Aunt Liu also woke from her nap and naturally heard the news.
When Song Chaoyu saw her, she noticed a hint of worry in her eyes and knew the situation was not good.
The mother and daughter dismissed the servants. Song Chaoyu sat before Aunt Liu and asked, "Aunt, have you heard of the second young master of the Lin family?"
Aunt Liu sighed, "Of course, I have. He is a notorious rake in the capital, having passed through countless flower beds!"
Song Chaoyu's heart sank. "Aunt, please tell me what kind of person this second young master Lin is."
The second young master Lin was named Lin Zhaofeng, the son of Prime Minister Lin's most favored concubine.
He was only eighteen this year and already had a notorious reputation in the capital.
Although he had passed the imperial examinations, he held only a minor, idle post under the Prefect of the Capital.
Yet, the Lin family, being a prime ministerial household, allowed their son to hold such a trivial position, indicating that Lin Zhaofeng was nothing more than mud that could not be plastered onto a wall.
It was said that he had taken on concubines since he was thirteen, and he had not spared any maidservant with a bit of beauty in his courtyard. He had even caused trouble, leading Prime Minister Lin to fly into a rage the previous year and use family law to have several maidservants in Lin Zhaofeng's courtyard beaten to death.
Afterward, Lin Zhaofeng did not restrain himself for more than two days. He dared not touch the maids in his household but began to frequent the various pleasure houses and entertainment districts in the capital.
He had even spent a fortune to buy a single night with a courtesan, causing Prime Minister Lin to be impeached by censors the next day for his failure to discipline his son.
Speaking of this, Aunt Liu sighed, "Now, I fear the Lin family is thinking that if they can welcome someone into the family, they can formally have him take several concubines, and there will be someone to manage him and make him restrain himself. That day, you distinguished yourself at the palace banquet, and Lin Zhaofeng took notice. Our Song family and the Lin family have always had a good relationship, which is why Prime Minister Lin chose you!"
If this was the case, then marrying Lin Zhaofeng was absolutely out of the question.
Song Chaoyu reached out and took Aunt Liu's hand. "Aunt, don't worry. This matter isn't settled yet, and there's still room for maneuver. Let's find a way to avoid this disaster."
Aunt Liu stroked Song Chaoyu's hair with heartache. "I originally thought that by bringing you back to the Song mansion, we mother and daughter would finally not have to suffer on the estate. But looking at it now, I was wrong! The Song mansion is not as carefree as the estate. If I were to truly push you into the Lin family's fiery pit, I would blame myself for a lifetime!"
Song Chaoyu feared Aunt Liu being like this the most. She leaned against Aunt Liu as if in a spoiled child's manner. "What nonsense are you saying, Aunt! As long as I can be with you, I am willing to be anywhere. It's alright, Aunt, there will always be a solution, and life will get better."
— Read here
Despite saying this, Song Chaoyu felt utterly uncertain.
Compared to her previous life, so many things had changed in this life.
Fortunately, the Lin family's visit today was only to probe the Song family's intentions. Even if they were to finalize the engagement, it would not be so soon.
However...
Song Chaoyu would inevitably have to listen to Song Yanrou's jealous remarks.
Sitting in the study, Song Yanrou, who had finally been allowed out of confinement after two days, sat before Song Chaoyu. "Fourth sister, you've truly struck it lucky! With your status as an illegitimate daughter, you'll be able to enter the Lin family's doors. Isn't that like a phoenix soaring to the heavens?"
She was clearly provoking her. Song Chaoyu merely frowned slightly. "Sister dares not to cling to any Lin family noble. Moreover, Third Sister's own marriage is not yet settled, so it is naturally not my turn!"
"Stop being so sharp-tongued!"
Song Yanrou naturally knew what kind of person that Lin Zhaofeng was. She spoke with sarcasm to Song Chaoyu. "That second young master Lin is famously tender and protective of beauties in our capital! Today he favors the top courtesan of Hongxiu Garden, tomorrow it's the most sought-after beauty of the Chun'chun House. I imagine in the future, he will cherish Fourth Sister just as he cherishes those women!"
Was she comparing herself to those women?
Song Chaoyu's eyes turned icy. She tidied her belongings and stood up, but her brush and ink "accidentally" fell!
A wolf-hair brush, still stained with ink, landed directly on Song Yanrou's newly made dress, splattering the lotus cloud petals with dirty ink spots.
"You—"
Song Yanrou suddenly stood up, about to argue with Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu sneered, "It seems this spot has poor feng shui. Miss Zhang was splashed with ink here, and Third Sister also accidentally stained her clothes. It would be best for Sister to stay away from this spot in the future, lest she get stained and even the surrounding smell becomes unpleasant!"
Song Chaoyu had no mood to bicker with her further. She tidied up, discarded the wolf-hair brush, and turned to leave.
Only after Song Chaoyu's back disappeared from Song Yanrou's sight did she react. "What did she mean by an unpleasant smell? Is she saying that because I have a foul mouth, this place has become unpleasant?!"
Having said that, Song Yanrou covered her mouth, her eyes filled with even greater resentment.
—
Song Chaoyu hurried out of the study. After Song Yanrou's words, a bold idea began to form in her mind.
"Oh dear!"
However, she was walking in a hurry, and Tiaohong, who was following behind her, bumped into a young servant, scattering things all over the ground.
"Be more careful!"
Tiaohong frowned and knelt down, distressed, to pick up the scattered items. "Being so careless, what if our young lady's things are broken?!"
The young servant quickly knelt down and helped to clean up. "This servant is wrong, this servant knows they are wrong!"
The voice was familiar. Song Chaoyu lowered her head slightly and saw a familiar face. "Is that Zhuzi?"
The young servant looked up, his face also filled with surprise as he looked at Song Chaoyu. "You remember this servant, Miss?"
Of course, she remembered!
This Zhuzi also came from the estate and had previously served her and Aunt Liu.
He had performed well for the past two years and was promoted back to the Song family in the capital, so Song Chaoyu rarely saw him.
Speaking of which, although Zhuzi was a young servant born on the estate, he was exceptionally handsome.
He looked like a scholarly young master from a storybook, so when he was on the estate, many matrons and maids liked to tease him.
His relationship with Song Chaoyu was not bad, but Song Chaoyu knew that this Zhuzi was not to be trifled with!
Therefore, even though she recognized him now, Song Chaoyu's gaze was only faint. "When working in the Song mansion, you must be careful in your actions. Today, it was only me you bumped into, but if you were to accidentally offend someone else, you might find it difficult to explain."
"Yes, thank you for the reminder, Miss!"
Zhuzi was quite nimble. In just a few moments, he helped Tiaohong tidy up Song Chaoyu's school chest.