1.2 The Lin Family

Volume One
1.2 The Lin Family

The local government offices of the Great Zhou Dynasty vary widely in type and size, yet their overall layout is quite similar.

Following the customary “official chambers in front, living quarters behind,” from the main gate onward, there is typically a front courtyard leading directly to the main hall, flanked by side chambers and office rooms. Beyond that lies the main hall and the east and west annexes, areas designated for handling official business. The final courtyard serves as the inner residence, naturally housing the officials and their families.

Of course, this is only a general guideline.

In reality, depending on one’s status, the division and zoning differ greatly. For example, the side chambers used to accommodate subordinate departments vary: offices of provincial governors or commanders often span multiple courtyards, while a fifth-rank official such as the Salt Inspector’s office might have only three rooms on each side.

Similarly, regarding the living quarters, the best residences could boast more than one garden, but here it was truly just a “back courtyard” — three main rooms each attached to east and west annexes, with two side rooms on each flank. All functional areas had to be arranged within this limited space.

Adding to this was the custom of “officials not renovating their offices,” so the state of the entire compound was easily imagined.

Therefore, in most cases, officials at the prefectural and county levels rarely lived within the rear government offices.

Since Lin Ruhai’s appointment to Yangzhou many years ago, he had purchased a residence on the west side of the government office compound, separated by only a narrow alley. The rear government quarters remained vacant until Lin Rui came to seek refuge, providing a convenient place to stay while adhering to the “official chambers in front, residence behind” convention.

Two birds with one stone—how delightful and fortunate!

Not at all!

Even after living there for more than two years, every time Lin Rui returned and saw the dilapidated state of the courtyard, he felt an overwhelming urge to silently question the heavens. This was despite multiple times when he had disregarded the “officials don’t renovate their offices” rule and arranged for some repairs.

Unfortunately, only superficial fixes were possible; any major renovations would invite impeachment.

Fortunately, the appearance of a courtyard was not the most important matter—it was who lived there that truly mattered.

As soon as Lin Rui entered the rear residence, he saw a delicate young maid standing by the door of the east annex. She wore a finely stitched maid’s outfit in shades of pale green and pink, her twin buns perfectly neat. Upon seeing him, she hurriedly smiled and offered a deep bow.

“Your servant greets Master Rui. Our young lady asked me to—ah!” Before finishing her sentence, the maid was suddenly lifted off the ground and carried in someone’s arms. Petite as she was, this only made her appear more endearing. “Master, please let me finish speaking!”

“Xueyan, you talk too much. Haven’t you thought about how long it’s been since you last came?” Lin Rui had little patience. Before she could reply, he pushed her inside the room, barely bothering to remove her clothes completely. “First, you must fulfill your duties as a maid!”

“Yes—Master!” The maid tried to speak again but could only submit to his pressure.

Half an hour later.

“You heartless man! How can you be so demanding after just a few days!” Xueyan lay lazily in his arms, utterly drained. “Our young lady knows you have dinner at the prefecture tonight, so she specially sent me with a request.”

“That’s not really a ‘request,’” Lin Rui chuckled softly, lowering his head to savor the moment before fondling the softness in his arms. “What little trinket is it this time? Let me be clear: money’s no object, but if Madam catches you and scolds you, don’t blame me.”

“It’s just a set of Silver Treasure Studio’s Nine Linked Rings. Our young lady saw a set at the magistrate’s residence when she visited with Madam last time,” Xueyan replied, shooting him a glance. “Unfortunately, they only had a short time to play with them, and several of the rings didn’t come apart. Our young lady was quite dissatisfied!”

“Lin Miss is certainly not modest!” Lin Rui wryly pinched the maid’s little nose. “Silver Treasure Studio is among the top three jewelry shops in all of Yangzhou. Their products are at least silver. Although the Nine Linked Rings are a toy, a full set costs no less than ten taels of silver.”

“Hehe!” Xueyan snuggled against him, showing no hint of apology.

“You little thing!” Lin Rui caught her meaning, biting her ear softly. “Though Lin Miss is a girl, her tastes usually run to books and antiques. This set is for you, isn’t it?”

“Master!” Xueyan lifted her delicate head but saw him deliberately turn away. Pouting, she slid down and shyly wrapped herself in the embroidered quilt, covering herself completely.

“Ahh—” Lin Rui leaned comfortably against the bedhead. After a moment, he squinted and spoke. “I just arranged my dinner at the prefecture, something Uncle Lin mentioned verbally. Although your residence isn’t far from here, your ear is quick. News from steward Cai?”

“Mm-hmm!” Xueyan nodded.

“You little thing, when you come, always find an excuse to tell Lin Miss. Don’t return empty-handed. Be sure to explain clearly; I’ll arrange everything together.” Lin Rui didn’t ask further; it was only a matter of a few taels, hardly troublesome.

“Mm-hmm!” Xueyan nodded again.

After a while, she suddenly lifted the quilt and was about to get up, but he pressed her down. Seeing his half-smile, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back, then was released and hurried to the small table.

“Not bad for all my ‘guidance’ over time,” Lin Rui teased with a smile.

“Master, you’re awful! I already... yet you still bully me!” After a long while, blushing, she spat out mouthwash, washed up, then sat on the bedside to lightly tap him. “Where did you learn these mortifying tricks? You’re just using me!”

“Come up here!” Lin Rui laughed, pulling her back into his arms. After a moment, he sighed in contentment. “Now tell me the book titles Lin Miss wants. Although there’s still half an afternoon, if she’s looking for something troublesome, I can’t guarantee I’ll find it.”

“Um—our young lady wrote a note. I was afraid of losing it, so I kept it in my inner pocket,” Xueyan said with a trembling voice. “It’s nothing rare or forbidden, just some light reading she wants to pass the time.”

“That’s a relief!” Lin Rui relaxed. “I’ll have someone buy those along with your Nine Linked Rings, but since these things aren’t convenient to send to the inner quarters, I’ll hand them to steward Cai. You can ask Madam Wang for them tomorrow—just don’t let Madam see.”

“Master, don’t worry. I’m careful!” Xueyan replied weakly.

“Steward Cai,” named Wang Cai, was a servant born to the Lin household and the gatekeeper of the Lin residence. His wife, Madam Wang, came as part of Madam Lin’s dowry and served as Lin Miss’s wet nurse. Both were the Lin family’s most trusted servants, forming the core staff along with Xueyan. Lin Rui had specially recruited them as his “informants.”

It had nothing to do with “plots, schemes, or darkness.” Simply put, as an “outdoor agent,” he maintained good relations with the “headquarters” staff to prevent any information bottlenecks when necessary.

Because he was cautious.

Officially, he was a collateral relative of the Suzhou Lin clan and supposedly related to Lin Ruhai, but the true nature of this relationship only he knew. Even by the so-called “clan” standards, he wasn’t recognized within five or even eight degrees of kinship.

Lin Ruhai himself had a distant connection with the main branch of the Suzhou Lin clan.

“This Lin family branch is not prosperous, with few descendants. Though there are several wives and concubines, they are all collateral relatives of Ruhai, with no direct legitimate lineage. Ruhai is already forty, has only one three-year-old son who died last year, and despite several concubines, he is fated to have no heirs—there’s nothing to be done.”

“Collateral relatives” contrasted with close kin, meaning purely non-legitimate family members who, unless adopted or recognized by the main family, had no inheritance rights. Moreover, Lin Ruhai had spent decades away on official duties, rarely contacting the family, so relations had long since broken down.

This was the primary reason why Lin Miss later had to seek refuge with the Jia family—there was no one else to turn to.

Hence, Lin Rui needed to absolutely maintain good relations with Lin Ruhai and the Lin family. Without reliable sources of information, any lapse could bring unforeseen troubles.

However, there were some deviations along the way.

Wang Cai and Madam Wang were easy to handle—just spend some extra silver. Though absolutely loyal to the Lin family, they understood his intentions, which were perfectly normal practices in a large family.

Xueyan, however, was a maid of the inner residence and, by right, he should never have met her. It was only because Lin Miss once urgently wanted a rare old book and the maid had no choice but to learn of him through Madam Wang’s words that they came into contact. Normally, there would be no intersection at all.

Otherwise, would the inner quarters of a grand family allow outsiders to contact them freely?

Relatives?

So-called “relatives” beyond the eighth degree, numbering in the thousands, meant little.

Lin Rui naturally took the opportunity to maintain contact and, as usual, cultivated them further. This was nothing special—just some trinkets young ladies liked, or slightly expensive fabrics and jewelry, adding up to hardly any money.

What he did not anticipate was what this meant to Xueyan, a maid who had seen nothing of the world and for whom Lin Rui was the only young “outside man” she had ever encountered.

Thus, when she once came to the rear government office seeking someone, she happened upon him, shirtless and working out with no place to release energy. She blushed deeply, unsure what to do, yet made no attempt to avoid him.

Finding her adorable, Lin Rui couldn’t resist pulling her into the room. After their tryst, both were satisfied. The maid began to call him “Master” and referred to herself as “your servant,” cementing their relationship.

An unexpected gain?

“Master, have mercy on your servant!” Xueyan suddenly called out as he reminisced.

Lin Rui paused, reluctantly holding the maid tighter.

“How long has it been?” he grumbled.

“Master, I still have to report back!” Xueyan pushed him away in fear. “Madam personally arranged the dinner to entertain you, so I have to report to our young lady afterward. If I keep serving like this, I might not even have the strength to walk.”

“Madam?” Lin Rui frowned. “We really can’t be late.”

“Your servant takes her leave—ah!”

“I’ll spare you, but you can’t leave me hanging.” Lin Rui patted her head.

Xueyan could do nothing but kneel again in resigned submission.

Only then did Lin Rui lean back against the bedhead, closing his eyes in comfort.