My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 929 - 910: Are You Just Being Contrarian?

A Marquis Cheng’en, and a Ming Wang, now there’s a Lord Zuo, oh, and Teng Tianhan from the Ministry of Justice had long stated that his son is apprenticed to his granddaughter, and then there’s Lin Xiang Mansion...

About Lin Xiang Mansion, he actually didn’t know much, just heard Qin Meiniang mention that when the Song Family wasn’t acting properly, it was Qin Liuxi who advised her to seek out Dowager Lin at the mansion. Later, he checked and discovered that last year when the Dowager at the mansion suddenly fell ill, a Little Divine Doctor saved her, and by piecing things together, it must have been Qin Liuxi.

Not just the mansion, but children from the Xiong Family and the princely heir from the Jing Family introduced her, meaning they also knew her.

Thinking of these people made Qin Yuanshan a bit dizzy. These individuals were beyond his reach even when he held a third-rank position, yet Qin Liuxi alone had spread this network, and with her connections, who knows, there might be more.

No wonder some people were still friendly after he returned to office, likely because of this.

He took a sip of tea, steady yourself, don’t drift!

Lord Zuo observed Qin Yuanshan’s facade of calm and said, "Mr. Qin, you’re fortunate to have such a granddaughter."

Even though he was upright and impartial, he knew that for survival in officialdom, connections were necessary, and descendants even more so. With Qin Liuxi’s network, as long as she was willing, the future of the Qin family was promising. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

However, based on what Old Yu and he had found and experienced, this young female crown seemed more interested in clearing debts through skill; she produced talents, and the other party paid diagnostic fees and incense oil, settling things.

So it seemed she didn’t use her connections to pave the way for the Qin family, but was that truly the case? The fascinating thing was, she didn’t take initiative; others willingly helped.

Maybe it’s because she’s capable and formidable?

Lord Zuo reminisced about how his own household was now filled with joy, entirely devoid of its past stagnant atmosphere, leaving him content. People remember favors; he might not say it aloud, but if someday Qin Liuxi or the Qin family really needed something, in recognition of this kindness, he’d be ready to lend a hand!

Qin Yuanshan chuckled, "She’s wise, and well-taught by her master. I truly don’t dare claim any credit."

And it’s not just daring, but incapable! Because he’s unworthy!

"The young miss has arrived." A servant announced at the door.

Qin Liuxi entered, paying her respects to the two men.

Qin Yushan said, "Lord Zuo is here to deliver a gift of gratitude."

Qin Liuxi addressed Lord Zuo, "The old lady has awakened, just follow my advice for recuperation, the fees have been paid, so there’s no need for lavish gifts."

Lord Zuo replied, "Thanks to you, my wife has awakened, in good spirits, though her health is still frail, or she would come personally to thank you."

"That’s unnecessary."

Lord Zuo coughed and continued, "Actually, there’s one more thing to seek the Junior Temple Master’s help with."

"Oh?"

Beside them, Qin Yuanshan assumed a transparent presence, eyes on the teacup yet ears keenly alert.

Reputations build this way, person by person, hence her vast network.

"Are you familiar with the Great General of Zhen State?"

Qin Liuxi shook her head, "I’m not someone of the secular world, having grown up in Li City. I don’t often come to Shengjing and don’t know much about the powerful people in the capital."

Qin Yuanshan, however, thought of something, "Is it General Zheng whose only daughter has been missing for three years?"

"Precisely." Lord Zuo replied, "Three years ago, General Zheng’s beloved daughter went with her grandmother to a hot springs manor for rest and mysteriously disappeared without a trace. The General heard about my son, and after court today, came seeking me—I was to recommend the Junior Temple Master."

Qin Liuxi remained silent.

Seeing her expression, Lord Zuo said, "The General, now fifty, due to years of campaigning in his youth and perhaps killing excessively, has only one daughter. Injuries on the battlefield left him unable to have more children. So, that daughter is his precious jewel, yet three years ago she vanished suddenly. The General’s never given up searching, even feeling that his past slaughters brought this misfortune. To atone, he’s been living austerely all these years, and his mother, deeply grieved by this, suffered a stroke, paralyzed in bed, now simply waiting."

His words were tinged with emotion.

Both being parents, each having lost a child, he deeply empathized. Yet unlike the General who continued searching even after three years, he himself gave up after an ice crevice swallowed his child.

"How did she mysteriously disappear?"

"It’s said she vanished from the manor, a servant claimed to have seen her leave with someone, but they found nothing." Lord Zuo seemed hesitant, "There’s even talk that she eloped."

Qin Yuanshan frowned, "That doesn’t seem likely?"

"Certainly not." Lord Zuo scoffed, "As the sole daughter of a mighty General, she had everything; what suitor couldn’t she find? Eligible to be an Imperial Concubine, even. Raised with meticulous education, virtuous, never capable of such ruinous conduct. Moreover, she was engaged to that year’s top scorer Luan Bailin, caught by her suitor from among the ranks."

"After acing the exams, Mr. Luan entered the Hanlin as a compiler, under a year later won the Saint’s favor, advancing in the Hanlin Academy thrice in three years. Now, he’s the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a cherished man before the Saint." Qin Yuanshan’s tone held genuine admiration.

"Exactly, though Mr. Luan hails from a scholarly farming family, he is modest and compassionate, versed and courteous, truly admirable. Despite Miss Zheng’s disappearance, he never dissolved the engagement and continued searching while regarding himself a Zheng family son-in-law, assisting at every turn with loyalty and affection. Plus, he’s remarkably handsome, deemed an ideal match by many young capital women; how could Miss Zheng forsake him to elope?" Lord Zuo praised lavishly.

Upon hearing this, Qin Liuxi felt a tinge of oddity, questioning, "People idolize; could it be that Miss Zheng just prefers a pile of cow dung?"

Qin Yuanshan coughed a couple of times, choking on tea.

Lord Zuo turned visibly green.

Qin Liuxi quipped further, "Is this Mr. Luan Bailin so loving and loyal that three years isn’t enough, and he’s still waiting?"

Lord Zuo, unsure of why she emphasized this person, explained, "Luan Bailin and Miss Zheng were deeply in love, a marriage made in heaven according to their plans. He vowed to wait for her unless a body is found; if not, he’d remain a Zheng family son-in-law, ensuring the General’s elder care. Even contemplating adopting a child from relatives as an heir without planning marriage."

The oddness grew.

Qin Liuxi commented, "He’s calculated the benefits well—from a legacy, to a promising future, to gold galore, all without changing his name!"

Lord Zuo’s face turned dark, "?"

Honestly, was she just provoking him?