"You're just worrying unnecessarily. Who knows, perhaps your aunt was just saying it casually. Once she finds someone better and more outstanding, she definitely won't marry her daughter to you. You can put your mind at ease about it." Feng Jin patted Ling Muzhu on the shoulder to comfort him. Even if his aunt really had such intentions, with Old Master Ling holding the fort, there was no need to worry too much about this matter.
She had only said that to scare Ling Muzhu. Who knew this young fellow was so timid, someone who couldn't handle a scare? After just a few words, he was already vowing to remain unmarried his entire life. If she continued, wouldn't he just go off and become a monk?
"Really?" Ling Muzhu asked uncertainly. Why did he feel it wasn't that simple? No... he still had to be cautious. The best course of action was to find his grandfather first, let his grandfather speak to his aunt, and completely put an end to this dreadful possibility.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, I have something to attend to with Grandfather. You can go back by yourself first."
"Muzhu, you..." Before Feng Jin could finish speaking, Ling Muzhu had already darted off, disappearing without a trace. Why was this fellow so impulsive? Couldn't he wait for her to finish speaking before leaving? Could he even find Old Master Ling like this?
"Didn't Muzhu come out with you? Why are you alone? Where's Muzhu?" Ling Mohan's concerned voice came from behind. From afar, he had seen only Feng Jin standing there. Didn't Muzhu insist on coming out with Feng Jin just now? Now he'd run off without a trace. This fellow was still so reckless.
"He's gone to find Grandfather. It's something very important he needs to discuss." It was about marriage, his future choice, and it was indeed very important.
"Why did you come out so late? Did your aunt say something to you? Could it be that she still wants to marry her daughter to you?" This Ling Changyi would do anything to achieve her goals. Marrying her daughter to Ling Mohan as a concubine was also a possibility.
Realizing that her corner was about to be dug out, Feng Jin's face showed a look of intense anger. Her eyes, filled with fire, glared at Ling Mohan.
"What are you thinking wildly about? I only came out after your aunt left." Ling Mohan reached out and drew Feng Jin into his embrace. Their movements were very intimate as he held her and walked forward.
"Ling Mohan, your aunt is truly formidable. She's only just returned, and her ambitions are already so grand. She wants to marry her daughter into the Ling family. If this marriage goes through, she'll become even more arrogant in the Ling Mansion."
"This isn't something you or I need to worry about. Grandfather will arrange everything." These were not matters he could interfere with, and he believed his grandfather would find a way to resolve it.
"But..."
"No buts. Don't think about these things anymore. Let's go for a walk." Halting Feng Jin's next words, Ling Mohan pulled her and walked outside.
Meanwhile, Ling Muzhu had searched the entire Ling Mansion and finally found Old Master Ling and his two grandchildren at the Return Heart Pavilion. Old Master Ling was playfully teasing the children, creating a scene of harmonious joy.
Ling Muzhu stepped in front of the children and crouched down to meet their gaze. "Say 'Uncle,' say 'Uncle quickly.'"
"You incorrigible rascal, have you gone mad from reading? How old are they for them to call you Uncle? Also, when you watch the children in the future, you can't get too close to them, and your tone of voice must be lowered. You absolutely cannot scare them." Worried that Ling Muzhu might not know his limits and scare the children, Old Master Ling imparted a string of parenting advice.
"Grandfather, you can teach me these things later. I've come to find you today because I have something important to discuss." Ling Muzhu's tone was somewhat anxious. He instructed the wet nurse to take Da Bao and Er Bao away, and had all the maids and servants wait outside.
"Hurry up and tell me what you have to say. Don't delay my watching the children." You must know that the time to watch the children each day is limited. Old Master Ling's gaze remained fixed on Da Bao and Er Bao, unwilling to turn away even for a moment.
"Grandfather, it's... it's Aunt. Earlier, during the meal, she asked if I was married. From the tone of her voice, it seemed she wanted to promise my cousin to me..." Speaking of this matter, Ling Muzhu felt increasingly disgusted. The more he thought about it, the more unlucky he felt. "Grandfather, you must find a way to help me. I absolutely do not want to marry my aunt's daughter. Grandfather, are you just going to stand by and watch your grandson leap into a fiery pit?"
Fearing that Old Master Ling might not agree, he even knelt down directly to beg.
"Get up. So many servants are watching outside. If you continue like this, aren't you afraid of being ridiculed?"
"Compared to marrying my aunt's daughter, I'm not afraid of being laughed at by others at all!" Ling Muzhu declared with certainty, indicating how unwilling he was to marry his cousin.
"First, stand up and explain to me clearly what exactly happened." Old Master Ling motioned for Ling Muzhu to stand up and recounted the events one by one.
"Grandfather, that's all. You must do justice for me. I will absolutely not marry her." Ling Muzhu stated with firm conviction, showing how resolute his attitude was at this moment.
"I understand. Don't worry about this matter. All you need to do now is to study diligently and prepare for the imperial examinations. Grandfather will arrange everything else for you. For this imperial examination, Grandfather doesn't ask you to become the top scholar, the second, or the third. I don't even奢望 your ranking. As long as you can be listed, Grandfather will be satisfied." His request was not excessive. Recalling the young men of the Ling family, as long as they were determined to participate in the imperial examinations, they all achieved top-three rankings. Even the less successful Second Master Ling was a Zhuangyuan scholar in his day. Merely asking Ling Muzhu to be listed would be a great comfort.
"What's with that expression? Do you think Grandfather's request is too difficult for you?"
"No... Grandfather, I just think your requirement is too low. In your eyes, I am such a useless person, only capable of this much?" He just felt belittled. Regardless of the final outcome, he should at least have some confidence placed in him. Hearing his grandfather's request now truly made him uncomfortable.
"It's not about belittling you, but Muzhu, your review time is too short. Some people spend years studying and may not even succeed, while you, how much time did you waste in the early years? Now you're just cramming. If you can achieve such a result, it's already good. Muzhu ah... the result isn't important, as long as you've made your own effort, that's good, understand?" He was also worried that having expectations too high might put too much pressure on Ling Muzhu, which could backfire.