Chu Mochen remained silent for a moment, sighed, and replied, “Mother, Yan’er is a Princess; she is different from an ordinary daughter-in-law. Although to most people, the Marquis’s residence is a top-tier noble household, in the eyes of the Royal Family, we are merely their subjects. It is fine for you to quarrel with Yan’er in the residence, but you cannot make a scene before the Royal Family.”
Lady Xie, the Old Marchioness, had actually been feeling quite regretful, but hearing her son speak to her this way, she found every word grating to her ears.
The Old Marchioness could not help but retort, “Then why do you still keep a mistress outside?”
Upon hearing this, Chu Mochen did not fly into the rage the Old Marchioness had imagined. Instead, his tone was very calm. “It is just a mistress; it will not harm the interests of Xuan’er and Heng’er. As for the notions of romance that a Princess desires—’one pair for a lifetime’—if they are gone, they are gone. I have always firmly believed that for children raised at the center of power, such things are merely the icing on the cake; shared interests are what endure. Look, after this affair of mine was exposed, the first thing the Princess thought of was having me name an heir and securing my private treasury—these are her interests. As for whether there is love or not, she only cried once.”
If the original owner had been here to hear Chu Mochen say this, she would likely have added in a very loud voice, “You heartless man, you will never find me in this life or the next.”
The Old Marchioness replied with a snide, cynical remark, “You certainly see things clearly.”
Chu Mochen looked into the distance, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy. “Mother, do not think of me as so foolish. I see the Princess clearly, and I see you clearly as well. Everything you do seems to be for Yu’er, but in reality, it is for the second brother, is it not? You always feel that I have a title while the second brother has nothing, and that you and I have treated him unfairly. I am not saying I didn’t benefit, but who told him to be born later? Which family’s title does not go to the legitimate eldest son? Just like my title, I have implicitly decided to pass it to Xuan’er. This is destiny; since it is ordained by heaven, I feel no guilt in holding it. Moreover, over the years, I have not spared in subsidizing the second brother’s family. Ever since we fell out over the title and separated the family, the second and third brothers have lived in the residence, and all expenses have come from the public purse; I have not complained. But for you to ask my daughter to support the second brother’s family in the future—that is going a bit too far.”
The Old Marchioness picked up her handkerchief and pretended to wipe away tears. “He is, after all, your brother.”
“I never said he was not my brother. He is an official, he lacks for nothing; what more would satisfy him?” Chu Mochen’s eyes were filled with impatience.
The Old Marchioness had no rebuttal, but she did not want to concede either, so she sat to the side, weeping silently.
Chu Mochen…
“Regardless of what you wish to do, Mother, do not plot against the Princess. Now that the so-called ‘love’ is gone, the Princess merely sees you as an old lady whose rank is not as high as hers. Do not put on the airs of a mother; you did not give birth to her, nor did you raise her, and she belongs to the Royal Family. In any situation, the Sovereign comes first.”
After giving this stern instruction, Chu Mochen flicked his sleeves in anger and left.
Seeing her eldest son act this way, the Old Marchioness was so angry she nearly fainted. It was only after Ruyue and others who were serving her helped regulate her breathing that she recovered.
Before the next day arrived, the Old Marchioness fell ill. This time, it was not a feigned illness; she was truly sick. Having been terrified by the Empress’s words at the palace and then having talked further with her eldest son upon returning to the residence, she had genuinely caught a cold.
In the past, when Lady Xie feigned illness, she would always make a big fanfare of calling for the residence doctor and requesting an imperial physician. This time, being truly ill, she was incredibly low-key, only letting those close to her find some old medicine to brew and drink in secret. The Old Marchioness did this because she feared that if the palace found out, they might think she was dissatisfied with the Empress.
However, that same evening, Lin Yanran was informed by people sent by the Old Marchioness that she “did not need to come to pay respects for the time being.”
Lin Yanran was happy for the peace, and the next day, she packed a large carriage full of fine gifts and returned to the Princess’s residence. Of course, upon hearing that Lin Yanran had brought a whole carriage of gifts back to the Princess’s residence, the Old Marchioness was so angry that she lay in bed and smashed her medicine bowl.
Lin Yanran did not know this, nor did she care. At that moment, she was very happy at the Princess’s residence. Seeing their daughter return, the Princess and the Consort were visibly delighted.
The Consort’s way of expressing his happiness was through his sharp tongue. “Finally, I see someone coming back carrying gifts.”
Lin Yanran cooperated by looking around in confusion. “Who is Father talking about? Who, who?”
The Princess, annoyed, pinched the Consort’s arm. “Our daughter has finally returned, and this man is talking like that!”
Under the pressure of the Princess’s deterrence, the Consort could only huff at Lin Yanran and sit quietly next to the Princess. Lin Yanran also stood up and moved her chair closer to the Princess, her intention to provoke the Consort very obvious.
The Princess truly had no way to deal with this father and daughter. In the past, when they met, neither cared for the other; now, when they met, neither would yield to the other. She felt very puzzled and didn’t know what to do about it.
Lin Yanran looked around, feeling very strange. “Are the eldest and second sisters-in-law not in the residence?”
The Princess smiled and explained for the two daughters-in-law, “They are here, of course they are. It is mainly because your father is here, so it is inconvenient for them to come. Furthermore, your sisters-in-law were afraid you were coming back to cry. If they were here, they feared you would be embarrassed; they are just leaving you some space.”
Thinking of how the original owner interacted with her two sisters-in-law in her memories, Lin Yanran said sincerely, “The eldest and second sisters-in-law are still as thoughtful as ever.”
The Consort rolled his eyes and interjected, “It is because your brothers and sisters-in-law spoil you so much that you turn against your own kin.”
Lin Yanran… it was another day where she wanted to commit patricide.
Feeling angry, Lin Yanran let the tears come as soon as she wanted, crying most pitifully. The Consort’s first reaction was to stand up and step back twice. “No, I didn’t hit you; don’t try to frame me.”
The Princess reached out and slapped the Consort on the back, quickly coaxing her daughter. “Don’t take your father’s words to heart; he is just saying things, in reality, he…”
With tears hanging from her eyes, Lin Yanran complained, feeling wronged, “In reality, he also only likes my two brothers.”
The Consort immediately lost his confidence and ground to stand on. “Don’t talk nonsense; where did I like your two brothers more than you?”
The Princess could only helplessly mediate the dispute between father and daughter. “Your father likes your eldest brother a tiny bit more than you, but your second brother is definitely on the same footing as you.”
Lin Yanran played along, appearing as if she were coaxed by her mother’s words, and broke into a smile through her tears:
“Alright then! I am a person who knows how to be content; at least I still have my second brother with me! As for the eldest brother, never mind, I dare not compete with him; our entire family’s wits are all grown on him.”