Chapter 15: Making Sacrifices to Keep the Peace?

Hearing this, Lin Yanqing could not help but laugh. "Now that you are recovered, your courage has grown even bolder; you even dare to tease me."

Suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, Lin Jinyan smiled and said, "Why wouldn't I dare? Grandfather dotes on me so much that he surely wouldn't bear to hit me. Even if he did, Grandmother would protect me."

Lin Yanqing scolded him with a laugh, "Look at you, a fine young lady has turned into a rogue."

The old lady laughed, "She is the youngest granddaughter in the family, and everyone holds her in the palm of their hands. Of course she feels she can act without fear."

As the three generations chatted and laughed, Ma Nuo brought a stool for Lin Jinyan and placed it by the old lady's legs. Lin Jinyan smiled and nodded to Ma Nuo before sitting down.

Once seated, Lin Jinyan spoke in a tone of feigned difficulty

"I know Grandfather and Grandmother dote on me, and I shouldn't make things difficult for you... but Yan'er has a request, and I hope you will grant it."

The old lady set down her teacup and asked with a smile, "You just said you act without fear, and now you're already making requests. Tell me, what is it?"

Lin Jinyan looked left and right with hesitation, "May I... speak only to Grandfather and Grandmother?"

Having her curiosity piqued by Lin Jinyan's manner, the old lady waved her hand to dismiss the servants.

"Alright, now it is just the three of us. Speak."

Lin Jinyan spoke hesitantly, "The fall into the water on Mid-Autumn night... it was... it was my own carelessness. Sister Yuexue... she didn't trip me on purpose. Please, Grandmother, do not punish Sister Yuexue by making her kneel in the Buddhist hall. It was all because I didn't stand steadily. I beg Grandmother not to blame Sister Yuexue."

After saying this, she even rose and knelt before the old lady. Lin Yanqing and the old lady were stunned by her words.

What did she mean, Zhou Yuexue tripped her? Wasn't it her own slip that caused her to fall into the water?

The elderly couple looked at each other, both filled with confusion.

Seeing Lin Jinyan still kneeling, the old lady spoke

"The floor is cold, get up and talk first. What do you mean, Yuexue tripped you?"

Lin Jinyan put on an expression of utter confusion. She looked up and glanced between the two elders before asking, "Don't Grandfather and Grandmother know? Then why was Sister Yuexue punished with kneeling in the Buddhist hall?"

The old lady frowned. "Yuexue said that seeing you fall into the water and suffer from a persistent high fever, she went to kneel and pray for you herself. I did not punish her. As for her tripping you into the water, that is the first I have heard of it. Could it be that you misremembered due to the shock of falling in?"

Lin Jinyan looked incredulous. "Is that what Sister Yuexue said? Did she say... that I tripped and fell in on my own?"

The old lady's brow furrowed deeply. "Yuexue is so kind, sensible, timid, and frail; how could she trip you into the water? And how would she dare to deceive me?"

Hearing this, Lin Jinyan bit her lip, her eyes turning red as if she were on the verge of tears, looking as though she had suffered a great injustice.

Lin Yanqing said in a heavy voice, "Sit down and tell us what happened. If she truly tripped you into the water, your Grandfather will ensure justice is served."

Lin Jinyan obediently rose from the floor and slowly sat back on the stool. She sniffled and took a deep breath before exhaling, sitting up straight as if she had just made a difficult decision.

Looking at Lin Yanqing, she said, "Grandfather, I misremembered. I was originally trying to plead for Sister Yuexue. Since she is fine, I have no further request."

She sighed again, forcing a smile

"Yan'er was delirious from the fever and misremembered things, nearly framing Sister Yuexue. I beg Grandfather and Grandmother to keep this a secret for me. Please do not let others know, and do not question Sister Yuexue, otherwise, there will surely be a rift between us sisters in the future."

Seeing Lin Jinyan's appearance of making a sacrificial compromise, Lin Yanqing frowned slightly and said, "Yan'er, this is no small matter. You must tell the truth and cannot deceive your elders."

(End of Chapter)