LOT -Chapter 316 Childhood Arc: The Charm of Minister Lin

Whether Lin Qi agreed or not, once winter came, half of his bed was still taken away.

A certain chubby little dumpling directly treated him as a heater.

Lin Qi, held so tightly he couldn’t move: “……”

How was it that this girl was already so heavy at just over three years old? Those little fleshy legs pressing on his made it impossible for him to even lift his own.

And his parents too—honestly! The moment this girl said she wanted to come sleep with him, they immediately sent her over, not giving him the slightest chance to refuse.

At this very moment, the Lin couple were happily celebrating.

At last, they had managed to relocate the little drag-on somewhere else. It would just have to trouble their son and daughter a bit. Winter was long anyway—whichever child the little girl liked sleeping with, she could sleep with.

The three children weren’t grown yet; they were all still little kids. Talking about distinctions between boys and girls was far too early.

(Lin Qi and Lin Ran: You really are wonderful parents.)

When winter passed and spring arrived, Lin Mo, at four years old, followed her mother out for the first time—and also experienced for the first time the enthusiasm of those madams and young ladies.

Her first birthday didn’t count. Back then she’d been too small, so everyone had restrained themselves a bit.

“Oh my heavens, the youngest in your family really looks exactly like your Lord Lin. She already resembled him at her first birthday, but now that she’s grown a little, she’s even more alike—especially when she’s putting on that cold expression.”

“Oh my, come, let auntie hold you. Back in the day, I also fell for Minister Lin at first sight. Sadly, I had affection, but he had none.”

“Madam Lin, listen to what she’s saying—what kind of nonsense is this? She’s clearly setting her sights on your Minister Lin. Since she couldn’t hold him, she’s settling for hugging his daughter who looks exactly like him, isn’t she?”

Passed around, pinched and squeezed by the various ladies, Lin Mo kept a cold face the entire time.

She’d thought that looking expressionless would dampen their enthusiasm. Instead, it made them even more excited.

What she didn’t know was that the more blank her face looked, the more she resembled her father—and among the ladies present, who hadn’t once been dazzled by Minister Lin back in the day?

Even now, though they were all married with children, that fleeting, stunning impression from their youth still lingered.

When Minister Lin and Madam Lin ended up together, they had been heartbroken—but also knew it was a perfect match, a union made by heaven.

Back then, they’d been curious what kind of children two people with such looks would have.

The eldest young master and eldest young lady were indeed very good-looking, outstanding among their peers. But no one had expected the youngest to grow up like this.

Madam Lin knew these ladies were only joking, so she didn’t take it seriously.

Looking at her youngest daughter’s expressionless face, she pinched her chubby cheek. “Aren’t you smiling and cheerful every day at home? Why are you wearing such a long face now?”

Lin Mo snorted and said nothing.

At home, she was playing. Here, she was being played with. How could that be the same?

She knew her father was handsome, but she truly hadn’t expected his popularity to be this high.

“Mother, when are we going back? I miss big brother and big sister.”

Lin Mo genuinely disliked this kind of occasion. She liked her mother’s fragrant, soft embrace—but she didn’t like the smell of mixed powders and cosmetics.

Every madam used a different incense, so each had a different scent. When all of them mixed together, it was truly unbearable.

Madam Lin had always used incense made from flowers and fruits—clean and gentle. In summer it was fresh and cool; in winter it was warm and soothing. All of it smelled wonderful.

These other ladies, though, used whatever incense was fashionable at the moment. Lin Mo’s sensitive little nose simply couldn’t take it.

Madam Lin held her in her arms and whispered, “I already told you it wouldn’t be fun to come out, but you insisted on following me. I’ll have someone send you back later. Don’t run around, understand?”

This little girl had insisted on coming out today. She’d warned her beforehand, but Lin Mo hadn’t believed her. Now she knew it was boring, didn’t she?

Lin Mo buried her head in her mother’s arms and refused to stick it out again. She was never coming out to play like this again.

The gossip among ordinary folk was much more interesting. These noble ladies also talked about gossip, but most of it was full of bitterness.

Nothing more than whose husband had brought home what kind of woman, taken what kind of concubine; or how their own children were doing; or how hard it was to discipline concubine-born sons and daughters.

Over and over, it was always the same few topics—nothing compared to the explosive gossip of common people.

After returning home, Lin Mo immediately took a bath. After that trip, she felt as though all sorts of fragrances had clung to her body.

Seen this way, her father was truly very self-disciplined. He never brought home any strange, messy scents.

With how heavily those ladies perfumed themselves, just brushing past one of them would probably leave the scent lingering on you.

How did her father avoid all that trouble? Even on the street, it wasn’t possible to avoid bumping into others—markets could get very crowded, and one couldn’t exactly clear the road for travel.

Minister Lin had no idea the messy thoughts spinning around in his youngest daughter’s head.

For him, each day was simply traveling back and forth between two or three places.

“Minister Lin, how about we go out together today, listen to some music?”

Minister Lin replied, “No need. I should go home early. My wife and children are waiting for me.”

He had no special hobbies. If he wanted to listen to music, he could invite performers to his home—there was no need to go to those places.

Going out like that would only invite unnecessary gossip. If it affected his relationship with his wife, that would be unacceptable.

The man who’d invited him sighed. This Minister Lin was truly too rigid. It wasn’t as though they were going to do anything improper—just to listen to some music.

Listening to music wasn’t a problem even if the Censorate found out. It wasn’t patronizing prostitutes.

Minister Lin only had a few acquaintances he got along with decently, but not particularly well. After all, he didn’t take part in the various activities those people organized.

At most, they would treat each other to a meal outside or chat about matters.

Those people couldn’t understand why he went straight home after leaving work. He, in turn, couldn’t understand why they liked wandering around outside so much.

There was already so little time to give to one’s family each day. If you didn’t go home after work, and returned only after your wife and children were asleep, then the whole day would pass without seeing them at all.

Day after day, year after year—at that point, even living under the same roof, you’d hardly see each other. He truly didn’t understand how they could think that was fine.

The capital at night was lively and bustling, full of excitement everywhere. The Lin household’s night, however, was unusually anxious and tense.

“How could she have a fever? She was fine during the day!”

Lin Mo lay on the bed, her face flushed red with heat. Madam Lin sat by her side, crying nonstop. As soon as Minister Lin returned home and learned that his youngest daughter was ill, he rushed over without even changing his clothes.