My husband, who abandoned his father and kept his son, actually wants me to be his concubine.

Chapter 8: Matchmaking for Lu Jinshi
Lu Jinshi said calmly, "Burning a living person's clothes is indeed inappropriate, but is Rong Yi still a living person?"

Upon hearing this, Caiyun lowered her head, took the clothes, and went outside to burn them.

Caixia entered and said with a light laugh, "Miss, it would be a pity to burn these clothes. Why not donate them to some orphans and beggars in the city? These clothes can be exchanged for some silver for them."

Lu Jinshi thought it made sense. Most of Rong Yi's clothes were bought with her money. The finest fabrics would be worth a lot of money if sold to a pawnshop. It was indeed worth donating them, which would also help Rong Yi, who had committed many sins, to accumulate merit.

"Caiyun, just give the clothes away."

Caiyun replied, "Yes, miss."

Caiyun picked up the pile of clothes, and a jade pendant fell out from it.

Caixia picked up the jade pendant and handed it to Lu Jinshi, saying, "Miss, look at the quality of this jade pendant; it's not ordinary Hetian jade."

Looking at the mutton-fat white jade in front of him, and then at the exquisite carving of the jade pendant, Lu Jinshi realized that it was no ordinary treasure, but something priceless.

Lu Jinshi thought that Rong Yi's family background should not be bad.

Lu Jinshi did not donate the white jade, after all, she bought most of the clothes. If Rong Yi really wanted to settle accounts with her, she could afford to pay for them. But she really couldn't say she could afford to pay for the white jade.
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The next morning, Lu Jinshi got up early to dress up, played with Zhang'er who had just woken up for a while, and then got into the carriage and went to Lingxiao Academy.

Lingxiao Academy is located in a farm on the outskirts of Chang'an City. The scenery here is beautiful, with fields and lakes, and the green wheat on the open fields has already formed ears.

The carriage stopped outside Lingxiao Academy.

Lu Jinshi walked inside, but did not hear the sound of scholars reading aloud.

Upon entering, one sees several boys gathered together in the classroom playing dominoes.

Upon seeing this, Lu Jinshi went over and grabbed the boy in blue by the ear.

After Qin Ke's ear was pulled, he was first stunned, then looked closely and laughed, "Sister! You've come to Chang'an? Ouch, ouch, ouch!"

Lu Jinshi released Qin Ke's ear and asked, "Did you come to Chang'an to study, or to play Pai Gow?"

Lu Jinshi's gaze swept over the several boys dressed in brocade robes in front of him. "How can such gambling games be allowed in the school?"

"How dare you, young lady, interfere with our affairs?"

"Qin Ke, is this your sister? How dare your sister pull your ear? My sister doesn't dare to say a word in front of me."

"She's quite good-looking, but how come her temper is even worse than a tigress?"

The young men in brocade robes were all unconvinced by Lu Jinshi.

Lu Jinshi frowned as he looked at the carefree teenagers in front of him and asked Qin Ke, "Where is Dean Lin? Where are the other teachers in the academy? How could they allow you to gamble in the academy?"

Qin Ke said, "Before the New Year, Master Qian opened a new academy in Chang'an City and called away all the scholars and teachers in the academy. Now, only the eight of us scholars and Senior Brother Mu are left here."

"After the New Year, Dean Lin saw that most of the students had gone to Jinming Academy, which made him so angry that he fell ill. In recent days, he has been bedridden. We have also been studying hard."

"I was just taking advantage of the fact that Senior Brother Mu went to deliver medicine to Dean Lin, and there was no one to teach, so I secretly played dominoes for a while, and you just happened to see me."

Seeing that sixteen-year-old Qin Ke was looking down like an obedient little chick, Lu Jinshi no longer doubted her: "Take me to see Dean Lin."

Qin Ke obediently led Lu Jinshi towards the backyard of the school.

Once inside the backyard, after passing through a grove of lush trees and bamboo groves, we arrived at Dean Lin's residence.

Although Dean Lin is now forty-six years old, there is still a difference between men and women. Lu Jinshi let Qin Ke go in first to announce his arrival.

After Qin Ke came out, Lu Jinshi went inside.

Upon entering the room, Lu Jinshi immediately smelled a strong medicinal aroma and spotted the young man sitting on the small couch.

He was indeed good-looking, not much worse than Rong Yi, and he looked several years older than Rong Yi, making him appear more mature.

Lu Jinshi didn't look at him much, only glancing at him twice before bowing to Dean Lin on the sickbed and saying, "Uncle Lin, I have come to visit you on my father's orders. This is a small gift that my parents and I prepared for you. Please don't take it for granted." Dean Lin looked at Lu Jinshi in front of him and said, "Little Jinshi has grown up so beautifully. Are you married yet?"

Lu Jinshi smiled and shook his head, saying, "I'm not married yet. If I were to get married, I would definitely come to invite my senior uncle to the wedding banquet."

Dean Lin looked at Mu Yan beside him and said, "Not married yet? Then your senior uncle would like to act as a matchmaker for you. My disciple Mu Yan is learned and talented, handsome and virtuous. Apart from being single-minded in his studies and not having passed the imperial examinations, he has no shortcomings."

Mu Yan spoke up in a clear voice from the side: "Master, Junior Sister Qin is still a young lady. You can joke with your disciple, but you can't tease Junior Sister Qin."

Lu Jinshi smiled faintly and said, "Senior Brother Mu, I take my mother's surname, Lu, and my name is Lu Jinshi."

Dean Lin said, “I’m not joking, Mu Yan. You’re not young anymore. Your junior brother Rong is six years younger than you and has already written to say that he has a child. You can’t fall too far behind. I think my junior niece is very beautiful and you two are a perfect match.”

When Lu Jinshi heard the words "Junior Brother Rong," a cold glint flashed across his face.

Mu Yan said repeatedly, "Master, please don't tease Junior Sister. This matter is not good for Junior Sister's reputation."

Mu Yan then looked at Lu Jinshi and said, "Junior Sister Lu, Master is confused from anger, please don't take it to heart."

Seeing Mu Yan's anxious expression, Lu Jinshi smiled and said, "It's nothing."

Dean Lin said, "I'm not confused. I find the two of you standing together very pleasing to the eye. My niece, my disciple would be a perfect husband for you."

Lu Jinshi chuckled softly, "Uncle-Master, Senior Brother Mu is indeed quite good, but I probably won't get married again in this lifetime."

Lu Jinshi did not tell Dean Lin about her pregnancy, as it was not appropriate to publicize the matter.

Dean Lin said, "How can one not get married?"

Lu Jinshi was afraid that Dean Lin wanted to play matchmaker for him, so he changed the subject and said, "Uncle-Master, I heard from Qin Ke that the students and teachers in your academy have all been poached by others, which is why you are sick. Don't get upset over some people, it's not worth it."

Dean Lin said, "That old scoundrel Qian is too much of a bully, disgracing the scholars' dignity. He is too utilitarian. If there are students taught by him in the court, then our Great Sheng Dynasty will be full of people who form cliques for personal gain!"

Dean Lin coughed several times as he spoke with anger: "Cough cough cough, Mu Yan, you must teach your junior brothers well, so that they can all pass the imperial examinations this autumn!"

Qin Ke's eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. Lin, we...we're afraid...we can't..."

Dean Lin said, "As students of Lingxiao Academy, you must avenge me."

Mu Yan said, "Master, it's not easy for me to teach eight people by myself and get them all to pass the imperial examinations."

Dean Lin coughed and looked at Lu Jinshi, saying, "Junior niece, I heard from your father that you also taught at the academy?"

Lu Jinshi said slowly, "Tianzhang Academy has a girls' school, and I occasionally go there to teach."

Dean Lin said, "Then I'll trouble my niece to help teach these students at Lingxiao Academy. I must make sure my disciple passes the imperial examinations before that old scoundrel Qian takes away those students."

Lu Jinshi said with slight surprise, "I'm a woman teaching these young scholars. I'm afraid they won't listen to my discipline."

Dean Lin said, “Although you are a woman, you can be their teacher. If they are not convinced, just discipline them severely. Every year, many students from your Tianzhang Academy pass the imperial examination. If you teach them, you will surely help them achieve academic success. I am begging you, cough cough cough.”

Lu Jinshi hurriedly replied, "Jinshi dares not accept your request for a calligraphy, Master Uncle. I originally intended to leave Chang'an after the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, but now that Master Uncle needs Jinshi's help, Jinshi will certainly do her best to assist you."

Dean Lin said, "Alright, you can stay at the academy to teach, and you can spend more time with my disciple Muyan. Maybe you can even become a good match."

Just as Dean Lin finished speaking, a clear, teasing voice came from the doorway.

"Master, are you playing matchmaker for Senior Brother Mu again?"

Lu Jinshi heard a familiar voice at the door and saw the young man in purple robes enter. His eyebrows narrowed slightly. He hadn't checked the almanac before going out today and had run into Rong Yi again.

Dean Lin smiled and said, "I'm planning to act as matchmaker for your Senior Sister Lu and Senior Brother Mu. Don't you think the two of them are a perfect match?"

(End of this chapter)