Lin Daohui looked at Marquis Wuwei, who was composed and completely relaxed, and then at his eldest daughter, who was gentle and serene. His mood grew even more complicated.
As for Mrs. Fang and Lin Mohan, they could offer no help and dared not stir up trouble, so they simply kept expressionless faces.
When the twenty slaps to the face were finished, Mrs. Gu stood up and ordered Nanny Zhang to take Lin Yuwei back to her own courtyard. With a faint cold sneer, she said, “Are the Marquis and the Marchioness satisfied now?”
Shao Xun smiled and replied, “If Mother-in-law feels that Young Mrs. Meng has not learned enough of a lesson, it does no harm to punish her a few more times!”
From the very first time he saw this sister-in-law, Shao Xun had found her deeply unpleasant, particularly despising that look in her eyes.
Mrs. Gu choked on her words. “…”
Lin Yulan also looked at her and said, “Mother, one must be punished when making a mistake. That is what Mother said earlier, and I find it makes great sense.”
Lin Daohui scolded, “What the Marquis and Lan’er said is entirely correct! Yuwei has been spoiled by you beyond reason—framing her sister and stirring up trouble. Should she not be punished? You ought to reflect on yourself as well!”
Mrs. Gu was furious to the point of choking. She turned on her heel to leave, saying, “Master’s scolding is right. This concubine-wife shall go and reflect properly!”
“What an unfortunate household!” Lin Daohui was both embarrassed and furious, a bitter, self-deprecating smile on his face. “I have made a laughingstock of myself before the Marquis…”
Shao Xun smiled. “Why does Father-in-law speak like this? To recognize one’s mistake and reform is a great virtue, not to mention this is not Father-in-law’s fault.”
Lin Daohui breathed a sigh of relief, his smile becoming somewhat more sincere. “Yes, yes, the Marquis is right.”
Shao Xun stood up. “I shall not disturb Father-in-law today. I will visit another day. Wife, let us go.”
“Alright.” Lin Yulan nodded, stood up as well, and curtsied to Lin Daohui. “Take care of yourself, Father.”
“This—” Lin Daohui hastily said, “Lunch has already been arranged. Won’t you stay for lunch before leaving?”
“Perhaps next time,” Shao Xun said, the smile not reaching his eyes and his tone carrying a touch of laziness. “Today is likely not quite convenient!”
Lin Daohui was disappointed and frustrated, yet could say nothing. With matters turning out like this, it was indeed impossible to sit together comfortably for a meal. This was a hundred thousand miles away from what he had originally envisioned.
“Then… very well. You go back first and come again next time. Lan’er, at the Marquis’s estate, you must be virtuous, dignified, proper, and dutiful in managing the household. Serve your elders and husband well. Do not lose your dignity or bring shame upon your husband’s family or your maiden family.”
A surge of aversion rose in Lin Yulan’s heart, but she nodded. “Yes.”
Shao Xun gave a light chuckle and called out to Lin Yulan, “Let us go, Wife!”
Lin Daohui hurriedly called his son and daughter-in-law to see them off together.
Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, a figure blurred before their eyes. Someone rushed over with a sharp cry, hurtling straight toward Shao Xun amidst everyone’s gasp.
Lin Yulan’s heart leaped violently, her expression changing instantly!
She had not expected Meng Zifang to be so brazen.
Unexpectedly, in the next instant, amid a chorus of gasps mixed with a sharp cry of agony, Meng Zifang—who was trying to throw herself onto Shao Xun—was swiftly avoided by him. Unable to check her momentum, she crashed heavily onto the ground.
“This—”
Lin Daohui and the others were left dumbfounded.
Shao Xun brushed his sleeves, stepping back with immense disgust. “Father-in-law, you all saw clearly. She fell because she was not careful while walking. It has nothing to do with me.”
Lin Daohui’s face froze in awkwardness, stammering without knowing what to say.
The others looked at one another, completely speechbound.
This Miss Meng was truly… Did she think everyone else was blind or foolish?
Failing to throw herself onto Shao Xun and now being scrutinized by everyone with varied expressions, Meng Zifang was in pain and distress. She covered her face and began to sob uncontrollably.
The Lin family grew even angrier: You still have the face to cry.
Shao Xun felt even more disgusted, almost to the point of nausea. “Wife, let us go!”
“Wait,” Lin Yulan shot Shao Xun a glance, asking him to cooperate with her, and then said to her father, “Father, Miss Meng is, after all, Sister’s sister-in-law and a guest. No matter what, since she fell in our home, our family must explain things clearly to the Meng family. Why not invite Sister and Brother-in-law over?”
Lin Daohui suddenly realized. “Right, right! Quickly go call Mingchi and Yuwei over! Go quickly! Mrs. Fang, Lan’er, quickly help Miss Meng up. Let us all go inside.”
Lin Yulan understood the character of Mrs. Gu and Lin Yuwei all too well.
If she and Shao Xun were to leave just like this, this matter would likely become impossible to clear up. Lin Yuwei and Mrs. Gu would be more than happy to shove Meng Zifang to Shao Xun to cause trouble for her, Lin Yulan.
When that time came, even if Shao Xun declared he had not touched Meng Zifang at all, could it be explained clearly?
Lin Yulan did not mind, nor did she have the standing to mind, Shao Xun taking concubines. If Shao Xun truly wanted to take a concubine, she would certainly accept it. As long as the concubine kept to her place and did not provoke her, everyone could live in peace.
However, this concubine could absolutely not be Meng Zifang.
In this life, she did not want to have anything to do with Meng Zifang again.
Lin Yuwei and Meng Mingchi arrived quickly, and Mrs. Gu came along with them.
Lin Yuwei had just been slapped in the face and had just applied medicine. Both her cheeks were red and swollen, and the corners of her mouth were bruised and split, making her look both wretched and comical.
The moment she saw Meng Zifang sitting there sobbing with her head lowered, her eyes lit up. She hurried forward and gently patted her back. “Zifang, who bullied you? If you have any grievances, just speak out. Your brother and I will surely decide matters for you and will never let you suffer a loss!”
Meng Mingchi was also greatly shocked, his expression turning somewhat unsightly. “Sister, what happened?”
Although their Meng family was of humble origin, the daughters of their family were not to be bullied at will by others.
Lin Yulan had guessed part of it. This was Meng Zifang’s very first visit to the estate; where would she get such courage? It was eighty to ninety percent likely instigation from Lin Yuwei.
Meng Mingchi’s reaction, on the other hand, seemed as though he had been kept in the dark.
Lin Yulan said coldly, “Sister, what kind of words are those? Do you think the people of our family would bully your sister-in-law? What do you take our Lin family for?”
Lin Daohui could not help but grow angry as well, scolding, “Yuwei, what nonsense are you talking!”
Lin Yulan continued, “Just now, the Marquis and I were about to leave when Miss Meng somehow lost her footing and suddenly fell toward the Marquis. The Marquis was startled and instinctively stepped aside. Miss Meng fell straight to the ground, likely hurting herself badly, which is why she is crying. Fearing that you and Brother-in-law might misunderstand, did we not quickly call you both over?”
Lin Yuwei only heard what she wanted to hear and immediately questioned Lin Yulan, “Since my sister-in-law fell onto the Marquis, shouldn’t the Marquis take responsibility? Although the Meng family is not equal to the Marquis estate, we are not to be bullied at will!”
Mrs. Gu immediately chimed in with a cold sneer, “Yuwei is right. How vital is a young woman’s reputation? How can this be left so unclear? Lan’er, you have gone too far!”
Lin Yulan gasped internally: It can even be spun like this?
Lin Daohui and the others were also struck dumb. Just as he was about to speak, Shao Xun slammed his hand on the table and roared in anger, “Is Young Mrs. Meng deaf or foolish? A daughter of your Meng family stumbles, and you dare pin it on me? She did not even touch a single corner of my robes. What nonsense are you spouting here!”