Chapter 117: Pride

"Miss..." Feng Hua arrived in a horse-drawn carriage and waved at Lin Yanyan.

Xiao Qian said, "The carriage came to pick you up."

Lin Yanyan casually asked Feng Hua, "Why were you gone for so long?"

"Don't mention it, it was quite a spectacle."

"What spectacle?"

"Today, the Xiong family came to demand an explanation. Not only did the old lady apologize, but she also compensated them with five thousand taels of silver. And she gave your younger brother a harsh scolding as well."

Lin Yannan is extremely angry: "The Xiong family is truly shameless."

Xiao Qian still doesn't know about last night's fight at Changyi Residence. He has been busy interrogating the spy from the Northern Di faction: "The Xiong family?"

“除了他还有谁？”林晏晏没好气道。

“出了什么事儿？”

“昨晚晴柔郡主让熊公子给景元设套，哄着景元请客，席间拿我说事儿，毁我名节，景元气不过打了熊公子，熊公子他们人多，幸亏昨晚周大同和丁班的人也在畅意居吃饭，所以就变成了国子监甲班和丁班打群架，我得到消息赶过去，给了姓熊的两巴掌，把问题解决了，没想到熊家今天又上门找事儿。”

Are you sure Qingrou set a trap?

I had Zhaoxin follow Xiong Gongzi, and despite being badly injured, he didn't rush back home for treatment. Instead, he went to Princess Xinyang's residence. Today, at the Empress's birthday banquet, Qingrou's people used this against me. If it wasn't her who set the trap, then who else could it be?" Lin Yannan is furious.

"Not only did Xiong Gongzi come, but also Luo, the Leader of the Wucheng Military Command. They colluded together. If I hadn't gone last night, Jingyuan would have suffered a big loss. Luckily, I had the Empress Dowager's command in my hand, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to enter Changyi Residence."

Xiao Qian's eyes were cold as he said, "Qing Rou is becoming lawless, relying on the Empress Dowager's favor."

"Sigh... can you guys let me finish speaking?" Feng Hua muttered.

When Miss Lin heard that the Xiong family was causing trouble, she became furious and started talking nonstop, not allowing anyone else to interject.

"What else is there? Just say it all at once." Lin Yannan was prepared, ready to handle any other troublemakers besides the Xiong family. She would deal with them all together.

Feng Hua said, "Not long after the Xiong family left, they came back to apologize to your Lin family. They not only returned the five thousand two silvers, but also gave an additional three thousand two silvers, saying it was for your brother's medical expenses."

Lin Yannan was stunned. The turnaround was too quick!

However, upon further thought, she understood: "It must have been during the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. Qingrou failed to incriminate me, and the Empress Dowager protected me in every way. Madam Xiong didn't dare to offend the Empress Dowager, so she informed her family."

"I'm afraid it's more than that. The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Works is involved in a treason case. Even if Minister Xiong is not implicated, having a lax control over his subordinates would be enough trouble for him. At such a critical moment, he wouldn't dare to stir up any further problems," Xiao Qian said.

"You should go back and have a look, if there is any place where you need me, just let me know."

Lin Yannan was concerned about Jing Yuan and said, "Then I'll leave first."

Xiao Qian watched the carriage from afar, then mounted the horse and headed to Shuntian Mansion.

Lin Yannan went back to Moyuan Ge first, and Lin Jingyuan was very frustrated. Seeing her elder sister return, he immediately started complaining.

"Grandmother scolded me without asking for any reason, and that Lin Zhenzhen was instigating things on the side, which really infuriated me. And the Xiong family is even more ridiculous. They came to demand an explanation at our door, but then they came back to apologize. They're completely out of their minds."

Lin Yannan said, "What's there to be angry about? Grandmother has always been afraid of trouble. You know who Lin Zhenzhen is."

"I know, it's just frustrating and infuriating. Grandmother even said she wants to take back our control over Moyuan Pavilion and teach us to behave."

Lin Yannan sneered, "Is it up to her to decide whether or not to regain control?"

"Jing Yuan, do you want to vent your anger?"

"Of course I do!"

"Let's go, follow me to Cien Hall."

Lin Jingyuan immediately became excited: "Sis, are you going to argue with grandmother?"

Lin Yanyan pulled out an imperial decree from her sleeve: "This, is more effective than saying anything."

"Imperial edict? What does it say? Let me see it quickly." Lin Jingyuan snatched the imperial edict.

He opened the imperial edict and exclaimed in delight, "Sister, you've been appointed as a county princess?"

"Countess Kangping, from today onwards, this young lady is a county princess." Lin Yanyan proudly raised her eyebrows.

"Great, I knew it must be you exerting power in the palace so that the Xiong family didn't dare to provoke us. They have finally come to apologize, just as I predicted. Sister, you are amazing, but... why did the emperor grant you the title of County Princess? Did you do something significant that I am not aware of?"

"It's nothing major, just preparing some medicinal meals for the Empress Dowager and assisting the imperial physician in her treatment. As a result, the Empress Dowager's illness showed significant improvement. His Majesty, being filial and kind-hearted, bestowed me with the title of Princess when he was pleased."

"When did you go to the Queen Mother to cook herbal medicine?" Lin Jingyuan suspected cunningly.

"Guess."

Lin Jingyuan scratched his head and suddenly had a revelation: "Sis, could it be that going to Yangzhou was just a cover-up, and you were actually in the palace those few days?"

林晏晏笑道：“明修栈道暗度陈仓。”

"Sis, I am speechless in expressing my admiration. All I can say is that having you as my sister makes me proud."

"Enough talking, come and challenge me."

The brother and sister headed straight to the Cien Hall, where Jin Xin wanted to tell Miss something but didn't have enough time.

Inside the Cien Hall, Lin Zhenzhen was still wiping her tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice.

The old lady sighed in disappointment, thinking that the elder siblings in the household were relatively trouble-free, but they caused trouble right after.

The Xiong family unexpectedly apologized today, but with Yanyan and Jingyuan's personalities, who knows when they will cause trouble again? Sigh! There isn't a single person in this whole extended family who can put one's mind at ease.

Wei Yue softly advised, "Grandma, don't be angry. I think Yanyan kept it from you because she didn't want you to worry."

"You don't need to speak up for her. I know what she truly thinks. She's just thinking that with her parents gone, she's endured some grievances before, so she feels that she has to be stronger in order to not be bullied again. But being strong is not done through such methods. A young girl resorting to violence in front of so many people... it's simply behaving like a shrew." The old lady was worried! Who would dare to marry Yanyan in the future?

"Grandma, when Yannan comes back, you can ask her carefully about what happened yesterday. I don't think Yannan is the type of impulsive person. If she took action, she must have her reasons." Wei Yuewan has heard a lot about Lin Yannan during her time at the Marquis's residence. Putting aside other matters, just the fact that Lin Yannan dared to confront the Zhu family and didn't let them take advantage of her, but instead managed to retrieve thirty thousand taels of silver from them, made Wei Yuewan believe that Lin Yannan is a courageous and resourceful person.

This kind of person, she is unwilling to make enemies.

So, she is willing to help speak a few nice words.

"Aunt, you have a good temper, but in this matter, I think what Grandma said is right. If Grandma doesn't discipline them, both of them, Lin Jingyuan and Lin Yinyin, will become unruly. Didn't you see that? I just agreed with Grandma, but Lin Jingyuan wanted to eat me alive." Lin Zhenzhen was angry. Why couldn't Wei Yuwan just be clear-minded? Why did she always speak up for Lin Yinyin? Shouldn't they be getting closer as a family? They are the real family!