Chapter Thirteen: The Maternal Aunt

After all, he was an elderly former marquis; to have his reputation sullied at the end of his days—who could bear that? Especially hearing his little granddaughter’s implication that this whole scheme was clearly a conspiracy between Zhao Shuangshuang and Lin Wanyue to frame him!

I spit on them!

Those despicable creatures coveting his body!

No wonder when he entered the study, he couldn’t find his unfilial son, and after just a sip of tea, he lost consciousness!

Poor old back of his!

To be tormented so by a woman!

But since Zhao Shuangshuang dared to do such a thing, she must have prepared thoroughly and flawlessly.

There was only a little tea, just a sip each, yet in moments it was all gone.

The household physician couldn’t detect anything.

The man was genuinely put to sleep.

And all this happened right before everyone’s eyes, and crucially, it was the old madam’s niece—just brushing it aside was impossible.

Lin Feili, fearing others might think he was overshadowed by his wife, sullenly said, "Madam Han, what do you think we should do about this?"

“Brother Feili~~” Zhao Shuangshuang’s eyes welled with tears, about to act coy.

Unexpectedly, Lin Feili, like a lit powder keg, snapped, “Don’t call me ‘Feili’!”

He was a dignified gentleman—why did his parents give him such a name!

Seeing her husband’s strong resistance to Zhao Shuangshuang, Madam Han finally sighed in relief inwardly, then bit her lip and said, “Today’s incident is indeed suspicious. Since the master slept with her—”

“Then why not just take Sister Shuangshuang into the mansion as a concubine!” Lin Zhaozhao feigned innocence and said, “Didn’t grandmother say that a woman should understand female virtues and discipline? The character for ‘husband’ stands above all, and grandmother at her age can no longer bear the master any more sons. It would be better to have Sister Shuangshuang join the family, sharing the burden with grandmother and comforting the master. I believe grandmother wouldn’t refuse?”

Madam Bai burst out laughing, unable to hold it in, though she tried to keep a composed mood in front of everyone.

Madam Han was speechless—where was her dagger? Why couldn’t she find a blade to slaughter this little beast?

Wherever she spoke, trouble followed!

Sooner or later, she’d find a way to poison this little beast into silence!

But for the moment, she stuck to the usual stance, “I do not agree! Bringing her into the mansion as a concubine? You’re dreaming!”

***

“But granddaughter is only following grandmother’s own words! Could it be that grandmother taught my mother to be tolerant and magnanimous, but the same principle doesn’t apply to herself?” Lin Zhaozhao scratched her head and said, “I haven’t studied much but this just feels wrong somehow. Please, grandmother, point me in the right direction!”

Madam Han was speechless.

I don’t think you want my guidance; you just want to be scolded, don’t you?

Zhao Shuangshuang also chimed in defiantly, “I truly adore Brother Feili! If I can marry in, I’ll surely help the marquis bear two children in three years, eight in five!”

This infuriated Madam Han even more. As the mistress of the house, it was improper to deny such words openly, but she had loved the old marquis dearly back then. And although he was aged, the Lin family’s good genes meant Lin Feili did have an inexplicable charm. Sending him to someone else would unsettle her heart!

Moreover, Zhao Shuangshuang clearly seemed restless and unruly!

If she actually bore the master a son and daughter, wouldn’t her youngest son’s inheritance be divided and taken away?

She hastily found an excuse, “I don’t mind the master taking a concubine, but Shuangshuang is my niece! If this becomes public, what would people think of our Marquis’s household? Even if we don’t care about outsiders’ opinions, once she enters the mansion, what should she call me and the master?”

“That’s simple,” Lin Zhaozhao said, “They can each be as they are! Later, Zhao Shuangshuang calls you ‘sister,’ you call her ‘niece,’ she calls grandfather ‘uncle,’ and grandfather calls her ‘niece’ or ‘younger sister’—close family ties all around, wouldn’t that be perfect?”

Madam Bai and Lin Yuanzhi were stunned.

Are you seriously a genius?!

Seeing this, Zhao Shuangshuang even knelt down, “Sister, in my heart, you have always been my dear maternal aunt! Now that I have given myself to the marquis, if you don’t let me into the mansion, I will have no choice but to hang myself outside, preserving my honor!”

“How can that be?” Lin Yuanzhi frowned deeply.

Everyone saw clearly that the master had slept with Zhao Shuangshuang. If she really hanged herself outside, how would people talk of the Qingyuan Marquis’s mansion?

If the scandal blew up, and the emperor found fault, would he still keep his official position?

In short, with things reaching this stage,

the old Qingyuan Marquis waved his hand decisively, “Madam Han, choose an auspicious day. Once I take her, that’s final!”

“But—” Madam Han wanted to say more, but the matter was settled with a single decree.

She could only raise her hand in frustration, pointing at Zhao Shuangshuang and Lin Wanyue, “Fine, you’ve done well! You mark my words!”

“Grandmother!” Lin Wanyue tried to explain, but her grandmother was already swift on her feet. Turning around, she coincidentally met Lin Yuanzhi’s solemn gaze.

“Father, da-da...”

***

Lin Yuanzhi dismissed the attendants, leaving only Lin Qingci, Lin Zhaozhao, and Madam Bai who hurried over.

He led them to the ancestral hall and said, “Kneel.”

“Father—” Lin Qingci wanted to plead on their behalf but was fixed in place by Lin Yuanzhi’s sharp look.

Lin Wanyue choked back tears as she knelt on the cushion.

“Wanyue, before the ancestors in the ancestral hall, tell me exactly how much you were involved in today’s study incident!”

Wanyue’s heart tightened, terrified the truth would come out, she stammered, “I, I…”

Her mind raced.

Madam Bai’s heart grew colder.

Seeing Wanyue about to turn and leave, she hurriedly said, “Father, mother! I don’t know, I really know nothing!”

“Sister Shuangshuang told me she was wrong to seduce father before, so she wanted me to help make amends on her behalf! I thought she was sincere, so… I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. I only wanted to help father and mother. Since Zhaozhao returned, you don’t love me anymore. I’m so afraid you’ll send me away from the marquis’s mansion…”

“Father, mother, I will eat little, be very obedient, please don’t hate me, don’t abandon me, okay?”

Madam Bai was momentarily stunned, her heart inexplicably softened.

She felt some guilt—since Zhaozhao’s return, her attitude toward Wanyue had indeed grown distant.

But after all, Wanyue was an innocent child.

Who could bear to see a favored child nearly fall into ruin?

Zhao Shuangshuang was cunning—how could a young girl like her fight back?

She and Zhaozhao should never have thought so poorly of Wanyue!

Hearing this, Lin Yuanzhi’s voice softened, “No matter what Zhaozhao is like, you will always be our daughter. That is unquestionable. I am just asking; no other meaning. You may rise now.”

“That’s right, sister, don’t cry! We grew up together; don’t you know how I feel about you? Stop overthinking,” Lin Qingci said, “You’re my only… cough, cough, second sister!”

“Thank you, father and brother!”

Lin Wanyue breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced darkly at Lin Zhaozhao, who was wandering near the place where the God of Wealth was enshrined, hands clasped together.

Pacing back and forth, as if this were her own household?

Despicable woman!