“You weren’t supposed to stay at the imperial temporary residence to recuperate? Why did you follow us? You didn’t even last half an hour!” Lin Tangtang exclaimed in surprise.
“Sister, I thought it would be better to leave with you all…” Lin Jiaojiao bit her lip.
“His Highness stated that since both Miss Lins came together, you should return together. Therefore, this old servant invited this Miss Lin to depart from the temporary residence,” Eunuch Wu declared officiously, directly humiliating Lin Jiaojiao.
“Oh, so you were kicked out,” Lin Tangtang suddenly understood, looking at Lin Jiaojiao with a faintly mocking smile.
Lin Jiaojiao’s face turned deathly pale, unable to speak for a long while.
Observing Lin Jiaojiao’s guilty expression, Lin Tangtang thought to herself: The Crown Prince is truly an expert at spotting pretentious women—he saw right through a green tea bitch like Lin Jiaojiao.
On the journey back to the Marquis Estate.
Lin Tangtang didn’t share a carriage with Yang Chen. Before departure, she specifically had Granny Li borrow a carriage from the temporary residence.
They also brought numerous luggage.
Though Yang Chen was displeased, he refrained from commenting due to their location at the imperial residence.
After Lin Jiaojiao joined them, the carriage became noticeably cramped.
“The compartment is crowded. You should ride in my carriage,” Yang Chen called through the carriage curtain to Lin Tangtang.
“No need. A full carriage makes for livelier company,” Lin Tangtang replied indifferently, rejecting Yang Chen’s offer.
She knew Yang Chen wanted to speak with her alone—undoubtedly to inquire about the Northern Territory and the territorial map in her possession.
Outside the carriage, Yang Chen fell silent for a moment before angrily boarding the Marquis Estate’s carriage.
Witnessing Lin Tangtang’s attitude, Granny Li began forming preliminary conclusions.
Meanwhile, Lin Jiaojiao couldn’t suppress a smug smile. She thought to herself: What a fool this Lin Tangtang is—the Young Lord extends kindness, yet she repeatedly pushes him away. She’ll regret this later.
So what if the Crown Prince met with her a few times? She still has to slink back to the Marquis Estate like a defeated dog?
The thought of Lin Tangtang’s future tearful misery greatly lifted Lin Jiaojiao’s spirits.
Lin Tangtang observed everyone’s expressions in the carriage.
The carriage eventually stopped at the southern side gate of Zhenbei Marquis Estate.
A servant opened the gate.
“We’ve arrived. Let’s go in,” Yang Chen said, but as he stepped over the threshold, he noticed Lin Tangtang and her companions hadn’t moved.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming in?”
“Young Lord, may I ask why we’re not using the main gate?” Chunxue asked puzzled.
“The main gate’s threshold cannot be lowered without due cause. May Miss Lin please use the side gate,” the servant explained matter-of-factly.
“For Miss Lin’s arrival to be treated so insignificantly—how can she enter through the side gate?” Chunxue protested indignantly.
If they truly used the side gate, people would surely look down on Miss Lin and think her easy to bully.
“Miss Lin, please understand. Without special orders, all carriages must enter through the southern side gate. This is the Marquis Estate’s rule,” the servant said with an apologetic smile, emboldened by Yang Chen’s silence.
Lin Jiaojiao remained quiet, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle without uttering a word.
“Is this the rule of Jingbei Hou Mansion? Miss Lin is General Beiwei’s legitimate daughter and the future Heir Apparent’s Wife of the Marquis Estate. For her to be asked to use the side gate on her first visit this year—this old servant has truly never heard of such a thing,” Granny Li sharply retorted, speaking up for the first time.
“Our Young Lord uses the side gate—why can’t Miss Lin?” the servant retorted defiantly.
Yang Chen remained silent.
His usual carriage had been sent for refurbishment days earlier. The carriage he used today belonged to his mother, Yu Shi, and the coachman was also Yu Shi’s subordinate.
The coachman stopped the carriage at the side gate, as instructed by Yu Shi.
Yu Shi had always disliked the Lin family. Making her enter through the side gate was meant to humble her before she even stepped into the estate.
Lin Tangtang’s cold attitude today had displeased Yang Chen, and he had no intention of speaking up for her.
She clearly had no choice but to rely on the Marquis Estate, yet she still put on airs in front of him. Now, wasn’t she still following him to the entrance?
He refused to believe Lin Tangtang didn’t want to enter the Marquis Estate. Nor would she care which gate she used.
Unexpectedly.
“Young Lord, the Marquis Estate is your home. I don’t care which gate you use. But as your fiancée, it is my right and freedom to enter through the main gate.”
Yang Chen hadn’t expected Lin Tangtang to be so unyielding. His thin lips parted slightly, “It’s just a gate. What difference does it make? Why bother?”
“Don’t treat people like fools in your Marquis Estate,” Lin Tangtang sneered. “You promised me earlier not to restrict my freedom—can you keep that promise? If not, then I’d rather not enter this estate at all.”
Lin Tangtang’s words were perfectly reasonable and skillfully leveraged Yang Chen’s need for her cooperation.
Suppressing his irritation, he pointed to a servant, “Open the main gate.”
Lin Tangtang gazed at the gleaming plaque of the Marquis Estate, her thoughts swirling.
She had finally returned to Jingbei Hou Mansion.
Unlike her previous life, when she had entered through the side gate in a desperate plea for help, this time she walked proudly through the main entrance.
However, once inside the estate, the central courtyard was empty, with no one to greet her. Only the maid Cuizhu waited there.
Yang Chen was also summoned away by a maid sent by the Marquess.
“Miss Lin, you must be tired from your journey. The Lady has instructed me to take you to the guest quarters to freshen up,” Cuizhu said coldly, leading Lin Tangtang to the West Garden.
There were four rooms in total. The buildings were old, with patches of weeds growing by the courtyard gate. The furniture inside was complete, but the wood was peeling, and there were wood shavings on the floor. The bedding on the bed had been washed until it was faded.
“You’re having Miss Lin stay in this courtyard? She’s the future Heir Apparent’s Wife of your Marquis Estate!” Chunxue’s anger flared at the sight of the desolate surroundings.
“This was arranged by the Lady. As a maid, I have no say in the matter,” Cuizhu replied without a trace of respect. “Besides, Miss Lin is merely a guest in the estate for now, not yet the Heir Apparent’s Wife.”
“Isn’t this bullying? Miss Lin was personally invited back by your Young Lord. How can you treat her so poorly?” Chunxue, incensed by Cuizhu’s attitude, nearly leaped up to strike her.
“Chunxue, I’m thirsty. Please pour me some tea first. Cuizhu, go prepare hot water,” Lin Tangtang interrupted the two maids’ confrontation.
She then turned to Lin Jiaojiao, “Cousin, I’m tired today. You may take that room over there.”
She pointed to the room on the far right of the West Garden, the one farthest from her own bedroom.
“Yes,” Lin Jiaojiao nodded and left, a new plan forming in her mind.
Since the Crown Prince refused to see her, she would seize the opportunity to get closer to Yang Chen.
The more unwelcome Lin Tangtang was in the Marquis Estate, the greater her chances of winning Yang Chen over.
“Miss Lin, you’re too accommodating. The living conditions in this courtyard are worse than those for maids in the imperial temporary residence. And that Cuizhu—so arrogant, she acts as if she’s above everyone!” Chunxue fumed after Cuizhu had left.
“Why bother getting angry with a maid? She’s only following her mistress’s orders.”
Lin Tangtang spoke slowly, “I traveled all the way from the Northern Territory, dwelling in caves, perching on branches, sleeping on rocky slabs. Most of the time, I used the sky as my blanket and the earth as my bed, enduring hardships with the wind as my meal and dew as my drink, never having a fixed abode. Compared to where I lived before, this place is already much better.”
Upon hearing this, Chunxue froze, her eyes reddening.
Miss Lin was a noble lady of Great Feng Country, her father the illustrious General Beiwei. Who could have imagined she had suffered so much hardship and tribulation?
Granny Li also sighed nearby.
“But you needn’t worry. It won’t be long before the Marquis Estate begs me to go to the East Garden. Just cooperate with me.” Seeing their low spirits, Lin Tangtang smiled faintly and offered some comfort.
Going to the East Garden now would be too hasty.
Having lived a second life, she wouldn’t be as impatient and reckless as in her previous one. She understood the importance of taking things slowly, using others’ strength against them.
After washing up, Chunxue unloaded the luggage from the carriage and went to a shop in the city.
Lin Tangtang wrote letters to several of her father’s old friends in the capital and instructed Granny Li to deliver them.
Afterward, she remained in her room, bent over her desk writing, not leaving for several hours.
Outside the door, Cuizhu sneered coldly. Truly ignorant—coming to the Marquis Estate and not taking the initiative to pay respects to the Marquess’s wife. She would face even more hardships in the future.
In the South Courtyard, the Marquess’s wife, Yu Shi, admonished Yang Chen.
“Chen’er, women, especially noble ladies like Lin Tangtang, must not be indulged. Otherwise, they’ll become insufferably arrogant.”
The moment Yu Shi thought of Wang Momo’s miserable state upon returning to the estate, her anger flared up.
Lin Tangtang daring to lay hands on Wang Momo was a slap in the face to the Marquis Estate. How dare she even ask Chen’er to fetch her?
If not for Chen’er saying he had his own plans, how could Lin Tangtang have even set foot in the Marquis Estate?
“Mother, don’t worry. I never liked her in the first place—why would I indulge her? I know my limits.” Yang Chen frowned.
Lin Tangtang was the child of a military general and a merchant’s daughter—crude and lowly. If not for the matter of inheriting the title back then, why would he have sought to marry her?
Every step he took had a purpose.
Now that Lin Tangtang, this lamb, had entered the Marquis Estate, she was at their mercy.
Little did he know, Lin Tangtang was already a lurking wolf.
But the most skilled hunters often appear as prey.
On the day she bares her fangs, the entire Marquis Estate will be torn to shreds, leaving not a single piece intact…