After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband

In front of Lin Mansion.

The carriage gradually stopped.

The Lin family’s gate-keeping servant watched Xingxing alight from the carriage and then assisted Su Jin down.

The two stepped onto the stairs, and the Lin family’s servant said, "Who are you looking for?"

"Looking for Mr. Lin, he gave my master a room and left a folded fan at the inn, we’re here to return it," said Xingxing.

The servant glanced at Su Jin, "My master was almost reduced to sleeping on the streets because of you two?"

Su Jin, "..."

Xingxing, "..."

"Sleeping on the streets?" Su Jin raised an eyebrow slightly.

The servant didn’t want to mention his master’s embarrassing situation, saying, "Luckily you have a conscience, my master didn’t help the wrong people."

"You wait here, I’ll go inform my master."

With that, the servant turned and entered the mansion.

Su Jin and Xingxing looked at each other.

After a short wait, the servant of Mr. Lin came out.

The servant looked rather displeased, "It’s really you."

Displeased as he was, they were here to return the fan, which is commendable and honest.

"Master invites you in."

The servant led the way, with Su Jin stepping into Lin Mansion and Xingxing following closely behind.

After walking for several dozen steps, Mr. Lin came over.

Mr. Lin said, "Brother, you’re being too courteous; I left the fan at the inn, and you went to the trouble of returning it."

Su Jin smiled, "If you hadn’t let me stay in the room, the fan wouldn’t have been left behind. It’s only right for me to return it."

Mr. Lin accepted the fan, and from his expression, it was clear he liked this fan very much.

Not particularly fond, he wouldn’t carry the fan around in the dead of winter.

"I heard from the servant that after giving the inn to me, you almost ended up sleeping on the street?" Su Jin asked.

Mr. Lin smiled, "The servant was merely exaggerating."

As soon as he finished speaking, the personal servant interjected.

"Not at all, if it hadn’t been for us rushing through the night, we really would’ve ended up sleeping on the streets," the servant said.

Mr. Lin thought that with his close friendship with Young Master Qian, he would at least let him stay the night.

Who would have thought he couldn’t even enter the gates of Qian Mansion, saying Young Master Qian was ill and not seeing guests.

Mr. Lin is perceptive, handed over the prepared gifts, and left with the servant.

They looked for several inns, but none had available rooms.

The servant suggested going to Su Jin, squeezing together would be better than sleeping on the streets.

Mr. Lin didn’t agree, bought two horses, and sped through the night.

The Lin family used to be magistrates, but after being dismissed, even the post station wouldn’t accommodate them.

In the bone-chilling cold, if it weren’t for being physically strong, they really could have suffered frostbite.

Originally, traveling by water would directly reach Su State, saving labor, but who anticipated the ship being requisitioned, and not knowing when they could return home, they abandoned the ship for horses, urged them on, arriving just before dusk the day before.

Along the way, he discovered the fan was lost, not knowing where it had fallen, perhaps from the bundle while riding.

Mr. Lin thought the fan was lost for sure, never expecting to regain it.

Su Jin expressed thanks and then presented the chosen appreciation gift.

Mr. Lin declined but upon Su Jin’s insistence, accepted.

With thanks, Su Jin intended to bid farewell, Mr. Lin invited her for tea, Su Jin thought for a moment and said, "I’ll take you up on that."

Su Jin introduced herself as Xie, and Mr. Lin addressed her as Brother Xie.

As they walked forward, upon entering the second gate, they encountered the demoted Lord Lin.

Lord Lin, in a jade robe, wore a look of anger, which softened somewhat upon seeing Su Jin, adding a bit of scholarly and virtuous demeanor.

Mr. Lin greeted his father, introducing Su Jin in the process.

Su Jin bowed.

Lord Lin praised Su Jin a few times and then walked away.

Xingxing commented, "Lord Lin seems quite angry."

The servant initially disliked Xingxing but her comment on Lord Lin earned her favor from him, and he sighed, "My master is no longer a lord."

Su Jin looked at Mr. Lin, and Mr. Lin said, "My father and Doctor Wei are good friends, the troubles at Wei Mansion made him angry, and he hates that he can’t help the Wei Family."

Mr. Lin offered a brief explanation and set the matter aside.

Madam Lin came out, knowing Lord Lin was going to find Sun Prefect to ask for the release, wanting Mr. Lin to persuade him a bit, but seeing Mr. Lin with a guest, said nothing.

Su Jin gave her respects to Madam Lin.

Madam Lin examined Su Jin up and down, smiled and said, "You chat, I’ll have the maid prepare some refreshments for you."

Su Jin and Mr. Lin had a cup of tea at the pavilion, chatted for a while, and then she took her leave.

Mr. Lin escorted Su Jin to the carriage.

As soon as Su Jin left, Madam Lin called Mr. Lin over and asked, "What is your impression of Mr. Xie?"

Mr. Lin said, "Honest, noble character."

His folded fan was painted by a master of the previous dynasty, worth at least three hundred silver coins; the fact they returned it, and prepared a gift for the room, shows they are trustworthy.

Madam Lin asked again, "Does he have a family?"

Mr. Lin, "..."

Mr. Lin was exasperated, "This is only the second time I’ve met him, how would I know if he has a family?"

Madam Lin gave Mr. Lin an annoyed look, "I noticed that the gentleman’s attire wasn’t particularly sumptuous, so his family must be comparable to ours, you should be helping find matches for your sister as she’s coming of age."

With Lord Lin demoted and no hope of reinstatement, and Sun Prefect dominating Su State, nobody dares risk offending Sun Prefect to propose a match.

Madam Lin is deeply worried about the marriages of Mr. Lin and Miss Lin.

Seeing a young man of appropriate age and noble character passing by, could she not think of him?

Family background is secondary; what’s really important is having good character.

"Mother, Brother Xie and I just met by chance; he came to Su State to deliver folded fans, how could I have any intentions toward him?" Mr. Lin said, feeling troubled.

"You can ask him as he passes by; maybe he’ll detour into a good marriage!" Madam Lin said indifferently.

"...."

"Go quickly."

"...."

What could Mr. Lin do? If he had known, he wouldn’t have kept Brother Xie for tea.

However, for the sake of his sister, Mr. Lin decided to swallow his pride and went to find Su Jin.

Mr. Lin rode out of the mansion.

Inside, Madam Lin sipped tea while the maid cleaned the table. Seeing a brocade box on the table, she turned and called, "Chun Liu, why did you just put the brocade box here? What if it falls?"

Chun Liu hurried over, saying, "This brocade box is Brother Xie’s thank you gift for Mr. Lin. His servant Chang Feng gave it to me to send to Mr. Lin’s room, but I was busy with work, so I brought it to Madam’s courtyard."

"I’ll send it over shortly."

The maid was curious, asking softly, "What’s inside?"

"Chang Feng said it’s a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone," Chun Liu replied.

The maid glanced at Madam Lin and opened the brocade box to take a look.

After a glimpse, she exclaimed, "What a beautiful inkstone."

Madam Lin, hearing this while sipping her tea, asked, "What inkstone?"

The maid then presented the brocade box for Madam Lin to see, "It’s the inkstone Brother Xie gave Mr. Lin."

Madam Lin took a glance, her brows furrowed, "This, this seems to be...."

She hurriedly put down her teacup and picked up the inkstone to inspect it.

The more she looked, the more startled she became.

"Quickly, go and call Mr. Lin back!" Madam Lin urged.

...

Inside the inn.

Su Jin had just returned to the inn and sat down, holding a teacup when a knock on the door sounded.

Xingxing went to open the door, saw it was Mr. Lin, and was a bit stunned, "Mr. Lin?"

Su Jin was also puzzled.

She had just come back from the Lin Mansion; why was Mr. Lin here?

She got up to greet him, asking, "Did Mr. Lin need something from me?"

Mr. Lin’s face turned red, "No, nothing...."

Would he come if there were nothing?

Su Jin invited him in, and Xingxing poured him a cup of tea.

Seeing Mr. Lin hesitate to speak, Su Jin said, "Mr. Lin, feel free to speak your mind."

Mr. Lin found it difficult to speak, but he looked at Su Jin and asked, "Has Brother Xie married yet?"

Su Jin, "...."

Xingxing, "...."

Why does it sound like matchmaking for her?

Su Jin played dumb, scratching her head, "Why does Mr. Lin ask this?"

Mr. Lin was truly embarrassed to say that his mother wanted him to marry his sister. Never having lied before, he lied for the first time, "Mother loves matchmaking, seeing Brother Xie young...."

After all, he’s only a little over sixteen, and few marry at this age.

His own sister still needed a few months to come of age; staying another year was just right.

Su Jin’s mouth twitched, feeling sorry for Mr. Lin having a matchmaking-loving mother, forcing him to inquire.

Even someone like her, who had only met once, was not spared; this situation was likely frequent.

But as for marriage...

This lifetime is out of the question.

Heart willing, but not able.

Yet someone with good intentions, Su Jin couldn’t refuse directly, so she touched her mask and said, "I have flaws in my appearance; I fear disappointing your mother’s kindness."

Mr. Lin sighed in relief, "Flaws in appearance are nothing; what’s more important are character and talent. Although I’ve only met Brother Xie twice, his character is admirable, like orchids and noble trees."

Su Jin, "...."

Xingxing stood aside, almost suffering internal injuries.

She had been with the lady for so long, yet it was the first time she heard someone praise the lady’s character and talent.

As for character, their lady’s character was, of course, the best, but how could the talent be seen?

Their lady not only wore a mask but also changed her appearance.

Xingxing stared at Su Jin, her eyes sore, yet didn’t find any talent emanating from her lady.

Thinking of Su Jin claiming to be named Xie, Xingxing worried their lady might be too devious, again attracting unwanted attention, with the Right Minister’s daughter as a past example.

Su Jin lightly coughed a few times, was about to speak when there was a knocking at the door.

"Come in," Xingxing said.

The door opened, and a servant walked in, "Master, Madam wants you to return quickly."

Mr. Lin frowned, "What happened?"

The servant shook his head.

He didn’t know.

"Madam urged hurriedly; Master should go back quickly."

Mr. Lin quickly got up to bid farewell to Su Jin.

Su Jin worried if something major happened at the Lin Mansion, hoping it hadn’t to do with Lord Lin visiting Sun Prefect.