jdhmnovel Chapter 236 The Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Yanping
Chapter 236 The Heir Apparent of the Marquis of Yanping
Meanwhile, in Xinyang County, Shu Yunqiang rallied her spirits and began to handle household affairs as well as supervise crop experiments.
She shuttled between the fields and the mansion every day, carefully checking the growth of crops, patiently communicating with farmers, and recording every subtle change.
She knew the importance of these crops to the people of Xinyang. Shi Wanxia had always hoped to improve the varieties and increase the yield so that the people of Xinyang would no longer suffer from famine.
Meanwhile, Shi Qing and Shu Yao were not idle either. They visited various parts of the city to comfort the people who were in a state of panic because of Shi Wanxia's imprisonment.
They told the people about Lin Yu's plan to go to Beijing to rescue him, trying to calm the public's mind.
At the same time, they were also secretly collecting evidence and clues that might be beneficial to Shi Wanxia, just in case.
Hou Yanping and Hou Linyong appeared calm and collected, but deep in their eyes lay a hint of joy at their son's return. Without a second thought, they hurriedly took their wives Lu Yun's hands and strode towards the main hall, while simultaneously calling out to the Emperor.
"Steward, quickly have the kitchen prepare several of the dishes that the young master usually enjoys." Lin Yong's voice carried a hint of authority, yet could not hide his anxiety. "Also, send someone to inform the second and third sons that their elder brother has returned to the manor, and they should not waste any more time in their rooms."
The butler accepted the order with a beaming smile, quickly turning and rushing towards the kitchen, as if he wanted to personally oversee the operation to show his sincerity.
Lin Yong slowed his pace, pondering to himself. His eldest son, Lin Yiyu, had been away from home for a long time, with little news of him. Now that he had returned and inherited the position of heir, he could no longer act as recklessly as before.
With many eyes watching him from the entire Marquis's residence, he, as the heir apparent, should set an example for the family. How could he leave in a huff over a few minor setbacks?
Seeing Lin Yong's solemn expression, Lu Yun couldn't help but glare at him reproachfully. She had been married to him for many years and knew his temperament very well. She knew that he was always tough on the outside but soft on the inside, like a strong shield that was tough on the outside but soft on the inside.
"When your son arrives later, you must not scold him harshly. He must have gone through countless hardships and tasted all kinds of bitterness in the world. If you make him leave again, I will take the children back to our hometown of Fanyang and never set foot in the capital again."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yong quickly lowered his voice and begged for forgiveness: "Madam, please be at ease. I understand and will not blame Huai'an."
Lu Yun nodded slightly and, supported by her maid, moved gracefully with Lin Yong to the main hall.
At this moment, Lin Yiyu was sitting peacefully in the hall, holding a cup of fragrant tea in his hand. He seemed relaxed and at ease, but the slight trembling of his fingertips betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
The reason he traveled thousands of miles back to the capital was because of Miss Shi; he wanted to save her. Miss Shi had saved him from danger, how could he forget her kindness?
He knew that with his father and mother's prestige and connections in the court, as long as he returned to the manor, he might be able to put in a good word for her before the Emperor and save her from her predicament.
Qin Xin, standing beside him, was filled with unease. She lowered her head slightly, her gaze only daring to fall on the blue brick beneath her feet, not daring to overstep her bounds in the slightest.
In her heart, Lin Yiyu was of incomparably noble status, like an unattainable star, while she was just an ordinary woman. Being able to accompany him was already a great honor, so how could she dare to have the slightest intention of disrespect?
Although Lin Yiyu held a pear in his hand, he had no intention of savoring it, only taking a few casual bites. He seemed to be leaning lazily against the chair, but in fact, his posture was upright, and his starry eyes kept drifting towards the door, hoping to see the familiar figures of his loved ones as soon as possible.
Shortly after, the second brother, Lin Yijun, and the third brother, Lin Yiting, received the message and rushed over.
As Lin Yiting stepped into the main hall, he laughed heartily and said, "Brother's return is a great event for our Marquis's mansion. Today we must have a good chat about our past."
Lin Yijun nodded in agreement, "That's right, it's been a long time since I heard from you, brother. I miss you terribly."
When Lin Yiyu saw his brothers arrive, he stood up to greet them. The three brothers exchanged pleasantries, but there was a hint of testing and distance between them in their words, as if there was an invisible veil between them.
As Lin Yong and Lu Yun entered the main hall, everyone fell silent. Lin Yong coughed lightly, breaking the silence: "Huai'an, now that you have returned to the capital and assumed the position of heir apparent, you must know the weight of your responsibilities. In the past, you left the capital willfully, and many matters were left unattended. From now on, you must think thrice before acting and never act impulsively again."
Lin Yiyu listened attentively with his head bowed, replying, "Father's teachings will be remembered by me." Seeing this, Lu Yun gently scolded, "Today is a family reunion, why talk about these troublesome things first? Let the children enjoy their time together."
During the meal, the table was laden with delicacies, yet everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and no one indulged in unrestrained joy. Lin Yong's gaze was sharp, frequently sweeping over Lin Yiyu, as if trying to discern the changes in him over the past few days;
Lin Yijun and Lin Yiting quietly observed their father's expression, secretly pondering the future direction of the family's power; Lin Yiyu had something on his mind, so he only ate a little of the food in front of him; Qin Xin felt like she had a thorn in her side, and could only hope to quietly hide in this complex and subtle atmosphere.
After the meal, Lin Yong said to Lin Yiyu, "Huai'an, come with me to the study. I have important matters to discuss with you." Lin Yiyu understood immediately, knowing that this was an important meeting concerning his future and the fate of the Marquis's mansion. He straightened his clothes and followed his father with a solemn expression.
Upon entering the study, Lin Yong slowly sat down behind the desk, his expression serious: "Huai'an, do you know that the political situation in the court is currently turbulent and unpredictable? The Marquis's mansion is situated in this situation, as if it were a ship on a stormy sea, and we must be careful in every way. As the heir apparent, you will need to seek more benefits and honor for the Marquis's mansion in the officialdom in the future, and you must not act solely based on your own feelings."
Lin Yiyu frowned slightly, pondered for a long time, and then said, "Father, I am no longer the ignorant child I once was. I can weigh the pros and cons. However, I also have my own obsessions and principles. I hope you can understand." Lin Yong stared at him for a moment and nodded slightly, "In that case, you should go back to your room and rest. We can discuss this further another day."
Lin Yiyu left the study, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that from now on, he would have to struggle under the dual pressures of the Marquis's mansion and the officialdom, and that his relationship with Miss Shi would be just like the road through the Marquis's mansion, full of thorns and fog.
Amidst the complex entanglements of power struggles and emotions, can he uphold his original aspirations and protect his ideals? Can he find a balance between family and ideals? Everything is like an unknown dream, waiting for him to explore and pursue.
On his way back to his room, Lin Yiyu ran into Qin Xin. Upon seeing him, Qin Xin quickly curtsied and said, "Young Master, you seem troubled today. Are you worried about matters concerning the Marquis's residence?"
Lin Yiyu gently shook his head: "Qin Xin, you don't understand. There are many complexities involved, which cannot be explained in just a few words."
Qin Xin bit her lip slightly: "Young Master, no matter what happens, you must take care of yourself. Your safety and happiness are of utmost importance to many people."
Lin Yiyu sensed the concern in her words and felt a warmth in his heart: "Qinxin, having you by my side is a comfort."
That night, the moonlight, like water, spilled into the courtyard of the Marquis's mansion. Lin Yiyu sat alone by the window, gazing at the bright moon, silently longing for Miss Shi. He knew that the road ahead was long, but for her, for the Marquis's mansion, he had to muster his courage and take each step firmly.