Chapter 250:
If it weren’t for encountering Ji Chengfeng personally taking charge, but instead handled by the officials below.
With the Autumn Imperial Examination imminent, several scholars in trouble, at this critical moment eager to close the case, it was highly likely they wouldn’t investigate in detail.
Anyway, the evidence was conclusive, victims and perpetrators all clear, they just needed to pass judgment.
This scapegoat, Li Wenhan was probably destined to take the fall.
In the courtyard, the two sat facing each other, hot tea bubbling on the small round table between them.
Xie Wanning listened quietly, then suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.
“The Lin Family that instructed Scholar Xu to drug, is it the Lin Family of Bianzhou City’s Lin Merchant House?”
“You know them?” Ji Chengfeng was pouring her tea, and upon hearing this, he glanced at her, thought for a moment, and said, “Does the matter entrusted by that mother and daughter relate to the Lin Family?”
Xie Wanning: “…”
This person was keenly perceptive beyond reason.
But there was nothing to hide, so she slowly nodded, “That Madam’s husband was the Second Young Master Lin of Bianzhou City’s Lin Merchant House.”
The Lin Family had generations in business; in wealthy Bianzhou City, though not a supremely rich household, they were far from nobodies.
After arriving in Bianzhou, Xie Wanning had tentatively inquired about this Second Young Master Lin.
Unexpectedly, he was also a notable figure; without much effort, she gathered nearly all his information.
This Second Young Master Lin was legitimately born; though in a merchant family the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate wasn’t so stark, his legitimate status still made his marriage more valued.
Master Lin and Madam Lin had early on betrothed him to the daughter of a Recommended Scholar surnamed Liu; among scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant, this marriage was actually quite a climb.
From enlightenment onward, Second Young Master Lin had spent nearly every day at the Liu house, studying with his future father-in-law while cultivating affection with his fiancée.
The two grew up as childhood sweethearts, their affection deep.
If they could smoothly marry, it would be a match made in heaven, but who knew misfortune would strike: the Liu Recommended Scholar met with disaster on the way to the capital exam, leaving behind his family and never returning.
Orphan and widow’s days were hard, but fortunately there was this marriage with the Lin Family; the Lin Family did honest business, the betrothal long set, already nailed down, so no one dared bully them.
But just as the marriage was about to be scheduled, Second Young Master Lin passed the scholar exam.
Everything changed.
Merchant families dreamed of changing their family prestige.
A scholar wasn’t much, but a teenage scholar was something else.
With resources tilted his way, his future was limitless.
If he could pass the recommended scholar exam, then spend some money to pave the way, in the Great Khan where talent was scarce, securing a position with real power wasn’t hard.
If before, with the Liu Family marriage, the Lin Family hadn’t entertained other thoughts, then after Second Young Master Lin passed the scholar exam, Master Lin and Madam Lin began to secretly regret settling the marriage so hastily.
However, even regretting, the Lin Family couldn’t break off the engagement.
After all, once broken, the saliva of neighbors and villagers would drown them.
Not to mention, Second Young Master Lin would enter official career, and couldn’t have such a stain.
While at a loss, Miss Liu went to the temple to offer incense and encountered thieves, losing her reputation.
Too many years passed, specifics varied in retelling, but Miss Liu’s reputation was indeed ruined.
The Lin Family went with the flow and canceled the marriage.
Who knew Second Young Master Lin was a lovesick fool; even with Miss Liu’s reputation in tatters, even defying his parents, he refused to cancel this marriage.
Unfortunately, filial piety outweighs all, marriage is decided by parents, even Second Young Master Lin himself had no say.
