Chapter 41: Persuading Father

At dusk, Lin Siyuan and Lin Jin'an came to Yan Yu Xuan to accompany Lin Jinyan for dinner.

Mentioning their visit to the General's Mansion earlier that day, Lin Siyuan said, "I am relieved to see you are well again. It was fortunate that your aunt had such skillful hands this time. In a couple of days, when I have a day off, I will go to the General's Mansion to pay my formal respects and express my gratitude."

Lin Jin'an asked, "Father, will you take me and Jinyan with you when you go?"

Lin Siyuan smiled gently. "If you wish to go, you may come along."

Lin Jinyan asked, "Father, Grandmother also asked me to take my elder cousin along. If she can go, can I take my cousin Wanrong as well?"

Lin Siyuan paused. "Wanrong... I fear it might not look good given her status. She hasn't left the manor in all these years. Why did your grandmother ask you to take Yueshui?"

Lin Jinyan said gloomily, "After I returned at noon and spoke to Grandmother about Cousin's marriage, Cousin said she had never seen the General's Mansion and wanted to see it, so Grandmother told me to take her. If Cousin can go, why can't my own cousin? Does Father also think, like others, that her background is poor and will bring shame to the Lin family? But her background was originally Second Uncle's fault; why should a child like her bear the burden? Seeing Cousin Yan today, my heart ached for her. She is clearly a bit older than me, yet she is not even as tall as I am and is so thin."

Lin Siyuan sighed. "That is your Second Uncle's family matter; as a junior, you should not speak of it. It is not that I look down on Wanrong's background, but it is simply unseemly. If you take her out of the manor, the people she encounters will inevitably know her origins, and she will be subject to gossip. Staying in the West Courtyard is, in a way, a form of protection for her."

Lin Jinyan disagreed. "Father, is Sister Wanrong never to marry in the future? Although, given her birth, she cannot marry into a high-ranking family, she must eventually marry and leave the manor. Since leaving the manor will inevitably invite gossip, why not let her see more of the world and temper her character while she is young? It would be better than this—cowering in the courtyard all day, being timid and submissive."

After listening, Lin Siyuan studied Lin Jinyan carefully. "Those words do not sound like something an eight or nine-year-old child would say. Has someone been teaching you?"

Lin Jinyan was startled inwardly, but she feigned a look of grievance on her face. "Father, that is a strange thing to say. Second Uncle and Second Aunt usually ignore Sister Wanrong, and Grandfather, Grandmother, and you hardly see her all year round. Who would teach Yan'er to speak on Sister Wanrong's behalf? Does Father think Yan'er is someone who listens to others just to deceive him? Then why don't you ask a brother of the same age as Yan'er if what I am saying is right?"

Lin Jin'an, who had been listening intently to his father and sister, was momentarily stunned by being called upon, but he quickly reacted and said, "Father, Yan'er is right. I can't even remember the last time I saw our cousin."

Lin Siyuan smiled. "It is not that I do not believe you, Yan'er, but these words are indeed beyond your years. I am gratified that you have such insights. However, Wanrong's situation is a matter for the Second Branch, and it is difficult for me to interfere."

Lin Jinyan smiled. "That is easy to handle. It is only natural for a child like Yan'er to go play with her sister; I doubt Second Uncle and Second Aunt would hold it against me. I will go to Grandmother and plead with her to let me take Sister Wanrong out. However, I will still have to trouble my dear Father to plead with Grandfather."

Having reached this point, Lin Siyuan was at a loss. Lin Jinyan rarely asked him for anything.

Moreover, since this was because she could not bear to see her cousin suffer, if he failed to fulfill her kind intention, he would seem like a poor father.

Lin Siyuan smiled helplessly. "Fine, I will go to your maternal grandfather's place to act as your advocate."

(End of Chapter)