Volume One, Chapter 18: Masters of Deception

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“Your daughter is fine,” Qingyun Lin gently shook Jiang’s arm and comforted her. “Mother, please don’t blame Sister. After all, her biological mother was a farmer; it’s understandable that she might have some reservations.”

Jiang lightly patted Qingyun’s hand and sighed, “If you hadn’t reminded me, Yun’er, I would have forgotten that she isn’t even a blood relative of the Duke of Ruiguo’s family. Why should I bother with her?”

Qingwu Lin watched the two women harmonizing so intimately with cold disdain, almost nauseated.

If she hadn’t already verified that the bones occupying her mother’s grave in the Lin family ancestral tomb were indeed related to Qingyun Lin by blood, she might have suspected these two were the real mother and daughter right before her eyes.

“As expected, those from theater troupes are all excellent actors,” Qingwu Lin remarked, observing the pair.

No, she would have to find a chance to test them as well—this resemblance was uncanny...

Just as Qingwu Lin was silently plotting, Jiang assumed the commanding posture of the matriarch.

Clearing her throat, she dropped all pretense: “Whether you acknowledge me as your mother or not is irrelevant. But since you bear the title of the legitimate second young lady of the Lin family and still reside in this manor, you must abide by its rules.”

Qingwu Lin thought, So the main act is finally about to begin?

She nodded, signaling, “Go ahead.”

Jiang said expressionlessly, “From now on, I am in charge of all affairs in the back residence of the Duke of Ruiguo’s manor. As a young lady of this household, if you intend to bring people from outside estates into the manor, it is only proper and reasonable to report to me beforehand, rather than acting on your own.”

So that was it. All this fuss was over this matter?

Surprised, Qingwu Lin admitted her oversight: “You’re right; I was careless in this regard.”

“Sister, a mistake is a mistake. Don’t argue with Mother anymore...” Qingyun began, but suddenly stopped.

Both she and Jiang exchanged startled glances. The Lin Qingwu who had threatened to bury them alive moments before was now strangely obedient?

Qingwu Lin disdainfully glanced at the self-righteous Qingyun, then turned to Jiang with a good-natured expression: “I admit it was wrong not to inform you. Now that I have, may I take my people back?”

She gestured to her trusted aides to prepare to leave.

After entering the palace early this morning and spending energy treating Princess Fuwan’s leg ailment, she was exhausted.

She had no energy left to watch these two perform; all she wanted was to return and rest.

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“Stop!” Jiang slammed the table and stood up. “Lin Qingwu, you take me far too lightly!”

Qingyun chimed in, “Yes, Sister, Mother has not agreed to let those people into the manor. How can you act on your own? I think you should send them away immediately.”

Qingwu Lin looked back at them and asked, “So according to you, no matter what, I cannot bring my people back today?”

“That’s right,” Jiang said firmly. “The back residence is under my authority. Without my permission, not a single person may enter!”

Pouting, Qingyun said, “Sister, just listen to Mother. Don’t make things unpleasant for everyone...”

“Whether you’re happy or not is not my concern, but I am very unhappy right now,” Qingwu Lin said, her rare patience nearly spent.

Jiang felt a sudden unease and asked, “What do you mean?”

Qingwu Lin didn’t answer directly but smiled faintly at her.

Then she said to her people, “Show the new madam and the third young lady your skills. Otherwise, they might not be impressed enough to let you into the manor.”

Her voice was soft as a feather but carried a hint of danger.

Almost instantly, the former retainers of the Purple Bamboo Garden, previously restrained by the manor’s guards, lost control and began to fight.

Her trusted aides were skilled in martial arts, and the original Purple Bamboo Garden servants had been personally selected and trained by Qingwu Lin.

How could the manor’s guards stand against them? Before, they had held back because their mistress had not given the order, but now, with Qingwu Lin’s command, they no longer concealed their strength.

“What are you doing? Stop this at once!” Jiang shouted in panic.

She and Qingyun were stunned, watching the scene spiral out of control, with their own people clearly losing.

“This is rebellion!” Jiang rushed in front of Qingwu Lin, her tone stern. “What exactly do you want? Tell your people to stop immediately!”

With a shrug, Qingwu Lin lightly brushed aside Jiang’s hand: “Take your claws off. If either of you wants to fight, I won’t hesitate to oblige.”

After all, bearing the title of Princess of Yue and tasked with treating Princess Fuwan’s leg ailment, fighting them would be futile.

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Jiang met her gaze and was startled, instinctively stepping back two paces.

Seeing this, Qingyun quickly spread her arms to shield Jiang: “Sister, you must not disrespect Mother. It’s all my fault for not persuading her. If you want to hit someone, hit me instead.”

Qingyun spoke stubbornly, tilting her chin defiantly at Qingwu Lin.

Smack!

Qingwu Lin didn’t indulge her and slapped her aside.

“Yun’er!” Qingyan Lin and Wenyuan Lin arrived just in time to witness the scene.

Qingyan immediately rushed forward to help Qingyun up, while Wenyuan glared angrily at Qingwu Lin. “What are you doing? Yun’er is your sister; how could you hit her?”

“Father, do you need me to check your ears?” Qingwu Lin asked with a worried look.

Wenyuan was momentarily stunned. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing,” she smiled faintly, laced with sarcasm. “I just think your hearing is off today. Didn’t you hear that it was Third Sister who told me to hit her?”

At that, Qingyun, leaning weakly in Qingyan’s arms, covered her face and said plaintively, “Sister is right. I asked her to hit me, Father, so please don’t blame her~”

“Master, it’s not Yun’er’s fault,” Jiang stepped forward, angrily pointing at Qingwu Lin. “She even tried to attack me first. Yun’er was merely protecting me and got hit instead. Master, you must stand up for me.”

Wenyuan was utterly confused. “What does this have to do with you?”

Jiang trembled as she pointed toward the scattered, battered manor guards lying around. “Master, look. Lin Qingwu secretly brought a group of unruly servants into the manor. I merely checked on them, and they beat the manor’s staff into this state.”

“Moreover, she even tried to attack me!”

As she spoke, Jiang covered her face with a handkerchief and began to weep, as if burdened by the greatest injustice.

Wenyuan and Qingyan followed her gaze and instantly their expressions darkened...