Main Courtyard
Seeing how worried Wang Qingwan was over Lin Xiner, Lin Zhengbei could already imagine how heartbroken she would be when she learned that the daughter she loved so much was the one who had reported the Duke’s Mansion.
“I understand why you’ve been helping Xiner.”
Lin Zhengbei took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice calm.
“But Yue’er is about to get married. And there are also Xue’er and… Huan’er.”
He deliberately paused when he said Huan’er.
“Yue’er’s dowry has already been prepared. As her mother, I would never treat my own daughter unfairly.”
Wang Qingwan interrupted him.
“As for Xue’er and… Huan’er, their dowries will be paid from the family’s public funds. I won’t keep even one tael of silver that rightfully belongs to them.”
She made no effort to hide her dislike for the two concubines’ daughters.
Lin Zhengbei narrowed his eyes.
There was an emotion hidden in his gaze that Wang Qingwan could not understand.
“Xue’er’s birth mother is one thing. She has been living with me in the Northern Frontier and has saved up some valuable things. But Huan’er…”
Lady Tian, Xue’er’s birth mother, had once been the Old Madam’s personal senior maid. She had grown up alongside Lin Zhengbei.
After Wang Qingwan married into the Duke’s Mansion, the Old Madam arranged for Lady Tian to become Lin Zhengbei’s concubine.
Lady Tian was a clever woman.
She knew Wang Qingwan could not tolerate her. The only reason Wang Qingwan had not acted against her was because of the Old Madam.
After giving birth to Lin Xue’er, Lady Tian voluntarily drank a medicine that made her unable to have more children. Only then did Wang Qingwan finally lower her guard.
When Lin Zhengbei suggested taking Lady Tian with him to the Northern Frontier, Wang Qingwan not only agreed without hesitation but also offered to raise Lin Xue’er herself.
No matter how unwilling Lady Tian was to part with her daughter, she did not dare go against the legal wife’s decision.
So Lin Xue’er grew up under Wang Qingwan’s care.
Because of the Old Madam’s influence, and because Lady Tian knew her place, Lin Xue’er lived a fairly comfortable life in the mansion.
At the very least, Wang Qingwan had never denied her the treatment that a concubine’s daughter should receive.
As for Lin Suisui…
Wang Qingwan had ignored her for so many years that, if Lin Zhengbei had not mentioned her, she would not even have remembered that the girl needed a dowry.
For all these years, the servants under her had managed everything at Bamboo Garden.
In Wang Qingwan’s eyes, allowing that concubine’s daughter to stay alive until now was already an act of kindness.
She had never intended to prepare a dowry for her.
She had no intention of arranging her marriage either.
The reason was simple.
Lin Suisui’s mother had been, in her eyes, a scheming concubine who had secretly seduced her husband.
“Xue’er and Huan’er are no longer young. You should also start looking for suitable marriages for them.”
When Lin Zhengbei said this, Wang Qingwan’s breathing became uneven.
She hated hearing anyone mention those two girls.
She hated it.
But since Lin Zhengbei had brought it up, she also did not want people to accuse her of being an unkind stepmother.
“Don’t worry, Husband. I’ve already been keeping an eye out.”
Her voice remained gentle and soft.
Yet Lin Zhengbei could still see the hatred hidden beneath her calm expression.
“Mother is going to Cuiping Nunnery tomorrow. I’m letting you know in advance.”
He had no intention of arguing with Wang Qingwan any longer.
The next few days would determine the survival of the Duke’s Mansion, and there were many things he needed to arrange himself.
“Why does Mother suddenly want to go to Cuiping Nunnery?”
Wang Qingwan was genuinely surprised.
It was still the New Year.
At this time, noble families were busy visiting relatives and welcoming guests.
People usually did not visit a nunnery until after the Lantern Festival.
“Mother didn’t sleep well last night.”
Lin Zhengbei repeated the explanation they had prepared beforehand.
“Every time she closed her eyes, she dreamed of Cuiping Nunnery.”
“She believes the Bodhisattva is giving her a sign, so she wants to go there tomorrow.”
Wang Qingwan believed him.
After all, the Old Madam had indeed looked tired today.
“I can’t leave tomorrow. I’ll ask your younger brothers’ wives to accompany her.”
She thought it over before speaking.
Tomorrow was the fourth day of the first lunar month, when many families exchanged New Year visits.
As the Duchess, she had to stay home to receive guests.
“There is no need.”
Lin Zhengbei interrupted her.
“Mother already said she only wants to go with Nanny Qian.”
“Besides, tomorrow is the day your sisters-in-law return to their parents’ homes for New Year visits. It wouldn’t look good if they broke that tradition.”
Every year, on the fourth day of the first lunar month, the wives of the second and third branches returned to their parents’ homes.
Because the third branch had been serving outside the capital, they had not spent the New Year at home in recent years.
Now that they had returned, they would follow the family’s usual custom.
As for Wang Qingwan, their children could visit her family in her place.
She herself usually waited until after the Lantern Festival before returning to her parents’ home.
According to Lin Suisui’s original plan, no one was supposed to know that the Old Madam was going to Cuiping Nunnery.
If the news reached Lin Xiner, it might ruin everything.
However, after discussing it for a long time, everyone agreed that there was no need to hide it.
Now that they had guessed when the Emperor planned to act, the Old Madam openly visiting Cuiping Nunnery might actually work in their favor.
To stop the Empress Dowager from pleading for the Duke’s Mansion, the people behind the plot would likely poison her earlier than planned.
As long as the Empress Dowager remained on guard before the eighth day of the first lunar month, the poisoner would have no chance to act.
The Empress Dowager simply disliked fighting with Consort Dowager Shen, but that did not mean she lacked power.
If she were truly weak…
A childless Empress would probably have died many years ago.
…
The weather was still gloomy, but at least the snow had stopped.
Early that morning, the Old Madam’s private carriage slowly left the gates of the Duke’s Mansion.
Four guards rode behind it, escorting the carriage toward Cuiping Nunnery.
Inside the carriage were the Old Madam, Nanny Qian, and Lin Suisui.
Lin Suisui’s presence there had been carefully planned the day before.
Before dawn, she had changed into a maid’s clothes.
One of Lin Zhengbei’s trusted men had secretly hidden her inside the carriage ahead of time.
Fortunately, it was the Old Madam’s personal carriage, so it was spacious enough.
A charcoal brazier kept the carriage warm.
There were also snacks and tea inside.
By the time the Old Madam and Nanny Qian climbed aboard, Lin Suisui had already eaten and drunk her fill.
“Suisui, you’ve suffered so much.”
The Old Madam’s heart ached when she saw how thin and pale the girl was.
“Grandmother, everything will get better.”
Lin Suisui’s words carried two meanings.
She knew the Old Madam felt sorry for her, but this was not the time to dwell on those feelings.
Once they reached Cuiping Nunnery, an even greater challenge awaited them.
For example…
How could they warn the Empress Dowager to beware of being poisoned by someone close to her?
That would not be easy.
After all…
No one knew whether the poisoner was one of the Empress Dowager’s most trusted attendants.