Zhao Yinyin’s words drew a scoff from Lin Yanxi.
“What are you laughing at?” she demanded angrily.
Lin Yanxi’s smiling eyes were full of disdain. “I’m laughing at how stupid you are.”
“If you were to give birth to this child, you might still secure a place in the Lin family. If you don’t, then on what grounds can you remain in the Grand Tutor’s mansion? Does Sister-in-law Yinyin truly believe that a remarried woman who has had an abortion can find a better match in the capital than the Lin family?”
Lin Ze looked back and secretly gave Lin Yanxi a thumbs-up. He had wanted to call Zhao Yinyin stupid for a long time, but his status prevented him from doing so. Lin Yanxi had managed to express exactly what he wanted to say, hitting the nail on the head. He truly felt that among all his children, Lin Yanxi was the most like him.
Zhao Yinyin was so choked up she couldn’t speak, her face paling with embarrassment. She could even feel the contemptuous glances from the servants.
Seeing that Zhao Yinyin was still intent on making a scene, Lin Shibai understood his father’s temper. If it continued, no one would emerge unscathed. He pulled her aside, giving her a meaningful look. “Yinyin, don’t forget we’re here today to see off second sister. She’s leaving Nanmin and won’t be returning to the mansion. There’s no need to make such an ugly scene.”
A smile curved Zhao Yinyin’s lips. She cast a disdainful glance at Lin Yanxi, her anger dissipating by more than half. She took out a handkerchief, stifled a yawn, and patted her pregnant belly. “That’s true. Sister has a silver tongue and Father’s protection, so naturally, I can’t compare. But no matter how foolish I am, when my mother was alive, she doted on me like a treasure.”
“Let alone driving me out of Anbei, even stepping out of the mansion, she was afraid I’d fall and get hurt.”
“Tsk tsk, so what if one is smart? Aren’t they still unwelcome, even disliked by their own mother?”
Each word Zhao Yinyin spoke was like a soft knife twisting into Lin Yanxi’s heart. It was the first time she hadn’t retorted, because even she had to admit the truth in Zhao Yinyin’s words.
Lin Ze was so enraged he wanted to slap her again. Considering she was pregnant, he merely said with a stern face, “Be quiet! Go back to your courtyard. You are not to come out without my permission!”
“If you dare to speak another word about Zhaozhao, you and Lin Shibai will be kicked out of the Grand Tutor’s mansion.” He glared at Lin Shibai. “Is this the wife you married?”
Lin Shibai dared not meet Lin Ze’s gaze. He pinched Zhao Yinyin’s arm hard, signaling her to shut up. Zhao Yinyin, resentful, twisted her handkerchief. The thought that Lin Yanxi would soon be out of Nanmin brought a faint smile back to her lips. She let out a sigh of relief. “I was too talkative. I wish sister a safe journey and an early departure.”
Just as Zhao Yinyin turned to leave the main hall, Yu Gu entered with hurried, small steps, looking anxious. Yu Gu completely ignored Zhao Yinyin, bowed to Lin Ze and Jiang Wan, and announced, “Master, Madam, Nanmin is under lockdown.”
“It’s an order from the Ninth Prince. He was attacked yesterday, and the city will remain sealed until the assassins are caught. Only those entering are permitted, no one may leave. Anyone needing to leave for purchases, business, or visiting relatives and friends must report to the imperial court and obtain a pass token.”
Lin Yanxi raised an eyebrow. Was this Shen Muzhou’s idea? It was too costly and troublesome, but it was indeed the most direct method. Once the city was sealed, many people would face inconvenience. If passes were not issued promptly, prices within the city would skyrocket.
Lin Ze’s expression changed, and he frowned, remaining silent. He was contemplating how many more memorials he should submit against Shen Muzhou later.
Hearing this news, Zhao Yinyin was struck by lightning. She had thought she could finally see this little vixen off, only for an assassination attempt to occur. Her triumphant smile vanished instantly. She gritted her teeth. “This prince is too overbearing! He gets attacked, and he orders the city sealed. Are the common people supposed to live like this?”
Lin Shibai broke out in a cold sweat, frightened by Zhao Yinyin’s words. Marrying such a foolish woman would be his undoing. The Ninth Prince’s status in the capital was not something they could casually discuss. “The Ninth Prince is not to be spoken of by a shallow woman like you! If you anger him, you won’t even know how you died.”
Zhao Yinyin was so intimidated by Lin Shibai that she dared not speak again. His reaction alone told her that the Ninth Prince was not to be trifled with. Lin Yanxi walked around to Zhao Yinyin and gave her a provocative, slight smile. “It seems Sister-in-law Yinyin will be disappointed. This unwelcome person will have to remain an eyesore in the mansion for a few more days.”
Zhao Yinyin glared at her, then, holding her belly, left the main hall with Lin Shibai. Jiang Wan rested her forehead on her hand, sitting in a chair. Shen Muzhou had been the target of at least ten assassination attempts that she knew of, yet none had been handled with such a fanfare as today. To find the culprit, an investigation should be conducted discreetly; sealing the city was undoubtedly alerting the enemy. Thinking carefully about Lin Yanxi’s reaction today, she hadn’t arranged for her companions to stay or leave. While everyone else was busy packing, she had merely observed coldly. It turned out she had known all along that Shen Muzhou would help her stay.
With this realization, Jiang Wan slapped the table. “Lin Yanxi, is this your and Shen Muzhou’s great plan?”
“I used to think you were simply ignorant and immature, but now I know you are utterly wicked and depraved. Do you realize the impact of sealing the city on all the common people in the capital?”
Lin Yanxi’s gaze was cold as she watched Jiang Wan’s fury. After Jiang Wan finished her tirade, she finally spoke, “And Mother?”
“Shen Muzhou is willing to help me, but what about Mother? Besides scolding me, you want to see me gone. Is it true, as Zhao Yinyin just said, that I am unwelcome and you no longer wish to see me?”
“I just want to ask, is there some hidden reason behind your eagerness to send me away?”
Jiang Wan’s expression froze. How could she tell Lin Yanxi about her fate? Ever since ancient times, those who knew their fate and tried to defy it suffered more severe backlash. Her elder brother was a prime example. Lin Yanxi’s fate was already fraught with calamity. If she were to face further backlash, the consequences would be unimaginable; she might not even have a chance to avoid it. Moreover, she didn’t want Lin Yanxi to know that she would bring misfortune to others and disaster to Yueyou, living a life in shadows.
Jiang Wan paused, then shook her head, her gaze sincere. “No.”
The moment Jiang Wan said ‘no’ with such certainty, Lin Yanxi felt a stab to her heart. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears, a sense of grievance washing over her. Lin Ze quickly tried to smooth things over. “Oh well, then let’s postpone the departure for a few days. Yan’er will be returning soon, and if she doesn’t see her second sister when she gets back, she’ll surely cry. This is for the best, it’s for the best.”
“Tangchao, quickly escort your young lady back to her room!”
As Lin Yanxi stepped out of the main hall, she heard Lin Ze and Jiang Wan arguing behind her. Jiang Wan urged impatiently, “The matter with Shangchi cannot be delayed. Is it difficult for a dignified Grand Tutor like you to apply for a pass token?”
“Madam, I did not agree to send Zhaozhao away in the first place. Now that the city is sealed, we can discuss it again after some time.”
“After some time? Don’t you know she is close to Shen Muzhou in secret? What kind of person is Shen Muzhou? He is cunning and ruthless. Do you know his motives for approaching Zhaozhao? In a few more days, the entire Grand Tutor’s mansion might be in danger!”
Lin Yanxi’s footsteps faltered slightly. Regardless of her relationship with Shen Muzhou, the Grand Tutor’s mansion was her bottom line. She would not allow anyone to harm her family or friends. Her mother, ultimately, did not trust her.
---
Lin Ze, unable to win the argument with Jiang Wan, finally gave up and returned to his study, looking displeased. He found Lin Yanxi waiting outside the study. He stopped and said kindly, “Zhaozhao, are you here to talk to Father about the matter of going on a long trip? Don’t worry, as long as you don’t want to leave, no one can send my daughter away, not even your mother. I won’t apply for any pass tokens, so just stay here in the mansion.”
Lin Yanxi looked at Lin Ze. Middle-aged, slightly portly, with streaks of silver at his temples. When he smiled, wrinkles appeared on his face. Unlike her mother, who was gentle to outsiders, he always had a stern expression towards her. Father always maintained the facade of a Grand Tutor when dealing with others, but he was loving and kind to his wife and children, which was why he tolerated the second branch so much.
“Father, I’m here to talk to you about something else.”
Lin Ze saw the serious expression on her face and her hesitant demeanor. He waved away the servants in the courtyard and led her into the study. He looked at Lin Yanxi, who had now regained her senses, and felt as if a lifetime had passed. He smiled. “Zhaozhao, it’s truly wonderful that you’ve regained your senses. When you were little, you were the most intelligent. You would always climb onto the desk and scribble everywhere with a brush. The boldest time was when you drew a little pig on a memorial that Father was going to submit, hahaha.” He recalled the past and laughed heartily, then looked at the now clear-eyed Lin Yanxi with a look of relief.
Lin Yanxi was startled. Wasn’t she considered foolish from childhood? Thinking back carefully, her memories only went back to the age of seven or eight. By then, she was already considered simple-minded. Any memories before that were a complete blank, with no recollection of her childhood. She voiced her confusion. “Then why don’t I remember these things?”
Lin Ze’s smile froze on his face. He quickly stroked his beard and said, “This, this is very normal. You were just a child then, what kind of memories would you have? I don’t remember my own childhood either, hehe.”
“Right, let’s not talk about this anymore. Why did you come to find Father?”
Lin Yanxi didn’t dwell on it; the important matter came first. She spoke slowly, “Father, the Crown Prince is not a trustworthy person. You must be very careful of him in court.”
“Although Nanmin appears powerful now, and Dongyang is the weakest, in reality, Nanmin’s population is too high, its arable land productivity is low, and there have been years of drought. In such circumstances, Nanmin cannot afford internal conflict and exhaustion. Prolonged partisan strife only damages Nanmin’s foundation.”
Lin Ze’s expression stiffened. He clearly hadn’t expected Lin Yanxi to discuss politics with him. “Zhaozhao, you…”
Lin Yanxi saw a hint of confusion in Lin Ze’s eyes and realized she had spoken too hastily. To Father, she was just a little girl who had recently regained her senses; how could she understand court affairs?
“I, Father, I overheard these things from Shen Muzhou. Is he right?”
Lin Ze’s stern face relaxed considerably, and his doubts were dispelled. “Tell Father the truth, do you like Shen Muzhou?”
She quickly shook her head. “Father, what I mean is, the Crown Prince is not as benevolent and kind as he appears on the surface. When he achieves his wolfish ambitions, he will definitely retaliate against the Grand Tutor’s mansion.”
“Furthermore, based on my understanding of Shen Muzhou these past few days, he is not the cold-blooded and ruthless person that rumors claim. Since Father is the Grand Tutor, you should not take sides.”
She wanted to say more, but Lin Ze interrupted her. “Zhaozhao, court affairs are complex. One cannot judge people solely on one aspect. Father doesn’t object to you refusing the Crown Prince, but you also cannot get too close to Shen Muzhou.”
“Back then, he was…”