"Third Aunt, it's really my fault. Earlier, I invited a few sisters to our home for a warm stove gathering... Her eyes were slightly red and she couldn't continue speaking, but then she smiled sweetly: "Actually, there's nothing much, it's just that I'm not good at doing things, which made Mother misunderstand Fourth Sister, and the few sisters had an unpleasant time... If I had done better at the time, it wouldn't have caused the two elders to have a misunderstanding, which later deepened the misunderstanding... In the end, it was all Cloud's fault, please don't be angry, Third Aunt."

  Tao Shi couldn't help but dislike Lin Yuzhen again, and then she protected her shortcomings. Facing Lu Yun's attitude, with such a tearful smile, she couldn't say a word of refusal, let alone a sentence. She had to get up and support Lu Yun, softly comforting him: "Good child, your tolerance is truly rare. You've been wronged. Your fourth sister has always been a bit foolish and can't grasp the situation, but it's not intentional. Don't hold it against her."

  Lu Yun smiled shyly: "What did Aunt say, Fourth Sister is straightforward, I'm not as good as her, it's not like she has to lose to me for it to be okay? That doesn't make sense." Then he turned to Lin Jing and smiled: "Fourth Sister, actually I was a bit petty back then. At the time, I only thought about how I had practiced hard since childhood, eating bitterness in winter and summer, but easily lost, so I just focused on my own sadness and didn't care about others. If I had handled it well back then, Fifth Sister wouldn't have been punished, and you wouldn't have had to go to the countryside. By the time I realized it, it was too late, and I've always felt uneasy in my heart. I wanted to find an opportunity to apologize to you, but it never worked out. Today, I'll take this chance to apologize to you, please forgive me." He bowed deeply.

  Her words were reasonable and touching, straightforward and sincere, and immediately won everyone's approval. No one thought she was wrong to be angry and sad at the time, it was reasonable, who wouldn't be sad after suffering such grievances? Intentionally denying it would be a lie, and it would only make her appear hypocritical. What's rare is that she had the courage to speak out, and could reflect on herself, consider others, and be so gentle and magnanimous, taking care of the overall situation. There are highs and lows in talent, and highs and lows in character, but having both virtue and talent, with virtue being the most important, everyone looked at Lin You Ran standing there, each with different expressions.

  Lin Jinyong silently looked at Lu Yun.

  She's really good at being a person. Just to make two elders with incompatible personalities get along, she took all the blame, whether it was hers or someone else's, onto herself, yet made it clear that she was compromising, who would blame her? Compared to standing by and saying nothing, being unaffected, I, the mastermind behind this, am truly shameless, not knowing how to repent, arrogant to the extreme. In fact, Lin Jingrong did feel guilty, but she never regretted her actions at the warm-up meeting. If given another chance, she would do it again, because she couldn't think of any other way to distance herself from the Lu family and their miserable fate. Yet, at this moment, facing a room full of people with accusatory, guilty, dissatisfied, disgusted, worried, or disdainful gazes, she suddenly felt like laughing.

  It's really infuriating, Lu Yun has been practicing hard since childhood, eating bitter fruit, and with good intentions invited her own sister to help, but was trampled by her own sister. This person doesn't even know how to show restraint and shame, let alone apologize. It's really excessive... Even she herself is ashamed of her behavior, yet she can still blame others for despising her and looking down on Lu Yun?

  All her guilt and doubts have vanished into thin air.

  Lu Yun didn't need her guilt, with her being unrighteous in the first place. What could be blamed on Lu Yun's actions at this moment? And her doubts were also answered at this moment, although the answer was so vague, it existed so clearly. It may take a lifetime to see through a person, but she saw through Lu Yun and many things at this moment.

  There was a blockage somewhere, and suddenly it cleared. Lin Jin felt relieved and happy, beaming with joy, and bowed deeply to Lu Yun: "Yunmei, you are too modest, it was originally my fault, how could it be yours? You really make me feel ashamed. The incident at the warm hut earlier was my mistake, I deserved grandma's scolding; going to the countryside manor was my own suggestion, mother is weak and needs rest, I should have accompanied her and reflected on my mistakes. So, it has nothing to do with you, please don't blame yourself."

  Two girls who were bowing to each other refused to give in, neither of them willing to get up first. With their eyes closer than ever before, Lin Jingrong caught the fleeting astonishment that flashed across Lu Yun's eyes, and she thought, Lu Yun probably hadn't expected her to so readily admit her mistake and enter into character so quickly.

  Lu Yun saw the coldness deep in Lin Jianrong's eyes, and she thought, Lin Jianrong was not actually stupid, but what did that matter? Today she had won completely. No one was perfect, would Lin Si dare to compare with her on how to deal with people? Could it be that Lin Si really thought that by helping a poor relative from the same clan, he could truly gain a good reputation? Was it that easy?

  Luoshi smiled and supported the arms of the two, facing Lin Lao Tai and saying: "Old lady, you see, apologizing as a younger sister is the same as apologizing as an older sister. This is indeed a beautiful story!" Lin Lao Tai was very satisfied, extremely satisfied, with a hint of dignity, smiled and said: "Exactly! This is my good granddaughter! This is the etiquette that should be had by a prestigious family!" Then she pointed to Lin Wu, Liu, Qi and said: "You all should learn from them!"

  Zhou's eyes met Lin Wu's, and Lin Wu blinked before immediately pouring a cup of tea and presenting it to Lin Jianrong with both hands: "Fourth sister, I just said I wanted to pour you a cup of tea as an apology; I don't know if you'll accept this cup of tea?"

  Lin Jinrong raised the corner of her lips, took over the tea with both hands: "Fifth sister, you and I are close relatives, I said earlier that I don't blame you, why do you need this cup of tea? This tea is not as good as lending it to me to toast Mother-in-law, to apologize to Mother-in-law?" Before Lin Wu could react, she raised the cup high and walked towards Lin Yuzhen: "Mother-in-law, it's all my fault, please don't hold it against me." Lu Yun couldn't say such a long and eloquent speech, even if she could, she didn't plan to say it. Saying this simple sentence was not for anything else, just for this one bow of her head, the Tao family and she would truly benefit in front of Old Lady Lin.

  Lin Yuzhen looked at Lin Jien-rong with extreme disgust.

  If Lin Jianrong is being sincere, then this tea is all borrowed, and the apology is really too simple, without any twists or turns, it seems really not serious enough, nor is there any explanation or plea for forgiveness; if she's not being sincere, her posture, expression, and tone are all impeccable. The whole person seems to be saying, I've done what I should do, whether you accept it or not, whether you're angry or not, it's all up to you.

  In fact, Lin Yuzhen couldn't help but take the cup of tea, although she wanted to refuse Lin Jianrong's tea and let him hold it until his hands were sore and his feet were soft, begging her to give in. But the situation was here, Tao's family could comfort and praise Lu Yun, how could she be surpassed by Tao's family? So she took Lin Jianrong's tea, with an attitude that couldn't be said to be good, but also passable.

  No one mentioned Lu Xian's affair in the Zhuangzi again. It was as if all the unpleasantness had originated from that heating stove meeting and ended with that heating stove meeting.

  Lu finally got a smile of appreciation from Old Lady Lin, and was secretly delighted. Zhou didn't get to see the play she wanted to see and was very disappointed. Tao's emotions were flat, this meal for her was as if nothing good or bad had happened. The young girls were all deep in thought, only Old Lady Lin was most happy.

  Dongyang wine, with a slightly spicy but not harsh taste, is beautiful but not sweet. Its golden yellow color shines brightly, and its fragrance is extraordinary. It's really delicious! Lin Jingrong drank three or four cups in a row and still wanted more. Just as she was about to ask for another cup, she saw Lin Jingyin's disapproving gaze and smiled slightly before putting down the cup. She secretly thought to herself that she would find an opportunity to drink her fill later.

  In those days at Zhuangzi's place, she had learned to be kinder to herself and not be too harsh on herself. After all, no one could take her place in suffering or pain, not even her closest relatives. When it was time to say goodbye, everyone was in high spirits, at least on the surface.

  After bidding farewell to Lin Liu, Lu Yun walked up to Lin Jingrong with a smile and said, "Fourth sister, my brother told me that the peach blossoms and pear blossoms on Qingliang Mountain are very beautiful. The ancient stele in Qingliang Temple is worth seeing, and the peach blossom fish in Qingliang River are delicious. I also heard that there's a hot spring in Qingliang Temple, isn't that so?"

  Lin Jian smiled faintly: "I'm used to it, I don't think there's anything special about it. However, in the winter when it's snowing outside, soaking in a hot spring is indeed very comfortable."

  Lu Yun was just about to continue discussing in-depth with her when Lin Yuzhen said impatiently, "Ayun, it's time to go."

  "Here I come." Lu Yun playfully stuck out her tongue at Lin Jianrong, reached out and plucked a pearl moonflower from her temple, smiled and said: "Fourth sister, this flower is really beautiful, give me one to wear." Then she took the flower and ran towards Lin Yuzhen.

  Lin Jinyong stood under the lantern in front of Anleju, quietly seeing off Lu Yun's back. Lin Liu walked over and gently approached her, saying softly: "Ayun is quite good, right? After all, she has been following her aunt out to see the world since childhood."

  "Yes, I am inferior." Lin Jinrong picked off the remaining pearl jasmine on his head, crumpled it in his hand and threw it to the ground.

  Lin Liu half-covered her fan, sizing up Lin Jinrong's movements, and smiled slightly: "Fourth sister, I really admire you, daring to speak to Fang Yiniang like that."

  Lin Jinyong turned around and looked at Lin Liu with a sly smile: "If you were me, you would too."

  Under the lamp light, Lin Jianrong's eyebrows and eyes already had a few points of tender beauty. This smile, charming and lovely, yet with an inexplicable sadness. Lin Liu couldn't describe this feeling, he just stared blankly, thinking she was really beautiful. So the words "Is it really that fun in the villa? It made Second Brother forget his worries" didn't come out, and he watched as Lin Jianrong and Lin Jianyin walked away hand in hand.

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