This blatant humiliation was something the Lin family had no intention of accepting.
Even if they were to accept just a single tael of silver, they would never be able to hold their heads high before Cui Anru again.
"Sister, what are you saying? Our Lin family has always held the Duke of Zhenguo and his son in high esteem. How could we possibly make such a demand at a time like this? It must be that the servants of Annan Hou's mansion relayed the message incorrectly, leading the Marquis to misunderstand."
Lin Zhiyin was still trying to put on a virtuous front.
"So, you're not going to die?"
Cui Anru sneered.
Watching Lin Zhiyin's face turn ugly, she felt particularly lighthearted.
"Next time you see me, remember not to call me 'sister.' Am I some kind of lowly person who would acknowledge someone like you as a sister?"
Cui Anru's words finally triggered Lin Chuan's protective instincts toward his sister.
"Don't go too far. My sister has already been very polite. What more do you want?"
Liang Ziyu immediately retorted, "Tell me, what exactly did Anru do that was 'too far'? If your sister had gone through these things, would you have cheerfully advised her to endure it?"
Lin Chuan fell silent, after all, he was a hypocrite.
Lin Zhiyuan spoke up, "Madam General and Miss Cui, I can understand your anger, but there's no need to blame everything on our Lin family. From beginning to end, my daughter has only contributed, never erred. Going to the border to treat patients was her achievement; saving Annan Hou at a critical moment was also her achievement. As for Annan Hou wanting to take an Equal Wife and giving our Lin family an explanation, I believe this is something the Lin family rightfully deserves. If you have any grievances, shouldn't they be directed at Annan Hou's mansion instead?"
Madam Wen seized the opportunity to add, "We are all women and should understand how difficult it is for women to live in this world. Why make things harder for each other?"
Seeing that the common people were somewhat swayed, Lin Zhiyin quickly chimed in, "I've said from the start that I would never compete with my sister for anything. After all, I had no choice in the matter…"
Cui Anru knew they would eventually use this excuse to justify themselves and remained unruffled.
"Indeed, so 'helpless' that you spent every day during my father and brother's mourning period pestering Annan Hou, demanding an explanation from him. You even visited the two elders of the Xiao Family in advance, using your pregnancy to solidify your status. What a magnificent display of shamelessness under the guise of helplessness."
Liang Ziyu also sneered, "If the future Marchioness of Annan wants to clear her name of illicit relations, then she should think about how to explain why Annan Hou was poisoned on his way back to the capital. If you want to marry into Annan Hou's mansion with a clean slate, you should first see if you yourself are clean."
Without giving the Lin family a chance to refute, Cui Anru declared directly, "Don't say I never gave you a chance. It was you who didn't dare to take what I offered. From now on, Zhenguogong Mansion and the Lin family will sever all ties. No matter how high you rise with the support of the Wen family and Annan Hou's mansion, or how low Zhenguogong Mansion may fall in the future, you will be despised by everyone, just like Annan Hou's mansion."
With that, Cui Anru led the dowry procession away in a grand departure.
Lin Zhiyuan's fists clenched inside his sleeves until they turned blue. Such humiliation was etched into his bones.
"Kneel!"
Once the gates were tightly shut again, Lin Zhiyuan no longer needed to pretend.
Lin Zhiyin knelt there, frail and delicate, speaking before Lin Zhiyuan could reprimand her: "I know I have brought disaster upon our family, but this was never my intention. If Father is angry, I am willing to break off the engagement with the Annan Hou Mansion, shave my head to become a nun, and preserve the Lin family's reputation."
Lin Zhiyuan found himself unable to vent his anger and could only glare resentfully at his disappointing daughter.
Lin Chuan also knelt down and said, "Father, this is clearly Cui Anru's jealousy. Having lost her support, she now seeks to spite my sister. There is no need for us to trouble ourselves over such a person. The Zhenguogong Mansion no longer has anyone to take charge, yet they dare to act so arrogantly. They are merely using the Lin family to assert their authority, warning others not to underestimate the Zhenguogong Mansion."
Seeing Lin Zhiyuan's expression soften, Madam Wen added, "She actually shifted all the blame onto Zhiyin, making our Lin family utterly ashamed. I will definitely tell my brother about this and have him deal with them."
Madam Wen's brother was Wen Jili, the current prime minister.
Hearing this, Lin Zhiyuan finally spoke: "Let's not disturb your brother-in-law for now. As for the Annan Hou Mansion, they have lost all face and will also have to pay over seven hundred thousand taels of silver. Zhiyin, are you still determined to marry?"
Lin Zhiyin pursed her lips, her voice firm: "Father, would our Lin family dare to defy the imperial decree? Moreover, Xiao Rang is already a marquis, and with both the Duke of Zhenguo and his son gone, he is one of the few who earned his title through military achievements. Even if his reputation is temporarily tarnished by Cui Anru, time will eventually fade it all. No matter how heroic the late Duke of Zhenguo and his son were, they cannot rise from the grave to support Cui Anru. The Cui family's decline is inevitable."
Lin Zhiyuan sighed and finally restrained his temper: "I hope what you say is true. As for this Cui Anru, sooner or later, I will make her kneel and beg for mercy."
Zhenguogong Mansion.
"The young mistress has returned!"
A servant's joyful announcement brought a glimmer of happiness to the mansion, which had been immersed in grief.
People rushed out, forming two orderly rows.
"Welcome home, young mistress!"
"Young mistress, your old room has been tidied up by this old servant. The dowry you brought back does not need to be registered—it remains your private property. Danqing and the others have been settled in their previous quarters, and the furnishings remain unchanged."
Stewardess Chen Mama said with tears in her eyes.
The young lady they had cherished like a pearl in the Zhenguogong Mansion had been treated so poorly by the Xiao Family. They truly deserved to die.
The mansion did not have many servants, but they were all loyal.
During these days, they had secretly complained about the Xiao Family, never imagining they would harbor such intentions.
After settling in, Cui Anru went to the ancestral hall, standing there in a daze as she gazed at the ancestral tablets. Among them were the ancestors of the Cui family and her maternal grandmother. Now, her father and brother were reunited with her mother.
"Father, Mother, Brother, rest assured. I will take good care of Sister-in-law and Lang'er. I will not allow anyone to look down on the Zhenguogong Mansion, nor will I let anyone bully us."
In the evening, after Liang Ziyu and the others had a simple meal, the sisters-in-law sat together by candlelight for a heartfelt conversation.
"Anru, this is your home. I know my background is humble, and I cannot bring much support to the Zhenguogong Mansion. But as long as I am here, no one will dare to bully you."
Cui Anru held Liang Ziyu's hand and said, "Sister-in-law, I understand."
"Today at the palace, what exactly was the Emperor's attitude? I heard the Empress praised that Lin Zhiyin highly. Doesn't your action amount to slapping her in the face? All these years, she has never liked our family. I fear she will keep an even closer eye on us in the future."
Liang Ziyu's tone was unavoidably worried, yet also very frank.
Cui Anru, however, said, "Father and elder brother's military achievements are right there for all to see. For the time being, they must still consider their reputation and dare not do anything to us. Besides, I have already left them some room."
Liang Ziyu sighed and said, "I'm just afraid that now that you have had a consensual divorce, the Empress might bring up the matter of arranging a marriage alliance for you again."