"My brother," An Rongrong continued, "since this is such a significant matter for you and your elder brother, is there anything Xinlan and I can do to help?"
"No need, sister-in-law. How could we trouble you and Xinlan with this? As soon as Uncle Two and Uncle Three agree, my elder brother and I will find people. We'll be back in three days at the soonest, or a week at the latest. We've planned this for so long, and it's foolproof." Lin Shanhe was puzzled. This wasn't their first expedition, so what were his sister-in-law and Xinlan worried about? Besides, they weren't going to the battlefield this time, just to deal with those pesky islanders.
"Then what about me and Auntie? We can't stay here forever, can we?"
Lin Shanhe thought for a moment. Most of the soldiers he had transferred were from the Capital Garrison. They would have to return after the war. So, he said, "Then let Brother An escort you back. After my elder brother and I finish our business, we'll bring the people back to the capital."
Upon hearing Lin Shanhe's reply, Ouyang Xinlan and An Rongrong both sneered, "Heh, this is men for you."
Zhang Zhen heard Lin Shanhe's answer and knew he was finished. He was doomed. This guy was a complete liability.
The quiet He Family Manor was shattered by two screams.
"Ah... wife, it's all a misunderstanding! Listen to me, this is all Shanhe's doing, it has nothing to do with me!" Zhang Zhen shouted while running with Lin Shanhe.
Ouyang Xinlan wielded a Tang saber glowing with green light, while An Rongrong stood beside her, holding a pair of large scissors over half a meter long.
"Zhang Zhen, you and Lin Shanhe have been colluding day in and day out, and now you've teamed up to research taking a concubine? If you have the guts, don't run! See if I don't smack you today!" An Rongrong yelled at Zhang Zhen.
"Lin Shanhe, why are you running? Scared to take responsibility? Aren't you going to bring that little vixen into the house? Stop right there!" Ouyang Xinlan, holding a Tang saber in one hand and her little daughter Lin Ya'er in the other, continuously swung her saber, sending gusts of wind blades towards Lin Shanhe.
"Mommy, hurry up and chase him! Kill that bad daddy!" The little girl also held a slingshot and shot at her father.
"Damn, brother, your little padded jacket is a bit leaky," Zhang Zhen teased Lin Shanhe, as his own wife couldn't attack from a distance.
"Elder brother, let's not make fun of each other. If sister-in-law catches up to you, won't she just snip you with those scissors?" Lin Shanhe also took time to retort to Zhang Zhen, then turned and shouted, "Who gave my precious daughter a slingshot?"
Lin Shan, Lin Hai, and the four elder masters of the He family, along with other key figures of the He family, all rushed over upon hearing the commotion. Seeing the situation, the elders were quite bewildered.
Lin Hai stopped a few of them, "Xinlan, Rongrong, let's talk it over properly. So many people are watching. Even if these two scoundrels are lords of Huaxia, this is undignified."
The few stopped. The little girl ran towards Lin Hai with her short legs.
"Second Granduncle, Second Granduncle, stinky daddy is going to find Ya'er a stepmother and bring her home."
Lin Hai bent down and picked up his granddaughter. Upon hearing his granddaughter's complaint, he immediately widened his eyes and roared, "Divorce and destroy the land, and you're useless in old age. This is unacceptable! Third brother, deal with these two little brats."
Lin Shan, known for his fiery temper, immediately stepped forward and began fighting. With a barrage of tackles and headbutts, he left Zhang Zhen and Lin Shanhe seeing stars.
Then, he kicked both of them out of the He Family Manor. "You two scoundrels, go back and mobilize the troops first. After we deal with those islanders, I'll have a good talk with you both."
The two, kicked out of the manor, shook their heads and got up. Lin Shanhe asked in confusion, "What's wrong, elder brother? Are you planning to take a second wife? Why did you drag me into this?"
Zhang Zhen's eyes blazed upon hearing this. "Your son said you were going to take a second wife! So, it's this scoundrel who's set us up? What kind of son have you raised?"
Lin Shanhe finally understood. Because of this damned kid, his own father had been beaten twice in the last two days. He'd deal with him when he had time.
Then, he said to Zhang Zhen with annoyance, "What's wrong with my son? Isn't he your son-in-law too? You should deal with him!"
Zhang Zhen was about to say something harsh when he remembered his own daughter had complained about this scoundrel to their third uncle, leading to him being thrashed by the third uncle. "How dare I deal with him? My padded jacket is also leaky."
The two brothers exchanged a helpless glance. Forget it, let's go back and mobilize the troops. If we can't solve it, at least we can vent our anger on those islanders.
Lin Shan, the third elder master of the Lin family, who had kicked out Zhang Zhen and Lin Shanhe, returned to persuade his second brother and the two nieces-in-law.
Lin Shan, with his straightforward temper, said to Lin Hai, "Second brother, Ancestor wasn't the one who wanted you to marry Sister Liu Xin, so why is Shanhe involved?"
The male compatriots present exchanged lewd glances and chuckled.
He, the fourth elder master of the He family, immediately stepped forward to congratulate him, "Congratulations, second brother, congratulations! A great joy indeed! Second brother, you're blooming in your old age!"
Lin Hai's old face turned red. After all, everyone present was younger, and there were two nieces-in-law.
The little girl also imitated them and said, "Congratulations, Second Granduncle, congratulations!"
Interrupted by this, Lin Hai remembered and said, "That's right, Xinlan, Rongrong. Ancestor just wanted Shanhe to step down as a garrison lord and have more children at home. He didn't arrange a marriage for him. Who told you that?"
Ouyang Xinlan, being a clever person, immediately realized her son had forged the imperial decree. She roared, "Zhan'er!" and ran towards Zhang Lingxiu's room.
He Dazhuang and Wang Erzhuang, whose courtyard was farther away, only saw Ouyang Xinlan and An Rongrong, their mothers, with tears in their eyes, as if they had just cried. Then they heard Mother Lin shout, "Zhan'er!"
The two brothers immediately panicked. "Damn, brother, tell Old Jiang, Old Zhang, and the others to hurry up. It looks like Old Lin is in trouble. Let's split up. You go call for help, and I'll prepare the funeral services."
"Okay, elder brother." Dazhuang and Erzhuang got busy.
Ouyang Xinlan directly picked up the groggy Lin Zhan. "Speak."
Lin Zhan groggily looked at his mother and said, "Mom, let me explain... no, Mom, let me explain. The beauties of Qingqiu are too gorgeous, and Grandmother is still the queen of the Qingqiu Fox Clan. Look, even Second Granduncle has been arranged for marriage. If this happens, wouldn't you have to teach Dad a good lesson?"
"Mom, I'm doing this for your own good. Ancestor said Dad is still young and needs to work hard to propagate the Lin family. You said, if he makes a mistake and the deed is done, will you acknowledge it or not?" Sudana Novel Network
Ouyang Xinlan secretly nodded upon hearing Lin Zhan's words. "Hmm, whether it's true or not, one's own man needs to be disciplined."