"I have not," Yan Jin Chao replied.
But as the words left her mouth, a figure inexplicably appeared in her mind.
Lord Lin, hearing this, felt relieved. No matter how good this person was, as long as he had family ties, he could not become his son-in-law.
"Does Young Master Yan have plans to marry?"
Yan Jin Chao's gaze deepened upon hearing this, "Does Lord Lin ask this with a particular meaning?"
Lord Lin smiled and said, "Young Master Yan, do you have any thoughts about my daughter?"
Yan Jin Chao looked up at the woman wearing a veil beside him and said slowly, "Miss Lin is naturally someone who is both hard to come by and impossible to find. However, I have no intention of marrying."
Lin Shi Shu stiffened, biting her lower lip, rejected so openly.
Lord Lin's expression turned grim. "Shu'er is knowledgeable and virtuous, and she is this official's only daughter. Young Master Yan, have you thought this through? If you marry Shu'er, you will be this official's sole son-in-law..."
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Lord Lin. I will reiterate my previous statement: I have no intention of marrying. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave!" Yan Jin Chao rose and cupped his hands with a faint smile.
Lord Lin's face was extremely displeased. At this moment, Lin Shi Shu spoke, "Father..."
Lord Lin stood up and left, flicking his sleeve.
The scholars and literati only then noticed Lord Lin's angry departure. "Young Master Yan, may I speak with you privately?"
Yan Jin Chao nodded. "Of course."
Lin Shi Shu asked Cui Hua to find a secluded private room. Once inside, she removed her veil and looked at Yan Jin Chao, who followed her in. This was the first time she had ever looked at him so formally. Although she had seen him before, the veil had limited her vision.
Now, she could see him clearly. This Young Master Yan was truly an immortal descended to earth, so handsome that a single glance made her fall into a daze. Not to mention his bearing, he was simply peerlessly elegant.
"Young Master Yan, am I not good enough to be your wife?" Lin Shi Shu felt this was the boldest thing she had ever done in her life.
"It is not that Miss Lin is not good enough, but rather that I have no intention of marrying."
"Then can't you have the intention now?"
Yan Jin Chao looked at the woman before him, and suddenly a clear and beautiful face appeared in his mind. "No."
With that, he stood up. "I shall take my leave!"
He left in a hurry.
Lin Shi Shu bit her lower lip, tears streaming from her eyes. Cui Hua, seeing this, stomped her feet in anger. "Miss, please don't be sad. Only a fool would not cherish you like this. Tell me, in all of Jiangnan, who would not be fortunate to marry you?"
Lin Shi Shu stood up and said, "Stop talking. Let's return to the manor."
Lin Shi Shu returned to the manor with Cui Hua. A furtive man emerged from outside the gate.
"You mean Lord Lin would rather marry Shu'er to an outsider than to my son?" Madam Min asked, word by word.
The servant dared not speak further.
"Mother, I only want Sister Shu, Sister Shu..." Yu Wen Xuan clung to Madam Min's arm and shook it.
Madam Min looked at her son, her expression softening considerably. "Xuan'er, don't be anxious. As the saying goes, good things take time. Mother knows you like Shi Shu, and Mother will definitely help you marry her, alright?"
"Good, good..." Yu Wen Xuan clapped his hands and cheered.
"Madam... Madam, since Brother-in-law is unwilling, why don't we find another good girl? Xuan'er is, after all, simple-minded, and Brother-in-law is unwilling..."
"Yu Zhen Dong, Xuan'er is also your child. How can you call him simple-minded? Even if he is simple-minded, he is still our child. Whatever Xuan'er wants, I will help him get it!"
Yu Zhen Dong dared not say another word, fearing he would anger Madam Min. He could only stand up and say, "Since Madam has decided, then Madam should proceed!"
As he spoke, Yu Zhen Dong walked towards the exit. Madam Min saw this and said, "Where are you going?"
Yu Zhen Dong looked at Madam Min with a half-smile. "Since Madam is in charge, I suppose there is nothing for me here. Xiao Yu's marriage should also be put on the agenda. Your husband knows that Madam has no intention of preparing for Xiao Yu, so only I can do it."
Madam Min heard this and said coldly, "Are you going to see Concubine Li?"
Yu Zhen Dong smiled obsequiously. "Madam understands me best."
"Get out!" Madam Min did not have the energy to deal with Concubine Li and Yu Xiao Yu at the moment. Her focus was entirely on her own son.
Yu Zhen Dong quickly left, eager to get away from there.
"Someone prepare the carriage. I must personally go to the capital to seek an imperial decree of marriage for my son."
As soon as Yu Zhen Dong reached Concubine Li's room, he heard that Madam Min was going to the capital. He paid no mind and asked no further questions. Whatever Madam Min did, let her fuss about it. After all, he could not manage it, and who wouldn't have a good backer?
The wife of the Vice Minister of Justice, a fourth-rank official in the capital, who could see the Emperor at any time. He dared not offend her.
"My lord, why is Madam going to the capital?" Concubine Li couldn't help but inquire about Madam Min's whereabouts.
Yu Zhen Dong heard this and snorted coldly. "Where she goes, I dare not manage. With such a sister-in-law, this husband will stay as far away as possible."
"My lord, Xiao Yu is also not young. Do you see any suitable young talents to introduce to Xiao Yu?"
"Didn't Madam Lin the matchmaker arrange something recently?" Yu Zhen Dong asked.
Concubine Li's expression changed. "My lord, how dare you bring this up? Do you not know what kind of people this Madam Lin has found for Xiao Yu? They are too ordinary."
"Isn't ordinary good?" Yu Zhen Dong asked.
Concubine Li shook her head. "Of course not. My lord is currently working under the Prefect, and who knows when you might be promoted again. Moreover, Miss Lin is about to become the young madam of the Prefect's manor. With this close relationship, wouldn't your official career path be smoother?"
Yu Zhen Dong's expression changed upon hearing this. "Who told you that?"
"Madam told me. Madam said the eldest young master likes Miss Lin. This is a golden opportunity..."
"Madam, if Madam does that, you mustn't spread rumors everywhere," Yu Zhen Dong quickly reminded Concubine Li.
"My lord, what are you afraid of? Madam's sister is the wife of a fourth-rank official in the capital. Such a high-ranking official will surely ensure the eldest young master's marriage comes true. You just wait for the wedding banquet!"
"What do you women understand?" Yu Zhen Dong said unhappily.
Concubine Li said unhappily, "My lord, don't take your anger out on me after being wronged by Madam."
"You..."
Concubine Li dared not be too presumptuous. After all, she and her daughter still had to rely on Yu Zhen Dong. She did not have such a good sister.
"My lord, what about Xiao Yu's marriage?" Concubine Li brought up Yu Xiao Yu's marriage.
"Do you have someone in mind?" Yu Zhen Dong asked.
Concubine Li said, "I don't, but I think Xiao Yu seems to have someone in her heart."
"Is that so? I'll go ask." Yu Zhen Dong got up and went to Yu Xiao Yu's boudoir.