After marrying the fierce god, her handsome young husband was pampered to the extreme.

Lin Er walked over to the boy and woke him up.

Xia Ying wasn't actually asleep; she was just resting with her eyes closed.

Suddenly, he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the person who should have been bound hand and foot and unconscious was standing right in front of him.

His eyes widened, and the words "Help!" were stuck in his throat, but before he could say them, Lin Er covered his mouth.

"I'm leaving."

Xia Ying's look of horror and shock instantly turned into confusion.

Lin Er slowly released him.

"you……"

"I know you don't really want to get married, don't worry, and I don't really want to marry you either," Lin Er said. "You've achieved your goal, so there's nothing more for me to do for now."

Xia Ying nodded hesitantly.

"I'm leaving."

"Wait, you can't leave now." With so many eyes fixed on his yard, Xia Ying didn't dare to gamble.

Lin Er said, "What, are you determined to consummate our marriage?"

"Shameless! Who wants to consummate a marriage with you!"

"Then why are you pulling me along?"

Xia Yingxiang recoiled as if she had been burned.

"I...I..." Xia Ying said, "Anyway, you can't leave, at least not tonight."

Lin Er sighed. "How about this, I'll go say goodbye to my family first, and then come back, okay?"

"What if you never come back?"

No, it won't.

Xia Ying hesitated for a moment.

Lin Er said, "If my youngest brother doesn't come home tonight, he'll definitely cry himself blind."

Xia Ying asked, "You have a younger brother?"

Lin Er said with considerable pride, "Yes, he's a very handsome young man."

He paused for a moment, then said, "He's not in good health. If he doesn't get home today, he'll definitely cry himself to death."

Upon hearing this, Xia Ying asked, "Are you really coming back?"

"Of course, Mr. Lin would never lie."

Xia Ying said, "Okay, I believe you."

Just as Lin Er was about to push open the door and leave, Xia Ying called out to him.

"Wait, you can't go through the door."

Lin Er asked in confusion, "If not through the door, are you going to climb through the window?"

Xia Ying nodded, "Yes."

He explained, "You can't be seen by other people."

"Okay." Luckily, I learned a few tricks from my older brother before, so jumping out of the window and scaling the courtyard wall shouldn't be a problem.

Xia Ying looked at his retreating figure, wanting to say something but holding back.

In the end, there was only a sigh.

If... if he never comes back...

Perhaps this is his fate.

After returning to the ship, Lin Er left letters for Zhong Li and Da Xing, and then went back to the Xia residence.

They are very trustworthy and keep their promises.

Xia Ying was overjoyed to see him return. "You're back!"

He was always worried that he would never return, and that all his plans would be in vain.

Thank goodness.

Xia Ying breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Er sat down next to him. "It seems you've encountered some difficulties. Why are you in such a hurry to get married?"

Xia Ying immediately suppressed the tiny bit of joy in her heart and said with a straight face, "Don't ask about things you shouldn't know."

"Alright," Lin Er said. "You probably have a tough battle to fight tomorrow, right? I won't force you if you don't want to talk about it. But tomorrow..."

"...If anything goes wrong with me," Lin Er smiled slightly, "Young Master, as long as you don't blame me."

"You!" Xia Ying exclaimed in exasperation, "You're threatening me!"

"I'm just trying to help you analyze what kind of decision would be more beneficial for you."

"I don't know what your purpose is in accepting my embroidered ball, but let me tell you, don't even think about getting a single penny of the Xia family's money."

"The Xia family? The Xia family, the imperial merchants of Yunzhou?"

Xia Ying scoffed, "Dare you say you didn't steal my embroidered ball because you knew my identity?"

"I dare! What's there to be afraid of?" Lin Er said. "I can even swear an oath. Do you want to hear it?"

Xia Ying stared at him, her meaning quite clear.

Swear it! I'm watching!

Lin Er raised his finger and swore to the heavens, "I, Lin Er of Mingzhou, swear to the heavens that I absolutely did not steal the embroidered ball because I knew your identity."

Xia Ying said, "If it's not because of my identity, then why? It can't be because you like me, can it?"

"Would you believe me if I said it was all a misunderstanding?"

Xia Ying scoffed, "Do you think I believe that?"

I knew it would be like this.

Lin Er sighed again.

After a while, he asked, "I still don't know your name. Would you mind telling me?"

"Xia Ying, the afterglow of sunset reflected on the river grass."

Lin Yunqing is the second child in her family.

Xia Ying asked suspiciously, "Real name?"

Lin Er was both amused and exasperated. "Would I really go so far as to use a fake name to fool you?"

Xia Ying pouted.

Who knows?

Lin Er said, "Tell me your story briefly so I can prepare."

Otherwise, I won't know anything when I meet my elders tomorrow.

Xia Ying asked, "What about me?"

"Why did you just marry someone randomly? Was it to appease the clan?"

Xia Ying's expression was somewhat unnatural. "Since you already know, why ask? It's unnecessary."

"Are you the one currently in charge of the Xia family's business?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Ying immediately flew into a rage. "What do you mean? Do you think I, a mere young man, can't manage the family business?!"

"That's not what I meant," Lin Er said. "I've roughly figured it out, don't worry, I know what to do."

"What did you find?"

Lin Erdao said, "You're finding someone to marry so that you can put all of the Xia family's business on your husband's head, right? As long as you control your useless husband, you can prevent the Xia family members from swallowing up your family's assets, and you can also continue to manage the family business."

How did you know?

Lin Er didn't answer him, but said to herself, "But you're taking a big risk by doing this, because you have absolutely no idea what kind of person you're marrying."

"If there is a next time, I personally strongly suggest that the sleeping potion be replaced with a brain-damaging poison."

"Nothing is easier to manipulate than a fool."

Xia Ying took a deep breath. "Is your husband always this ruthless?"

"It's alright," Lin Er said. "Young Master Xia, would you be interested in discussing a business deal?"

Xia Ying asked, "What kind of business?"

"I will help you protect your family business."

"Yes, that's what I want. So what do you want?"

Lin Er said, "This year, all the silk fabrics except for the tribute items will be handled by me."

"You're really asking for the moon."

"I will give you a share of the profits, which will definitely be much more than what you earn in Yunzhou."

Xia Ying asked, "Are you planning to take the mermaid silk to other places to resell?"

Lin Er countered, "Is it not allowed?"

Mermaid yarn is precious, and although the Xia family has mastered the method of weaving it, they lack sales channels.

The river transport in Yanjiang has been monopolized by the Wu family for many years. Anyone who wants to use the waterway has to pay a large sum of money to cross the river every year.

However, the Wu family intends to monopolize the trade of mermaid yarn and will never allow the Xia family's mermaid yarn to leave Yunzhou.