Volume One, Chapter Thirteen: She Intends to Shut the Door and Beat the Dog

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With her final words spoken, Lin Qingwu bowed deeply to Lin Wenyuan. “Your daughter takes her leave.” Watching Lin Qingwu and her three maids depart, a flicker of cruelty flashed in Lin Wenyuan’s eyes. Yet, he quickly masked it with a look of sorrow, crouching down to retrieve the broken ancestral tablet from the ground. Carefully, he wiped away the dust with his sleeve. “My beloved wife, I have failed you. Today, you have suffered injustice because of me…”

Madam Jiang, witnessing this, hurriedly sent the others out of the ancestral hall. “Master,” she approached and helped Lin Wenyuan to his feet, her gaze falling upon the broken tablet with sorrow. “This is not your fault. If your sister knew of this from the afterlife, she would not blame you. If anyone is to blame, it is that Lin Qingwu!”

Uttering the name “Lin Qingwu,” her once gentle voice turned sharp and resentful. She looked at the tablet in Lin Wenyuan’s hand and comforted him, “I will immediately arrange for a new ancestral tablet to be made, to console your sister’s spirit in heaven.”

Jiang’s words reminded Lin Wenyuan, who quickly urged, “Very well, very well. You must go at once.” Seeing his urgency, Jiang prepared to bend down and act, but Lin Wenyuan stopped her.

“Wait!” After a moment’s hesitation, he instructed, “Do not move the tablets in the ancestral hall anymore. Place the new tablet directly in our Autumn Pavilion.”

“How can that be?” Jiang nearly lost control of her expression. The main courtyard was named after his first wife, and now to place an ancestral tablet there—what would that make her?

Sensing Lin Wenyuan’s displeasure, Jiang hurriedly smiled and explained, “Master, the main residence is a place for the living. Your sister would not find peace there. Besides…” Embarrassed, she added, “Now that you and I are married, your sister seeing us together would surely be unhappy.”

“Then set aside a room inside the Autumn Pavilion, specifically for your sister,” Lin Wenyuan said coldly.

“Also…” He thought for a moment and continued, “As for the ancestral tomb, have someone repair it. And don’t forget—the new tombstone should be engraved according to Lin Qingwu’s wishes.”

“Master, I don’t think that’s appropriate,” Jiang hesitated, “After all, the one resting there is…”

“You saw that girl’s attitude today,” Lin Wenyuan snapped. “If she causes trouble at the tomb again, that will truly disturb your sister’s peace.”

Clenching the broken tablet tighter, Lin Wenyuan’s bitterness grew. He once thought that after the incident all those years ago, Lin Qingwu would never escape her inner demons. Yet now, she had suddenly changed, becoming even more domineering and terrifying than before. Had he known this, he would have eliminated her root and branch back then.

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Regret turning into a sinister smile on Lin Wenyuan’s face, he said, “But if it’s just a matter of replacing the tombstone, she’ll still have to kneel before your sister and offer sacrifices during the four seasons…”

Jiang was surprised and glanced at him. He even calculated this matter—he truly cared about his sister deeply. But she said nothing more and bowed her head, “Yes, I understand.”

Meanwhile, after returning to the Purple Bamboo Garden, Lin Qingwu went straight to the study. Although the imperial edict from today was suspicious, it had indeed helped her.

Besides, now knowing that the past was not due to her incompetence, it was only reasonable to help Princess Fuwan with her leg.

After all, this was not only a deal between her and Jun Yue but also a promise Lin Qingwu had made to Fuwan long ago.

Two hours later, Lin Qingwu finally handed a prescription to Yun Shang, instructing her to purchase the necessary herbs.

At the same time, Zhixin reported, “Miss, we just received news that Yang Bo, the caretaker of the Lin family ancestral tomb, has been found.”

“Found?” Lin Qingwu’s brows furrowed in surprise. She recalled Jun Yue’s words last night about disposing of the man. Why had he appeared again? If he showed up before Lin Wenyuan’s faction, it would only alert them.

Seeing Lin Qingwu’s serious expression, Zhixin hurried to add, “However, he was found in the moat. It seems he was drinking in the city last night, and after getting drunk, he slipped into the water during the rain while rushing home. By the time they pulled him out, he was already dead.”

Lin Qingwu sighed softly, poking Zhixin’s forehead in mild reproach. “You can’t just tell half the story.” Had Zhiyi not made the timely addition, she might have taken matters into her own hands.

Zhixin stuck out her tongue and promised, “I know my mistake. Next time, I’ll lead with the important points.”

While the three laughed quietly, suddenly, a wailing voice rose from outside the courtyard, growing louder.

“Lin Qingwu! Lin Qingwu, come out! How can you be so heartless? How am I supposed to live, this old woman?”

“What’s going on?” Zhixin and Zhiyi both looked toward the courtyard entrance.

As newcomers, they didn’t recognize the voice, but Lin Qingwu knew it all too well.

Just before going to the palace yesterday, Nurse Zhao had come to make a scene. Now, she was back.

Lin Qingwu wondered what she had done to drive the woman to despair.

Remembering Jun Yue’s words from last night, she went to sit in the pavilion in the courtyard and instructed, “Bring her in and close the gate.”

The two maids exchanged a glance. That sounded like shutting the door on the dog.

Though puzzled, they obeyed swiftly. Zhixin dragged the crying Nurse Zhao by the collar before Lin Qingwu, while Zhiyi quickly shut the gate.

The sisters flanked Lin Qingwu, as if fearing this madwoman might offend their mistress.

“Nurse Zhao,” Lin Qingwu said calmly, “You dare to call me by name like that? Such disrespect—what punishment is fitting?”

Zhixin cupped her hands and answered, “Such an old, troublesome servant deserves twenty lashes and to be expelled from the manor!”

“How harsh,” Lin Qingwu commented, pointing at her.

Then, seeming a bit hesitant, “I’ve just moved back into the Purple Bamboo Residence and am short on staff. I haven’t even prepared a paddle.”

“Zhiyi, tomorrow you and Yun Shang must visit the external village and recall my former staff. Take stock and bring them all back.”

“Yes, Mistress,” Zhiyi replied quickly.

Seeing this, Zhixin worried she had overstepped. After all, Nurse Zhao claimed to be the wet nurse of Lin Qingwu’s mother. What if their mistress didn’t want to punish her?

As Zhixin pondered how to make amends, Lin Qingwu’s voice came softly, “If not by paddle, then by a slap…”