Lin Youyou kept a cold expression as she watched the pair walking ahead of her—her father and mother leaning their heads together, bodies pressed close as they whispered to one another, completely lacking the dignified appearance expected of the master and mistress of a household.
They were disgustingly lovey-dovey.
After walking for some time, they finally entered the main courtyard of the inner residence.
Lin Chaowen’s voice carried obvious happiness as he said,
“Madam, look. This place is still exactly the same as when you left—not a thing has changed. Youyou’s courtyard is still the same one from before, right next to ours.
“Qingli, take the young miss to her courtyard and let her have a look around.
“If there’s anything she doesn’t like, throw it out. If anything is missing, tell the steward to purchase it directly. I need to discuss some matters with Madam.”
“Your daughter takes her leave.” Lin Youyou turned around helplessly and followed a maid away.
There was no helping it.
Her father’s eyes were practically glued to her mother. How could there still be room for a daughter like her in his sight? Better not stay around and make herself an eyesore.
When Lin Youyou arrived at her courtyard, the first thing she saw was the same scene preserved from her memories.
Flowers bloomed throughout the courtyard. There was a small pavilion and even a swing frame.
Inside, the outer room served as a sitting room, while the bedroom lay to the right. There was also a separate washing room attached.
The furniture inside had all originally been custom-made according to her childhood height.
Though the furniture now bore traces of age, everything had been cleaned spotless.
The people in the residence hadn’t known beforehand that she and her mother would return today, so there was only one explanation—
Someone had been regularly cleaning this place all along.
“Miss, you and Madam have finally returned.” Qingli smiled happily.
“Master always ordered the room to be cleaned every few days. And every season, he would have suitable clothes prepared and placed in the wardrobe according to your age, just waiting for you and Madam to come home.”
Qingli’s mother had once been Madam Xu’s personal maid. Back when Madam Xu left, Qingli’s mother had been pregnant with her younger sister, so she hadn’t followed along. Since then, Qingli herself had remained by her mother’s side and served in the residence under Master Lin.
Of course, the “serving” she spoke of meant genuine servant work—not becoming a bed servant or concubine.
“Mhm. We’re back.” Lin Youyou smiled lightly.
“Check the furniture in the room. Replace anything too small or unusable.”
“Yes, Miss,” Qingli replied respectfully.
“You must be hungry after the long journey. I’ll have the kitchen prepare some food right away.”
“Alright.”
Only after Qingli withdrew did Lin Youyou sit down upon the soft couch and rub her forehead.
These past ten or so days had been filled with nonstop tension and emergencies. Only now, sitting quietly inside her own room again, did she finally feel a sense of peace settle into her heart.
Inside the study of Prince Yi’s residence, Third Master He—whose real identity was He Yiling—listened as Jiang San reported every single detail he had witnessed earlier outside the Lin Residence.
Unexpectedly, He Yiling let out a soft laugh.
“Heh… Who would’ve thought that Lord Lin Chaowen—the same man who debates all the officials in court and schemes like an old fox—is actually terrified of his wife? One look from Madam and he immediately knelt in the street. Interesting.”
At this moment, the Prince Yi who was laughing at Lord Lin had absolutely no idea that in the near future, he himself would become even more henpecked than Lin Chaowen—bowing and lowering himself before this future father-in-law of his.
“Although the young miss didn’t throw a tantrum after separating from Miss Lin, she was obviously unhappy,” Jiang Er said worriedly from the side.
“She didn’t even eat properly.”
The smile on He Yiling’s face faded slightly.
“No one can stay beside another person forever. It’s fine. She’ll get used to it after a few days.”
“Your Highness, His Majesty just sent someone to summon you into the palace,” Jiang Er added.
“Alright. Help me change.”
He Yiling nodded and rose, heading toward the inner room.
Though this was technically his study, he occasionally rested here when work became too busy, so spare clothes and washing supplies were always prepared inside.
Inside the imperial palace, the Emperor looked at He Yiling kneeling before him. Setting down his brush for a rare moment of rest, he said,
“Rise. Has Doudou been found?”
“Yes. She’s already back at the residence now. She suffered only some fright and is otherwise unharmed,” He Yiling replied after standing.
“That’s good. Your imperial grandmother was badly frightened as well. Bring Doudou to the palace tomorrow so she can see her.”
“Yes.”
The Emperor paused briefly before speaking again.
“And how is that matter progressing?”
“Replying to Father Emperor—it has already been handled. Within three days, there should be results.”
“Good, good. After all this time, it’s finally time to pull in the net. Those people have become utterly lawless. Just because I restrained my temper, they started thinking I was easy to bully.”
A coldness flickered through the Emperor’s eyes.
“Once those positions become vacant, replacements will be needed. Which ministry would you like to gain experience in?”
Now that he knew the matter was under control, the Emperor was finally in the mood to tease his perpetually cold-faced son a little.
“I want to join the Ministry of Works,” He Yiling answered directly.
“Oh?” The Emperor raised an eyebrow curiously.
“And why that department instead of another?”
At that, He Yiling smiled.
The smile on his face looked almost unlike him.
“I want to see for myself what kind of man Lord Lin is—the one who got so frightened by a single sentence from his wife that he knelt in front of his own residence.”
“…”
Rarely, the Emperor was speechless for a long moment.
Only after quite some time did he finally ask curiously,
“When exactly did this happen?”
“After court today. Lord Lin’s wife and legitimate daughter, who had spent eight years recuperating in the countryside, returned to the capital…”
He Yiling showed absolutely no intention of preserving Lin Chaowen’s dignity as he enthusiastically recounted the entire incident like juicy gossip.
The Emperor listened with great interest, occasionally laughing aloud.
After hearing the whole story, he shook his head with amusement.
“No wonder Lord Lin has never had a single concubine or bed servant all these years—nor any illegitimate sons or daughters. So it turns out he’s afraid of his wife.”
“If today’s events hadn’t happened, who would’ve imagined that such a crafty Lord Lin would fear his wife?” He Yiling replied.
“You normally never pay attention to this sort of thing. Why are you suddenly so interested today?” The Emperor looked at his son teasingly.
“You’re acting suspicious.”
How could he not understand his own son?
Normally, He Yiling was indifferent to nearly everything. Sometimes he wouldn’t even concern himself with matters happening around the Emperor himself, much less trivial affairs involving a minister’s household.
“To be honest, although I haven’t interacted much privately with Lord Lin, his wife and daughter did coincidentally save Doudou this time,” He Yiling said smoothly.
In any case, these matters could never be hidden from the Emperor forever. It was only a matter of time before he learned about them.
“Oh? Tell me.”
The Emperor’s interest was immediately piqued again.
“After Doudou was kidnapped…”
He Yiling slowly recounted everything that had happened over the past few days.
Even the Emperor sighed emotionally after hearing the entire story.
“That girl truly did save Doudou. It seems the two of them do share some fate.”
After finishing the gossip, the Emperor spoke again.
“Your mother hasn’t been eating well these past few days. Go visit her.”
Clearly, he had enjoyed the gossip enough, serious matters had already been discussed, and he had rested sufficiently.
Now it was time to continue working—and dismiss his son.
“Yes.”
He Yiling bowed respectfully and withdrew from the hall.