"Oh, so that's the matter, and even the young lady is aware," Lin Wanrong said. He found it somewhat peculiar that the news had spread so quickly, reaching even the young lady.
The young lady hummed disdainfully, saying, "If you've done something wrong, shouldn't you keep it a secret?"
Lin Wanrong sighed, "Young lady, perhaps in your eyes, what I did was wrong. But in my perspective, it was necessary. As human beings, we must choose our actions wisely. If I remained indifferent in the face of such a situation, I would question the purpose of my existence in this world."
Observing his serious expression, the young lady stared at him and said, "What did they do to provoke you, making you treat them like this?"
Lin Wanrong recounted the incident involving Hou Yuebai insulting the old man as a "mud-legged commoner." The young lady sighed deeply upon hearing this.
"Injured parties should be compensated for their losses; this is reasonable. However, if Young Master Hou not only beats people but also degrades and insults them, I feel obligated to correct him. I would consider it a betrayal to myself if I didn't," Lin Wanrong explained.
The young lady remained silent for a while, understanding that in the eyes of these wealthy young masters, everyone beneath their social status was considered lowly.
Though a powerful businesswoman in the commercial world, the young lady found it challenging to integrate into the upper echelons. She sighed and said, "Farmers and merchants are looked down upon the most. Even my Xiao family is not exempt."
"Farmers and merchants are the lifeblood of the country, yet they hold the lowest social status. Those poetic talents who believe they are the pillars of the nation create a stark contrast that makes me uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it's something I can't change," Lin Wanrong expressed.
The young lady sighed again and then asked, "Did you get injured in the fight?"
Lin Wanrong laughed, "Thank you for your concern, young lady. I've never come out on the losing end in a fight."
The young lady huffed, "Don't be too proud. Your arrogant behavior outside is not something my Xiao family tolerates. Beating the son of the Jinling Prefect is no small matter."
Seeing the deep concern on the young lady's face, Lin Wanrong thought about the influence of the Prefect's son and casually said, "Don't worry, young lady. I handle things with discretion. This time won't bring trouble to the Xiao family. Don't forget, I have connections with Miss Luo, the daughter of the Provincial Governor."
The young lady, annoyed, glared at him and said, "Do you think I'm unaware? Miss Luo informed me about the fight last night. Although she assured me, the trouble you've caused is considerable. She may be the daughter of the Governor, but this involves the son of the Prefect. A delicate matter indeed."
Hearing the worry on the young lady's face, Lin Wanrong reassured her, "Miss, with the support of the Provincial Governor, there's nothing to fear. He's not just a Prefect; he's the son of the Provincial Governor. I'm sure everything will be resolved."
The young lady, still upset, glared at him and said, "You think I don't know? Miss Luo informed me about the fight last night. Although she assured me, the trouble you've caused is considerable. She may be the daughter of the Governor, but this involves the son of the Prefect. A delicate matter indeed."
Lin Wanrong, touched by the young lady's protective stance, thought, "Despite her harshness at times, she stands by me when needed. I haven't worked in vain for the Xiao family."
Xiao Yuruo, speaking but still indignant, said, "You, wherever you go, cause trouble. This incident is because of you. If I don't punish you, I'm afraid no one in this mansion will be respected."
"Fine, deduct my salary for a month," Lin Wanrong suggested willingly. Given the young lady's support, he was willing to compromise.
"You're dreaming!" The young lady found his nonchalance amusing and irritating. She continued, "Three months' deduction and fifty lashes on top of that!"
Frowning at the idea of being whipped, Lin Wanrong exclaimed, "Alright, I'll step back further. Deduct my salary for half a year, and consider the lashes as compensation."
The young lady, knowing that whipping him would be impossible, said, "Fine, half a year's deduction it is. But there's a condition you must agree to."
"Go ahead," Lin Wanrong replied. Grateful for the young lady's understanding, he softened his tone.
"From now on, you must restrain yourself. Don't act arrogantly. Be careful not to bring trouble upon yourself," the young lady earnestly advised.
"Alright," Lin Wanrong nodded, "As long as others don't provoke me, I won't provoke them."
The young lady nodded as well. She found it challenging to make this trouble-prone man listen to reason, but at least he seemed to be cooperative at the moment.
Seeing her concerned expression, Lin Wanrong, appreciating her loyalty, smiled and said, "Don't worry, Miss. Even the Governor will help me resolve this matter."
The young lady, irritated, glared at him, saying, "Do you think I'm clueless? Miss Luo informed me about the fight last night. Although she assured me, the trouble you've caused is considerable. She may be the daughter of the Governor, but this involves the son of the Prefect. A delicate matter indeed."
Lin Wanrong, realizing that Luo Ning had informed the young lady, thought, "Luo Ning thoughtfully informed Miss Xiao about the situation. If Miss Xiao had learned about it directly, she would likely be furious. With Luo Ning conveying the message, it's a bit more manageable. Miss Xiao is probably worried that, even though Luo Ning is the daughter of the Governor, she might not be able to resolve the issue because it involves the son of the Prefect."
Xiao Yuruo pondered for a while before saying, "Lin San, tomorrow I will be going to Hangzhou. You should accompany me."
"To Hangzhou? What for?" Lin Wanrong asked in surprise.
"The Hangzhou Chamber of Commerce invited me to attend their annual meeting. It's a good opportunity to broaden our horizons. You can use this time to study," the young lady said seriously. Taking Lin Wanrong to such an important meeting indicated her intention to nurture him as a key figure.
Lin Wanrong understood the unspoken message in her words. Given the current tension in Jinling City, accompanying her to Hangzhou was a way to avoid trouble.
Initially, Lin Wanrong wasn't worried about the situation. With Luo Min, the cunning fox, unable to settle such a minor issue, and considering the support he had from certain influential figures, there was little reason to be concerned. However, noticing the young lady's meticulous arrangements, he agreed, "Thank you, Miss, for considering me. I appreciate it."
Xiao Yuruo nodded, "If that's settled, rest early. We'll depart early tomorrow morning."
As she was about to leave, Lin Wanrong stopped her and said, "Miss, there's one more
thing."
"What is it?" she asked.
"I noticed that Second Miss is alone at Qixia Temple, practicing Buddhism. It's inconvenient and unsafe. I thought it might be a good idea to bring her back. Since the mansion is spacious, we can build a small Buddhist hall for her, fulfill her wish, and settle this matter," Lin Wanrong suggested.
The young lady gave him a skeptical look, "Do you think I'm not aware? I brought her back this afternoon."
"Really?" Lin Wanrong was delighted. It seemed his ideas coincided with the young lady's actions.
"Lin San, I sternly warn you: don't try to attract Yushuang's attention," Xiao Yuruo warned him once again. It felt like the umpteenth time she had cautioned him, but the effectiveness seemed to be diminishing.
Lin Wanrong, accustomed to hearing the same warning repeatedly, chuckled, "Miss, you had private conversations with Qiaoqiao and Yushuang last night. I won't intervene in your women's affairs. However, if someone speaks ill of me, I might have to interfere."
The young lady, defiant, said, "You've deceived Qiaoqiao in many matters. I want her to know your true colors and not be fooled by you."
"Do you know my true colors now?" Lin Wanrong teased.
"You are a villain who specializes in tormenting women. I've seen through you," the young lady said with a huff before turning to leave. "We'll depart early tomorrow morning."
Lin Wanrong, feeling a bit itchy knowing that Second Miss was back in the mansion, thought about their private meeting that got exposed by the young lady. Now that he was back in the mansion, it was only fair to visit little Yushuang. If he didn't, how could he justify her sincere feelings?
With this in mind, he grabbed a passing maidservant and asked, "Excuse me, where is Second Miss staying now?"
The maid replied, "Third Brother, Second Miss is staying in Madam's courtyard."
Although Lin Wanrong knew about the Embroidery Tower, where the young lady and Second Miss lived, he wasn't very familiar with Madam's courtyard. After wandering around for a while, he finally found the location.
It was a quiet compound, and since it was the residence of Madam, only maidservants were allowed. Guards and watchdogs were strictly forbidden from entering.
When it came to sneaking around and being stealthy, Lin Wanrong had plenty of experience. He took out a silver coin from his pocket, casually threw it a few meters away from a maid, and with a soft sound, it attracted her attention. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Wanrong slipped through the gate.
Inside the courtyard, he noticed lights in both the east and west wings. Unsure whether to go east or west, Lin Wanrong hesitated. Traditionally, the east was favored, so he decided to start there.
He took a few steps quietly and crouched behind a bush when he saw a group of maidservants carrying steaming buckets of water into a small house.
Peering through the slightly open door, Lin Wanrong looked up and felt as if he were frozen in place.