Volume One, Chapter 13: Lin Huo
Page (1/3)
Song Ci publicly claimed to be ill, giving her the perfect excuse to summon Doctor Lin. Standing inside the room and looking at her, the doctor’s brows nearly drew together into a single knot.
“Third Miss, may I ask why you sent for this old man today?”
“I have a business proposition for you.”
“Third Miss must be joking. All I know is the art of examining patients—observing, listening, questioning, and taking the pulse. How could I possibly know anything about business?”
Having not seen her for several days, Doctor Lin was astonished by how completely different Song Ci seemed now. Yet beyond his astonishment, he also sensed something unfathomable about the young girl before him. Was she truly only a teenager?
Thinking back on everything that had happened—the schemes, decisiveness, and courage she had displayed—none of it resembled the conduct of a girl her age.
Song Ci narrowed her eyes and smiled with innocent harmlessness. “You may not know business, but your son does.”
Doctor Lin frowned.
In her previous life, Song Ci had heard of Lin Huo’s reputation as a genius in commerce. Not only had he excelled in his studies and achieved the highest honors in all three imperial examinations, he was also extraordinarily perceptive when it came to money and figures. By the time his reputation and influence had reached their peak, Song Ci and he had belonged to entirely different circles, so she had naturally never had any dealings with him.
But Lin Huo had yet to make his mark in this life. He could still be put to good use.
“Third Miss, I’m afraid you’ve misunderstood. My son, Lin Huo, only knows how to study. He has no knowledge of business.”
“Doctor Lin, just bring Lin Huo here. I will handle the rest. Don’t worry—I won’t harm him. In fact, I will help him. The road of the imperial examinations is not easy, and you should know that scholars from poor families have always struggled to rise above their circumstances. To compete with the sons of prominent families, the first thing they need is money. If he is willing to help me, he will never lack silver in the future.”
Seeing the doubt in Doctor Lin’s eyes, Song Ci smiled. “Are you still worried, Doctor Lin? You know that I possess many secrets. If I intended to harm Lin Huo, would you not fear that I might spread them around?”
Doctor Lin stared steadily at Song Ci for a long while before finally uttering a single word.
“Fine.”
After Doctor Lin left, Wanxiang watched his hurried retreat with suspicion.
“Miss, how did you know that Doctor Lin’s family was short of money, and that there was a scholar named Lin Huo in the household?”
Song Ci: ...
How was she supposed to explain that?
“Wouldn’t you know such things with a little investigation? You’re simply too foolish!”
Wanxiang was so thoroughly rebuked that she began to question herself. Could it be that her information really was too limited? That would never do! She was the senior maidservant at her mistress’s side, after all.
Two days later, Doctor Lin arrived as promised, bringing Lin Huo with him.
The moment they stepped through the entrance to the Third Branch’s residence, they saw a figure in pale blue lying quietly on a rocking chair in the courtyard. A fan rested in her hand, moving back and forth at an unhurried pace.
Her skin was fine and flawless. Beneath the afternoon sun, a faint golden halo seemed to gather around her. From that angle, one could even make out the soft down on the girl’s face. Her long, thick lashes rested against her lower eyelids, and her brows were slightly furrowed. At the sound of their arrival, she looked over with a pair of limpid eyes brimming with spirit.
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
Lin Huo looked at the Third Miss Song before him. His hand tightened inside his sleeve as he stepped forward and saluted with clasped fists.
“Third Miss.”
“Sit.”
Song Ci pointed to the stool beside her and made an inviting gesture.
Lin Huo frowned slightly, then sat down.
Doctor Lin stood not far away, pretending to be unconcerned, though the corner of his eye never left them.
“It seems Doctor Lin is rather uneasy.”
“My father has always been a worrier,” Lin Huo replied淡ly.
“Master Lin, I’ll speak plainly. I wish to do business with you.”
Lin Huo’s gaze sharpened as he looked at the girl before him. “Third Miss, this appears to be our first meeting. Why, then, did you seek me out?”
“I cannot explain it. I only know that you are short of money, and I can help you earn some. Why would you refuse?”
Now that they were sitting so close, Song Ci discovered that Lin Huo was not the frail scholar she had imagined. His loose, plain robe concealed it well enough, but beneath its wide sleeve was an arm with faintly raised veins and smooth, defined lines. Clearly, this was not the sort of physique possessed by someone who spent all year reading and never exercised.
Sensing her gaze, Lin Huo drew his arm back slightly and fixed his dark eyes on Song Ci without blinking.
The two looked at each other. After a long moment, Lin Huo lowered his lashes and spoke stiffly.
“How does Third Miss intend to proceed?”
Song Ci was pleased by his attitude. She clapped her hands, and Wanxiang emerged carrying a stack of papers.
Song Ci took them and personally placed them before Lin Huo.
“Everything I intend to do is written here, and the banknotes are included as well. I trust that with your intelligence, you will not need me to explain in detail how to proceed.”
Among the papers were two conspicuous banknotes, each worth one thousand taels. Lin Huo’s brows rose, and the composure he had maintained moments earlier vanished.
“You truly trust me so much?”
Two thousand taels was no small sum.
“You are not a fool, Master Lin. Naturally, you would not do anything foolish. I have that much confidence in you.” Song Ci shook her head with a bright smile, the small pearls at her ears swaying gently.
Sitting so close, Lin Huo could faintly smell the pleasant osmanthus fragrance drifting from the girl before him. It was not cloyingly sweet, but perfectly subtle.
He lifted a hand. His long, fair fingers, white as jade, swiftly took the things from her grasp. Then he rose and bade her farewell.
“Third Miss, await my news.”
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
After he left, mistress and maid returned to the bedchamber together. The moment Song Ci stepped inside, her feet came to a halt. At Wanxiang’s puzzled expression, her brows drew tightly together, and her voice turned displeased.
“Someone has been here.”
Wanxiang looked around, but could not find any obvious sign of disturbance.
“As far as this servant can see, nothing in the room has changed.”
“My green-jade vase is always placed precisely in the center, neither to the left nor the right. Today, it has been shifted an inch to the left. The box on the table has been angled slightly farther to the right.”
Wanxiang took a closer look and found that Song Ci was right. She immediately flew into a rage.
“It must have been Wanxia, that treacherous wretch who has turned against her own household. This servant will go and confront her at once.”
“There is no need.”
Song Ci walked to the table, set the vase back in its proper place, and straightened the wooden box as well.
“Miss, are you truly going to let this go? She has behaved so outrageously, and you still intend to indulge her?”
The more Wanxiang thought about it, the angrier she became. Her mistress and Madam had always been too mild-tempered, which was why that dishonest, overbearing servant had dared to manipulate them.
Even as she complained, however, Wanxiang felt somewhat discouraged. Could it be that after finally changing her ways, her mistress was about to return to her old self again?
Seeing her gloomy expression, Song Ci walked to the bedside and sat down. Pressing her lips together, she said, “Nothing has been stolen. Since we cannot strike in one blow, we must not alert the snake.”
If she made a scene, Wanxia would simply deny everything. Without evidence, and with the First Branch speaking on her behalf, they still would not be able to do anything to her.
“You are right, Miss. But are we truly going to keep indulging that vicious servant?”
“Of course not. I have a plan. Come closer.”
Mistress and maid whispered together for a while. Wanxiang’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.
“Miss, your plan is truly wonderful. This servant knows what to do now.”
...................
These past few days, Old Third Song had been staying at home with his wife and daughter, enjoying himself immensely.
Page (3/3)