"You're just worrying unnecessarily. Perhaps your aunt only mentioned it in passing. Once she finds someone better, more outstanding, she certainly won't marry her daughter to you. You can put your mind at ease about it," Feng Jin said, patting Ling Muzhu's shoulder to comfort him. Even if his aunt did have such intentions, with Old Master Ling standing in the way, there was no need to worry too much about it.
She had only said that to startle Ling Muzhu, never expecting the boy to be so timid, unable to handle a scare. After just a few words, he was already vowing to remain unmarried for life. If she continued, wouldn't he simply become a monk?
"Really?" Ling Muzhu asked, unconvinced. He felt it wasn't that simple. No… he still needed to be cautious. The best course of action was to find his grandfather and have him speak to his aunt, completely shutting down this dreadful possibility.
"Eldest Sister-in-law, I have something I need to discuss with Grandfather. You should go back by yourself first."
"Muzhu, you…"
Before Feng Jin could finish speaking, Ling Muzhu had already disappeared. Why was this boy so impulsive? Couldn't he wait for her to finish speaking before leaving? Would he even be able to find Old Master Ling like this?
"Wasn't Muzhu with you when you came out? Why are you alone here? Where is Muzhu?" Ling Mohan's concerned voice came from behind. He had seen Feng Jin standing alone from a distance. Ling Muzhu had been clamoring to come out with Feng Jin just moments ago, and now he was nowhere to be seen. This boy was still so willful and reckless.
"He went to find Grandfather. It's something very important he needs to discuss." It concerned marriage, a decision that would affect the rest of his life. It was indeed important enough.
"Why did you come out so late? Did your aunt say something to you? Could she possibly want to marry her daughter to you?" That Ling Changyi would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Marrying her daughter to Ling Mohan as a concubine was also a possibility.
Realizing her plans were about to be undermined, Feng Jin's face showed a clear hint of anger, her eyes blazing as she glared at Ling Mohan.
"What nonsense are you thinking? I only came out after your aunt left." Ling Mohan reached out, pulling Feng Jin into his embrace. Their movements were intimate as he held her and walked forward.
"Ling Mohan, your aunt is truly formidable. She's just returned, and her intentions are considerable. She wants to marry her daughter into the Ling family again. If this marriage is successful, she will be even more arrogant in the Ling Mansion."
"This isn't something you or I need to worry about. Grandfather will arrange everything." These were matters beyond his control, and he believed his grandfather would find a way to resolve them.
"But…"
"No 'buts'. Don't think about these things. Let's go for a walk," Ling Mohan interrupted Feng Jin's next words and pulled her along as they walked outside.
Meanwhile, Ling Muzhu searched the entire Ling Mansion and finally found Old Master Ling and the two children at the Huixin Pavilion. Old Master Ling was playfully teasing the children, creating a harmonious scene.
Ling Muzhu walked up to the children and crouched down, meeting their eyes. "Say 'Uncle', quickly say 'Uncle'."
"You little rascal, have you gone foolish from studying? They're too young to say 'Uncle'! Also, when you look after children in the future, you can't get too close to them, and you must lower your tone when speaking. You absolutely cannot scare them." Fearing that Ling Muzhu might not know his limits and scare the children, Old Master Ling offered a string of parenting advice.
"Grandfather, you can teach me these things later. I've come to you today with something important to discuss." Ling Muzhu's tone was somewhat anxious. He instructed the wet nurse to take Da Bao and Er Bao away and had all the maids and servants wait outside.
"Tell me quickly what it is, don't delay my time with the children." Old Master Ling's gaze was fixed intently on Da Bao and Er Bao, unwilling to look away for even a moment, as he knew his time watching the children each day was limited.
"Grandfather, it’s… it’s Aunt. While we were eating earlier, she asked if I was married. From the tone of her voice, it sounded like she wanted to betroth my cousin to me…" Speaking of this matter, Ling Muzhu felt increasingly uneasy. The more he thought about it, the more unlucky he felt. "Grandfather, you must find a way to help me. I absolutely do not want to marry Aunt's daughter. Grandfather, are you just going to watch your grandson jump into a fiery pit?" Fearing that Old Master Ling might refuse, he simply knelt down to beg.
"Get up now. So many servants are watching outside. Do you want to continue looking like this? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
"Compared to marrying Aunt's daughter, I'm not afraid of being laughed at by others at all!" Ling Muzhu stated resolutely, indicating just how unwilling he was to marry his aunt's cousin.
"First, stand up and explain to me exactly what happened," Old Master Ling beckoned Ling Muzhu to stand and asked him to recount everything that had happened.
"That's all, Grandfather. You must help me. I will absolutely not marry her," Ling Muzhu declared with finality, showing how firm his attitude was at this moment.
"I understand. You don't need to worry about this matter. All you need to do now is study hard and prepare for the imperial examinations. Grandfather will arrange everything else for you. For this examination, Grandfather doesn't ask you to become the top scholar, second place, or even third. I don't even care about your ranking; as long as you pass, Grandfather will be satisfied." His request was not excessive. Considering the young men of the Ling family who were determined to participate in the imperial examinations, they all achieved top three rankings. Even the less accomplished Second Master Ling was a Jinshi in his day. Merely asking Ling Muzhu to pass would be a great relief.
"What is that expression on your face? Do you think Grandfather's request is too difficult for you?"
"No… Grandfather, I just feel your request is perhaps too low. In your eyes, I am such a useless person, only capable of this much?" He just felt he was being belittled. Regardless of the final outcome, he should at least have some confidence placed in him. Hearing his grandfather's requirements now, he truly felt a bit uncomfortable.
"It's not belittling you, but Muzhu, you've had too little time to review. Some people study for several years and still might not pass the examination, yet you've wasted so much time in your early years. Now you're just cramming. If you can achieve such a result, it would already be good. Muzhu… the result isn't important. As long as you've put in your effort, that's all that matters, understand?" He was also worried that having excessively high expectations would put too much pressure on Ling Muzhu, which might backfire.