As soon as Chu Nianci left.
Wei Rui Pavilion fell into a deathly silence.
The Lin family exchanged glances, their faces ashen.
No one had expected that Chu Nianci, who had always been gentle, well-mannered, and easy to manage, would be so unyielding.
Madam Xie’s kindly and benevolent face was now only cold and grim. She instructed the matrons:
“Keep a close watch on Wei Rui Pavilion. There must be no more mishaps tonight. Once she and Jingrui perform the wedding ceremony tomorrow and enter the bridal chamber, she’ll naturally settle down.”
After all, this girl has no backing in the capital.
Even her uncle is just a businessman.
She can’t stir up any real trouble.
Even if her maternal family from Jiangnan comes looking for her later, the rice will already have been cooked.
Besides, the Count’s Manor is giving her the position of principal wife—who could find fault with that?
Several matrons bowed their heads in acknowledgment and left.
“It seems this rebellious daughter-in-law refuses to be disciplined.”
Lin Beicheng rose with a dark expression, pacing back and forth. “I will go to the palace at once and seek a clear decree from Her Majesty the Empress to confirm Jingrui’s act of marrying in his brother’s stead. Once the decree is issued, let’s see how this disobedient girl dares to act so arrogantly!”
Madam Xie nodded wearily.
That was the only way.
Her head throbbed with pain, and she truly did not want to speak anymore.
The group left in a hurry.
Once they were gone, Chu Nianci emerged from the side chamber and immediately led her servants in packing their belongings, loading everything that could be taken into trunks.
Meanwhile, Lin Jingrui had just soothed the weeping Chu Shunqing to sleep.
He poured himself a cup of tea and had just raised it to his lips.
Before he could take a sip.
Matron Tian from his mother’s side rushed in frantically, exclaiming urgently, “Young Master, it’s terrible! The Old Madam has fainted from pain, and the medicine is all gone.”
Lin Jingrui’s teacup trembled in his hand. “If the medicine is gone, go find the Young Mistress. Why come to me?”
“The Young Mistress… the Young Mistress says there is no more medicine!” the matron said, lowering her head.
Chu Nianci!
You’re doing this on purpose.
Deliberately making Mother ill like this.
Trying to use this to control me.
Is this any way for a daughter-in-law to behave?
Without even putting on his outer robe, Lin Jingrui stormed angrily into the inner chamber of Wei Rui Pavilion. Chu Nianci was combing her hair before the mirror.
“Chu Nianci, when will this end?” He flung aside the beaded curtain and strode inside. “How dare you use Mother’s illness to threaten me!”
Upon hearing this furious roar.
Tuanyuan and Hong Ying immediately rushed to shield their mistress.
Hong Ying even snatched up a long hairpin and pointed it straight at him.
“How dare you!” Lin Jingrui trembled with rage.
“Step back,” Chu Nianci said calmly.
The two maidservants retreated warily to either side, still watching him closely.
Only then did Lin Jingrui get a clear look at her.
Chu Nianci had already removed her hairpins and ornaments. Under the lamplight, her long hair cascaded like clouds, her lashes like feathers. As she lifted her gaze, her eyes shimmered, filling the room with a radiant glow.
For a moment, he was dazed.
For a moment, his heart raced.
It was as if, in an instant, he had returned to a year ago, amidst the clouds and waters of Yangzhou, where she had looked just like this, her hair flowing like water.
Gazing at him tenderly, like a spirit born of peach and plum blossoms.
In his daze, he seemed to hear the sound of his own heartbeat once more.
When was it?
That he had forgotten her appearance.
Ah, yes—it was when Shunqing followed him to Nanzhao.
Day after day, they were intimate, whispering in each other’s ears.
It was a snowy night. He was injured, and a heavy snow was falling, freezing him to the bone.
Shunqing came to his tent and embraced him.
At that time, he was overwhelmed by desire.
It seemed as if everything had happened in an instant.
Guilt weighed on his heart.
But at the thought of his mother’s pitiful state on her sickbed, that flicker of affection and guilt instantly vanished.
When he spoke again, he heard his own icy voice.
“With Mother falling ill, you withheld the medicine,” Lin Jingrui demanded coldly. “Is this your idea of filial piety? Do you even know that Shunqing stayed by her side all night yesterday?”
A faint, mocking smile touched Chu Nianci’s lips. “I’ve attended to her for half a year. Shunqing stayed one night, and you come here to reprimand me. How fair you are.”
Lin Jingrui’s porcelain-like, handsome face stiffened slightly. “You would compare such things? Is this the kind of unfilial daughter the Qiao family of Jiangnan raised?”
Gazing at this face that had once captivated her heart, Chu Nianci felt nothing but utter irony.
What kind of man had she loved in her past life?
Perhaps she had never truly seen him clearly before.
Not only was he harsh and ungrateful, fickle and inconstant, but he also couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.
“If I am so unfilial,” Chu Nianci lifted her eyes, her gaze clear and sharp as a blade, “why don’t you divorce me?”
Lin Jingrui stared at her in disbelief.
Was this really his once deeply affectionate fiancée?
Half a year ago, she had still been the picture of reluctant longing.
Half a year ago, she had still vowed to marry no one but him.
Now, though her features remained the same, it was as if her very soul had been replaced.
Should he really divorce her?
The mere thought of actually doing so, of her leaving him forever, made a ball of fire seem to clog Lin Jingrui’s chest.
Just imagining her departure caused a sudden, sharp pain in his heart.
Lin Jingijui bit his lip, his voice filled with suppressed anger as he said coldly, “Chu Nianci, remember this: you are my woman. In this lifetime, don’t even think about leaving the Lin residence.”
“Whether you can keep me here is your skill. Whether I can leave is my own means,” Chu Nianci replied without even lifting her eyelids, resting her chin on her hand and smiling at him like a cat toying with a mouse. “Instead of wasting time throwing your weight around here, you’d better hurry and attend to your mother.”
Lin Jingrui’s vision darkened.
He couldn’t understand it at all.
How had his delicate, peony-like fiancée transformed overnight into a thorny rose?
Thinking of his mother’s illness, he forced down his rage again.
He tried to reason with her properly. “If word gets out that you cut off Mother’s medicine, what will people think? Just send the Wind-Dispelling Pill over quickly. Tonight, I’ll stay in your quarters. If you’re fortunate enough to conceive and bear the legitimate eldest son…”
He had already made a significant concession.
She should be satisfied.
Unexpectedly, Chu Nianci merely fiddled with the jadeite ring on her fingernail and replied, “If the heir wishes to stay, there’s a bedroll in the side chamber. However, the medicine has been gone for a long time.”
“Chu Nianci, you…” Lin Jingrui’s patience was exhausted.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
Steward Hu stood at the entrance, sweating profusely.
Already in a foul temper, Lin Jingrui snapped angrily, “You ill-mannered fool! If you have something to say, come in and speak plainly. What are you skulking about for?”
Steward Hu had no choice but to enter, wiping his sweat. “The manager from Yuehuang Tower is here pressing for payment. Fifty-six tables of premium banquet fare, a total of five thousand six hundred taels of silver. The accounts… the accounts don’t have enough ready silver to cover it!”
Lin Jingrui’s face flushed, then paled.
He had known the household was in a tight spot, but he hadn’t realized the finances had deteriorated to such a wretched state.
After a long moment, he steeled himself and spoke to her. “The household is temporarily short on funds. Take out six thousand taels of silver first to handle the emergency.”
Chu Nianci raised her clear, phoenix-like eyes, a thin layer of mockery floating in their depths. “Is the heir ‘borrowing money’ from me?”
“It’s just a temporary arrangement,” Lin Jingrui felt uneasy under her piercing gaze. “You won’t lose out on the interest.”
“Fine,” Chu Nianci sneered coldly, her eyes sharp with mockery. “Then I ask the heir to draft a written agreement, sign it, and stamp it with your seal. I’ll lend the money immediately.”
As long as it was in black and white, she wasn’t afraid he would renege.
“What need is there for an IOU between husband and wife!” Lin Jingrui’s ears burned with embarrassment.
If word got out that he had to sign a promissory note to borrow money from his own wife, where would his dignity be?
Chu Nianci’s gaze was icy and clear: “I’ve never heard of a man borrowing money from the woman’s family to marry. Is there such a custom in this world?”
“It’s only temporary!” Lin Jingrui’s face turned ashen.
“Even brothers keep clear accounts,” Chu Nianci said indifferently. “Without an IOU, I won’t lend a single coin.”
“Truly a merchant’s daughter, unreasonable,” he retorted. “Why be so petty? We’ll be family sooner or later anyway.”
“I am a petty merchant who counts every penny, while the heir is a gentleman of integrity—that’s why you’re in the study, adding a touch of romance for the sage.” Chu Nianci mocked.
She…
Knew everything.
Panic surged in Lin Jingrui’s heart.
His dark, handsome eyes fixed fiercely on Chu Nianci.
“Tomorrow night, wash up and wait for me in bed!”
With that, he left in a cold fury, sweeping his sleeves as he went.
Watching him walk away, Chu Nianci felt no ripple of emotion.
After all, in this lifetime, she no longer regarded him as her husband.
Since he was a stranger,
Why bother getting angry?
Instead, it was Hong Ying who stomped her feet in frustration, her eyes reddening as the man walked away: “Miss, must you really marry such a person?”
Tears streamed down her face in her distress.
“Silly girl, don’t be afraid,” Chu Nianci reached out and gently wiped the tears from Hong Ying’s smudged cheeks. “Even if I have no choice but to marry, I won’t let him come near me.”
Hong Ying dried her tears and nodded firmly: “Don’t worry, Miss. This servant will protect you.”
“That’s my good girl.” Chu Nianci smiled and nodded, then turned to Tuanyuan. “Go and take the large banknote from the bottom of the chest and sew it into my undergarments.”
That was the emergency money her mother had left her.
It must not be lost.
“Remind the people we brought with us to stay alert. Tomorrow, we must act according to the situation.”
Tomorrow, she would take her own people and her dowry.
And leave this cage.
Lin Jingrui returned to Shou’an Hall seething with anger.
Old Master Lin paced like a trapped beast, while Madam Xie leaned against the head of the bed, her face pale.
“The medicine? The money?” Old Master Lin asked urgently, scrutinizing him for any sign of banknotes.
Lin Jingrui recounted the events with a dark, gloomy expression.
He felt both ashamed and humiliated.
After hearing him out,
Old Master Lin slammed his fist on the table: “Our noble household, reduced to being controlled by a mere merchant’s daughter!”
Madam Xie forced herself to sit up, panting as she spoke: “Go and pawn Shunqing’s gold necklace and jadeite headpiece. They should be worth five or six thousand taels. We’ll get through this hurdle first.”
“But that’s Shunqing’s dowry…” Lin Jingrui hesitated.
“It’s fine. Shunqing has always been sensible and won’t mind,” Madam Xie’s eyes flickered with calculation. “Once today passes, we can compensate her doubly from Nianci’s dowry.”
Old Master Lin nodded with a grim expression: “First, marry her into the family. Once the ceremony is done, her dowry will naturally belong to the household.”
Though Lin Jingrui felt it was shameful to rely on a woman’s dowry,
The humiliation he had just endured pushed that discomfort aside.
Perhaps only when she lost her support would she return to her docile self.