Inlaid With Jade - Chapter 14

Chapter 14 
Angry 
  
The temple was less convenient than home, so Mother Lin could only borrow a small room from a monk to meet Li Heming. Lin Yu was not in the room, so she must have gone to change clothes. 
  
Mother Lin was making tea at the table. When she saw Zelan leading Li Heming in, she stood up and smiled, “Lord Li, please sit down.” 
  
In this capital, where a falling leaf could kill a second-rank official, Li Heming’s official position was not very powerful, at least couldn’t compared to Lin Zhengqing, a first-rank official. However, Mother Lin still respectfully called him ‘Lord Li,’ not only because of his unique official position but also because he brought the Imperial Guards to rescue Lin Yu in time. 
  
Li Heming glanced at the clean and tidy wooden chair and thanked her but did not sit down: “My clothes are soaked, and this chair is not made of material that can touch the water. There is no need to bother.” 
  
Mother Lin didn’t seem to expect him to be so thoughtful. She looked at him with some surprise but didn’t force him. The Lin family canceled Li Heming’s marriage proposal, so when Mother Lin met Li Heming at this moment, the scene was somewhat awkward. However, as a mother, Mother Lin had to consider Lin Yu and clear some things. She took the boiling teapot from the stove, poured the hot tea with white mist into the teacup, and held it up to serve Li Heming personally: “I had just brewed hot tea. The weather is cold. I hope Lord Li doesn’t mind.” 
  
Li Heming didn’t rush to take it. He glanced at Mother Lin, who had white hair before him, and then looked at the teacup in her hand, which was eighty percent full. The tea was the best Ji tea, but the temple was cold, and the teacup was unattractive. It was an ordinary celadon cup, the most common tea set on the street vendors, and it didn’t even have a cup holder. The boiling tea burned Mother Lin’s hand through the teacup, but she didn’t put it down or show any pain. She just waited patiently for Li Heming to take it. Although she couldn’t despise his status, she had respected him too much. Seeing this, Li Heming vaguely realized Mother Lin’s intention to invite him here. 
  
He thanked her and took the teacup. As her hand loosened, Mother Lin breathed a sigh of relief. She sat down with the help of the table and slowly said, “My daughter has told me what happened in the mountain. It’s heart-wrenching to hear it. If Lord Li couldn’t save my daughter in time…” 
  
As a mother, she couldn’t say the rest of the words calmly, so she paused for a moment before continuing: “In short, I have to thank Lord Li for saving me. This kindness is beyond repayment. After I get down the mountain, I will send someone to thank you.” 
 
Her words were sincere, but Li Heming disagreed: “No need, I am just following the Emperor’s order. It is not a favor. Madam Lin believes in Buddhism. Buddhas may have blessed your daughter to escape this disaster.” 
  
In his position, the more he was involved with officials, the more suspicion he would have in front of the Emperor. One of the reasons why Li Heming could be the Emperor’s lackey was that he never had private relations with others, and today’s matter was no exception. 
  
When Mother Lin heard his refusal, she understood and did not insist. She hesitated and said, “Inviting Lord Li to come here, in addition to wanting to thank you in person, I also have a bold request.” 
  
“Mrs. Lin, please speak.” 
  
The following words seemed difficult for her to say. She tore off the mask and excitedly said, “My daughter is not married yet. If the news of her disappearance spreads, it will damage her reputation. I hope Lord Li will keep this matter secret and do not mention it to anyone!” 
  
On the one hand, she said that Lin Yu was not married yet, while on the other, she had to ask Li Heming, who was once engaged to Lin Yu, to keep the secret. These words made Mother Lin ashamed, and she had to put down her face to beg him. 
  
But for Li Heming, it was another kind of humiliation. He frowned and looked at Mother Lin, obviously not believing she dared to speak so bluntly. Seeing his changed expression, Mother Lin had to ask again: “Lord Li…” 

“Enough!” Li Heming interrupted her coldly: “Mrs. Lin, do you think I, Li Heming, am a toy for people to play with and laugh at?” 
  
After that, he said no more, threw the teacup he had not yet drunk on the table, turned around, and left with a sullen face. 
  
The temple was a place for meditation. Hence, food, clothing, housing, and transportation were unsuitable for Lin Yu to recuperate, so she followed the Imperial Guards down the mountain that day. But the mountain road was w*t and muddy, and the carriage was difficult to travel. Mother Lin was old, so she had to stay in the temple and wait a few days after the weather cleared. 
  
Lin Yu was unaware of Mother Lin’s conversation with Li Heming. When she saw Li Heming, she still respectfully called him ‘Lord Li’ and said, “Thank you for your help.” She still rode a horse when she went down the mountain, but this time, she didn’t ride with Li Heming; instead, she was led by Zelan. 
  
Lin Yu was weak, so being her maid, she would inevitably need to use her strength. Therefore, Zelan was different from ordinary maids and was a martial arts practitioner. She had learned boxing skills, which was barely acceptable, but she was strong, and even ordinary men were not as strong as her. 
  
When going down the mountain, He San led the Imperial Guards in the front to clear the way, and Zelan walked side by side with Lin Yu, holding an umbrella in one hand and the horse in the other. Li Heming rode at the end, just in time to see the master and servant who were whispering in front. 
  
Lin Yu was wearing a snow-white thin velvet cloak, with the tip of light green embroidered shoes showing from under her skirt. She was wrapped tightly, and a hand warmer was in her arms. 
  
Under the sound of rain, the master and servant spoke in a low voice. Even Li Heming, who had sharp ears, could not precisely hear what they were saying. The two talked for a while, and the sound of rain suddenly weakened. Li Heming heard Lin Yu whispered, “Did you hear it wrong?” 
  
Zelan was talking excitedly and didn’t notice the weakened sound of rain. She said confidently, “Wenzhu said I was born with dog ears, how could I hear it wrong? That guard must have been talking to Lord Li about the girl from the Jiaofangsi! He also said he had seen her last time!” 
  
After hearing this, Lin Yu frowned, raised the brim of the umbrella doubtfully, turned her head, and looked at Li Heming behind her. This action was entirely subconscious, but she met Li Heming’s gaze. 
  
Seeing this, Zelan reached out and pulled her back, saying anxiously, “Don’t look at him, Miss! If you look at me like this, Lord Li will know what we are talking about him!” 
  
The heater warmed Lin Yu’s body, but her mind was so dizzy that she didn’t react for a while and made a mistake. She pursed her lips, bent down slightly, and asked Zelan softly, “What should we do?” 
  
Zelan shook her head blankly, “I don’t know.” She said with some fear, “If Lord Li guessed that we were talking bad about him, would he make trouble for you, Miss?” 
  
Lin Yu heard this and felt unhappy. She sat up straight and distanced herself from Zelan, looking like she didn’t want to interfere. She said thoughtfully: “You’re the one who wanted to drag me to say bad things about him. Why would he make trouble for me?” 
  
Zelan was speechless because of Lin Yu. She stared at her wide-eyed: “Miss, you said you wanted to hear the secret!” 
  
Lin Yu refused to admit it. She put her hands on the heater and whispered: “I won’t listen if you tell me that it was his secret.” 
  
When Li Heming behind her heard this, he raised his eyelids to look at Lin Yu’s back with something in his mind.