Chapter 790: The Runaway Lin Family Heiress

Dashi used the excuse of heavy snow at night to temporarily arrange Miss Lin in a room at the back courtyard of the shop.

The room was clean and warm.

Dashi also had the clerk bring over clean blankets.

Miss Lin thanked him verbally, but inwardly, she was disdainful.

This room wasn’t even as good as the room of the maid by her side.

Every time she thought about marrying a junior official from Hanlin Academy sent to the frontier, and that she might not even have a room like this, she became so upset she wanted to kill her stepmother and her sister.

In the past, snow in Shengjing was merely a decoration that added a touch of amusement to life for young ladies of wealthy families like her.

She wished the snow could fall even heavier.

It didn’t matter; going out had hand warmers and warm sedan chairs, while indoors had warm charcoal fires, appreciating the snow by the window and writing poems was thoroughly enjoyable.

But after her experience escaping in the snowstorm, she realized for the first time that heavy snow could be the disaster of her future life.

Cold, freezing cold!

This was the first time in her life she experienced the cold brought by winter snow, so cold that her limbs seemed to crack.

In the future, when she goes to the frontier, she’ll feel this cold every year.

Why should this be?

She won’t accept it.

Since her stepmother arranged such a marriage for her, she wouldn’t blame herself for disregarding family ties.

Once she becomes Prince Ning’s favored consort and gradually becomes Empress, she will make her stepmother and sister pay for her current humiliation.

No, death would be too cheap for them.

She wants them to wear thin clothes and kneel before her, begging for forgiveness in the heavy snow.

...

"Does the Lin Family really mistreat her as she says?"

Dashi didn’t fully believe Miss Lin.

After settling Miss Lin, Dashi couldn’t help but discuss with the clerk.

No matter how Miss Lin pleaded, he could never send her to Prince Ning Mansion.

What kind of place is Prince Ning Mansion, where ordinary folks can just come and go?

The Lin Family is not a regular family; they are an aristocratic clan with the status of a Marquis Mansion. What if he sent her away and the Lin Family came to demand her?

He wasn’t foolish enough to impulsively fulfill Miss Lin’s requests just because she seemed pitiful.

Even if Miss Lin’s story were true, he definitely would help her.

But he would resolve it in a safe and comprehensive manner, ideally removing himself and Tong Huaqiong from the situation, rather than impulsively rushing in to uphold justice.

The clerk said, "It’s hard to say with big households. Which wealthy family in Shengjing doesn’t have domestic secrets? The heads of the households, if they don’t have some tricks up their sleeves, how can they control the concubines and children born from them? Some heads of households are very jealous; they beat concubines and force the illegitimate daughters. Such stories come out every year."

The clerk was from Shengjing, and his parents had been servants in wealthy families, having heard many stories of domestic strife among wives and concubines.

"Miss Lin indeed seems pitiful. If she wasn’t forced by her stepmother, why would a rich young lady risk escaping in such heavy snow?"

Seeing Miss Lin’s pitiful appearance convinced the clerk of her tearful plight.

Unless she had no other options at all, why would a rich, delicate young lady run away?

Dashi frowned and said, "Miss Lin’s stepmother has been to our house; I’ve met her once. She doesn’t seem like someone who would mistreat an illegitimate daughter."

The clerk said, "That’s not necessarily true; you can know someone’s face but not their heart. Some people speak sweetly but are malicious internally. Outside, they seem kind to the illegitimate sons and daughters, but how they treat them at home, we don’t know. If the stepmother was good to Miss Lin, how could she arrange such a terrible marriage for her?"

Dashi felt puzzled in his heart.

So the knot lies here.

If it were the old Dashi, he wouldn’t think twice about believing Miss Lin’s ordeal as true.

Dashi had trained on the frontier and seen the world in Shengjing; he was no longer the Qinghe Bay’s Dashi who focused on small matters.

If he were Mrs. Lin, even if he disliked an illegitimate daughter, he wouldn’t make a fuss over her marriage alliance.

Because there’s no need.

An illegitimate daughter isn’t like an illegitimate son who would inherit family wealth.

Aristocratic families value shared honor and disgrace.

Arranging a good marriage for the illegitimate daughter to form alliances could benefit himself and his son more, wouldn’t it?

If Mrs. Lin really envied the mother of Miss Lin, she wouldn’t have kept and raised Miss Lin well.

Dashi thought for a while and decided to return home the next day to discuss with Huaqiong.

"Miss Lin hiding in our shop can’t be leaked; if the news gets out, even I won’t be able to protect you."

"Also, no matter what Miss Lin wants you to do, you mustn’t comply. Just listen to my words."

The situation was unclear, and Dashi feared the sympathetic clerk might inadvertently be manipulated.

The clerk said, "Rest assured, I only listen to you."

Despite sympathizing with Miss Lin, he was too afraid to pass any message for her.

He was mainly afraid that Dashi would be angered and dismiss him.

Though Dashi always smiled warmly at the clerks, he handled matters harshly, even manipulating the Mo Bei King.

Besides, leaving the Gu Family’s shop, where could he find such a generous livelihood?

One night without dreams.

The next morning, waking up, Dashi saw through the window that the snow had stopped.

Dashi instructed the clerk to go to a nearby mutton soup restaurant to buy hot mutton soup and presented it to Miss Lin.

Seeing the hot mutton soup, Miss Lin furrowed her brow; having oily food so early, how could she eat?

"Brother Gu, the snow has stopped outside. It’s not appropriate for me to stay in your shop. If the Lin Family discovers, I’m afraid it will affect you; the Lin Family is a powerful clan even feared by Prince Ning. Wouldn’t it be better if you sent me to Prince Ning Mansion?"

Miss Lin regretted not having brought out silver and jewelry, or she could bribe the clerk beside Dashi.

She saw the sympathy for her in the clerk’s eyes and was confident she could leverage it.

Dashi responded as he drank mutton soup and ate a sesame cake, "This matter is not urgent; you eat first. After eating, we can talk more, or perhaps I’ll pass a message to Prince Ning first, and you can wait in the shop at ease."

Miss Lin gritted her teeth.

She initially thought this country bumpkin from Ningcheng Village would be easy to manipulate, but surprisingly, Dashi was elusive.

She was already so pitiful, yet he showed no pity or tenderness.

Miss Lin was unwilling.

The longer she stayed here, the greater the risk of being captured back by the Lin Family.

Right now, only Prince Ning Mansion is the safest place for her.

"Brother Gu, I know this matter troubles you. If I were in your shoes, I’d also think it over; after all, the Lin Family is powerful. If they knew you sent me to Prince Ning Mansion, they might blame you. But rest assured, once I’m in Prince Ning Mansion, I’ll ask the Princess Consort and Prince Ning to protect you." Miss Lin’s eyes reddened, appearing pitifully helpless.

Dashi looked at Miss Lin, unsure whether she was naïve or foolish.

Prince Ning was a snake; would he ever provoke the Lin Family just for a merchant like Dashi?

Even if Dashi didn’t understand the intricacies of court politics, he had this much sense.

"You haven’t eaten in a day and night; eat first." Dashi advised calmly.

Miss Lin lowered her head, feeling nauseated with the mutton soup bowl in her hands.