Lin Jingyue nodded calmly. "How would I dare deceive the County Princess."
She didn't speak of grand principles or matters of right and wrong, but simply mentioned that three months ago, the sole heir of the Marquis of Bei'an had ridden his horse recklessly and injured common people. The Emperor had punished him with twenty heavy cane strikes before exiling him to the frontier as a lowly foot soldier, dragging down even the imperial concubines in the palace.
Ever since arriving in the Capital with the Lin Family half a month ago, Lin Jingyue had not been idle for a moment, scattering silver coins to continuously gather news from all directions.
The Capital was a complicated place where a falling roof tile could easily hit several imperial relatives. To offend someone carelessly meant financial ruin at best, and the loss of the entire family's lives at worst.
Especially since the Lin Family had just arrived and possessed zero backing.
Among the information she gathered were secrets concerning Prince Ruicheng.
Comparing this with her memories from her past life, she guessed that County Princess Yunhua had likely been plotted against not long after entering the Capital.
County Princess Yunhua's expression darkened. She glanced around at the common people crowding in to watch the spectacle, her eyes flickering for a moment before she raised a hand.
"Jengfeng, have our men compensate the common people accidentally injured by the Princess."
The commander of the guards did not hesitate at all. "Yes!"
"As for the Chengyuan Marquis Manor... I just heard the Old Madame was startled? Would the Princess like me to send a manor physician to examine her?" County Princess Yunhua swept a glance at Old Madame.
The elderly maid by Old Madame's side immediately straightened up. "Of course we would! Furthermore, your reckless riding in the bustling streets frightened our Old Madame, so you ought to come in person to offer your apologies."
"Shut your mouth!" Lin Jingyue and Old Madame rebuked in unison.
Lin Jingyue glanced at Old Madame and said no more.
After all, Old Madame had lived for many years and understood that County Princess Yunhua was not apologizing sincerely, nor had she been cornered by Lin Jingyue; rather, she had other concerns, which was why she softened her attitude.
If they pushed their luck further and blew the matter out of proportion... the Chengyuan Marquis did not have a father who was blood brothers with the Emperor to clean up the mess!
"My servant doesn't know any better. Once we return, I'll have someone properly teach her the rules," Old Madame said in a gentle, even tone, speaking as though addressing a junior of her own family.
"The matter just now happened because I suddenly took it into my head to step down from the carriage, which startled the Princess's horse. It is already a great fortune that the magnanimous Princess refuses to hold it against me; how could I possibly trouble the Princess further?"
Seeing how tactful she was being, County Princess Yunhua gave a reluctant assent.
She vaulted back onto her horse, spun the mount around, and was about to leave when, thinking of something, she suddenly trotted her horse right up to Lin Jingyue.
Old Madame's heart leapt into her throat. She instinctively stepped forward, looking at County Princess Yunhua with a pleading gaze.
Lin Jingyue, however, was not worried in the least. In her past life, she had caught a distant glimpse of County Princess Yunhua and knew that although the woman was overbearing and arrogant, she was not an unreasonable person who would resort to violence without cause.
County Princess Yunhua reached up, plucked a begonia hairpin from her temple, and pinned it into Lin Jingyue's hair with an amused smile.
"You have a lovely face, but your accessories are a bit too plain. Take this hairpin to add some color to your appearance."
With that, County Princess Yunhua flicked her riding crop and called out to her guard: "Let's go!"
Once the figures disappeared, Old Madame finally breathed a sigh of relief. She brushed aside the servants crowding around her, scrutinized Lin Jingyue for a few moments, and suddenly asked:
"Do you know why she gave you that hairpin?"
Lin Jingyue touched the begonia hairpin dangling with pearls, thought for a moment, and replied: "First, to thank me for my warning and for helping her out of a tight spot. Second... perhaps she thought I looked rather nice?"
Old Madame stared at her face, dimly recognizing the shadow of her deceased daughter-in-law in those brows and eyes, and beamed with joy.
"Good child, come back to the Marquis Manor with me!"
***
At the Chengyuan Marquis Manor,
Upon receiving word that Old Madame was about to return, the manor's main gates were thrown wide open, and a crowd stood outside to welcome her.
Lin Jingyue stepped down from the carriage, cast a quick glance around, and then turned to support Old Madame with careful hands.
The Chengyuan Marquis and his wife stepped forward to greet them. After bowing respectfully, the Marquis smiled and said, "Mother, Young Master Xu learned that you were returning today and came specially to pay his respects."
Lin Jingyue did not mind being ignored. Hearing this, she immediately realized that the "Young Master Xu" mentioned by the Marquis was the very same distinguished guest over whose closed gates Lin Jingyan had wept bitterly in her past life.
Old Madame had just suffered a fright and lacked energy. She simply nodded and, without a word, took Lin Jingyue's hand as she walked into the manor.
The Marchioness's eyes flashed. She hurried to keep pace, walking alongside Old Madame's other side with a smile.
"So this is the child Elder Sister gave birth to? It's such a pity that Elder Sister suffered a postpartum hemorrhage... Seeing that you are safe and sound now, Elder Sister's spirit in heaven can finally rest in peace."
The Chengyuan Marquis was startled. He turned his head to size up Lin Jingyue, instantly feeling a sense of displeasure in his heart.
She didn't even know enough to offer a greeting upon seeing her elders, huddling there silently like a mute. As expected of someone raised in a merchant's household, she knew nothing of proper etiquette.
Catching the Marquis's expression, Lin Jingyue neither responded to the Marchioness's words nor spoke to greet anyone.
Old Madame knew her own son's temperament all too well and shot the Marchioness a warning look.
"What's the rush? Tomorrow, after we formally acknowledge her ancestry and add Jingyue's name to the family genealogy, it won't be too late for her to change how she addresses you."
The Chengyuan Marquis gave an awkward smile and muttered, "Yes."
"Mother considers things so thoroughly after all." The Marchioness took Lin Jingyue's hand and slipped a bracelet off her own wrist onto the girl's. "We've never met this child before, so it's only natural that she's unfamiliar with us."
She gazed at Lin Jingyue with maternal affection. "Take this bracelet as a welcoming gift from me, your mother. You must not refuse."
Lin Jingyue sneered inwardly, thinking that the Marchioness possessed formidable methods; no wonder Lin Jingyan had repeatedly suffered in silence under her thumb in their past life.
"This... since the Marchioness bestows it so sincerely, how could I refuse? Thank you, Marchioness."
Old Madame nodded inwardly. She was getting old and could not possibly expend her energy managing Lin Jingyue's future.
If Lin Jingyue could maintain a good relationship with the mistress of the Marquis Manor, her days ahead would be much easier.
Seeing Lin Jingyue accept the bracelet, the Marchioness's smile deepened as she asked, seemingly by chance:
"Mother returned a bit late—did something delay you on the road? I heard Steward Wang say that Mother was nearly run down by a runaway horse, and it was thanks to this child saving you...
How terribly unlucky that on the very day this child returns to the manor, such a huge incident befalls Mother. Fortunately Mother is unharmed, otherwise, not to mention this child, even the Marquis wouldn't know how to face anyone!"
Old Madame waved a hand. "Enough. Never speak of this matter again."
"Mother! Your health is the most important matter in the entire Marquis Manor. This child saved you, which makes her a benefactor to everyone in the manor. She ought to be showered with praise—how can you..."
How could Lin Jingyue not know that the Marchioness was trying to firmly brand her as a jinx? She let out a long sigh.
"Marchioness, Grandmother is only thinking of the Marquis Manor, which is why she forbids us to speak of it. Please don't make things difficult for her."
Having heard the entire story from Steward Wang, who had run back ahead of time when no one was paying attention, the Marchioness was entirely confident that her words and actions were beyond reproach.
"What? Could there be some hidden story behind your rescue of Mother?"
As she finished speaking, as if realizing her voice had risen a little too high, she hurriedly clamped her mouth shut.
The Chengyuan Marquis and everyone else in the manor simultaneously looked toward Lin Jingyue, their eyes sharp and cold.