Exchange Fate! She Saved the whole family and the Short-Lived Marquis!-Chapter 91: The Lin Family’s Young Lady Has Always Been Kind-Hearted
The old madam, worried about Xiao Yingyue being alone, brought her into the palace. Seeing Madam Fu and Elder Yong’an’s wife were present, she handed Xiao Yingyue over to them before heading to the Empress Dowager’s hall to converse with her.
At this time, Xiao Yingyue continued to follow Yu Jingyun and Fu Shinian to the palace banquet.
Lin Qingqing had not expected to encounter Marquis Changping.
"My Lord," Lin Qingqing called out.
Xiao Chengyu stopped, looking at Lin Qingqing coldly, unsure of her intentions this time.
Lin Qingqing swiftly moved in front of Xiao Chengyu, covering her heart with one hand, gasping for air.
The wind and snow reddened Lin Qingqing’s nose and earlobes, even making her pale fingers blush, giving her a truly delicate appearance.
Seeing her like this, Xiao Chengyu recalled the day before dawn when Fu Shinian arrived at the Marquis’s gates to see him off.
That day her nose was also reddened by the cold.
He thought Fu Shinian’s serene face back then was far more beautiful than the currently well-made-up Lin Qingqing.
Even Fu Shinian’s deliberately innocent and pitiable act was cuter and more lively than Lin Qingqing’s demeanor at this moment.
"What is it?" Xiao Chengyu asked coldly.
"I apologize for disturbing you last night, my Lord," Lin Qingqing said softly, her eyes moist from the cold.
"Why is Lin Qingqing talking to my brother?" Xiao Yingyue noticed and frowned, quickly running over, "Brother."
Xiao Chengyu’s gaze passed over Xiao Yingyue and landed on Fu Shinian’s face, seeing that Fu Mingzhu was also present.
As they approached, Xiao Chengyu said to Lin Qingqing, "I was merely a guest last night; the one you should apologize to is Miss Fu."
Lin Qingqing blushed; Xiao Chengyu was actually making her apologize to Fu Mingzhu!
Fu Shinian, noticing Lin Qingqing’s reaction, wondered if Lin Qingqing was trying to flirt with Xiao Chengyu?
Without hesitation, Lin Qingqing turned with a haughty demeanor and said to Fu Mingzhu, "Miss Fu, I’m truly sorry for last night’s disturbance."
"Why are you apologizing?" Fu Mingzhu raised an eyebrow, "Did you persuade the second prince to insist on entering our private room?"
"Of course not," Lin Qingqing would never admit, "But after all, I was there..."
"I didn’t expect Miss Lin’s status to be so high, to represent the second prince in apologizing to me," Fu Mingzhu said, "Very well, I’ve received the second prince’s apology."
"No, how dare I represent the second prince," Lin Qingqing hurriedly said, "I only represent myself."
"So you have the authority to account for last night?" Fu Mingzhu retorted.
Seeing Lin Qingqing shake her head, Fu Mingzhu said, "Since you can’t speak for it, what qualifies you to apologize? I thought you could stand in for the second prince, that’s why you came to put on airs before my brother."
Fu Mingzhu, once blinded by love but never a fool, which is why she decisively broke off the engagement with Xiao Fengxing.
Lin Qingqing dared not mention apologies anymore, having to admit, "It was me who disturbed."
"Brother, it’s too cold, let’s hurry into the hall," Xiao Yingyue urged, unwilling to converse further with Lin Qingqing.
Lin Qingqing stayed where she was, watching them head into the hall, and as she took a few steps, unexpectedly encountered General Gu and Gu Yunze.
Lin Qingqing respectfully greeted, "General Gu, Little General Gu."
General Gu was puzzled about who Lin Qingqing was, "Madam, Qingqing!"
Mr. Lin hurried over, "General Gu, Little General Gu."
"Mr. Lin," General Gu recognized Mr. Lin.
"This is my daughter, Lin Qingqing," Mr. Lin introduced, "General Gu, when did you return to the capital?"
"On the 28th," General Gu replied.
As they walked, Mr. Lin asked, "General Gu, will you be returning to the northwest after the New Year?"
General Gu nodded, "Indeed."
"It must be hard for you, General," Mr. Lin sighed.
"With the General defending the northwest frontier, we can have peace in the capital," Lin Qingqing said softly.
"It’s not my doing alone," General Gu replied, "It’s the effort of thousands of soldiers."
"My apologies for being shallow, Qingqing said."
General Gu admired her, saying, "But having such a thought is already commendable."
Many take it for granted.
Lin Qingqing expressed gratitude, which was commendable.
Lin Qingqing smiled, "If there’s a chance, I’d love to thank the soldiers at the frontier personally, though I don’t know if that’s possible."
"Having such intentions is good enough," General Gu reassured.
Lin Qingqing finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After being repeatedly rebuffed by Xiao Chengyu, she thought her tactics were failing.
General Gu’s reaction seemed more appropriate.
When the palace banquet began, Emperor Jiawen specifically said, "Today is like a family feast, so everyone, please be at ease."
The palace banquet didn’t have particularly enjoyable food, especially with the cold outside, as the dishes brought in by the palace attendants quickly cooled down from the wind.
Fortunately, there were warm teas and wines on the table to warm one’s stomach.
Fu Shinian dared not touch any wine again, honestly drinking tea, and specifically had the palace attendants remove the wine.
In the banquet, men and women were seated separately, divided by a screen, though words from both sides could still be heard.
Lin Qingqing looked outside; the heavy snow had fallen like goose feathers, blanketing the view in white, obscuring the sunlight.
Since being framed by Lin Qingqing, Zheng Sulan had always wanted revenge. Seeing this, she loudly asked, "Miss Lin, why are you looking outside instead of eating? Does the palace banquet not suit your taste?"
This statement instantly drew the Empress’s attention.
Lin Qingqing hurriedly withdrew her gaze, inwardly scolding Zheng Sulan for being a fool.
A mere glance had ensnared Zheng Sulan.
Did she really think she could trap her? 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Lin Qingqing replied, "Not at all; how could the dishes prepared by the Imperial Chef not be pleasing? I was merely thinking of the frontier upon seeing the heavy snow. I’ve heard the frontier is much colder than the capital. Now that the capital is like this, I wonder how the soldiers and people at the frontier are faring. Do they have enough thick cotton clothing to keep warm?"
The Empress, hearing this, said, "The Lin family’s girl has always been kind-hearted."
Emperor Jiawen, noticing Lin Qingqing’s words, asked General Gu, "General Gu, are the soldiers and people at the border doing well?"
"Your Majesty, the soldiers and people are well," General Gu replied, "This year indeed has been an unusually cold winter, colder and earlier than previous years."
"With winter arriving early, I initially worried that this year’s cotton clothes might not be warm enough, considering a petition to Your Majesty for more cotton clothing for the army. Unexpectedly, Boss Cheng, responsible for delivering supplies, not only brought the supplies but also purchased cotton clothing from various shops along the way, bringing a large amount of cotton clothing needed by the army together."
