After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 200 Transactions Require Sincerity (Part 1)

Hai Shengyang had just seen Meng Zhan off when Hai Chengming sent his steward to inquire.

"Miss, Master is waiting for you!"

Hai Shengyang knew in her heart that her father's condition had probably worsened again, so she followed the housekeeper back to her father's bedside.

Hai Chengming's complexion was indeed worse than before, and he was even unable to support his body.

"Shengyang, please! Please summon the divine physician."

Hai Shengyang grasped Hai Chengming's hand, his eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Father, I know!"

“I have already asked Lord Meng. As long as Bai Wanqing agrees, we can invite Doctor Luo.”

“Father, wait for me here. I will definitely bring back the miracle doctor for you.”

Hai Chengming closed his eyes slightly and nodded almost imperceptibly.

After Hai Shengyang finished speaking, he stood up, turned to the steward and said, "Steward, prepare a carriage for me. I need to go to the Lin family."

The steward knew his master's condition best. Hearing the young lady's instructions, he didn't dare to delay and immediately led his men to prepare the carriage.

Hai Shengyang didn't dare to act rashly. She took Chunru back and picked out two gold hairpins from the jewelry box.

"Miss, isn't your favorite thing to do with orchid hairpins?"

"Why are you even giving this away?"

Hai Shengyang has always been aloof and proud, so this orchid hairpin is her favorite. However, judging from Bai Wanqing's personality, this hairpin may be more suitable for her.

Perhaps she will treat her father's illness because she understands her feelings.

"It's just a hairpin. If it's gone, we can just buy another one."

"Without Father, the Hai family will cease to exist; without the Hai family, the Hai family's daughter will also cease to exist."

Chunru nodded and helped Hai Shengyang put the two hairpins away. Then she got into the carriage and headed towards the Lin family.

When Hai Shengyang arrived at the Lin family home, Bai Wanqing was not there.

Fengniang looked at the official's daughter with some hostility. She had heard from Ruixin that the Hai family's daughter had feelings for Lord Lin.

Why are they all coming to our door now?
She was still clutching the note she had copied from the woodshed, and she didn't have time to waste with this woman.

"I wonder what brings Miss Hai here?" Fengniang asked with a smile, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.

Chunru had never encountered a servant who looked down on her young lady like this before. Just as she was about to step forward to argue, Hai Shengyang glared at her and made her back down.

"I'm here to see Mrs. Lin. I wonder if she's here?" Hai Shengyang's attitude was so humble that no one could find fault with him.

“My mistress hasn’t returned yet, so why don’t you come again tomorrow, Miss?” Fengniang replied.

Hai Shengyang wasn't angry. "It was my fault for not sending the visiting card in advance and for coming so abruptly."

"However, the matter is urgent now, and I have something important to discuss with Madam Lin. Please ask someone to inform her."

"We can take a carriage to pick up Madam Lin."

Fengniang sized up Hai Shengyang before her, noticing the anxious look on the girl's face. She suspected it was something important, and Fengniang couldn't delay her mistress's affairs.
"Madam is still providing free medical consultations at the century-old medical clinic!"

"If you're looking for someone, why don't you go there directly?"

Hai Shengyang was taken aback. A century-old medical clinic! Free clinic?
"Is Doctor Luo here?"

Fengniang then understood that this person had come seeking medical treatment.

"Doctor Luo is not at the clinic. If you want to see him, he is in the courtyard. Why don't I go and inform him?"

The maids of the Hai family all showed joy when they heard that Doctor Luo was there, but Hai Shengyang looked troubled.

"No! Let's find Mrs. Lin first."

Hai Shengyang thanked him, got back into the carriage, and headed straight for the century-old medical clinic.

But when they arrived, most of the people at the clinic had already left.

Doctor Zheng had never met Hai Shengyang and did not know that she was a young lady from the Hai family.

"You're looking for your employer? That's really unfortunate, your employer just left."

"If you have something urgent, you might as well go and see the Lin family."

Hearing what the shopkeeper said, Hai Shengyang was extremely anxious, while his maid Chunru stomped her feet in anger.

"Miss, I'm afraid Madam Lin didn't do this on purpose."

"She just wants something to happen to the master so that our Hai family will no longer be a threat to her."

Hai Shengyang frowned deeply. "Perhaps it really is just a coincidence."

“I have promised my father that I will do everything I can to find a miracle doctor to treat his illness.”

"Even if Bai Wanqing is deliberately making things difficult for me, I can endure it."

After saying that, Hai Shengyang drove the carriage back to the Lin family.

This time, by sheer coincidence, they ran into Bai Wanqing, who had just returned, at the door.

They were carrying some pastries, which looked like they had just bought them from the street. The Lin family and the people at the clinic hadn't lied to her.

Hai Shengyang breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Madam Lin!" Hai Shengyang got off the carriage and walked straight towards Bai Wanqing.

Bai Wanqing turned around and saw that Hai Shengyang had stopped in his tracks, while Ruixin stood guard in front of Bai Wanqing.

"Why are you here?" Ruixin asked in a somewhat unfriendly tone.

"Don't tell me you haven't given up and still want to join the Lin family?"

Hai Shengyang glanced at Ruixin, suppressing his anger, "No!"

She looked at Bai Wanqing solemnly, "I've come here to ask Madam Lin for help."

"Please, Madam Lin, save my father's life."

As he spoke, Hai Shengyang knelt down to pay his respects to Bai Wanqing. Many people recognized the Hai family's carriage, and the woman who stepped out was dressed in brocade and fine clothes, with even the hairpins in her hair made of gold and silver.

It was obvious who this woman was.

She's actually willing to humble herself and bow to Madam Lin in public. Could the rumors from before be true?
Miss Hai and Lord Lin.
The curious whispers of those around them reached the ears of the people on this side.

Upon hearing this, Ruixin became even more furious and was about to step forward to rebuke Bai Wanqing when Bai Wanqing spoke up. "Come in! Let's talk inside."

Ruixin was a little angry to see that her wife was so easy to talk to.

The lady is just too easygoing, and that's why she always gets bullied.

This woman has no good intentions at all; why did you invite her in, Madam?

Bai Wanqing looked at Ruixin, who was a little sulky, and chuckled. "Ruixin, go to the kitchen and see if Fengniang can help."

Seeing that the madam had sent her away, Ruixin could only sigh and leave. Hai Shengyang felt half relieved when the cynical little maid left.

When did Hai Shengyang start to be wary of even a maid?

If people in Kyoto's social circles found out, she'd probably become a laughingstock.

The two went to the wooden pavilion in the backyard, a secluded and quiet place with fresh air, a good place to talk.

Bai Wanqing entered the wooden pavilion first, and then found a place to sit down.

Hai Shengyang looked at the dust on the wooden pavilion and railings, feeling a little disgusted, but she couldn't show it at the moment, so she forced herself to sit down despite the discomfort.

"Madam Lin, as long as you agree to let Doctor Luo save my father."

"I can promise you that I will no longer have any intention of joining the Lin family."

Bai Wanqing looked at Hai Shengyang with a puzzled expression, then smiled slightly, "What Miss Hai said is interesting. Is this what you've been thinking about telling me for so long?"

As Bai Wanqing spoke, her smile vanished, revealing a sharpness in her eyes that was completely out of character for her.

Bai Wanqing actually had that expression? Hai Shengyang was stunned.

"Mrs. Lin, what do you mean by that?"

Bai Wanqing stood up and was about to leave when Miss Chunru stepped in front of her.

“Madam Lin, my young lady just wants to make a deal with you.”

"Isn't it too rash to not even try to bargain?"

Hai Shengyang also stood up at this moment. He didn't say anything, but just stared straight at Bai Wanqing's back.

Bai Wanqing smiled faintly, "If Miss Hai is going to use the possibility of entering the Lin family as a bargaining chip, then this is probably the only way."

Hai Shengyang understood that from the very beginning until now, Bai Wanqing was absolutely certain that she could never enter the Lin family.

She was just that confident.

Hai Shengyang pursed his lips, then laughed out loud.

"It's true that nothing can be hidden from Madam Lin. I have no chance of entering the Lin family."

"But I have come here this time with the sincere intention of asking Mrs. Lin for help."

As he spoke, Hai Shengyang glanced at Chunru, who then took out the two gold hairpins she had prepared and presented them to Bai Wanqing with both hands.

Bai Wanqing was slightly taken aback; she hadn't expected Hai Shengyang to want to exchange money for it.

She turned around, quietly looked at Hai Shengyang, and then said something slowly.

"If Miss Hai has no true intentions, then please leave."

"We are unable to help with your father's condition."

Bai Wanqing dismissed him, and a hint of panic flashed in Hai Shengyang's eyes.

So she knew? Bai Wanqing knew about the Lin family, and Lin Yunche actually told her something so important?
"You...you know?"

Bai Wanqing said calmly, "Of course I know about my family's affairs."

Hai Shengyang knew what Bai Wanqing wanted! She originally intended to use this to blackmail Lin Yunche, but unexpectedly, Lin Yunche didn't care at all.

Is this really how it ended?
How could Hai Shengyang not know that Lin Yunche had sent people to investigate her these past two days?

However, everyone around her had already erased all traces, so even if Lin Yunche investigated, he wouldn't be able to find anything.

She was waiting, and gambling, betting that Lin Yunche would come to his senses and come begging for her one day.

But now, it's her turn to be impatient.

"Alright, then let's exchange information about the Lin family."

"Please, Madam Lin, ask Physician Luo to save my father's life."

This time, Bai Wanqing didn't refuse. "Okay!"

"But I need to know the news first."

Hai Shengyang felt the oppressive aura emanating from Bai Wanqing's entire body; it was truly the presence of a merchant's daughter.

In that instant, Hai Shengyang realized that even if she entered the Lin family, she probably wouldn't be able to be the head of the Lin family.

Because the matriarch of the Lin family is not as easy to bully as she seems.

Hai Shengyang dared not delay his father's treatment. He dismissed Chunru and frankly told her what he knew.

"Lin Sishu did not betray the Shang Kingdom; he was captured by the Northern Dynasty."

"He is currently being imprisoned in the capital of the Northern Dynasty."

After Hai Shengyang finished speaking, he looked at Bai Wanqing's expression. Bai Wanqing remained calm and composed, as if this was something she had expected.

"Don't you know what this means?"

Hai Shengyang hated her blank expression. She had been happy for quite a while when she first received the news by chance.

She began planning to use this information to improve her future.

How could a merchant's daughter not care about such enormous profits? Perhaps she is unaware of the stakes involved.

Hai Shengyang wanted to say something more, but Bai Wanqing interrupted her.

"Doctor Luo has already boarded the Hai family's carriage."

"Miss Hai, please leave."

Hai Shengyang walked out of the Lin family's gate in a daze. Looking at the disheveled old man in front of her, she didn't know what to feel.

"It really is a transaction! A transaction is a transaction."

(End of this chapter)