A strong wind blew in the middle of the night, and when I woke up in the morning, the yard was full of broken branches and fallen leaves.

  Lin Xiao got up very early today.

  Mu Zhi and Mu Lan carefully helped her get dressed and made up.

  Jade hairpins hold up her hair, vermilion rouge is applied to her face, moth eyebrows are painted with eyebrow powder, apricot kernel-shaped eyes sparkle like waves, cherry lips are red, hair oil is applied to her hair, which is coiled into a flowing bun, a golden pin holds it in place, nine phoenixes adorn the morning sun gold hairpin, crimson jade earrings hang from her ears.

  Zhuang stood behind her and kept watching her, while the little maid in the house came and went with clothes in her arms.

  She helped her put on a bright red, wide-sleeved, cross-collared dress and supported her as she came out of the inner room. Lady Zhuang looked at this daughter who had grown to be as tall as herself and let out a deep sigh. She opened up a purple sandalwood box that was placed on the dresser, took out a green jade bangle with a pair of mandarin ducks carved onto it, and personally put it on her daughter's wrist, saying: "This was a token given by your paternal grandfather to your paternal grandmother back in the day. When I got married, your paternal grandmother gave it to me, and now I'm giving it to you. Wear it well. I've poured all my blessings for you into this jade bangle, let it bring you happiness from now on."

  The emerald jade bangle on her slender wrist made the skin in her hand look even whiter and smoother. Lin Di looked at the jade bangle on her wrist and gently shook it.

  Zhuang's hand stroked his daughter's cheek, and he said with a loving expression: "Don't think that your parents or the Lin family are heartless, don't think that among so many eligible girls in the Lin family, why it had to be you..."

  "My daughter understands." Lin Yan said.

  Lin Yi looked up at Zhuang Shi with a serious expression and said: "Since birth, I have been pampered and spoiled by my parents. When interacting with others, even the princess would yield to me and give me preferential treatment. It's not because of my exceptional abilities or charming personality that I receive such treatment, but because I am the daughter of the Lin family. The Lin family has given me so much protection and honor over the years, now when the family needs me to make a contribution, I have no choice but to take responsibility."

  When enjoying honor and wealth, don't think about why you can get these things. When it's time to make sacrifices, she would cry and complain about why it had to be her, she couldn't do such an unscrupulous thing.

  Zhuang's family lightly hugged her and sighed: "You always understand, let mother..." She couldn't go on, she had no way to stop her daughter from fulfilling the obligations she should fulfill.

  Perhaps many people will think that becoming an empress is a great thing, being the mother of the country, standing at the top of all women in the world, from then on enjoying glory, wealth, power and status, with no woman able to surpass her.

  But standing so high, having such great power, what's the use? They are just women after all, and all they want is a man who will be true to them, and a simple life.

  But now the daughter is about to marry the most powerful man in the world, who is a generation older than her and still has another woman in his heart.

  When she was young, she had also used all her heart to love a man who had someone else in his heart. She loved him with all her might, loved him until she was exhausted and heartbroken, loved him until she almost wanted to give up. Fortunately, in the end, she finally got what she wanted. But she didn't know if her daughter would have such good luck in the future.

  Lin Yan also stretched out her hand to hold onto Zhuang Shi, and said seriously and solemnly: "Mother, don't worry about me, rest assured, no matter where I am in the future, I will make sure to live a good life."

  Zhuang patted her back and then let go of her, pulling her hand as he said, "Let's go, don't keep the esteemed guests waiting for too long."

  When Lin Huan and Zhuang Shi arrived at the middle gate of the Wu Guo Gong Mansion, many people from the Lin family were already there. Lin Yong, the Duke of Wu, stood in the center, with Li Shi, Qi Shi, Dou Shi, Lin Gao, Lin Huan and others behind him.

  Lin Yong's expression was solemn, with a steady calmness that seemed unshakeable even if Mount Tai were to crumble before him. When he saw Lin Xiao walk in, he merely nodded at her without any change in his expression. Li Shi, on the other hand, looked at her with kindness and affection, her face showing some signs of hesitation and struggle.

  Lin Yan stood at the back of the crowd, her head bowed low, her face not showing excitement or worry like others, but with a lingering sorrow. When she saw Lin Xiao come in, she immediately lifted her head and smiled slightly, as if to encourage her.

  Lin Xiao also smiled at her.

  Standing in front of Lin Yong was Wan Gonggong, behind Wan Gonggong were Taishi Song Daren and Zongzheng Temple Qi Tan Daren, and then there were a group of Ling Shi, Zhang Shi, Jie Shi, Bin Shi...

  Before this, Lin Daiyu had already learned the etiquette of an emperor taking a concubine.

  Xing Na Cai, appointed as the envoy of Ming Taiwei, and Zong Zhengqing as the deputy envoy. The officials of the Ministry of Justice followed with a warning, asking for names, collecting taxes, collecting auspicious signs, announcing the date, and welcoming together, all following the same mission...

  Mr. Wan saw Lin Daiyu come out, curved his mouth and smiled, bowed to Lin Daiyu respectfully, saying: "Congratulations, Fourth Miss, Fourth Miss is delighted, the Lin family is delighted..."

  Lin He smiled slightly and slightly bent her knees to him, and Wan Gonggong sidestepped to avoid. Lin He also slightly bent her knees to Taiwei and Zongzheng Temple Gong, who also sidestepped to avoid.

  Standing behind Li's back, Lin Wei bit her lip and unwillingly pinched her handkerchief. After a pause, she suddenly rushed out, ran over to hold Lin Yuan's hand, and asked with concern: "Yuanyuan, you finally came out, are you okay? I heard someone say that you cried for half the night yesterday, saying you were afraid of marrying into the palace..."

  She said, as if she had accidentally let it slip, and hurriedly covered her mouth. She looked cautiously at Wang Gonggong and Zong Zheng Temple, and then fearfully at Li Shi. After receiving Li Shi's sharp and cold gaze, her body even trembled slightly, and with a fearful expression, she hid behind Cheng Shi and Zheng Shi.

  Cheng and Zheng exchanged a glance, their faces revealing sarcastic smiles. The other members of the Lin family furrowed their brows, glaring at Lin Xian. Lin Zhong's expression remained stern, almost unchanged, making it seem as if he hadn't heard Lin Xian's words at all. Only Qi noticed her husband's slightly furrowed brow, a sign that he was extremely angry inside, and the angrier he got, the calmer he appeared.

  Lin Xiao didn't say a word, but just smiled and looked at Lin Meng who was hiding behind Cheng Shi and Zheng Shi. She kept looking and looking, until Lin Meng suddenly felt goosebumps all over her body, and then she felt both angry and shocked in her heart.

  Mr. Wan always kept a smile on his face without any change, and after hearing Lin Wei's words, he just smiled and said: "Miss Wei's temperament is indeed straightforward."

  "Mr. Li is very sorry to say: 'Let's make a joke for the public, I didn't teach my daughter well, and I will definitely be stricter in the future.'"

  Wan Gonggong didn't say anything else, he just needed to make a slight mention of it, the internal struggle within the Lin family had nothing to do with him, all he cared about was completing today's betrothal gift smoothly.

  Wan Gonggong and the Taifu and Zongzheng Temple Master exchanged a glance, then he stepped aside to clear the way. Song Taifu took three steps forward and said: "Song Mou presents the imperial edict to accept the tribute!"

  Lin Yong led the Lin family members to kneel down, and then said: "My nephew's daughter is like a human being, since she has been granted an imperial visit, I dare not decline."