My Sword Immortal Wife Has Gone Berserk - Chapter 29:

Chapter 29: Visiting the Duke of the Empire’s Residence

Qin Shizhong was a man who valued relationships deeply. Not long ago, Lin Ce had saved his son, and he had yet to properly thank him. Now that he had come personally with an invitation, it was unclear what the occasion was for.

Originally, Jia Xifeng wanted to decline. After all, today was the fifteenth of April—she knew Lin Ce would face a calamity on the fifteenth of each month, and visiting the Duke of the Empire’s Residence was clearly inconvenient.

But since Lin Ce said he was fine, this still had to be discussed with him.

“Your health is weak. Why not just stay home?” Jia Xifeng asked with concern. No matter what had happened between the Lin and Li families in the past, Lin Ce was still her nephew. Blood ties could not be severed. Lin Ce’s mother was Li Jingchun’s biological younger sister—that bond would never disappear.

“Since the Duke of the Empire has invited me, how can I not go?” Lin Ce smiled and walked straight out.

“Eh? You’re really going?” Jia Xifeng’s eyes lit up and she immediately followed after him.

“If you’re going, can you take your cousin with you? Your uncle may be highly favored in court, but he’s always so blunt and offends people. The Duke of the Empire isn’t just anyone. If we could establish a connection with him, the Li family would finally have a reliable backer.”

“Xiao Ce, I heard the Duke’s eldest son is still unmarried. Why not bring your cousin along? Maybe there’s a chance for a match.”

Jia Xifeng was all smiles. She wouldn’t miss any opportunity to climb the social ladder. She couldn’t change her mindset as a commoner. Even though Li Jingchun held a high position, their life remained plain and simple—she desperately wanted to rise further.

Lin Ce gave an awkward smile. Shouldn’t such a big matter be discussed with Li Jiayin first?

Besides, wasn’t the Prince of the Southwest, Wu Sheng’an, very fond of Li Jiayin? Wouldn’t forming a tie with the Prince of the Southwest also be a good move?

But Lin Ce figured Jia Xifeng probably had no idea about any of this.

Li Jiayin’s attitude toward Wu Sheng’an was completely indifferent, treating him just like a regular friend.

“Aunt, this matter is no small thing. Though I am the Duke’s god-nephew, I may not be able to pair Jiayin with the heir,” Lin Ce said helplessly. “Besides, you should discuss this with Jiayin first.”

Seeing Lin Ce refuse, Jia Xifeng became displeased.

“What’s there to discuss? If I say it, she won’t dare refuse!” Jia Xifeng wore the stern look of a family matron, and Fu’er immediately nodded in agreement beside her.

“She’s already that old—other girls her age are already married, but not mine.”

“If she were a boy, then being older wouldn’t matter. But she’s a girl! If she doesn’t marry soon, what will we do in the future?”

Jia Xifeng sighed miserably, raising her brows from time to time to sneak glances at Lin Ce.

That expression clearly said, “You have to help me.”

Lin Ce held his forehead, utterly embarrassed.

In this Li residence, Jia Xifeng really had no say over Li Jiayin.

“I think you’d better discuss it with Jiayin first.”

“Hmph, you just don’t want to help, do you?”

Jia Xifeng was visibly annoyed. She snorted, making no effort to hide her displeasure.

She was still the mistress of the Li family, but clearly terrible at hiding her emotions.

“Fine, don’t help. Your Lin family is all ungrateful!”

“Your grandfather didn’t help Jingchun back then, and now you won’t help your cousin. Truly heartless! And to think you’re still living in our house!”

With a cold face, Jia Xifeng stormed off in a huff.

Fu’er glared angrily at Lin Ce, cursing him silently for being an ungrateful wretch.

“Young Master, did you hear that?” Li’er puffed her cheeks, arms akimbo, staring angrily at the backs of Jia Xifeng and Fu’er as they left. “How can something as important as marriage be taken so lightly? And she even expects you to help—this is absurd!”

Lin Ce shook his head.

Jia Xifeng’s thinking was understandable. Who didn’t want their daughter to marry well? And the Duke of the Empire’s family had both power and influence.

But Li Jiayin wasn’t a simple girl. She most likely wouldn’t go along with Jia Xifeng’s arrangement.

Lin Ce didn’t say much more. He took Li’er and walked out of the Li residence.

Xu Rong was already waiting outside with a luxurious carriage—its grandeur unmistakable. In Bianjing, only dukes or higher were qualified to use such carriages. The Emperor, of course, rode the imperial dragon carriage.

“Young Master Lin, have things been well these days?” Xu Rong asked with concern, glancing toward the Li residence, checking whether the Li family had mistreated Lin Ce. After all, the Lin family had fallen from grace, and many in the court now treated them like plague.

As the saying goes—once you fall from power, no one cares.

Though Minister Lin had made great contributions to the nation, in the end, he was driven out of court. Now he was just an ordinary old man. Outwardly he might still be respected, but who knew how many mocked him behind his back?

“All is well. Thank you, Steward Xu, for the trouble of coming to fetch me,” Lin Ce said with a grin.

He brought Li’er onto the carriage. Xu Rong personally drove it as they headed toward the Duke of the Empire’s Residence.

Along the way, Lin Ce learned why Qin Shizhong had invited him.

Somehow, Qin Shizhong had found out about his monthly tribulation on full moons. Worried that Lin Ce might suffer at the Li residence, he invited him over in advance. Whatever Lin Ce needed, the Duke of the Empire’s Residence was ready.

And coincidentally, little Qin Jue had also been fussing about wanting to see Lin Ce.

When they arrived, the little girl was already waiting at the gate. The moment she saw Lin Ce, she ran up excitedly.

“Brother Lin! Brother Lin!”

Qin Jue’s little face was dirty, and her mouth was smeared with oil.

It was obvious she had just stolen something to eat.

“Qin Jue, what did you eat? Your mouth is covered in grease.” Lin Ce pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped her mouth. Xu Rong watched from the side, clearly pleased.

Even the Duke’s eldest son, Qin Xuan, had never so delicately wiped his sister’s mouth.

“I stole a chicken leg. My father is looking for me everywhere. He said he’s going to break my legs!” Qin Jue cried pitifully as she jumped onto Lin Ce.

The girl was no longer small, and quite heavy.

To Lin Ce, who suffered from the Frost Marrow Curse, holding her was especially strenuous.

Li’er noticed his struggle and wanted to help, but Lin Ce stopped her.

“That serious? Just for a chicken leg?” Lin Ce pinched Qin Jue’s cheek—it was soft and chubby, very cute.

“Young Master Lin, it wasn’t just a chicken leg…” Xu Rong added from the side. “It was a variety of imperial dishes bestowed by His Majesty. Lord Qin brought them from the palace… and he hadn’t touched them yet. The young miss ate them first…”

Upon hearing this, Lin Ce’s face went dark.

She ate imperial food? What was the big deal?

Qin Shizhong wasn’t such a petty man, was he?

But as soon as he stepped into the Duke of the Empire’s Residence, he saw Qin Shizhong carefully using a silver needle to test each dish, examining them one by one.

At that moment, his expression became more solemn.