The Old Madam couldn’t believe her daughter had brought so little. Looking toward the carriage, she asked,
“Zhaohua, is this carriage for us?”
Lin Zhaohua’s expression stiffened, and she smiled awkwardly.
“Mother… Exiles aren’t allowed to ride in carriages.”
“And the Duke didn’t make any arrangements for us?”
“Mother… the Duke is very busy with official affairs.”
After hearing that, the Old Madam understood everything.
The Duke had no intention of helping them.
She remembered how humble and eager he had been when he came to ask for Lin Zhaohua’s hand in marriage.
Now that the Lin family had fallen into disgrace, his attitude had changed overnight.
What a bunch of snobs.
She opened her mouth to say something more, but Lin Zhaohua interrupted her.
“Mother, please take care of yourself on the journey.”
“You know what my mother-in-law is like. She only treated me well because of the Lin family.”
“But now…”
She sighed bitterly.
“After what happened to our family, I can barely protect myself.”
“The only reason they haven’t divorced me is because I gave the Duke a son.”
“I had to sneak out today.”
“You have to think of me and your grandson. He’s still so young.”
“From now on… don’t contact me anymore.”
“Just pretend you never had a daughter like me.”
“Zhaohua…”
Before the Old Madam could finish speaking, Lin Zhaohua lowered the carriage curtain and ordered the coachman to leave.
The words lodged in the Old Madam’s throat.
“Move already!”
“Do you want a taste of my whip?”
This time the prison guard cracked his whip without hesitation.
The pampered young masters, young ladies, and noblewomen of the second and third branches jumped in fright and reluctantly continued down the road.
Since Shen Wanjin had brought a donkey cart, Jiang Wanyue, whose body was still weak, was lifted onto it together with the wooden plank she was lying on.
Lin Xiuran and Lin Chengyu finally no longer had to carry her.
Unfortunately, although they were relieved of that burden, they still had to wear the heavy cangues around their necks, which were torture in themselves.
Seeing that her daughter was still hungry, Shen Qingru gave Jiang Wanyue two meat buns that Shen Wanjin had just brought.
Jiang Wanyue didn’t refuse.
She devoured them eagerly.
Her body was far too weak, and she needed to regain her strength as quickly as possible.
Only after watching Jiang Wanyue finish the meat buns did Shen Qingru finally stop crying.
Jiang Wanyue couldn’t help sighing inwardly.
Why does my mother cry as much as Lady Lin from the classics? It feels like she’ll never run out of tears.
Meanwhile, the members of the second and third branches stared enviously at Jiang Wanyue, who lay comfortably on the donkey cart.
Their eyes were practically red with jealousy.
The women complained endlessly.
For appearance’s sake, they all wore soft embroidered shoes.
Beautiful, yes.
Suitable for a long journey?
Absolutely not.
The soles had already been torn apart by sharp stones.
Their tender feet were rubbed raw and bloody with every step, making them gasp in pain.
The women suffered.
The men weren’t much better.
As convicted traitors, they were forced to wear heavy wooden cangues weighing over twenty catties.
The massive restraints pressed down on their shoulders, leaving them unable to move their heads or hands freely.
Their necks and arms were already numb.
And this was only the beginning.
They had just left the capital.
There were still thousands of miles ahead.
How could they possibly endure it?
Watching Jiang Wanyue ride comfortably while she herself walked on blistered feet, Lin Shutong’s resentment grew stronger.
That donkey cart has to become ours.
As for the Old Madam, she was already riding a handcart herself.
Every so often, the younger members of the family had to take turns pulling it.
It was exhausting.
Lin Shutong leaned close to her grandmother and whispered provocatively,
“Grandmother, look at the eldest branch’s newly found daughter.”
“She doesn’t know the first thing about proper manners.”
“The Lin family is still under your authority, isn’t it?”
“At your age, she should have offered you the donkey cart herself.”
“She’s been here this long and hasn’t even come to pay her respects.”
“She clearly doesn’t take you seriously.”
The Old Madam’s eyes flashed with anger.
“Indeed. She has no manners at all.”
She still clung tightly to her authority as the family’s matriarch.
Before the confiscation of the estate, she had conveniently “fainted,” which naturally earned her a place on the handcart.
Since Lin Jingyuan had found the cart, his own mother was entitled to use it whether he liked it or not.
Now, seeing the far more comfortable donkey cart, she began coveting it as well.
Lin Jingxing and Lin Jingzhou, both masters of scheming, immediately seized the opportunity.
“Oh, Mother! My feet hurt so much!”
“Mine too! I can’t even feel my legs anymore. The flesh must have been rubbed off.”
“Mother, your son is in agony!”
Her two younger sons were the treasures of her heart.
Hearing them cry out so pitifully made her heart ache.
Meanwhile, the eldest branch had walked all this distance without a single complaint.
Even Shen Qingru hadn’t complained of pain.
She had only cried.
The Old Madam snorted inwardly.
They’re just thick-skinned.
In her mind, every good thing in the Lin family should belong to her first, then to the second and third branches.
Only whatever they didn’t want should go to the eldest branch.
Turning to Liu Shuying, the wife of the second branch, she ordered,
“Go tell Shen Qingru to hand over the donkey cart.”
“That country girl isn’t some delicate young lady.”
“Why should she be riding on a donkey cart?”
“Does she have no sense of propriety?”
Liu Shuying exchanged a triumphant glance with her daughter, Lin Shutong.
Both of them could barely hide their delight.
It looked like the donkey cart would soon belong to them.
Even if they couldn’t ride it all the time, they would at least get a chance to enjoy it.
Enduring the pain from the blisters on her feet, Liu Shuying hurried over to Shen Qingru and commanded,
“Shen, the Old Madam says you’re to hand over the donkey cart.”
“The Old Madam will be riding it.”
“Hand it over.”
Calling her “Shen” instead of addressing her as her elder sister-in-law made it obvious that Liu Shuying had never respected Shen Qingru.
Lying on the donkey cart with her eyes closed, Jiang Wanyue cracked one eye open and glanced at Liu Shuying.
So soon? She’s already here to stir up trouble.
Shen Qingru looked troubled.
“Shuying, my daughter is too weak. She can’t do without the donkey cart.”
Liu Shuying snorted.
“That’s your problem.”
“Weren’t you carrying her on that wooden plank before?”
“You can keep carrying her that way.”
“But Xiuran and Chengyu are wearing shackles. Walking is already difficult enough for them.”
“Look at their ankles—they’re bleeding.”
“So you’re refusing?”
“Fine. I’ll have Mother come and speak to you herself.”
The moment the Old Madam was mentioned, Jiang Wanyue noticed Shen Qingru visibly tremble.
It seemed her mother-in-law had tormented her plenty over the years.
After hesitating, Shen Qingru gritted her teeth.
“Yueyue is still very weak…”
Seeing that invoking the Old Madam hadn’t worked, Liu Shuying snapped,
“Shen, how can you be so unfilial?”
The Great Yuan Empire valued filial piety above all else.
A single accusation of being “unfilial” could crush a person completely.
Shen Qingru’s face filled with conflict.
Her biological daughter had only just returned.
She simply couldn’t bear to let her suffer.
“Second Sister-in-law, it’s not that I don’t want to give it up.”
“It’s just that Yueyue isn’t well, and the donkey cart is too small.”
Liu Shuying glanced disdainfully at Jiang Wanyue.
Bah!
What a little vixen.
How can she be so stunningly beautiful?
The sight only made Liu Shuying hate her more.
She reminded her of the seductive concubines who constantly competed with her for her husband’s attention.
“I don’t see why some country bumpkin needs to ride a donkey cart.”
“She’s tough enough.”
“Does she really think she’s some noble young lady?”
“When Mother comes over, she won’t be as polite as I am.”
“Shen, don’t mistake kindness for weakness.”
“Heh…”
Jiang Wanyue let out a cold laugh.
“What are you laughing at?”
“I’m laughing at how you’re borrowing someone else’s authority to throw your weight around.”
“You’re nothing more than an obedient lapdog.”
Liu Shuying’s mind went blank.
No matter how she imagined this encounter, she had never expected Jiang Wanyue to insult her to her face.
Her lips trembled with rage.
“Y-You…”
“You ill-bred brat!”
“When your elders are speaking, who gave you permission to interrupt?”
“No wonder you’re so uncivilized.”
“You really are someone with a mother who never bothered to raise you properly.”
The words were vicious.
Jiang Wanyue’s expression turned icy.
“Maybe I wasn’t raised properly.”
“But did you look in the mirror before leaving the house this morning?”
Liu Shuying frowned.
“What do you mean by that?”
“What do I mean?”
“Your face is so huge.”
“If you don’t own a mirror, surely you at least have urine.”
“It shouldn’t be hard to squat down and use that as your reflection.”
Liu Shuying’s face turned green with fury.
“Y-You…!”
“How can you be so vulgar?”
“You’re exactly what I’d expect from some muddy country peasant!”
“Today, I’ll teach you a lesson on behalf of your mother!”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and slapped toward Jiang Wanyue’s face.
Jiang Wanyue was about to dodge—
Smack!
A loud slap echoed through the air.
The blow never reached Jiang Wanyue.
Instead, Shen Qingru had stepped in front of her, taking the slap full across her own face.
Her fair cheek instantly swelled.
“Mother!”
Jiang Wanyue cried out in alarm.
“Are you alright?”
She had never imagined that a woman she had only met a few hours ago would instinctively shield her without hesitation.
Her emotions became unexpectedly complicated.
Liu Shuying, however, looked immensely satisfied after striking Shen Qingru.
Her expression practically said, What are you going to do about it?
She had disliked Shen Qingru for years.
Why should Shen Qingru enjoy Lin Jingyuan’s exclusive affection while never having to fight with a house full of concubines?
Her life had simply been too blessed.
Hearing the commotion, the rest of the eldest branch hurried over and glared furiously at Liu Shuying.
Unfortunately, the men were restrained by heavy cangues and shackles.
They couldn’t help even if they wanted to.
“Second Aunt, you’ve gone too far!”
“Second Sister-in-law, you dare bully my wife as though I don’t exist?”
Liu Shuying wasn’t the least bit afraid.
She had bullied Shen Qingru plenty of times before.
Shen Qingru had always been soft and easy to push around.
Rolling her eyes, she sneered at Lin Jingyuan.
“Your wife sure has thick skin.”
“My hand hurts more than her face.”
“And as for you…”
“You were only lucky enough to become Minister of Revenue.”
“That’s why we gave your branch a little respect.”
“But now?”
“We’re all exiles.”
“So stop putting on airs.”
Lin Jingyuan was a scholar.
Being publicly berated by a woman like this left him trembling with anger.
His chest heaved violently.
Yet he couldn’t think of a single harsh word to throw back.
“Y-You…”
Watching Liu Shuying bask in her own smugness, Jiang Wanyue decided that if the woman wanted to make life miserable for others…
She shouldn’t expect to stay comfortable herself.
Jiang Wanyue sprang to her feet.
Smack! Smack!
She slapped Liu Shuying twice in rapid succession.
The strikes were swift, fierce, and completely unexpected.
Liu Shuying stood frozen in shock.
Then Jiang Wanyue took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs,
“Officer! There’s a fight over here!”