
The most elderly elder, Lin Lei, used to serve in the Ministry of War in Imperial China. He was an upright and plainspoken man. In fact, he was Lin Muzhi’s first uncle.
In addition, he was the most senior and oldest elder in the family. He was representative of the Lins outside.
"Please rise. There is no need to stand on ceremony. We are after all one family."
The frail-sounding voice echoed from within the horse carriage, following which a snow-white hand parted the navy blue curtain of the carriage entrance.
Next, four pretty lasses erged from within the horse carriage two by two.
Following that, a pair of bright red embroidered shoes decorated with southern sea pearls appeared below the curtain of the carriage.
"It’s been a long ti since we last saw each other, the three respected elders. How have you been?"
Soon, a lady in magnificent dress stepped out of the horse carriage.
With an oval face and delicate features, the lady, though a little too pale, was very elegant indeed.
With the help of her maidservants, Lin ngya alighted from the horse carriage.
"All things are well. We are grateful for your concern. This way, please."
Lin Lei stepped aside for Lin ngya and her escorts to pass and entered the mansion. The old mansion of the Lins did not have many visitors on normal days.
However, it had always been kept clean. For this reason, the old mansion looked simple but elegant.
The procession of people walked through the garden and finally entered the ancestral hall at its heart.
Since there were no outsiders, Lin ngya paid her respects to the elders as a person in the younger generation would normally do.
"Your granddaughter, Lin ngya greets and pays respect to the ancestors as well as the three grandfathers."
Carefully and adhering strictly to the traditional practices, Lin ngya bowed down respectfully to the ancestors and the three elders, who gave her an approving look.
Not only did she take into consideration the greater interest of the family, but she also did not forget her roots. Although she was now a princess, she did not neglect her family’s rules and practices.
"Apparently, Muzhi has raised his daughter well."
Lin ngya’s maidservants had helped her get ready by tidying her hair and apparels.
Qinghu could not bear to see Lin ngya looking so frail, so he had sohow gotten his hands on a Ginseng pill.
Lin ngya, who quickly ingested the pill, which helped stop her hands and legs from shaking due to the lack of strength.
"Beloved grandfathers, please forgive ngya for not coming to the ancestral hall to pay my respects. There were too many things to handle in the prince’s mansion and Ya’er, being new to the matters in the prince’s mansion, has lost my head out of fear many a ti. I’m ready for any punishnt you t out for Ya’er."
Lin ngya was kneeling on a soft cushion on the floor, which was a much less strenuous position than standing upright.
However, to the three elders, she was showing an example of being respectful.
"Oh kid, we may be old, but we can totally empathize with what you’re going through. Please rise, lest the cold from the ground gets to you."
Lin Lei, who was sitting at the center, was obviously very happy with how well-mannered she was.
Nevertheless, Lin ngya shook her head and with a determined voice, said, "Ya’er had specially made this trip to ask a favor from the three grandfathers."
.
The three elders exchanged looks. They wondered how Lin ngya, being a princess now, would still need any favors from the three old grandfathers.
"Please tell us your request. Although we are definitely limited in our power, we will try our best to help as much as we can."
Their answer was not a direct one, but Lin ngya had expected it and was not surprised.
"It is my hope that Elder Sister Yue Ting’s morial tablet will be placed inside the ancestral hall. I wish for her body to be buried in the Lins’ ancestral tomb as the family’s daughter-in-law."
"What?!"
Lin ngya’s words fell on them like a bomb.
The death of Yue Ting had been much talked about topic in the capital city.
So people said that she was a woman who died fighting for her honor, instead of continuing living in sha.
Yet there were others who said that she had been abandoned by the Yues after she brought sha to herself and her family.
The comnts which went around consisted of both positive and negative ones.
Regardless, the Lins, whom she was betrothed to, were the first to the take the impact of these rumors.
Instantly, the faces of the three grandfathers turned ashen.
Despite the fact that Lin ngya was Princess Yu, her request had put them in a tight spot.
Lin Lei let out a groan and said with a firm tone, "Fool! Yue Ting’s reputation was utterly ruined. She had beco the mockery of the entire city. Are you saying you want the Lin family to shoulder such sha? ngya, we will let this go because you are Muzhi’s daughter.
"However, you must never ntion this ridiculous request again!"
His severe words and attitude spoke for all the people in the Lin Family.
Lin ngya had expected this to happen, so she kowtowed and continued with caution, "I understand Grandfather’s concern. I know this request is too much to ask, but Grandfather, weren’t the two families the ones who brought Yue Ting and Elder Brother together at first?"
Back then, her brother had rely treated Elder Sister Yue Ting like a younger sister.
For the benefit of the two families, they had forced them into this engagent against Elder Brother’s will.
Although, Yue Ting eventually touched the heart of her elder brother heart with her gentle and ek spirit.
At first, the elders had forced her father to many Shangguan Qing for the family’s interest, then, later on, her elder brother was forced to be engaged to Yue Ting in the sa manner.
The situation had beco a thorn in the hearts of the pair of father and son.
"That was the situation in the beginning, but things had changed now. If Yue Ting was not shad, we would still consider your request. However, given what had happened, there’s no way we can agree to it!"
Apparently, the majority of the family mbers were agreeable with what Lin Lei said.
At the response of Lin Lei, Lin ngya did not resort to begging. On the contrary, she stood up with the help of her maidservants at that mont.
"The Lin Family? Pfft, this must be a joke."
Lin ngya pulled a straight face while putting behind that soft and delicate facade. Imdiately, she stood there looking cold and cheerless, and she did not look any less formidable than the three elders of the family.
"Back then, you forced my father to marry Shangguan Qing, while completely disregarding how I, as a little girl, was badly abused by Shangguan Qing. Grandfather, do you still rember how I pleaded with you after my mother passed away?"
At the ntion of Lin ngya’s mother, the expression on the faces of the three elders changed instantly.
The second eldest grandfather, Lin Xiong, waved his hand and said, "Alright, the rest of you, please excuse yourselves for now."
The other family mbers who were hoping to hear more had no other choice but to leave at this mont.
Lin Lei waited for everyone, except Lin ngya, her escorts, the three elders and their confidantes, to exit from the ancestral before he started speaking again.
"We naturally felt indebted towards your mother with regards to her last wishes, but that and what you are discussing now were two separate matters. This is not the ti to reopen old wounds."
Lin ngya stood up from where she was sitting and sneered at the three elders.
"After my mother passed away, I found an account record book in her room. Although I did not understand what the numbers in it ant at that ti, I did not forget the numbers recorded in it. Now I understood the aning of it all."
The three elders began feeling uneasy at the ntion of the book of accounts.
Lin ngya’s mother was an intelligent woman, who looked ignorant on the outside.
At that ti, the finances of the entire Lin Family were in her control.
She had a thorough knowledge of all the accounts of the family’s properties and businesses belonging to the three main branches of the family.
"The fabric shop on the west street, 28th of the twelfth lunar month, soone withdrew 300 pieces of silver from the company account to use it on house renovation. The rice shop at Daliang Street, 30th of the fifth lunar month, soone withdrew 500 pieces of silver to—"
"Stop, these were ancient accounts. Even if you were to turn over the old accounts, there would be no evidence for an investigation!"
Lin Xiong tried to stop her in haste and his expression was no longer as cool and composed as before.
"You’re right, these old accounts can’t really prove anything. In the sa token, who can be without any faults in this life? Having one’s reputation ruined due to loss of chastity isn’t sothing one would wish to suffer, right?"
The expressions of the three elders’ faces were unpredictable in response to Lin ngya’s threat.
Nevertheless, Lin ngya remained adamant. She seed to be prepared for the worst.
As the three elders tried to maintain their composure, eventually, Lin Lei was the one who spoke up.
"ngya, you are after all a daughter of the Lins. If a scandal detrintal to our family starts to go around, it is not going to help you. Shall we try to think of a win-win solution?"
Ultimately, they were afraid of Lin ngya’s threat and started to back down. At the sa ti, Lin ngya pulled back her severe expression.
She knew better not to push them too hard.
"Alright, ngya didn’t an to offend the three of you, grandfathers, so please forgive my rudeness just now."
Lin ngya had backed off and the three elders were no longer displaying an attitude of being unable to take any questioning.
Being opened to discussion, the three elders finally agreed to let Yue Ting be buried on a piece of land near the Lin’s mansion.
It was also agreed that Yue Ting’s morial tablet could be placed in the ancestral hall, but had to be covered with a red cloth always, and the Lins of future generation need not pray to her.
As for Yue Ting’s status in the family, Lin ngya had insisted that she be considered Lin Nansheng’s wife, and so it was done.
However, no one should know about this.
Lin ngya had exhausted all her strength while negotiating with the three elders.
She had resorted to the threatening earlier on only as a ans of achieving her goal. In addition, Lin ngya eventually also used the precious gifts she brought to silence the elders.
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