Chapter 2: Proposal

As the year passed, spring arrived in Wu County.

The early spring rain fell in a pitter-patter like fine silk threads. On the bluestone slabs of the deep, narrow alleys, puddles soaked with moss were incredibly slippery.

A burst of hurried footsteps echoed from the mouth of the alley, followed by a "thud" as a young maid in green clothing fell to the ground. Ignoring the pain in her body, she scrambled up in a rush, ran to a small side door in the corner of the alley, and knocked urgently.

"Coming, coming!" An old servant opened the door. Looking at the mud-covered young girl, he couldn't help but say, "Lüxiu, what are you—hey, hey, slow down, slow down."

Lüxiu brushed past the old servant and ran hurriedly toward the backyard.

"Miss."

Hearing Lüxiu's voice, Ling Qingyu set down the medicinal bowl, smoothed the corner of the quilt, and took one last look at her mother, who had become so thin she was barely human. She rose from the bedside, opened the door, and gave a soft shush to the little maid rushing toward her, leading her into the left wing of the house.

Her mother here looked exactly like her mother from her previous life, but before she had even had time to feel moved or adapt to this new identity, calamities arrived one after another. Within a single day, just as she had awakened in this new body, she was told that her father and brother were dead, her fiancé had broken the engagement, and finally, because of her "ill omen," she was expelled from the family. Her mother had directly coughed up blood and fainted. If her uncle hadn't arrived at that moment to take them out, she feared that both mother and daughter would have been driven to death in that grand manor. When they left the Lin family estate, the only servants who came with them were Mama Zheng's family and this little maid, Lüxiu. After arriving at this small house in the city with her uncle and her mother's health improved slightly, she had begged her uncle to submit a petition; today was the day of the hearing.

"Lüxiu is back," Mama Zheng pushed open the door, rubbing her hands together, and asked with hope, "How was it? Did the County Magistrate punish those ungrateful wolves?"

"It seems they ruled in favor of my eldest uncle and the others," Ling Qingyu pondered for a moment, then asked, "What is left for Mother and me?"

"Miss!" Lüxiu finally couldn't hold back her tears. "They said that because the Master and Young Master conducted business using the clan's money, all the money earned should belong to the clan and go to the Clan Head, Eldest Master Lin. All those residences, shops, and manors must be registered under Eldest Master Lin's name."

Ling Qingyu closed her eyes slightly and asked, "Then what about my mother's dowry?"

"The Eldest Master said that the Third Young Master should be adopted by the Madam to be the heir of our Second Branch, so the Madam's dowry should be given to the Third Young Master."

"A bunch of heartless beasts!" Mama Zheng burst into tears. "This is trying to drive the Madam and the Young Lady to their deaths!"

"They wanted us dead from the very beginning." Ling Qingyu pushed open the door, looking at the lush trees and flowers in the courtyard being watered by the spring rain. Although no one tended to them, these plants were still full of vitality now that spring had arrived.

Her father and brother had earned immense wealth through maritime shipping, a wealth so enviable that it brought about this mortal catastrophe, causing her eldest uncle to strike so ruthlessly to drive them to extinction just to seize her father's estate. Lin Jiacheng! Ling Qingyu clenched her hands into fists, her nails digging deep into her flesh.

"Huiniang, Huiniang..." A weak call came from the main house.

"Mama Zheng, go and invite Uncle over," Ling Qingyu said to Mama Zheng while walking toward the main house.

"Miss, in court today, Uncle didn't say a single word," Lüxiu said reflexively, wiping her tears. "He just let the official pass the judgment."

Ling Qingyu paused and gave a bitter smile. During this time, she had slowly absorbed the original owner's memories. In those memories, her aunt was not a good character; she had always been jealous of her mother, her aunt. After her maternal grandparents passed away, she only came around when she wanted money. It was already quite remarkable that her uncle, under the heavy pressure of his wife, had been able to step forward to take them mother and daughter in.

"Mama Zheng, go and pass a message to Uncle and Lin Jiacheng. According to the law, if my mother does not agree to the adoption of an heir, then my mother's dowry must be returned to my uncle's family after her death. He shouldn't dream of having my mother's manor. If he truly wants that manor, I actually have a proposal."