The procession of horse carriages started from the prince’s mansion in the town center all the way to west of the capital city, where the Lin’s old mansion was.
Although Lin Muzhi was the head of the Lin Family, the Lins were a prosperous and large extended clan with many family branches.
Under usual circumstances, the three elders in the family would be the ones making decisions on matters regarding the family’s honor.
Fortunately, Lin Muzhi was a gentle and magnanimous man and Lin Mengya’s mother was a meek and virtuous lady.
For this reason, the three family elders were especially caring towards Lin Mengya.
Although of course, this was only true before Shangguan Qing married into the family.
At this moment, the leaders of the various branches were gathered in the ancestral hall.
Currently, the head seats were taken by the three aged elders of the family.
On normal days, these three elders of the Lin Family would be keeping themselves healthy and living a blissful life in their old age in their homes. However, today they had all gathered here.
It was all because the imbecile Lin Mengya was now Princess Yu.
"She’s here, she’s arrived. Princess Yu has arrived, the three elders of the family!"
When Lin Mengya’s horse carriage turned into the west street, a clever boy servant came in to report her arrival.
"Don’t panic, you look absurd. Come on and follow me to welcome the princess."
Based on the seniority in the family, Lin Mengya should address the elders as grandfathers.
However, they were only fourth-grade officials in the court. They were much inferior to Lin Mengya in terms of their status.
Everyone in the household followed behind the three elders as they went out of the household to welcome Lin Mengya, who was now Princess Yu.
"Your servant, Lin Lei welcome Princess Yu."
The most elderly elder, Lin Lei, used to serve in the Ministry of War in Imperial China. He was an upright and plainspoken man. In fact, he was Lin Muzhi’s first uncle.
In addition, he was the most senior and oldest elder in the family. He was representative of the Lins outside.
"Please rise. There is no need to stand on ceremony. We are after all one family."
The frail-sounding voice echoed from within the horse carriage, following which a snow-white hand parted the navy blue curtain of the carriage entrance.
Next, four pretty lasses emerged from within the horse carriage two by two.
Following that, a pair of bright red embroidered shoes decorated with southern sea pearls appeared below the curtain of the carriage.
"It’s been a long time since we last saw each other, the three respected elders. How have you been?"
Soon, a lady in magnificent dress stepped out of the horse carriage.
With an oval face and delicate features, the lady, though a little too pale, was very elegant indeed.
With the help of her maidservants, Lin Mengya alighted from the horse carriage.
"All things are well. We are grateful for your concern. This way, please."
Lin Lei stepped aside for Lin Mengya and her escorts to pass and entered the mansion. The old mansion of the Lins did not have many visitors on normal days.
However, it had always been kept clean. For this reason, the old mansion looked simple but elegant.
The procession of people walked through the garden and finally entered the ancestral hall at its heart.
Since there were no outsiders, Lin Mengya paid her respects to the elders as a person in the younger generation would normally do.
"Your granddaughter, Lin Mengya greets and pays respect to the ancestors as well as the three grandfathers."
Carefully and adhering strictly to the traditional practices, Lin Mengya bowed down respectfully to the ancestors and the three elders, who gave her an approving look.
Not only did she take into consideration the greater interest of the family, but she also did not forget her roots. Although she was now a princess, she did not neglect her family’s rules and practices.
"Apparently, Muzhi has raised his daughter well."
Lin Mengya’s maidservants had helped her get ready by tidying her hair and apparels.
Qinghu could not bear to see Lin Mengya looking so frail, so he had somehow gotten his hands on a Ginseng pill.
Lin Mengya, who quickly ingested the pill, which helped stop her hands and legs from shaking due to the lack of strength.
"Beloved grandfathers, please forgive Mengya for not coming to the ancestral hall to pay my respects. There were too many things to handle in the prince’s mansion and Ya’er, being new to the matters in the prince’s mansion, has lost my head out of fear many a time. I’m ready for any punishment you met out for Ya’er."
Lin Mengya was kneeling on a soft cushion on the floor, which was a much less strenuous position than standing upright.
However, to the three elders, she was showing an example of being respectful.
"Oh kid, we may be old, but we can totally empathize with what you’re going through. Please rise, lest the cold from the ground gets to you."
Lin Lei, who was sitting at the center, was obviously very happy with how well-mannered she was.
Nevertheless, Lin Mengya shook her head and with a determined voice, said, "Ya’er had specially made this trip to ask a favor from the three grandfathers."
.
The three elders exchanged looks. They wondered how Lin Mengya, being a princess now, would still need any favors from the three old grandfathers.
"Please tell us your request. Although we are definitely limited in our power, we will try our best to help as much as we can."
Their answer was not a direct one, but Lin Mengya had expected it and was not surprised.
"It is my hope that Elder Sister Yue Ting’s memorial tablet will be placed inside the ancestral hall. I wish for her body to be buried in the Lins’ ancestral tomb as the family’s daughter-in-law."
"What?!"
Lin Mengya’s words fell on them like a bomb.
The death of Yue Ting had been much talked about topic in the capital city.
Some people said that she was a woman who died fighting for her honor, instead of continuing living in shame.
Yet there were others who said that she had been abandoned by the Yues after she brought shame to herself and her family.
The comments which went around consisted of both positive and negative ones.
Regardless, the Lins, whom she was betrothed to, were the first to the take the impact of these rumors.
Instantly, the faces of the three grandfathers turned ashen.
Despite the fact that Lin Mengya was Princess Yu, her request had put them in a tight spot.
Lin Lei let out a groan and said with a firm tone, "Fool! Yue Ting’s reputation was utterly ruined. She had become the mockery of the entire city. Are you saying you want the Lin family to shoulder such shame? Mengya, we will let this go because you are Muzhi’s daughter.
"However, you must never mention this ridiculous request again!"
His severe words and attitude spoke for all the people in the Lin Family.
Lin Mengya had expected this to happen, so she kowtowed and continued with caution, "I understand Grandfather’s concern. I know this request is too much to ask, but Grandfather, weren’t the two families the ones who brought Yue Ting and Elder Brother together at first?"
Back then, her brother had merely treated Elder Sister Yue Ting like a younger sister.
For the benefit of the two families, they had forced them into this engagement against Elder Brother’s will.
Although, Yue Ting eventually touched the heart of her elder brother heart with her gentle and meek spirit.
At first, the elders had forced her father to many Shangguan Qing for the family’s interest, then, later on, her elder brother was forced to be engaged to Yue Ting in the same manner.
The situation had become a thorn in the hearts of the pair of father and son.
"That was the situation in the beginning, but things had changed now. If Yue Ting was not shamed, we would still consider your request. However, given what had happened, there’s no way we can agree to it!"
Apparently, the majority of the family members were agreeable with what Lin Lei said.
At the response of Lin Lei, Lin Mengya did not resort to begging. On the contrary, she stood up with the help of her maidservants at that moment.
"The Lin Family? Pfft, this must be a joke."
Lin Mengya pulled a straight face while putting behind that soft and delicate facade. Immediately, she stood there looking cold and cheerless, and she did not look any less formidable than the three elders of the family.
"Back then, you forced my father to marry Shangguan Qing, while completely disregarding how I, as a little girl, was badly abused by Shangguan Qing. Grandfather, do you still remember how I pleaded with you after my mother passed away?"
At the mention of Lin Mengya’s mother, the expression on the faces of the three elders changed instantly.
The second eldest grandfather, Lin Xiong, waved his hand and said, "Alright, the rest of you, please excuse yourselves for now."
The other family members who were hoping to hear more had no other choice but to leave at this moment.
Lin Lei waited for everyone, except Lin Mengya, her escorts, the three elders and their confidantes, to exit from the ancestral before he started speaking again.
"We naturally felt indebted towards your mother with regards to her last wishes, but that and what you are discussing now were two separate matters. This is not the time to reopen old wounds."
Lin Mengya stood up from where she was sitting and sneered at the three elders.
"After my mother passed away, I found an account record book in her room. Although I did not understand what the numbers in it meant at that time, I did not forget the numbers recorded in it. Now I understood the meaning of it all."
The three elders began feeling uneasy at the mention of the book of accounts.
Lin Mengya’s mother was an intelligent woman, who looked ignorant on the outside.
At that time, the finances of the entire Lin Family were in her control.
She had a thorough knowledge of all the accounts of the family’s properties and businesses belonging to the three main branches of the family.
"The fabric shop on the west street, 28th of the twelfth lunar month, someone withdrew 300 pieces of silver from the company account to use it on house renovation. The rice shop at Daliang Street, 30th of the fifth lunar month, someone withdrew 500 pieces of silver to—"
"Stop, these were ancient accounts. Even if you were to turn over the old accounts, there would be no evidence for an investigation!"
Lin Xiong tried to stop her in haste and his expression was no longer as cool and composed as before.
"You’re right, these old accounts can’t really prove anything. In the same token, who can be without any faults in this life? Having one’s reputation ruined due to loss of chastity isn’t something one would wish to suffer, right?"
The expressions of the three elders’ faces were unpredictable in response to Lin Mengya’s threat.
Nevertheless, Lin Mengya remained adamant. She seemed to be prepared for the worst.
As the three elders tried to maintain their composure, eventually, Lin Lei was the one who spoke up.
"Mengya, you are after all a daughter of the Lins. If a scandal detrimental to our family starts to go around, it is not going to help you. Shall we try to think of a win-win solution?"
Ultimately, they were afraid of Lin Mengya’s threat and started to back down. At the same time, Lin Mengya pulled back her severe expression.
She knew better not to push them too hard.
"Alright, Mengya didn’t mean to offend the three of you, grandfathers, so please forgive my rudeness just now."
Lin Mengya had backed off and the three elders were no longer displaying an attitude of being unable to take any questioning.
Being opened to discussion, the three elders finally agreed to let Yue Ting be buried on a piece of land near the Lin’s mansion.
It was also agreed that Yue Ting’s memorial tablet could be placed in the ancestral hall, but had to be covered with a red cloth always, and the Lins of future generation need not pray to her.
As for Yue Ting’s status in the family, Lin Mengya had insisted that she be considered Lin Nansheng’s wife, and so it was done.
However, no one should know about this.
Lin Mengya had exhausted all her strength while negotiating with the three elders.
She had resorted to the threatening earlier on only as a means of achieving her goal. In addition, Lin Mengya eventually also used the precious gifts she brought to silence the elders.
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