Soon, a slender figure appeared at the doorway.
Lin Wan’er had changed into a plain moon white dress, her unpowdered face pale and haggard with faint dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept well for days.
Carrying an exquisite food container, her gaze immediately fixed on Xiao Che upon entering. When she noticed Lin Shu sitting across from him, her watery eyes briefly flashed with venom before being quickly overshadowed by profound grievance and sorrow.
“Young Master, I heard Grandmother Xiao had woken up, so… so I thought to come see her. I didn’t dare disturb grandmother, so I waited outside…”
Her eyes swept over the dishes on the table before finally settling on Lin Shu, her expression pitiful. “Sister is here too, that’s wonderful. Seeing sister safe and sound puts my heart at ease.”
Lin Shu remained silent, merely picking up her spoon to leisurely stir the soup in her bowl.
Xiao Che looked at Lin Wan’er with complex emotions, eventually speaking in a neutral tone, “Grandmother just rested. You may come pay your respects tomorrow.”
“I understand.” Lin Wan’er quickly nodded, lifting the food container in her hand as she forced a pleasant smile. “I… I heard grandmother had no appetite after waking, so I personally prepared some bird’s nest soup for her. Young Master, could you give this to grandmother? Even just one sip would mean the world to me.”
As she spoke, she moved to open the container.
“No need.”
The words came from Lin Shu.
She set down her spoon and wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, her movements unhurried.
Lin Wan’er froze in place, tears immediately welling in her eyes. “Sister, are you still angry with me? I only wanted to do something for grandmother, I meant no harm…”
“You’re overthinking.” Lin Shu lifted her gaze, eyes calm and unruffled. “The imperial physician instructed that since the elderly lady is recovering from poisoning with a weak stomach, she should only consume light congee for nourishment. Nutritious items like bird’s nest would burden her digestive system at this stage – it would harm rather than help her.”
Lin Wan’er’s face turned deathly pale.
She looked pleadingly at Xiao Che, her lips trembling. “Young Master, I didn’t know, I truly didn’t know. I just… I just wanted so badly to do something for grandmother.”
Xiao Che’s gaze lingered on Lin Shu’s clear expression for a moment before turning to Lin Wan’er’s tear-streaked face, recalling the milk crisp that Lin Shu had intercepted days before.
The same scenario, the same excuses.
An indescribable irritation rose in his heart.
“If you didn’t know, then don’t act on your own accord. Take it back.”
Lin Wan’er stood as if struck by lightning, staring at him in disbelief.
She had imagined countless possibilities, even prepared how to weep and complain if Lin Shu spoke harshly again, how to make the Young Master detest Lin Shu even more.
But she never anticipated the Young Master would look at her with such cold, unfamiliar eyes.
Humiliation – overwhelming humiliation instantly engulfed her.
“Young Master…”
“Can’t you understand?” Xiao Che’s patience seemed exhausted.
Lin Wan’er’s tears finally overflowed. She bit her lower lip hard to suppress her sobs, her appearance of enduring immense grievance enough to soften any man’s heart.
But Xiao Che merely watched, silent.
Lin Shu also watched, even picking up her teacup to gently blow on the floating tea leaves.
Amidst the suffocating stalemate, a hoarse yet authoritative voice came from the inner chamber.
“What is all this noise?”
It was Old Madam Xiao.
The Marquis lady supported her as she emerged. The old madam wore an outer robe, her face still pale, but her clouded eyes were sharp as blades, fixed directly on Lin Wan’er.
“Grandmother Xiao!”
Lin Wan’er seemed to have found her savior. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor with a thud, weeping uncontrollably. “Grandmother Xiao, Wan’er was wrong. I shouldn’t have brought the bird’s nest soup. I was just so worried about you…”
“Worried about me?” Old Madam Xiao let out a cold laugh. Leaning on the Marquis lady, she took her seat in the main position. Her gaze swept over the kneeling Lin Wan’er before settling on the exquisite food container on the table. “Last time, it was the cloyingly sweet Milk Crisp. This time, it’s the greasy bird’s nest soup. Second Miss Lin, is your filial piety just a scheme to send this old bag of bones to meet the King of Hell sooner?”
Her words plunged the room into dead silence.
Lin Wan’er’s sobbing ceased abruptly. She lifted her head sharply, the color draining from her face, leaving only terror and confusion.
She couldn’t understand why Grandmother Xiao, who had always been so kind to her, would say such heart-wrenching words.
The Marquis lady seemed somewhat reluctant, gently patting her mother-in-law’s hand.
But Old Madam Xiao remained unmoved. Her gaze shifted past Lin Wan’er and settled on Lin Shu. Her tone softened slightly, though it still carried a note of scrutiny. “What did you say the imperial physician advised?”
Lin Shu stood up and replied respectfully, “Grandmother Xiao, the imperial physician advised that you need quiet rest. Your diet should consist of light, easily digestible congee. You must avoid heavy tonics.”
“Hmm.” Old Madam Xiao nodded, then turned her gaze back to Lin Wan’er, her voice cold. “Did you hear that?”
Lin Wan’er trembled all over, her lips quivering, unable to utter a single word.
“Since you heard, you may go back.” Old Madam Xiao closed her eyes, her face full of weariness. “From now on, unless I summon you, there is no need for you to come to Songhe Hall again.”
“Grandmother Xiao!” Lin Wan’er cried out in despair, as if this were worse than death.
Being barred from Songhe Hall meant she had completely lost her chance to appear at the Hou Mansion and her opportunity to get close to Xiao Che.
“Young Master!” She turned to Xiao Che, crawling forward to grab the hem of his robe. “Please plead with Grandmother Xiao for me. I truly know I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again…”
Xiao Che looked down at her and slowly took a step back, avoiding her hand.
The pity and compassion that had once filled his eyes were gone, replaced instead by scrutiny and detachment.
Lin Wan’er’s heart sank to the depths in an instant.
“Servants,” Old Madam Xiao waved her hand impatiently. “Take her back to the Prime Minister’s residence. Inform Prime Minister Lin that his well-taught daughter is too much for our humble Jing An Marquis Estate to bear.”
Lin Wan’er was half-dragged, half-carried out by two sturdy maids. The hall fell into a deathly silence.
The serving maids kept their heads bowed, breathing lightly as they swiftly cleared the remnants from the table. Apart from the occasional soft clink of porcelain, not a single other sound could be heard.
Lin Shu stood in place with her eyes lowered, unable to comprehend Old Madam Xiao’s sudden change in attitude toward Lin Wan’er.
In the original story, Lin Wan’er had managed to win Old Madam Xiao’s favor quite easily. Why such a drastic shift now?
Could it be because of her own appearance?
“You, come here.” Old Madam Xiao’s aged yet authoritative voice interrupted Lin Shu’s thoughts.
Lin Shu’s heart tightened. She stepped forward, stopping three paces away from the main seat, and was about to bend her knees again.
“Who told you to kneel?” Old Madam Xiao’s voice carried impatience. “Stand and speak.”