Lin Yan did not respond to her mother's words, knowing that her grandmother would keep her mother in check.
As expected, the next moment, her grandmother called out to Lin's mother in a very stern voice. Lin's mother immediately composed herself, though her gaze remained filled with worry as she looked at Lin Yan.
"Don't mind your mother; she's just surprised because she hasn't seen you in so long. You've already offered incense, so let's go home to wash up and rest."
"Then I'll go inform the clan elder first."
After Lin Yan spoke with the clan elder, he agreed, but asked Lin Yan to come to his place after dinner to discuss the memorial archway.
Lin Yan agreed and then left with her grandmother and mother.
Upon returning home, Lin Yan felt that the servants in her house treated her differently. In fact, it wasn't just the servants; the attitudes of the other two mistresses of the house had also changed towards her.
Old Madam Lin was still very concerned about Lin Yan's health. Lin Yan was now fourteen years old, or fifteen by traditional reckoning. If she were a girl, she would be due for her coming-of-age ceremony.
What concerned her most were the changes in Lin Yan's body. As for Lin Yan being too tall, that was not an issue.
Although women were currently admired for being delicate and petite, so what? Lin Yan was not a woman now.
Moreover, being tall would not lead anyone to doubt her gender and would make Lin Yan safer.
After entering the house together, Old Madam Lin asked those serving her to check on the preparations. After dismissing everyone, she lowered her voice and inquired about Lin Yan's health.
Lin Yan did not go into too much detail, simply stating that due to her medication, her menstruation had not yet begun.
Old Madam Lin frowned and asked if the medicine was harmful to Lin Yan's body.
She had never heard of any medicine that could cause menstruation to be so delayed. Lin Yan was already of age, and she was not like children from poor families with poor health.
How could her first period still not have arrived?
She felt very uneasy, fearing that Lin Yan was using harmful medicine.
Lin Yan reassured Old Madam Lin that her medicine was very safe. Lin's mother had been listening to Lin Yan and Old Madam Lin's conversation.
When she saw they had finished speaking, she really wanted to say something but was glared at by Old Madam Lin.
"Yan'er must be tired; go back and rest. Your room has been prepared. I'll have someone call you for dinner.
Besides, you have to go to the clan elder's place after dinner to discuss matters. Go on."
Lin Yan did not want to say anything to her mother. She knew her mother meant well, but Lin Yan could not accept how her mother imposed her own beliefs and forced her perceived path onto others.
However, Lin's mother was, after all, the mother of this body, and Lin Yan could not directly defy her.
With her grandmother present, someone could control her. She remembered from the original host's memories that Lin's mother had threatened the original host with her life to get married.
For so many years, she had always believed that a woman's greatest duty was to serve her husband and raise her children. Even if the original host did not end up happy, she only lamented the original host's ill fate.
Lin Yan could not judge her actions, as from her perspective, she was acting for her daughter's good and seeking a reliable support for her.
But she never considered whether her daughter actually needed such support. Someone raised as a man, given the opportunity, could support herself with her own abilities.
She might face some gossip, but she could still wear men's clothing and, having been able to achieve the top scholar rank, could work as a teacher and support herself.
The original host's eventual fate of being confined to the inner courtyard was inseparable from this mother. But she was just a pitiful person brainwashed by feudal ethics.
She would not do anything to this mother, but she would try her best to make her grandmother live longer. With her grandmother around, this mother would not be able to cause much trouble.
After Lin Yan left, Lin's mother hesitantly called out, "Mother."
"What are you trying to do? Yan'er has achieved the second rank in the imperial examination, making her an official. She can later earn titles for you. Are you trying to cost us our lives?"
"I, I didn't." Lin's mother felt very wronged; she was only worried about her child.
"From today onwards, you must remember that you gave birth to a son, a son who passed the imperial examination. You are a great contributor to our Lin family.
Put away that sorrowful look and be happy, be proud! You are the benefactor of the entire Lin family!" Old Madam Lin's tone was extremely stern.
"If you don't want anything to happen to Yan'er, if you don't want the last of Xu'er's bloodline to be severed, you must dream that you gave birth to a son!"
Seeing Old Madam Lin's stern demeanor, Lin's mother timidly responded.
"Yan'er will be an official from now on, and you are the mother of an official. " Old Madam Lin softened her tone. "This is a goal your father, brother, husband, and father-in-law could not achieve in a lifetime.
Think about it carefully, and remember never to mention Yan'er's affairs to anyone, not even your own mother."
Facing her formidable mother-in-law, Lin's mother could only agree.
During dinner that evening, Lin Yan noticed that Lin's mother no longer had that hesitant expression when facing her.
It seemed Old Madam Lin had intervened. After dinner, Lin Yan went to the clan elder's house to discuss matters.
This year, two members of the Lin family participated in the imperial examinations and both passed as Jinshi, bringing great honor to the entire Lin family. The whole Lin village was filled with joy.
Lin Yan's discussion with the clan elder was about building a memorial archway for the Jinshi and holding a grand banquet.
The Lin clan elder's intention was to handle it together, with the clan providing the funds, as it was a significant event for the clan and would also bring fame to Lin Village.
However, while this was good news for Lin Bo, whose family was not particularly wealthy, it was not ideal for Lin Yan.
Therefore, when the clan elder brought it up with Lin Yan, he was a bit apprehensive.
Lin Yan readily agreed after hearing about it. Her own household only had two widowed women. With the clan taking charge of the banquet, it would be more convenient for them.
"Grandmother is old and it's not good to trouble her, and Mother has never presided over a banquet. It saves us a lot of trouble for the clan to take this on. I should be thanking the clan."
Lin Yan's words pleased the elders of the clan. Although they knew she was being polite, her words made them feel very good.
All the clan elders, including the clan elder, looked at Lin Yan with satisfaction.
"Then it's settled. We'll notify you once we set the date. You can also consider whom you want to invite," the clan elder said with a smile.
Although the clan elder said the clan would pay, Lin Yan still offered him some money as a token of her appreciation.
Lin Yan was not short of money for the moment. While she couldn't afford a house in the capital, she had enough to host a banquet.
The clan elder refused a few times but eventually accepted. Lin Bo also gave some money, which, though not much, was a gesture of his goodwill.