Chapter 3

The emperor ascended the throne at the age of eight and was only twelve years old this year. How could a child who hadn’t even reached adolescence be expected to run the country. While it looked like the young emperor was in power, as a matter of fact, all of the country’s government affairs were handled by Grand Secretary Zhang Xiao Lian.

This Grand Secretary had no relationship with the current Lin Wei Xi. Zhang Xiao Lian contentedly built a reputation for cherishing talented people in the capital, and so he handed over the matter of the Honorary Deed Medallion  to his subordinates.

Although Marquis Zhongyong had a noble title and was a martyr, he had no brothers, no sons, and no clan. Only his daughter remained, and there was no successor to be found.

If one thought about it, the reward conferred by the imperial court had already been emptied out after passing through layer upon layer of government official’s hands, before being sent to Lin Wei Xi’s place.

Lin Wei Xi was still furious at the thought of this. She had arrived late that day and didn’t know what happened when the imperial court’s envoy arrived.

She only knew that after the imperial envoy read the imperial decree, she was supposed to receive the decree. She didn’t know how, but the imperial decree ended up being transferred to the county magistrate afterwards; even all of the rewards from the imperial court were carried to the prefecture office.

Lin Wei Xi was both angry and anxious. Obviously, she had been swindled that day because she didn’t give enough money.

Aunt Lin and the entire family were also short-sighted. What would they do with just the money? At least take the god damn imperial edict and Honorary Deed Medallion!

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The bulk of the reward given by the imperial court had been seized by the county magistrate and village officials, and these so-called “magistrates” leaked off a small portion for Aunt Lin’s family to monopolize.

In the end, the only thing that Lin Wei Xi, this sole daughter, actually received was only the title of ‘martyr’s daughter’.

In order to take back Lin Yong’s things, Lin Wei Xi had no choice but to spend money to seek help. If this had happened during her previous life, all she needed to do was say it off handedly and it would be done.

But now she was no longer the Shizi Fei of the Prince Yan Residence. If she wanted to get back Lin Yong’s things, she could only think of a solution herself.

Lin Wei Xi thought about the issue of taking back the imperial decree and Honorary Deed Medallion, stumbling while twisting the towel in her hand, and managed to tidy herself up into a presentable state.

Speaking of, Lin Wei Xi’s appearance was truly stunning. In her previous life, she had seen so many official’s daughters and noble beauties, but none of them could compare to Lin Wei Xi in terms of facial features. She had a kind of extremely exquisite beauty, and because she was too beautiful, it would evoke a sense of contempt in others.

Lin Wei Xi only washed her face and wiped her arms, but she managed to wet most of the ground. She blushed with shame and hurriedly moved to find something to wipe the floor with.

Just as she placed her hand on the door, she suddenly heard voices outside.

Perhaps Aunt Lin thought that Lin Wei Xi hadn’t woken up yet, or that even if Lin Wei Xi had, she wasn’t afraid of being heard. Aunt Lin had spent her entire life eking out a living from the farms when suddenly, a group of officials arrived, bearing the imperial decree and many rewards. It would be weird if Aunt Lin didn’t covet any of it.

“This brother of mine had a short life, his wife passed away as soon as his daughter was born, and he died on the battlefield to save others. As his older sister, I feel so heartbroken! Six years ago, he sent his only daughter to our home. We already have many mouths to feed, and suddenly there’s a sick person who constantly needs medicine. Such a heavy burden, do I have to say more?”

Lin Wei Xi suddenly stopped pushing the door open. Blocked by only the door, she quietly listened to the unconcealed conversation going on outside.

“Sister Lin, I know that you have a kind heart and raised your younger brother’s daughter for six years. It’s just that, your younger brother is famous now, Xi’er is no longer a burden, she’s now a Marquis’s daughter! It’s a pity she isn’t a man, your brother’s Marquis title will only go to waste. Even if the title can’t be retained, money doesn’t deceive. Xi’er has so many dowries, she will be blessed when she marries in the future.”

Aunt Lin wasn’t too happy to hear this, “I am his only sister. Now that he’s gone, the money he earned still skipped me and is completely left to Xi’er? His daughter is an outsider, but we brother and sister share the same flesh and blood. Not to mention, Xi’er can’t inherit the title, but our family’s Li Da is a boy!”

Li Da was Aunt Lin’s son, 19 years old this year and not yet married . He idled all day long, and even now nobody knew where he was.

Matchmaker Wang , who was a well-known matchmaker in the village, could only laugh at this. Although she looked polite on the surface, Matchmaker Wang couldn’t help thinking to herself; she’d heard of people leaving family property to their brothers or their daughters, but she’d never heard of someone’s nephew inheriting the title. What kind of reasoning was this?

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But she came here to act as a matchmaker, there was no need to sour her relationship with Aunt Lin. Matchmaker Wang continued to laugh and said, “Sister Lin is right. You are Xi’er’s aunt, and her parents are dead, so naturally you are the one overseeing her marriage. Sister, the son of the Liu Yuan Wai family is very popular. If sister Xi marries over, she will live like a young madam; she won’t have to man the fields or do housework. There will even be a little maid waiting on her! Sister, don’t blame me for siding with the Liu Yuan Wai household as a matchmaker. Their family is indeed very good. Many girls in the village want to marry into their household, but now Liu Yuan Wei is willing to let Xi’er become part of the main family, what a blessing this is!”

What kind of blessing was this? Lin Wei Xi had a huge inheritance under her name, and she didn’t have any brothers or uncles to support her. Wouldn’t the person who married her win the lottery without having done anything? What’s more, he could also use Lin Yong’s Marquis Zhongyong title to make his descendants seem special. In the future, it would benefit them, whether they wanted to do business, to take the imperial exam, or more.

Lin Wei Xi clenched her fingers unconsciously. She hadn’t finished observing her filial mourning to her father, but these people were already forcing her to get married.

Author’s note:

Gao Xi is completely dead, so the ethical relationship between the female lead and the Prince Yan Residence because of marriage no longer exists. Lin Wei Xi is now completely free and unmarried.

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