Lin Yulan immediately looked toward her father. “Father, you, Brother, Sister-in-law, and so many maids and servants were present. Everyone saw it crystal clear. Was Miss Meng falling on her own? Does it have even the slightest connection to our Marquis?”
Shao Xun’s eyes were icy and dagger-sharp.
Lin Yulan said, “Father, as for our Marquis, I dare not make wild claims about other matters, but he has always been one to take responsibility for his own actions. However, if anyone dares to treat him as a fool to be played with—thinking he can be molded and pushed around as they please—they have made a grave mistake.”
Old man, you had better think this through clearly. If you try to force the Marquis to pinch his nose and accept this foul business just to cover up the lies of your wife and daughter, or because you want this marital alliance to be even tighter, take a good look at whether the Marquis would be willing! If you truly provoke his temper, it will become exceedingly difficult for the Lin family to gain any benefits through him.
The Marquis’s temperament is not that forgiving…
Lin Daohui instantly snapped to his senses. “That is right! We all saw it crystal clear. Miss Meng merely fell by accident because our estate’s servants failed to look after her properly. How does it concern the Marquis? Yuwei, how on earth did you listen with those ears of yours? Did you not listen properly to what your sister said? Spouting nonsense all over the place!”
Lin Yulan smiled and said, “Sister, as her sister-in-law, you ought to consider your sister-in-law’s best interests. How could you invent something out of thin air to frame her reputation instead? This must not be done! What good does it do you to ruin her reputation?”
“You—”
“Can it be that Sister cannot hear Father’s words clearly either? Or are you saying that Sister feels Father is also bullying your sister-in-law?”
Lin Daohui turned red with anger and shame. “Enough!”
Lin Yuwei glared fiercely at Lin Yulan.
Lin Yulan knew when to stop and reined herself in.
With her words delivered, even if Lin Yuwei wanted to make a unreasonable scene, it was now impossible. No matter how foolish she was, she would not publicly question her own biological father over this matter.
Shao Xun stood up and said coldly, “Fortunately, Father-in-law, Brother-in-law, and his wife were all present; otherwise, my reputation truly could not be preserved. Father-in-law, this son-in-law shall take his leave.”
After all these incidents, even if Lin Daohui wanted to keep them longer, he had no heart for it. He forced a smile, exchanged a few polite words, and instructed his son and daughter-in-law to see them out.
As soon as they left, Lin Daohui turned coldly to Lin Yuwei and said, “Very well, you two should leave as well. Miss Meng is injured; go back early so she can rest properly.”
Lin Daohui was truly enraged by today’s events. What kind of scene had this Meng family girl caused in their Lin family estate?
Meng Mingchi, though ignorant of the details, had guessed part of the truth. He felt immensely awkward, while Meng Zifang was so ashamed she dared not even raise her head.
Lin Yuwei felt extremely wronged. “Father!”
How could Father treat her like this? He gave her no face at all.
Regardless of the circumstances, Zifang was a young unmarried woman. In a matter like this, could one truly blame the girl?
Mrs. Gu was also displeased with her husband’s treatment of their own daughter. “Master, it is one thing for Marquis Wuwei to leave due to business, but lunch has already been prepared. It is better to let Yuwei and the others stay for lunch before departing.”
Lin Daohui snorted coldly. She still had the audacity to speak?
Being treated with such disdain made Meng Mingchi displeased as well. Holding back his anger, he said, “We also have matters to attend to. Thank you for your kindness, Mother-in-law, but we shall visit another day instead. Let us leave as well.”
“Brother Meng!”
“Or shall I take Zifang back first, and you leave a bit later, Wife?”
Lin Yuwei was naturally unwilling; as a married couple, they ought to stick together. “I shall go with Brother Meng.”
Seeing her cheap and desperate appearance, Lin Daohui grew even angrier, no longer bothering to scold her.
Meng Mingchi led Lin Yuwei and his sister away.
The moment they left, Lin Daohui could no longer suppress his fury and berated Mrs. Gu: “What kind of words were those you spoke in front of your daughters and sons-in-law just now? That Meng family girl—I do not even have the face to speak of it! Throwing herself toward the Marquis out of nowhere—who do you think is so foolish as not to see what she was plotting! Luckily, the Marquis reacted quickly and stepped aside, so she did not even touch a corner of his robes. Otherwise, how disastrous would that have been? The eldest son-in-law accompanies my daughter on her three-day return visit, only to have the second son-in-law’s sister throw herself onto him—what was supposed to be done then, huh? Was that not forcing the Marquis to take her as a concubine! For such a thing to happen in our home, would it sound pleasant if word got out?”
“Lan’er had already explained it so clearly and plainly, yet Yuwei—I see she has gone mad—actually managed to utter such words! And you have gone mad too, actually chiming in with her. All of the Lin family’s face has been completely thrown away by you two!”
Mrs. Gu’s face flushed red with anger as she argued, “Lan’er always looks honest, but there is not a single honest word in her mouth. Now that she has married into a high status, she is even more unbearable! You do not know what kind of attitude she had toward me in my quarters earlier! Seeing Miss Meng crying so heart-wrenchingly, how was I to know if Lan’er was using specious reasoning? How could I just stand by and ignore it? Besides, flies do not swarm uncracked eggs—what reckless deed has Marquis Wuwei not done before? Who knows if he did something to entice Miss Meng like that? Perhaps in his heart he was very willing to have Miss Meng enter his household, only he had no time to express it before Lan’er preempted him with those words, leaving him embarrassed to deny his bride face. My words were also giving him a step down to save face! Even if Miss Meng followed him, it would bring no harm to our family, but rather benefits! Would it not make our marital alliance even firmer? Having someone to support Lan’er would also be a good thing. Was I not thinking for the sake of the Lin family?”
Lin Daohui was almost angered to death, pointing at her with glaring eyes and gasping for breath unevenly. “You… I… I am going to be angered to death by you! I saw it with my own eyes—I saw it with my own eyes, do you hear me? That Meng girl intentionally fell toward the Marquis, and the Marquis stepped aside without the slightest hesitation! How could he possibly be interested in that Meng girl? If he were truly interested, would it not be fine to send someone to the Meng family afterward to speak of it? Did he have to do such a thing in his father-in-law’s home? I see you are truly muddled!”
Mrs. Gu’s eyes darted around as she forced herself to keep up a strong front. “Was I not just flustered and lost my head for a moment… In matters like this, a young woman always suffers the most loss. I also have a daughter, so I felt pity for that girl.”
“Hmph!”
Lin Daohui did not know whether to believe her or not, flicking his sleeves with a cold face as he walked away.
Mrs. Gu breathed a sigh of relief, feeling immense regret.
Had Master not witnessed it with his own eyes, today’s matter would have made it impossible for Marquis Wuwei to leave without giving an explanation.
That Meng family girl was foolish as well. If she had the guts to do such a thing, why did she not pick a better time? Even if she could not find a good opportunity, could her movements not have been a bit swifter? Why did she not crash straight into Marquis Wuwei’s arms?
Accompanying one’s newlywed wife on her three-day return visit, only to be forced to take a concubine back—just thinking about that scene made Mrs. Gu feel delighted and satisfied.
What a pity…
As soon as the three of Lin Yuwei’s group returned to the Meng estate, Meng Mingchi headed back to his room with a cold expression. Seeing this, Lin Yuwei called out, “Husband!” and hurriedly chased after him.
With tears welling in her eyes, Meng Zifang stamped her foot, covered her face, and went sobbing to complain to her mother.
Lin Yuwei felt extremely wronged. “Husband, regarding Zifang’s matter, I was not present just like you, so I did not know either. I was overly concerned about Zifang and misheard my sister’s words, thinking Zifang had suffered a loss before saying those things. I truly only wanted to seek justice for Zifang.”