???
Lin Qingge was rendered speechless by Yan Tinghao's words, a question mark plastered on her face.
Could someone tell her if this simpleton was genuinely foolish or just pretending?
Although she was blessed with natural beauty, with the aid of her attire and Leng Ningyue's masterful makeup skills, she had barely recognized herself when she happened to glance in the mirror. How could this simpleton possibly recognize her at first glance?
Furthermore, if this simpleton was so adamant that she was a man in disguise, why was he blushing?
While Lin Qingge was still stunned and before she could speak, Lin Zimo, with his quick tongue, spoke up first.
"Uncle Yan, this isn't Mo'er's father, but Mo'er's aunt!"
"Young master, how can you not even recognize your own father? This is clearly an adult!"
Lin Zimo, who had held back for so long, repeated himself with a puffy face, his truthfulness met with disbelief.
"Uncle Yan, this really is Mo'er's aunt!"
However, Yan Tinghao, for the first time, put on a stern face. "Young master, my mother taught me from a young age to be honest. Children who lie get eaten by wolves."
Yan Tinghao mimicked a wolf about to eat someone, earning him a pair of undisguised eye-rolls from Lin Zimo.
"Young master, if you don't believe me, I can prove it to you."
With that, Yan Tinghao reached out and made a move towards the chest of Lin Zimo's aunt.
Lin Qingge: ???
Fortunately, Leng Ningyue, with her quick reflexes, stopped the stubborn Yan Tinghao. With a poker face, she introduced, "Officer Yan, this is the adult's twin sister, Miss Lin Qingge."
"Madam, this is clearly the adult!"
Leng Ningyue shot him a cold glance and repeated sternly, "Miss Lin!"
"Uh—
Alright, Miss Lin."
Submitting to his wife's imposing presence, Yan Tinghao nodded in agreement, then scratched his head in confusion. "Madam, wasn't the adult's sister reported to have died on the way to Changzhou County?"
Leng Ningyue, finding it exasperating that this foolish fellow remembered such trivial matters so clearly, rolled her eyes. She caught sight of a white figure emerging from Changshou Palace and explained, "Miss Lin's condition was indeed critical before, but she was fortunate to be saved by Coroner Murong.
However, the chances of recovery were slim, and it was necessary to confirm the number of accompanying family members upon taking office. Thus, it was falsely reported that she had died en route.
Fortunately, Miss Lin was blessed with great fortune. After more than half a year of recuperation, she has now fully recovered."
Lin Qingge, who had been standing by and listening from beginning to end, couldn't help but give Leng Ningyue's explanation a thumbs-up.
At the same time, Murong Bai had arrived.
He blinked in surprise upon seeing Lin Qingge in a dress and then awkwardly averted his gaze.
Finally, he commented with a forced air, "Well, not bad."
...
Lin Qingge, who felt no need for others to judge her appearance, glared back.
But she soon realized that Murong Bai wasn't looking at her at all.
At this moment, Leng Ningyue gestured towards the stubbornly persistent simpleton and said, "Officer Yan, if you don't believe me, you can ask Coroner Murong.
He was the one who saved the adult's twin sister back then."
Although unaware of the purpose of this charade, Murong Bai, who instantly understood, nodded in cooperation. "This indeed happened."
"Alright, even if she really is the adult's sister, then where is the adult?"
Yan Tinghao said, looking around.
Finding this simpleton increasingly annoying, Leng Ningyue chose to ignore him, leading Lin Qingge and Lin Zimo into the palace.
"Oh, whose daughter is this? So beautiful."
"This commoner is Lin Qingge, greetings to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years."
Lin Qingge was unsure how much the old lady before her knew, but having adopted a new identity, she still paid her respects anew.
The Empress Dowager smiled and beckoned her closer. "Qingge, is it?
Not only is your appearance lovely, but your name is also pleasant to hear.
How old are you this year, and have you found a match yet?"
Lin Qingge, feeling the conversation was veering off course, struggled to turn her head, which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Seeing this, the Empress Dowager was even more delighted.
"That's wonderful!
As it happens, I have four sons.
The eldest is out of the question; that scoundrel who couldn't even protect his wife and children, I want to beat him up every time I see him.
The second is Bai Hexuan, who just left. Oh, right, he's called Murong Bai now.
Apart from being picky and sharp-tongued, he has practically no other flaws.
Especially his handsome appearance; I dare say you won't find another like him in the entire capital, let alone the whole of Great Xia.
As for the third, he has been with me the shortest amount of time, and his personality is the most unpredictable. Therefore, I don't know much about him.
But I can say for sure that if someone truly catches the third's eye, that child would go through fire and water for them, willing to risk anything.
And then there's the fourth, Feng Qingchen.
That child is promising; at a young age, he has already achieved the position of Prime Minister.
But for some reason, Qingchen is extremely averse to marriage and even claims he will remain unmarried for life.
It's good for a man to prioritize his career, but he shouldn't let his career hinder his lifelong commitments!
So, there's no other way; I, as his godmother, have to find a suitable match for him."
Lin Qingge listened for a long time and finally understood.
Good heavens.
This Empress Dowager wanted her to choose one from her four sons, or rather, three who weren't really her sons?
"I know, daughters are shy, and you might find it embarrassing to speak up."
As the Empress Dowager was about to continue, Lin Qingge, without any hesitation, interjected, "Actually, there's nothing embarrassing about it."
Hearing this, the Empress Dowager's spirit immediately perked up.
"Then tell me, which one has caught your eye?
Don't worry, as long as you speak, I can make the decision for you, regardless of whether those boys are willing."
"Reporting to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, if I must choose one, I would choose Prime Minister Feng.
After all, Prime Minister Feng, like myself, is a non-marriage advocate.
So, we should be able to come up with many ways to break off the engagement."
Lin Qingge didn't mention another point: given Feng Qingchen's busy schedule, marriage would be akin to widowhood, no different from being single.
Then there was living in the Prime Minister's mansion and being served by servants.
No, wait.
Would the Prime Minister's mansion even compare to her Lin Mansion?
As Lin Qingge was lost in thought, the Empress Dowager before her suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, as the Empress said, I have lost."