CH 120

When Tan Lingyin came to the Southern Study, she saw Xiaobao grabbing Tang Tang's tail. "Now see where you can run!"

Tang Tang's tail was never for others to play with; it felt extremely uncomfortable. Tang Tang turned around in annoyance, opened its mouth wide and roared, "Argh!"

Xiaobao had never seen such an imposing dog, so he was quickly frightened. He let go of his hand and took a few steps back, accidentally falling to the ground.

Tang Tang didn't even look at Xiaobao as he ran to Tan Lingyin's feet. Tang Tang lowered its head and rubbed on her leg, begging for comfort.

Xiaobao sat on the ground and cried loudly.

Tan Lingyin bent down and picked up Tang Tang. Hmm, the little guy was so big now that she can hardly carry him anymore.

Xiaobao's crying alerted the three adults inside. Madam Tan felt very distressed when she saw her son and tried to help him up. Xiaobao sat on the ground and refused to cooperate, pointing at Tang Tang as he cried, "Hit dog!"

Xianggua followed suit, trying to coax the child up. The weather was still chilly, so the ground was too cold to be laying on for an extended period of time.

Tan Nengwen panicked with some embarrassment. They were guests and Lord Tang treated them with courtesy. However they had only just arrived when his son made a fuss and wanted to beat his dog. Not wanting to lose any more face, Tan Nengwen scolded Xiaobao angrily, "Get up quickly! How did I teach you at home? Don’t disgrace yourself outside!"

Xiaobao cried even louder, insisting Tang Tang had to be beaten before he got up.

Just as the commotion was raging, Huanggua led a few servant girls in. When he saw Tan Lingyin, Huanggua said, "Head Commissioner Tan, Young Master is afraid that the county government office would not have enough manpower. Afraid to neglect Master Tan and his wife, so he bought some more."

Tan Lingyin felt that Tang Feilong was quite capable; he had prepared so much in so little time. Moreover, every one of these servant girls looked honest and well-behaved. She knew that he was afraid that it would be difficult for her, so he was very considerate to her family. Thinking about him while looking at the farce in front of her, Tan Lingyin couldn't help but want to tear up.

Once Huanggua reported to Tan Lingyin and handed over the servants to Xianggua, he was about to leave. Before he left, Tan Lingyin asked him to take Tang Tang with him.

Afterwards, Tan Lingyin and Tan Nengwen walked into the small reception pavilion of the Southern Study together; they looked ready to negotiate.

"Come back with me." Tan Nengwen cut to the chase.

"Go back with you, or go back with you to marry someone else?" Tan Lingyin was more direct. She wasn’t stupid, Tan Lingyin had already figured it out. Otherwise, how could her father know her whereabouts so clearly? Moreover, he came without any prior notice. Someone must have tipped him in advance.

Tan Nengwen admitted frankly, "The Zhu family had indeed proposed marriage again. Lingyin, doesn’t he treat you well?"

"So I have to marry him because he treats me well? If I follow that rule, then I would have married many times over. The Zhu family wouldn’t even have a chance!"

Tan Nengwen was furious as he slammed on the table. "You..are shameless!"

"Isn't it the first time you’ve called me shameless, is there a need to make such a fuss?"

Tan Nengwen pointed at her with a trembling hand. "You evil creature, evil creature!"

Tan Lingyin looked serious as she asked, "If it wasn't for the Zhu family's marriage proposal, did you plan to never recognize me as a daughter for the rest of your life?"

"You made a mistake yourself, and you have the nerve to blame others?"

Tan Lingyin lowered her eyes and said quietly, "I don't blame anyone. If I cause a problem, then it’s my responsibility. I'm just curious to know."

Tan Nengwen sighed, "What can I do? It's not that you don't know the power of the Zhu Residence. There’s no way I can drag the whole Tan household just pay for your sin, right?"

"So you never planned to?"

Tan Nengwen didn't reply.

"Then..." Tan Lingyin's voice gradually choked up, "Then do you miss me?"

Tan Nengwen answered, slightly offended, "You are my daughter, how can I not miss you? But even if I miss you, how dare I go find you?"

"You probably didn’t miss me much, after all you have a son."

"Xiaobao is your younger brother, you should let him be."

Tan Lingyin sneered, "He doesn’t even want to call me jiejie."

"He hasn't seen you for several years. He just doesn’t recognize you"

Tan Lingyin felt a little weak and didn't want to bicker with him about it anymore. The son was always catered to and was always the favorite; everything the son did wrong was understandable and excusable.

She sighed, "I think you are hurting Xiaobao by doing this. 'An over-loving mother will wither her son.' If you spoil him too much now and don’t fix his temper now, he may not be filial to you in the future."

Tan Nengwen couldn't bear these words the most. With a gloomy face, he slapped the table heavily, "Nonsense!"

Tan Lingyin played with her fingers lazily, and replied, "Just treat it as nonsense. I'll tell you some more nonsense. I won't marry Zhu Dacong. You say I'm shameless, but I have even more shameless things! I already have someone in my heart, and I'm not afraid to tell you who. It's Tang Feilong, Lord Tang! I've made an oath to be with him for life[1], so I won't marry anyone else in this life!"

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Footnote:

[1] An oath for life (定终身了) - In ancient china, usually people get married through arranged marriages set by one’s parents. It’s very atypical for a couple to get together because they want to and without their parent’s consent. But if they do, they would use this phrase: An oath for life (定终身了) which means they promised each other to be together for life. Quite romantic, don’t you think? 

Oh, I forgot, but in this chapter, our Tan Lingyin is using to say she’s already given her body to Tang Tianyuan haha.