When she learned the purpose of Elder Qin agreeing to her original father’s arrangement for her to be sent over, Zhuo Lin had already investigated the individuals who were meant to be involved in the original plot.
The person in question was twelve years older than her original self, an age gap they had never had. Furthermore, that person’s name was not Chong Yan, so Zhuo Lin had never believed that the sixth master of the Li family was Chong Yan.
At this moment, she had no interest in meeting him.
“I’m not feeling well, I’m not going.”
The servant hurried forward and pushed her, “Tenth Miss, that is the Sixth Master of the Li family. How can you not go? The master will be here to fetch you soon.”
“Then let him come.” Her body was truly too frail, constantly wanting to lie down and not move at all.
The servant was baffled by her indolent attitude, yet unable to drag her away directly. The entire Qin family had witnessed how difficult this Tenth Miss was to deal with; she would often fall gravely ill and lie in bed for days, making her impossible to provoke.
“Tenth Miss, you are currently… a guest in someone else’s home. Why antagonize the master? Besides, your parents sent you here hoping you would marry into a good family. If you can marry into the Li family, your future life will surely be one of comfort and prosperity. Why are you so intent on self-destruction?”
“Didn’t you say he was disabled?” Zhuo Lin raised an eyebrow and smiled at her. “If you think so highly of it, why don’t you marry him?”
The servant’s native language instantly turned into speechlessness.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found that everything she said seemed to be nonsense. She stomped her foot and turned to run out.
Zhuo Lin continued to leisurely peel grapes.
In the front courtyard, Master Qin was also taken aback by Li Shuang Jin’s sudden arrival. He was both excited and apprehensive, personally accompanying him with a smile.
“Actually, even if Sixth Master Li wasn’t coming, I was planning to send You You over in a few days. You You is the daughter of my cousin, beautiful as a flower. She only differentiated into a Di Kun two years ago, and has been doted on by the family. We wanted to find a good husband for her. Sixth Master…”
The man, dressed in a Tang suit, sat in a side seat, a finely crafted cane placed beside him. He was not old, appearing even younger than thirty. He possessed a serious, profound, and virile face. Despite his delicate features, his facial lines were chiseled and deep, sharp and defined. With sword-like brows and starry eyes, his indifferent gaze seemed to penetrate one’s very soul.
He cast a look of utter coldness at Master Qin. A person beside him immediately stepped forward and said, “Boss Qin, we are here to apprehend a suspect, not to propose marriage. Please call out Miss Qin Ten immediately. We need to take her back to the police station for investigation.”
Master Qin’s face paled. “This… this must be a misunderstanding. You You is a Di Kun who can’t even lift a chicken, and her health is extremely delicate. She fell gravely ill just two days after arriving and is still bedridden. Sixth Master…”
“Master.”
Madame Qin, the First Wife, gracefully entered from outside, followed by a retinue of governesses and servants, exuding an air of consequence.
She approached Master Qin and said in a low voice that everyone could hear.
“That girl is feeling unwell and is still resting. I’m afraid she cannot receive distinguished guests.”
Master Qin slapped his thigh with his drooping hand and looked at Li Shuang Jin, hastily explaining, “Sixth Master, you see this…”
Li Shuang Jin immediately rose from his seat, reached for his cane, and strode towards the exit.
“Miss Qin is delicate. Si Mu, let’s go ourselves.”
Master Qin was startled and quickly chased after him, intending to stop him. However, although Li Shuang Jin’s limp gait was not fast, Master Qin dared not truly block him. Li Shuang Jin walked ahead, and Master Qin followed behind, all the way to where the Qin daughters resided.
From the rooms of the other young ladies, people peeked out to watch. Li Shuang Jin had brought several police officers. They were dressed in neat uniforms, armed and ready, not looking like they were here to assess potential brides, but rather to arrest someone.
Those who had been discussing fell silent and quietly closed their doors.
Meanwhile, in Zhuo Lin’s quarters, the servant girl, after lodging her complaint, ran back to flaunt her victory.
“Tenth Miss, Madam First Wife has already gone to see the master. This household is still ruled by the master. Before your father sent you here, he also said that from now on, you would be his daughter and under his discipline. If you are disobedient like this, the master will surely punish you by family law. Hurry up and go now…”
“Are you thirsty? Have some water.” Zhuo Lin stared at her with wide, round eyes. Her current body was quite young, and when she made this expression, it gave off a feeling of being condescended to and mocked.
“First you say he will find me a good match, then you say he will give me to that cripple. When you speak of Li Shuang Jin favorably, he is a smart and brave police detective, the most beloved youngest son of Commander Li. When you speak of him unfavorably, he is lame, disabled, and perhaps has some hidden illness, a good-for-nothing. Girl, your brain might need a doctor’s consultation. It might not be curable soon.”
The servant girl was so enraged she almost spewed blood from all seven orifices. She glared fiercely at Zhuo Lin and cursed, “What are you so smug about? Do you really think you’re a Qin family heiress? You’re just merchandise to be casually given away. I’m telling you, whether you want to marry or not, as long as that cripple fancies you, you will enter the Li family. If you’re not sensible, you’ll be carried away in a sedan chair as an inferior concubine, and perhaps then you’ll be subjected to those men in the Li family who have no Di Kun wives… Ah!”
Zhuo Lin’s figure flickered, and like a ghost, she instantly appeared before the servant girl, forcefully slamming her to the ground. She looked down at her from above.
Her face did not show much anger. After all, it was meaningless to argue with someone born into such circumstances. The Qin family in the original plot was a gathering place for villains. Those mediocre daughters of the Qin family and Madame Qin, as a son of a Tian Qian, were all disgusting creatures who caused endless trouble, only to be crushed in the end.
In such a family, it was entirely conceivable for the servants to be of the same character as their masters.
“Do you believe I can send you to his bed tonight?” she said with a smile. “Then you can also verify if that cripple is truly incapable, hmm?”
The maidservant shivered in fear, feeling that her smile, which didn’t reach her eyes, sent shivers down her spine and made her hair stand on end.
The stiff atmosphere lasted only a dozen seconds before footsteps echoed from the doorway: “Miss Ten, why don’t you verify it yourself?”
A deep male voice sounded. Zhuo Lin looked over in surprise, instantly sensing the familiar soul within that body.
“A Yan.”
Her expression was one of surprise mixed with delight.
She had been wondering how she would find people while bearing this title, and unexpectedly, he had come to her.
“Miss Ten is very curious about my personal affairs?”