Lin Ge was born extremely beautiful, and it should be said that the women of the Lin family were all born with good looks, but Lin Ge was the most beautiful one.

  Lins birth mother, Xia Lao Niang, was a Hui-Han mixed-blood. By the time of Lin, only one-quarter of the Hubei bloodline remained, and although Lin looked more like a Han person, she still retained an exotic charm. When speaking softly and smiling cleverly, it was as if she were a rose in the morning mist, effortlessly drawing peoples gazes to her.

  She was extremely eloquent, kneeling at the foot of Lis bed, smiling and gazing up with sparkling eyes, speaking as if pearls were dropping from her mouth. Every time she spoke, she would coax Li into a fit of hearty laughter. From the moment she entered the room, it seemed as though only her lovely voice and Lis laughter filled the space, while everyone else became mere background scenery.

  Lin Yan secretly pulled Lin Xis sleeve, looked at Lin Gao, and then winked, leaning into Lin Xis ear and whispering: "People who dont know would think she was born to her own mother."

  Lin Yan smiled and didnt say anything. Lin Xuan wasnt fond of Lin Wei, who was only three years older than her, so no matter what Lin Wei did, it probably wouldnt meet with her approval. Lin Xuan had more than once discussed Lin Wei with Lin Yan, thinking she was "pretentious". In Lin Xuans words, "Our Lin family members, from the direct line to the collateral lines, which one isnt straightforward in nature? Only she is so artificial and pretentious, not like a Lin family member at all."

  But it has to be said that to a certain extent, Lin Xiao is somewhat in agreement with Lin Yans point of view.

  Lin Wanfang is already eighteen, and by the standards of this era, she can be considered an old leftover woman. Li had not been worried about her marriage before, when Lin was fourteen, Li had thought of marrying her to a seventh-rank official in the Five Armies Lieutenant Generals Mansion under the Lin family, but before they could even discuss the eight characters of their horoscopes, it suddenly came out that a courtesan had confronted the official on the street with a swollen belly and demanded he take responsibility.

  Although Lin Er Ye repeatedly guaranteed the good character of that official, the courtesan deliberately poured dirty water on him and told Lin Wan that although he was only a seventh-grade official now, his ability was outstanding, and the Five Armies Commanders Mansion was a real power department, with great prospects in the future. However, Lin Wan refused to remarry him no matter what. In the end, this official married a girl from a side branch of the Yuanguo Gongfu Dugu family, and that Dugu girl has already given birth to a big fat son for him. Last month, they just finished celebrating the full moon feast, and that official was also promoted to be the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guard Command, upgraded to the fifth-grade Zhēn Fǔ.

  Later, when Lin Wei was 16 years old, Li replaced her to look at a concubine-born son of the Chang Xuan Hou Fu symbol family. As a result, Lin Wei went to the Chang Xuan Hou Fu to attend a flower appreciation banquet. Originally, the two families were planning to let Lin Wei and that concubine-born son meet before getting engaged. However, after Lin Wei returned, news spread from the Chang Xuan Hou Fu that the eldest son was clamoring to marry Lin Wei, scaring that concubine-born son into hastily sending someone to the Wu Guo Gong Fu to indicate: Your familys girl is too good, I really cant afford to be with her. He also subtly implied: As a concubine-born young master who will have to rely on his older brother for food in the future, he didnt dare fight over a woman and begged to be let off.

  The matter of the eldest son of the Marquis of Changxuan was suppressed, but Lin Weis marriage ended in nothing. It is said that although the eldest son of the Marquis of Changxuan has married now, the relationship between husband and wife is not good, making the Marchioness of Changxuan have a reproachful look every time she sees someone from the Lin family come out to socialize. Since then, Li Shi has been somewhat disheartened about Lin Weis marriage.

  Just as Lin Xuan and Lin Xiao were continuing to exchange glances, Lin Gao had already said: "......Mother, didnt you say last time that you had shoulder pain? I specially went to learn a set of massage techniques from someone, which is most effective for unblocking meridians and collaterals. Why dont you let your daughter give you a massage tonight?"

  Lin Yan gave Lin Xiao a meaningful glance and said, "Anyway, we dont have anything to do with this place. Lets go back to our own room to talk. Its too noisy here, I really cant stand it."

  Actually, except for Lin Weis voice, the house wouldnt be too noisy, but Lin Yan still nodded.

  Lin Yan pulled Lin Weis hand and walked up to Li with a smile, saying: "Grandma, Yuan and I are going out to play."

  Mrs. Li smiled and waved her hand at them, saying: "Go on, go on, Ive seen the way you two have been exchanging glances, its a bother for you to accompany an old woman like me."

  Lin Yan pretended to be angry and said, "Grandma, its obvious that you were too busy talking to Third Aunt to pay attention to us. Now youre turning things around." She then smiled and said, "Well, Grandma, well take our leave first." With that, she pulled Lin Yi and they bid farewell to the ladies, including Duan Shi and Qi Shi, before running out the door.

  Mr. Li reminded him afterwards: "Its cool outside, Yuanyuans body hasnt fully recovered yet, dont blow too much wind outside, wear more clothes..."

  Lin Daiyu and Lin Xiangru went to Lin Xiangrus courtyard together. As soon as they entered Lin Xiangrus house, the two sat side by side on the kang, each stretching out their legs and dangling them outside the kang. Lin Xiangru pulled her arm and said: "Listening to her talk, it makes my skin crawl."

  Lin Xiao naturally knew who she was talking about, and smiled slightly: "She is our elder." Meaning that its not a good thing for an elder to do. Pausing for a moment, she continued: "Actually, Third Aunt may have many thoughts, but shes not a bad person."

  Lin Yan chuckled and said, "Dont deceive me, she has a lot of tricks up her sleeve, thinking others dont know. You dont know, last time the Crown Prince came to our house, her fawning attitude almost...". Lin Yan stopped suddenly, biting her tongue, and stole a glance at Lin Yi with some embarrassment, as if mentioning anything related to the palace always made her feel awkward around Lin Yi.

  Lin Yan pretended to be nonchalant and didnt show any expression. Lin Yan changed the subject, "Forget it, Im too lazy to talk about her. By the way, I have something good for you." She jumped off the bed and went into the house, soon returning with a small box in her arms.

  Lin Yan placed the box on the kang table, opened the lid, and inside were two identical white jade plum blossom hairpins. The handle was made of sheep fat jade, and the pin head was carved into plum blossom petals with pink gemstones. What amazed Lin Yan was that in the middle of each plum blossom was a piece of thousand-year-old blood jade the size of a thumb, and at the bottom of the flowing tassels were two small pieces of blood jade. The red color inside the jade seemed like human blood, and it seemed to penetrate into ones heart.

  Lin Yan smiled and said, "Isnt it beautiful? This blood jade was given to me by my uncle. It was originally a whole piece, and I heard that it was dug out from the mouth of a dead person. He originally wanted to make it into a jade pendant for me as a hairpin gift, but I asked someone to make it into two hairpins, one for you and one for me. Blood jade can ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune, so lets let it bless us with peace and safety all our lives."

  She took out one of the hairpins and pinned it on Lin Daiyus head, then smiled with curved eyebrows: "Really good-looking. My uncle also said that I would waste things, but look, now its worn on the right persons head, where is the waste?"

  Lin Yan was moved, and she hugged Lin Yans waist, placing her chin on her shoulder, smiling and saying: "Its still you, Yan Niang, who treats me the best. You never forget to save a share for me in anything. You make me feel so touched, what can I do? It makes me want to marry you."

  "Then we wont get married either, lets just build a house and live together. Let them go to hell with their marrying, being a good wife and teaching children."

  "What a great idea!"

  The two of them laughed and made a fuss together. Then Lin Di picked up another hairpin and said to Lin Yan, "Ill help you pin it up too."

  Lin Yan agreed.

  The hairpins were done, Lin Daiyu had the maid bring over the mirror, and the two of them huddled together in front of it. Two identical hairpins sparkled in the mirror, reflecting the faces of two equally lovely young girls.

  That was truly a wonderful time for Lin Yao, and even after she became the empress, she would often reminisce about it. However, at that time, neither of them could have imagined that the blood jade, which was supposed to ward off evil spirits, would not be able to protect her most important sister from living a peaceful life, because in this world, there are people whose hearts are more sinister than ghosts and evil spirits...

  After leaving Lin Huans courtyard, Lin Huan stood on the road for a while before turning around and heading to Ning Fudang, intending to bring back Yu Yu. However, just as she reached halfway, she ran into Lin Zhen, who was coming out of Li Shis place.