Chapter 121: Reputation Tarnished

All eyes were fixed on Xiao Yin, whose eyebrows twitched slightly; how did the question come to him?

He has never cared about these idle matters that aren't his business, especially the Gu family; he finds them unsightly.

This matter does need to be handled; how could Gu Cheng's scheming be hidden from him?

The last time Gu Cheng tried to assassinate Gu Jiu Ling, he had already investigated it thoroughly; any plot Gu Cheng attempts, Xiao Yin will certainly thwart.

Yet the situation here is hard to manage: behind Lin Jingyuan stands the prestigious Lin clan, and the Li family is a scholarly lineage, both concerned with reputation.

Clearly Gu Nanxiang came prepared; she had misjudged this woman, who is a ruthless character.

The affair was handled flawlessly, leaving the Lin family with no way to respond.

Not marrying her, the two now stand drenched together, witnessed by so many; whether it was rescue or accident, the fact is undeniable and cannot be changed.

If the Gu family truly brings this to the Emperor, the Lin family would be at fault and criticized, which would affect Lin Jingyuan's future.

Now the Heir Apparent Lin enjoys a stellar reputation in Shang Jing, even with a chance of entering the cabinet; his future is incalculable, and a tarnished name would be a huge loss.

But if the Heir Apparent Lin marries Gu Nanxiang, Gu Cheng would gain a great ally—does the Gu sibling pairing matter?

Heh! He thought that bullying her woman would let him walk away unscathed and still enjoy wealth and honor?

Now Xiao Yin can only not let go; someday he will make those Gu beasts pay with blood!

After a while, Xiao Yin said slowly, "It's essentially a matter between children; if it truly reaches the court, no one will be safe."

Gu Cheng sneered inwardly, realizing that Xiao Yin had seen it too; if it reaches the court, it wouldn't harm the Gu family much.

Even if it escalates, the Gu family would at most suffer a minor blemish on a concubine's reputation, while Lin Jingyuan is the sole son of the Lin clan, the Heir Apparent, and his maternal family is the scholarly Li clan—what a model for scholars across the world!

Lin Jingyuan likely cannot recover from this.

Scholars value reputation and integrity above all; let's see how he handles it.

As soon as Xiao Yin said that, Lin Rujun's face turned pale, teeth clenched, about to speak, when footsteps sounded behind him.

"Matriarch! Madam!"

The guests cleared a path; Gu Jiu Ling looked up and saw an elderly woman with graying hair, dressed in dark purple, walking slowly accompanied by a middle‑aged noble lady.

It was the matriarch of the An Guogong residence and Mrs. Li of the same house; both wore displeased expressions.

Mrs. Li supported her mother‑in‑law as they approached; the matriarch glanced at the weeping Gu Nanxiang in the flower pavilion, a flash of murderous intent crossing her eyes.

She then looked at her grandson Lin Jingyuan, a gentle anger tinting her eyes—saving anyone would be fine, yet she chose to rescue the daughter of Lin Qingxue, that lowly maid.

Her heart was filled with anger, blame, and deep sorrow.

This grandson is good at everything, but overly kind, always the good guy, and now he's been set up.

"Grandmother, Mother," Lin Jingyuan walked toward them, fell to his knees with a thud, his eyes slightly reddened.

It is his fault that the Lin family is now being roasted.

The matriarch raised her hand, intending to slap her grandson hard to teach him a lesson, saying not everyone deserves to be called a person; some lowly maids are raised like beasts.

Lin Qingxue betrayed her daughter, and the lowly maid born of Lin Qingxue now betrays her grandson; she truly harbors poisonous hatred for this mother‑daughter pair!

Mrs. Li looked at her son's appearance, her heart aching to the point of tears.

The matriarch looked at Xiao Yin and bowed slightly.

Xiao Yin could not dare to receive her courtesy; he quickly stepped forward and lightly steadied her.

The matriarch said, "Prince, what you just said I have heard; your words are entirely correct. This matter need not be made a city‑wide storm, only adding ridicule. It is best for the Lin family to resolve it ourselves."

"All of you are guests here to enjoy the Lin family's blossoms; we have given you a spectacle. Attendants, escort the guests to the flower hall to rest; we have prepared fine wine and snacks for you to taste."

"Grandmother!" Gu Cheng stepped forward, bowing to the matriarch.

The matriarch gave him a cold glance: "Lord Gu, you need not be like this. Twenty years ago your mother, Lady Lin, was removed from our Gu family's genealogy; I cannot bear you calling me 'grandmother'!"

Gu Cheng's face tightened slightly, he gave a faint smile, slowly rose and faced the matriarch: "Matriarch, this matter has been witnessed firsthand by the guests here, serving as testimony. If the facts remain unclear, glossing over it would be improper, wouldn't it?"

The matriarch lifted her eyes, staring intently at Gu Cheng, her gaze turning cold; indeed, that cunning Gu youngster is hard to deal with.

She had intended to turn this big issue into a small one, but now Gu Cheng insists on making a fuss; she must devise a solution, otherwise today may be hopeless.

She has already sent someone to summon her son back; the Duke of An Guo is still out of town socializing, and even if he returns, should Gu Cheng not cease, the matter cannot be resolved.

The surrounding guests could neither leave nor stay; yet each one's curiosity flared, eager to see how the Lin family would break the deadlock, seemingly impossible to break.

The matriarch's expression darkened; even after decades of battling the duke's many concubines, she never expected to be outwitted by a lowly maid.

The matriarch looked at Xiao Yin; everyone here is a noble from Shang Jing, and they all understand each other's petty affairs.

When Xiao Yin married the Gu family's eldest daughter, he had sparred a few moves with Lin Qingxue; handling this matter will not aid that lowly Lin Qingxue.

She looked at Xiao Yin with added solemnity: "I am a lady of the household, the Duke is not at the residence, and Prince is also an elder; perhaps Prince should intervene?"

Xiao Yin pondered briefly, then looked at Gu Jiu Ling beside him.

Gu Jiu Ling quickly turned her head toward a cluster of flowers, watching a tiny insect perched on a chrysanthemum.

Xiao Yin clenched his teeth inwardly; this is a Gu family matter, you must say something, so why hide?

Xiao Yin truly could not bear to put his daughter in a difficult position; after a pause he said, "Now the matter has progressed to this point; the Heir Apparent Lin might as well simply take Miss Gu as his wife, what else can we do?"

The matriarch's complexion changed; Lin Rujun, beside her, was about to speak in a fury when the matriarch glared at her.

The matriarch quickly realized Xiao Yin's wording was off; he used "take" rather than "marry."

She lifted her gaze, staring at Xiao Yin: "Please, Prince, clarify!"

Xiao Yin gave a light laugh: "Matriarch, if this matter reaches the court, it will not be good for the Heir Apparent Lin!"

The matriarch's hand clenched into a fist, then she glanced again at Gu Nanxiang.

Upon hearing Xiao Yin's words, Gu Nanxiang's eyes flashed with joy, and the sound of her sobbing, muffled by a handkerchief, softened.

She indeed bet correctly!

She intends to become the Heir Apparent Lin's consort, and to trample underfoot those who once despised her!

Yet Gu Nanxiang's pride did not last long before Xiao Yin suddenly changed the subject.

"But…"