Bamboo Garden
Since they had decided to visit Cuiping Nunnery the next day, they needed a good excuse for the trip.
The Old Madam was the senior member of the household, and relatives would be coming to the mansion the next day to pay New Year visits.
If people learned that she had gone to Cuiping Nunnery, the news might reach Lin Xiner.
She and Chen Yuanqing were now the emperor’s eyes and ears.
If she found out, the emperor in the palace would soon know as well.
After all, the Empress Dowager was staying at Cuiping Nunnery, making it an especially sensitive place.
Besides, whenever the Old Madam traveled, one of her daughters-in-law had to accompany her and attend to her. Otherwise, people would become suspicious.
Then there was Lin Suisui.
She was practically invisible within the mansion. If she wanted to leave, she would need someone’s help.
But right now, it was best for her to remain hidden.
The less she appeared in public, the better.
So, the fewer people who knew about their trip to Cuiping Nunnery, the better. Their plan had to be completely flawless.
Lin Suisui explained the plan she had prepared beforehand.
One person alone could never think of everything.
The others would need to help improve and perfect it.
“Chen’er, tomorrow go find a modest house. Furnish it with everything that’s needed.”
The Old Madam gave the order.
She had thought of this as soon as she learned that Lin Suisui’s name wasn’t even on the family’s register.
“After tomorrow, Suisui won’t need to return to the mansion.”
She feared that if their plan failed, the Duke’s Mansion would still be destroyed.
At the very least, this child should not be dragged into it.
“Mother is right. Suisui will be much safer living outside.”
Lin Zhengnan quickly agreed.
“Don’t worry. Leave this matter to me.”
Lin Zhengchen had already thought of it and had a plan in mind.
“I still have to come back tomorrow.”
Having lived through it once, Lin Suisui had learned to think much further ahead.
Before the emperor made his move against the Duke’s Mansion, Lin Xiner would certainly return one more time.
She might suddenly remember her Fourth Sister on a whim.
If she couldn’t find Lin Suisui then, she might become suspicious.
Everything they were planning depended on Lin Suisui’s knowledge from her previous life.
If Lin Xiner became suspicious and changed the way she dealt with the Duke’s Mansion…
Then all of their careful planning could collapse.
Therefore, the closer events followed the path of her previous life, the greater their chances of success.
After hearing her explanation, everyone agreed that it made sense.
Still, the house outside had to be prepared.
Some of their future plans would only be possible if she had a place to stay outside the mansion.
So they decided that after Lin Xiner’s next visit, Lin Suisui could quietly move out.
As Lin Zhengbei was leaving, he turned to Lin Suisui.
“Suisui, I don’t know what you went through in your previous life. But in this life… I will do everything I can to protect you.”
Earlier, when Lin Zhengbei had said that he had given her the name Huan’er, Lin Suisui had finally let go of the last trace of resentment she held toward the Duke’s Mansion.
Her father had rarely been home.
Her grandmother had long since stopped managing the household.
Her legal mother had complete control over the mansion.
On top of that, everyone believed the fortune teller’s words.
It was understandable why her family had kept their distance from her.
Besides, her legal mother, Wang Qingwan, probably believed she would never live to be eighteen.
In weather this cold, even a simple illness could easily take her life.
But unfortunately for her enemies…
The moment Lin Suisui returned to this life one month ago, the wheels of fate had begun turning again.
With the memories of her previous life…
She had not wasted a single day during that month.
She had constantly reviewed and refined her plans.
This time, she would protect her family.
She would never let them suffer the same tragic fate again.
…
“Grandmother…”
Just as everyone was about to leave, Lin Suisui suddenly called out to them.
“I’ve chosen a name for myself—Suisui. Lin Suisui.”
Although Lin Huan’er had a beautiful meaning…
She liked the name Lin Suisui even more.
“Suisui… ‘May you have peace every year.’ That’s a wonderful name.”
The Old Madam gently stroked Lin Suisui’s hair.
“From now on, we’ll all call you Suisui.”
…
When Lin Zhengbei returned to the main courtyard, Wang Qingwan was still waiting for him.
“Husband, is Mother all right? It’s so cold outside… I was worried just now and was about to send someone to look for you.”
As she helped him remove his cloak, she spoke with concern.
“Why are you still looking over the account books so late?”
He was genuinely surprised.
In the past, Wang Qingwan had never checked accounts by candlelight.
She always said reading account books at night was bad for her eyes.
“You took away the fifty thousand taels in banknotes. If Xiner wants to borrow one hundred thousand taels, we’ll have to take the money from the family’s public accounts.”
Wang Qingwan rubbed her forehead in frustration.
“Taking out such a large amount at once… I’ll probably have to tell your two younger brothers’ wives.”
“So this is still about Xiner.”
Lin Zhengbei looked at her thoughtfully.
“Not only should your sisters-in-law know, but Mother should be informed as well. After all, one hundred thousand taels is no small amount.”
His words were perfectly reasonable.
“I’m not worried about Mother. She’s always loved Xiner the most.”
What worried Wang Qingwan was that her two sisters-in-law might be unhappy once they found out.
“What if Xiner can’t repay such a large sum in the future?”
Lin Zhengbei asked casually.
“If she can’t repay it now, then she can repay it slowly. We can’t just watch our daughter suffer.”
She sighed.
“You don’t know how difficult her life is. Although she married the legitimate son of the Duke Chen’s family, he’s the youngest legitimate son, not the eldest one who will inherit the title.”
“That was the Chen family you carefully chose for her. I remember she was very happy with the marriage at the time.”
Lin Zhengbei said unhappily.
From the way she spoke, it almost sounded as if their own family had wronged their married daughter.
“Oh, don’t be so impatient.”
Wang Qingwan smiled gently.
“Our son-in-law is certainly an excellent man.”
“It’s just that her eldest sister-in-law, relying on the fact that her husband will inherit the title, keeps making life difficult for Xiner both openly and secretly.”
“Did Xiner tell you all this herself?”
Lin Zhengbei asked.
“She didn’t want to talk about it. I had to ask before she finally told me.”
Wang Qingwan completely sympathized with her daughter’s situation.
“Our daughter was raised like a precious jewel. How could she endure such hardships? Every time I think about it, my heart aches as her mother…”
Seeing Wang Qingwan acting like such a loving mother, Lin Zhengbei suddenly thought of Lin Suisui.
That child had been living in such miserable conditions, yet Wang Qingwan, as the mistress of the household, had never shown her even a little pity.
He also remembered what Lin Suisui had told him.
Much of Wang Qingwan’s dowry had already been tricked away by Lin Xiner.
“So you’ve secretly given Xiner quite a bit of financial support over the years?”
He asked as if it were only a casual question.
For a brief moment, Wang Qingwan’s expression became unnatural.
She hadn’t expected Lin Zhengbei, who usually paid no attention to household matters, to suddenly ask about the affairs of the inner residence.
“I… have helped her a little.”
She carefully watched her husband’s expression.
“Xiner is only going through a difficult time for now. Once she recovers financially, she’ll naturally pay everything back.”
Even she didn’t believe those words.
During the years since Lin Xiner got married, she had taken a great deal of money from Wang Qingwan, both openly and secretly.
As for paying it back…
Wang Qingwan had never seen even a single tael returned.
Every time her daughter came home, she complained about being poor.
She was never once well off.