Volume One, Chapter 11: Aren’t You Ashamed?
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A century had passed since the founding of the Great Sheng Dynasty. Not even a family as eminent as the Duke of State’s household, let alone ordinary commoners, had ever set up a memorial tablet of this kind.
“Father…” Lin Qingyan turned to Lin Wenyuan with an inquiring look.
Lin Qingyun immediately explained, “Eldest Brother, Father and Mother shared a deep love. In Father’s heart, she was not merely Madam Lin, the mistress of the Duke’s residence, but also his beloved wife. That is why she held such a special place in his heart.”
“Yes, Father and Mother loved each other deeply. What, then, was I doubting?” After hearing Lin Qingyun’s words, Lin Qingyan wavered at once.
Looking at him as he blamed himself, Lin Qingwu could not help revealing a mocking smile.
She did not know whether she was mocking Lin Qingyan’s stupidity or ridiculing herself for having a brother who already trusted this impostor so completely.
“Sister, what do you mean by that?” Hearing the movement, Lin Qingyun turned to Lin Qingwu in confusion.
“Sister is simply meticulous by nature, so it was understandable that she might have misunderstood the matter of Mother’s memorial tablet. But now that everything has been explained, surely you do not still intend to incite Eldest Brother to make things difficult for Father?”
Lin Qingwu tilted her head and looked at her in puzzlement. “Are you talking about me?”
“N-No…” Lin Qingyun immediately lowered her head as though frightened.
“Did I say anything of the sort just now?” Lin Qingwu ignored her and pointed to herself once more as she asked Yunshang, along with the newly arrived sisters Zhixin and Zhiyi.
The three maids shook their heads in unison. “Miss said nothing of the kind!”
“Oh.” Lin Qingwu gave a soft laugh and looked at Lin Qingyun again. “Then all of this was merely your malicious speculation?”
“I only hope that our family can live together in harmony. How could you think such things of me, Sister?” Lin Qingyun looked as though she had suffered some terrible injustice.
Yet in the very next moment, all her grievance turned into fear.
Lin Qingwu reached out and seized her chin in a merciless grip. “Lin Qingyun, aside from pretending to be pitiful and sowing discord, do you have any other tricks?”
Lin Qingyun’s face went pale. She instinctively avoided Lin Qingwu’s gaze. “What do you mean, Sister? I don’t understand.”
“Lin Qingwu, have you gone mad? Let go of Yun’er at once!” Seeing this, Lin Qingyan immediately rose to help Lin Qingyun.
Lin Qingwu had no intention of arguing with him. She simply increased the force in her hand and shoved Lin Qingyun toward him.
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Lin Qingyun gave a startled cry, but Lin Qingyan caught her securely. “Yun’er, are you all right?”
Only after seeing her shake her head did he support her in his arms and glare furiously at Lin Qingwu. “Yun’er is pure-hearted by nature. How could she possibly be as malicious as you? You may not have said it outright, but you were clearly trying to drive a wedge between Father and me.”
“Her thoughts were written all over her face, and you translated every one of them for her. The two of you really are like true siblings.” Lin Qingwu burst out laughing.
“What are you laughing at? Are you saying we are wrong?” Lin Qingyan sneered. “You are merely furious because you have been exposed.”
He was deeply disappointed in Lin Qingwu. “I thought you would have changed for the better after these three years. That was why I allowed you to return to the Purple Bamboo Courtyard. I never imagined that the moment your identity was restored, you would once again become so unreasonable—indeed, even more arrogant than before.”
“You must kneel and apologize to Yun’er immediately. Otherwise, go back to the laundry room!”
Watching Lin Qingyan protect Lin Qingyun as though she were a precious treasure, and hearing his harsh reprimands, Lin Qingwu suddenly felt a profound sense of helplessness.
Confused. Foolish.
She accepted his accusation that she had misdiagnosed Mother. But for him to be so incapable of distinguishing kinship from estrangement or right from wrong, shielding the woman who had plotted to seize her position after their mother’s death—he had truly squandered all the guidance and hopes their mother had once placed in him.
Before Lin Qingwu could speak, Zhixin, whose temper was as fiery as ever, immediately objected.
“Eldest Young Master, Miss’s status as the legitimate daughter of the Lin family was personally confirmed by His Majesty. She is also the Princess Consort of Prince Yue, appointed by imperial decree. Do you intend to defy the imperial edict by ordering her to work as a laundry maid?”
“Impudent!” Lin Qingyan roared furiously. “You are nothing more than a maid. What right do you have to interrupt when your master is speaking?”
“Please calm yourself, Eldest Young Master. Zhixin was merely offering a kind reminder.” Compared with Zhixin, Zhiyi bowed with far greater courtesy.
Yet her words were not the least bit polite. “Although my sister and I are servants, we were sent by imperial command to protect the future Princess Consort of Prince Yue. Should we show any disrespect in the days ahead, we ask everyone’s forgiveness.”
“Very well, very well!” Realizing that the two maids from the palace were not easy to provoke, Lin Qingyan turned his accusations toward Lin Qingwu. “Do you see that? Even two little maids dare speak to their master in such a manner. Do you not know how to discipline them?”
“Discipline them?” Lin Qingwu looked puzzled. “But I do not think they said anything wrong.”
She gave him a slow once-over. “Eldest Brother, you have at least served in the military and fought on the battlefield. A grown man should be striving to win glory for himself, not spending every day in the inner residence arguing with young women over petty matters. Do you not find that shameful?”
As soon as Lin Qingwu finished speaking, the maids and servants standing nearby—and even several of the secondary wives—could not help laughing.
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Although no one dared to make their amusement too obvious, Lin Qingyan still felt the strange, even mocking, gazes surrounding him.
He grew both embarrassed and furious, his face flushing scarlet. Yet he did not dare say another word.
Seeing this, even the corners of Lin Qingyun’s lips lifted almost imperceptibly, though she quickly suppressed the smile.
At that moment, she appeared furious, yet still retained a trace of delicate vulnerability. “Sister, you have gone too far. Eldest Brother only meant well for all of us. How can you speak of him like that when you are his younger sister?”
“What? I criticized him without criticizing you?” Lin Qingwu looked at her with undisguised disdain. “You have put on quite a performance these past three years. Why have you not joined a theatrical troupe?”
“I—I…” Lin Qingyun was reduced to tears by that single retort, and they began to fall in rapid succession. “Have I offended you somehow, Sister? If you resent me, you could simply say so. Why must you be so aggressive?”
“You suffered a great deal over these past three years, but that was because you caused Mother’s death. What does that have to do with us? Do you think I did not suffer after being separated from my family for fourteen years…?”
As she spoke, Lin Qingyun covered her face with a handkerchief and ran sobbing toward the door.
But in the very next moment, there came a sharp smack, and she fell flat on the floor.
“Wah…”
This time, Lin Qingyun truly began to cry.
Zhixin stifled her laughter and discreetly withdrew the foot she had stuck out.
But when she turned her eyes, she met Lin Qingwu’s gaze. Feeling guilty, Zhixin lowered her head. She had not expected that, despite being so careful, her mistress would still notice.
Just as she began to worry that Lin Qingwu might be angry at her for acting on her own, she heard her mistress laugh.
At the same time, Lin Qingyan finally realized what had happened and rushed over at once.
“Yun’er, how could you be so careless?” He cautiously reached out to help Lin Qingyun up. “Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”
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