Finest Servant

Chapter 433 The Betrothal Gifts

"Second Miss, what are you doing? Speak your mind, please don't think irrationally!" Lin Wanrong was greatly startled and took a quick step forward, ready to snatch her dagger.

Xiao Yushuang's face was filled with anger, and she let out a delicate hum, the shiny blade poised to strike, "You are the one being irrational, I've come to settle accounts with you, you faithless man!"

She made a slow, threatening gesture with the blade, so slow that even a three-year-old child would be quicker. Lin Wanrong watched in both surprise and joy, quickly snatching the dagger from her hand, "Second Miss, you misunderstand, knowing my character, how could I ever commit such a beastly act?"

"You still dare to speak," Xiao Yushuang's eyes reddened, tears falling down her cheeks, "You just said it yourself, you want to marry some princess, the Emperor even sent his decree to our house, and you say you're not faithless. Give my knife back to me, I want to die with you, you heartless villain!"

Second Miss struggled to snatch the dagger from his hand, but her strength was too little to be a match for Lin San. After a few attempts, she suddenly burst into loud sobs, hitting his chest with her fists, "You ungrateful wretch, I am going to be bullied to death by you, our entire family has been bullied to death by you."

This stubborn but soft-hearted girl made Lin Wanrong ache inside. He let her small fists rain down on his chest, smiling and not saying a word.

"What are you doing?" Second Miss, having vented, her face wet with tears, looked sneakily at his relaxed demeanor and became genuinely annoyed. She twisted her hand hard against his chest.

Lin Wanrong grimaced in pain, holding her small hand and laughed, "Tired? Why don't you rest a bit before continuing to hit me? I promise I won't run away, I haven't had such a relaxing massage in a long time."

"You big head, you always bully me like this," Xiao Yushuang, both embarrassed and angry, scratched at him forcefully a few times, then suddenly gave in to sorrow and threw herself into his arms, sobbing loudly.

It was all the Emperor's fault! Seeing Second Miss sobbing and gasping for breath in his arms, Lin Wanrong felt a great ache in his heart. He gently patted her shoulder, "Second Miss, don't cry, things aren't as you think—"

"I'll cry if I want to, I'll cry," Xiao Yushuang squirmed in his arms, her tears soaking the front of his shirt, "What are you doing here? Go back and be the prince consort. It seems I've misjudged you, you heartless person."

Second Miss cursed fiercely but refused to raise her head from his embrace, her tears flowing like a surging river. Lin Wanrong chuckled to himself; a few days apart, and this little girl's scolding had grown fiercer, but her heart remained soft. He thought to himself, ‘Fortunate for her to have met me, if she had met some glib and insatiable guy, he might have bullied her to death.’

Seeing Second Miss crying uncontrollably, Lin Wanrong felt great pain in his heart and quickly signaled to Si De. The young man, showing some cleverness for once, pricked up his ears and pretended, "Brother San, listen, it seems like the Madam is calling you from the house!"

Xiao Yushuang jumped in surprise and hurriedly leaped out of his embrace, pushing him away. "You must leave, quickly leave. Don’t let Mother see you—"

"Why?" Lin Wanrong was confused.

Second Miss huffed, angrily saying, "How dare you ask? Mother has fallen ill from anger because of you. If she wakes up and sees you, she'll beat you with a broom, and you, you will just have to bear it. I won't care for you." Second Miss turned her head away in anger.

"So Second Miss actually cares for me." Lin Wanrong's face broke into a broad smile, grabbing her little hand tightly, "Don't worry, the Madam is a reasonable person; she won’t resort to such crude measures."

"I don't care for you at all," Second Miss replied, her face turning red. She tried to pull away, but he held her too tightly, and she couldn't break free.

He held her too firmly; it's no wonder, Second Miss thought, finding an excuse for herself. Held by his warm hand, staring at his familiar smiling face, she felt a mixture of bitterness and sweetness in her heart.

"Second Miss, Second Miss," Lin San's calling pulled Xiao Yushuang back from her thoughts. She murmured, "What... what were you saying just now?"

"I said, please believe in me." Lin Wanrong smiled, "You know my character; when have I ever feared anyone? When have I done anything to offend both man and God?"

Thinking back to Lin San's actions since he entered the residence, although occasionally unconventional, he had never acted without reason, and had truly never done anything wrong. Xiao Yushuang nodded, then hurriedly shook her head, "Why are you telling me all this? I don't want to hear it. You go back to being a good son-in-law; my mother, sister, and I will suffer alone for the rest of our lives without your concern."

Lin Wanrong chuckled, taking her small hand and caressing it gently, "All of this is a ploy by the Emperor to drive a wedge between us. You must not fall for it."

"Drive a wedge?" Second Miss pouted, indignantly saying, "The imperial edict has reached our home. Are you telling me your intention to marry the princess is false?"

This time, Lin Wanrong was wise, laughing twice, "Marrying the princess or not is another matter, but my sweet Second Miss, I am determined to marry you. Second Miss, how old are you this year—"

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"Seventeen, ah, bah—" Second Miss answered reflexively, then realized she had fallen into his trap, her face turning bright red, "Who wants to marry you, you shameless villain." Xiao Yushuang was so young that she lost her composure after hearing his last sentence and had no time to question the meaning of his previous words.

"You have no choice but to marry me." Lin Wanrong grinned, "I came today to plead with the Madam."

"I won't listen, I won't listen." Second Miss's heart fluttered like a little deer, and she covered her flushed cheeks in embarrassment, "Don't talk to me about it, you, you go talk to Mother, how annoying, you scoundrel!"

Lin Wanrong blinked helplessly, thinking how easily young girls in love were deceived. Fortunately, she met him, the loyal and upright Lin San. He laughed heartily, "I will naturally go to the Madam, but I must also explain everything clearly to Second Miss. Otherwise, if you worry, my honest and upright soul will suffer torment."

"Sweet talker." Second Miss's face flushed, and her eyes were filled with laughter as she lowered her head and muttered, "You certainly know how to charm me with pretty words." Overcoming her shyness, she softly said, "Lin San, come here."

‘Only two steps away, and you won't even pull me?’ Lin Wanrong responded, smiling as he walked to her side. Second Miss extended her small hand, "Give me back my little knife."

Lin Wanrong was taken aback, "Second Miss, what do you want this little knife for? Its gleam is frightening, so better keep it away."

Second Miss snorted, snatching the dagger from his hand, and the blade flashed before his eyes, "This is for self-defense, given to me by my sister. If you dare keep a mistress outside, I will, I will—"

Lin Wanrong shivered, keep a mistress? ‘Among the sisters, they rank by age and learning. No matter what, you're the youngest, so the one I would keep is you.’

"Look, Second Miss, what are you saying?" Master Lin laughed nervously, carefully taking back the small knife, "Si De, go to the street and look for a blacksmith's shop to melt this knife down and forge a fine gold ring. I want to give it to Second Miss. Remember, it must be pure gold, even a tiny bit less wouldn't show my sincerity."

Si De was stunned. A steel knife turned into a gold ring? And it has to be pure gold? Either Brother San has gone mad, or he had become foolish.

Second Miss whined and turned her head away, shyly saying, "I, I don't want it. You should save your silver for future household expenses. Besides, there's my elder sister too—"

‘This little girl truly has touched my heart,’ Lin Wanrong thought, beaming as he touched her small hand, "That's right, Si De, make two gold rings, Eldest Miss will wear the bigger one, and Second Miss will wear—an even bigger one."

"How annoying!" Second Miss, overwhelmed with embarrassment, tried to run away but was tightly caught by him, unable to move.

"Yu Shuang, when did you come back? Why didn't you tell me?" Lin Wanrong caressed Second Miss's tender hand, smiling sheepishly, his mind contemplating how to approach the Madam. Big words had already been spoken here, and to console the Madam and Second Miss's fragile hearts, he had to follow through with the marriage proposal today.

Seeing that she couldn't escape, Second Miss resigned herself, quietly nestling in his embrace, and sulkily hummed, "I've been in the academy all this time, thinking about you coming to see me every day, but you were nowhere to be seen. My sister said you were enjoying yourself outside, beyond her and mother's control. So, I asked my sister to bring the General of Zhenyuan from Jinling. If you dare misbehave, I'll—"

"What will you do?" Lin Wanrong stared at her, smiling.

"I'll bite you, umm—" Her words were cut off, as Lin San sealed her mouth. Having not seen each other for days, Xiao Yushuang's longing was strong, especially after recently clearing up a misunderstanding. Overwhelmed with emotion, she clung tightly to him, tears and smiles appearing simultaneously on her face. Her body went limp, as she murmured, hiding in his embrace, unable to lift her head again.

After tasting Second Miss's sweet, red lips, Lin Wanrong contentedly raised his head and sighed, "Yushuang, you've really grown in these few days, you've filled out."

"Of course," the Second Miss said proudly, lifting her head and puffing out her chest. "I'm seventeen this year; naturally, I've grown up."

The older she became, the more Lin Wanrong loved her. He chuckled deviously a couple of times, taking hold of the Second Miss's hand, and they headed towards the house.

"Lin San, you, you really want to—" The Second Miss's heart was in turmoil, and she lowered her head to whisper, "But what about my sister? What will she do?"

"There's no way around it," Lin San sighed deeply, his face filled with pain. "Who can blame you, Second Miss, for being so enchanting that you stole my heart and soul! As for Eldest Miss, alas, she will have to wait—"

"How can that be?" Yushuang exclaimed anxiously. "My sister's affection for you is known to everyone in the mansion. Even my mother has heard the rumors. How can you treat her like this?"

Lin San looked pained and helpless, spreading his hands. "I don't want to be like this either, but how can one have both the fish and the bear's paw?"

The Second Miss thought for a moment, bit her silver teeth, holding back her tears, and said, "Then propose to my sister. She has been holding up the Xiao family on her own; she deserves someone to look after her. You, you should just marry her."

"How can that be?" Lin San shook his head quickly. "Second Miss, think about it. If I am with Eldest Miss but thinking of you in my heart, how can I face Eldest Miss, how can I face the Madam?"

Tears fell like rain from the Second Miss, and she suddenly threw herself into his arms, pounding his chest with her tiny fists. "You scoundrel. If you marry me and still think of my sister, how can you face me, face my mother?"

"It's truly a difficult situation," Lin San said, his face filled with sorrow as he stroked the Second Miss's silky hair, his voice full of helplessness. "Is there not a better solution—ah, Second Miss, what are you doing?"

Xiao Yushuang twisted his waist muscles with all her strength, grinding her teeth, and said, "You scoundrel, don't think I don't know what you're up to. You've bullied our entire family."

When Yushuang entered the door with him, she pouted all the way, ignoring him, and Lin Wanrong couldn't figure out what she was really thinking. This little girl had indeed grown up, knowing how to keep her feelings hidden. He sighed helplessly.

Upon arriving in the courtyard, he noticed that Eldest Miss's room, as well as the Madam's, was eerily silent. Opposite was his own room. He hadn't returned in two days and missed it greatly.

The young maid named Huan’er came out of the Madam's room holding a bowl of medicine. When she saw Lin San, she was startled. "How did you get in? Who let you in? Do you want to enrage my mistress to death?"

The Second Miss's face turned red, and she quietly said, "Huan’er, I told him to come in. There may have been a misunderstanding about the imperial decree. Don't blame him." She was too shy to say that Lin San was here to propose, so she vaguely referred to it as a misunderstanding.

Since the Second Miss had spoken, Huan’er naturally stopped insisting. She glanced at Lin Wanrong and said, "Brother San, is what Second Miss said true? You are not fickle, ungrateful?"

"Of course not, with my character, how could such things be associated with me?" Lin Wanrong said, smiling awkwardly.

"Huan, has mother awakened yet?" The Second Miss looked anxiously into the room, her concern evident in her voice.

Huan'er was about to speak when a faint and weary voice came from inside the room, "Is that Yushuang speaking outside?"

"Mother, it's me," the Second Miss gently pushed the door open and stepped in. Madam Xiao slightly nodded, only to see Lin San's head peeking from behind, grinning, "Madam, I'm here too!"

Madam Xiao's face was a mixture of shock and anger, and she began to cough urgently, "You, what are you here for? Come, take the broom and chase him out for me."

In the two days they hadn't seen each other, Madam Xiao had become more emaciated. Her appearance had diminished, her eyes slightly red, wearing all white pajamas, her neck as white as jade. Even in anger, there was an extreme sense of mature charm.

"Mother, don't be angry!" the Second Miss hurriedly knelt before the Madam, gently patting her back, "I asked him to come in. He said, he said... well, you speak up already—"

The Second Miss glanced at Lin Wanrong anxiously, annoyed in her heart. ‘You fool, you were so bold in front of me just now, but in front of mother, you've fallen silent.’

"What is there to say?" Madam Xiao wiped her tears, "Considering how much my Xiao family has valued you, you still betrayed us behind our backs, harming not only Yushuang but also getting Yuruo into trouble for you. I, I will kill you for harming my daughters."

Madam Xiao's anger made her abruptly sit up from the bed. Yushuang was startled and quickly embraced her, weeping, "Mother, he's not that kind of person; we've misunderstood him."

Lin Wanrong slightly smiled, walked to the divine cabinet in the room, and took down the yellow imperial decree, "I dare to ask Madam, is this the imperial edict that allows me to marry only a princess and not a common girl?"

"So what if it is?" Madam Xiao, in her plain white dress and flushed with anger, looked stunning, "Now you're triumphant, the unparalleled son-in-law of the great empire, but you still come to humiliate the widowed and orphaned women of the Xiao family—"

Madam Xiao's words were cut short by the sound of the imperial edict being carelessly thrown to the ground by Lin San. In her brief moment of shock, she saw Lin San's face wearing a cold smile, as he stepped on the decree, making a rustling noise.

"What are you doing?" Madam Xiao cried out, "This could lead to your execution. Yushuang, quickly, close the door."

The fool doesn't even care about his life or death. The Second Miss was moved, tears falling, as she hurried to the door and slammed it shut.

"Madam, do you still want to chase me out with a broom?" Lin Wanrong said with a smile.

"You evildoer." Madam Xiao didn't know what else to say. She quickly put on embroidered shoes, rushed to him, and bent down to pick up the imperial edict. The edict's delicate and smooth silk was trampled upon and was now unrecognizable. She carefully smoothed the silk, but the dirt marks would not be erased.

"What shall we do now?" Madam Xiao's tears fell, "By destroying the imperial edict, my Xiao family will suffer a great calamity. Lin San, you foolish man, you have brought no small harm."

"Don't worry, Madam." Lin Wanrong smiled generously, "A decree once issued, will the Emperor take it back? Who knows his intentions better than me? If I want it, he would be happy to draft a thousand, ten thousand such edicts for me."

"Speaking grandiosely," the Madam cast a glance at him, but her expression relaxed considerably. "You have so wantonly mishandled the imperial edict; if you dare to be anything less than fully dedicated in the Xiao family, beware, I might report you to the court."

He must say, this Madam sure knew how to turn things around! Just now, she had looked at him with a stern gaze, and in a moment's time, she had undergone a complete 180-degree transformation. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "My attitude, as the Madam must have seen, is as firm as it can be. Do you still have any doubts, Madam? Second Miss, please do me the favor of handing a broom to the Madam. It's been many years since I've tasted this sensation."

"You're asking for trouble," said Madam Xiao, her eyebrows slightly tinged with red in anger as she shot him an irritated glance. Wearing only a thin nightgown, with her full chest and rounded hips, she exuded beauty mixed with an air of solidity, incredibly enticing.

"Cough, cough," noticing Lin San's eyes were fixed where they shouldn't be, the Madam's face blushed, and she hurriedly threw on a garment, glaring at him in annoyance. "Where have you been these past two days? If you had business to attend to, why didn't you ask for leave?"

"Busy—uh," Lin Wanrong forced out a couple of dry laughs, struggling to avert his gaze before suddenly exclaiming in shock, "Madam, you're not thinking of docking my pay, are you?! Let me tell you, don't even think about plucking feathers from a stingy rooster."

Madam Xiao looked at him with amusement: "You always act so strangely. I don't know where your luck comes from, to have even caught the princess's fancy."

Seeing Lin San chatting and laughing with her mother, Second Miss finally breathed a sigh of relief. But he kept avoiding the matter at hand, making her anxious. Being a woman, how could she brazenly urge him to speak?

"Huh, Second Miss, what's wrong with your eyes? Why are they blinking so much?" Lin San wondered.

Second Miss, both shy and annoyed, quickly turned and left, "Mother, I—I'm going out to check on the shop. Lin San, don't you have something to say to mother?"

Second Miss stamped her small feet and ran off like the wind, and the Madam shook her head in affection, "This mischievous girl, always up to something mysterious. Lin San, what do you want to say to me?"

Lin Wanrong gave out a couple of dry laughs, "Madam, this time I've been grievously wronged by you. I wonder if you have any compensation for me?"

"Wronged? How have I wronged you?" The Madam smiled, "You've been absent for two days without reason, and I want to beat you with a broom. How is that wronging you? If you hadn't returned today, I'd have reported you to the authorities and seen where you could run."

Madam Xiao's light laughter was like the wind rustling through the willows, her beauty even surpassing the flowers. Lin Wanrong's heart skipped a beat. Damn it, even though she was Second Miss's mother, she looked just as beautiful.

"I never expected the Madam to play word games," Lin Wanrong chuckled and gestured with his hands, "In that case, I won't hold back. Madam, I have one piece of great good news and one piece of great bad news to tell you. Which would you like to hear first?"

Great good news and great bad news? The Madam pondered for a moment, unsure of what he was getting at, and hesitantly said, "Then tell me the bad news first!"

Lin Wanrong nodded, his expression suddenly turning mournful, "Madam, please, you must contain your grief after hearing this news. Eldest Miss and Second Miss, they—"

Madam Xiao's heart tightened. "What happened to them? Tell me quickly!"

"They are getting married!"

"Married?!" Madam Xiao's face was a mask of bewilderment as she slowly sank into a chair. "How is this possible? How did I not know? Where's the good news?"

"The good news," Lin Wanrong said with a slight smile, "is that the men they are marrying are none other than humble me."

Madam Xiao paused in surprise, then broke into a delicate laughter. "Lin San, if you want to propose, just say it directly. Why indulge in such mysterious talk?"

"Madam, I'm serious." Lin Wanrong's expression shifted, his face grave. "I have never been this serious in my life."

From his robe, he hastily produced a jumble of items: a knockout drug, a firearm, Dongxuanzi Thirty-Six Scattered Pages [TL: The erotic book], some white, some black, others colored — a dazzling array that made one's head spin.

Madam Xiao asked with puzzlement, "What are these?"

Biting his lip, Lin Wanrong felt a pain in his heart as if he were slicing off a piece of his own flesh. "These are items as precious to me as my honor. They are the betrothal gifts I bring for your elder and younger daughter."

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