Lin Mansion.
"How on earth did Cui Anru find out about your pregnancy?" Madam Wen still couldn't figure it out.
Lin Zhiyin lay there nearly in despair. She had thought that returning with honors and being able to enter the Hou Mansion would bring her glory and smooth sailing. Yet, because of Cui Anru's reverse tactics, everything had turned upside down in an instant.
Now her reputation must be utterly ruined.
"Mother, I really don't know…"
Lin Zhiyin's voice was already hoarse.
"Perhaps that old woman got carried away in her moment of triumph and let it slip. Those two elders of the Xiao Family—one forgets righteousness at the sight of profit, the other is a smiling tiger. If my sister marries into that family, she'll surely suffer."
Lin Chuan, whom Xiao Xueling had been thinking about, complained without any courtesy.
Lin Zhiyuan had remained silent all along, his face ashen.
"What's the use of saying this now? The Lin family's reputation has been ruined because of you alone."
"This Cui Anru is truly outrageous. With the Zhenguogong Mansion gone, she doesn't even think of clinging tightly to the Annan Hou as a lifeline. Instead, she's acting like a madwoman, ready to fight to the death. She's simply beyond redemption."
In the end, Madam Wen couldn't bear to blame her daughter too harshly.
"Anyway, this matter has been handed over to Xiao Rang. He must give our Lin family an explanation and also compensate my sister."
Lin Chuan spoke about this without any politeness.
"If Cui Anru refuses to compensate, we can't force her to use her own dowry, can we?"
Lin Zhiyin's concern was not without reason.
"These matters shouldn't be for our Lin family to interfere with. Didn't Xiao Rang say he would give our Lin family an explanation? Then let him prove himself. Don't worry, sister. Although the Lin family's influence is weak, your uncle and grandfather will always have your back."
Lin Zhiyin couldn't feel at ease and was still thinking about how to break the deadlock.
Before they could come up with a solution, another servant rushed in frantically.
"Master, Madam, something terrible has happened…"
Lin Zhiyuan's heart sank. Hadn't there been enough shocks for one day?
"What is it!"
Madam Wen looked annoyed.
"Master, Madam, the wife of the Huguo General is outside the main gate requesting an audience."
Lin Zhiyuan and Madam Wen exchanged glances, speechless. It seemed the Zhenguogong Mansion was truly throwing caution to the wind now.
"What does that widow want?" Lin Chuan asked disrespectfully.
The servant was startled and didn't dare answer.
If this title were to spread, their Lin family would surely be in trouble.
"I asked you a question!" Lin Chuan kicked the servant over.
"Replying to the Eldest Young Master, she said she requests the master and madam to come out and speak."
Lin Zhiyuan felt a headache coming on. They had already caused a scene this morning; what good could come from talking now?
But if they didn't go out and let them stay at the main gate, it might be even more humiliating.
"Let's go out and see."
Lin Zhiyin secretly resented, why hadn't the Zhenguogong Mansion been completely wiped out?
"I'll go too. Everything started because of me. How can I let Father and Mother suffer humiliation on my behalf…"
She struggled to get up, her voice still strained.
It was already evening. After all, Cui Anru's dowry was too extensive, and packing and loading the carts took time.
However, they didn't return directly to the Zhenguogong Mansion. Instead, they deliberately detoured to the front of the Lin family's gate.
The grand procession of carts had long attracted a large crowd of commoners.
After a day of spreading news, most people already knew what had happened.
When the dowry procession left the Xiao Family, the commoners even cheered.
The crowd that had followed all the way to the Lin family's main gate now felt both confused and expectant.
When the Lin family emerged and saw the scene before them, their headaches only intensified.
“May I ask why the General’s wife has come here?” Lin Zhiyuan steeled himself and asked the question.
Madam Wen shielded Lin Zhiyin behind her, carefully observing the expressions of Liang Ziyu and Cui Anru.
“We heard that the Lin family has blamed the tarnished reputation of their legitimate daughter on my sister-in-law and threatened Annan Hou to take a portion from Anru’s dowry as compensation for Lin Zhiyin. After receiving the imperial decree for the consensual divorce and packing our belongings, we passed by the Lin family’s gate and thought to ask Master Lin exactly what he wants, so we could leave it here directly.”
Liang Ziyu’s words stripped another layer of face from the Lin family.
Madam Wen felt a tightness in her chest—how dare they even speak of such a thing?
Lin Zhiyin knew she couldn’t avoid this any longer and finally stepped forward.
“All of this began because of me. Let me offer my sincere apology to my sister.”
Hearing her feeble voice, Cui Anru felt not an ounce of sympathy.
“I admit I did something wrong to my sister, but I had no choice…”
At this, Cui Anru let out a scornful laugh.
“I know. It must have been on the journey back to the capital with the coffin that Annan Hou was drugged with an aphrodisiac. With no other option, you offered yourself to help him detoxify, and as a result, you became pregnant. He, being a responsible man, had to take responsibility for you while also upholding his vow not to take concubines, so he could only petition the Emperor for an Equal Wife.”
Lin Zhiyin was stunned. The perfect excuse she had painstakingly crafted had just been dismantled.
Some among the commoners had already begun to laugh.
“Isn’t this just fooling idiots? He was fine on the battlefield, but on his triumphant return, he gets schemed against…”
Lin Chuan glared at them with a displeased expression and said, “It seems Annan Hou has already explained everything to Miss Cui. This is the truth of the matter. My sister went to the border and shared hardships with the soldiers, which already sets her apart from ordinary women confined to the inner chambers. If she and Annan Hou had been involved earlier, why didn’t the Duke of Zhenguo and the heir apparent notice?”
His words did manage to sway some people.
“Because my father and brother were honorable and clear-minded. Even in death, they never imagined that a son-in-law before their eyes and a noblewoman from a prestigious family could be so despicable. Such matters were entirely beyond their comprehension. Their minds were focused on protecting the nation—how could they have noticed?”
Tears welled in Lin Zhiyin’s eyes, presenting an image of fragility.
“If my sister doesn’t believe me, I am willing to die to prove my innocence.”
With that, she lunged toward the door pillar.
But weakened and unsteady, she stumbled and was stopped by Lin Chuan.
Cui Anru remained unmoved. “Whether you are innocent or not is unimportant to me, but it matters greatly to your Lin family. I have already relinquished the position of the Hou’s wife. If you truly wish to die, I believe you’ll find a way in the dead of night when no one is around to stop you. Whether you’re trying to evoke sympathy from soft-hearted women or blind-eyed men, I don’t care. Today, I came only to tell you: if you want Xiao Rang, that filthy thing, take him. But don’t even think about coveting anything else of mine. Oh, and by the way, the Emperor has decreed that Annan Hou’s estate must return my dowry of 750,000 taels within three days. Since you’re about to marry, if you want to help, speak up quickly. There’s still room in my carriage.”
The Lin family was thoroughly mocked and seethed with hatred for Cui Anru.
Seeing their silence, Cui Anru prompted, "Why don't you tell me how much you originally intended to carve out from my dowry through the Xiao Family, and how much silver that would amount to? I'll directly deduct it from the Xiao Family's debts as my wedding gift to you."