The closer the wedding day was, the more tense both the Lin family and the Ministry of Rites became.

  The Ministry of Rites frequently came and went from Lin's house, confirming all sorts of details for the grand wedding.

  Lin Yinggang saw off a group of officials from the Ministry of Rites who came to Lin's house to confirm the wedding ceremony, and turned back to his study.

  No sooner had he sat down than the door of the study was opened.

  Lin Xian stood at the door with a tea set in her hands, smiled and arched an eyebrow at him, then walked in slowly, saying: "Father has been busy since returning to Beijing, daughter hasn't had a chance to have a good talk with father. Father hasn't drunk daughter's brewed tea for a long time, right? Daughter will brew some tea for you to drink, okay?"

  Lin Ying smiled and beckoned her over, letting her sit down beside herself, asking: "These past few days, you've also been worn out from all the commotion, right?"

  Lin Xiao smiled and said: "It's tiring for Father and Second Uncle, I don't have to do anything." As she spoke, she raised the tea set in her hand: "Is it still Father's favorite Da Hong Pao?"

  Lin Ying nodded to her and sighed, "It's still good to have a daughter. Your two younger brothers grew up so big, but they didn't even offer their father a cup of tea." As she spoke, she began to worry about marrying off her daughter again.

  His daughter, spoiled and pampered to this extent, ultimately ended up being a bargain for another family - even if that person was the emperor, he still felt that he wasn't worthy of her.

  Lin Huan smiled at Lin Ying and then put the kettle on the small stove.

  To make a good pot of tea, it's best to use freshly boiled water.

  Lin Yan skillfully roasted tea, ground tea, and Luo tea, waited for the water to boil, then poured the tea, everything was ready, one hand held the tea scoop, the other hand poured the soup.

  The fragrance of tea wafts out and slowly fills the air.

  Lin Ying savored the fragrance of the tea and then asked: "What spring water is this using?"

  Lin Yidao said, "It was sent by Second Uncle Zhuang. He said it's from an ancient spring in Jiangnan. My daughter has tried it and the water is extremely clear." As he spoke, he presented the teacup to his father.

  Lin Ying took it over, sipped a little and savored it carefully.

  "What about it? Has your daughter's craftsmanship deteriorated?"

  Lin Ying smiled and nodded her head, saying: "Not bad, still my daughter's craftsmanship is good." As she spoke, she took another two sips of tea.

  After drinking two cups of tea, they were both full and sat down on the couch to chat.

  Lin Ying turned to look at Lin Xiao, stroking her hair and sighed: "Yuanyuan ah, Papa..." He said this far, but then seemed unable to continue. His heart had countless thoughts, but at this moment, he couldn't utter a single sentence.

  He closed his eyes for a long time before opening them again and saying, "Once you marry into the imperial palace, it's not like being at home anymore. You have to be careful about everything."

  Lin Yidao said: "My daughter understands."

  Lin Ying said, "The Lin family has buried some pawns in the palace. We will hand these pawns over to you. However, these pawns are a hidden chess piece. Unless absolutely necessary, do not lightly use them, unless you encounter danger."

  Lin Yidao said: "Yes."

  Lin Ying said, "Yuanyuan, you are the apple of your parents' eyes. Your parents had never thought of marrying you into the royal family before, but only hoped that you would marry a good family with a clear door and window, and under the protection of your parents, you would be safe and wealthy all your life. But people living in the world always have things they can't help, who would have thought... "

  "My daughter understands that her parents and the Lin family have protected her for so long, everything she wears and eats is given by the Lin family. Now it's time for my daughter to protect the Lin family."

  Lin Ying grasped Lin Xiao's hand tightly.

  Boys and girls at the age of seven should sit separately, even if they are father and daughter, there should be some avoidance.

  After Lin Hua was seven years old, Lin Ying rarely held her in his arms or held her hand like he used to when she was younger.

  It wasn't until then that he realized his daughter's fingers had grown so long, and she was no longer the warm and soft child he used to hold in his arms. When he got angry, she would hug his neck tightly and kiss his cheek, then look at him with a smile, making his heart feel tender, and he couldn't get angry anymore.

  "Dad and your mom had four kids, you're our first child, among so many children, your significance to dad and mom has always been different. When dad was young and reckless, he made your mom so angry that she became disheartened, if it wasn't for having you, your mom might not have forgiven dad until now. So dad is very grateful and fortunate to have had you."

  "But you've been so sensible since you were little, considerate of your parents and thoughtful towards your siblings. We can't help but treat you like an adult, and sometimes we don't even know how to spoil you properly. That's why Daddy has always felt guilty towards you."

  "Your temperament is not like mine, I have a bad temper, nor is it like your mother's. Your mother sometimes gets stubborn and likes to make trouble for people. You are broad-minded and see things clearly, but this is both good and bad. The good thing is that you don't easily get frustrated with yourself, and when faced with injustice, you can also be optimistic. But the bad thing is that you often compromise yourself. Sometimes I wish your temperament was more arrogant and carefree."

  Lin Xiao intentionally joked: "If it's really as Father hopes, and a tyrannical empress emerges, wouldn't that be a disaster for the harem and the people?"

  Lin Ying's face was stern as she said: "The Empress Dowager is the Empress Dowager, as long as the Lin family doesn't fall, who would dare to want to depose her?"

  This is just a comforting word, Lin Ying and Lin Dai both understand that the harem and the imperial court have always been inseparable. The future empress will rely on the Lin family to stand firm, and similarly, the Lin family needs Lin Dai to navigate the imperial court.

  At least on which day Lin's family was wrong, there would be Lin Xiao in front of the emperor to turn around, and the ending would be different.

  Lin Ying then warned Lin He: "Father is a man, he knows what men think. After entering the palace, you put half of your heart on the emperor's body, you treat the emperor with sincerity, and the emperor will only put you in his heart. The emperor is not an unfeeling person, just look at how he treats your aunt. But the other half of your heart cannot be placed on the emperor's body. You have to love him, but you can't wholeheartedly love only him."

  "You and the Emperor are separated by a large age gap, and also by generation, this is what Father worries about the most, afraid that you don't know how to get along with the Emperor."

  She had only one choice, the emperor, but the emperor's harem had countless beauties, and as long as he was willing, he could have even more. As soon as the emperor couldn't get what he wanted from her, he would turn around and find comfort in another concubine. The emperor wouldn't wait for her to adapt to him.

  Lin Xiao smiled and said, "Dad, don't worry, I think I'm still a pretty likable girl." She put her fingers on her face and added, "Besides, you forgot that the emperor liked me when he was young."

  Lin Ying smiled slightly, but her face still looked worried and unhappy.

  His liking for a younger sister and his liking for romance are not the same. What he worries about most is that after marriage, the emperor will only treat her as a younger sister, but not give birth to romantic love.